Detectives Esposito and Ryan return from the re-canvas of Castle's neighbors. Ryan is holding the burned DVD copy of the security cameras from the garage, elevator and hallways in the building.
As they walk into the loft, Ryan looks into the study. He sees Kate and Martha in the study, talking in hushed tones. He catches Kate's eye and holds up the DVD case; she nods in his direction, holding up her right index finger. He nods his head and continues into the kitchen area. Esposito is speaking with Lanie, pouring three cups of coffee.
Ryan looks at Lanie, "Is Beckett okay? Her and Martha are in the study together."
Lanie nods her head, "Yes. Gina was here and when she was done with Sorenson, she went into the study to speak with Kate for a little while. After Gina left, Martha went in to check on her."
Sorenson walks over, "Where's Kate?"
"She's in Castle's study, talking with Martha." she answers.
He nods his head and turns toward the study. "Will, give her a minute. She's having a private conversation with Martha." Lanie states, holding up a cup of coffee for him. Trying to distract him she adds, "Was Gina able to give you any information about why Castle was in the city?"
He walks back, accepting the coffee and answers, "Not too much. She only received an email from him early this morning, just after 6:00am. She said he stated the book would be finished in about two weeks. That he was in the city for a day or two and that he had a very important meeting with a friend. Not really too much to go on there. Martha stated earlier that he sent her a text, saying his was in the city and that he would call her later. Business associates that I asked them both about, seem to be a dead end but, we'll check them all out anyway." He takes a sip of his coffee and looks at Esposito, "Any word when the lab work will be completed?"
"I just got off the phone with the captain about 10 minutes ago. Perlmutter called him and he should have all the results, including the photos, in about a half hour. The captain will be down with them. Henry, from our IT department, should be here soon with a few laptops for us to use while we are here."
Martha comes out of the study and heads over towards the group. "Coffee, Mrs R?" Esposito asks as she sits next to Sorenson.
"No to the coffee, but a bottled water would be great, if you don't mind," she answer as she looks at Lanie. "Dear, Kate would like to speak with you."
Lanie nods, leaving the group and walking into the study. Kate is sitting behind the desk, looking at Castle's laptop. One look at Kate and Lanie can tell she has been crying. She sits in the chair, Martha and Gina had vacated. "Kate … everything okay?"
Kate looks up at Lanie, "I'll be okay. I need to stop thinking about the 'what ifs' and get my head back into this investigation. I'm not helping Castle by sitting here, feeling sorry for myself. I can deal with all of it, later, after we bring him home safely."
Lanie nods her head, "Well, you know the three of us, will do everything we can to help you bring him home safely."
"Thanks Lanie," Kate says and continues, "I found two overnight bags in Castle's bedroom earlier. You might want to go through them and see what Castle had left in the bags."
Looking at Kate, Lanie asnwers, "They aren't Castle's bags and I know what's in them already."
Her eyebrow raised, she waits for Lanie to continue, "We knew you weren't going to leave Alexis and Martha here by themselves at night. So, Esposito and I stopped at your apartment and I packed a few things for you for a couple of days. Martha told me to put your bags in Castle bedroom. The other bags, that Alexis and I brought upstairs earlier, are for the three of us, we are staying too." Feeling overwhelmed by her friends and there concern, Kate just nods her head.
Kate looks up at the doorway as Will walks in, "Kate, I'm ready to talk with Alexis. Mrs Rodgers just went up to see if she was awake. I know you said you wanted to sit with her while I questioned her."
"Yes, I do. I'll be right out." she answers him as she stands up. Lanie stands up and follows Will out of the study. Looking down at the laptop, the cursor blinking back at her she decides she's going to have to ask Alexis and Martha about the password for his laptop.
She walks out and sees Alexis coming down the stairs, holding Monkey Bunkey in her hand; Matha following behind her. Kate reaches out her hand to Alexis, and the teen doesn't hesitate to link her fingers with Kate's. "You ready?" Kate whispers.
Alexis looks at Kate and then at Martha, "Can you and Gram sit with me while I answer Agent Sorenson's questions?"
Squeezing her hand, while looking at Martha, Kate nods her head. They walk over to the dining room table, taking there seats, Alexis in between them.
Will looks over at Kate, she raises her eyebrow; waiting.
Clearing his throat, he looks at Alexis, "Are you ready to begin?"
"Rick", she says softly, while he captures her earlobe between his teeth. " Oh God …. let me open the door."
He releases her long enough for her to turn towards the door, but wraps his arms around her from behind, as she puts the key in the lock. He leans forward, placing his lips on the back of her neck. Moving slowly behind her ear, to the spot that he discovered just earlier tonight, nipping softly. He feels her body tremble against his, a moan escaping her lips, as he soothes the spot with this tongue.
As the door opens, she reaches behind her, grabbing him by his dinner jacket, pulling him into the room, the door closing behind them. She drops her purse, as he faces her and backs her into the door. Placing one hand on her hip, he raises his other hand to her face, Running his thumb across her cheek, to her jawline and across her bottom lip, watching her response.
"You're beautiful." he whispers, as he places a gentle kiss on her lips, reaching up and pulling the pins from her hair slowly. Her auburn tresses slowly falling just past her shoulders. Running his fingers through her hair, tipping her head back in the process, he slowly claims her mouth.
Her hands slowly move up his chest and over his shoulders, pushing his dinner jacket off his shoulders. He drops both of his arms, while still kissing her, and the jacket falls to the rug. He places both of his hands against the door, trapping her between the door and his body. She reaches up and starts working on the knot on his tie; it joins the jacket on the rug.
He wraps his arms around her body, pulling her against him and breaking the kiss. "Kate … honey. Look at me" as she opens her eyes, he whispers, "I love you, Kate."
Looking into his blue eyes, she whispers, "I love you too, Rick" as she pulls him down to her waiting mouth.
His hosts are gone, it would be the perfect time for his escape. But the man bound to the chair isn't moving. In his drug induced sleep, he's dreaming. It's a dream he doesn't want to wake from, because in reality, they have never kissed and they have never spoken what their hearts know to be true.