Disclaimer: Still don't own them. Sort of glad of that, since that way they can still surprise me.
A/N: Sorry for the delays. No time to write, no time to read, no time to edit, and my characters went and did something I didn't expect, meaning heavy rewrites. Oh well...
Rick sat in his normal spot in the conference room for the fifteenth time. Fifteen rounds of mediation, mostly acrimonious, always tiring. It drew the obvious comparisons to a boxing match, but he let them disappear unexamined. Today it would be over, if he was right, and he'd rather concentrate on that.
It had to be today. If it wasn't, he was out of ideas.
Rick sat back in his chair, trying to hide his smile and his hope behind his hand. Tom had called him while he was on his incredible library date with Kate, and then again yesterday to confirm the final details. Now Rick just had to do his part. He looked across the table at his soon to be ex-wife, knew she was anxious by the way her thumb played with the nail of her index finger. It had always been her tell.
He listened as Johanna laid out their latest offer.
"Full custody to Mr. Castle. Visitation with supervision for Mrs. Castle. She gets the agreed upon one time payment, the agreed upon alimony, the house in California, and 50% of future royalties on the Storm properties."
"We've discussed this. You know supervision is unacceptable," Barrows replied immediately.
"If you want to think about it, Meredith, you can," Rick said. "We could meet again in two or three weeks. Or we could let it go to court as you suggested." He turned. "They'd be able to hear us in, what, four or five months?" he asked Johanna.
"If we pushed, five. Normally six or seven, I'd think," Johanna said. Her poker face was better than his.
He watched as Meredith blanched. She leaned over, whispered to her lawyer.
Barrows stood up straight. Rick could tell he'd been surprised.
"In exchange for accepting supervised visitation," Barrows said, "Mrs. Castle would also like the cabin in Vail and 65% of future Storm works."
Johanna looked over at Rick, who nodded.
"Done," she said.
"Good," Barrows said, looking, if not pleased, at least at peace. "I'll have the paperwork drawn up by Friday, have it messengered over. We should be able to file by early next week if everything meets your approval. Mr. Castle, Ms. Beckett, good day," he said, reaching out his hand. Rick and Johanna shook it in turn.
"I'll show you out, Turner," Johanna said. When the lawyers and the mediator had left, Rick turned back to Meredith.
"I'm moving out to California, Rick. Could I come by before I leave, say goodbye to Alexis at least?"
He knew that she was leaving. He'd offered the movie rights to the Storm books to his producer friend Tom Reston for a third of what they were worth in exchange for getting Meredith a guaranteed roll on a TV show. She'd gotten the call from the showrunner yesterday. The runner had hinted that she had to be there by the end of the week, or they might have to recast the part. It was just like Johanna had said. All he had to do was find what she really wanted and give it to her. Being on TV would make her far more famous than being the wife of a New York mystery writer.
"Of course, Meredith. We're around tonight."
"Rick, really, was it so bad?"
He smiled at Meredith. Now that it was over, and Alexis was safe, he found his anger dissipating. What, ultimately, was the point of getting mad at someone who would never react to it? Would never understand it? Would never even recognize it?
So he let it go. It felt almost painful in its absence. "No, Mere... it wasn't. It just wasn't right. You wanted one life, and I wanted another. And now, maybe, we can both get what we want."
"I did love you, you know."
"I know. I loved you too."
"But you love her more."
Rick startled, thinking at first that she was talking about Kate. But no, she was talking about Alexis. Had that really been how Meredith had thought about it?
"Yeah, ever since she was that tiny little thing they handed me in the hospital, she was it for me."
"I love her too. I know that the whole mother thing isn't for me. I'm just not wired that way, I guess. But I do love her."
"I know. So does she. I hope LA is good to you."
"It will be."
She hugged him then and walked out of his life.
He wanted a scotch. He wanted to go hug his little girl. He wanted to try to make Kate laugh. He wanted to feel whole again.
He wanted.
That night, after Meredith left and Alexis fell asleep, he ended up settling on a glass of Bruichladdich and calling Kate.
"Hey," she said by way of greeting.
"So, I was wondering, are you free Saturday night?" he asked. He wanted to tell her the news in person.
"Saturday night?"
"You know, the traditional night for drinking, dancing, wining, dining? I have this thing I got invited to, should be fun. You wear a pretty dress and I agonize over what type of flowers to bring you..."
She laughed, "I'm not a flowers kind of girl."
"Okay, what kind of ammo then. Is that a yes?"
"I'd ... I'd love to Rick, but I can't. Work."
"Work work, or just not interested work?" The question was out before he could censor himself. Maybe he wasn't all the way there yet.
"Work work. I could prove it, come over tonight."
"I'd really like that, which is why ... please don't. I can't handle it, tonight. Just talk to me, here. That's enough for now."
"Can I at least picture you naked?"
He laughed, long and full. Something good had changed between them, since the day in the library. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't. I'm certainly picturing you that way."
"So what do two naked people talk about, in the middle of the night?"
"Murder," he said, changing the subject. He had to take the edge off of it all, before his need would build until his worries would slice him in half.
"Really, Rick?"
"I'm going to kill Derrick Storm. At the end of this book. This will be the last one."
"What? Why?"
"Officially? Because I've run out of things for him to do. Want him to go off in a blaze, like Sherlock off Reichenbach Falls."
"Doyle brought Sherlock back, eventually."
"Not me. Meredith is going to get most of him," he said, stopping himself before he said more. "I don't think I can write him anymore, knowing her fingers are around his neck."
"A new start, then."
"Yeah. It's okay. I have an idea for a new protagonist anyway. A hot vice cop in four inch heels."
She laughed. "No backstory. People want their heroes with troubled pasts, a dead albatross. It's no fun if she grows up with two great parents, goes to a good school, does well at the Academy ... meets a good guy who makes her happy."
"There's the motorcycle. The hot tattoo which, given that you're naked, I should finally be able to see. There's the trip to Tijuana..."
"Mom told you that one. Ugh."
"As it was happening. Thought you were out of your wild child phase by then?"
"One last hurrah before college was over, Rick. Still, pretty thin overall. At least make her a homicide detective."
"Are you telling me something, Kate?"
"Sort of. A slot opened up. I've applied, but I think it will to a guy from gangs, ex-military, with more time in rank than me. But, I made the first cut. That's something, considering..."
"Kate, you're always extraordinary. People notice. I'm amazed it surprises you."
"Rick, you can't say stuff like that if you don't want me to come over."
"Sorry, too much for tonight. Hey," he said, "I have a name for her too."
"Do I really want to know? I mean, after Storm and Strike and Chance ... you know I enjoy your books, but your names suck."
"Damn, and I was going to go with Heat. Nicole Heat... ooohh... no, Nikki Heat."
"Maybe it's best I'm not there. I don't think I could hold back the urge to hit you in the head."
He laughed. They talked for a few more minutes, then he went to bed. That night, he dreamt of Kate, wearing nothing but her heels, carrying her gun. It would be a great cover of a book.
If she ever let him write it.
Kate pulled at the seam of her dress, trying to get a little room to breathe. The dress was beautiful, an Alexander McQueen, though a year out of date. Everything about her outfit was just a bit off - the jewelry just a tad too costume, the heels just a little too high, the dress fit just a bit too tight through the ribs. No one would notice, unless they were extremely good at details. But of course, she was trolling for exactly that someone.
She looked around the ballroom at the crowd. Beside her, her date did the same.
She was starting to hate undercover work. She was staring to hate all of her job. Losing out on homicide yesterday had been expected, but her disappointment had surprised her.
She shook her head. It wasn't the time for that. She'd spotted the woman she was looking for. She whispered to her date, and then went off to the bar.
The woman, Tanya Helman, was waiting for her drink, so Kate walked up next to her, flagged the bartender. Kate ordered a Sapphire Martini.
She let Tanya look her up and down a few times while she waited for her drink.
"I like the shoes, " Tanya said, "Jimmy Choo's?"
Kate smiled. Her outfit had been very carefully tailored to make it look like she was a woman who was trying to break into high society, but didn't have the money to pull it off.
Kate leaned in towards the woman. "Keep a secret? They're knockoffs."
Tanya smiled. "They're good. I've seen you at a few of these things before, haven't I?"
"Probably. Kate Markinson," Kate said.
"Tanya," she said. Neither woman extended her hand.
"Pleased to meet you." Of course, Kate already knew everything she needed to know about Tanya Helman, how she worked as a recruiter for the Emperor's Club, a new high end escort service that was rumored to have some very important clients. Vice had been investigating them for weeks, ever since they'd pulled Roger Barnham, a hot shot hedge fund manager, in on a bust two months ago. He'd been willing to flip on the Club in exchange for a plea bargain and his name kept out of the papers. Five times since then, Roger had brought Kate along as his date to several similar functions, so that Kate could catch the eye of one of the recruiters. Now, finally, Kate had made contact.
"You know, I've been watching you," Tanya said. "Can I be blunt?"
"Um, do you have to?"
"Just let me guess. I've seen you at these things with Roger, and he isn't getting you here simply on his charming company, is he?"
"I'm not sure I understand what you are suggesting."
"Hey, it's hard to make it in Manhattan. But, some of us always have ... nicer options..."
"Us?"
"Beautiful, well-educated... nothing wrong with earning a few extra dollars by keeping a powerful man company..."
"I don't think I like what you are suggesting," Kate said, but she didn't turn to leave.
"Maybe I'm wrong," Tanya said, "but... I rarely am. Look, it's hard going it alone. Guys like Roger, they get bored. Better to have a community to lean on."
"And you might know such a ... community."
"I could," Tanya said, reaching into her clutch. She slid Kate a business card. Kate looked at it - it contained no identifying information, just a single letter-pressed email address on the heavy cardstock. She slid it into her own bag quickly.
"Trust me, our way is safer. Anonymous, protected. Could be in some real Jimmy Choo's for life, just doing what you are doing, for us."
Kate nodded, didn't say anything. Tanya gave her a coy smile, walked off. Kate had to give the woman credit - a strong sell while still never mentioning anything incriminating. It wasn't much, but it was an in.
Kate picked up her drink, turned away from the bar. She had several more hours at this party, even though her work was now done. She really wanted to duck out early, call up Rick and go find him. He'd invited her to some event, tonight, and she'd had to duck out so that she could play pretend prostitute for fifteen minutes. What a waste.
She saw something out of the corner of her eye and almost choked on her drink.
Across the room stood Rick, dressed beautifully in what had to be another of his custom made suits - in this case a shall tuxedo. He was talking to the Mayor and his wife, but it was the blond next to him that gave Kate pause. She was beautiful and graceful and standing far too close to Rick to be anything but his date.
Kate watched as Rick joked with the Mayor, and the blond kept touching him. A touch to the arm as she laughed, a lean against his shoulder as she made a comment.
Kate wanted to go over, slap the color right out of the woman's obviously dyed hair, but she couldn't move. She wasn't used to the strange wave of jealously that was hitting her. She took three strong steps towards the group before remembering that she was undercover, that there was nothing she could do, in this setting, tonight. She couldn't even be seen by Rick, lest he inadvertently say something before she had a chance to explain. She had no choice but to leave before he spotted her.
She moved briskly through the entrance, out into the lobby of the hotel, when someone grabbed her arm, started to drag her off near the coatroom. She turned, went to twist her arm free, but the man holding her was trained. As she twisted, he let her go, grabbed her wrist instead, turned it sharply so that she'd either have to move in the direction he wanted, or break her wrist.
"Let go of me," she said.
He stopped, twisted and threw her into the coat room. Her shoes weren't made for fast footwork and she nearly lost her balance. She stumbled into the coats, recovered, turned to face him.
"What the hell do you think..."
"Be quiet," he said, cutting her off. "You have no idea how much trouble you are in, Ms. Markinson. I suggest you do as I say."
"And why would I do that?"
He reached into his jacket, and Kate tensed up. She wished she'd been able to carry her gun with her. But the man didn't pull out a gun, just a wallet. He opened it to show her an FBI ID.
"We have plenty of evidence against you, Ms. Markinson. We've seen the payments into your account from Mr. Barnham. We know what you do, after parties like this."
She can't decide whether to be indignant that the FBI had somehow gotten a warrant to investigate her, or impressed that her jackass of a Lieutenant had somehow put together a cover that had fooled both Emperor and the FBI. But before she could decide, they were interrupted.
"Lewis, let her go."
"Sir?" the Agent asked, turning towards the new occupants. Kate looked over his shoulder, saw a tall older man, obviously the Agent's boss, standing there with Lt. Guerstein. "I saw her ..."
"Shut it," the older man said, and Agent Lewis stopped in mid-sentence. The older man turned to her Lieutenant. "Take your officer, get out of here," he said.
"Its detective, actually," she said, and enjoyed it as Agent Lewis blanched. Guerstein just shook his head in a 'not here' gesture. She shut up, followed the Lieutenant out of the coat room.
When they got to the street, Guerstein pulled her aside.
"Sorry, Beckett. Special Agent with a Stick up his Ass only told me ten minutes ago. I had no idea they were going to jump in."
"Told you what? What the hell does that mean?"
Guerstein laughed. "I forget how young you are sometimes, kid." She bristled. She hated when the Lieutenant was patronizing, which was often. She usually just bypassed him for the Captain. "The FBI is here. They have some kind of case. Apparently they're hunting bigger fish, think they can get some important people. So we're left with a fart in the wind and an early night. Our involvement is now officially jack."
"And that's it? What kind of crap is that?"
"The dick swinging kind. Look, kid, don't let it bother you. You did good work. When Jackass and Baby Jackass come in tomorrow, I'll let you debrief. You earned it."
"If they were smart, they'd let us liaise. I got us an in tonight."
"And if a frog had wings, it wouldn't bump its ass when it jumped. Look, you've been on a good run since you got here, but you need to know. They all end. We don't win 'em all. Maybe, if we're lucky, we win most. Better to learn that now."
Guerstein gave her a pat on the shoulder and walked off to his car. She watched him go. She wanted to go home, take a long shower, give Rick a call.
But of course she couldn't.
A/N: So sorry to leave it here, especially since it will be a week before I can write more... please don't throw heavy things at me.