Love's Journey

Originally by The Muse of Apollo, now carried forward from Chapter 8 by Castlefan6 with permission from author

Authors Note This is set before the end of season 2, but after Tick Tick/Boom. Chapters 1-7 are the work of the original author The Muse of Apollo, following chapters are work of Castlefan6

I don't own Castle, I only use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 11

Previously

"Hey Beckett, thought you were taking the day off" Espo asks. "Yea well looks like this case will be open for ever if I leave it to you boys" not realizing just how harsh it sounded till she saw the wince on Espo's face as Ryan walks in and joins him. "I'm sorry Espo that's not what I mean, and you know it," "No sweat Beckett, Ryan and I will buck up today and pull our load" he mouthed without a smile. God what is she doing, she must get hold of herself. Offering a peace offering she yells "Espo, Ryan I'm going to get coffee can I get you one," the reply comes from each of the detectives in unison who never even raise their heads, "No Thank You." It's going to be another long day for Beckett.

Castle is just turning over to grab a few minutes of extra sleep when he hears her tone, no NOT Beckett, the one he set up the night before for Jess. He fumbles and reaches for his phone and there it is just received 3 minutes ago, a text from his new ringtone. He opens the text to read,

Good morning Rick, hope you slept as well as I, still can't thank you enough for last night and so excited to get this project kicked off with you. Notified United Appeal, not happy but resignation is done, and moving truck is giving me 6 hours to advise new payment and address option, please call me when you get this XX Jess

He must read it twice to remember all that happened in such a great day yesterday. Jess was really going to live in his building and work with him full time on this new project, how did he get so lucky? Oh, he had better take care of the moving truck or Jess would not be happy with him. He clears the screen, hitting #4 his new speed dial for her, the phone rings once and then he hears "Rick, wow I didn't think the text would wake you I am so sorry." Rick chuckles as he replies "Jess, I welcome this type of texts rather than 2 years of all night body drops, any way let's take care of the Movers and then if you would like we can meet for coffee or a quick bite?"

"Please have the movers call my Business Manager at 555-455-5555 ask for Phil and he will know how to handle it, and by the way your new address is 106 Broome Street NY, NY Apt 304, It's furnished but feel free to use your own belongings once they arrive, or stay with what is there, your choice". Rick hears silence, so he calls out "Jess, are you there", then he hears the sniffle, "hey none of that OK? I want you to be devoted to this project, so you need to be happy". A small voice comes back "You are just too good to be true Richard Castle, and I can't wait to I see my new home, the Embassy was getting stuffy and I will be glad to have a place to call home. I would love to grab coffee with you, where do you want to meet and when?" Rick gives Jess the address of the Coffee Shop he gets, check that, where he used to get Beckett's coffee from and arranges to meet her in 30 minutes. "I'll let you go Rick, see you in 30 minutes and Thank You again !"

Rick springs from his bed, into a shower and dresses in record time and grabs his keys and wallet and is out the door in less than 20 minutes. He arrives just as Jess is getting out of her cab, so he takes her hand and gently assists her out. It seems so natural as he places his hand in the small of her back as they begin to walk the short distance to the Coffee Shop door, and she must feel the same since he is rewarded with a huge smile and little eye wink as she feels his hand placed on her. Rick is so focused on Jess, he doesn't see the brunette put on her sun glasses and pull her coat up as she passes right by the two, walking at a brisk pace. It is only when he gets a slight whiff of Cherry smell that it even dawns on him that it could have been Kate but by now she is half a block away.

As Rick and Jess are settling into a cozy booth ordering Coffee and pastries, Kate is taking her rage out on anyone or anything in her path. As she walks back into the station some 3 blocks away the first victim is the garbage can that got the Coffee Cup she had been carrying along with a huge dose of her fist, placing a huge dent in the receptacle. The desk Sargent just rolled his eyes and stayed clear, as she headed for the gym to work out. She changes into her workout clothes and is secretly hoping someone is looking for a scrap, she needs to unload, (Who the hell does he think he is, taking her to Our coffee shop, when he won't even return my text, who needs writer boy anyway).

Fortunately, most stay clear of Beckett as she works the speed bag, then heads to the heavy bag, bang, bang, bang, and then she hears that cocky voice, "you know you are still doing it wrong" as she looks up and sees a smiling Deming glaring at her buttocks. "Well maybe you would want to show me in live combat what I'm doing wrong Deming, unless you are afraid I will kick your ass" throwing out a challenge she knows he just can't back down from. "Any day of the week Beckett give me 5 minutes to suit up and prepare to get your ass handed to you" Deming spews. This only adds fuel to the flame for Beckett, Deming returns to the mat, and about 15 minutes later is being transported to the hospital when it took 3 officers to break Kate's choke hold on him, that was after she had closed both of his eyes with her jabs. She didn't do herself any favors by yelling out "Whose Next? "You are all a Bunch of Wusses", in front of 5 Internal Affairs Officers who had witnessed the entire Deming debacle.

She heads to the showers, still seething that Castle would have the nerve to take someone to their place, even though she knew there was no them or their place, not anymore she had managed to trash that just like her coffee. She is at her desk, not speaking to the boys since the earlier rebuke of her peace offering, buried in her notes when Montgomery steps out of his office and speaks in a firm tone, "Detective Beckett, My Office NOW", she knew something was up with the title included in her name, and she knew the Captain was pissed about something.

She marks her place in the report and stands to move to Montgomery's office when she sees the three IA officers leaving. "Oh, Great Deming sicked IA on me", that's all she needs she mutters under her breath. "Take a seat Beckett", Montgomery bellows, as he walks over and closes his door. "Do you have any idea of the damage you have caused this station, how much damage you have done to my integrity, not to mention the bills the city is going to rack up paying for your Boyfriends medical treatments, What the Hell were you thinking?" "Sir he is not my Boyfriend", Montgomery interrupts "you mean anymore, word around the station was he was getting it on pretty hot and heavy with you, and what the hell where you are thinking bedding a scum like Deming, he couldn't keep his mouth shut and even showed some pictures".

Kate is now thinking she is going to kill him for sure, as soon as she gets the chance. "Sir I had no idea he had showed pictures and spread our personal business throughout the station, that was not what this was about." Really Montgomery Asks, "tell me how I convince those three scum bags from IA that wasn't the case. They have it down as a Lead Detective abuses a lower grade detective for revenge and have already filed moral charges against you both." "I'm sorry Kate but put your gun and shield on my Desk, this is an automatic 30-day suspension, unless IA gets their way at the hearing and you know what that means." "I'm sorry Kate, you took it out of my hands when you assaulted Deming, they have it on tape that it took 3 cops to pull you off him. What the hell did you do, traded Castle who dropped a $100K on you at the drop of a hat for some Badge Bunny magnet, you really messed up this time, consult your Union Rep and be off the premises in 30 minutes, I'm Sorry Kate."

Kate storms out of the office not stopping to turn her computer off, or even lock up her desk. Ryan and Espo just look at each other with puzzled looks until Montgomery steps out and yell their names. "Espo, Ryan as of 5 minutes ago you are co-acting lead detectives until Detective Beckett is reinstated or her case is resolved." Ryan and Espo knew better than to say anything more than "Yes Sir" and then waited to be dismissed. They would find out what happened but now was not the time. Yes, it really wasn't a good day for Kate Beckett, even worse than she could have imagined.