A/N: This one is set after 'Food to Die For' (Ep. 2x22).
Kate looked up to see her father walking into the diner. Smiling, she stood and embraced him warmly. They ordered lunch and talked as they ate. There was one recent event that Kate was eager to share.
"Dad, you remember my old friend Madison Queller, right? From high school?"
"I think I do – mouthy and mischievous? Blonde hair?"
Kate laughed and nodded. "That's Maddie."
"I do remember her. Lively kid, great attitude. Whenever she came over with the rest of your gang, you just knew she was around – you couldn't miss her." Jim smiled at the memories, and then a thoughtful look came into his eyes. "But if I remember correctly, you and Maddie drifted apart a little bit. We didn't see her around for a while. Your mom and I asked about it – you said you'd had a fight."
Kate tried not to blush. Looking back now, it was hard to believe that she and Maddie had almost lost their friendship over a boy they'd both liked. "Yeah," she acknowledged, "we did develop a bit of a… rift in senior year."
"But," she continued, "we recently reconnected – she's a successful restaurateur now. She owns Q3, one of the hottest new restaurants."
"Impressive," Jim said. "I have to say it sounds like a good fit for her."
"It is. Now she, on the other hand, could not believe that I ended up a cop."
"Can't say that I blame her," Jim said. "You've come a long way since your wild teenage days."
Kate hid a smile behind her water glass as she lifted it to her lips. "Dad, you don't know the half of what I got up to back then."
Jim held up his hands. "And I don't want to," he said, "because what I do know is more than enough."
Kate cringed a little, even as she laughed. "I know I was a handful – I'm sorry, Dad."
Jim was laughing as well. "No, you're not," he denied. "You'd probably do it all over again if you could."
Kate nodded – her father knew her too well. Her teen years had been fun, carefree and bold, a time for her to explore the world and discover herself, and Jim was right – she wouldn't change a thing, not the dramatic youthful heartache, not the risky adventures, not even the stupid mistakes. Especially with the way her teenage years had ended, forcing her to grow up much faster than she could ever have anticipated.
Looking at Jim's face, she could see that he was thinking the same thing. Sometimes they were so in sync that it was almost uncanny. Kate didn't get to spend as much time with her dad as they would both like, but they shared a close bond. She thought to herself that if that bond could survive her mother's devastating murder and everything that followed, then it could survive almost anything.
"So how did you and Maddie find each other again?" Jim asked.
"By a pretty crazy coincidence," Kate said. "One of her staff was murdered."
"Wow – not exactly how you want to reconnect with a long-lost friend."
Kate nodded. "Yeah, it was pretty screwed up. But we solved the case, and it was great to have a chance to catch up afterwards." The demands of Kate's work consumed her life so much that, apart from outings with Lanie, her social interaction had suffered. Reconnecting with an old friend had been wonderful.
"I'm glad you got together again," Jim said. "So... since you were investigating a murder, I'm guessing Maddie got to meet some of your colleagues – and Castle?"
Kate rolled her eyes. Great. Leave it to her father to remind her of several things she would much rather forget, like the unspeakably humiliating moment in the interrogation room when Maddie had accused her of being 'hot for Castle'. With Castle listening. Her face flamed just at the thought of it.
She reminded herself to act casual, to play it off like it was no big deal. Because it was no big deal. "Yeah, she met Castle, Dad. He had a lot of fun trying to figure out what I was like in high school, trying to get Maddie to tell him all about my youthful misadventures. They got along pretty well – they even went out on a date."
Jim looked surprised. "Wasn't that a little… awkward?"
"Awkward for whom?"
Jim shrugged. "I don't know, everyone concerned – Castle, Maddie, you."
"No, Dad," Kate said. She firmly shut down the wayward part of her brain that kept trying to remind her of just how disturbed she'd been to see Maddie and Castle during their dinner date, smiling and laughing together, feeding each other. Ugh. She suppressed a shudder and squared her shoulders. "I mean, it's not like Castle and I are involved in any way. He shadows me on the job, as research for his books. That's as far as it goes, Dad. He can date anyone he wants."
Catching the skeptical look on Jim's face, she continued in a firmer tone of voice. "Besides, Dad," she took another sip of her water, "Maddie is so much more Castle's type – the pretty, chic socialite with a swanky, high-profile career. Uncomplicated, fun – just the kind of girl he goes for."
"So you don't think Castle's looking for love?"
"Seriously, Dad?" Kate scoffed. "Love is the last thing Castle wants. He's looking for a good time. Take for example the last woman he was with – as far as I know – Ellie Monroe."
"The actress?"
Kate gave what she hoped was a nonchalant nod. Castle's quick little dalliance with the sultry, over-ambitious starlet still made her stomach churn a little. She told herself that it was just because she hated to see people being used in that way.
"It didn't last, obviously," she said to Jim, "but it goes to prove everything I just said about Castle – when it comes to relationships, it's all about the here and now, the excitement, the glamour."
"I wouldn't write him off just yet," Jim said. "Who knows? Maybe he just hasn't been with the right woman. When they get together, they just might make it last."
"Aww, that's very romantic of you, Dad," Kate said, sarcasm dripping from each syllable. "But considering he's probably already been with half the female adult population of this city, I'm thinking his chances aren't looking that great at this point."
"Well, maybe he'll have better luck with your old friend Maddie," Jim said lightly.
"Oh no," Kate said, "that was over before it started. Maddie said she's too busy with her restaurant to have time for dating."
"So Castle's still a free agent?"
"Yes, a very happy free agent." Kate confirmed.
"And so are you," Jim observed.
"So am I. But unlike Castle, I'm mature enough to be open to the idea of a real relationship."
As they continued their meal in silence, Kate mentally debated for a few seconds whether or not to tell her dad about Tom Demming. She decided against it. It was too new. She really liked Tom. She liked him more every time they got together. He was solid, smart, attentive, attractive, witty, dependable. She was pretty sure there was the potential for a serious relationship, but she wouldn't tell Jim just yet. Maybe after a few more dates.
Kate wondered why she still felt a little uncertain about Tom. And not for the first time, she asked herself the question she kept buried deep inside. What about Castle? She knew he was attracted to her and (much as she tried to hide it) she was attracted to him. They'd forged a weird but real kind of friendship over the past year, but was that enough? She knew the answer – it wasn't.
With Castle, it would be fun, exciting, and yes, the sex would probably be great, but it wouldn't last. He didn't do long-term or serious; she had more than enough proof of that. So what would happen when he grew bored with playing cop and she got irritated with his constant wisecracks? What would happen when the novelty of the chase was over and the initial thrill faded? She couldn't risk getting involved, having it end badly and then being forced to keep up appearances at work. Or losing their working relationship and friendship altogether. Either way, it would be a disaster.
Getting involved with Castle wouldn't be worth the risk; in fact, it would probably be the most stupid thing she could do. No, Tom was a much better and wiser choice. The right choice. And he was a great guy. Time, she decided. All she and Tom needed was more time, and everything would fall into place.
A/N: If you missed getting Jim's point of view in this chapter, don't worry. Most chapters will still be from his perspective. Just wanted to try something different this time. Only one more chapter left for Season 2…. Thank you so much to every one of you for reading and reviewing – it means so much to me. Happy New Year to you all! (And Yay! So glad the show is back this week.)