A/N: Whoo! Yeah, I got Castle and Beckett to live in the same space. I had to do another chapter, so you get two chapters today. I hope I'm doing okay with this story line. Please review.
Chapter 11
The ride over to Castle loft was silent. The only sound in the Crown Vic was the radio. It was playing "Crash and Burn" by Lifehouse which did not help settle the awkwardness.
Beckett parked in the garage of the building. They both got out and headed to the elevator. Castle pressed the button of his floor, and they both watched the doors close. The ascend was silent, both watching the numbers change.
The doors opened up to his floor. Castle got out first and fished his key out of his jacket pocket. He slid the key into the lock, turned it, and opened the door, allowing Beckett to go in before him. They saw Martha sitting at the kitchen island with a glass of wine in her hand, eating something in a plastic container.
"Richard, Kate, hello darlings," she greeted. She waved them over, "Kate, darling, are you staying over?"
"Uh, no, Martha, I'm not staying. I actually need you to go pack a bag," Beckett replied. "What for?" Martha asked. "We need to go stay over at Beckett's apartment, Mother. Captain's orders," Castle replied. "Oh, alright, darling, I'll be right back. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen," Martha replied, setting the wine glass in the sink and putting the container in the fridge.
"I-I should go pack," Castle stuttered. He turned and headed towards his office. Beckett didn't really have much of an appetite, so she just sat down and waited. She looked over to a table by the door. She got up, curious to see the photographs on it.
She smiled as she gazed at them. One was of a young Alexis in grey scale. She looked so adorable. Another was of Martha with her arms around Castle who was sitting on a chair with a sly smile on his face. Beckett stifled a laugh at that one. There was one where Castle was giving Alexis a piggy back ride in what she assumed was the Hamptons. They looked so happy and adorable. The last one was of Alexis and Castle sitting on the couch, laughing and smiling at the camera holding something.
She heard footsteps on the stairs. She turned and saw Martha descending the stairs, a blue suitcase and a matching makeup bag in both hands. Martha smiled at her before she set her bags down. "Ready to go?" Beckett asked. "Yes darling. Where is that son of mine? RICHARD, WE'RE READY TO GO! PLEASE HURRY!" Martha yelled out. "Hold up, just closing my suitcase. Be there in a bit," he replied.
Castle emerged from his office lugging a black suitcase along with his laptop case. He looked over towards his mother's luggage and sighed. "Mother, did you have to bring your makeup bag?"
"Why yes I had to, Richard! What girl goes anywhere without her makeup bag? Am I right, Kate?" Martha asked. "I'm going to stay out of this. You guys ready to go?" Beckett asked. They both nodded. "Okay, let's go."
The drive to her apartment took a lot longer than usual due to the traffic. Martha tried to engage in small talk which filled the silence. Castle was playing Angry Birds on his phone.
Finally they reached their destination. Beckett parked the car in her parking space. They all got out, and Castle got the luggage from the trunk. They headed inside the lobby, saying hello to the doorman. They boarded the elevator, Beckett pressed the button to her floor, and they waited.
The doors opened and a wave of water splashed onto their shoes. "What the hell?" Castle asked, lifting up the luggage to prevent it from getting wet. "I don't know, but my apartment better not be flooded or else I'm gonna murder Bobby," Beckett stated, heading to her apartment. She slid the key into the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open. A wave of water hit her face, dousing her from head to toe. "Shit!" she yelled, coughing up water. She grabbed her phone from her pocket, hit number 7 on her speed dial, and waited. "Robert Valdez, how may I assist you?" a drunken voice. "Bobby, what the fuck happened to my apartment!?" she asked. "Detective Beckett, how nice to hear from you again. I forgot to mention that a pipe broke on your floor, so your apartment's flooded," he replied. "THEN FIX THE DAMN PIPE!" she yelled. "I'm sorry, but the plumber won't arrive till next week. He's on vacation in Fiji I believe," Bobby replied. "THEN GET ANOTHER FUCKING PLUMBER!" she yelled back. "I'm sorry, but Jimmy Kimmel is coming on next. I heard that Nathan Fillion guy is gonna be on there tonight. I've got to go, bye," he said. "NO DON'T HANG UP ON ME!" she yelled, but he'd already hung up.
"Aw fuck, stupid lazy son of a bitch apartment manager," she cursed. "I'm guessing your apartment will stay flooded for a while?" Castle asked. "What do you think?" she asked, glaring at him. "What are you gonna do?" he asked.
She ignored him and hit speed dial number 3 on her phone instead. She waited until she heard a familiar voice ask, "Hello?" "Hey dad, did I wake you?" she asked. "No, I've been up. What's up, Katie?" her father asked. "Yeah, my apartment's flooded. Can I stay over with you for a while?" she asked, brushing back some of her wet hair. "Sure, Katie, you're welcome to stay as long as you need to," he replied. "There's this just one catch though," she said. "What is it, Katie?" he asked. "Um, Castle and his mother have to stay with me so…" "The more the merrier. You'll explain when you come over?" he asked. "Yeah, I will. Thanks Dad, see you in a bit," she replied.
"Beckett-" "I'm gonna go in there, salvage some clothes, and then we're gonna go stay at my dad's house. You two go wait downstairs in the car," she replied. "Kate-" "Just, just go, okay?" she said. "Okay," he said, pressing the elevator for the ground floor.
Kate stepped into her apartment. She saw were the pipe broke. The water was up to her knees. She sloshed her way toward her bedroom. She stuffed some dry clothes into a black duffel bag, threw her makeup bag inside, zipped it shut, and made her way out.
Castle and Martha were waiting for her in the car. She threw the duffel bag into the trunk before she slipped into the driver's seat. She started the car, pulled onto the main road, and headed towards her dad's house.
She pulled up to the familiar house about an hour later. Castle and Martha were sleeping in their seats. She snuck a glance at Castle. He looked so adorable when he slept. He looked years younger, and he was snoring lightly. She almost hated that she had to wake him up.
"Castle, Rick, wake up," she said, shaking him lightly. "Whaa?" he asked, sitting up. "We're here. Get up," she whispered. Martha also woke up.
Castle being, well, Castle offered to carry her bag as well as his mother's. She declined seeing as he was already carrying too much. She climbed up the porch steps and rang the doorbell.
The door opened and her father came into view. "Katie," he whispered. "Hey Dad," she replied, hugging him. He pulled back, "Why are you wet?" "I had to make a pilgrimage into my apartment for clothes. You remember Castle and his mother, Martha?" she asked. "Yes, hello, Rick, Martha," he greeted. "Hello, sir," Castle replied. "Hello Jim," Martha replied. "Please call me Jim, son," her father said. "Alright, Jim, thank you for allowing us to stay in your home," Castle said. "Not a problem, Rick. Here, let me help you with those. I'll show you to your rooms, and you can get some rest," he said.
Kate put her bag in her room before she headed downstairs again. She saw her father hauling up the suitcases. "Oh don't worry Dad, I've got it," she said, grabbing the suitcases. "Alright, Katie, I'll start making hot chocolate," her dad replied. She nodded and motioned for Martha and Castle to follow her.
"Alright Martha, you can have this room. Make yourself comfortable, and meet us downstairs for hot chocolate if you want," Kate said, setting the blue suitcase and makeup bag in the room. "Thank you Kate, darling," Martha said before closing the door.
Kate was about to lead Castle to his room, but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at his face. "Let me take my own suitcase," he whispered, smiling at her. She allowed him to take the handle. She led him to the room right beside hers. "Well, here you go. See you downstairs?" she asked. "See you in a bit," he said, closing his door.
Soon, all four of them were sitting in the living room with a cup of hot chocolate in their hands. Martha and Jim were sitting in arm chairs while Rick and Kate shared the couch. They kept a respectful distance between themselves. "So, explain to me this situation, Katie," her father asked. "Um, Castle, you want to take the lead?" she asked. "Sure. My daughter was, um, kidnapped at the loft, so Captain Gates ordered Kate to be a protective detail for my mother and me," he replied. "Oh, I hope your daughter's alright," Jim said. "I do to," Rick mumbled.
Then Kate sneezed. Everyone said, "Bless you." "I'm sorry; I really should go take a shower and then sleep. Tomorrow's a busy day," she said, getting up. "I should get some sleep too," Rick also said, getting up as well. They both headed towards the kitchen to set their mugs in the sink.
Martha and Jim also followed them upstairs. Rick and Kate were about to head into their respective rooms when they bumped into each other. Kate accidentally grabbed Rick's arms to keep from stumbling. Rick grabbed Kate's waist to prevent himself from falling. After muttering a few apologizes, they looked into each other's eyes. Their eyes were locked in an intense gaze. Rick brushed a piece of hair from Kate's face. They would've stayed like that until they realized how close they were to each other. Kate pulled free from his grasp.
"I should go. It's late," she said, opening the door to her room. "Kate," he whispered. "Goodnight, Rick," she replied, smiling, before she closed the door.
