This fic takes place in the present time everything is as is on the show.
Disclamier: Yeah I own Castle! Not! If I did I'd be hanging out with Stana and Nathan and there would be a Castle baby on the way! I do own all 5 seasons of Castle on DVD, 4 Nikki Heat books a Castle calendar and a Castle t-shirt!
Chapter 13: Setbacks
Kate was sitting at the counter sipping her decaf coffee reading the paper. Castle smiled when he saw her. She was doing so much better since that night she told him everything. She still had an occasional nightmare and they have yet to be intimate but she did let him get closer and she wasn't afraid of Esposito or Ryan.
Kate looked up from her paper "You're staring again" she teased
"It's hard not to stare when you have such a beautiful wife" he smiled
"Fiancé Castle" she corrected him
"I can say wife if I want to" he leaned down kissing her softly "Have you and little bean eaten" he asks rubbing her tiny bump.
"No we were waiting for you to make chocolate chip smiley pancakes" she grins
"Coming right up my lady" he gives her another kiss as he goes in to kitchen
Kate is enjoying the breakfast he made her when her cell phone rings she picks up seeing its Gates "Hello sir" she smiles but the smile soon fades "But sir I" she pauses "Yes sir I understand" she whispered disconnecting the call setting her phone back on the counter.
When Castle sees the tears in her eyes he moves over to her "Kate what is it" he asks gently
"Ga…Gates she said Jo..Josh has some he...hearing an…and I have to go" a few tears cascaded down her cheeks "I…I don't want to see him I…I don't want to relive any of it" she cries softly
"I know" he replies softly he didn't want her near Josh either but he knew it had to be done to make sure he pays for the things he did to her "He has to pay for hurting you" he told her
"I don't…I can't" more tears filled her eyes
Castle pulls her to him hugging her "It'll be okay Kate I'll be there, the family will be there don't look at him just keep your eyes on all of us" he tells her.
Kate just nods holding on to him needing to feel safe
Late that afternoon Kate walks into he small courtroom holding Castle's hand with Alexis and Martha following behind them. Usually she's been in here to testify for a victim but this time she was the victim. She saw her dad, the boys Lanie, Jenny and Gates already there. They walled over to join their family. "Oh Kate" Jenny stood up slowly with her huge belly "Kevin told me everything I'm so sorry" she hugged the detective the best she could with her belly.
Kate hugged her back "You shouldn't be here Jenny you should be resting" she motioned to the woman's stomach
"I'm fine I had to be here we're all family" she replied "and I see our family is growing" she smiles seeing Kate's tiny bump.
Before Kate could reply Josh was led in wearing handcuffs his eyes landed on her giving her a cold grin. She grabbed Castle holding on to him as the familiar feeling of fear returned.
"It's okay Kate" Castle whispered rubbing gentle circles on her back "Look around you have your family, you have people who loves you, look at him he's alone nobody cares about him" he told her softly.
Kate glanced over at Josh he was alone he just had his lawyer then she looked at the people with her she wasn't alone anymore, she had a family again. She relaxed a little "Thank you" she whispered kissing Castle on the cheek
"Always "he smiled at her
The hearing went as expected the boys, Castle and Alexis gave statements on their account of what happened that day and now it was Kate's turn she was scared but she remembered what Castle said she kept her eyes on her family as she spoke telling the room what she went through when her and Josh were dating and what happened that day a few weeks ago tears ran down her cheeks as she spoke she just wanted to be in Castle's arms but she knew she had to finish.
Martha saw the tears and fear in Jim's eyes as he found out the full details of what his little girl went through. She took his hand in hers giving it a gentle squeeze.
Gates looked on shocked "Mr. Castle" she whispered "Did all that really happen to her, to my best detective" she asked in utter shock.
"Yes" Castle whispered with a slight nod
"That poor girl she' lucky to have a man like you she can lean on" she replied quietly
Castle looked at Gates a little surprised
"Don't look so surprised I may have the name "Iron Gates" but I do have a heart I love that girl, my people are family Mr. Castle and that includes you" she gave him a smile.
Castle smiled Gates wasn't that bad after all "Thank you sir"
She just smiled giving his arm a gentle squeeze.
When Kate was excused she made her way back to her family Castle pulled her into his arms telling her how proud he was of her.
Josh got a chance to speak everything coming out of his mouth was a lie. Kate trembled as she listened to Josh say she was lying that she wanted everything he gave her and she liked it, that she'd been cheating on her fiancée with him that the baby she carries could be his. She felt sick her hand moving to her tiny bump "I…Its not true Rick, its not" she started to cry "I love you I'd n...never cheat on you an...and little bean is yours Rick, it…its yours" she cried more rubbing her tiny bump.
"Shh Kate its okay" Castle whispered "I know you wouldn't cheat I know little bean is mine" he sets his hand over hers. He glanced at Josh sitting there with a smug look on his face like he was proud of himself "You son of a bitch" Castle spat out angrily he stood up his hand in a fist.
"Bro don't" Esposito grabbed him
"Yeah man don't let him get to you" Ryan answered
"She's my wife Ryan" he snapped 'What if it were Jenny" he asked
"I'd want to do the same thing, I want to do to it for Beckett but its what he wants Castle you can't give it to him" Ryan told him
A hand touched his shoulder "He's right son" Jim Beckett sad softly "I know you want to go up there and ring his neck but my Katie bug needs you" he tells him "you're the only person she's ever let completely into her heart, you gave her back her smile and you gave me back my little girl don't let that ass up there take it all away again" he spoke softly
Castle felt tears in his eyes not only had his soon to be father in law called him son but the words he spoke touched him. "I love her Jim all I've ever wanted to do since the moment I met her was protect her" he whispered
"I know and you have you don't think I know about all the times you've protected her and saved her" Jim said "She's told me about all of the times you risked your life for her you're a good husband to my little girl and an amazing father to my granddaughter and you're going to be a great father to my new grandchild too so sit back down so you can be there for them use your hands to comfort my little girl not to punch the man who hurt her" he told him.
Castle was in awe of Jim Beckett the man loved his daughter like his grandchild and was treating him like a son "Jim I..I "he paused and then whispered "Thank you"
"You're welcome son and its dad" the older man smiled
That touched Castle he smiled before sitting back down beside Kate taking her hand in his as they waited to see if Josh would walk or go to trial. He felt Kate's body tremble as a sob of relief escaped her lips when it was announced that Josh would go back to jail to await a trial that would take place after the holidays.
Josh was not happy he screamed and yelled calling Kate a whore and bitch threatening her as he was led away
When she started to cry Castle looked into her eyes "Hey its okay" he says softy "He will never get near you again you have me and the boys we'd all lay our lives down for you" he told her
"Hey don't forget me writer boy I'll perform an autopsy on his ass" Lanie added
"I'd lay my life down for you as well Detective Beckett" Gates added
"and me I'd do anything for you Katie I'd die trying to protect you" Jim looked at his frightened little girl
Kate smiled she hadn't felt so loved, so safe since before her mother died. " I love you" she whisper "I love all of you"
Castle laced his fingers with hers as the family left the small room together knowing nothing would hurt them they all had each other's backs always.
Chapter 14: Trying to Be Normal …The gang celebrates Christmas and tries to make life normal again
Author's Note: Hello Caskett lovers! Here is the next chapter! In the next one the gang celebrates Christmas trying to get things back to normal! Casket hugs to all!