In The Hamptons
Disclaimer: Still the rightful property of the brilliant A.W. Marlowe.
Chapter 14
A little while later, Kate heard the sliding door open and turned to see Castle striding onto the deck from the kitchen. "Now there's a sight to behold," he said, taking in her black suit and the long, tan body it was doing a minimal job of covering.
Leaning over her chair, he pressed a warm, open kiss to her mouth – and then nearly fell over when she wrapped her arm around his neck to pull him closer. "Welcome home," she murmured.
"I can leave again if you promise to kiss me like that when I get back."
She laughed and released her hold, allowing him to take a seat next to her. "Where's Alexis?"
As if on cue, his progeny emerged from the water and jogged up to greet him, dripping and pulling her heavy hair off her shoulders. "Hey Dad! Get everything you need?"
"And more," he promised, pulling her against him to kiss the top of her head and not giving a second thought to the wet spots he got on his clothes. It was worth it. "So what did you two do while I was gone."
Kate and Alexis' eyes met briefly and both were relieved to share a kind of good-natured conspiratorial look before Kate answered, "Not much. Swam, read, ate, enjoyed some girl talk."
"Girl talk, huh? Anything I should worry about?"
"Dad, seriously?"
"What?" he asked with false innocence. "Listen, I've heard enough stories of what that woman did as a teenager to worry about the ideas she might be putting in your head about college."
"Castle, you're not giving me much credit here," she said with a sharp look his way that was belied by the smile she couldn't suppress even for the purpose of feigning an insult.
"Or maybe I'm giving you too much," he shot back with a devilish grin of his own.
Seeing the heat that was anything but angry pass between the couple, Alexis made her decision. "On that note, I'm going to go shower and change." She headed past her father toward the house. "I've had enough of this blistering sun. Central air, here I come."
"So," Castle said, resuming his place in the chair next to Kate and taking her hand in his, "how was your swim?"
Before she could answer, the door opened again, and Alexis stepped out carrying Kate's cell phone. "Kate, this was buzzing on the counter when I went in, but it stopped before I could get it to you." Then, much more quietly, uncertain of how the news would be received, she added, "It was the precinct."
Kate's eyes flew to Rick's, even as she reached for the phone. She glanced down at the display and saw she had three missed calls: two from the main precinct number and one from Ryan, all within the last thirty minutes.
Alexis retreated softly back into the house, knowing this was not a conversation she wanted, nor needed, to be a part of.
"Castle …" Kate whispered, having no idea what else to say.
"Kate, it's your call. If you turn the phone off and throw it into the ocean, we'll head into the house, grill some steaks, and not give it a second thought. And if you call back – if you want to go back – I'll be packed before you hang up."
Without hesitation, she went to him, her arms wrapping like iron bands around him. He returned the embrace in all its intensity, pulling her tight against him and cradling her head as it rested against his shoulder.
But before either one could say anything else, Kate's phone started to vibrate where it sat on the table. The caller ID said, "The 12th," and Kate knew only one person would be calling from that number. Even though Ryan had given her a heads up to expect it, she hadn't thought Gates would actually call, and even with Castle's unwavering support and reassuring presence, she wasn't looking forward speaking to her captain.
"You gonna answer it?" he said softly.
"Don't have much choice. I can't hide forever." Pressing the "accept" button, she kept her voice neutral. "Hello."
"Hello, Detective Beckett."
"Captain Gates," she acknowledged curtly.
"I trust your time off is going well."
"Yes, sir." She wasn't about to divulge any details just yet.
"I'm glad to hear that, really. But the reason for my call is slightly more formal – and pressing," Gates admitted.
"Forgive me for not thinking this was a social call," Kate said tightly.
"Detective – Kate, your resignation papers are ready to be signed, if you are still committed to giving up your job here. However, I was hoping we could discuss the matter a little more fully before you walk away, especially given the current circumstances."
A little surprised, Kate simply replied, "Sir?"
A heavy sigh came through the phone, and Kate could almost see Gates slipping off her glasses and rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I know it's been a hard year for you, and I didn't always make it easier …"
Kate checked the urge to say, No kidding.
"… But the fact is, you're the best I have. I don't pretend to know everything that led to your decision to leave, but I want you to know that no one is going to hold you to this resignation."
"Did Ryan put you up to this?" She wasn't pulling any punches; she had no reason to.
"I've spoken to both members of your team about the matter, and they asked that I speak to you. However, the decision to ask you to reconsider is mine alone. I know it's a holiday weekend, and you still have some time left on your leave, but the fact is we have four murders on our hands and not one lead."
"Four? Ryan said two." Kate's stomach tightened painfully at the new information. Her instincts began to hum as she tried to focus on Gates' voice.
"That was yesterday. We got one last night, around eleven, and another at ten this morning. Both were men this time, but with the same blue ribbon. That's when I asked Detective Esposito to return to active duty, and now I'm asking you. Four victims in less than three days means I need the best my precinct offers, and recent events notwithstanding, I'm not above saying that's you."
Kate didn't know what to say. She looked at Castle, but as he'd only heard her brief side of the conversation, there wasn't much he could offer.
Tentatively, she said, "I appreciate your request, but I need a little while to think on this. You're right about one thing, this year has been hell for me, and I don't relish the thought of coming back to a case that is well into its third day and will undoubtedly consume me in every way." Deciding she had nothing to lose, she continued a little more forcefully, "These last few weeks have helped me get my priorities straight, and whether or not I come back just for this case or permanently, I'm not sacrificing them for the job again."
"Understood, detective. I expect your decision within the hour so that I can move forward from there."
"Yes, sir, you'll have it. One more thing, Captain. Does this offer of amnesty include Castle?"
"Do I have a choice?" Gates asked, without apology.
"No sir, not if you want me."
"Well then, I think that's all."
Kate disconnected after a terse goodbye and looked over to meet Castle's very penetrating stare.
"I take it she wants you back."
Kate nodded as the implications of the phone call swirled through her head.