Totally called the bad guy in tonight's episode (both of them actually-the one that appeared as well as the one that didn't). I love when that happens! What an intense hour people! I'm still hoping for the return of Westside Wallie (he prefers Westside); as well as the rapper duo (move that ass- get on the floor).
Here's the next chapter- filling in some holes that I may or may not have left in chapter 4. ;-)
February 4th, 1999
It had been a complete waste of a day, he was behind schedule and completely distracted. Although Rick Castle loved writing and was grateful that others liked what he had to offer, he absolutely hated book tours. They were long, exhausting and they took him away from his daughter.
Alexis didn't appear to mind this time, as she was too excited to spend time with her mother.
Meredith. Castle thought to himself bitterly. What the hell did I see in her anyway? A series of images flashed through his brain, torrid images that depicted he and his ex-wife in some of the most unlikely sexual positions. Oh, that's right. He thought to himself, remembering how explosive they'd been together in the beginning.
He walked down the crowded Chicago street, spotting his car at the next intersection. He waived to the driver as he moved to take a seat in the back, grateful for the warm heat after just minutes in the frigid air. He nodded to Paula, who was already in the car, looking through her planner.
Castle sighed in frustration once again, thinking about his impulsive and inconsiderate ex-wife. Truth be told, he never would have married her had she not gotten pregnant. Hell, he imagined their relationship had a shelf-life of about 6 months had their daughter not come along.
Still, he would never regret it, as the product of their union was the light of his universe, his little girl. Castle smiled as he got into the car, pulling a photograph of the smiling red-head, her hair in pigtails and blue finger paint covering both of her little hands. She made all the drama with Meredith worth it.
Regardless, he was brought back to their conversation just moments before and his blood began to boil once again,
"Hey." Castle spoke into the phone, holding the device against his ear with his shoulder while shrugging into his coat. The February air was frigid and he was about to venture into it once again. Castle had been frustrated by the fact that the plane had been delayed, causing him to cut his signing session by two full hours. The writer hated doing that to his fans, knowing that they'd waited in line for hours and he would likely not be able to get to all of them.
Regardless, it was time to put work aside, as he promised he would call home. He dialed the number as he gathered his travel bag, nodding politely to the bookstore staff as he prepared to leave. He'd been told there would be a car waiting just down the alley at the intersection.
"Hello Richard!" Meredith answered a suspicious hint of cheer in her voice. Their divorce had been amicable, and he knew that while she was with Alexis she had full access to his credit cards. Needless to say, the light and cheery tone made him grimace slightly as he thought about how much he was about to be set back, financially speaking.
"Hi Meredith. So, what's the damage? A day of shopping again? Did you take our child to another spa? Because you know that's just ridiculous, she's just too young to appreciate or enjoy such things…"
"Richard, stop." Meredith interrupted him, a hint of exasperation in her tone.
"I did no such thing. I learned my lesson last time. Today has been all about my little Alexis, and we're just having a blast, aren't we sweetheart?" His ex spoke into the phone, but it was clear that she was now communicating with their daughter.
Rick smiled, letting out a breath of relief. Perhaps Meredith had gotten it right this time. Perhaps she was learning from her past, putting the needs of others before her own.
"Yes, we're having so much fun with Mickey Mouse, aren't we darling?" She spoke once again to Alexis.
"Um… Mickey Mouse?" Rick questioned, "Where in New York were you able to find Mickey Mouse?"
"Oh, don't be silly, Richard. We're not in New York, we're in Florida." She answered breezily.
"You're in…wait…WHAT?" He was astounded. Not only had he not known about their trip, but the custody agreement mandated that Meredith not take their daughter out of New York State.
"Alexis wanted to go to Disney World and we were supposed to have the whole weekend, remember?" She stated, as if his change in plans somehow gave her the right to be on the defensive. He was supposed to stay an extra day in Chicago, but Alexis pleaded that he be home to take her to dinner after a fun day with her mom.
"This isn't about that…" He stated, his voice low and dangerous. Overwhelmed with fury, he let his temper go.
"Damnit! What the hell were you thinking?" He yelled as he made his way out onto the sidewalk, attempting to use his scarf to keep out the cold air.
"I was thinking that I wanted to make my little girl happy, and now that I never get to see her, I thought this would be a good for us. Do you not want us to bond? I'm still her mother and I think you're missing that point, Richard. " She was whiny and somewhat defensive. In the past he would have caved to her, but this was about Alexis now.
"The point is, it isn't your right or decision.." He was cut off suddenly,
"I am still her mother, Richard. You can't take that away from me. She's my daughter, I have a right to take her on an outing for goodness sakes."
He bit back quickly, "I don't care if she is, when you signed that paper, you lost that right. You see her because I let you, and the next time you pull shit like this without my permission-" He paused to control his temper, "I promise it will be the last time." He was livid. Hell, he could have her thrown in jail for flying their daughter to Florida without his permission.
It was at that moment that he took in enough of his surroundings in to notice that he had an audience, catching the women out of the corner of his eye and vaguely recognizing the brunette, he sighed in frustration. It was just what he needed, a fan reporting domestic issues in the life of famous author Richard Castle. He was so distracted by those thoughts that he nearly tuned out Meredith, who was continuing to whine into the phone about how he wasn't being fair.
"Enough." He cut her off, "We'll talk when I get home." He instructed his ex, not wanting to advertise any more of his personal life. The women were young, and they were beautiful. The brunette that was currently holding her very own signed copy of his book was enchanting, but he'd learned early on that beautiful women tended to land him in trouble. Chances were something was going to wind up on page six, as he'd clearly piqued the interest of the two young women staring at him.
"Do you want to talk to Alexis?" Meredith offered, knowing that their little girl would be able to sweet talk both mother and daughter back into his good graces.
"I'll call from the airport to talk with her." He spoke, slamming his phone shut and briskly walking in the opposite direction of the curious women staring at him. He needed to minimize any damage that might have been done by allowing fans to witness such a personal moment.
He replayed the conversation in his head as they drove to the airport. Was I too hard on her? He thought momentarily before striking the sentiment. No way, that was so out of line. As they arrived at the airport his phone rang again, this time it was Alexis on the other line.
"Hi daddy." She spoke somewhat timidly, "please don't be mad at mommy because I wanted to meet Mickey Mouse and Cinderella." Low fucking blow Meredith, he thought bitterly to himself.
"Oh, no pumpkin, I'm not mad. I just got a little scared because you went so far from home. Everything is going to be ok." He assured his daughter.
"Does that mean we can stay? Because mommy says there are fireworks when it gets dark and there is a pool in the hotel. I could go swimming in the winter-time daddy!" She exclaimed excitedly.
Castle sighed, "Of course you can sweetheart. Now put your mother on the phone." He answered sweetly.
"I love you daddy!" The little girl exclaimed.
"I love you too pumpkin, have fun." He answered.
"Now, was that so hard, Richard?" Meredith spoke sweetly after taking back the phone.
"We are so not done having this conversation. She better be home in plenty of time for school, do you hear me?" Castle threatened.
"Of course, I'll take good care of her. She is my daughter afterall." Meredith insisted once again.
He hung up the phone with a sigh of frustration.
"You sure do know how to pick 'em, Rick." Paula offered sarcastically. For a moment he'd forgotten that his publicist was in the car.
"You're telling me." He muttered, staring out the window and looking at the travelers making their way to the O'Hare terminal.
"You know, if you don't have to be back in New York, you do have options here in Chicago tonight…" Paula pulled out a silver ticket with a glint in her eye.
The music was loud and the lights were low. Best of all, because it was a masquerade ball he could come and go as he pleased. Tonight he could be any man, and he intended to do so. It had been a while since he'd simply let loose. Afterall, so much of his time had been devoted to caring for Alexis.
The club was alive with rhythm and Rick was starting to feel good about being able to let go. Even if- or especially because Meredith had pissed him off.
After his third round of straight tequila, which he'd gladly taken off of the chest and belly button of some random women, he spotted her. Although he couldn't see the face behind the mask he was transfixed. It wasn't that she had a killer body, although she did. No, he was captivated by how freely she moved.
He had to get a closer look. Castle made his way to the dance floor, the strobe lights were a bit overwhelming, but the beat drove him on and there she was- a siren he couldn't look away from. After several moments she became aware of his presence. With fluid movements she shifted herself to swing her arms around his neck before twirling to move behind him.
Her rapid moves were disorienting and intoxicating at the same time. Regardless of the fact that it was too dark to get a glimpse, and they both wore their masks, it was obvious to both of them that he was interested in taking whatever she was willing to give.
They danced, touching and flirting subtly at first but quickly escalating their movements. Soon she was grinding against him, still completely careless in her movements. She acted as if she'd known him forever, moving to glide her body against his.
He led her by the wrist to the bar, where he ordered more shots of tequila, guiding her to lean against a stool as he lifted her shirt and poured the liquid. She sighed contentedly, relishing of the feel of his tongue swirling around her belly button, and allowed him to take two more shots in a similar fashion.
She started to talk about the music, about how the tones were beautiful and the lights were vibrant, touching him and hugging him as if he was her one true love. He still couldn't see her face, but it was clear from her behaviors that she wasn't just drunk-she was high as a kite. Castle was about six tequila shots too late to care.
She threw her arms around him again, "What's your name?" She asked, starting to run her tongue along the side of his neck. It stuttered his thoughts…name, name? Rick Castle. No, not tonight…he thought distractedly as her hands moved up and down his chest lovingly.
"Uh. Brad." He muttered, distracted by the way her body lined against his, molding there perfectly. He grasped her backside tightly to pull her flush against him, capturing her lips and demanding access with his tongue. She gave it gladly.
She was continuously running her hands up and down his arms, feeling the fabric of his shirt, seemingly needing to touch every inch of him. "You feel so wonderful. Did you ever notice how nice things feel?"
He kissed her again, hard and she responded in kind, wrapping one leg behind his knee to grind against him.
She laughed with delight, "Are you from Chicago?" She asked, stroking him through his jeans and yet asking the most mundane questions. It nearly undid him. He simply nodded, "Yeah", distracted and wanting another taste of this magical woman. He backed her against the wall of the club, using the leverage for his own stability. The room was starting to spin with the effects of what was likely 1/3 a bottle of tequila.
She ground herself against him, clearly encouraging his actions. It never occurred to him that he didn't even know her name as he moved to unbutton the zipper of her sinfully short skirt, snaking his hand into her panties and feeling her wet there. She bit his ear appreciatively and moved to kiss him again. He opened his mouth to grant her further access when she pushed him back suddenly.
Confused, he stared at her for a moment. She was gripping his shoulders as if she would fall if she let go.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked. This comment seemed to pull her out of whatever trance she'd found herself in. Finally she nodded, "no." She ran her hand along the side of his face, her insatiable need to touch him seemingly restored.
She then took his hand and led him down the back hall, into the women's bathroom and closed them in a stall. Within moments she was kissing him, her hands everywhere as she bit at his earlobe and snaked her hands down his pants and boxers simultaneously. In no time his pants were down, he shifted her skirt up and pulled her panties aside, unable to think of anything else than the pressing need to bury himself inside of her.
She let out a scream of ecstasy when he entered her, gripping the hair on the back of his head and moving her leg to brace herself and raise her hips. She met him thrust for thrust and despite the fact that he was intoxicated beyond the point of proper movement; he pumped himself into her as if his life depended on it. He couldn't remember a time when he'd felt so hard, so desperate. It was simply too intense to last long and soon she was screaming, completely losing control and falling over the edge of her own ecstasy. It didn't take him long to follow and soon he was limp against her, sliding out of her while desperately attempting to keep his satiated body upright.
She straightened her skirt, not bothering to pick her now torn panties up off the floor. Sighing, she simply looked at him. A great deal of the euphoria she'd been emanating seemed to have worn off as she simply moved passed him. As he followed her out of the bathroom she simply shot back to him,
"If I'm ever in Chicago, I'll look you up." She didn't look back as she made her way out of the club. It was at that moment that he realized that he'd never even gotten her name.
The next morning brought the hangover from hell and spotty memories. He knew he'd met a girl, he knew nothing about her, and it was clear that he'd had sex. Parts of him were raw, as if they'd had sex all night. He sighed in frustration.
While it wasn't his first one night stand, it was the first time that he'd been too drunk to use good judgment. Fuck, he thought to himself, imagining an array of possible sexually transmitted diseases as he boarded the plane back to New York, now I've got to get tested.
Ok…Now go back and re-read chapter 4…Hopefully they read like two sides of the same coin. ;-)