Chapter 21

When they returned to the loft, Martha met them at the door. "Welcome home, she said, hugging them. We missed you…both of you."

"Thank you, Mother/Martha," they said simultaneously.

"Bonded on this trip, did you?" Martha drawled.

"I dare you to say, 'Shut up, Martha,'" Castle said leaning toward Kate conspiratorially.

"Shut up, Castle," she answered.

"Hey! How did that happen?"

"You've just added another woman to your house, that's how," Martha told him. "We stick together, you know."

"Dead man walking," Castle mumbled, and Kate grinned and put a consoling arm around his waist.

"Ahmed. It's good to see you," Martha added, moving to give him a hug as he laughed at Castle and his houseful of women.

"Ready for ice cream?" Alexis asked from next to the refrigerator. "We were beginning to think you'd never get home."

"I never turn down ice cream," Ahmed answered.

"Me either," Castle agreed, taking off his coat and tie and unbuttoning his collar. "What's on the buffet?"

Martha went to help Alexis take out the eight half gallons of assorted flavors of ice cream they had bought, lining them up on the breakfast bar with bowls and spoons and taking the lids off the cartons.

"Why did you never do this when I was a kid?" Castle asked Martha with his little boy enthusiasm.

"Because I knew who would clean up the mess when you ate until you were sick."

"Eeew, Grams! Table talk." Alexis complained.

"He asked; I answered," Martha responded unrepentantly.

"Still gross," Alexis told her.

"If you want ice cream you'd better stop sassing your grandmother," Martha answered, grabbing the ice cream scoop out of her hand. "I'm getting mine now. The rest of you are on your own." She dished out what she wanted and rinsed the scoop, handing it to Ahmed. "Here. My family is being disrespectful. They can wait."

The rest of the group made their choices and served themselves, Kate and Alexis put the ice cream away, and all of them sat at the dining table with Martha, catching up on the last couple of weeks' activities.

Martha went up to bed, and Ahmed made sure the security system was armed and went to his room, leaving Alexis with Kate and her father. She wanted to hear what Kate thought of Mack and Rosa and the ranch.

"I hated to leave," Kate told her. "Everybody was so friendly…all of them…and the whole place…"

When she paused, looking for words, Alexis helped her out. "So you really liked it?"

"Yeah, I did."

"When was the last time you spent a whole day just playing?" Castle asked. Turning to Alexis, he said, "You should have seen her, Honey. She can ride."

"Really? Can we all three go sometime, Dad? We could always go riding somewhere around here, but it's so different there with all the open space."

"Mack wouldn't forgive us if we didn't. He and Rosa liked Kate." Castle looked at Kate with a little smirk. "He told me you were a keeper."

"Does Alexis scare you when she rides?"

"All the time," Castle affirmed. "I guess what goes around comes around."

"You notice he's still here. I haven't given him a heart attack yet," Alexis protested. "I guess I'd better go to bed. Some of us have to be at work tomorrow," she said with mock disdain.

"And some of us have been all over the western half of the country making the fans happy so he can sell books…books that finance your ability to intern instead of being out having to support yourself," Castle teased, and he grabbed her around the waist as she started to walk away.

Alexis giggled and kissed him on the cheek, then she turned and hugged Kate before she went to her room.

Castle and Kate conscientiously waited until Alexis had gone into her room and closed her door before they slipped away to theirs.

xxxxx

The next morning was a Thursday, and it was relaxed and quiet. While being aware of the appointment with Dr. Burke at eleven, they knew Martha and Alexis would be at work, and Rick and Kate saw no good reason to leave their bed early. Just as their lazy morning in bed was getting interesting, Rick's burner phone rang. It took his Kate-hazed mind a few seconds to register what he was hearing, then he feared he might do himself serious damage getting out of bed to grab it from the dresser and answer it in time.

"Smith?"

"It looks like they've finally decided that Detective Beckett has really backed off the case," Smith answered with no introductory pleasantries.

By that time, Kate was standing next to Castle, listening with him.

"So we can assume she's safe?"

"You can stand down unless she involves herself in the case again. He knows I have plans that will send the files where they would do him the most damage if anything happens to me."

"What about my family?"

"He doesn't seem interested in you or your family. Apparently he hasn't caught wind of our connection yet. If he has, he must believe you're an asset in keeping Detective Beckett in line. But keep her away from it, Mr. Castle. She's made him angry, caused him trouble; and the information I have is the only thing keeping him from ordering another hit."

"I'm here, too, Mr. Smith. He doesn't have to keep me away. I'm leaving it alone," Kate assured him.

"It's crucial that you do, Detective. You're both still playing a dangerous game, but at least you're being smart about it this time. Whatever else you may know is happening, you have to leave it alone. Things other than your life are counting on your discretion."

"What other things…" The answer was nothing but a dial tone.

"What does that mean?" Kate shouted at the phone, following that with a loud growl of frustration.

"Well, at least now I have company in wanting to throw the phone against the wall, yell all the curse words I know, and jump up and down on it until it's dust," Castle answered. "A little earlier, I was hoping to hear that growl in a different context, but the man was a definite mood breaker.

"He knows about Gates, doesn't he?"

"Sure sounds like it."

"What in the world is going on? Where is he getting his information?"

"I don't know. My biggest interest now is that you're safe. We might as well make coffee and talk to Ahmed."

"Probably ought to put some clothes on first," Kate smirked.

"Yeah, probably."

They quickly got dressed, and Kate started the coffee as Castle sat down in a chair near the one Ahmed occupied.

"Smith just called," Rick told him.

"Ah. That would account for the massive growl of frustration that just issued from your room?"

"It would. Apparently he's aware that Gates has the cases now, and apparently Kate's life isn't the only thing hanging in the balance if she doesn't stay out of it."

"And?"

"Dial tone and growling."

"I see. So my services are no longer needed?"

"Not for the time being anyway, but if you can be on stand-by for a while, I'd appreciate it. Thank you for the diligence and for always being available when I need you."

"You were there when my family needed help. It is not a kindness that will be forgotten." He stood and walked to his room, bags already packed in anticipation of going home to his family that night while his brother took over at the loft; and he returned to the living room with the bags."

"Coffee is almost ready. Would you like some before you go?" Kate asked.

"No, thank you. I believe I will go home and have coffee with my wife." Looking over to Kate, he said, "Kate Beckett, I have enjoyed coming to know you."

Kate walked over to where he stood and gave him a quick hug. "I've enjoyed getting to know you, too, Ahmed. You did make me feel safer when I needed it most. I hope, in the future, we'll see each other without the security element involved. Thank you."

"Thanks for everything," Rick said. "And can you leave me that scanner? Just add it to the bill, and I'll need three more…one for Kate and two more for Ryan and Esposito."

Ahmed removed the device from his pocket and handed it to Rick. "As you would say at your bar, 'This one's on the house.'" He gave Rick's upper arm a brotherly pat and left. "If either of you need me, just call."

Kate had walked back to the kitchen, and holding Castle's coffee out to him, she told him, "I'm dying to call Gates, but we can't, can we?" It was asked more as an observation than a question.

"We don't dare," he answered, walking over to accept the mug she held. "You heard Smith." There was a pause, as if he hated to voice the words. "If he knows, do you think anybody else does?

"I don't even want to think about that happening." She took a sip of her coffee. "You think we can find a way to ask her when we're back at work?"

"I don't think so. She made her rules pretty clear. I think we have to wait for her." There was another growl, and Castle put their coffees on the counter, took Kate in his arms, and rubbed her back to console her. He knew how badly she wanted to be in the middle of everything that was happening. "You heard Gates. When she has something worth telling, she'll let us know."

"This is so hard."

"I know. But at least we know you're safe." He kissed her brow in sympathy. "Maybe Gates will have something to tell us when we get back. Until then, we're free to go where we want, when we want…and I have a very nice house in the Hamptons. Javi shouldn't be the only one enjoying it."

"Javi has been enjoying your house in the Hamptons?"

"I gave him a key when he and Lanie came by to check on you. I thought it might make the suspension a little easier to live with. I meant to tell you."

"Thank you. I feel a little less guilty about going off and having a good time while he was waiting things out. Don't you think you should offer Ryan some time there, too?"

"Sure. We can do that, but he gets something way bigger…I just haven't decided what yet."

"Maybe we can figure out something after we're back at work."

"But he can't have the house this weekend. If Mother and Alexis don't want to go, I think we can come up with a way to pass the time on our own. Tomorrow is Friday. We can go down in the morning…today if you want…and I can have someone drive them down when they get home tomorrow. We could stand some distraction from Smith and Gates, and we can have a nice weekend at the beach before we have to meet any more dead bodies."

Kate smiled at his enthusiasm. "The beach sounds nice, and I'd like to see your house. I'll need to go home and get some beach clothes."

"We'll take an empty suitcase, and I'll take you shopping. Mother and Alexis would have no problem showing you the best places to shop, but I'd rather take you myself. I can find a lot of them. My credit card and I have wandered through enough of them waiting for world-changing fashion decisions to be made."

"I can't let you do that."

"Why not? I like doing things for you."

"You do terrific things for me without spending anything. Don't you know that yet? And the trip we were just on cost you plenty. Don't think I didn't fight myself about that, too; but I couldn't talk myself out of being with you. And custom made boots… I think you've done enough."

"Come here," he insisted, taking her hand and pulling her toward the study. "There's something I want you to see." He had her sit on the sofa while he took a large envelope from the wall safe. "I've never voluntarily shown this to a woman before because I've never trusted a woman in my life not to take advantage of it. You know how to read it. I've seen you with financials for cases."

"Castle, you don't need to…"

"I know I don't need to. I want you to see what we have. And as far as I'm concerned, if we're going to make a life together, it's going to be ours, not just mine." He took the papers from the envelope and put them in her hands insistently.

Kate reluctantly looked through the pages, awestruck at what she saw. Then, among the numerous assets and bank accounts in various places, she saw that there were several trust funds…one for Alexis, one for Martha, and one with Kate's name on it. "What is this," she asked, almost angrily.

Castle sat down with her and looked to see what she was questioning. "A percentage of the Nikki Heat profits. Putting up with me that first year, you earned it. If, heaven forbid, things don't work out between us, that should provide you a good retirement fund. I mentioned something like this once, and you didn't even want to talk about it; so I just put it in the trust until I could talk you into accepting it."

"Why? I have a job that takes care of me. And my mother left me a small trust fund. And I didn't write the books; you did."

"I did it because you were the inspiration for them…and because I wanted to. That isn't so terrible, is it?"

"No. It's very generous of you. Taking it would just feel wrong. I'm not used to taking what I didn't earn."

"I know, and I respect that. I just think you should know what you would be committing to…and before you point out that it doesn't matter to you how much I have…I already know that…or you wouldn't have all this in your hands."

"What are all these properties? They're all over the country. Are these investments?"

"Now and then, while I'm traveling, I run across situations where some really good people have run into some really bad luck. With their permission, I'd pay off the loan at the bank and they'd pay me instead…but the payment is now low enough they can afford it with their lowered incomes."

"There are more than a dozen of these here. Have any of them taken advantage of you?"

"Only one. When I was sure that's what was happening, I gave them fair notice and let them know which bank would be buying the mortgage. All the others have sent payments faithfully. They were all hard-working people who just needed a chance."

Kate leaned into him and kissed him. "What makes you do things like this…not that I'm not impressed that you do."

"Mother had me when she was pretty young, her family basically disowned her, and we had some tough times before she made a name for herself. A lot of people helped us out when she needed it, and she tried to return the favors when she could, even if it was in the form of paying it forward later. When there's something you can do, it feels good to do it."

"How come nobody reports on this side of you?"

"Paula doesn't know, or they probably would. Part of the agreement with the home owners is that they keep it to themselves. The money doesn't come directly to me, so I don't even think about it too often."

"You're a good man, Ricky Rodgers," she said, lacing her fingers through his and resting their hands on his knee. Seeing the look on his face, she said, "It embarrasses you a little that I know, doesn't it?"

"Maybe a little. I never told anybody else, not even Mother and Alexis. The attorneys and accountants were told to keep it quiet, and so far, they've respected that."

"And I will, too," she assured him.

"Other than that, you can see that I've made good investments…expanded the book income considerably."

"I knew you were a wealthy man, Rick, but this is… I never expected there was this much."

"And I want to be free to spend some of it on you…without a fight on my hands every time I try. Come on. One big shopping trip at the beach, then I'll hold myself back before I ask again, I promise." With the excited little boy look she had trouble resisting, he suggested, "We can leave this afternoon right after your appointment with Dr. Burke and buy everything we need for the rest of the weekend. A shopping adventure. It would be fun. Just this once, Kate. It would be fun, he emphasized. "Let me enjoy having all this to share with you."

"And you promise you won't keep insisting later?"

"Scout's honor."

"Didn't we establish a while back that you were never a scout?"

"Okay. I promise."

"Just this once?"

"For a while...at least a few months. It would make me happy. You want to make me happy, don't you?"

"When do you want to leave?"

"I'll call and be sure the house is ready for us, then we can get in the Ferrari and leave when we want to."

"Can I drive?"

"I know where it is. How about I drive there and you drive back? We'll take turns while we're there."

"Deal."

"Will you find us some breakfast first? I'll need to call Mother and Alexis, too."

After Castle called Martha and Alexis, Kate's phone rang and she heard Lanie's excited voice. "You haven't seen his place in the Hamptons, have you?"

She laughed at Lanie's exuberance. "Not yet. Only a couple of pictures. It looks great. Alexis has been talking, hasn't she?"

"She's excited. She can't help it. She told me how she feels about it. Sweetie, I'd almost be willing to marry the man for that view and those 97,000 thread count sheets alone. What are you waiting for? You know all he needs is a little encouragement to take him there. He's loved you through a lot. Don't make him wait too long."

"This is new to me, Lanie. Give me time to adjust before you get too demanding. If he's willing to do that, you can wait a little longer."

"I just want it to happen while I'm still young enough to look good in my bridesmaid's dress. You're gonna love it there. Have lots of fun. Monday isn't that far away, and reality is back."

"We intend to."

"Speaking as 'we,' now are you? I liked the couple signatures on the cards you sent, by the way. Nice touch. You're really in it this time, aren't you?"

"Who'd a thought, huh?"

"I'm happy for both of you. So is Alexis, in case you needed an outside opinion."

"That's good to know. Thanks, Lanie."

"Back to work. Have fun, Honey."

"We will," Kate teased. "Bye."

"Lanie?" Castle asked with a smile, returning from his study.

"Yeah. Breakfast is ready."

"Then let's eat, shower, dress, and leave with nothing but the clothes we're wearing. I can't wait."