One
Chapter 21
All Kate felt at the moment was pain and need. She had been trying to ignore it for hours but she had reached her breaking point. "Castle?" She finally gave in and yelled his name, waiting for a response. "…CASTLE!" It felt like it had been hours. When he didn't come running, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She didn't know where he kept the powders or just which one to use since she had never actually seen any of them. She just knew that she needed one of them. She didn't want a shot but she did want something. Anything!
It had been a few days already. They had gotten the TV and internet working just yesterday. She had listened to Rick bellow at the serviceman for being late. Between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM had been the time given. He had shown up at a little after 4:00. He hadn't even left yet when Rick came in and gave her one of her drinks with one of the powders in it. Rick began apologizing to her. "I'm sorry. If he had been here when he was supposed to be…"
Kate had simply reached up and pulled him down so she could kiss him. It had been fine, he was doing everything he could.
Now, though, she was pissed at him. She was in pain and he wasn't here. She was betting the powders were in the kitchen somewhere so she was busy opening cabinets when suddenly the front door opened. Kate practically jumped out of her skin and shrieked in fear. Her first thought was that it was one of Bracken's killers. Her next thought was that it was a normal burglar.
"You're up! Sorry I'm late. The sales lady was a pain." Rick shut and locked the door. "Are you hungry?" She still couldn't have solid foods yet. At least that was what the directions had told him.
"Medicine?" Kate grabbed hold of the counter when a sudden need almost had her spinning.
Rick, however, had seen it and she found herself in his arms while he held her up. He glanced at his watch. "Not for another one hour and eleven minutes." The directions had also been very specific: Follow them or else.
"Castle, PLEASE?" Kate wanted it now.
"How about something else?" Arguing with her had always ended badly for them in the past. He wanted to avoid another verbal altercation in any way he could. Rick guided her over to the sofa, sat her down, and hurried over to the counter to pick up the bag he had brought home with him. "I got you something…well two somethings, really." He brought the bag back over to her and sat down. "I had a lot of trouble finding this one but I'm sure you'll love it." He reached in, pulled it out, and handed it to her.
"A book?" She wanted one of the powders not a book. Then she looked at it and opened it.
Горе от ума
Грибое́дов, Алекса́ндр Серге́евич
"It's in Russian!" Kate looked up at him, astonished, and loved him just a little more. Her need for a shot or medicine was momentarily gone.
"I got you one more thing. This one was at considerable personal expense. It cost me greatly, just so you know." Actually the book she was holding had cost him a great deal more; it was that this one was more personal. Rick reached into his bag, pulled out another book, and handed it to her. "Patterson's latest."
Kate burst into laughter. "I love both of them. Thank you!" She leaned across to kiss him quickly. Then she ran her hand over the jacket of the Patterson book. She really didn't know which one she liked most. She liked them both, just for different reasons.
"Now you can read and lose yourself in the story." Rick smiled, pleased that he had made her happy. "I'm going to go start a soup. Here's the remote and you have your books. It'll be ready in no time." He leaned across to give her a quick kiss that had Kate kissing him back.
Kate watched him head for the kitchen and then looked down at her books. She mindlessly wiped away a tear that had escaped. "I love you," she said softly.
"I love you, too." She heard his response answer back soundly. Far more forceful than hers. "Food, Castle," she bit back, feeling a little exposed. Though she was learning to say it more often and was beginning to believe it herself. It felt good.
Kate chose the Russian book to open first and started reading and was already lost in it when Rick interrupted her. "Soup's ready." He swirled the spoon in the soup – strained broth from a Scottish dish, cock-a-leekie soup – and held up the spoon to her mouth.
Kate opened her mouth easily and let him feed her. It was actually quite tasty. "What are you writing," she asked him between spoonfuls. She noticed that he stopped and shrank a little before sitting back up straighter to keep feeding her. "Castle?" He hadn't answered her question.
"It's not important." Rick raised the spoon again only to have her intercept his hand with hers.
"Yes, it is. You're a writer, so what are you writing? What are Nikki and Rook doing now?" It was the series he was last writing.
"Nothing." Rick put the spoon back in the bowl and stirred it around. Then he felt Kate's hand beneath his chin, lifting his head up and looking at him. He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I didn't take your being killed very well. I became a hermit and locked myself away. It's…it's partly why Alexis is so mad at me." Rick wasn't at all happy with himself, either. In fact he was quite angry at the way he'd behaved toward his family.
"So you're not writing?" Kate suddenly felt bad. It was her fault.
"I lost my inspiration. You were dead and nothing else mattered much." All Kate saw was pain on his face. She didn't know what to say.
"You're alive, that's all that matters. Don't worry about my writing. It'll come back." Rick righted himself, offering up a spoonful again, and went back to feeding Kate.
"You're writing, Castle, don't let me stop you." He had to write; it was who he was.
"Maybe when you're well enough to use the pool before it closes or the exercise room. I was thinking of joining you. We could get back in shape together." Rick suggested, knowing that keeping up with Kate was going to be a challenge.
"That would be nice." Having him close during her recovery suddenly sounded like the most perfect thing. She also became lost in her mind and went on autopilot as Castle continued to feed her. She questioned just who she was now. Part of her was scared that Castle was going to see everything. But he'd already seen everything. She couldn't take a shower yet but it hadn't stopped him from stripping her and giving her a sponge bath just like Lanie and Susan had done before.
All she saw in his eyes was his determination to accomplish the task and not hurt her. His face had never changed. She was sure she looked like hell. What little she had seen of herself had almost made her sick. She was a mess – inside and out – and he never said a word.
Yet he loved her. "All done," Rick suddenly announced; she looked at the empty bowl in surprise. "Is there more?" she asked, meaning both soup and powder. She was conflicted by just what she was asking; it was like he had read her mind.
Rick looked at his watch. "Twenty minutes." He handed her the remote and left her to head to the kitchen and clean up before giving her one of the powders. He would eat after giving her a drink with a powder in it. It usually knocked her right out. He didn't want her seeing him eat what she couldn't.
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Martha was alone and it was starting to get to her. Rick was with Kate and Alexis was she didn't know where. It had caused her to start working in her shop a little longer than normal. It was, however, also causing her to tire faster.
She was thinking of getting a small drink before bed when there was a knock on the door. "Now what?" she grumbled. She wasn't happy. Opening the door, what she saw gave her a shock. "Meredith!?"
"Martha." Meredith had hoped for someone else to answer the door. Though she undeterred and dragged her suitcase into the loft going past Martha. "Where's Ricky." Meredith walked straight to his office.
Martha told her the truth. "He's not here."
"Oh?" It was time for plan B. "Where's Alexis?" She could use her just as easily.
"No one is here, Meredith, and no one is going to be for quite a while." Maybe she would take the hint and leave.
"Where did they go?" She needed at least one of them. Meredith glared at Martha who always melted under one of her stares.
"No one knows where either of them are. Both are going to be gone a long time." Actually she knew her son would be gone for months. As for Alexis, she had no idea so she simply lumped her in with her father.
"I don't believe you. Where are they, Martha?" She was lying, Meredith was sure of it. She had to be lying. Meredith left her bag and marched into the master bedroom.
Martha thought she needed reinforcements so she went to the kitchen to retrieve the phone Alexis had left her. But all she got was voice mail. "Alexis, dear. Meredith is here and demanding to know where Richard and you are. She has a suitcase and she sounds…normal for her. Call me when you can." Martha hung up and put it away.
Martha watched Meredith storm out of the master bedroom and suffered the daggers her son's ex-wife sent at her. Then she watched her storm up the stairs. She could hear Meredith searching everywhere, probably including her room which only made Martha more upset that she was here. Martha could only hope that she would just leave but she doubted it.
Then the impossible happened. The front door opened and in came Alexis followed by…Kate? "Alexis?" Martha didn't know what to think.
"Is Mother still here?" Alexis inquired. Martha could only nod her head.
"Upstairs." Martha was still shocked and didn't know what to do or even think. Why was Kate here and why did she look so good suddenly? She was supposed to be with her son in hiding.
"I'll handle it," Kim announced, sprinting up the stairs.
"Alexis?" Martha questioned her as her granddaughter came over to her.
"I can't explain, Grams, just trust me." Alexis hated secrets but they were needed for now.
Martha had no trouble with that, though she did have a question. "Who was that?" She looked like Kate and yet she didn't act like her. Not the Kate that left the Hamptons.
Alexis opened her mouth and then closed it. However, she decided to give her grandmother a bone, so to speak. "That's Kim. She's a friend. A very good friend."
"Kim, the one with amnesia but who isn't Kate." Martha thought she was keeping up but it was hard.
Alexis was saved when Kim and Meredith began walking down the stairs. "She's leaving and has decided to never come back again," Kim announced as they all watched a silent Meredith go over to her bag and drag it to the door.
"Dear?" Martha had never seen Meredith like this before. She was sure that Meredith would put up more of a fight.
"Good bye, Mother," Alexis called out as they watched Meredith walk out the door and close it behind her.
"I think that calls for a celebration. Care to join me?" Martha suddenly felt a lot less tired and pulled a bottle of wine out of the refrigerator.
"Wine! Count me in." Kim wasn't going to turn down a glass. It was 21st Century wine so it had to be good.
Kim was liking what she was drinking. Martha asked her a question. "You're not Kate?"
"Obviously," Kim confirmed and then decided to add a little. "And no, I don't have amnesia."
"Katherine doesn't have a twin sister." Martha was pretty sure she didn't.
"Are you sure?" Kim smiled before taking a drink, her smile deepening at the look the older woman was giving her.
"Do I want to know?" Alexis had her own question and nodded at the front door.
"She won't be back again, not ever. Not unless she's invited." Kim had made sure of that. She also saw the look Alexis was giving her. "I'll explain later." Kim was willing to tell her everything, just not in front of Martha.
"Have you spoken with your father?" Martha changed the topic since it looked like she wasn't going to learn much and she was fine with that.
"I have. Dad and Kate looked to be doing fine. Dad was still involved and not being…as Kate puts it, a jackass." It was a condition she knew her father was more than capable of being.
"I hope Katherine recovers. Being forced to take heroin and become addicted to it." Martha shook her head and shivered.
"She should recover but it won't be easy. The medication is not a cure-all but it will help." Kim had faith in what she'd gotten for Kate.
Martha asked another question. "How are you involved in all this?"
"Kim has certain strengths that she has agreed to use to help Dad and Kate." Alexis had been ready for that question.
Kim drained her glass and put it down. "We should go." She started to rise. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Rodgers. Alexis speaks highly of you."
Martha reached out for Alexis. "I don't know what you are doing, dear, but please be careful." The people that had done this to Kate sounded dangerous.
"She'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to her," Kim assured her, knowing that it was Jack that was going to do all he could.
"I look forward to meeting you again. Perhaps when either of you can explain what is going on." Martha was betting that wouldn't happen until Kate was back to her normal self. Hopefully with just a few changes. Like planning for a wedding with her son.
"Call anytime, Grams. Kim and/or I will be here to help you." Almost instantly since she had listened to her message and then traveled back in time to just after the message was left.
"Do I want to know what you did to my mother?" Alexis queried just outside the door before jumping for home.
Kim gave her a clue. "Drugs in the 51st century can do wonders if you know which ones to use and when. She won't even remember ever having been here or ever having seen me," she added.
"51st century." Alexis shook her head. Things were just so different. "Home or singing stones?"
"Well you didn't actually win this last time," Kim reminded her.
"I didn't lose either," Alexis countered. "And you want to hear them just as badly as I do, if not more. Plus we have reservations," Alexis smiled.
"That technically we can use even five years from now," Kim reminded her.
Alexis had lost and she knew it. "Home, it is." She wanted to save the singing stones for when she did win another one, not use it for a tie.
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Alexis was twisting and turning even if she didn't know it. But Kim had noticed since she wasn't used to having a bed mate. "Alexis!" Kim placed a hand on her arm and watched as her eyes shot open and she sat up suddenly. Kim got up with her. "Nightmare," she asked as she wrapped her arms around her. If she was forced to admit it, she more than liked this young lady now.
Alexis at first simply nodded. "All those bullets, all that noise." She had been to a gun range and knew the sound weapons fire could make. It was just that she had never before been exposed to what three Tommy guns could do.
"Jack got you out, that's what he's there for." Kim had Jill but she also had armor that Alexis didn't.
"I would never let anything happen to you, Miss Alexis, not if I can help it." He had jumped her to home the second a single weapon had started to discharge. It was just that the other two had started before he could finish. He was thankful that Alexis wasn't in the line of fire at the time.
"Thanks, Jack." She knew she owed him her life. "What happened next? I know you showed up a little later and told me what you had found. Just what did happen?" Alexis was curious.
"You remember that we decided to switch from invisibility to clothing to blend in." Kim started from the beginning and felt Alexis nod her head. Kim smiled and chuckled a little. "Then we, though mostly me, got picked up off the street and taken into a building we were passing."
"By a man with a Tommy gun." Alexis nodded again. "He was really mad." She remembered him, too. The guy they were taken to see.
Kim sighed since Alexis was starting to wear off on her. Normally she wouldn't have let what he had done affect her like that. "I've met worse, but he was about as cold-blooded a killer as you will ever come across."
He had screamed at the guy he had given the order to take what they had learned was Kim's clone out and kill her and dispose of the body. They guy had argued back that he had done just that.
Remembering that he'd taken her bound body out to the boat and gone far enough out into the water, he knew it was unlikely that she could swim back and that was if she managed to free herself.
She had even begged him. "Please don't. He can fuck me anytime he pleases. I'll be his loyal slave." She wanted to keep her life.
He had simply laughed at her. Then he picked up her body and placed it over his shoulder. He wasted no time in chucking her into the water and then picked up the weights and threw them over the side. She yelled until she hit the water.
There was twenty feet of line between her legs and the weights. He was smiling widely when he saw almost no bubbles. She was trying to hold her breath and struggle to free herself.
"Good luck with that bitch." He had tied her arms tight to her side and had tied her legs together before adding the weights.
Then there was a large amount of bubbles. She had failed and had drowned. His only thought was that it was so dark down there that she wouldn't get to see that she had company.
"Except the bitch is alive, isn't she!" He had pulled out a weapon and had killed him on the spot. "Kill these two!" He had yelled at the other three men in the room.
Kim had yelled, "Armor," just as Jack had said, "Program complete."
The three Tommy guns had opened up at the same moment as Kim had deployed her weapon. Alexis was gone before Kim fired her first shot.
Kim would normally have just blown their heads off, but she needed them alive to tell her where her clone was located. In just four quick shots all four men in the room were down. However, the sound of gun fire brought three more men into the room who quickly succumbed to Kim's weapon fire.
Kim didn't even feel the few shots that struck her armor. "I still need to go back after I get some equipment so that I can swim down deep enough and see where I'm going." She had to find the body and get rid of all of the DNA. She feared that she had been dead for long enough that she wouldn't show up on her infrared. It meant she would need some equipment to do her search with. Her armor would protect her at any depth as well as provide her with oxygen.
"I thought they only did that in the movies." Alexis was still hugging her legs while Kim hugged her. "You think she was alive when they dumped her?" It was what they did in the movies.
"Try not to think about it. Go shower, get dressed, and go on your date. You know what planet he's stopping at and you have money. He should be able to take your mind off of it." Since Kim was convinced Alexis wasn't going to get to go back to sleep, she might as well enjoy being awake.
"What about you? He has an older brother," Alexis reminded her with a grin, turning her head to look at her.
"I'll think about it. Just remember, their society revolves around sex."
"I noticed." Alexis had never seen so many sex shops in her life on their first date. That and they even had live sex shows. Some professional and some amateur. She was still trying to come to grips with that. He'd told her about them but hadn't actually taken her to one even though he had offered.
"Alexis…" Kim needed to warn her given how shy she was. "He is going to expect to have sex with you. Even if you didn't on the first date, he is on the second. It's how their society works. They don't have any hangups over body issues or who has sex with who." Same sex sexual encounters were very common there.
"Yeah." Alexis had feared that a little.
"You may have body issues, but he doesn't. That's not part of their culture. You could be completely flat-chested and he would still pay a lot of attention to your chest. There's one thing, though, and it's important. Unlike the guy you paid for sex, this man can get you pregnant. His race and humans are compatible. You might want to stop at one of their sex stores and get something. Remember, their knowledge far exceeds what your doctors know," Kim warned.
That had Alexis turning to look at her again. She was on birth control, except that had been before she met Kim and started going with her. She had forgotten all about it.
"Maybe you could look around a little while you are at the sex store. You might find something you can't live without." Kim smiled broadly as she teased her a little.
"Like your big blue monster over there." Alexis gestured toward at the side table where Kim kept her toy.
"You would be amazed at what they've developed. For both sexes," Kim answered. "I don't have the money for one anymore and I'm not sure I want one, but they do have love dolls."
"A blow up plastic thing? No thanks." If she was going to have sex it was going to be with a real person.
"Trust me, he or she is not filled with air and is certainly not made of plastic. The higher end models even have personalities. They are fully functional and they also cost a small fortune. Only a few stores carry them because of that." Kim had looked at one or two years ago.
Alexis tried to think of a movie that would give her a visual of what Kim was talking about. "Like Cherry 2000?"
It also had Alexis remembering what Kim had told her in jest. "Once you go blue, you never go back." She was starting to think that maybe it wasn't a joke. She actually did want to get her white hands on his big blue cock.