CH25

"Lanie, it's not that simple. It's, … complicated."

"Kate Beckett, only you could take something so simple and make it complicated. So question for you.

Did you enjoy the sex? And don't even think about saying no because it is written all over your face."

Kate just nods.

"And do you enjoy Castle's company?" Kate just nods again.

"And do you enjoy Alexis's company and find her adorable?"

"I wouldn't go so far as to say adorable."

"OH REALLY! Well let's see. You said she was fantastic, remarkable and smart. How does that not make it to adorable?"

"I'm not her MOM LANIE!"

"And did Alexis or Castle say you were? Only the Zoo workers reached that conclusion. Am I right?"

Kate again just nods her head.

"So tell me again why you are sitting here drinking with me, when you could be someplace else. Enjoying someone else's company." Lanie pushes to get Kate to see.

Just as Kate opens her mouth to respond. "I know, I know. It's complicated. Does Castle know about your mom?"

Kate still just nods.

"You told him?" Lanie does not believe. Kate tells no one about her mom.

"It seemed like the thing to do at the time."

"And what did Castle say."

"He just listened and asked a couple of questions."

"So he didn't bolt and dump you right then and there. Was this before or after your date?"

"Before." Kate tells Lanie softly.

"And he still asked you on a date with his daughter to spend the day at the Zoo?"

Kate just nods. Not correcting Lanie about it not being a date.

"So, just to recap. You had mind blowing sex with a handsome rich guy. Who has a daughter you adore. You've gone out on a first date and enjoyed it. They have both taken care of you when you were sick. Castle got you an armor plate to save your life. Have I missed anything?"

Kate looks ashamed and keeps her eyes on the floor. "We also went to dinner after the Zoo, and we played laser tag at Castle's house after I got out of the hospital when I was shot." Kate fills her in.

"So you've actually been on two dates with him."

Kate just opens and shuts her mouth a few times. Trying to tell Lanie that they were not dates, when they clearly were, was just not going to fly.

"Katherine Beckett. What am I going to do with you?" Lanie lets out a heavy sigh.

"Ok, this is what you are going to do. You are going to go home. Pack an overnight bag and get your skinny little ass back over to Castle's house."

"LANIE! I can't do, …" But Kate is cut off.

"Katherine Houghton Beckett. I'm going to smack you, so hard, you are going to end up in New Jersey.

Now, go home, pack and get your little ass back over there. Or so help me!" Lanie is not letting Kate out of this.

"Lanie, I can't get involved. What if it doesn't work out? What if Alexis gets attached to me and Castle and I just don't get together. It wouldn't be fair, …." And Lanie is still interrupting Kate.

"What are you talking about. You aren't even together yet, and you are already to the break up point. Why are you trying to end it before it even gets started? This just might be the single most important event in your life. So,… Why Kate?"

"It's just, …. I mean, …. When my mom died, it broke my heart. I can't love someone and loose them again. I just can't. And it's not fair to them. I'm a cop. I might not come home some day. It would devastate them. Especially Alexis. I can't make her go thru what I went thru. It wouldn't be fair."

"Now we come to the root of your problem. Oh sweetie. There are countless cops that have families. And everything works out fine. There are military men and women with families. You are no different. Those women married to military men who go out on deployments for a year, and risk their lives. And those women are sitting at home praying that the man they love comes home to them.

You aren't even giving Castle or Alexis a chance to show how brave they are that you won't come home. Or how willing they are to wait for you TO come home to them.

Worrying about a possible future that may not come to pass, just isn't right. Not for them or for you. Give them a chance Kate. They may surprise the hell out of you. And in a good way." Lanie pleads her case. But will Kate listen?

"So you think I should just jump in and go for it?" Kate is not convinced.

"I think you should give them a chance. You are only just starting any kind of relationship. Let it grow. Let all of you show what you are capable of. They may be just as worried as you are. That's kind of what being in a relationship is about. Growth." Lanie is just thinking, please open up Kate.

"So more dates and get to know them and what they expect."

"And jump him every chance you get." Kate just laughs. "And it sounds like you are both good at that."

Kate just giggles and blushes. It may be Lanie but telling anyone that she was multi-orgasmic for the first time in her life was just, way private.

"Now, go home, pack and get your butt back over there." Lanie pushes.

"Not too soon?" Kate is not sure about this idea.

"How are you going to get to know each other if you don't spend time together. And with your work schedule, who knows when that would be.

Now, get moving girlfriend." Literally shoving Kate out the door. "And I expect details later.

And Kate. ….. Have fun!"

"Thanks Lanie, you're the best."

"Don't I know it. And you're damn lucky to have me. Now move! Before I slap you."

Kate went home, and grabbed a bag. Packed it with clothes for work tomorrow. Threw in some make-up essentials. Added a couple of panties that might drive Castle insane. And added a couple of condoms for good measure. Just as she was zipping it closed, Kate went back and grabbed the box and took out 2 or 3 more and dropped them in. Then thought what the hell and dumped the contents of the whole box in her bag. Blushing madly, even though there was no one around to see it.

Kate was not sure she could survive another night like that last one, or even be able to walk. But she would at least die with a smile on her face. And headed out the door and drove to Castle's house.

Kate drove and pulled up in front of one of the garage doors and sat there. Lanie and the alcohol had got her here. Now she needed the courage to go to the front door and inside.

Kate has the shakes, butterflies and tumbling in her stomach and begins to wonder if she can do this. Should she do this?

Well in for a penny in for a pound. Got out of the car, locked the car door after grabbing her bag and headed for the front door. It was 10:30 at night. Was he even still up? Finding the call panel and pushes the button. And now her hand is really shaking. As are her knees. She feels like she is going to collapse.

The door opens and there is Castle, still dressed from the clothes for the trip to the Zoo. Same as she is wearing.

"Detective Beckett. What an unexpected pleasure. What can I do for you?" Rick is excited and it leaks out in his voice.

"Have you got room for one more tonight, Castle?" Kate asks timidly.

"Oh" Looking down at the bag Kate has in her hand. "OH! … Of course. You are always welcome. Anytime! Come on in.

The master suites are just up the stairs one level. Mine is on the left and the spare is on the right. If you prefer one of the guest rooms, those are up another level along with Alexis's room. Take your pick. They are all set up for guests. Always.

I'll be in the living room while you get settled."

"Castle, which side is Alexis's room on?" Not remembering from before. She was just following Alexis last time.

"Her room is above the spare master suite. Why?"

"No reason. Just curious." Castle gives her a funny look, of that's not the reason you asked. But lets it pass.

"Make yourself at home. Would you like something to drink?"

"A small glass of wine would be nice." Kate responds. But is actually thinking 6 shots of Tequila would be better.

Kate waits until Castle is out of site up stairs before going upstairs herself. Now, turn left into Castle's room or right into the safer guest suite.

Turning left Kate opens the door and enters. It looks similar to the guest suite. Just a differently decorated. A little more masculine, but not too much. It was nice. Kate drops her bag on the foot locker at the foot of the bed. That must be the door to the walk-in closet, just like the other room. Those double doors must lead to the bathroom. Opening them and Kate steps in. "WOW!" It was a deeper color. The wood is darker. The shower is maybe a little smaller with the same look as the other. The tub, strike that, the pool is the same. With the same jets.

Stepping back out into the bedroom with the intent of heading upstairs to join Castle. Kate spots a wall in the corner that is out of place and walks over. Kate pushes the panel open a little further and can see some kind of hallway. It's too dark to see well. Hesitant but curious she steps one foot in and suddenly lights come on revealing a short corridor ending in a spiral staircase going down.

Curiosity has gotten the better of Kate now, so she steps in and heads for the stairs and down. As she goes down more lights come on. Upon reaching the bottom she comes up short in front of a steel door with no handles or anything on it. On the wall next to it is a hand print scanner that she recognizes.

Of course she just has to put her hand on it. After the light passes from top to bottom the panel lights up red, and nothing happens. She's not cleared to enter Kate guesses. What is in there? What is Castle hiding? Deciding this is as far as she can get, Kate heads back up the stairs. Just as she exits the hall and back into the bedroom.

"AAAHHH!" Kate screams out and jumps back. With her heart now racing at break neck speed.

"Doing some treasure hunting detective?" Castle asks, just inches away from her.

"Scared the crap out of me Castle." Then realizing where she had just come from and been found out. "I'm, … I'm sorry Castle. I got curious I guess. Must be the detective in me I guess. I'm sorry!"

"Come on Beckett. I'll show you."

"That's all right Castle. I shouldn't have even gone down there. I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Beckett. Come on." And motions for Kate to follow as Castle heads in and down the stairs.

Kate reluctantly follows him. Thinking she really should have just stayed out of it. But too late now.

Reaching the bottom, Castle places his hand on the panel and the light passes over it. When complete, it turns green, and Kate can hear a sudden Clunk sound. And sees the door suddenly pull away and she can feel a sudden gust of air. The door pulls away and then slides to one side. The wall it pulled away from looks to be at least 3 feet thick. Castle steps in and the space lights up revealing still another door. While in the room, Castle says something. But Kate does not recognize the word. It sounded like 'Ell-Melloon'.

The door only cracks open and Castle has to pull it open the rest of the way. And steps thru with Kate in tow right behind him.

Inside Kate can see what looks like a living room. Rather sparse and not nearly as nice as the one upstairs.

"Come on, I'll give you the tour. This is the living room. The sofa pulls out into a bed. Thru here leads to the kitchen (Short galley style). Behind this door is the pantry. Enough food to feed 4 people for a month. There is a 2,000 gallon potable water tank just behind it. Thru here is the only restroom. The discharge from here and the kitchen goes into a 5,000 gallon holding tank. Thru here is the bedroom. As you can see it has 2 bunk beds. They are nice, but I prefer my bed upstairs. And thru here is the heart of the place. This is the communications room. Access to satellites. Satellite phones and video conferencing. Old fashioned ham radio that on a good day could get you Tokyo, maybe. It doubles as the TV and DVD room on that screen there. Couple of normal non-smart cell phones along with a couple of old style walkie talkies. Anything that needs batteries is charged here. And thru that door is the mechanical room. Air cleaners, water purifier, humidifier, etc. It has it's own separate power source. Though it is attached to the main house grid. Running on it's own power, it should last for at least 6 months. Give or take."

"It's a bomb shelter." Kate thinks.

"Well technically when it was first conceived it was a panic room. Now it's a panic room on steroids. But if you prefer bomb shelter, that'll work too. It will probably stand up to a nuclear blast. However there is not enough food or water to stay down here long enough for the radiation to dissipate and allow anyone inside to exit. So, it really is more of a panic room."

"Paranoid Castle?" Kate teases.

"It's more for my daughter's safety then mine. Her's and anyone else I care about. No one, absolutely no one hurts the people I love. … No one.

And if staying down here for a month is what it takes, it's a small price. One I'm only too willing to pay."

"Even me, castle?" Kate asks shyly. Wondering just what Castle thinks of her.

"Even you Beckett. Most assuredly, even you." Rick says with conviction, smiling wide.