Rick and Kate were very tired the celebration was very long and they both had too much to drink. Rick seemed to hit it off with Sgt. Wu so much that he invited him to the Hampton House where they were all heading courtesy of the Limo service. I seems like the party was changing location. Most people were sacked out in the Limo. Rick had called ahead before getting too inebriated. Alexis and Martha was already there. I hope they are not too surprise who I'm bringing along. Rick thought to himself.
The Limo pulled up and deposited the half staggering guest in the front of the building and awoke both Martha and Alexis.
They were surprised to see a half dozen drunken revelers.
Alexis shepherded most of the ambulatory people to the various rooms in the house. With 15 bedrooms the Hampton house had seen its fill of party revelers. Martha baby sat those who just managed to get to the couches without spewing. She was well aware how quickly that could happen.
Rick and Kate fell asleep together without even undressing. It would be an interesting morning Rick thought.
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Captain Gates awoke in a very strange room. She had a pounding headache and a coated tongue. She was barely able to walk as she staggered to the open door. She was in luck it was a bathroom. She took some pills she found for headaches and downed several glasses of water to alleviate the dehydration which came from drinking too much. After a shower she found a change of clothes. Somebody was her size. How thoughtful NYPD sweats.
She was remembering the celebration. She wondered if she called her husband? She found her phone and saw she had indeed had a long line of setexting with her husband. Good he did know she was wherever she is. Gates looked out the window which had been opened. She smelled the sea air and the cool breeze which billows the floral curtains. Steadier now that the medicine was beginning to work she stepped around the curtains to see the rolling ocean. The sounds of the sea birds were something she could not last recall. She stared at the ocean as if it was going to play a trick and disappear.
Standing on the balcony she could see a tennis court, a swimming pool and could that be stables in the background? She just loved to ride. She had not had time to mount her beloved Belvedere. The Captain look at the building it was the first time she saw it. It was immense. Some Captain of Industry must have lived here she thought. She was able to see a crest and the word Storm Front emblazoned beneath it.
Storm Front…? What an unusual name for a retreat even for Hampton standards.
The Captain felt relaxed for the first time in a long time. What was she doing here? She was needed to run the precinct. It just did not run itself she thought. But the idea of rushing off with all this beauty was just not appealing to her. Her thoughts were broken by a small knock at the door.
She crossed the room and opened it. There stood Mr. Castle's Daughter Alexis was her name.
"Hello Captain I hope I'm not disturbing you. I was told to tell everyone that breakfast is being served downstairs at the meal area." Alexis said "Would you like to join us?"
"Thank You Alexis for the invitation. I will accompany you." Gates said.
"Great you were the last one I needed to inform." Alexis said brightening completely.
"Please lead on" the Captain said.
Alexis did not know what say to the Captain so she silently brought her to the hub of activity. The Captain saw she was the only one missing from the groups last night.
Rick saw the Captain he was manning the kitchen and was preparing all sorts of foods.
"Good Morning Captain would you like some juice there are several on the table. If you want something on the grill I can make it for you." Rick said.
"Thank you Mr…" Gates started to say.
"Please Captain… Call me Rick we are all friends here at Storm Front." Rick said with a smile.
"All right Rick only if you call me Vicky." Gates said.
"Ok Vicky so what will you have?" Rick asked.
"Well an omelet would be good with spinach and mushrooms Please Rick." Gates said.
Omelet it is. Would you like me to add Crushed Bacon it would make it 'Muy Bueno' Rick said.
"Hmm yes Rick please do and add green onions too." Gates said.
"One omelet with Green Onions, Crushed Bacon, Mushrooms and Spinach coming right up" Rick said with a smile.
The Captain sat next to Jim who was reading the paper.
"Hello I'm Victoria Gates and I'm so sorry you were involved in this accident." Gates said to Jim.
"Oh well yeah I'm pleased to meet you Victoria I'm Jim Beckett. We did meet briefly before." Jim said.
"We did? I think you need to refresh my memory." Gates said.
"Oh it was when both Martha and I came to the 12th to find our wayward children. About 8 months ago." Jim said.
"Oh that is right excuse me my memory is not as sharp as it should be this morning Jim." Gates said.
"Here you go Vicky. I hope you like it." Rick said with a flourish when placing her plate.
Gates took a bite the flavors were wonderful.
Oh Mr…er Rick that is so good! Gates said.
"I'm glad you like it." Rick said moving to sit down between his Wife and Daughter.
Everyone was having a good time which pleased him immensely.
The breakfast was completed but Gates needed to leave.
"You have wonderful hospitality Rick but I can not delay I need to get to the 12th." Gates said.
"Well let me call the Limo service they could take you back faster than the train." Rick said.
"That will not be necessary Rick. I have a cab coming. But it was gracious of you to open your home to me." Gates said.
"Not a problem you should bring the rest of your family next time Vicky." Rick said as the horn from the cab announced its arrival.
"Next time I think I will." Gates said. "Please offer my farewells to the rest of your family I need to depart Rick."
"Goodbye Captain." Rick said as he escorted her to the cab and watched it drive off.
Kate came up to hug her husband who was still standing at the door way.
"What is wrong Rick?" Kate said nuzzling against him.
"Gates I mean did you not feel something was off about her?" Rick asked.
"Well she was gracious but I suppose we have not seen her away from the precinct that much." Kate said.
"No that is not it…I'm sure I'm being silly." Rick said.
"Rick I've come to trust you when you say something is off. It usually is so when did you start feeling this way?" Kate said seriously as she led him into his study and closed the doors.
"Well at the victory celebration she inquired about a team which was there but getting up this morning I contacted Adam. He played the tapes of yesterday's encounter and there was no mention of a second team. But Kate I was sure Merri was there! I heard his voice." Rick said.
"Rick lots of things were happening at once perhaps you were confused? I really do not know I was not there neither were anyone else you can trust. So what does that tell you?" Kate asked.
"I guess I imagined it. But Kate It was so real." Rick said.
"I know Rick but you do zone out in your imagination. I've seen that. Perhaps that is all it was?" Kate said holding him close.
"Possibly, Adam was only following orders so I doubt he heard it and remembered it too. So I guess your explanation is the only one." Rick said.
Kate kissed him and things got quickly heated which ended them back in bed.