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A/N: There were some mixed reviews about her career choices after the last chapter, and I know that my direction for this story will not be universally popular. I hope this chapter can explain in part why this Kate would make these choices. 4 more chapters to go

CHAPTER 36

Kate spent the next couple of days relaxing and enjoying being with Rick, but he often found her deep in thought about her future career. She had never had the opportunity to make the decision without emotional overtones – her initial career had been almost a given, following her parents into law and one day working in practice with them, but then she was lost and in despair after her mother's murder, and her decision to change to a Criminal Justice major at NYU and join the Police Academy was driven very much by her thirst for justice, while also allowing her to be closer to her dad.

Now, she had whatever time she wanted, although she knew she would never drag it out longer than necessary, and she also had almost unlimited resources to pay for whatever courses she wanted to take. She knew Rick was watching her closely during this time, offering his silent support and physical comfort as she needed it, and reaffirming his plan to stand by her side in whatever she chose if she looked like wavering. She also continued going to therapy, both alone and with Rick, and part of her conversations with Dr Burke were now about adapting to a different career path. She still had not made a final decision, and wouldn't before she discussed it with Rick and they made a decision together, but more and more she was acknowledging that there was no way back to the precinct and the way that Castle and Beckett used to solve crimes together in the early days of their partnership – before his disappearance, before their wedding, before her promotion to Captain.

She spoke to her dad, both on the phone and at their favourite diner, and Jim also reassured her that whatever she decided to do with the rest of her working life was exactly what he and Joanna would have wanted for her. They spoke about the different aspects of law, and what her options were should she decide to complete her degree and attempt her bar exam. She assured her dad he would be the second to know, once they made a decision.

Lanie was disappointed to learn Kate was thinking about leaving the NYPD, because it meant they would not be able to work together again, but she was supportive as always, knowing that Kate had more important things to be doing, and so happy that her girlfriend was finally putting herself and her happiness first. Kate expressed her concern about continuing as Rick's inspiration if she was no longer a detective, and Lanie in her inimitable style threatened to smack her for that silliness.

The last person Kate spoke to, before making a decision with Rick, was her former Captain, Victoria Gates. She would have loved to have discussed this with Roy Montgomery, and she shed a tear or two for him again, but in their time working together Gates had become a mentor same as her first Captain, and she had also done the working mother thing, so would have some insight to share.

Victoria was shocked at first that Kate was still considering resigning from the NYPD, even though she had hinted at it in their first interview, when Kate took leave. She was confident Kate would be able to have a family life and continue with her career, but she could understand why the fear of her obsession taking over her life again would be a deterrent. Gates suggested other roles, such as instructing at the Academy, or in Internal Affairs, but admitted that both of them would require more time in the field, and could also be dangerous. In the end, she admitted she admired Kate for putting her family first, existing and future, and offered her recommendation should Kate ever need it. Gates sat thinking in her office after the meeting, and knew that while Kate had said there was no decision yet, she was a lot closer to one than even she realised. She made a couple of phone calls to friends, and requested her assistant pull some specific sections of the regulations, in preparation for another meeting with Kate she was fairly confident was coming.

Kate got home from that meeting more confident in her decision, but she wanted to make sure Rick would also be involved in the process. She wanted to move on with their lives, even though they had made remarkable progress since they reunited it still felt like they were marking time, waiting for some mystical event before they could continue. She also wanted to have her husband back fully, her body ached with withdrawal from his touch, but that was not something she could put a deadline on. All she could do was continue to prove to him that her priorities were finally in order. And that would start tonight, after dinner. She set to making him a special dinner, one of the Georgian dishes she had learnt to cook while in Kiev and that he had loved the last time she had cooked it for him. By the time he got home from an afternoon with Alexis, dinner was ready to be served and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape was breathing on the counter.

Rick could tell Kate had something on her mind during dinner, but he had learnt to give her space to find her own words. He complimented her often on the meal, and made small talk about the people she had met with, while not actually bringing up the main topic of their conversations. After the dishes were cleared, they moved to the couch with full glasses of wine, Rick sitting first to allow Kate to choose her seat, but she didn't hesitate in sitting right next to him, their thighs touching, and nudging his shoulder until he draped his arm over her back.

"Rick, you know I have been thinking about my future career, and have spoken to a few people about my options and steps forward. I think I have finally come to the point where we can discuss the various paths available, and make a joint decision."

"Kate, I appreciate the sentiment, but it's your career, and we know I am probably not going to be alongside you all day like I have been in the past, so it's your decision, I just want you to let me know what you are thinking, so I am not blindsided."

"No, Rick, from now on we make all our decisions together." Rick nodded, so she continued.

"I know that if I return to the precinct, or any sort of job in the NYPD, the temptation to keep investigating LOCSAT will be there. Just as in the past, this case has a way of continuing to haunt us, no matter what we think. Gates suggested I consider doing a series of guest lectures at the Academy, about Beckett flavoured cases, but I can do that as a civilian consultant. I may have spent the last 15 years as a police officer, but it wasn't my first career choice, and I am not prepared to put my life at risk or be an absentee parent, to continue with it. I may be too old now to start working my way towards Chief Justice, but I want to continue my legal studies, and investigate what options there are for fields that will interest me, but keep me away from criminal investigations. Dad said he had some contacts and he would help me with that. What do you think?"

"I think that sounds great. Are you sure you aren't going to miss the precinct, and working cases? I would hate for you to get resentful that you had to leave it behind for the sake of our marriage?" Rick's tone was light, but his eyes were dead serious, because he would never forgive himself if Kate made this decision to please him.

"No, Rick, I won't get resentful. I have thought long and hard about this over the last couple of days, but it's been in the back of my mind since I came after you. And we still have our drinks and games nights with the boys, so I can always pick their brains for case details if I feel the need. However, I do think I may be a bit too busy to worry about that, between studying for my JD degree and working on getting pregnant."

Rick's eyes got dark after her last statement, and he pulled her in for a kiss. Then he sat back, knowing that he had to give her the words as well.

"Kate, I have said many times that I will back your play. If this is what you want to do with your career, than I am by your side. You are going to be great. WE are going to be great!"

TBC