A/N: This chapter is set after 'After Hours' (Ep. 5x08)
"Hi Katie," Jim said, when Kate picked up.
"Hi Dad, how are you doing?"
"I was just about to ask you that, after the ordeal that you and Rick faced last night."
"Oh, we're fine. I think we both feel bad for putting you and Martha through the wringer."
Jim shook his head. "It's hardly your fault that you found yourselves in the middle of a mob situation. And it's far from the first time that you and Rick have been in danger."
"Yes, but you usually don't find out about it until the danger is over."
Or not at all, Jim added mentally. He knew that there were many perilous situations involving his daughter that he would never know about, and he was fine with that. Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.
"Katie," he continued, "I know you try to spare me the anxiety when you can, but I'm going to worry about you regardless. It comes with the territory. You'll understand when you have children of your own."
Kate sighed. "Well, it wasn't exactly the relaxing evening that Castle and I were hoping for, that's for sure."
Jim laughed. "Let's face it, much as I appreciate all the trouble that you and Rick went to, that dinner party was anything but 'relaxing'. So while it would have been nice if you'd been dragged off to a less… precarious situation, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing that our little gathering ended early."
"I'm sorry," Kate said, "I really thought that you and Martha would get along."
"No, I should apologize, Katie. I could have handled it a lot better, been less prickly. I was a little uptight."
Kate responded with a moment of pointed silence.
"Okay," Jim conceded. "Maybe a lot uptight. But you know how I get when anyone criticizes baseball."
"Yeah, I know baseball is sacred to you, Dad. But Martha wasn't trying to be offensive. She's just a free spirit, and she doesn't have much of a filter. She says exactly what she thinks, and she's pretty opinionated."
"I noticed," Jim said, chuckling. "And it does makes for some very entertaining conversations, as I found out while we were waiting at the precinct. She tells great stories."
"About that," Kate said, "what happened while Castle and I were gone? When we left, you and Martha were basically sworn enemies, but when we met at the precinct it was a totally different story."
"Well, it turns out that Martha and I have more in common than we thought – we each have a bright, determined child who goes out and takes big risks on behalf of the rest of us. And when we worry about you taking those risks, like we did last night, we're both glad that you have each other. So I guess you could say that we bonded over our mutual concern for our children."
"It was amazing to see," Kate said. "Castle and I expected the evening to end with you barely speaking to each other, and there you were, talking and laughing like two old friends."
"I think we will be friends, Katie." And Jim meant it. In spite of their rough start, their memorable evening together had confirmed the first impression he'd formed of Martha back at the hospital –she was large-hearted, resilient and vibrant. He couldn't hope for a better person to come into Kate's life as the matriarch of Rick's family. And he knew that Johanna would have liked her too. He felt a momentary pang, wishing the two women could have met.
"I'm glad," Kate said. "Castle and I were worried when things started to go south so quickly." She paused, then laughed. "It was kind of ridiculous, actually. We got into a little fight about your fight, with me defending you, and Castle defending Martha. And then I got hung up on something Castle said about you and Martha being from different worlds."
"Well, he's right – we are very different."
"Yeah, but then I thought: so are Castle and I. He's this super-successful writer, and I'm just this cop."
Jim shook his head, wishing that Kate could see herself the way Rick so clearly did. "Watch it, that's my daughter you're talking about. You're a lot more than 'just this cop', and you're certainly very successful in your own right."
"Thanks, Dad," Kate said, "but my point is, we really don't have a lot in common. What if we find out that we don't fit into each other's lives on a practical level? What if the details of our everyday lives just don't mesh? What if a big part of what we have going for us right now is the novelty factor?"
"That's a whole lot of what ifs, Katie," Jim commented. He knew that doubts and insecurities were not unusual in fledgling romances. He also knew that the reason Kate had so many questions was that she was fully invested in her relationship with Rick, and wanted it to succeed and thrive. But she also had to know that there were no guaranteed answers to her endless questions. She was seeking reassurance that the relationship would last, but that sense of security could only come from within.
"I'm just being realistic, Dad" she said. "Relationships are hard enough for people from similar backgrounds. Castle and I don't even have that in our favor. It's going great now, but what if, one day, the excitement wears off and we realize we're just an odd couple?"
"You know, Katie," Jim said gently, "I've had a chance to observe you and Rick together several times now, and from my perspective, you're really not as different as you seem to think."
Kate scoffed. "Really, Dad? Our personalities, our lifestyles, our upbringings – all completely different. No matchmaker in their right mind would try to put me and Castle together. If we took one of those compatibility tests, our score would be pathetic."
Jim laughed. "Seriously, Katie? Who cares about compatibility tests? What matters isn't your differences, but your acceptance of each other – differences, flaws and all. Think about it: even when he drives you up the wall, would you want to change anything about Rick?"
Kate was silent for a moment. Then, "No," she admitted.
"Listen," Jim said, "last night, when I wasn't bickering with Martha – or keeping vigil with her, I was watching the two of you. It's actually rare to find a couple so in sync with each other. Sense of humor, loyalty, curiosity, kindness, intelligence, single-minded determination. You both share all those values, and frankly, they're a heck of a lot more important than what you do for a living."
"And even in those aspects where you are different," Jim continued, "you should revel in those differences; enjoy them. It's the unexpected contradictions that keep us on our toes; that keep us guessing and wanting more. Your mother was fiery when I was calm, daring when I was cautious – and, Katie, if there's one thing I can say about our relationship, it's that it was never boring. And I have a feeling that you and Rick can say the same."
"You're right, Dad," Kate sighed. "He and I talked about it, and that's basically what he said."
"I agree – and don't waste any more time on all those what ifs, Katie. Trust me, there's absolutely nothing to be gained by worrying about what hasn't happened. Life's too short for that. So far, your relationship is going well. You're obviously both happy, so focus on that."
Kate chuckled. "And our suspect said that to me last night. He overheard our conversation and just had to throw in his two cents."
"Well," Jim said, laughing, "on this one occasion, taking advice from a ruthless criminal might not be such a bad idea."
Then his voice grew serious. "You and Rick have something special, Katie. I guess it comes from everything you've been through together, but I've never witnessed such a deep understanding, such a close connection, between you and any of the others I've seen you with in the past. Don't let anything keep you from exploring and sharing that connection as fully as you can."
"Thanks, Dad."
"No problem, Katie. And thank you – Rick and Martha too – for a truly eventful evening."
A/N: As always, thanks for reading and reviewing!
