Dinner Date

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version to the events when Demming has dinner catered by Hung's China Sea, complete with the candlelight. Sometimes, a candle provides the light that is needed to get you out of the dark. Based on a prompt and request from mbeckettcastle or JC. This is for you; I hope I do it justice. There will be ANGST, Tons of it, if this is not your story, Thanks, hope you find what you're looking for.

I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 48

Previously

When she arrived at the Loft, it was only 6:30 AM and Eduardo was just coming on duty. She approached the counter knowing she was forbidden from the building,

"Eduardo, I know, I know, All I ask is that you give this to Mr. Castle TOMORROW, please don't give it to him before, please?"

"Ms. Kate, I don't know what's going on, or what happened, but we miss you, I'm so sorry I had to do what I did"

"Hey, it's fine I understand, please be sure Rick gets the envelope OK?" as she stared him down,

"Yes Mam" was the reply, as she turned and left the lobby.

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12th Precinct

Wednesday 8:00 AM

Kate had been checking her phone for any missed calls or texts for the last hour, not unnoticed by Javi and Liam who finally approached her.

"Kate, are you expecting a call or text, I mean you've checked your phone at least a dozen times in the last half hour, I mean if there's something you need to do, Liam and I got you covered" Javi asked concerned

"Thanks Javi, I didn't know it was so obvious, I'm sorry, and thanks Guys I appreciate you having my back" she smiled, things weren't all the way back but they had certainly come a long way.

Kate suffered through the entire day, no texts, no calls, not a sign that Rick had read the letter or that he wanted her compassion and love. It was tough not to break apart, sitting looking at the damn chair that seemed to be mocking her, she couldn't stand it, but couldn't stand to part with it even more. It was one of the final pieces of Rick left and she wasn't about to let it go.

Rick had given her time and space, when she needed it, perhaps he needed to get over the breakup before he could talk to her, she clung to any sign that he was still in her life in some form desperately. By the end of the day she had resolved herself not to push him, God knows she had broken his heart, now Gina had finished the job. Why was it the good guys always got hurt, no matter how hard you tried not to. Love Sucks, she thought as she shut her computer down and headed out for another long evening.

Castle's Loft

7:30 PM Same Day

Cricket had observed the loft now resembled a morgue more than the happy home it was just a few short weeks ago, so she consulted with Rick to approve going back on Thursday rather than Friday, it was senseless to sit and mope and Rick was in desperate need of a change of scenery.

"You know Cricket you're right, the sooner we get back to the UK, the sooner you girls can shop for Alexis wardrobe, and I can start getting back in the groove, I have some ideas I jotted down and want to incorporate into the story. Go ahead and change the flights provided, they are still first class, OK?"

"Got it Rick, no other way to travel that long, I'll get on it straight away" she smiled, happy to be doing something to put miles between them and the sad memories that had just unfolded.

Alexis is happy to be out of the Loft as well, she is hurting, for Gina, for her Dad, and in some strange way even Kate. Gina had done everything she could to be sure Kate knew what was going on, if she really loved her Dad, she would at least try to get in touch with him.

Rick went downstairs to discuss the mail forwarding protocol, as well as what information he wanted released and to whom. His chief of security was staying in the guest suite, directly below the Loft, to handle any potential breaches of privacy.

"Mr. Castle, oh I almost forgot Sir, Detective Beckett was here very early and asked me to insure you got this envelope Sir, I'm sorry I almost forgot it. It's good you came down."

"Thanks Eduardo, I appreciate it, any questions about the information to give out and to whom, if anything comes up contact Mike in Suite 304, he will handle anything, and I mean anything that seems out of ordinary" Rick smiled sadly.

Mike had been with him since Alexis was a baby, he was almost part of the family and a damn good Security Chief, no paparazzi or anyone would get past him. He glanced at the letter from Kate, the stationary was appropriate, a sad Santa, with little blue snowflakes, he got it for her as a gag after hearing her sing Blue Christmas the first year he shadowed her, he placed it in his jacket pocket and returned to the loft.

"Rick, we have open seats for a departure tonight at 3:00 AM direct to London, shall I book it, if not we have to wait till our original flights."

"Book it Cricket, and we'll get ready quickly, what we don't pack we'll buy over there." Forgetting about the letter he had placed in his jacket pocket next to his passport.

It seemed like time just flew by, and before anyone realized the car service called to let them know they were 10 minutes out and would enter the private entrance for pickup. Rick grabbed his jacket, checking for his passport and finding the letter in the same pocket, no time for that now, time to get to the Airport and back to some sense of normalcy.

Kate had went for her evening run and panicked when she got to the intersection, she saw the limo pull into the back entrance, but she almost lost her stomach when she saw Alexis, the young lady from Remy's and finally Rick get in and the limo speed off. Why hadn't he called? Was he still that upset with her? Had Gina underestimate his hurt? What the Hell was going on, did he even get the damn letter?"

She crossed traffic and went to the lobby to see Eduardo just ready to leave when he came over to her. "I'm sorry Detective, I almost forgot, I just gave him the letter before he left, I'm so very sorry."

"Hey, he got it, that's the main thing, I guess I should be thankful to know that. Thanks for your effort Eduardo," as she turned and headed to the coffee shop to have her evening beverage, then abruptly changed her mind. Coffee suddenly became too bitter for her to stomach. She made her way back to her apartment to wait, what else could she do now?

JFK Airport

1:30 AM

Rick and the girls were in the VIP lounge waiting for their flight to be called, when Rick's phone buzzed with a text. Looking down it was a message from Gina,

"Tried calling the loft, got VM, called front desk told me you were out of town, are you OK?" Genes

"We're fine took an earlier flight back, no need to hang around and extra day so we're at the airport now" Rc

"Not being nosy Rick, did Kate try to contact you? I think the only way she could would be a letter" Gc

"Yeah she did, Eduardo forgot to give it to me till we were on our way out the door, I'll read it when I get to the UK, not really in the mood for dealing with any more drama today. Rc

"I'm sorry Genes, that wasn't meant at you, forgive me" Rc

"I understand but Rick, please do read it, she does love you as confusing as this whole mess sounds now" Gc

"Confusing? That's one word for it, sorry Genes, calling our flight, take care talk to you, well Alexis will text you when we land" Rc

He hadn't totally lied, the flight was being called for the flight crew, they would be boarding soon, but it would be at least another 25 minutes. He just didn't want to deal with the fact that he was a loser in the love department, yet again.

Gina hung her head and led the tears flow, she had done exactly what she promised she would never do, Hurt the one man that had always been honest with her, even when it put him in a bad light. God, what had she done, now there were three people hurting, Her, Rick and she's sure that Kate was at home wondering if Rick was ever going to read, much less respond to her letter, that had to hurt much worse than she was feeling.

It was too late for her to call Kate, but she could send her a text. Somehow, she felt that it would take a combined effort to keep Rick from going dark on them, something she couldn't live with. Pulling out her cell she typed a quick text to Kate.

"Just talked to Rick, at the Airport, acknowledged he got your letter, promised to read it when he reached his destination, if you're still awake, feel free to call" Gina

Across town Kate was once again inventorying her Castle Forever and Always chest when her phone pinged, with a text, she wasn't on call so could it be, she grabbed the phone surprised to see the called ID list Gina Cowell.

She read the text and immediate dialed Gina's number,

"Hi Kate, thought you wouldn't be asleep" Gina answered her phone.

"Hi Gina thanks for letting me know, God he wouldn't even read the letter, but at least he took it with him." Kate sighed, trying to hide the tears in her voice

"It wasn't all his fault Kate, Eduardo almost forgot to give it to him until just a few hours before the car service picked them up, so I think he doesn't want to read it till he has some privacy, he's expecting the worst, and that's my fault, not yours" Gina's voice cracked a few times.

"Gina, did you tell him how I felt about him, when you saw him? I mean I know it's a lot to ask but I ne*"

"Kate it was a tough conversation we had, he was hurting far more than he would let on, but when I mentioned your name and that I was sure you not only loved him, but was still in love with him, it was the only twinkle, you know the one I'm talking about I could get all night.

He had already briefed Alexis, and Cricket, that's the lady with the body you were worried about, she's his personal assistant, that I was leaving even before I told him. He knew and that's what hurts the most, we were so close to finally having it all, but then damn it this had to happen." Gina speaks through her tears

"I thought you were in love with Bob, I mean isn't that why you told Rick it was over?" Kate sounded shocked

"Yeah we are, but I'm not giving him as free of a pass as I let on, he's going to earn his way back,"

"Gina, why did you let Rick go if Bob isn't a sure thing, as you let on? I'm sorry that's personal and none of my business"

"Kate, something you don't know, Rick talks in his sleep, especially when he's either upset or very Romantic, and as much as he wanted to love me first, it was you that appeared in his dreams. You own a part of his heart no one will ever claim, the sweet words he said were so romantic till he ended it with I love you Kate, I've always loved you.

Regardless of what works out with Bob and I, which I think will, I don't want to be what he settles for, no more than you would. Believe me when I tell you, he loves you so do whatever it takes to get him back."

"Gina, I'm sorry, but thank you for telling me, I already made up my mind, you asked what I was willing to give up for Rick, my answer now is everything I have, or love, I'd give it all up just to be with him for the rest of my life. I'm sorry to say that so quickly after your breakup, but"

"Kate, I'll text you when they land, I can't tell you where they're at, but I will let you know they're safe." Gina's voice has more of a crack as she quickly said goodbye and the line went dead.

Two woman retreated to their respective bedrooms, both crying over the same man for different reasons, one for the hope of a second chance, the other the hope the second chance she had given her first love would be worth what she had just given up.