Kate let the pain from from the barrel of her gun tearing across his pretty face settle in for a moment before speaking. "Now we have same deal. You never come after me or anyone I care about, and the file remains confidential." The Senator was still stunned by the pain and blood rivulets falling to his chin. Words did not come, and Beckett drew even closer yelling, "That's a yes or no question, Senator."
The Senator recovered just enough to nod just as they both heard Castle loudly call out Kate's name. She turned to see Rick and Espo running towards them very cognizant of the gun in Kate's hand. Kate immediately returned the gun to her pocket and turned to greet them as Bracken stepped around them looking to avoid any further dealings with Kate or her friends.
In the restroom he noticed his handkerchief was doing a good job at blotting the bleeding, but there was definitely going to be scar just like the detective said. He had underestimated her and her cohorts. It was a mistake he would not make again. The good news was that the new arrangement basically returned things to the status quo with one big exception. She now understood that all her friends were now ignorant hostages to the deal. If any harm should befall him, everyone she held dear was in immediate mortal danger.
As Kate, Castle and Espo walked out of the empty room, she offered just this cryptic epitaph of her confrontation, "Justice for my mother is for another day; now we get just justice for others." Castle and Espo had both feared the worst when they bounded into that room and saw the gun. They both thought something impulsive and reckless would get the best of her. They both knew Bracken was the guy though the proof was sorely lacking. It would have been so easy and perhaps felt so right. Thankfully, she was not going to be leaving this room in cuffs.
Outside they decided to meet later at the Haunt when Kevin was done at the precinct. Javi was not happy and voiced serious reservations about his old partner. This was the murderer of Beckett's mother for God's sake, and he should have been not wanted to rat them out. Kate let him whine for a few minutes before strongly admonishing him. "Javi, he was being rightly cautious of us going too far. I had my gun in my hand. You know a gun should never be brandished unless you are prepared to use it. He was perhaps the only one thinking with his brains and not his emotions. He is part of our team, and you need to reconcile. You will never have a better one - just like Rick and I. Javi walked away without offering any response, and she knew her words had not brought the solace he needed.
Meanwhile, Rick and Kate returned to the loft to find the two redheads in his life in a rather sassy mood. Martha kicked things off by observing, "It was great to see you, Katherine, earlier this morning. An actor needs great peripheral vision to avoid bumping into things on stage, and mine has never been better. I guess things have progressed. Care to share with the class?"
Rick had started making coffee, and the scoop in his hand dropped to the counter with black specs spewing everywhere. Their new status did not survive a day without discovery. Far before they were ready to talk about it, he had to come clean in front of his entire family while his new girlfriend looked on displaying her best poker face. Could the pressure get any worse?
His reply was critical. He opted for committed and cautious. "Yes, mother, Kate came over last night, and we have moved our relationship to something more than friends. It is just too new to put loads of definition on so there isn't much to tell." He thought the last line was particularly good and looked to Kate for reassurance. There was a noticeable pause before the beginnings of a smile started to appear. He had passed their first test, and nothing his two redheads could say would thwart his internal glee.
Alexis spoke first. "I think this is great. You finally recognized what we all saw. Took awhile, but maybe that's a good thing. Besides dad, now there will be three of us to gang up on you when your imagination goes hopelessly awry." Kate moved closer to Castle and grasped his hand reassuringly. Castle felt the unexpected embrace and knew if he died that second, he would have no complaints.
Not to be outdone, Martha mockingly replied, "Well Kate, a mother can only do so much. He is still a bit rough around the edges, but I am sure you can finish the job. He has good bones - just needs a woman's firm hand now and again. I could not be happier."
Kate was overjoyed by their reaction. Anything less than warm welcome from his family would have been a huge problem. After a slight pause, she responded by saying, "I truly want this to work, and your support means the world to both of us." Everyone was all smiles, and Martha immediately wanted some bubbly to toast the new couple. Rick popped a chilled bottle from the frig and took out four glasses. Alexis gave him her best disapproving glare and wisely only three glasses were filled. His daughter was probably the most prudent one in the room, and he was double blessed to have both Kate and her in his life.
After Martha and Alexis retired upstairs, Castle busied himself with the clean-up of the grounds on the counter. Kate watched through the pass-through, and commented, "Castle, you did really well back there. I knew there was reason I kept you around. Your answer was perfect, and it lets us build our own definition. Very auspicious start to what I hope will be many nights here having dinner and sleeping in your bed."
"Kate, I don't want to rush you into saying something you aren't ready for. You know how I feel, and I can be good with whatever pace you are comfortable with."
"Good to know Rick, but I want to be clear, I chose you. I want this to work and will do the work to make that happen. It maybe a bit bumpy, but we will get there." She then scooted around the counter between them and kissed him full on. Castle could definitely get used to that. With the redheads upstairs, he beckoned her to his bedroom, and things progressed nicely, though slightly less loudly than last night.
Meanwhile outside, two rather fit women were watching both entrances to Rick's building with cars nearby. The Senator had asked them to keep tabs on the detective while he contemplated the future. He was not a fan of the deal the detective had forced upon him and was hoping to find a way to confiscate the file that ruined his plans.
Later that afternoon a snitch inside the Twelfth reported that the detective and her sidekick, Esposito, had walked out in a huff the previous day. Rumors were swirling that Beckett had resigned and Esposito was suspended. An unemployed detective could create all sorts of unforeseen havoc. He needed her preoccupied, and the NYPD was the perfect place to do just that. The citizens of New York needed her expertise at putting away murderers provided of course, it wasn't him. Yes, it was time for cooler heads to prevail. Tomorrow a friendly call to Victoria Gates would start to set things right.