Stand by Me
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: By Request. Picks up where Better Part of Valor ends. Please read that before beginning this fic. We see the changes to the lives of a number of our favorite characters, including a few weddings, and other life events. This is for Kim, AKA txgal2015, another of my loyal readers I appreciate so much.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take MANY liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events from other Canon episodes to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Chapter 4
Same Time Frame
Undisclosed Federal Prison, Detention Center
/_/
William H Bracken hadn't gotten to the position of U.S. Senator, on verge of a run for the U.S. Presidency without knowing many people, some who owed him favors, huge favors. He tried to cash some of those in, only to be denied, first on his choice of villas rather than the rat-infested Federal Prison he was currently being housed in.
He was led to the courthouse through a maze of tunnels to vans, then another underground parking lot, with security that had never been taken before by the city of New York. He realized too late that he bought off some of the federal force commanders, only to have the guards doubled the next day. He finally found out, that Richard Castle was paying triple time to any off-duty police officer in the entire state of New York who wanted the duty, once they passed a background check.
There must be over 500 guards lining his path to the court, and then he was sat in a chair, inside a bullet-proof glass enclosure, for his safety. His safety? Yeah right, it was Castle's way of keeping him from any contact with anyone he may be able to influence or threaten. His presence, walking shackled, shuffling his feet, hands cuffed in front of him, with a shackle chain leading from his leg iron chains to the chains around his waist, depicted how far he had fallen.
Another crushing defeat came when the judge he had hand-picked for his trial was suddenly pulled from the case, something to do about a business dealing with him and Bracken's daughter, so he was forced to recuse himself from the trial. His replacement, the Honorable Lawrence O'Brian, was the brother of the man he had murdered during an early political election. O'Brian knew his brother had been murdered at Brackens orders, BUT he kept his cool and vowed privately his day would come, hello Karma, his day for vengeance had arrived.
Jury selection took the full three weeks with almost a thousand potential jurors in the pool for the seated jury. Rick had his firm run thorough checks on each candidate that wasn't dismissed by a challenge from the defense or prosecution.
It became very uncomfortable for anyone who would consider taking a bribe, the investigations were done, paid for, and conducted by RCE Investigations were NOT private, but legal. It put tremendous pressure on those that had slipped through the cracks, and suddenly they asked to be excused for a variety of reasons. With each betrayal, Bracken became angrier and more resolute to beat the bitch Beckett and her boyfriend the writer.
He had plenty of time to think about his plans and wishes but the truth was he had lost most of his power, and if any of his allies still existed, they were laying low, to avoid retribution. There was nothing worse than having a man with plenty of money, sources, legal and illegal, as well as connections in the government as your arch enemy. It was becoming clear to the former senator; he was truly in deep shit.
His personal fortune had also taken a hit, his wife of 27 years sued for and was granted a divorce awarded over 60% of the estate. Several banks were preparing to call in personal loans, and the former Mrs. Bracken was forced to sell their estate at a reduced price to settle with the banks before she left for parts unknown. She knew her ex-husband well, and now that they were no longer married, she could be called as a witness for the prosecution.
Lost in the headlines, the legal maneuvering and all of the grandstand plays being tried were the quiet conference calls between Rick, Kate, Jordan Shaw, and Roy Montgomery. Roy was the source of how things really went down, Jordan the coordinator of all federal resources, Kate and Rick financed the required resources, sometimes convincing a witness to appear or disappear for their safety.
The jury had finally been seated, including two alternates, not one Bracken plant was part of them. The District Attorney of New York, another victim of Bracken's shenanigans earlier in his career chose to prosecute the case himself.
If Bracken hadn't known he was in trouble before, then he had a rude awakening when the announcement was made that Attorney General Don Matthews and his staff would be acting as lead prosecutors. Brackens lawyers filed appeal after appeal and all were denied, much to the anger and dismay of the former senator. It seemed that no matter how smart, how skilled, and experienced his legal team was, he was being outmaneuvered at every side.
This was largely in part due to Roy laying out the real events, who did what and when so when Bracken's attorney would introduce something, they would wind up on their heels defending something worse and more embarrassing that the senator had been involved in.
The jury was taking notes and seemed by the end of the first day to have lost their awe of the defendant, as the judge instructed. He was just a man, accused, of multiple crimes, and must be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, his past profession could not be considered as part of his guilt or innocence. His swagger was certainly gone, how do you walk like the king of the block when you are shackled like the criminal he was.
XxX
Chicago IL
Shaw Residence
Previous Week,
Jordan and Tom had been seeing a counselor, and truly working on their marriage. Jordan on forgiving Tom, he on making her feel like the most important person to him in the world. It started by him joining a new hospital, away from all those he had flirted with as well as crossed the line with personnel.
A fresh start in a new workplace wouldn't guarantee Jordan he wouldn't slip again, but he had done things he never had before. His phone password was changed to one that Jordan knew, and he offered it to her, to look in his contacts, history, or anything she wanted to look at. It was placed on the table when he came home at night. When he was paged, he left the history open on the pager, so she could check anytime she wanted.
He started to meet her for lunch at the hospital, introduce her to his colleagues as his wife, something he had never done before. He used the excuse before that she kept her life private in her job, so he did as well. He had grown up, facing the potential loss of the love of his life, he knew she could have stayed with Rick and had a wonderful life, and was blessed she gave him one more chance.
He remembered little anniversaries, some Jordan had even let slip her mind, their first date, he sent roses and candy. For the first time they kissed, really kissed, he sent her a beautiful necklace, two figures kissing, with the date engraved. He had never been this romantic before, well since he tried to convince her to be his steady girlfriend.
That happened the year they met the handsome new student named Rick Rogers. She was physically attracted to him but pulled back when she found out that with Rick came a young lady named Kyra Blaine. She loved Tom, but hell, Rick was cute, hell he was handsome, but he was taken, she remembered as she opened the package from Tom.
She was really surprised when he remembered the day, they were first intimate, it was after a party, at school and she had been aroused by him holding her so close as they danced, she could feel his desire all night. They never even went home, but a small motel across from campus, and it was every bit as good as she had imagined, perhaps even better. The Tom she knew then was trying to come back into her life, and if she were honest, she needed to make some amends as well.
Tom knew she was attracted to Rick, hell if she were honest, she looked at Rick as often as she could even while wearing his diamond. She was promised to be married a few months after school was over, she still let her mind go to places she should not have. When Tom accused her of being the lying whore, while on assignment, undercover, for her Dad, she was crushed, perhaps because she had fantasies, just not about the mark he accused her of having the affair with.
The only good news was seeing Rick being so lonely and lost until she found out that he had been dumped by the love of his life, Kyra. Tom was stubborn, well they both were and once those words were out of his mouth, the ring was off her finger and thrown at him with an expletive of where he could place it.
They started off as friends, Jordy as Rick called her, was his best friend besides Bob Weldon. He couldn't confide in Bob, not if he wanted anything kept private. They talked a lot about things that were close to them, then it happened, out of the blue, she kissed him.
She never planned on getting that close to Rick, never, she thought, well it didn't matter now, she did what she did, and honestly, she had no shame. He was free, and Tom had screwed his chance of ever being her forever love, or so she thought, it was outside of class she told him she loved him, and they never made it to their next class.
Life got complicated as she found out soon, Rick didn't know that she and Tom had been engaged, and when he found out, he stepped aside, hell he left the fucking country. She didn't find out where, or how until Tom had too much to drink at their official engagement party, and by then she knew she loved Tom. She was attracted to Rick, God was she ever, but she loved Tom and his crazy theories and thoughts.
That's what hurt so much when the betrayal came, she had let herself commit totally to him, no holding back, no memories of her and Rick, the only other man she loved, and he betrayed her. He had worked so hard since Rick had been instrumental in getting them back together again.
Rick was married now, Kate was his soulmate, and well, she loved him enough to know that just as he had been correct with her and Tom, Kate was his only choice. Now she had to prepare to see them for the first time next week when she gave her testimony. How was Kate going to react to that?
Her cellphone rang with a New York number she didn't recognize, as she answered,
"Jordan Shaw,"
"Jordan, it's Kate, eh Kate Beckett Castle, still getting used to the last name" she gushed with joy in her voice
"Yeah, you finally corralled the rascal, Congratulations, it was you all along Kate, no one else ever stood a chance," Jordan said
"That's sweet of you to say, but not the reason for the call, Rick told me you're in New York next week for your testimony and we want you to stay with us at the loft, there's plenty of room, and I don't feel right sending you to a hotel all alone," Kate said,
"Kate, that's really sweet of you, but I can't"
"Rick said you would say that she heard, (OK, OK, I'll pay you later), she returned to the phone laughing, but really we would love to have you. If Tom wants, he can fly down with Brianna for the weekend, we can make it a reunion of sorts" Kate asked sincerely
"Kate, I don't know, I mea"
"Jordan, you have no idea of how long you are going to have to be here for testimony, look we are all adults, we know there was history, the only problem I would have if you decided to sleepwalk into our room and push me away from my husband" Kate laughed,
"Well, I mean, I"
"Look Jordan, seriously, I know Tom would be less worried if you were here, rather than a hotel, we have security and you are almost family to us." She said which shocked Jordan,
"OK, Kate, let me talk to Tom, and be sure he doesn't have any issues with it, I mean he's worked so hard, at rebuilding us, I just can'"
"I already called him, he told me to tell you, as long as it was Kate calling and not Rick, he didn't have a problem," she laughed, "look you know Rick, his morals nothing has changed but there's no reason we can't all be adults. I mean I would hate to be the cause of him not seeing his little princess, and well if we have one of our own, well"
"WHAT, Kate, are you trying I mean that's rude but oh the hell with it are you guys trying for sure?" Jordan was elated,
"Well, we're not doing anything not to have a baby, and we practice a lot, so who knows how long it will take, I mean I'm older but"
"Kate. Brianna is 5 meaning I conceived when I was two years younger than you are now, relax, have fun and it will happen," Jordan tried to convince her,
"OK, but that means you're coming, text us your flight information, Rick wants to have a reception, well protection meet you at the airport. If you feel or see anything out of order, don't get on the airplane, just call us, and we'll send the jet for you, you promise?"
"OK, I promise," Jordan replied,
"The same thing goes for Tom and Brianna, hell, Rick said, just let him know and he will have Janice and the jet there to bring them down here. He's being extra careful, and well, it's just that we all know what that SOB Bracken is capable of and Rick wants to take every precaution, here and where you live." Kate said,
"Kate, I mean that's a lot of people and you guys"
"Well, my beloved daughter came up with a win, win, win for this situation. We have a completely furnished suite below us, that you and Tom can use to continue your discussions, of course, there's room for Brianna, heck Rick has her bedroom decorated the same as here. Kate laughed, then continued,
"Alexis thought that Brianna would love to have a sleepover with Aunt Lexi, and that would give you and Tom some much-needed privacy, I mean, it's none of my business but"
"OK, STOP right there, I'm sold, tell Rick and Alexis, thank you from us both. The plan is brilliant, I wasn't worried about him going back to old ways, just that I knew I was going to miss my husband as corny as that sounds" Jordan laughed into the phone, she must have had it on speaker, Kate heard Tom voice his approval in the background.
"I know Jordan, I know. Mine is 200 feet away from me, but I miss him so much some days when he's locked into the zone writing, it might as well be 200,000 miles. I hate to disturb him, but sometimes, I can't help myself" she confessed,
"Kate, those interruptions as you call them are what he lives for, you, Alexis, his mother and all of us, he's just that way, so as heavy a load as it is" Kate started laughing,
"OK, you made your point Jordan, so send us your flight information for next week as soon as you can, and Rick has it all set up. Tell Tom to bring Princess to the executive airport, Janice will be there with the Jet anytime after 4:30 PM your time on Friday. I can't thank you enough for all you did, so please stay safe and I'll talk to you next week" Kate said, as she prepared to hang up,
"Kate, take care of him, he may act tough, but he's like mush on the inside, just take care of him for so many of us, OK?" Jordan said,
"Always, Jordan, that's my purpose in life now," Kate replied, as she hung up.
XxX
Sunday Evening
Castle Loft 6:45 PM
Rick had received the phone call from his driver, well driver/security detail when Jordan landed. They escorted her to the car, and secured her luggage, and were on their way in less than 15 minutes, almost an impossibility for JFK, especially on Fridays. Rick knew a guy, actually several guys and he was taking this entire trial very seriously. Bracken may be in prison, but he would always be a threat as long as he lived.
The door buzzed, Rick and Kate opened the door holding hands as they always did, it had become just a routine, neither thinking about it. She had to feel his touch, as much as she could, and the time she was away from him, her heart actually ached.
"Jordy," Rick exclaimed as she fell into his arms for a big hug, and a kiss on the cheek, he then stepped aside and Kate hugged her, much to Jordan's surprise while Rick secured her luggage.
"How was your flight Jordan, there looked like there were some storms as we scanned the news earlier," Kate said,
"It was good, meaning I took off, and I landed where I was supposed to, close to the time I was scheduled, but I have to ask, who the hell does Rick know at the airport?" Jordan laughed,
"Oh, I see you got the golf cart waiting for you at the gate, straight to baggage claim, and out the door, while David brought your bag to the car routine, did you?" Kate laughed,
"The first time he did it for me when I had to go to a conference, I thought someone had been hurt or in the hospital, but no, it's just Rick. Well, this time, he wanted to limit the amount of time you were in the open, he still thinks Bracken may try something, and he's trying to protect everyone concerned." She said, in a more serious tone,
Rick returned with the Jimmy John sandwiches he had ordered and place in the warmer, along with Jordan's double rum, and a little coke, as she freshened up in the downstairs bathroom.
"Rick, what is going on, I could stand to lose a few pounds, I bet you got extra mayo too, didn't you?" she laughed,
"Of course, it's your favorite, Kate has hers, and I have mine. I offered Alexis dinner but she asked for your forgiveness, she has a study group meeting tonight" Rick said,
"Yeah, her and Owen are going over class notes to prepare for the upcoming finals" Kate added,
"Is it just her and Owen Babe? I thought she said study group, not boyfriend," Rick said, a little surprised,
"Well, it was a group buy Paige, and Janet decided to skip studying to go roller skating, so tonight it's just Lexi and Owen, and don't you dare say a word, she's shy enough already" Kate gave him the evil eye,
Jordan sat and watched and knew, she had been right, no one could ever get this close to Alexis before, especially in the short period of time, except Kate. She definitely was the one, the only one for him. She smiled as she watched the banter go back and forth, until she just added, "Kate's right Rick, eat your sandwich," and Kate started laughing as Rick feigned hurt,
TBC