Hunting Grounds

Chapter 40

Kate was quitting today, and it also happened to be her wedding day. Those that could make it would, and those that couldn't, just wouldn't.

Kate walked off the elevator alone since Rick was elsewhere handing out his invitations. And yes, they were all going to have very little notice. It was just the way it was.

"Anne." Kate spotted her first off the elevator. "Your wedding invitation. I hope you make it. I'm sorry for the short notice."

"Peter and I will find a way. I'm happy for you, Beckett." Anne took her invitation and watched Kate keep going. She was one of several that were wondering where their transfer requests were. She and everyone else had heard nothing.

"Kev, what did they say?" Kate was dying to know since they hadn't called her.

Kevin's smile lit up the room. "I got the job! Jenny's over the moon. She's already house-hunting online."

"That's great news!" Kate gave him a quick hug. "Your wedding invitation. It's today, sorry." It was what it was.

"Javi, your invitation. You two and anyone you wish to bring can show up anywhere between 10:00 and 5:00. We reserved it for the entire day. The ceremony is at 3 o'clock."

"I'll do what I can," Javi said. "I don't want to miss it."

"We're cooking, so there will be food. Bring whatever drink you wish, but no alcohol," Kate added. "I still have a lot to do before I can get there. You have my phone number. Do not just disappear on me, you two."

"We'll talk. Do we get to know where you're going?" Ryan asked since Kate had been keeping that a secret.

"We're flying out tomorrow, so I suppose it couldn't hurt." Kate didn't think it would matter now. "We're going to New Orleans."

"Really? Party central! How many bedrooms do you have?" Javi joked with her.

"We have four." Kate took a deep breath. "All right, I need to hand in my badge to Gates. Stay in touch, and I'll do the same." Kate walked over to Gate's office; she was sure the wicked witch had been watching.

Kate knocked and entered. "Sir, my badge and weapon. I'll find a box and clean out my desk." Kate laid both things on her desk and turned to leave.

Gates had something to say. "Detective."

"Save it," Kate bit out. "Your words and actions have spoken loud and clear. You're no Montgomery, but I wish you luck, sir, and yes, Rodgers is leaving as well." Kate left her office, located a box, and emptied her desk.

As she did, people that cared about her stopped and wished her the best. Kate had many extra invitations, so she handed them out to people she thought might actually be there.

"Bye, guys." Kate waved and picked up her box and for the last time, she walked into the elevator at the 12th precinct.

[_] /\ [_]

Kate made it home with her box and saw that Lanie was waiting for her. "Hi, Lanie. Why aren't you at work?"

"And miss my best friend's wedding? You must have lost your mind! I'm here to help you get ready. Please tell me you have a dress," Lanie begged her.

"Yes, I have a dress. It's off the rack, but it's a dress." Kate was happy with it, and it hadn't cost them an arm and a leg.

"Good, now let's get you ready for your wedding." Lanie waited for Kate to unlock the door after she took her box from her.

"Wow, you really are moving." Lanie saw boxes stacked up everywhere.

"Rick's truck is getting picked up soon. All this gets picked up early tomorrow morning. Then we race to the airport for our flight. If something goes wrong, Dad said he would be here for the movers."

Kate shook her head, "Can you believe it? I haven't been unemployed in ages."

"Pfft." Lanie waved her hand. "Two weeks is nothing. Just make sure you have a bedroom for me," Lanie smiled and joked with her.

"I've heard a lot of that today, and you're more than welcome to come visit. In fact, if you don't, I may fly back just so I can smack you around," Kate teased her.

"Oh, you'll smack me around? I was sure I was going to have to smack you around since you didn't seem to want to have a boyfriend. Now here you are, getting married. So, show me this dress you found." Lanie couldn't wait any longer.

"Don't be critical." Kate took it out of the closet and took it out of the opaque bag it was in, so Rick couldn't see it. Kate held it up against her and looked for Lanie's approval.

"It's a Mac Duggal one-shoulder long-sleeve gown. This one happens to be white. It also has this long slit that's not quite on the side to show off my long legs. I got it from Macy's. It mostly fits." Kate had tried it on before she bought it.

"You are going to be the most beautiful sexy woman anyone has ever seen. Now go shower, and let's work on your hair and makeup. Where's Rick?" Was he going to be interrupting them?

"He's with his mother and they're getting ready across town. I won't see him till we get there, but I already know he'll be wearing his dress whites just as he did for Kevin's wedding. Did you hear Kevin got the job?" Kate was starting to strip. She would finish inside the bathroom.

"I really thought that was sexy. It makes me like a man in uniform." Lanie was thinking of expanding her dating pool and didn't even hear her say that Kevin got the job.

[_] /\ [_]

"What do you think?" Kate was standing there showing off her dress.

Lanie had her hands over her mouth and felt tears fill her eyes. "You look incredible, Kate! So beautiful."

"Don't you dare start crying, Lanie! You'll get me started." Kate was already fighting them. She was getting married, and her mother wasn't here to help her. She only had her friend, not her mother.

"We never got to have your party. Your last day as a single woman." Lanie was sorry about that. It had all been so fast.

"Don't worry about it. I don't need to see half-naked men to know that I found the right one, and I've seen him completely naked." Kate grinned at her.

"Damn right you have!" Lanie smiled wide.

Kate put on a light coat since in this dress it was going to be chilly outside. "Grab the bags for me, please, Lanie. That's part of our dinner."

[_] /\ [_]

Kate and Lanie took a taxi to the museum, and Lanie still had all the food bags. Getting in was easy; Kate was the bride, and Lanie had her invitation.

They both got a quick look at what was on the first floor. Then they went upstairs and over to the kitchen. They also weren't the first ones here.

Kate took off her coat and helped Lanie unload the bags in the kitchen. A man in dress whites wearing an overcoat approached both of them. He was dressed like Rick was going to be. "You must be Kate Beckett. I'm Lance Mann with Naval Intelligence." He held out his hand and shook Kate's.

"You're Rick's friend." Kate knew his name. Rick had used it often.

"I am, and I must say you look amazing." Lance was stunned by her beauty and now knew that he was glad he had helped his friend.

"Thank you." Kate knew her dress wasn't perfect, but she was beginning to feel better about her choice. "Don't take this the wrong way, but how did you get an invitation? We only just gave them out by hand today." She knew he was in DC, not here in the city.

Lance reached into his overcoat and pulled out a piece of paper. "By fax. Rick sent it to me. My wife and I caught a Navy flight up. Didn't take any time at all." Lance pointed out his wife who was walking around, looking the place over. Lance grinned at her. "I think she's dying to go downstairs before the wedding."

"Go anywhere you wish. This building is ours today. Only people with invitations are supposed to be allowed in."

"Then it sounds like we'll be downstairs till the wedding. I look forward to it." Lance bowed a little and took his leave.

"Who was that?" Lanie inquired.

"Rick's friend in Naval Intelligence. He got him the job following me at the 12th. Without him, I wouldn't be here now." Kate knew it took a whole lot of pieces to fall into place for all this to happen after what they had experienced.

She also knew that their alien space ship was set to crash into the sun, where it would burn up. In fact, there should already be nothing left of it even now. What they were going to do with it was no longer an issue. They just had to hope the aliens didn't have a way to find them again.

"I have definitely been looking in the wrong place. He almost looks as good as Rick does," Lanie said with a sigh.

Kate was going to let her know that he was married but held her tongue.

Lanie looked around the kitchen. "So, who has the rest of the food?" This couldn't possibly be all of it.

"Rick and Martha do, and Dad is bringing the dessert. He refused to tell me what, just that I would love it. What we don't have are drink options. It may be water or nothing."

"We can't have that. You wait here, I'll think of something." It needed to be inexpensive, but she didn't even know how many people were coming. Lanie went down the elevator and hurried out of the building.

The third floor was mostly a wide-open space. There were Men's and Women's Restrooms, an office, and the kitchen. What they didn't have the time for was to set up and take down chairs. Between 10:00 and 5:00, they had to get married, eat something, clean up, and get out. Alcohol, including champagne, was forbidden without a license and liability insurance.

Everything had to be left spotless. If that meant mopping the floors, then that was expected. So everything that was brought in had to be taken out. The place had to be clean by 5:00 pm when the doors closed.

About half an hour later, Kate heard, "Katie!" Jim spotted her and dropped off his bags of food.

"Hi, Dad!" Kate hugged him tightly. "Can you believe it?" She was about to get married.

"Rick is a lucky man." His daughter couldn't marry just anyone.

Kate corrected him. "I'm the one that's lucky, Dad."

"It looks like you're getting people to attend even with short notice."

"I saw them." People were here, and the others still had time.

"No sign of Rick or Martha yet?" Jim asked her.

"No, but he'll be here." Kate wasn't worried. Rick knew how to take care of himself.

[_] /\ [_]

"Jenny!" Kate walked over to her and hugged her.

"That's quite a dress, Kate. Mine was more traditional, but that dress definitely suits you." To her, it just screamed Kate.

"Thank you. It was the best I could find on such short notice. No Kevin?" She didn't see him with her.

"He and Javi are still stuck at work. Gates is being a bitch, which is nothing new. Does she even know about you getting married today?" Jenny asked her.

"I didn't tell her. She's not invited, so she shouldn't know about it."

"Then she must be really cranked up. I'm sure they'll be here as fast as possible. What time is the ceremony?" Maybe they wouldn't have time.

"Three o'clock. We only have this place till 5:00, and we still need to make dinner and eat it, then clean up and leave."

"Surely you're not cooking. Not in your wedding dress?" Jenny wasn't going to let that happen. She might ruin that dress.

"I have an apron, and only Rick and I know what we're making." Kate was taking precautions.

"So what are we eating?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Kate was willing to whisper it to her.

"I'm all ears." Jenny leaned in closer.

"It's called Firehouse Beef Stew." It was why they had two huge pots and lots and lots of ingredients. They were going to make two separate batches to feed everyone.

Jenny burst out laughing. "In a Fireman's Museum. How fitting!"

"We thought so. They're two of the biggest pots that Dad and I had. They used to be Mom's."

Jenny took Kate's hand in hers. "She's here, Kate. You won't see her, but she's here."

"Thanks, Jenny. It wouldn't feel right if she wasn't." But what Kate wished with her whole heart was that her mom could be here in person.

[_] /\ [_]

"Katherine!" Martha had spotted her and walked over to her, dressed for the wedding of her life.

"Hi, Martha." Kate hugged her.

"I have something for you." Martha produced a small box. "These were given to me by my mother when I got married. Only women of substance have ever worn them. I don't have a daughter, so now they belong to you. You're about to become a Rodgers."

It felt like an electric shock to Kate. That was the very first time anyone had called her a Rodgers. She was just a few short hours from being a Rodgers.

Martha hadn't yet opened her gift, but she saw something in Katherine. "Are you all right, dear?"

"I'm fine. You're just the first person to call me a Rodgers." Kate felt new tears start. She was about to go from being a Beckett to being a Rodgers.

"I'm honored." Martha was happy to be the first for her. "You need these, my dear." She opened her gift to show them to Kate.

"Oh, Martha!" Kate saw a pair of gorgeous sapphire earrings. "They're beautiful." Kate could only stare at them.

"In case you need something blue," Martha said. In fact, Kate didn't have anything blue. She had to skip that whole part: something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Even their photographer was only going to be here for an hour. They were doing this on a very slim budget.

Kate took her earrings out one at a time and put them on. She already felt different, and it wasn't just the extra weight of them. "I need to see them. Please, excuse me." Kate left Martha so she could go to the restroom and see them on her ears.

[_] /\ [_]

Kate saw him. There were now two people in Navy dress whites. No, he wasn't supposed to see her before the wedding. But there really wasn't anywhere to hide for that long. So Kate walked right up to him and fussed with his pristine uniform.

"Hi, future husband. You still look incredibly handsome." Damn, she was a lucky girl.

"And you, future wife, look absolutely amazing." Rick liked what he saw.

"Thank you." She was feeling better about her dress. Then he bent his head down till his lips were at her ear. "Just how long is the slit on this dress?" He knew she had long legs but in this dress, she had LONG legs.

"Hopefully, not too long. I'm not wearing any panties," Kate whispered to him.

Rick groaned. He knew she was teasing him, but did she really have to tell him that?

"No bra, either, so it will come off me easily. See this side zipper?" Kate turned to show it to him.

"Kate! Please stop teasing me," Rick begged her.

Kate's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I'll think about it. Oh, your friend Lance and his wife are here somewhere. They might be downstairs."

"Lance is here? I'll be back." Rick gave her a quick kiss and left to find his friend who he hadn't seen... However long ago it had been.

[_] /\ [_]

Those there for a wedding formed a line for Jim. He was going to escort his daughter down the aisle of friends to Rick. Kate smiled as she passed the friends that had managed to be here with so little advanced notice. She still thought Rick was the most handsome man she had ever met.

The minister was ready. He performed the service and heard both I do's, watched as rings were exchanged, and then pronounced them husband and wife. Immediately after that, since he had trouble getting them alone, he had them sign the marriage certificate that he then signed to make it official.

The Firehouse Stew had been simmering for hours, so it was good and ready. Soon everyone had a small paper bowl and a plastic spoon and was enjoying their meal.

Lanie was prepared. She had a book that everyone had to sign on the way out. Since everyone had to exit via the front doors, that was where she had planted herself.

None of the guests had time to get them wedding gifts. On their way to the elevator, Lance and his wife stopped by the happy couple.

"Captain and Mrs. Rodgers." Lance had a broad smile; he was happy for both of them. "I know the invitation said not to worry about wedding gifts, but I have a little something. It's perhaps more for Kate than you, Rick, but honestly, it's for both of you." Lance handed her an envelope.

"The FBI agreed to this. You get one phone call to a burner phone. I suggest you get your own burner phone and call the number you will find inside. Once that call is over, the FBI will crush that phone, and you will do the same with yours. I don't know how much time you'll have, but I suggest you make it short and get to the point," Lance said. Both of them wondered just what he had done.

"Kate." Lance leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Rick." Lance shook his hand and then hugged him. "Be ready for deployment, Rick. It will happen," he said quietly.

"Katherine." His wife air-kissed Kate's cheek and did the same for Rick.

Their guests trickled out till nearly everyone was gone by 4:00pm.

[_] /\ [_]

"You two are done here. Jim, Martha, and Jenny are going to help me clean up and throw out the trash. You need to start your wedding night," Lanie insisted. "I'm not letting you risk getting your wedding dress dirty."

"But…" Kate had every intention to help.

"Don't even think it, girlfriend. You have friends, so let us do our job. Oh, here." Lanie handed over her book. "I had everyone sign it on their way out."

Kate felt tears starting yet again. Today had been an incredible day of change. Now her friends and family were helping her out.

"I expect a phone call telling me you arrived at your new home safely. If not, the local police are going to get an earful from me. Not to mention what Kevin and Javi will do to them," Lanie told her.

Kate hugged her. "Thanks, Lanie."

"Go start your family, Katie. Do your mother proud." Jim hugged her tight and whispered, "I love you, Katie-bug."

"Richard, you've found a good one. You'll have a wonderful life together." Martha hugged her son and then hugged Katherine.

"Son, I know you'll protect her, even from herself." Jim knew she was headstrong and stubborn.

"I'll do my best, sir," Rick promised.

"I have lots of pictures. I'll send you copies and show them to Kevin, Javi, and anyone in the precinct that's interested." Jenny hugged Kate and kissed Rick on his cheek.

"Thanks, everyone." Kate wiped away her tears. At least she had managed to make it until after their wedding before she ruined her makeup.

Stepping outside, they both stopped. "What now, husband?"

"The apartment is all boxed up and disappearing early tomorrow, followed by a late-night flight out. So I'm thinking about a hotel room where I can take that dress off of you," Rick purred.

"Good plan, husband, but we need to stop at the apartment to get our clothes for tomorrow," Kate reminded him.

"TAXI!" Rick yelled and waved his arm. The sooner they had clothes, the sooner he could take hers off.

[_] /\ [_]

"So what's in the envelope?" Rick asked while in the taxi. Kate tore it opened. Her eyes opened wide in surprise, and she covered her mouth. Tears welled up, and she showed it to her husband.

Rick raised both eyebrows. "Roy! Change of plans. We need a burner phone first."