When Kate awoke she was sore in all the right places, warm, and extremely happy. Sleeping with Castle would be something she could easily get used to. It all felt so right. Looking over at her sleeping hunk, she remembered another male very dear to her- her dad.
Yes, he needed to know about them as soon as possible. Castle would want some sort of celebratory bash probably with Alexis and Martha either at the loft or out somewhere. She knew that little soiree needed a little prep work. She and her dad had been though so much together that he deserved a quiet heartfelt conversation first. She was sure he would be happy about her new status. He liked Castle, but might have concerns about how her private nature would work with his outlandish celebrity persona. She knew the man portrayed in the tabloid press was not her Castle, but her dad would need assurances.
Her reflections were interrupted by the buzz of her phone. She had forgotten to turn it off. Old habits die hard. She wasn't a cop anymore so there really was no need. The call was from Kevin saying he could be at the Old Haunt in about an hour. That worked for her, and he offered to let Espo know. That offer reminded her that Lanie was not in the loop. A quick call would get the ball rolling. Unfortunately, there was no answer so a voicemail promising a chat later would have to suffice.
The buzz from her phone had awoken Castle from his deep slumber. He too was very curious about her conversation with Bracken. He expected to hear all that immediately upon entering the loft, but the two redheads in his life had interrupted his plans. Then Kate had started something far more fun, and well, he became preoccupied. Now it was time for a shower and a quick jaunt to his bar provided Kate gave him no wanton looks. He had thought her amorous advances would develop over time. He was overjoyed to be so wrong.
When they arrived at the Old Haunt, Kevin was sitting in the third booth in a row of six up against the back wall. They waived and joined him without noticing two fit females being escorted by Brian to the second booth in that same row. Starting without Javi seemed like a waste so the conversation centered on the menu and what new beer taps had been installed since their last visit. The two women behind them ordered just an appetizer each before the one closest to the threesome covertly powered on a highly effective digital recorder.
Back at the threesome, it became obvious that Javi was way late, and Beckett's call just went to voicemail. Kevin couldn't let that pass, commenting, "The last time I saw him he was as mad as I have even seen him. He thinks I should have turned a blind eye to all this. I had no idea what you two had in mind. You were both running on emotion, and that can end badly. We all know that."
Kate responded, "Kevin, I'm not blaming you. We just got carried away. We just need some space from it." Kate continued rather forlornly, "Guess there is plenty time for that with him suspended and me off the job. Probably should have just accepted the suspension and decided about quitting only when we knew what her punishment would be. Maybe there is still time to salvage things? She will miss bragging about our team's closure rate down at 1PP."
"About that, I have it on good authority that Gates has not done any paperwork. I think she feels like a deer caught in the headlights. A new captain has her best homicide team implode within months of assuming command is not an auspicious start. I think there is a limited window to find some sort of accommodation. If you both show remorse and accept whatever discipline, she hands out, I think reinstatement could get done. The question really is how did you leave things with Bracken? She will want guarantees that you and Bracken are done."
Kate responded, "I definitely got his attention when I rattled off the account number. When I told him I had the file, we reached an understanding. I stay away from him, and he stays away from me or anybody I care about."
When that revelation sank in, Castle gave her an askance look and said, "There is no file. You just bluffed him. God, Beckett, remind me to never play poker with you again."
Kevin was equally impressed and said, "You sure have a lot of chutzpah. Are you sure he bought it?"
"I think the gun slamming across his face kind of put the cherry on top. He believes it; I am sure of it." Sensing a lull in the conversation, she continued, "Look Kevin, there is something else you need to know. Last night Castle and I took a big step in our relationship. It is very new and probably best kept under wraps because of work, but you, Espo, and Lanie need to know."
"Boy, that's great news. I wonder who won the pool - almost a grand up for the taking. I know it's not me or Javi." Kevin saw the beginnings of the Beckett glare and knew it was time to put a cork in it.
Kate started to shimmy out of the both and said, "Look I need to get going. I promised to call Lanie, and I need to walk Espo back from anything rash he may be contemplating. I will call them from my apartment and see you later Castle." Kate got up and hardly noticed that both female patrons in the next booth had the same idea. Castle suggested another round to celebrate the news, and Kevin was certainly not objecting.
As one of the females followed Kate, the other got in her car and made a call. When the call was answered, the woman's nearly giddy voice said, "Senator, I think you need to hear this. I think you will be very pleased." After the Senator had rerecorded the entire conversation on to a burner phone, he too was quite giddy. The detective's advantage had crumbled, and his meeting with Gates early next week would plant the seeds for a mutually advantageous partnership. He knew she was ambitious, and perhaps he could use his considerable influence down at 1PP to raise her profile where it mattered most. In return she could keep tabs on the detective and perhaps be useful in other ways. No harm in friends helping friends - right.
When Beckett got to her apartment, she immediately called Lanie. Initially. the long pauses on the other end of the line were ominous. Being the last in the loop to know about developments with Castle was not what she expected from her supposed best friend. Kate apologized profusely, and things got better from there.
When she mentioned calling Espo next, she got a very critical response. "He risked his career on your mother's case and feels Kevin really betrayed both of you. I would let him cool off. I am not sure he and Kevin can ever be the same. His trust is broken, and I doubt it will ever return." Kate took those words to heart and deferred the call. What Lanie chose not to mention was Javier's disenchantment went far beyond just his partner. In the interim, he had contacted some of his military buds about what a reenlistment would look like.
After a shower she needed to pack some essentials for what were likely to be many nights spent at the loft. Much as she would prefer walking around in just his shirt, it probably was not the visual his daughter and mother needed to see. Instead she grabbed her favorite robe that served two purposes. Around his family, it kept her decent, and in private, it could easily be discarded if Castle was feeling frisky. In her past relationships, families were left rarely seen and hardly ever discussed. With Castle, it was a very noisy package deal that she wanted to embrace and foster with her more reticent dad.