When she awoke the next morning, the loft was eerily quiet. Donning her robe, she escaped to the kitchen, started the coffee and perused the frig for what she might whip up a bit later. Being so domestic so early on in a relationship was not normal. Usually the guys took over all the food prep as a thank you for her earlier efforts.
She knew she was a good lay because she was loud and active between the sheets. Her third boyfriend had an apartment with no roommate, and when they parted, she was well versed in positions, touch, and tongue when there was no threat of interruptions. Over the years her expertise only grew, and she turned away more than a few offers of a friends-with-benefits thing.
As she was pouring her first refill of the day, Castle appeared with a gigantic smile on his face. The events of last night and the preparations on the counter this morning hopefully reassured him that whatever they were building was not a passing thing. After pouring his first cup, they retired to the couch for the first kiss of the day and a cuddle that could have gone off the rails had they not heard stirrings from upstairs.
When Alexis appeared, Rick had retired to his bedroom for some additional clothing, and Kate was busy with all the ingredients on the counter. The ensuing breakfast with his daughter was startling domestic. The conversation was easy, mundane, and enlightening. When she inquired about Martha's absence, she was told it was a rare day indeed when she made an appearance anytime before 10:00AM.
When Alexis left, the conversation changed to next steps with Espo. Rick concurred with Lanie's cautious approach. Kate was not having it. Still thinking like his supervisor, she wanted this tiff fixed now. Within an hour she had left a pointed voicemail demanding a meeting to put an end to this foolishness with Kevin. Espo called back in a feisty mood making clear she wasn't in a position to lecture him and reluctantly agreed to see her for lunch at Remys. Kate should have taken his sass as a warning to change her approach; unfortunately she did not.
The lunch started out fine, but quickly digressed when the subject of Kevin came up. "Kate he deserted us for the sake of the rules. I have lost trust in him, and you of all people should know how important it is to trust your partner. Your life is on the line everyday, and that person is your only backup. I'm done with him; in fact I'm done with the whole NYPD if things work out."
"What are you talking about. The NYPD is your family. You just can't walkaway."
"I've found another - the military. Seems trained investigators like me are in high demand. It includes a nice enlistment bonus that will pay off my car and a duty assignment less than two hour from New York. They want me and more importantly, I know everyone I work with will have my back. That is paramount, and something I have lost on the job."
Kate put on her best Beckett glare and responded, "You can't be serious."
"Sure as hell, I am. Just waiting to see the final paperwork. My union rep says my suspension can be wiped away if I resign. The band is breaking up Beckett, and none of your glares are going to change that. If everything is cool with the offer, I will see Gates Friday and start the paperwork."
Realizing that her pleadings were falling on deaf ears, Kate changed the subject to proposing some kind of celebration with friends from the Twelfth possibly at the Old Haunt. Espo said he would think about it as he slipped out of the booth and headed for the door. His words and body language told her the offer was probably not a good idea. He was starting a new chapter and probably only Lanie would get a ticket to join him.
Meanwhile back at the precinct, Vicki Gates was a happy women. The call from the Senator for a lunch date tomorrow was just the diversion she needed from the mess with Beckett's team. The lunch took place in his private dining room just off his Manhattan office. It started out as an exchange of histories and a shared hope to create a better New York.
He then brought up the whispers he had heard about Beckett's possible resignation due some accusations over her zealousness regarding her mother's case. Gates put on her best poker face trying to hide her contempt for leaks within her own precinct. He then profusely praised Beckett's record, and said, "I think the citizens of New York would be better served if some sort of accommodation was made. Don't you? I know some discipline is warranted, and I have it on good authority that she now regrets her actions of the other day. Would that not be a better outcome for all concerned?"
Vicki replied, "You are very well informed Senator. I am in a bit of a muddle about what to do. She is a good detective provided she follows procedure. I had hoped she would come to her senses. I have a meeting with Detective Esposito soon. Hopefully it leads to the outcome we both want."
"Excellent thought Captain" the Senator replied. "If that were to happen, I would be ever so grateful and perhaps reciprocate with a friendly word down at 1PP when the timing is right." Gates smiled, and the Senator knew his ideas were falling on a receptive audience. "Of course we are both sticking our necks out, and I would appreciate a warning if anything appears troubling. Neither of us needs this generous reprieve to derail our promising careers."
"I think that can be arranged. IA has done that in the past if a precinct captain requests it. I can look into that if Detective Beckett decides to reach out."
"That's perfect, Vicki. I hope this leads to many more beneficial collaborations as time goes by." The Senator left the meeting quite pleased with the results. Now the ball was in Beckett's court to show the right dose of contrition. His next meeting with the detective would reverse the power dynamic and make her a reluctant, but willing vassal. From his perspective, the day had gone quite well indeed.
Gate's meeting with Detective Esposito later that week did not go as she expected. When the door was shut, she expected his union rep to rail on about the unfairness of his suspension and plead for his immediate reinstatement. That was not to be. Instead, the detective took center stage and made clear that he no longer saw a future that included the NYPD. He was former military and decided to reach out. The offer accommodated his need to be near family, and he decided to take it provided his suspension could be forgotten in light of his desire to serve his fellow countrymen in a different way.
Gates was readying a speech to try and change his mind, but decided that inserting someone beholden to her in Beckett's team was an opportunity not to be missed. Ten minutes later Ryan saw Espo and his union rep leave without making eye contact with anyone in the bullpen. The next day when he arrived, Javi's desk was noticeable tidy, and he guessed correctly that their partnership was another casualty of the mess Beckett left behind.