AN: As always, thank you for your reviews. Let's see where this goes, shall we?
CH9
Things had been going well between her and Castle. He'd come to see her in the mornings, either before or after the morning rush (the latter if he could pick so he could kiss her good morning). He'd then come to visit her once she was about to close up. From there, he'd either join her and walk her home (most of the time staying the night) or she would come home with him. The more time they spent together and the more that he told her about the cases he was working on, the more she wanted to go back to the precinct. It didn't help either that he would say comments like "I would have loved to see you interrogate him" or he would bring up a memory that Ryan or Esposito had told him. They were dating a little over a month and it wasn't even a week into their relationship when she made up her mind… she needed to go back to being a detective.
She had already had the talk with her dad about returning.
She walked into the bakery a little later than she had most days. Castle may or may not have distracted her from getting dressed and out the door. So, when she walked in her dad was already there.
"You're here later than normal. You okay, Katie?"
She nodded and smiled before placing a kiss on her father's cheek. "I'm good. Just overslept."
He gave her a look. "Katie?" She looked at him. "Where's Castle this morning?" She shrugged, but the blush that graced her face wasn't letting her out of this."Katherine Houghten Beckett…"
"Fine…I was late because…"
"I don't need to know the details."
She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't going to share. I was just going to say that the other night I went out with Castle and….well we're seeing each other."
"I to…."
"Don't say it, dad. You know those are my least favorite words, especially when it comes from you and mom."
"I'm glad he makes you happy."
She smiled. "He does." Her smile faded though. "Dad….I think I want to go back."
"Go back to being single? Kate, you just…"
"No, dad. Going back to….homicide."
He stopped frosting the cookies and put the knife down to look at her. "Really?"
She nodded. "I enjoy doing this, especially with you….but hearing Castle talk about these cases…"
"It makes you see where you belong?"
She nodded. "I know there's a part of me that will always want to solve mom's case, but it's not about that now. It's about seeing how much I thrive off of catching killers, how much it makes me happy knowing I made a difference in someone's life….even if I only made a difference in a life that isn't living anymore. I love what we do together, but…."
He took her hand. "It's ok, Katie. I told you once I was back on track that you could have gone back. My sponsor, and of course you, helped me get back on track. I'll be okay and I know you'll be okay too. There's no doubt in my mind that you were born to be a detective…maybe even captain. You deserve what makes you happy, Katie."
She hugged her father. "Thank you, dad." She would work out what would happen with Johanna's (since she didn't want to sell the place), but this was the first and most important step…making sure her dad was okay.
—-
That night, Castle had helped her clean up the bakery. She had just finished prepping some dough for tomorrow when he came over to her and picked her up. He sat her down on the counter, not caring if there was flour on it or not. "Cas.." His lips were on hers and her legs instantly went around his waist, bringing him closer to her. Their kiss was passionate and it wasn't until she felt his fingers brushing against her nipple (how the hell did he get his hand under her shirt so quickly) over the fabric of her bra that she knew they couldn't continue.
"Castle….we can't do this here…"
His lips traveled down her neck, paying extra attention to her pulse point (where he knew she was most sensitive). "Mhm, I think we can. Come on, Kate. You can't say that you don't have the fantasy of me taking you right here on this counter."
She bit her bottom lip, but it was too late. A moan escaped her as she felt his teeth against her skin. "Lights…off." She moved her legs from around his waist, so he could get the lights. That's when she noticed that he was walking with a bit of a limp. "Castle? What happened?"
She heard him sigh as he turned to face her. "I might have done something stupid. Ryan was chasing down a suspect and I thought I could help…I did end up helping, but I also tripped in the process."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm okay. Just a bruise I think. I knew it was probably a stupid idea trying to hide it from you. After all, you were a detective."
She bit her lip. "What would you say if I wanted to be a detective again?"
"What?"
"I've been thinking…..about going back."
"I should probably tell you my other fantasies I have about you in this bakery before you're back at the precinct."
"Castle, I'm serious."
"So am I. I think it would be great if you returned to the precinct. They all miss you and from the stories I've heard, you were the best. I'd support you no matter what you choose because either way I still get to bring you coffee every morning and see you smile."
"Does it really count as you bringing me coffee if I make it?"
He shut the lights before coming back over to her. "Oh, it does." He leaned in and whispered low into her ear. "It definitely does."
Today, she was going to talk to Esposito. She hadn't stepped foot into the precinct since the day of her shooting. She had asked Lanie to clean out her desk and she returned her things to Esposito outside. She just couldn't step foot in there….until today. She hadn't told anyone that she was coming in today, just Esposito. She had a feeling he knew what this was about and he didn't hesitate in responding yes to if she could come in.
She stepped onto the lobby of the 12th and heard the familiar sound of her heels against the floor. A few officers recognized her and went up to her. They exchanged some hugs and made it brief, since she said she was meeting with Esposito. She stepped into the elevator, hit the button for the homicide floor, and took a deep breath. As the elevator rose, so did her nerves. What if Esposito said no? What if this wasn't what she should be doing? She took a deep breath and released it when the elevator doors opened.
She exited it and a few officers saw her. They started clapping, which brought more attention to her. She smiled softly, feeling the love and knowing that she made the right choice. She was still a part of this family. She saw Castle's smile and Ryan's surprised expression. Kate walked further into the bullpen and saw Esposito outside his door, clapping as well. She smiled at him before she hugged him. The clapping stopped from the others around her, letting her be with her former team.
He whispered, "Welcome back, detective."
She pulled away, smiled at him, and made her way to Ryan, giving him the same hug. She then made her way to Castle. "I'm here to see Esposito. We have a meeting. Lunch after?"
He nodded and let her go into Esposito's office. She closed the door behind her.
"How's it feel to be captain?" She sat down.
"It…it's different, but good. How's the bakery?"
"It's great. Business is great, reviews are great…"
"So why are you coming to me for your old job back?" He smirked as he sat down.
She bit her bottom lip. "Cause this is what I'm meant to do."
He smiled and took her badge out from where he had been storing it. "You'll have to take a psych test, physical, you know…the usual….but your desk is ready for you when you're cleared. I always told you, we'd take you back in a heartbeat." He gave her her badge, even though he knew it was against protocol.
She looked down at the familiar badge and smiled. "Thanks, Javi."
"Just promise me one thing." She looked at him. "Well, maybe two. One, don't jump into…" Before he could finish she cut him off.
"I won't. That's not what I'm here for."
He nodded. "We'll solve it one day. We know more than we did when you first started looking into her case. We'll solve it, but carefully."
She nodded. "What's the second?"
"Bring some welcome back cookies with you."
She laughed. "I can do that." She got up, but realized they had to discuss something else. "About Castle…"
"What about him?"
"Well, we're…together and he's shadowing Ryan."
He smirked. "Yeah, I might have another condition with you returning….he's shadowing you. Ryan is going out on leave when Jenny gives birth and we do have a deal that he'll shadow an NYPD detective. I can't think of anyone better."
"Even though we're together?"
"He's not on the payroll, so as long as you keep it professional there shouldn't be a problem."
"Of course. Thank you again, Javi."
"Anytime, Beckett. The sooner you're back, the better."
She exited his office with a smile on her face. She had briefly forgotten her badge was still in her hands. Ryan was the first to spot it.
"You're back?!"
"I'm back." The smile on both Castle and Ryan's faces was priceless. She was pretty sure so was hers. "Well once I pass everything….but hopefully that won't take too long. Ryan, can I steal Castle for a bit?"
"Go right ahead, detective."
She motioned with her head for him to come and follow her as she walked towards the elevator. "Happy to be back?"
She smiled at his kindness and understanding. "I am. The bakery does make me feel closer to my mother, but being there isn't what I was meant to do. You helped me see that."
"Kate I didn't…."
"No, you did. Listen, I don't believe in fate, but…..well, I do feel like there was a reason that we came into each other's lives. I helped you create this new series and you helped me see that being a detective is what I'm meant to do." He took her hand and let his thumb trace back and forth over her skin once they entered the elevator. "Javi also told me that he's giving me a partner when I return."
He looked at her. "And you're okay with that?"
"Yea, considering I've kind of gotten used to him pulling my pigtails already." He looked at her, a little confused. "It's you, Castle."
He smiled. "I pull your pigtails, huh? You know you, wearing pigtails and a school girl ..."
She cut him off as the doors closed. "In your dreams."
"Oh, but in my dreams you…" This time she cut him off by kissing him passionately. The one way she knew for sure she could shut him up. She pulled away, far too soon in his opinion. 'You do that."
She smiled and walked out of the now-open elevator doors. "Come on, partner. Let's get some lunch."
