AN: It seems like I'm updating on Mondays now because this is the second weekend where I haven't felt well. I guess I have to keep you on your toes. Thank you, as always, for the kind reviews. As for time traveling, not in this one but you may have given me an idea for a future fanfic. Enjoy!
CH11
It was late, she had sent Ryan home when she could tell he couldn't read another letter if he tried. She checked in with the officer they had as Bracken's protective detail and she checked in with the IT crew to see if they had found any emails. She felt like they were getting nowhere, but she knew that they had to keep looking.
Castle walked in with two large coffees and some Chinese food. He's such a lifesaver. She was expecting her first case back to be a late one, but she knew by now to expect the unexpected. The memory of one of her last cases came to her mind.
They were looking into finding out who the third cop was. Ryan and Esposito were out and she was in the same break room trying to put the pieces together. "Come on, there has to be something." She was about to give up in frustration when she saw Montgomery calling her.
"Captain?"
"Beckett, I've got a lead." He gave her an address to meet her and as soon as she hung up, Esposito was calling.
"Beckett, the third cop is Montgomery!"
"Fuck!" She gave him the address that she was given just seconds ago. She knew she was going to need back up and she wasn't about to bring anyone besides them. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she knew no matter what the outcome, it wasn't going to be good.
"Kate? You okay?" She was snapped back to reality by hearing Castle's voice.
"Yeah, I'm okay…just remembering the last time I was here late at night." Wishing things had turned out differently.
He heard her unspoken words. She had told him about Montgomery and knew that being back here was going to bring up some of those painful memories for her. One of the reasons he refused her offer to go home earlier in the day. He knew that she might need to lean on him or need some words of encouragement. He was going to be there for her, be her partner.
"He's proud of you." She looked at him "Montgomery. I've played poker with him a few times. I remember him talking about you. At the time, I didn't know it was you, but he would say that he was impressed with this detective he had. That she solved a case that had gone cold for about a year now. She stepped on and found a discrepancy. Took her two days to arrest the killer." She remembered that. It was her first case as a detective. "He couldn't believe it. I believe his exact words were, "She's more badass than I thought she was."."
She rolled her eyes. "Castle, he did not say that."
"Ok, maybe I was thinking that you were a badass. But he definitely said that he was impressed and he didn't remember the last time he was impressed like that. I know he was proud of you then and he's proud of you now, for coming back and doing what you do best….well one of the things you do best." She gave him a look. "I meant baking. Detective Beckett, I'd never say something like that in your workplace. At your apartment though…"
She shook her head before returning to the pile of letters in front of her.
—-
It had been an exhausting few days. She saved Bracken from an explosive, they found out who was trying to kill him, and she was pretty sure she hadn't slept more than an hour in the past few days. There was nothing she wanted more than to be home, relaxing in a warm bath, with a glass of wine and a good book. However, she was here at this damn press conference Bracken was giving. He was thanking the NYPD (specifically the 12th precinct) for their service. Castle hadn't arrived yet, so it was just her by the stairs. Bracken wanted to thank her before giving his speech. When she saw him approach, she felt that chill again. What was it about this man that she hated?
"Detective Beckett, I'd just like to thank you again for saving my life. It's good to know there are people like you watching out for New York. As much as I heard good things about your baked goods, I am glad you came back to law enforcement. I believe I'm in your debt."
"Senator, I was just doing my job."
"Take it, Detective. You never know when you might need it. There's always someone out there that may have you on their hit list and the help of a senator could come in handy."
"Excuse me?"
"We all have enemies, Detective," he said before he walked off to give his speech.
What the hell did he know about her? She was being baited. If he wanted her to dig, she was going to put herself in the crosshairs. His crosshairs? Was he her mother's killer? Did he hire the hit on her at her captain's funeral? She had no proof and she would look like a fool with all these reporters out there if she went up to him to confront him.
She was brought out of her thoughts by a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, I'm late." He saw Kate's look on her face, how her skin was paler than usual. "What happened?"
"He knows, Castle."
"Knows what?"
"He knows who wants me dead. Who's behind my mother's killer. If it's not him himself, he knows…..and I can't prove it. He waved it in front of me like he knows I can't do a damn thing about it because if I dig, I'll be in the crosshairs. Something I promised I wouldn't do again. And now I have to go up there, stand next to him, and thank him for his kind words about the NYPD and how we are glad that he's alive and well. All I want to do is…"
"Hey, if he is involved, we'll find a way to bring him down. We'll do it the right way."
"And what if we can't?"
"We will." He pulled her into his embrace, offering comfort to her because he knew he couldn't promise her what she wanted. "And I know in just a few minutes you're going to go out there and pretend like none of this ever happened." He knew she was probably thinking that she couldn't, so he had to reassure her. "Do you know why I chose you as an inspiration for Nikki Heat?" She didn't speak. "It's because you're tall."
She pulled away and he saw the smile on her face. He might not be able to promise they'd bring Bracken down, but at least he was able to make her smile. That was good enough for him in the meantime.
