PLANE
Chapter 11
"Hi, Lanie. Come in." Kate opened the door wide, Lanie stepped in, then Kate closed and locked it. "Let me get everything." Kate headed for a table and Lanie was right behind her.
"Here are all the keys I have to this place." Kate handed them over to her. "In this are my latest electric, water, cable TV, and trash bills so you can change the name on the account." Kate handed her that envelope. "This one holds the insurance coverage I have on this place. You'll want to get you own but this will show you what I have." Kate handed her that one too.
"So you're really doing this?" Lanie needed to make sure.
Kate nodded. "Yes, I'm going where I want to go, Lanie. Change my life. Change who I've spent the last few years changing myself into. Become a different and better person. Add Rick to my life."
Lanie eyed her. "It's Rick now, is it?"
"I need to make a difference between my Castle and Castle the author." Kate paused for a moment and took a breath. This wasn't going to be easy. "I've already said my goodbyes to the guys. I had my dinner with my dad. We went out to eat in a restaurant. It was nice." Kate knew she was going to miss him but she was missing Rick even more.
"I hope it all works out for you." Lanie gave her a quick hug.
"I've got two suitcases full of clothes and shoes. Anything left behind you can sell, leave where it is, put it in storage, or donate it to someone in need. Your choice. It's not a lot but I don't have space for it. I've cleaned a little, emptied the refrigerator of all the outdated stuff that was in it. You find anything else, it's your choice what to do with it.
"I'll do my best to tell you and my dad how I'm doing," Kate told her.
Lanie smiled at her. "Do I get a wedding invitation?"
"I'll do what I can." Kate didn't have an answer about that because yes, if Rick proposed she knew what her answer was going to be. She was ready to become Katherine Houghton Castle.
"You don't need one of these keys? Just to lock the door?" Lanie asked, wondering how Kate would lock it when she left.
"I might not be able to lock the deadbolt but the door will be locked. I'm pretty sure my cell phone won't work either, so don't be surprised if I don't answer you," Kate warned her.
Lanie tried one final thing. "Dinner?"
"I still have money and I plan to order something for delivery." Kate wrapped her arms around her friend. "I'm going to miss you, Lanie."
"Nonsense, you're going to have a husband and maybe start making your own family. Maybe you could even name a baby girl after me?" Lanie offered hopefully.
That had Kate chuckling. "I'll talk to Rick about that. Take very good care of yourself, Lanie, and don't forget to find your own man of your dreams. I know you, you've been looking. Maybe another city. Have you thought about moving? If you do, don't worry about this place. Dad will take care of it.
"Maybe find somewhere warmer with beaches, lots of topless men," Kate suggested and let go of her. "There has to be someone for you somewhere. You just have to find him. I know you and Javi are on the outs again."
"Leave the city? I'll have to think about that one." Lanie hadn't really given much consideration to that idea.
"Florida has lots of beaches all the way down to Key West. Hawaii or Guam maybe. Or the Caribbean perhaps. You know you're a lovely woman, Lanie." Kate grinned at her. "Cause you to fight them off you."
Lanie rolled her eyes. "Like that will ever happen."
"You're choice. But if you move leave a message somehow so I can find you. Dad, maybe, I don't know." Kate should have planned this out a little better but was a little late now.
The evening passed faster than either of them wanted. Lanie was gone, her dinner was in the trash. Lanie planned to move in over her next day off. Even she didn't know what she was going to do with everything. Keep Kate's stuff like furniture or keep hers. Whatever, she would figure it out.
Thankfully she hadn't been bothered by Castle again and Montgomery hadn't tried yet again to get her to come back. So right now after taking a morning shower and getting dressed she was sitting on her bed with her two suitcases next to her waiting for someone to suddenly come out of her bathroom because that was where the mirror was located.
.x{O}x.
Kate didn't hear a thing but suddenly there was someone dressed in all black armor with with a black helmet and something on her back.
"KATE!" God, Talia was happy to see her.
Kate yelled her name, "TALIA!" and watched her take her helmet off and hold it so that allowed Kate to jump up and hug her. "You're not Alexis."
Talia smiled at her. "I won," she said smugly. "They're all waiting for you and Alexis and I need to come back since we still have to find that blasted Lich. That little shit is hard to find. But I have one thing to say before I take you home." Talia delayed telling her to build up the suspense.
"We made love to each other. You want to talk about a big cock. He has a seriously big cock. It was a bit painful at first, but you were right. Once he's inside just don't move and adjust slowly. We're up to letting him fuck me now. God, I love him."
Then Talia glared at her. "He told me you came and talked to him."
"I may have told him that you were interested and if he was he needed to do something," Kate admitted softly.
"Well, it worked so I have you to thank for him. I have a boyfriend! All right, time to go. We only have three hours. Are these yours?" She had these big bags sitting next to her.
"Both of them," Kate confirmed.
"Then pick them up and come with me." Talia retreated to the bathroom and looked at the mirror. She didn't see herself so it was still charged. "Here we go." Talia took her arm and then touched the mirror. In less than a second they were on the other side.
It looked just like Kate remembered it. "BABE!"Kate dropped her bags, launched herself at Rick, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him savagely.
She finally broke from the kiss. "Can I come home, Rick? I so want to come home. I belong here next to you. I love you." Kate didn't care any longer who heard her say that.
"Welcome Home, Kate. I love you too." Rick kissed her again.
"We need to go, Dad. We're under three hours here," Alexis told him.
"Alexis!" Kate left Rick and hugged Alexis even if she was wearing a helmet and couldn't see her. Talia was only just putting hers back on. "Do not get yourself killed, Alexis. I have a lot to tell you too. You two take very good care of each other."
"Piece of cake." Alexis took her weapon off her back as did Talia. "We'll be back." Alexis touched the mirror and vanished followed instantly by Talia.
"How was your trip?" Rick asked. He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her, having her right where he wanted her.
"It was interesting. I have so much to tell you. Are you off work today?" She wanted to tell him things and take him to bed…right now.
"Sadly, no. I have maybe just enough time to help you with your bags to our room." Rick looked her over from head to toe. "So are you staying? You brought bags."
"For just as long as you'll have me." Kate raised her arms to slip them around his neck and smile at him. He was so handsome, so caring, and she loved him so very much.
"Excellent. …Um, did you just propose to me?" It kind of sounded like it to him. But maybe it was his wishful thinking.
Kate opened her eyes wide and thought about what she'd just said. "Maybe." She really wanted him to do the asking but if she had to, she just might. Kate bit her bottom lip.
"Let's have a talk about that after I get off work. Alexis and Talia will be back long before then. Come on, let's get you home. You can spend your day unpacking and finding space for all this." Rick kissed her thoroughly and felt her respond eagerly. He really did wish he didn't have to work, but he did. Their timing was just bad, was all.
Rick picked up a bag and realized it had some weight to it. "It has wheels?" Rick was watching Kate drag hers so he tried it. "This is definitely better." He dragged his bag right next to her.
They had kissed again and wished for so much more but Kate watched him leave. This place looked just like she remembered it. She went to the window first and looked out at the view. Off in the distance was the city on this side. It was still gorgeous. Having Rick and seeing that told her this was where she belonged. She had made the right choice.
.x{O}x.
All of the clothes that she had left here were still in the closet. She quickly realized that there just wasn't going to be enough room for everything she had brought with her so she had to pick and choose between the two suitcases and then move both of them to the spare bedroom and unload everything else into that closet.
Once Kate was unpacked she left her Prime Material Plane clothes on and exited their bedroom and headed for his office. She knew just how to get around here now. Granted, there were still a lot of places she hadn't seen yet…but she would.
"Hi, babe, miss me?" Kate sat in her chair and smiled at him.
"I was ready to lose my mind waiting for you to come home," Rick admitted.
"You're sweet. My first few nights I couldn't get any sleep at all. You weren't there and it was driving me mad," Kate told him since all of her walls were gone, and so was a lot of her filter at least as far as Rick was concerned.
Rick looked away from her. "Alexis accused me of being grumpy," he grouched.
"So what did I miss? Besides seeing you grumpy," Kate teased him.
"Not much, actually. Haven't heard from Setheldath since you left and we told her you had elected not to be a Dragon Disciple. I'm not sure she's given up on you just yet though, so be ready for her to want to talk to you," Rick told her.
"She can talk. I still don't think I want to exchange my skin for scales, grow nails, gain seriously sharp teeth. What if I bit you? Not to mention growing wings. I still need to see your reaction to my first tattoo to worry about losing my smooth skin for scales. All of my skin? Like all of it?" Kate was thinking between her legs for this.
"You'll have to ask her, but I would assume yes," Rick said.
"Ouch!" She liked the soft folds of her core. She didn't want to have scales down there.
"I still have a few hours. Talia came and got you earlier than I expected. You might want to go see your Monk Master and discuss your first tattoo. Then find out who's going to do it, where, and when."
"All right, and I already think I know my first tattoo, just not where to put it. I'll be back." Kate got up and leaned way across his desk so she could kiss him and then left his office.
Kate grinned as she opened the transit door and selected where she wanted to go. This was so much better than using cars, trains, or even airplanes. She wasn't yet ready to ask about just how safe this was. If it wasn't, she thought they wouldn't have it everywhere.
.x{O}x.
"Master Banzan." Kate bowed a little since that was what you did where she was from. "My name is Kate Beckett. I'm told you are expecting me."
Banzan placed a fist in one open hand and bowed softly to her. "I am honored. A female from the Prime Material Plane wishes to be trained in Tattooed Monk. We have much to discuss. Come with me, please." He had things to show her.
Kate got to see where her training would take place. Some of it included classwork which was a small shock. Even if she already did know, she was shown each tattoo that she as a beginner was qualified to have. There were actually six levels to the tattoos. Each level didn't just gain her additional abilities but she also knew the higher the level the more powerful it was. Then just being a Monk gained her other abilities that he explained.
"Do you require time to choose your first tattoo?" Master Banzan queried. "We do not start your training for two days. The time is provided so you can be prepared for your first day."
"No, Master. I know which tattoo I want to start with. I just want to see what it looks like and where it will go. I'm not bashful so it can go just about anywhere."
"Then let us go see our master tattoo artist. He is highly skilled. I believe you will be happy with the results." He rose and led Kate to him.
.x{O}x.
Cheetah tattoo gains a +10 foot enhancement bonus to his movement. This tattoo is always active. The tattooed monk's bonus to movement increases by an additional +10 feet to a maximum movement bonus of +60 at his maximum skill level.
Since it went up +10 feet each time Kate couldn't begin to imagine just how fast that was going to be.
The tattoo master showed her a few options she had for this level of tattoo. Kate saw one that had caught her interest right off. "Can you do this one with all the colors but use my face?"
He bowed slightly. "This one will take us about one month. I can only subject your skin to the needle just so often. After each session that will last up to four hours each, you will have a series of things you must do. We want to keep the skin supple, hydrated, clean, and allow the color to bind with your skin. We will wrap your arm after each session to keep out any debris. It will not stay long since we need your arm to breathe."
"I see." Kate looked at Master Banzan. "Will this one month interfere with my training?"
"No, the tattoo power you have selected can be delayed easily," Master Banzan told her.
"Is my arm a requirement or can it be somewhere else?" Kate could hide it better if it was a leg.
"To use your face I will need to see it often, so an arm, either left or right, is best. From shoulder to elbow. It is a tattoo that will provide continuous power to you, thus it will be a larger tattoo."
Kate had already made her choice. "When do we start?"
"Immediately if you have the four hours this will take for this session," he told her. "Simply remove your top and I will prepare the ink and needle."
"Then let's get started." Kate began unbuttoning her shirt to take it off. She was wearing a bra and wasn't that bashful.
.x{O}x.
Kate was taken aback when she learned that they didn't use an electric needle. He had this long, very sharp, wooden rod that he tapped on one end to embed the ink. Yes, it stung and four hours later she had tears running down her face.
Kate watched him clean her arm and then he wrapped it with something. "In four hours take this off and apply a thin film of this salve. Just once a day. You may use only water to wash your arm. Do not use anything else on it but clean water. After each cleaning reapply a thin film of his salve. Do you understand?"
She repeated it back to him. "Four hours it comes off and apply this slave. When I take a shower in the morning only get it wet. Then apply another layer of salve."
"Very good. It will look red in the area. This is nothing to worry about. If the pain persists longer than twenty-four hours go see a Cleric, explain it is a tattoo, and they will take care of everything. Come back in one week. This will take four sessions to complete."
"We start training in two days," Master Banzan reminded her.
"Got it. Can I wear long sleeve shirts or should I leave it exposed?" Kate asked.
"Exposed is best. If you must wear something make sure it has the smoothest surface available. Do not scratch it with cloth or your nails."
Kate nodded a bit. "Thank you."
"I am pleased to serve. I will see you again in one week." He turned to clean up so these two could leave.
"Did I choose correctly?" Kate asked Master Banzan.
"Each tattoo is personal. There is no wrong answer. If you are happy then it was the perfect tattoo for you. Since it will have your face no one else is going to have a duplicate of it. Two days, Kate Beckett of the Prime Material Plane." He placed his fist into his hand and bowed. Kate did the same and they each went their own way.
.x{O}x.
Kate went back home and was a little surprised to find Rick was already there. "I started my tattoo." Kate showed him her exposed wrap since she was wearing a short sleeve shirt already. "You can't see it yet. This comes off in four hours." Kate knew he couldn't see anything yet. "Four more sessions to complete it. It hurts." What they did was painful.
Rick ran a finger over the wrap. "What did you select?"
"It's a cheetah head with my face in its mouth and a green plant around the edge. I got to choose from some examples and I liked it. It's maybe a little big. He's only just gotten started. It will go from my shoulder all the way down to my elbow."
"Pretty big. The one on your butt, while cute, is a lot smaller," Rick commented.
"I was just a teenager when I got that one. I was still a bit of a coward then. Did you know my master has twenty-three different tattoos? I'm not sure I realized that when I started this. I may end up covered in tattoos." That was the part which had Kate concerned.
"And I will stroke and kiss each and every one of them, never fear. You're not getting rid of me that easily." Rick leaned across and kissed her. That had Kate raising a hand to hold his cheek in her hand while she kissed him back.
"Twenty-three tattoos means they'll end up going a lot of places." She hoped he understood that.
"If you're trying to scare me you're failing miserably." Rick kissed her again. "Alexis should be here shortly. You said you wanted to talk then we can go eat. Oh, and Alexis has a boyfriend. He might be joining us."
"REALLY!" Kate thought that was new. "Is he human or something else?" Kate was adapting to the knowledge that this place had a lot of races.
"He's Triton." Rick wasn't sure if she knew what that meant.
"He breathes water?" Kate wondered how that worked. How was Alexis even kissing him if they were underwater?
"He breathes both water and air," Rick told her. "Alexis bought a Ring of Water Breathing so she could go to him. Apparently his family is Royalty but he's the young kid and so stands no chance at being king or even prince. Alexis doesn't seem to care."
"Really? It sounds like a lot has changed for me," Kate remarked.
