Homecoming: Chapter 2
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DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters are not mine at all, but they are memorable. Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. The others? Yeah, they're mine
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6:22 p.m. Early Sunday Evening, April 22, 2012, On the street just outside 425 Broome Street in New York City
The threesome stand outside the very familiar building, looking up at the windows leading into the area that two of them used to call home. The limousine that brought them here has pulled away, and not even the threatening clouds above that hint at an imminent downpour seem to be able to pull them into the building.
For her part, Kate Beckett can understand the hesitation that seems to prevent Richard Castle and his daughter from taking those final steps through the door into the lobby.
"Rick?" Kate asks, snapping both father and daughter out of their mutual reverie.
"Sorry, Babe," he replies with a smile. "So many memories. Some good, some not so good."
Alexis Castle understands completely, continuing her father's train of thought.
"It's almost as if we are getting ready to step back in time . . . like we are going to step back into another life from long ago."
"Not so long ago, Alexis," Kate counters. "It's only been . . ."
Kate's thoughts trail off as she realizes that the young woman is absolutely correct. For Kate, it has been roughly four months since she left New York. It has been four months since Kate moved west. For Castle? For Alexis?
"It's only been a lifetime ago, Kate," Alexis reminds her. "Dad and I left last summer."
"June," Castle adds, inserting himself into the discussion. "Actually, late May was when I started the process."
"Almost a year," Alexis adds.
"A lot has happened since then, Babe," Kate reminds him. She suspects where his mind has gone. She is not far off.
"Happy times here, for sure, Pumpkin," Castle tells his daughter, still staring up at the windows to what used to be his loft.
"Not so happy memories at the end," he adds, and gives a supportive squeeze to Kate's hand, which is tightly holding on to his at this moment.
"I understand," Kate says sadly.
"No, you don't understand, Kate," he corrects her. "Yes, there are good and bad memories up there. But that isn't the cause of my hesitation."
"What is, then?" she asks. Alexis can only laugh.
"What? What am I missing?" Kate asks the duo.
"Who lives here now, Kate?" Castle asks her.
"Why, your mother, of course. She . . . Ohhhhhhh."
"Yeah," Alexis chuckles. "Ohhhhhh."
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Kate asks. She immediately recognizes her error as both father and son give her a raised-eyebrow incredulous look.
"You do remember my mother, don't you?" Castle asks with a shake of his head. He begins walking, and the two women with him fall in line with his strides toward the door.
"Well, let's go see what Miss Broadway has done to the place," he mutters with a smile as they walk in. Immediately they are greeted by the guard at the front desk across from the elevators. An unfamiliar guard.
"Good evening," the guard welcomes them. "I'm Sydney. Who are you here to see?"
"Martha Rodgers, please," Castle replies affably, then turns to Kate and Alexis.
"So strange not to see Mike sitting here," he whispers. Kate's reply is immediate without any hesitation.
"I'm glad he is where he is," she tells her companions.
"Amen to that!" Alexis whispers back. Both are thinking of numerous times that the large man and his staff have been there to save their hides.
Now that they have asked for Martha, Sydney at the front desk suddenly recognizes the man standing in front of him. Yeah, when he got this job replacing the former front desk guard, he certainly asked about the famous author who had suddenly moved out, placing the loft into his mother's name.
"Mr. Castle," he stands, shaking Castle's hand. "This is a pleasure."
"The pleasure is mine," Castle replies, reflecting on the reality that as soon has he has returned to New York, he is no longer Richard Castle, philanthropist and woman's advocate. He is – once again – Richard Castle, famous author and page-five playboy.
He does not like the characterization.
"Mrs. Castle," Sydney says to Kate, offering her his hand. The title brings a chuckle to Richard Castle, a smile to Kate Beckett and outright laughter from the redhead next to them.
"Not yet," Kate tells them man, noticing that he is looking at the very large rock on her finger.
"Soon, though," Castle intones, smiling with both women. "Can we go on up? My mother is waiting for us."
"Yes, yes, right this way," Sydney tells them as he begins walking toward the elevators. Castle stops him in his tracks.
"I know the way, Sydney," he tells the security man. "Remember? I used to live here."
The elevator doors open and quickly close on the threesome, who are experiencing an unnatural nervousness about re-entering the place that had been a wonderful home to Castle and Alexis for so many years.
"Weird," Castle muses aloud.
"Ditto," Alexis agrees.
"It is almost as if we are different people," Kate opinions.
"Exactly!" Castle concurs.
"It is like we came back here, and everything you have done back in California –"
"We have done back west," he corrects her.
"You're too kind, and you know it," Kate tells him, quickly continuing before he can comment further. "It is almost as if everything you – we – have done back west didn't occur. You're back to being the famous author. And I . . . well, we will see who I am here."
"Nothing has changed you two," Alexis states, becoming the adult in the conversation. "New surroundings that used to be old surroundings. That's all. Dad is who he is, you are who you are."
"Those are mighty mature words coming from one so young," Castle tells his daughter, pulling her in close for a hug as the doors open up.
"Well, here goes nothing," Kate tells them as they walk out the elevator towards Castle's old loft . . . Martha's home now.
"You're sure you told them no surprises, no one jumping out, no –"
"She knows, Babe," Kate assures him. She had ensured that Martha would not have some surprise party waiting, with people jumping out, joyfully yelling 'Surprise!' and sending Rick Castle into another relapse.
Alexis gets to the door first, knocking once before trying the doorknob.
"Yay! Unlocked!" she exclaims, opening the door, anxious to see her grandmother. The sea of people waiting there surprise her. Fortunately, there is no yelling, no noise-makers, no cheers . . . nothing that might spook the ex-author who now walks through the doors, holding the hand of New York City's one-time best detective.
"Mother," he smiles, as he notices everyone else in the room. Suddenly, smiles and hugs, cheek kisses and back slaps abound throughout the loft area. Everyone is there.
Javier Esposito makes a beeline for Kate Beckett, who almost runs into her ex-partner's embrace. That embrace is interrupted by Lanie, who gently pushes Detective Esposito aside, pulling Kate into a longer hug.
Kevin Ryan is there, with Jenny. Kevin coddles Javier, Lanie and Kate into an extra-large group hug, while Jenny stands next to Castle and his mother, allowing mother and son their moment, before embracing Castle herself.
"Thank you for our home," she tells him softly. It is the first chance she has had to thank Castle for the gracious home that he left for Kevin Ryan . . . and therefore for her as well.
"It was my pleasure," he tells her. "And now it is your pleasure."
"Okay folks, coming through, coming through!" Mayor Bob Weldon exclaims, and suddenly Richard Castle finds himself in the strong embrace of the man who has – from a distance – provided him with immeasurable help on the west coast.
"Bob!" Castle chokes out, emotions overcoming him. "Man, it is so good to see you again."
"And you, my ex-playboy friend," Bob laughs. "Finally beat my detective down into saying 'yes', I see," the mayor chuckles, as he watches the group embrace that still is keeping Kate Beckett busy.
Standing by the large window overlooking the street are Captain Victoria Gates and her husband, Herbert. The captain, somewhat of an outsider with limited history with Kate Beckett, allows the reunions to take place before inserting herself and her husband into the mix.
Arms around each other's shoulders, Castle and Weldon glance out at the proceeding in front of them.
"Well, this is a nice – and totally unexpected – hello," Castle tells his friend.
"Lots of people love you, Rick," Weldon tells him. "You know that. Love you, and love your fiancée over there. Gotta tell you, I am thrilled about the two of you."
"You and me both," Castle laughs.
"And I'm sorry to hear about your . . . affliction? Hell, what do I even call this, Rick?" the mayor asks him, clearly asking about the relapse tendencies his friend succumbs to these days.
"Affliction is as good a description as any," Castle agrees. "Hopefully it isn't for much longer. They are working on an antidote."
"Who is 'they'"? Weldon asks.
"Later," Castle tells him, giving his friend a knowing look in the eyes. "Later, and at that time, you and I have much to discuss."
"Understood," the mayor replies.
"Until then . . . Hey, I am alive, I'm engaged to the woman I love, and I am back with friends and loved ones."
"Who says you can't come back home?" Weldon laughs, and Castle laughs with him, but subtly corrects his politician friend.
"This isn't home, Bob," Castle tells him, still smiling. "Not anymore."
"No, I suppose it isn't," Bob nods appreciatively. At this time, Expo and Kevin Ryan have made their way over to Castle, and now a much more raucous reunion is taking place as palms are slapped, hugs begin, and before long, three men are rocking back and forth in laughter.
"It is so good to see you, man," Javier tells him. "We hoped – I mean really hoped – that you and Kate would make it back for Kevin's big day."
"But we didn't want to take it for granted either," Kevin adds. "We know how busy you have been out there."
"I understand that the cases we had here pale in comparison to what you have gone through out there," Javier continues. "And she's not even a cop anymore!"
"Life does have its . . . unexpected challenges," Rick chuckles.
"You consider collapses and memory lapses out of a horror movie to be nothing more than 'unexpected challenges?" Weldon asks, eyebrows raised.
"We heard you woke up in a morgue?" Kevin asks, waiting for confirmation.
"Indeed I did," the ex-author grins broadly.
"Told you he probably liked it," Esposito remarks. "You owe me fifty."
"That wasn't a bet, man, and you know it," Kevin Ryan offers testily.
"I'd hate to think that my two old friends were gambling on my well-being," Castle laughs, pulling the two men back into an embrace.
The conversation goes back and forth, with the friends telling tall tales, with new stories mixing with old stories from coast to coast. Kate, Lanie and Jenny listen to Captain Gates recount recent memorable cases from the 12th Precinct. Martha and Alexis sit down reviewing photographs of recent performances Martha has had on the live stage circuit.
Finally, Javier and Kevin re-engage with Kate, discussing wedding plans for the upcoming ceremony to be held on Wednesday, just a few days from now. This gives Richard Castle and Bob Weldon an opportunity to catch up in earnest.
The two men sit on the sofa, each holding a tumbler of scotch.
"Nice to know Mom didn't throw out the good stuff," Castle notes appreciatively. "Although truth be told, I'm stunned there is any left."
The two old friends share a laugh before Weldon gets serious.
"So . . . Sandra tells me you have made some dangerous playmates in the Bay Area," Weldon begins. "I can't say I'm surprised. You always did seem to have an easy way mingling with the wrong people."
"Sometimes life gives us strange bedfellows, Bob," Castle replies affably.
"I didn't say strange," Weldon corrects him. "I said dangerous."
"Tomato, Tomahto," Castle smiles, taking a long sip from the tumbler. "More important to me is you and Sandra," Castle tells him, with a wink.
"She seems very fond of you, and very trusting of you," Castle continues. "That kind of caring, that kind of trust – it doesn't happen over distance like this unless something was there already."
"I see our esteemed ex-detective truly has rubbed off on you," Weldon chuckles.
"Spill it, Bob," Castle urges with a friendly knee bump. "I know you. And this is not normal for you."
"Nor is Sam Carlos normal for you, Rick," Weldon counters. Both men smile. They are old friends, just testing each other out.
'So how in the world would you know anything about Sam Carlos?" Castle asks, actually intrigued now.
"Only through Sandra," Weldon tells him. "It's not like the man operates here. At least not that I know of. Sandra has told me much about him . . . in that as much as she knows. He seems to be a different egg than we have out here."
"That is more accurate than you can possibly imagine," Castle tells him. "Let's just say that he can be a tremendous friend, or a life-ending enemy. And the line between those two cliffs is canyon wide but paper thin."
"Still the author," Weldon chuckles.
"Always," Castle laughs with him.
"This . . . what did you call it . . . affliction of mine," Castle continues. "The only reason it isn't worse is because of Sam Carlos. The only reason I am still alive . . . no . . . scratch that. The only reason I am standing here with you now, and not buried alive with everyone thinking me dead is because of Sam Carlos. So yeah, the man is a friend."
"Buried alive?" Weldon gasps. "How is that –"
"The drug that I was given simulated death," Castle tells him. "Convincingly. I have the death certificate to prove it – which is actually kind of cool. But the relapses – until I got the antidote – kept coming faster and faster. Had I not been given an antidote – I would have finally succumbed and not awakened."
He lets that thought hang, until his friend realizes the implications of such an event.
"And Carlos gave that to you?" Weldon asks incredulously.
"No, no. Sam arranged for me to get the antidote. Well, the first antidote, which prevents me from more or less dying without dying. But the relapses? I keep getting them."
"Until you get the real antidote."
"Until I get the real antidote."
"And you need Carlos for this?" Weldon asks.
"Yes," is Castle's one-word response. Weldon looks hard at his friend, before nodding his head in understanding.
"You like him regardless, don't you?" Weldon concludes.
"I do," Castle admits. "Next question. You. Sandra. Spill it."
"That, my friend, is a topic better discussed without any ears close by, if you get my drift," Weldon tells him. "Suffice to say, things might be different if there weren't an entire continent standing between us."
"Didn't stop Kate and I," Castle counters with a smile.
"No it didn't," Weldon agrees, smiling. "But I have the governorship awaiting me here, I hope. And Sandra has her own plans in the good City by the Bay."
"Do tell," Castle remarks, now even more interested in one Sandra Clooney.
"Not if she hasn't already told you," Weldon tells him. "Not my secret to share."
"You two solving all of New York City's problems over here?" Kate asks, interrupting the conversation. Neither man saw her approach. Instinctively, the men separate on the couch, giving Kate room to sit between them.
"Creating problems is more like it," Castle tells her as she takes a seat. She holds her hand out for the tumbler, taking it from Castle's offering hand. Taking a sip, she gives the glass back to her fiancé.
"Ah, there's the man I love," she chuckles, and both men share her laughter. Weldon glances down at the ring on her finger, smiling broadly.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to see that thing right there . . . after all this time . . . after all the two of you have been through."
"You have no idea," both Castle and Kate reply in unison.
The laughter from the three friends rises to the rafters of the loft. Laughter that continues long into the night.
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11:03 p.m. Sunday Night, April 22, 2012, At Martha's loft home on 425 Broome Street in New York City
"Wow, that shower hit the spot," Kate remarks, flopping back into the bed. Her wet hair sprays a bit in Richard Castle's face as he lies next to her, drawing a look of mock indignation. Kate, of course, is having none of it.
"Thought you liked that," she purrs seductively.
"Time and place, Babe," he tells her ominously.
"And this is neither?" she asks, the disbelief evident in her voice. Making love with this man – in this loft – had been a fantasy of hers since last fall, until she moved out west. Now, they have the chance, and he is rebuffing her?
"I'm just troubled, Babe," he tells her. "Bob told me something tonight, something he and I are going to talk more about tomorrow for lunch. You're invited, by the way."
"Sorry, other plans here, Rick," she tells him. "Lanie and Jenny invited me to lunch . . . a little girl's break away."
He can only smile. It is the kind of life he has wanted for her. Some normalcy. That's why he is so concerned with what his mayor friend shared with him earlier this evening.
"That doesn't explain why you suddenly aren't in the mood," she continues.
He pulls himself up to a sitting position, and then rolls onto his side facing her. He then settles back into the pillows on his side.
"Do you believe in coincidences?" he asks.
"You know I don't," she replies. The hairs on the back of her neck snap to attention, and the tingling feeling gives her an involuntary shudder.
"Neither do I," he agrees. "Which is why I find this so . . . so troubling."
"What is it, Rick?" she asks, now sitting up and facing him. He mimics her movement and is now sitting with his legs folded.
"Bob is running for governor," he begins.
"I know that, Babe," she tells him. "You told me a while ago back at home."
"The question I should have asked, the question I should have thought to ask," Castle remarks, "is why. Why is he running for governor? More specifically, why is the current governor not running for re-election?"
Kate stares at him for a few seconds, pondering the question. It is a good one. The current governor is relatively young, very popular, and just finishing his first term. There is no reason for him to not want to run for re-election.
Castle answers his own question.
"He is giving up his seat as governor, because he is running for the Senate seat in November."
She doesn't bite. He sees no recognition in her eyes. Sadly, he pushes on.
"He is running for the Senate seat vacated by William Bracken's death last Christmas. Senator Jameson is in the seat in the interim, until the election in November. Bob sees the governor stepping down as a chance for his to step into a bigger role."
"Ok, I get it," Kate argues. "This is good for Bob. Where is the coincidence?"
"The coincidence is the other candidate for the Senate seat this fall. When Bob told me, he could not possibly have known the pain it would cause me. Cause you. Because he doesn't know the truth. He doesn't know the real story."
The tingling is getting stronger now in Kate's head, as she starts thinking through possibilities.
"The world thinks her husband died of a heart attack over Christmas. Her husband held the Senate seat until his death, and now the sentimental favorite of the media and many in this state is –"
"Don't say it, Rick," Kate tells him, her hand over her mouth, eyes widening.
"I wish I didn't have to, Babe," he tells her sadly. "Bob said that the governor's main challenge will come from Elizabeth Bracken. And she is a shoo-in for her party's primary this summer."