I'll Still be Loving You
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Thisis my AU version SEQUEL to Dinner Date, Please read that before starting this. This story picks up without any time lapse and continues with Kate and Rick as they forge ahead as a Couple and concludes the story arc started when Rick left suddenly.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 9
Previously
Kate has heard the commotion and at the mention of police she is out front and center,
"Show me, NOW!" she commands,
They make their way to a site where the crew were digging a new foundation for the Gazebo she had designed, there in the hole were two large masses wrapped in what appeared to be at one time blankets,
"Stand Back, All of you, tell the police to bring me Crime Scene tape the moment they get here," Kate screamed,
One worker hadn't heeded her orders, so she calmly said "if you want to be able to walk out of here, turn around and obey my command, or I could blow your knee cap off, your choice."
She didn't need to repeat the order,
***********************************************************************/
Summer House
Same Day, Time
Kate took charge of the scene, treating it as she would any murder or potential murder scene, until the boys arrived from NYPD. Rick had called Mayor Weldon, at the same time Kate had called Roy, all agreed, Hampton PD was not experienced enough to lead this investigation. Mayor Weldon had run interference with the Mayor of the Hamptons, much to the chagrin of Chief of Police Brady. Ryan and Esposito had arrived a few minutes ago, Ryan speaking to Kate, and Espo, well he was being Espo.
"What's your thoughts Kate, and how the hell did a body or whatever that is wind up in the backyard owned by Castle?" Espo asked
"First Espo, determine what those are, if they are human remains, then we'll deal with this as we would any homicide, as for your personal questions, mind your own fucking business" it wasn't lost on the other three that he had pissed Kate off big time.
"Hey, what did I say, I just as*"
"You think I didn't hear that macho act with Rick back there Javi, you're not my protector, my brother or my boyfriend and why you take it on yourself to try to shield me from my fiancé is beyond me" Kate spewed angrily
"Your what? Your fiancé? Since when, and why didn't we know about it?" Espo replied,
"Because it's none of your business, when are you going to get it, stay out of my personal life. You think I don't know that you and Demming are tighter than thieves, what kind of fool do you take me for? You're a bigger gossip than Lannie, at least she has the female genes to give her some type of excuse, what's yours?"
"Kate, sure I'm friends with Tom, but I haven't too*"
"Save it Detective, it's bad enough you gossip, it's worse when you lie to me face to face, just do your fucking job and get the hell off my property." Kate interrupted him,
"Your property? I thought Castle owns this?" he asked meekly
"Well, it's common knowledge except for dumbasses such as you that Rick and I are engaged, and he bought this as part of my wedding gift, so the deed is in my name as well as his. If you had thoughts of rough housing him into a confession for something that happened, BEFORE we took title to the property, you better think again. Do you know who the previous owner was?"
"Eh no we haven't got that far yet Kate, and I mean you know I didn't mean anything when I was hassling Rick?"
"Javi save the BS for someone who doesn't know the routine, you should have pulled the property records as one of your first steps, they are all up to date on the computer or are you still waiting for Ryan to cover you incompetence in the world of technology for you?"
Ryan appears from behind Javi, "Kate is it true, that you and Rick purchased this from Vinni the Scar, a few weeks before he, eh, well left this world?" Ryan asked nervously, surely having heard his partner get his ass handed to him.
"Yeah it is Kevin, Like I told Espo, this was part of my gift when Rick and I got engaged, so that's why my name is on the deed as well. I know Rick bought it through a third party, he didn't deal with Vinni himself personally." Kate softened her tone as she answered Kevin.
"Congrats Kate, Ginny saw it in Variety, and cut the article out, everyone, well most everyone at the precinct is really happy for you. I know Roy will not touch the subject of where you went or why, other than to say you are on extended leave, he will update as we need to know."
"Really Bro, you knew she was engaged? Why didn't you tell me, not cool Bro" Espo admonished his partner,
"Well if you weren't so busy gossiping with Demming and other old friends, you would have heard what was going on, I'm surprised that Lanie left you out, she was one of the first to try to verify it" Kevin popped back.
Espo hung his head, embarrassed that not only had his partner left him in the dark, but also that his on again, off again, booty call girlfriend had also left him clueless.
"Besides Javi, all you would have done would have run down to Demming and try to bust Rick's balls somehow, God only knows why, or who appointed you as matchmaker supreme of the 12th." Kevin continued,
"Kate, Rick I think we need to bring Lanie up to verify the contents of those two bundles, they appear to be high end blankets, but without the proper forensics I'm sure we will destroy more evidence if we leave it to the locals." Kevin was actually taking charge as Javi sulked,
Kate hadn't seen Rick come from behind her till she felt his comforting arm slip around her waist, hugging her tightly to him.
"Agree Kev, when can she be here, This will turn into a sideshow once the locals determine that the back fence isn't armed, you might want to direct Chief Brady to post sentries there, it'll keep them out of your hair, at least for a bit." Rick spoke kindly to the Irish Detective, as Javi pouted like a little petulant child.
Kevin surprised Espo when he said, "I called her from the car, she should be here any minute now," just as they hear noise from their right,
"Someone looking for me, What'd you do now Writer Man?" Lanie laughed as she hugged Rick,
"Girl, leave you alone for a few days, and I don't hear from you in weeks, even when you go and get yourself engaged to a Rich Author," she tried hard to look angry, but then she smiled and hugged Kate,
"I'm so happy for you Kate, even happier that you decided to live your life for you and Rick, God knows this man has to love you" she winked at Rick from her embrace with Kate.
"OK enough of this, what do we have", as she breaks the embrace and turns to Kevin as Javi continued his sulk.
Kevin brought her up to speed, and she spoke to the local ME, a part time position with very little if any forensic evidence preservation or retrieval, so he was more than happy to turn the job over to her. She climbed gently down into the shallow pit, and carefully began her examination.
"This could take a while Rick, Kate, you may want to go inside and get comfortable. Could I have some more light over here Kevin and get those Jack asses out of my light and behind the yellow tape." As they notice some of the early arriving paparazzi, eager for a show.
"I got the light, Javi you take care of those idiots" Kevin took command
Javi did what Javi did best, act intimidating so the line was established clearly once again as Lanie worked, and Rick and Kate returned to the house.
"Babe, I'm sorry, I never thought anything like this would happen, I should have had the property scoped out for bodies before I made the deal. I just wanted to surprise you with a gift you would love" Rick worries, pulling his hand through his hair for what seemed like the 100th time since this started.
"Rick, stop, it's not your fault, and whatever it is, WE will deal with it, not you but US, OK please don't shut me out on this." She pleaded while holding his hands and looking deep into his eyes, so full of concern.
"OK, Kate, you're right, WE will deal with that, but I have to tell you that Javi and I have a date, once this is done, before they go back to New York. It's time he see's just how much research I do for my characters, in person. He's opened his mouth one too many times. I know he's your friend, bu*"
"Rick, I heard what and how he said it to you. He needs his Ass kicked, so Babe, don't let me down, or go easy on him. Also watch when your back is turned, he's been known to take a sucker punch or two in the time I've known him." Kate gave his hands a squeeze and winked at him.
Rick smiled at her "OK Babe, I'm sorry it's come to this, and please don't let Alexis know this happened. I've always taught her to avoid physical violence, that there is always another way out. Thinking back perhaps that was wrong, there are times that someone won't understand anything but an old-fashioned ass kicking" he said sadly,
"I'm sure Alexis understands Rick, and don't put yourself down, you raised a beautiful daughter." Kate kissed him gently on his cheek,
"Yeah, but now she may get picked on because I taught her not to do something I'm getting ready to do, and I hate to say this, I'm looking forward to seeing him hurt. Maybe it's payback for all the times he hurt me, whatever, he will feel pain no doubt about that." Rick stated with a look in his eye Kate had never seen before.
"Babe, please don't get angry, Promise?" Kate looked at him with pleading eyes,
"Angry about what Kate? I don't understand" Rick asked in bewilderment,
"Well remember when I stayed with you after Scott Dunn blew my place to pieces, Alexis came to me for help one day. It seemed there was a new girl who had entered school and talking was not getting her anywhere. She had picked Alexis as her personal target, mostly because of her red hair.
Alexis tried to reason with her, and even walked away once after she had been slapped. Well she had enough and asked me to show her some self defense moves, and I never gave it a second thought, but I guess she took the lessons to heart, she kicked the girls ass.
I violated your trust and went to the principal's office with her. I told him he could be arrested for allowing Assault on a minor, so he agreed to drop the suspension, and the mess went away. I'm sorry Babe, I stuck my nose into your business, worse I never even told you about it."
Rick stood silently for a few minutes, a look of shock on his face, then after a long few minutes he finally spoke, "My pumpkin beat up a girl at school, you trained her to defend herself, and then took care of the principal, all because you loved her, and me?"
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up Rick, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but as you know you need to have plan B, even take it to the next level if words don't work, BUT I should have told you, I'm sorry." She looked into his eyes seeking to see a clue of how he was reacting,
Rick is quiet, contemplating, then breaks out into a huge smile, "My little girl kicked a bully's ass, and you helped cover it, I don't believe it, you loved us even back then"
Kate lets out the breath she had been holding, "Yes, I did, you big Jackass, I did everything to tell you but tell you. I love you Rick, I love your family and I will always protect them. You're not angry, I mean I kept something from you, but in*"
"Kate, stop, no need to explain, and no I'm not angry. Alexis has always looked up to you, I mean she cares a great deal for Gina, but I really think she was rooting for us all along. I know she respected you so much, and for her to trust you to keep her secret, especially from the Cool Dad, is really big.
I love you more because you love my family, if that's possible but one thing, please let me know next time, I'd like to get some pictures." He laughed, for the first time since the construction foreman had interrupted their quiet time.
She pulled him down into a long, deep kiss, once again to hear,
"Ahem, Excuse me, but I have the update on the bodies found if you care to hear the results." Lanie Parrish is standing looking like the cat that ate the canary, as Kate shoots her, I'll kill you look.
"Yes Lanie, we were, just a"
"You two were just making out, like you should have been doing for two years now. I'm happy for you both, I sent Javi to get Ryan so we only have to go through the explanation once, they should be here in a minute."
"Thanks, Lanie, I appreciate you coming up here to help out. I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch, but after putting this guy through the hell I did, he's my only priority, and NO I will not give you any details, now or ever." Kate has her Detective voice back as she replied,
Ryan and Esposito walk into the room, and Ryan responded, "OK Lanie tell us what did you find out with the preliminary, or do we have to wait to get them back to your lab for COD (Cause of Death) ?"
"Well the first thing you should have asked Ryan was were the remains human, the answer is NO. We were able to identify one male, one female, Saint Bernard Dogs, named Paul and Paula after the song from the 60's.
Each had a collar around them, with a note inscribed with date of birth, and place of where the Vet put them down. Apparently, Paula had cancer and after being together 16 years Vinni knew that one wouldn't survive without the other.
If the crew had dug a few feet to the right they would have found the headstone he had prepared for them. I heard about him raising all kinds of hell when the City Council told him he couldn't bury any animal on his property because of the water table, so he buried them anyway as well as the headstone.
He had marked it with a small rose bush, which apparently died, as did he and the dogs. Mystery solved, no human remains, no murder, no mystery, but we did remove Paul and Paula. They will be cremated and given to Vinni's next of kin who has his ashes."
"Thanks, Lanie, We appreciate you coming all the way here, you'll have to come back when all of the restoration is completed." Kate said as she hugged her friend.
Are you throwing me out Kate, I heard that Javi may need medical care so I thought I would stick around in case he needs a ride to the hospital," as she turned towards Rick she whispered, "take his ass down a few pegs Rick, I don't know what is wrong with Mr. Macho lately"
Just as she finished speaking Esposito appeared in the doorway,
"You ready for you ass kicking Rick, or you gonna wimp out"
"Why don't you go down to the gym second level and get ready, but Espo, this is your last chance to apologize before I make you bleed,"
Espo laughed, "We'll see who bleeds" as he headed to the gym.