Faded Memory

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of what could have happened following Rick's discussion with Alexis about the night he danced, fell in love, and lost contact with a girl in college, sometimes memories come back at the worse time. COMPLETELY AU except for the conversation that prompted this and use of some characters names. THIS IS A CASKETT ENDING, EVENTUALLY

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 5

Previously

"Kate, I'm young and you can tell me it's not my business, but Why Don't You, I mean you both love each other, why waste time being apart. I would love to have you here, not only for Dad but for me as well. You've been such a help to me, I mean, almost like a Mom would be".

Rick just looks at Kate, pulls Alexis in for a hug, and kissed the top of her head. "Thanks Pumpkin, Kate has been like a Mom to you and I'm glad I'm not the only one who wants her here full time. We'll have to talk, but I promise you, we'll take your request to heart.'

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Two Days Later

12th Precinct

8:15 AM

Rick had to attend meetings at Black Pawn, but that didn't stop him from hand delivering Kate's coffee to her, even though they had more than their share of morning treats before she kissed him goodbye at the door, God why was it so hard leaving him.

The elevator dinged, Kate knowing Rick was going to be busy didn't bother to look up till she saw the shadow standing in front of her desk, holding her morning coffee as always. A small note was discretely attached to the side where only she saw it as their hands touch in the exchange.

"Castle, this is so considerate of you, I know you have meetings and I don't want to get Gina on your back"

"No worries Detective, Alexis said you left early before the coffee was brewed so I thought I would bring you a cup on my way to the meetings, I don't want to think about a Beckett without caffeine", he smiled.

They knew they had an audience, it seemed like Esposito was worse than an old woman, looking to see what he could see, or try to see, then quickly spread the news. Kevin was usually better, but he was easily led astray by his partner.

Kate looked at Castle, locking on his blue eyes and mentally counting the minutes till those arms could hold her again, and from her side vision she saw Espo make a kissy face toward Kevin,

"Esposito, you got something to say, or do you want me to tell the class how you forgot your pants at Lanie's over the weekend?"

Rick breaks into laughter, never losing sight of Kate's eyes, till finally he turns and see's a very quiet and contrite Hispanic Detective,

"Guess I'll see you for dinner tonight at the loft, unless something breaks and you need me call me, OK"

"No Way Rick, you have to figure out some other way to get away from those meetings, but Thank You again, and dinner sounds good, I'll call if we get stuck here, so no one worries."

"Later Detective," he smiles his sad smile and makes his exit.

Three Hours Later

Kate is just coming back from the Ladies room when she hears Esposito going off on

"What makes Rick think he was so special, he isn't a cop, why would he think we needed his help, he's just coming because he's trying to get into Kate's pants"

He turns just in time to see a furious Beckett, obviously she has heard every word, and she doesn't like it for one minute, Castle's her partner, they don't need to know any thing more but no one is going to put him down.

"Esposito, you and Honey Milk get your asses to the conference room now and bring your paperwork you have been faking on working on for the last two days with you." Kate spews, she's pissed, and everyone knows it.

She goes to the ladies room just to splash some cold water on her wrists to try to calm her, she is about to deck Espo and that wouldn't be good for anyone. Finally, she's composed a bit, grabs a coffee on her way to the Conference room, where Kevin is giving Javi the business for spouting off when it was none of his business.

She enters the room, doesn't say a word as suddenly both Detectives are very quiet, and walks by them to sit across the table.

"Now Javi, you were saying something about someone getting into my pants? In the first place I'm not your Girl Friend, your Sister, anyone you should concern yourself about my sex life but now that you put it out there, I've adjusted your time sheets for the last month,

Fucking Lanie in the storage room is not what we pay you for, understand?" She glares at a very embarrassed Esposito, knowing that this is only half of the grief he is going to get when Lanie gets wind of this he'll get more action from a blow-up doll.

"Kate, I didn't mean it like it sounded, I mean I like Rick, it*"

"Javi you like what Rick gives you, the use of his car, floor seats to games, a glimpse of life from the good side, so don't confuse friendship with using someone."

"That's not all true Kate, I mean, I worry about him hurting you, you're like my sister."

"Well who asked you Javi? Since he's been here you never missed a chance to throw a cheap shot at him, yet you're first in line when he caters lunch or dinner, if that's your idea of being a friend, I don't want to be friends with you.

MIND YOU OWN FUCKING BUSINESS, I've told you for the last time Esposito, one more warning it's going in writing and you will face disciplinary action."

Ryan is almost white with the exchange, he's never seen anyone take Javi apart the way Kate is doing.

"You weren't serious about changing my time sheets were you Kate, I mean I may have fudged a few minutes here or there, but I make it up in other ways"

"Detective, you have 34.5 hours to make up, on your own time before I submit to HR, you do know what entering a time sheet with fudged time brings don't you, Patrolman, I mean Detective?" Giving him no slack at all, he attacked Rick, outside of kicking his ass, which she still might do, she was going to give him shit for a long time to come.

Esposito sits, pale, half from anger, and fear what Lanie was going to do to him, if she got drug into this, it would be the end of anything possible with her.

"Ryan, you're quiet, speak up what's on your mind, you seemed like you wanted to say something"

"Kate, Castle's been here for a while, why now are you defending him so much, I mean, it's the right thing to do, but what caused the change."

"You do know where I'm staying don't you Ryan, and why? I'm alive because of my partner Richard Castle, not you two OFFICIAL cops, so if I hear either of you say he's not a cop again, even in jest, I'll make sure you're sorry for a LONG time."

Ryan looks even more pale now, like he's about to lose his breakfast, he's never seen Beckett in such a mood.

Kate looked up just in time to see Rick walk to the window, and wave, she motioned him into the room. As he entered, he could tell she had just ripped one or both a new asshole and he was curious to hear what it was about.

"Oh, and one more thing, I wasn't going to say anything about this, but Esposito you're such an old lady with gossip, I might as well put it on the line." She walked over took Rick by the hand and led him back in front of the boys,

"Detectives meet my PARTNER, and if I have to spell it out for you then you both are dumber than Roy already thinks you are. We are a couple, and that's all you need to know. I don't care about your feelings, I do care that you keep your mouth shut, because Javi, there is an unlimited supply of dirty laundry just waiting to be spilled on you, Do you understand?"

Both look sheepishly at the other then say, "Yes Sir,"

"Get out of here and I want that paperwork you have been faking done by lunch Esposito, and Ryan, go to the jewelry store on your own time, you guys must think you're so smart but people all over the city are just waiting for you to screw up, for any of us to do so. I need a team, not some old lady sewing circle with nothing better than to gossip, now get out of here"

Kevin was out of the door hardly before Kate could breath again, but not Javi, he wanted to take it one step further.

"Kate, you were pretty rough on me, I mean I might have said some things I shouldn't but 34.5 hours Kate, that's a lot of time, Lanie is going to kill me if she gets drug into this."

"Then spend more time minding your business, and less on mine, and Javi, don't make the mistake of trying to get even with Rick or I, Roy and the Brass already know and approve so you are treading in dangerous waters with us all now.

I expect you to start working those hours off tonight, so when we leave at 5:00 tonight, you stay till 9:00 and WORK, not watch TV or you'll do it till I get those hours of actual work out of you.

One last thing Javi, I already told Lanie, guess who wants to see you when I'm done with you, and it's on your time. Now get out of here."

Javi leaves, and now there is only Rick and Kate in the room,

"Do you want to tell me about it Babe, or just let it go?"

"I came back from the ladies room to hear Espo mouthing off and I just had it, so I drug them in here, after I pulled his time sheets and made sure he had forged his time, Lanie talks too much too, sometimes."

"Kate you knew this was going to happen, everybody is going to say something about why you are with me, or why I am with your, It doesn't matter, it's because I love you, I have for months, and I think you are growing to love me to."

"Ah, there's where you're wrong Rick," his face turns ash, "I'm not growing to love you, I am head over heels in love with you and no one is going to slander your name around me. You've been too damn good to them, to all of us in the precinct, to have to listen to Javi's jealous banter."

"Babe, people are going to behave like that no matter what, although I think you scared the shit out of Javi, he's actually working through lunch. Speaking of, that's why I stopped by, may I take my Lady, my Love to lunch please?"

"You know you're spoiling me don't you,"

Rick smiled at her, and replied sweetly, "Then I'm doing what I set out to do, make your life unbelievable in so many ways. You call it spoiling, I call it pampering, but either way it's me saying I love you without the words."

She smiled up at him, and whispered, "I so wish I could kiss you now, so very much"

"Feelings mutual, let's get out of here and go to lunch before we do something to piss of Roy, we can't do that."

She leans back, "you're right, but when we get home,"

Can't wait Detective, Can't wait.