AN: Thanks for all follows, favorites, and reviews for this story! I really appreciate them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
Kate paces back and forth in front of her bed. It's now noon and Rick is sitting in holding still. Detective O'Malley and his officers had investigated the old home that Rick had informed them of and of course, everything checked out. Apparently, they had pulled the place apart, particularly the room she'd been held in. So, now all that was left to do was wait.
The sigh from her bed reminds her that she isn't alone.
"You're gonna put a hole in the floor if you keep pacing," Maddie grumbles. Maddie, after hearing about what had happened and that Kate was safe, practically raced to her friend's home. "What are you worrying about anyway? They seemed to have caught everyone involved."
"Rick could go away from a long time," the brunette murmurs, gazing at her friend.
"But I mean, don't you want that? He held you captive for three days."
Yeah, she hadn't exactly told Maddie about her lingering feelings for Rick yet.
"Not really, no," she admits.
"Becks, come on, you can't still have feelings for him after everything!" The blonde sits up, concern in her eyes. "Come on, even I think that's nuts."
"I-I don't know how to explain it, okay?" Kate snaps. "It's not like he did a total one eighty on his personality. He wasn't that different from when I talked to him as Alex." Sighing, she plops down next to her best friend. "He tried to keep me safe, he did and he took me home. And I'm pretty sure he has feelings for me, too." He was the one who initiated the kiss the night before, after all.
"It could've been an act, or maybe not since he did take you home," Maddie concedes. "However, it's kind of moot, no? He's going to jail, for a long time." Blue locks with hazel, and Maddie squeezes her hand. "My advice to you is to try to get over him. I know it sucks, but you're gonna have to try."
Sighing, Kate nods. "I feel bad for his mother, though. She apparently was really sick and if she gets better, she'll have nothing to go home to now."
The blonde sighs. "Not to sound like a heartless bitch, but that isn't really your problem, is it? Rick's made his bed and unfortunately, it's going to affect others, whether he wanted it to or not." Eyeing the brunette's cheek, Maddie purses her lips. "In the mood for some makeup tips? I can show you how to cover up the scar that's going to leave. Worked wonders after I split my chin biking."
Kate chuckles. "Ah, yes, I remember you got distracted by the "hunky" Danny Rivera jogging." Maddie didn't live that one down for a while.
"Shut up," her friend grumbles. "Anyway, let me into your make up drawer."
Kate complies and decides to listen to Maddie to take her mind off things. It works.
At least for a little bit.
Rick sits in the holding cell he was placed in a few hours ago, waiting for the formal charges after the raid on the apartment is complete. He had waived his right to an attorney, so he's not really waiting on that. Unless, of course, Johanna Beckett does decide to help him and provide him with counsel. He doesn't and wouldn't blame the elder Beckett if she leaves him on his own.
As he stares at the ceiling, his mind flits to his mother. Frowning, he realizes she needs to know what's going on and it would be better to hear it from him than a newscaster. He is so not looking forward to that conversation.
As he lays there, he spots Detective O'Malley loitering in the doorway. The detective has been decent to Rick throughout the whole ordeal. Maybe he can ask the man for one favor...
"Need something from me?" the criminal inquires.
"Actually, I'm here for you," O'Malley states. "Since you've been so cooperative, you'll be allowed to make as many phone calls as needed to get your affairs in order."
The younger man chuckles. "Funny, I was just about to ask for my phone call." Rising, Rick stretches his legs, tilting his head back and forth to remove the crick hat's formed there. "And there's only one call I need to make."
The detective nods, unlocking the cell. Taking Rick by the arm, O'Malley leads him to a small room containing a table, chair, and a phone.
"You have fifteen minutes. I'll be standing here with the door open."
Rick smiles before sitting down and dialing the familiar number. He knows his mother will be perplexed by the request of accepting charges, but hopefully she allows them. He waits for the phone to ring, feeling slightly nervous when his mother answers.
"Hello?" she asks, clearly puzzled.
"Hello, Mother," he greets.
"Oh, Richard, Darling, why I am getting told you're calling from a police station. Are you trying to pull a prank? If so, it's a really bad one." There's a slight scold, but loving undertone in her voice.
"No, no, it's not a prank, unfortunately." His face morphs into a grimace.
"Wait, what happened? Why are you in a police precinct?"
Sighing, Rick takes a deep breath. "I did something, something very bad. And now I'm owning up to it."
"What are you talking about? This isn't funny, Richard." Fear colors her tone and he closes his eyes.
"It's not a joke, I promise. But I need you to listen as I explain." With that, he launches into a shortened version events, trying to be honest as possible without giving her all the gory details. When he's done, he waits, only hearing silence on the other end.
"Oh, Richard," she finally breathes, disappointment evident. "I don't know what to say."
"I understand that it's a lot to take in. I'm trying to do what's right, and I know it'll cost me. But I wanted you to hear the truth from me." He glances toward the door, O'Malley giving him the five minute signal.
"I think I'm both proud of and severely disappointed in you, but mainly disappointed." He hears her sigh. "And you're sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, I do," he murmurs.
"The, I'll stand by you." She pauses. "Do you how long you'll be-"
"Probably ten years, or more," he answers solemnly.
"Ten years," she echoes, seemingly to herself.
"I know." He sees O'Malley give him a gesture to wrap it up. "Listen, I have to go. I'll try to call you as much as I can. Behave for the nurses and doctors, please." That earns him a small chuckle. He sobers. "I love you, Mother."
"Love you too, Darling."
He hangs up, sitting for a moment, the impact of what's about to happen slowly sinking in.
"The officers will be here in a few minutes to transfer you to central booking," O'Malley states, sympathy in his eyes.
"Time to officially face the music," Rick murmurs. While the hard part is over, he knows he still has a long way to go.
Hopefully, his sanity remains intact through it all.