Love's Journey 2
by Castlefan6
Authors Note This is the continuation of Love's Journey, originally authored by The Muse of Apollo, chapters 1-7 all following are work of Castlefan6' IF you haven't read the original Love's Journey please do so before proceeding with this,
I don't own Castle, I only use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 9
Previously
Rick explains in detail to Kate his life, beginning with his foster homes, his time as runaway, like on the streets, how close he came to death several times, how he met Rae, how she impacted him, finally through a sea of tears he fought through, her last day on earth as she fought to defend him, then his life as Martha Rogers son.
By this time Kate has moved from sniffles at the start of his story, to full deep sobs as she and Jess held each other, Jess crying with her, but Kate sobbing like she had lost a loved one.
Castles Lot Same Day
8:13 PM
Kate is still struggling to regain her composure, after hearing the facts and motivation what had driven Rick to begin this project. She was reliving some barbs thrown at him that went deeper than she would ever know, now she understood the look of pure agony on his face, yet he never sank to her level.
My God she had this and trashed it, what a fool, Jess almost like reading her mind, hugged her and whispered, "Kate you can't undo the past, just make the future better," as she squeezed her hand and rose to join Rick as the door chimed.
Rick and Jess stood hand in hand like had become their custom in welcoming guests to the Loft, Rick opened the door, and started laughing, "Mike you old sea biscuit, I see you pulled your con job on my security and got up here finally, " as he pulled the man into the loft and a tight man hug, "Man it's good to see you buddy,"
"Its great to see you as well Rick, you haven't changed much, must be nice to be able to afford all that plastic surgery to keep you looking so young," Mike busts on Rick,
Jess steps forward and says "Hi Mike, I'm Jess, and that pretty lady standing over there is Kate Beckett, one of NYPD's finest detectives, just in case Rick forgets his manners about introductions" she laughs.
"I like her Rick, got enough spunk to put up with you," then turns and takes Jess into a loose embrace and chaste kiss on he cheek. "Welcome Mike, the coffee is over here as she guides him towards Kate.
"Mike Reboddo meet Kate Beckett, Kate this is Mike" as Rick makes the formal introductions but Mike just shakes Kate's hand noticing her gun on her hip and the slightly reserved stance, "Nice to meet you Kate," to which she replies professionally, perhaps a bit too professionally, "The pleasure's mine Mike", and drops his hand.
Mike is almost a mini Rick, except more buff, proof he was a gyn rat, and greyer in the temples, he stood just slightly taller than Jess and Kate with Kate's heels on but was certainly a very good-looking man. Dressed in dress jeans and a yellow sweater he looked and acted, not cocky, but there was an air of confidence about him. Kate noticed a tattoo of USMC on the underside of his left forearm, not large or tacky actually very manly.
"How much time you got Mike? Anything you need to get back to?"
"Same old Rick, No I'm, between assignments, and still haven't found enough money to bribe a pretty lady to accompany me as you seemed to have done," as they both laughed.
"Actually, Mike Jess is running this show, and Kate is our Special Consultant, but since I know how you like the short version of debriefs, I'll update you and you tell me if there is interest. OK? The final decision is Jess's so she's the one you have to wow but don't try any BS on Kate either, this isn't her first rodeo and you don't want to piss he off" he laughs.
Both ladies smile at Rick then each other, as Rick briefs Mike about the plans, and brings him up to speed, Kate offers what support she has arranged if needed from both NYPD and the AG's office, which brings a smile to Mike's face.
"I see what you mean, you ladies have over 95% of the security already laid out, what do you need from me?
Jess steps up and says, "We need someone we can trust for the long term to be our chief of security, Kate is so busy with the NYPD we haven't been able to lure her away, YET, but we're trying," this brings a slight blush to Kate's cheek and a smile to think that she was held in such high regard by Jess and Rick.
"So, you're looking for a full-time gig, for how long Jess?
"We start construction for phase 1 in about two weeks, and if all goes to plan this will be in stages for the next 5 years"
"Wow, you guys don't do anything small do you, do you have any initial plans of the facility phase 1?
Rick hooks his laptop to the big screen, "coming right up Mike"
Jess asks "Anyone for more coffee, tea or anything to drink?
Kate replies "I could do with more coffee Jess, let me give you a hand"
As the ladies leave Mike looks over at Rick, "Rogers how the hell do you get the beauty queens when I get stuck with the rejects from women's MMA?"
"Long story, anyway this is work, strictly work for now Buddy"
As Rick briefs Mike, Jess listens and Kate takes some notes, Mike has asked some great questions, Jess will need to address both short and long term. Mike was most concerned about the vetting process of internal security, as he put it, doesn't do you any good to have the best mouse trap in the world if you have a Rat running the house. When Vulcan Simmons name came up, Mike simply replied, "He won't be a factor in a week, and don't ask Rick"
Jess wraps the business portion of the meeting outlining what the position paid, perks, benefits, and asked Mike to submit his application for clearance. Rick smiles as Mike pulls out a card from his wallet and asks
"Jess if you want to make a copy you can verify this with the pentagon tomorrow, I'll give you the Colonel's direct number when I get home."
Jess smiles and offers her business card, and Kate follow suit, but changes the NYPD Email to the new one, and only leaves her cell phone on the card.
Mike glances at his watch and makes his apologies,
"Hot Date tonight Buddy" Rick kids,
"No such luck Rogers, my niece is in a play and I promised I would make the after party if nothing else,"
Rick stands to say Good Bye and Mike engulfs him in a hug, "God it's great to see you, really I'll be in touch OK?"
Jess and Kate bid their farewells as Mike hurries out the door,
Suddenly what was a noisy room just a few minutes ago, now held an eerie silence. "Well what did you think Jess, Kate, Is he the right candidate for the position?" Rick rescues them
"I was surprised by the questions he asked, and also he pointed out some major elementary defaults we would have installed as the standard system Rick, I can see how close you two are" "If he wants the job, it's his unless Kate has objections"
Kate is caught off guard "wait what Jess this is yours and Ricks I am just helping out as I can, I don't have a say"
"The hell you don't Kate" Rick and Jess respond in unison bringing them all to a laugh.
Jess takes point, "Kate, you are the one-person Rick and I trust with not only our lives, but with Martha's and Lexi's so never say you have no say in this again, please. We are honoring one of the bravest females that ever lived, and with each murder you solve, for every single homeless person that gets permanent shelter, Rae's star shines just that much brighter." "Regardless if you only do this when you have time or decide to join full time later, your input is exactly what we need."
"Kate, you would have loved Rae, think of all those young victims that we had no one to even tell that their loved one was gone, they were alone, and as we stop this, Rae is honored. I thank you for whatever you can add, and I know somewhere your Mom and Rae are smiling to" Rick adds,
Kate looks through teary eyes,
"I'm in as much as I can be. Call me 24/7 if you need anything, that means both of you Rick, I know Jess will but there is no reason why we can't move past the history and act like mature human beings. Jess has taught me truly how to forgive, and I just hope that someday I can make up all the hurt I caused to you both" Seems like this is a great place to put my actions where my apologies have been"
Jess has managed to move them all into a group hug, where they remained for a few minutes no one wanting to break the feeling of love and forgiveness, Finally Jess breaks it and says "Kate, I saw you only ate one sandwich and they are small will you join me at the kitchen while I finally feel like eating, we have a good bottle of wine that we need to open as well"
Rick smiles and gives Jess the silent I love You Eye look as he says, "Go ahead ladies, knowing Mike he has emailed me something by now, and I want to settle this as soon as we can. Just to be sure, we are all in agreement, Mike is our man?"
Both Jess and Kade nod yes, "Great I will be out shortly, but something tells me a girl talk between you two is in order," drawing a full smile from Jess and a relaxed grin from Kate.
"Oh Jess, I knew I hurt him, but I never knew just how deep those barbs landed, I am so ashamed, I wasn't raised to be that way, What the hell was I thinking?"
"Kate when I arrived on the scene, I NEVER intended to work with Rick, much less fall in love with him, I knew he was in a shell, so I just tried to be patient and let him come out of it at his own speed. You're right, you hurt him worse than Meredith or Gina ever did, BUT that man has the biggest heart of any human I know. Do you know when he forgave you and I bet your way off?"
"I don't know how he ever could, but he has, I know I have you to thank for that Jess, and I'm really happy to see how happy you make him, he deserves that and more. As for when he forgave me, I guess it was after we met for the second time after the letter exchange. God that was hard, and still brings me pain to remember how he bared his soul and how deeply we hurt him."
"Jess smiles and says told you were way off, he forgave you as he wrote that letter, we talked every day, and he begin to see what took me years of therapy in just a few weeks, Forgiveness is a gift, never return it" that's his saying you know. He just had to let it out, and Kate, he felt so bad after the first exchange, he cried, as I held him. I don't think he could hurt anyone, unless they mess with his love ones."
Kate reached over and brought Jess into an embrace, "Can I ask you something, and you can tell me to get the hell out of your house if you want, OK?"
"Sure, but you might not get an answer if it is too personal Kate, just warning you"
"Jess, how can you work with me, knowing that I love the man you love, even if I crushed his heart, and how the hell can you always treat me so nice, I just don't understand, and I know I would never be able to do what you are doing"
"Kate, I know you love Rick, and in a special way he loves you, BUT that special love that he and I have, the type you had a chance at was killed by all the hurt. When he remembers your love, it is associated with some good times, that turned into a living hell for him, and we both know that bad overshadows good in all things,"
"The second part of your question is easier, I love you for you, all the good that even you don't see in yourself, but also because the man I would die for Loves you, and if he loves you in a very special way then I will also"
"His happiness is worth more to me than life itself. I pray some day you find that Kate, it is a feeling that no one can describe, but sets you free from all the petty crap that life throws at you." "I hope that didn't hurt you, that's not my intent.
"Oh no Jess if anything it gave me piece that you weren't putting on an Academy award winning performance, loving me too. I guess I am skeptical, far too skeptical of those people who try to connect"
"Speaking of that Kate, what did you think of Mike, and I am not talking qualifications for the job, he is rather good looking"
"Yea he is good looking Jess, but no way am I ready to jump into that pool again, I need time to let things settle so I don't repeat the demolition job I did on Rick,"
"Well don't rush Kate, I was out of the game for almost 7 years before I met Rick, and if you think you were a mess, we can compare notes, and lawsuits someday "Jess laughs
Rick picks the opportune time to return, "Is it safe out here ladies?" as he holds one of his old sombreros as he hides behind the door frame.
"It's safe you goof now get out here and visit." Jess admonishes
The remainder of the night was spent in easy conversation with occasionally an idea being thrown out for the project, and Jess capturing the notes on her laptop. Finally, at midnight, Kate stifles a yawn, and stands to leave. Rick has already called the car service, and Jess is telling her no sense arguing just text when she gets in the door safely.
This time when she hugs Rick, she does so with ease, and kisses his cheek longer so he knows she appreciates all he has done, Jess gathers in for a good-bye hug, and she is out the door headed for home, feeling more at ease than she has in a long time. Maybe she can sleep tonight, just think of the good times and all the good work coming up.
A/N Good place to stop, Next chapter we find out more about Mike, and plans are put into place to start demolishing Washington Heights Drug Houses, Is Simmons really out of it? Stay tuned. Thanks for reading, favoriting, and following Always appreciated Thanks Tim
