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 11
Previously
Kate returned from the Ladies Room with Jess, and Roy gave her the rest of the day off. Jess insisted she come to the Loft, and after some persuasion, she agreed. Jess finally made use of the In-Home Spa service that Martha and Lexi had been using for years and the ladies were treated to massages, nails and finally hair done. Rick to their surprise had made reservations for three at Le Cierc where they had a great meal, then joined the 12th gang at the local bar to toast to Kate, Chapter Two, no one shed a tear for a Badge Bunny Magnet Detective now laying cold on a Morgue Slab, Karma had been served.
Castle's Loft
One Week Later
Jess was making the coffee, and Rick was toasting the bagels when Jess's phone chirped with a new message, "Sweetie can you see what that is about please? I've got to get to a meeting with the Construction Foreman in about an hour."
"Sure Angel" as Rick opens the new text from Mike,
"Good Morning Boss, Thanks for the confidence in me for this position. think you know how I feel about Rick, well that extends to everyone he cares about as well, plan on meeting you at the Construction Foreman's office off 12th street unless you want me somewhere else, let me know, See ya Soon, MR"
Rick smiled as he read the text, he was very happy that Jess and Kate were in agreement for Mike for the job, if they only knew half the stories, Ohhh but that was for another time.
"Who was that from as if I didn't know by the smile on your face, your brother from another mother I assume?" Jess laughs as she uses the term used to describe Mike.
After spending some time with him and Rick it was apparent to anyone they were close, but how close, only Jess knew from some of the stories Rick had shared.
"Yes, says he will meet you at the Foreman's office unless you need him somewhere else, I didn't know he was starting today."
"Rick, we start demolition next week and we have to have all the plans in place by this Thursday to present to the Insurance Company for the bond we need."
"I knew there was a reason that I hadn't started this project before, just hadn't found someone as smart, organized and as passionate as me about it, Thank God you are here Jess, you are going to change hundreds of lives"
Jess smiles lovingly, "You mean WE Rick, this is your idea, your passion, and in a lot of ways your money making it happen, I am honored you allowed me to be a part of this. You never know how much I thank God for Rae every day, and Martha, sweet sweet Martha I owe her my life"
"Are we talking about MY Mother Martha?" Rick kids then turns serious, "no you're right, without those two I wouldn't be here, and I've been thinking. What do you think about naming the first building complex Martha Rae Rogers Building?"
"I know Mother would be pleased and no one needs to know that Rae is not her real middle name"
"I absolutely love it, and I'll start changing all the paperwork from Alpha Project 1 to MRR for Martha Rae Rogers today, Great Idea and such a fantastic way to honor both special ladies, I love you Rick, might not have told you in the last hour but wanted to be sure you knew it" Jess smiles as she steals a slow sweet kiss.
"Hey, I got to get out of here or Mike will be flying solo at his first meeting, I'll call you later, Love Ya, Bye," as Jess hurries for the door.
12th Precinct
Same Time Frame
Kate arrives at work, earlier than usual to find Captain Montgomery already in his office, headed for the breakroom for his coffee, she intercepts him along the way
"Good Morning Captain, thank you for yesterday, I didn't know it, but it was exactly what I needed."
"You're welcome Kate, you've been driving yourself extra hard since this Demming debacle and you need to take care of yourself, you are no good to any of us if you burn yourself out, OK?"
"Agreed Sir, and I promise you Jess is well on her way to reforming me to enjoy some of the luxuries of life, "
"I take it that is where the fresh coat of nail polish, and the disappearance of the crow's feet under your eyes came from?" as he smiles,
"Kate, Jess is good for you, hell she is good for all of us, I'm proud of the mature manner in which you all handled what could have been fodder for an episode of the Real Housewives" he laughs
"Roy, you have no idea of just what a wonderful lady she is, in fact today they are kicking off the first part of their project and I wanted to run something by you.
I know you were aware that Washington Heights, primary two blocks have been bought for Rick's project, not that I don't trust our fellow law enforcement agencies, but I want to head a team to thoroughly investigate the area they will be working"
The last thing we want is someone getting hurt trying to help our homeless."
"I had already penciled in two swat teams for this week Kate, take your team and let's insure Rick and Jess and all who work there will be safe"
"Thank you, sir, I'm on it as soon as the boys get in, and Roy Thanks again for having my back when the incident happened at Rikers, I really appreciate it."
Pasco Construction Company Trailer
10:00 AM
Jess parks the Black BMW Z4 that Rick had insisted she lease as a company car and see's Mike standing outside the entrance.
"Hi Mike, been here long?"
"Actually, I just got here and was admiring that beauty of a car coming into the lot, Rick hasn't lost his taste in cars for sure."
"Let me guess he made you get it for a Company Car, he is such a Con," Mike chuckles
Jess raises her eye brows at Mike and replies "Just how well do you two know each other, anything I should be worried about" trying to keep a straight face, but failing, as Mike laughs just as hard.
"No Jess, Rick is, and always has been a One-Woman Man, never cheated, never strayed, even when he knew his relationship was shot, he stayed true, I guess I should have followed his example," as he sadly looks away. Jess decides not to pursue it, but instead heads into the meeting,"
Mike is full of questions for the foreman, and when he balks at providing a full list of vetted employees to them, Jess steps in and says, "Sorry to have bothered you, if Mike isn't comfortable we don't do business"
The foreman turns out to be the owner but doesn't want anyone to know since the rash of bombs that wiped out a slew of company owners a few years previously. "Wait, Jess, I'm sure we can meet the requirements, it's just we are not used to providing this amount of detail"
Mike huffs, "Better get used to it if you work with us, I want to know if a fly sits on your sandwich, understand? "
"These people are my family and I am responsible for the safety of each of them, I don't give a damn about how much extra work you have to do, if they are not cleared, they don't work, Is that perfectly clear? "
"Oh, and by the way, I don't buy that shit about hiding under a foreman's identity because of what happened several years ago, if you have anything to come clean about, now is the time"
Jess is quietly surprised and pleased at how naturally Mike has fallen into the role, as she asks,
"So, what is your real name, and why are you masquerading as a hired worker?"
"I'm Joe Navarre, and I owe some bookies big time, they think I am my cousin Roy, and the real Joe is back in Italy, skipping out. They gave "Roy" a month to come up with the money, including interest before they start as they say repossessing things. That's why we need this job so bad, it literally is a matter of life and death."
Mike turns to Jess, "Boss could I have a word with Joe in private, this won't take long"
"Sure Mike, but I don't want to use our liability bond on the first day, OK?"
"Got it boss, I won't hurt him, I promise" Joe's eyes plead with Jess PLEASE don't leave me alone with this guy,
Jess steps out of the trailer/mobile office to see a few construction guys gathered around her car, and as they notice her, one let's out a wolf whistle, "Hey baby, I got what you need to really enjoy this car",
He just finishes his crude remark when two men dressed in black surround the group and proceed to school them on manners for "Ms. Jessica", as they put it.
Jess hears one say,
"YOU NEVER talk to Ms. Jessica like that you got it? And if I ever hear you talk to anyone in my company that way, you won't need to worry about using that pea shooter of a tool you think you got" as he dumps the man in the trash dumpster, while the remainder of the group scatter to their assignments.
Mike steps out of the trailer, followed by a visibly shaken Joe, and sees the one worker trying to climb out of the trash,
"Oh, yea Joe, No Cussing, no whistles, and no comments from these Assholes when anyone from our company is on sight, Understand? It's you I hold responsible.
"I, I. got it" Joe is finally able to squeak out.
"Mike who are those Giants guarding my car, and instilling the fear of God in the workers?" Jess asks
"They're just some guys that used to serve with Rick and me, I use them as needed on jobs." They're on my payroll, hope that's OK?
"It's fine Mike, just give me some heads up in the future, "
"Ok Boss, we are good to go, Equipment will be on site Thursday to start demolition" "Do you need anything or are we good?"
"We're good Mike, why don't you start the design and get quotes for what you need, call or text me if you need anything" "And Mike, call me Jess, boss sounds so stuffy"
"Sure, thing Jess, talk to you later as he mounts the Harley Davidson parked right around the trailer, "Give my best to Rick" as he rides away
Castle's Loft
Same Time Frame
Rick is busy working on the next part of Lost Innocence as his phone rings, glancing down he sees it Kelly from FAP,
"Hey Kelly Welcome, Back, how was the vacation, Good I hope"
"Good morning Rick, thanks it was great, well most of it anyway" he laughs,
"Well that sounds ominous now doesn't it," Rick grins into the phone
Kelly laughs "well it was all your fault and you didn't even know it happened"
"Wife and I were at a club enjoying some smooth jazz and just a night away when out of the blue comes a slightly inebriated Gina Cowell"
Rick moans "Oh no, how big a scene did she make Kelly, I'm so sorry"
"No apologies needed Rick, it was fun to see her get escorted out yelling you have no idea who I am, I publish Richard Castle you idiots, get your hands of me. It was hard not to laugh"
Rick laughs, "Yea I had some of those experiences myself, and again I'm sorry"
"No worries, the real reason for the call was to thank you for the first 5 Chapters of Lost Innocence,
I have begun to read, and I am blown away, I think you are going to make my job of editing very easy"
"I should have something back to you in a week if that works for you?"
"That sounds great, I really appreciate the fast response and being kept in the loop. When do you think we will get to a deadline for publishing?" Rick asks anxiously
"The deadline is when you want it to be released, minus 95 business days for promotion, printing and graphics, YOU control that Rick, we are not rushing this, it means too much to too many people"
Rick is silent, perhaps for too long when he hears Kelly "Rick, are you still there buddy? Rick can you hear me?"
"Yea Kelly, sorry I just zoned out there for a few minutes, just blown away of how this is going, thanks so much, you'll never know what this means to me"
"No, I won't, but believe me when I say, this brings back some personal memories for me as well, it takes courage to live that life, even more to relive it for the benefit of others."
"Got another call Rick, I'll be in touch, Best to Jess", as Kelly disconnects,
Rick just stands and smiles, slowly looking up, he whispers, "You did good Rae, really good" as he kisses his two fingers and points it heaven bound to honor his childhood hero.
A/N Again Huge thanks to those reading, following and leaving messages, Helen you light up my day with every review and I would be honored to know you named your Great Grandson after me, and Norman no one could ask for a bigger fan, Big Thanks to you and all. I hope everyone is still on board, we are moving into the phase where change is about to start, in Washington Heights, and perhaps in our characters, stay tuned.
