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 13

Previously

Mike asks, "Jess do you want to meet up tomorrow, maybe with Rick and Kate, so we all know what is going on after you sick the EPA and lawyers on city of NY?" We can review the documents then if that works.

"Let me talk to Kate, Rick, are you free tomorrow after 10:30 Sweetie," and they hear Mike exclaim "OHH MYYYY GODDDD" Stop it, as he laughs.

"That works for me, let's see if Kate can get away, maybe even do lunch have it catered here, say around 11:30 or so."

Beckett's Apartment

Next Day 6:00 AM

Kate is just about out the door when she remembers her notes for Project Lost Innocence for Jess and Rick, she is hoping that Montgomery is still in a benevolent mood today since she will need to take an extended lunch to make the briefing at the Loft. If he get's prissy she will just take vacation time, God knows she has enough accumulated

When she arrives at the precinct Roy is just walking into his office, as soon as he get's his hat and coat off Kate approaches.

"Good Morning Sir, how's the family today,

"What do you need Beckett? No need to butter me up, Mother-in-law is still visiting, so outside of shooting her you can't help"

Kate hides a smile as she replies, "Apparently you made a phone call to Mike Reboddo yesterday while the team was canvassing, and he came up with some additional details Jess and Rick need to discuss. I was hoping to use my lunch hour to attend, Sir"

"Approved, and Kate, in the future just do what Jess and Rick need, you don't know how much good publicity internally our precinct is getting because of their efforts.

"Just don't let our closure rate drop, Make Twittle Dee and Twittle Dumb take point, they need to step their game up anyway."

"Sir yes Sir and Thank You Sir. I'll keep you informed on any developments"

Wow that went far too easy, but she is not going to complain. She recalls her phone call with Jess last evening, when Jess was drilling her to make sure that she had worn all the safety gear and she wasn't exposed to the dump site. Kate found it touching that Jess cared, and it was sincere, it may have started off because of Rick, but the two women now shared a mutual and sincere like and respect for each other.

She couldn't wait to see how Jess made out with the EPA, of course as Executive VP or RCE she had a hell of a lot more weight than the average citizen, not even including the arsenal of attorneys at her disposal.

She paused for a moment and fingered her Mom's ring that hung around her neck, silently saying we're doing this Mom, it's really happening so your life was not in vain.

The ding of the elevator brought her back to present time as Javi of all people was entering the bullpen, at what time? It was still only 6:20 AM,

"Good Morning Javi, something on your mind to bring you into work so early?

"Actually, there is, I wanted to apologize for my crappy attitude and work ethic lately, and most of all for lying yesterday, you know that's not me Kate."

"I will always have your back no matter what and I want you to be able to believe that," "I'm sorry Kate, won't happen again"

"I know Javi, I rode you pretty hard yesterday because you are too good of a cop to get distracted, when that happens bad things happen, I know that personally."

"It's a done deal, apology accepted, now get to work" she smiles

Ryan walks in about an hour later, after he has his coffee and settles in she asks

"Guys, can I see you both in the conference room please?"

"Guys first thing What is said in here STAYS in here, I mean it Javi, even Lanie can't know what is going on, Understand?"

Javi looks a little sheepish but then says, "You got it boss,"

"I've talked to Roy, and he's in agreement, there is a project coming up soon that will need some attention from our department, not 100% but there are times I am going to have be away,

"It's time to man up guys. Roy is going to be watching you both very closely. You know promotions are coming up next spring, and this would be a great time for you both to prove you can lead."

"I WON" T Tolerate you guys sabotaging, or making your partner look bad, Kevin if Javi falls your job is to pick him up, not step on him, that's what partners do."

"I think we all have been given a recent lesson on how NOT to be a good partner, all you have to do is the opposite of how I fucked up" Kate says as a tear forms in her eye.

"As for what I will be doing and who is involved, it's not your concern, and if you are smart you will mind your business as this has a lot of visibility, no questions, Understood?"

Both detectives look confused, but nod. "Come on Guys you didn't think I was going to be your Nursery School teacher, forever did you? "

"You're both great cops, now prove it to someone other than me, and Guys", (long long pause,) "" Don't embarrass me, my ass is on the line with yours."

"Now get out of here and get to work, I'll be back in a few hours"

Castle's Loft

11:15 AM

Jess is just about to make the coffee when the door chimes, as she opens she is engulfed with Kate Beckett, giving her a tight hug. "I'm sorry I'm early but I talked to Montgomery and wanted to share the news with you and Rick right away."

Rick appears from the office makes his way over to Kate, and gives her a big hug, as they break she kisses his cheek, and mouths to Jess who is not in is line of sight, "Dodgy Uncle"

Jess stifles a laugh as Rick greets her, "Kate it's great to see you but how are you getting so much time away from the precinct, you aren't using sick or vacation days again are you?"

"No that's just what I started to tell Jess, I had a meeting with Roy, he is over the moon with the prestige the 12th is getting from 1PP, and told me to use my judgment, but to help you as much as I could."

"He will only get finicky if our closure rate drops so I had a come to Jesus meeting with the boys this morning and laid out what Roy and I expect from them over the next two quarters."

There is no reason why they should not be leading teams of their own by now, I guess I have coddled them a little"

Rick spews out "A Little?" and is immediately smacked on the arm by Jess.

"So, the result is you guys are stuck with me more, or at least till I wear my welcome out here" she says sadly

Jess has her in an embrace in a second, "Kate, you will always be welcome here whether we are both here or just one of us, you are as welcome here when I am out with Rick as you are with us both here" "What the hell it'll give the neighbors something new to gossip about," which brings laughter to them all.

"We've had this talk Girlfriend, there is far too much at stake to delay any progress because of petty jealousy, besides Lannie already agreed to hide both your bodies for me," which really lightened the entire mood.

Just on time the door buzzes and Jess opens and welcomes Mike into with a brief embrace and slight kiss on his cheek. "Good to see you Mike, thanks for setting up the slide presentation for today"

Kate surprises Mike by greeting him with a brief embrace and kiss on the cheek "Thanks for having our back out there yesterday Mike, I'm glad we prepped for the worst"

Rick walks over with a huge grin on his face, "Still trying to impress the ladies on your first day you old dog collar, Good to see you Buddy and Great Call on that toxic dump, really good call"

"Hey everyone, Glad it all worked out." "For sake of time I can present while you three eat lunch, then we can switch up when one of you finishes if that will work"

"That sounds great Mike," Rick smiles with the ladies nodding approvals already hitting the salad bar.

For the next twenty minutes Mike gives a detailed explanation of the slides and topographical maps, and what to expect IF cleanup wasn't done by the end of the first phase, including impressive statistics from the CDC for those exposed to the chemicals for periods of time,

Jess interrupts to update, the attorneys have already filed suit against New York City and the EPA for failure to enforce existing laws, last work from Bob and his legal team was that they were scrambling to find both a firm and funding to have the site cleaned within a month, great news for sure.

Jess then replaces Mike at the controls allowing him some time for lunch as well, and briefs all about the schedule, Mike's exposure and influence on Pasco Construction, which draws a hearty laugh from Rick, and then the timeline she had roughed out for the actual physical work.

Kate then briefed all about the on-foot canvass, what was found including the homeless man, and their treatment to get him out of the crawl space. He promised to pass the word, but as he had said, that area was deemed to unsafe thanks to Vulcan Simmons Target Practice using live subjects, Kate thinks she hears Mike mutter "That bastard" under his breath but doesn't pursue it.

Finally, Rick briefs everyone of the tremendous progress with First American Publishing, FAP, and how the controls were really in his hand, he comments, "well if he were being honest Jess controls that too," she blushes blows him an air kiss and he completes the briefing. The Timeline Critical Date is now Monday, as the crews were set to begin demolition at 7:00 AM. Everyone agrees that this is the first milestone, and all should be present, although not visible to the press.

"Got you covered Rick, I still got Steely Dan, and I can pick you up at 6:00 AM Monday."

Jess and Kate are looking at each other in confusion, "That's his 72 VW Cruise Buss he swore that he shared a toke with Steely or Dan or both," as everyone broke out laughing

"That thing still runs Rick Asks,

"Yep Better than ever, even got the window tinted, oh and they're bullet proof as is the armor on the sides. Doesn't look like much but it will keep us safe."

"That's great Mike," Kate is the first to speak.

"Well 6:00 is early", Jess glares directly at Rick, who responds with "What I get up"

"so, if anyone wants to camp out here we have the extra room and I have a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment one floor below, might make it easier if we are all here." Jess suggests

Everyone agrees to meet Sunday night at Rick's Loft by 7:00 PM and they would arrange sleeping arrangements then, for now, Kate needs to get back to the precinct, and Mike has work he needs to get completed.

A big group toast ends the meeting with high fives and shouts of see you Sunday ringing in the air. Rick and Jess can hardly wait till the door closes till they are on each other, Batting practice begins in the office and the game moves to the bedroom shortly after, yep life is good Jess thinks as she maneuvers Rick to the position she enjoys the most.

A/N Good place to stop we actually get to tear down something next chapter, each chapter is building the strengths of both Kate and Rick, with Jess providing the guidance and love to both. Love's Journey can mean many things to different people, sometimes we take that journey with someone special, sometimes we ourselves are the journey, learning to love ourselves. More to come Thanks for the review, favorites and follows, Always Appreciated, Tim