Chapter Six:

The ride back to the hotel was strange. Bree rambled on and on about how nice Castle was while Lanie seemed to become angrier with each compliment. They arrived at the hotel and after a quick exchange of hugs and promises to stay in touch, the Larsen's drove off leaving the two women standing there. Hayley could see that Lanie was practically seething about something and wanted to nip it in the bud now. As they entered the hotel, the PI grabbed the doctor by the arm and nearly drug her into the hotel lounge.

"What do you think you're doing?" Lanie hisses as she's pulled into a booth near the bar.

"Sit down and shut up. I'm going to find out why you were such an ass to Rick." Hayley replies with a look that left no room for debate. The PI was quite familiar with Lanie's type - able to bluff her way through life with tough talk. The problem was, Hayley knew she was all talk. The PI walked to the bar and ordered their drinks as the ME sat in he booth pouting like a child. She shows the bartender her room key and he puts the charges on her bill as she returns to the booth with their drinks.

She slides into her side of the booth and pushes her drink to the ME. "Now you're going to tell me why you were being such an ass to Rick. You don't see the man in over a year and you start to attack him? He didn't have to reveal himself to us. He could have walked out of that bar without a word and we would never have known. I bet he's already making plans to bolt again..." Hayley's voice was calmer than what she actually felt at the moment.

"How could he do this to Kate? I know she made some mistakes, but he divorced her and disappeared from everyone. She's been miserable without him and he's off living the good life in the sun..."

"How much did Kate tell you? It sounds to me like not much if you think that Beckett only made a 'few mistakes' as you call them. Are you that stupid to believe that he's happy living down here like this? Did you listen to anything the man said or were you to busy being pissed off at him because you think that he 'wronged' your friend. Maybe it's time you heard the whole story and not the Kate Beckett version." Hayley was angry now and Lanie decided that she better at least pretend to listen.

Ninety minutes and two rounds of drinks later, the PI finishes the true story of what went on between Rick and Kate. Lanie laughed at parts, cried at others, but ended with an overwhelming feeling of guilt for the way she had treated Castle from the start of this mess. "I feel like such an ass." Lanie comments, her honesty enhanced by the alcohol consumption this evening. "I should have stopped her from throwing her life away when I had the chance..."

"I feel sorry for Rick. Do you think that this is what he wants? Living in a self-imposed exile, away from his family and friends? All because he couldn't face her, afraid that he'd give in to her if she asked..." Hayley comments as she takes another sip of her drink. "That man still loves her with all of his heart, but he doesn't trust her... Can you blame him?"

"But she's miserable too... She's lost everything." Lanie tries to defend her friend.

"Not really." Hayley counters. "She still has her friends, money, a beautiful home, and a thriving business. With the exception of her job with the NYPD, what exactly has she lost?"

"She lost the only man that ever truly loved her." Lanie replies.

"You can't lose something that you threw away." The PI counters. "For two months, I watched as Rick scratched and clawed to hang on to his marriage. She knew the risk she was taking from the beginning. She chose to leave him."

"What do we do? Do we tell Kate that we saw him?"

"We are not doing anything until we talk to him tomorrow. You owe him that much and I expect you to keep your word if he asks us to not tell her..." Hayley finishes her drink and pushes herself out of the booth. "I'm done. I'll see you in the morning."

Lanie finishes her drink and follows the PI out of the bar and out to the elevators. The ride to their rooms was spent in silence as they said their good nights.

X-X-X-X

Rodger Richards curses himself for his weakness and stupidity. It had been a year since he had seen a face from his old life. It was either serendipity or bad luck, depending on how you looked at it, that putt him in that bar tonight. His desire to reconnect with anyone from his old life had beaten out his common sense when approached Lanie and Hayley at the bar. All he had to do was remain silent and he could have walked right past them without a second look.

He couldn't understand why Lanie was so angry with him. Hayley seemed to understand and was happy to see him. Rick/Rodger pulls up his 'go' plan that he keeps on his laptop and decides to wait until tomorrow after his planned day with the two women. He considered leaving the city just as soon as the two women left for New York. He promised Alexis that he would spend Thanksgiving with her in Los Angeles and thought a couple of extra days there may be good for both of them.

He was so proud of his daughter being accepted into medical school and was pleased when she announced her detective days were over. He missed her like crazy and felt guilty for leaving the way that he did. To her credit, Alexis never blamed him for his actions, which might have had something to do with her taking Kate's side until she finally learned the truth. Or at least most of it. Rick was not cut out for a solitary life. He needed people, friends and family. He needed his wife...

Rick/Rodger woke at six just as the first slivers of light were appearing on the eastern horizon. After a short run, he showered and made himself a light breakfast. He checked his emails for any messages from the people who had access to it and submitted another chapter of would be his last Nikki Heat novel. Gina had threatened to expose his whereabouts if Rick didn't honor his contract with this final book. He had until next spring to submit it, but Rick wanted to get it over as quickly as he could. It was too hard to enter Nikki's world without reliving the painful memories again and again. To him Kate Beckett would forever be Nikki Heat to him.

By nine he was in his car and on his way to the hotel. He was ill prepared to act as a tour guide and assumed that the real reason for the request was to pump him for information anyway. He had already made up his mind that he would not tolerate Lanie treating him badly. He owed her nothing.

Thirty minutes later, he parks his car in the visitor parking area and enters the hotel. Guessing that the women were probably still eating their breakfast, he enters the restaurant looking for them. The two were sitting at a table near the entrance and spot him as he enters. Hayley gestures for him to join them and he takes a seat beside her.

"Would you like something to eat?" Hayley inquires.

"No thank you. I had breakfast already."

"How about a coffee at least?" She counters.

"Yeah, that sounds good." Rick replies.

Hayley gestures for the waitress to come over to their table and orders a coffee for Rick as hers is refilled. "So what's on our agenda today Mr Tour Guide?" She chuckles.

"I don't know. There's some fine restaurants and you've already been to my favorite bar... We could go to the beach, or I could take you out on my boat..."

Both women's eyes seem to light up at the mention of going out on a boat. "You have a boat?" Lanie asks.

Rick has to laugh at the question. "It would be kind of hard to take you out on a boat I didn't have?"

"You two don't get seasick do you? I've got some Dramamine at my place. We can stop by there before we head out if that's ok with you?"

"Sounds like a plan. Let's go." Hayley replies.

They're soon on the road, with Rick doing the driving. He points out things of interest as they make their way back to his house. A few minutes later, he pulls off of the main road and down the private drive that leads to his property. As they came to a stop in front of his beachfront house, both women admire the place.

"Do you own this? Castle?" Lanie inquires.

"I've got an option to buy that expires next month, so I need to make a decision soon." He replies as he opens the door to let them into the house. Both women notice how little furnishings are in the house. Rick sees them looking and responds. "It's a little light on furnishings at the moment... Would you like a tour?"

Both women nod in agreement and he guides them through the house. With the exception of the large bedroom which also seems to serve as his office the house is virtually empty. His kitchen has only what appliances were left from the previous owner and his coffee is supplied by Keurig machine. It was apparent that he was simply marking time down here.

He came out of the bathroom with a bottle of Dramamine and asks them if they want to take a couple, just in case. Both decline, but tell him to bring the bottle with them. They're back on the road and ten minutes later they arrive at the harbor where his boat is anchored. They walk along the pier to past a row of beautiful sailing yachts are moored. He gestures to the beautiful Endeavor 40 anchored in front of them.

"This, this yacht is yours?" Hayley asks incredulously. "I guess it helps to be rich..."

"A guy made me an offer I couldn't refuse..." Rick laughs. "No, the truth is the owner passed on a couple of years ago and the old girl fell into a bad state while his family fought over his estate... There was a sheriff's auction about six months ago and I bought her for a fraction of what she was worth. That's when I learned just how expensive boats are... It cost me nearly as much as I paid for her to make her sea worthy again..."

"Why do men always refer to boats as she?" Haley asks which all Rick can do is offer a shrug of his shoulders.

"So what's HER name?" Lanie asks.

They follow him to the stern of the huge sailboat and see the name, 'Loves Lost - Key West'. Rick offers a sad smile and comments. "It seemed appropriate."

The three board the boat as Rick unites the moorings and raises the anchor. He fires up the engine and soon they are away from the dock. He stops again to top off the tanks and pickup something to eat for lunch while at sea. The boat slowly makes its way out to the open sea and Rick starts to raise the sails.

Soon they were cruising under the power of the wind only. Both women seemed to delight in the boat as Rick went below deck and reappeared with three beers, handing one to each. "You can go below deck and change into your swimsuits if you like..."

Rick tended to the boat and drank his beer while the two women simply enjoyed being on the water. Both Lanie and Hayley could see that Castle looked truly happy for the first time since they arrived. The ME walks up to the wheel where Castle is standing. "I'm sorry for the way I behaved last night Rick. Kate is miserable and I thought that you were having the time of your life without her... I didn't know the whole story until last night and I wish I could take so many things back... Can you forgive me?"

Castle drapes one of his arms over her shoulder and pulls her close to him as he places a soft kiss on top of her head. "I gave Kate everything she wanted Lanie... I tried to hold out for as long as I could, but I knew it was hopeless when she chose her secret investigation over our anniversary... She made her choice and it wasn't me." He slowly releases her and starts to wipe away a tear that he was trying to hide before she saw it.

Lanie had always liked Castle, but she had been friends with Beckett years before he ever forced himself onto her team. She had cried with her when Will decided that his career was more important than her. She assured her that Castle would return to her alive when he was abducted on their wedding day. She knew that Rick still loved Kate and probably always would. They were both miserable alone and she would make it her mission to force these two to see that their only chance at happiness was to see they were meant to be together.

"You still love her don't you?" Lanie asks.

All he can do in response is to offer her a sad smile as he takes another sip of his beer. Glancing at his watch he yells out for the women to stand clear of the sails as he turns against the wind to return to the harbor.

Lanie decides that she'll need all of the help she can get to pull this off. She'll need to get the help of Hayley and possibly even Martha if there's any chance of making this work. But first she needs to make absolutely sure that Kate is truly ready to make the type of commitment that is required for a marriage to work.

They returned to the marina just as the skies started to cloud up for the afternoon rain. Rick drove them back to the hotel and invited them out to dinner. They agreed to meet at one of the nicer restaurants not far from the hotel in two hours so that they could have time to get changed. Lanie and Hayley thanked Castle for the wonderful day on the water and looked forward to a repeat performance.

Rick drove back to his home and pondered what his next move would be. Hearing Lanie confess that Kate was miserable gave him no satisfaction. He didn't divorce her or leave New York to punish her. He did it because he thought that's what she wanted. After a quick shower, he stood in front of the mirror and looked how much he had changed. He wasn't sure anymore if he knew who he was. He trimmed his beard and pulled his hair into a pony tail with a rubber band.

Wearing one of the few dress shirts that he had and the lone sport coat he brought with him he was as formally dressed as he could get nowadays. He met the women at the restaurant and the dinner was filled with pleasant conversation, mostly regarding their day on the ocean. The weather had been perfect and the seas were calm which had only enhanced their experience.

The Cuban cuisine of the restaurant was excellent and Rick almost bragged that you couldn't get better outside of Havana. Being a native New Yorker he knew that wasn't true. He was sure that there was a restaurant somewhere in the city that could match it. He missed New York. The sights, the sounds, his friends, his family... Kate.

Both women could see the far away look he would get whenever either would mention something about New York. The remainder of the evening was spent talking about safe topics and the time seemed to pass too fast. They had a late afternoon flight back to New York from Miami tomorrow and wanted to purchase some souvenirs of their trip before they left the city. Rick suggested a couple of places that had better quality stuff and reasonable prices. Castle picked up the tab for dinner and they were soon in the parking lot saying their goodbyes. Hugs were exchanged along with promises to stay in touch that they knew would never be honored unless something drastically changed.

Rick returned to his home and immediately started working on his last Nikki Heat novel, Keyed Heat. Taking inspiration from his time in the area, the final installment in the series involves the detective becoming caught up in the murders of several Cuban nationals that leads her from New York to Key West. The final chapters of the book were starting to write themselves in his mind and he needed to capture them before he forgets. The next six hours were spent busily typing on his laptop.

He smiled as he re-read the final paragraph of what would be the last Nikki Heat novel. He would do for Nikki and Rook what he couldn't have for himself, a happy ending. He knew that it would please his fans and his publisher. Satisfied with his effort, he quickly prepares an email to Gina and includes the final chapters. Feeling very tired, he plops down on his bed and is soon fast asleep.

After his morning routine of a quick run followed by a shower and light breakfast, he checked his email to see if Gina had read the final chapters of his book. Her email was quite complimentary saying that she loved the ending and thanked him for finishing it ahead of schedule. 'Maybe hell did freeze over.' He chuckled to himself. He checked on line for flights and booked a first class seat on an earlier flight to LA than what he had originally planned. He liked the idea of being able to surprise Alexis by arriving early. Rick wasn't thrilled with the idea of spending the holiday with Meredith also, but felt that it was a small concession on his part for his daughter.

Lanie and Hayley arrived at the Miami airport two hours before their flight. Taking Castle's advice, they were able to get all of the souvenirs they wanted at very good prices. The two women had made a pact of sorts to get Rick back with Kate, but only if she proved to them that she was willing to make the changes needed to be a wife in more than name only. Hayley giving the medical examiner the real story about what happened between the couple, shook her faith in her best friend. That was why neither had called Kate to tell her where Rick was. Unless she was willing to put forth a sincere effort, telling her would only force a confrontation and probably another disappearance of Castle.

Hayley had called Martha the first night they saw Rick to tell her that he was alive and actually looking very well. She didn't have the heart to tell her how broken he really was. That despite the time and distance separating him from Kate, he was still hopelessly in love with her. Lanie and Hayley decide to recruit Martha for their mission to bring the two back together and would speak to her as soon as they returned to New York.