Unnecessary Force

Her head was swimming. All the loose ends of this case were running through her head, repeating themselves to her in whispered voices, all talking at once. And it was giving her a headache. Staring at the murder board made her eyes hurt, and the words had started to blend all together. She closed her eyes and turned her head toward the sound of her two partners, who were bickering like children. "Don't you two have work to do?" She shot at them, raising her eyebrow and glaring in their direction.

Esposito shrugged. "I stared at that board for hours, and I can't figure anything out." He glanced at a clock. "And it's too late to re-interview anyone."

Ryan held up his stack of papers. "And we just finished going through Fallon's financials with a fine toothed comb. Nothing."

"We're just waiting on orders to go home." Esposito leaned back in his chair, immune to her narrowing eyes as she stared him down.

Kate sighed, brushing her short hair out of her face. She stared at the picture of their victim, Ben Fallon. His brown eyes stared back at her from the murder board, happy and full of life. He was mocking her. He was dead, and yet, he was mocking her. She stood up, throwing her leather jacket over her arm. "You two may be giving in, but I'm going to take a walk. I might have something when I get back."

Esposito waved her off, dismissing the idea. "Yeah, whatever. See you tomorrow."

She rolled her eyes at her partner, walking to the elevator and exiting the building. Something about the crisp fall air made the voices whispering in her head disappear, and for the first time in hours, she took a deep breath, and smiled. Her head was clear, and she wanted to enjoy this.

She headed toward Central Park, and walked along the pathways that she knew through and through. She used to come all the time with her parents. They had picnics, and they played games, sometimes just the three of them, sometimes with her cousins, aunts, and uncles. She and her cousin, Sofia, used to ride the carousel non stop, choosing their favorite horses each time. Kate liked a brown one with a green saddle so much, she had named it Polina.

As she walked the familiar path, she gazed up at the sky. Sometimes, she hated the city. Like right now. It wasn't too dark out, but dark enough that she should be able to see the stars. And yet, the city lights made that almost impossible. She loved surprising people with her knowledge of the constellations, and laughed as she remembered the flabbergasted look on Ryan's face when that knowledge helped to crack a case.

As she walked, looking up and hoping to see the smallest hint of a star, she heard feet shuffling behind her. She glanced over her shoulder until she could see the figure that was behind her in the corner of her eye. A man was following about fifteen feet behind her, and she felt her heartbeat pick up. Of course, she was armed, but it was hidden, and she didn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to herself. Besides, this park was huge, he could be going anywhere. He wasn't following her.

Or so she thought, until he made the left turn after her. And the left turn again. No, now he was definitely following her. She took a deep breath, and prepared herself mentally to take him down. He probably thought she was some sort of easy target, a thin looking girl still dressed in her business-casual work attire incapable of fighting back. Boy, was he in for a surprise. She hoped he'd give up stalking for good.

She slowed her own movements, continuing to walk, and watching him out of the corner of her eye. He didn't slow, and again turned right when she did. Three in a row is not a coincidence, not in her line of work, so when he is close enough to her, she turns on her heel, her right fist connecting with his eye. As he tumbled to the ground, she stood over him and moved her shirt, so he could see her service weapon. "Why are you stalking me?"

His hands were guarding his face from another one of her swings. "Please don't! I'm probably the best person to mug, I'll just give you whatever you want!" He fished around on his jacket pocket and pulled out a wallet, holding it out to her while he looked away. "Here, take it. There's about a thousand in cash in there, and I didn't see your face, so I can't report you. Go!"

Her stance relaxed as she saw the wireless headphones that were supposed to be wrapped around his head instead on the ground. "Why the hell do you have that much cash on you?" She hissed, not wanting to bring any unsavory attention to this man.

"Because I'm rich! I'll give you my pin too, just take the wallet and leave. Don't hurt me again." He pleaded with her, his hands still covering his face.

She lowered her hand in offering. "I won't. I'm not mugging you." He finally lowered his hands and took a good look at her. He was handsome, rugged looks and a chiseled jaw, and somehow strangely familiar, though she was sure they had never met. He took her hand, and she helped him up. "I thought you were following me."

He shook his head violently. "Of course not! No!" He smiled, and Kate could feel her heart melt with his boyish charm. "No, I got home and my mother was… entertaining. I decided to take a long walk to scrub the image from my brain."

Kate bit back a chuckle. "You are rich, but you still live with your mother?"

"I can't make her leave!" She had to laugh at that, feeling somewhat crummy for laughing at his expense. He brushed off his pants. "So where were you going?"

She shrugged. "I hadn't decided. Just wherever the night took me. What about you?"

"The carousel." as he answered she realized that the carousel was exactly where her brain was taking her. "It reminds me of better times, when it was just me and my daughter." He explained.

"Yeah, I used to play there too. How old is your daughter?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Fifteen."

She gawked, her mouth falling open. "There's no way you have a fifteen-year-old."

He grinned, his chest puffing out with pride. "I do, and she's incredible. I'm not quite sure where she came from though."

He rubbed his eye where her fist had connected. She reached for him then, a new wave of guilt washing over her. "I'm so sorry! How bad does it hurt?"

He chuckled. "I mean, it's not the first time, but definitely not the most pleasant. You've got a nice arm!"

She laughed at the compliment, relaxing a bit. "Well I'd love to make it up to you. Maybe a cup of coffee?"

"Sure. My name is Rick, by the way. Rick Castle."

Now she knew why he looked so familiar. She had every single one of his books, and had seen him on the back covers more than once. And now she felt even more awkward, because not only had she punched someone, but it was a famous someone. "Kate. Kate Beckett." She stuttered, thrusting out her hand. They shook, and she shifted on her feet. "I actually have to get back to something, but there is free coffee at my job if you want to come with me?" She offered it out to him, her hand already fingering the business card in her pocket in case he declined.

He grinned, the smile stretching across his face. "I'd like that, Kate."

When he helped them find a crack in the stupid case, she reluctantly allowed him to stay. When he brought them a fancy new coffee machine, she knew he was staying for good. When he learned her coffee order, she knew he was hers. And let's just say, they had the most adorable "how we met" story at the nursing home.