Chapter 14

Hell Hath No Wrath

Castle was reading as Kate turned off her light. She tossed a bit, tried to re-shape her pillow, laid on her back and then on her side. It all started over again, she moved to her stomach, tossed some more, then returned to her back and finally crossed her hands over her stomach.

"Good-night Kate." He kissed her forehead and then rolled over and turned off the light.

He was tired, it had been a busy day and he felt himself falling into a welcome sleep. He knew when this happened, when sleep tugged him down, it would be a dreamless night.

He felt her hand move onto his chest, she snuggled against him, "Castle are you asleep?"

He made a noise, or at least he dreamed he made one. She tried again, "Castle, talk to me."

Something jarred, the descent stopped, she was talking and he moved to the sound of her voice, "Kate" but it sounded more like Kaaaate. He opened his eyes but they'd only go half-way.

"Castle, do you think I'm just left-overs?" The question pulled him back into full consciousness.

"Left what? Kate, what are you talking about?"

"Josh...he told you to enjoy the left-overs, of me...he was done." He looked into a set of sad green eyes.

"He's an idiot, Kate, just an idiot!" His words were suddenly brittle and harsh, almost sounding like profanity.

She was surprised at the anger in his response, she was also pleased, but the doubts were still there, "That's not what I asked you, am I left-overs?"

He did not speak, but pulled her closer against him. She thought he was not going to answer her. It made her anxious. She wondered how her certainty about them could spiral so quickly into such doubt.

And then just three words, " No Kate, never."

He kissed her head, " I need to tell you something, but I need the light on."

"Why the light?" She sounded confused, still spinning a bit in her doubts.

When the light chased out the darkness, he was surprised to find tears on her face. He gently thumbed them away and smiled at her, "Because I need you to see my face, to look into my eyes."

They both sat up in bed and faced each other.

"I love you Kate." She moved quickly and laced her arms around his neck.

"And in love, there are no left-overs. You're all I want."

"Despite your shot-gun like proposal of marriage," she swatted him lovingly, "you've managed to steal my heart...hook, line and sinker." She beamed at him, tears again brimmed in her eyes.

"Rick, I am so happy."

"I was afraid it was me, just me, stupid and in love, and alone," placing her arms around his neck and kissing his neck gently.

"The things Josh said really bothered me. Not because I care what Josh thinks, but because you had to hear them."

"You never said another word and...and I worried he'd struck a cord in you, maybe made you start to question...to wonder about me." She looked down, embarrassed at the thought of the scene.

"I have no doubts about you Kate." He then smiled broadly.

"Plus, Alexis gave me permission." He smiled at the shocked look on her face.

"She what? Gave you permission for what?" She got on her knees.

"To fall in love with you."

"Why would she do that? I haven't been around long enough for her to think there was something, as serious as love happening between us."

He smiled, "She's more observant that you think."

"She told me she knew by the picture, that we were in love."

"You mean the one she had framed?"

"Yea, she loves the picture because, most of all, she wants me, she now wants us to be happy."

"And?"

"And she heard you tell me on that Saturday morning that you were going to marry me."

Kate groaned. "Sorry! She mentioned it to me awhile back, I should have saved that for a more private setting."

"What did she tell you?" He looked interested.

"Sorry, it was girl talk!"

Kate found herself no longer on her knees. He grabbed her and pulled her gently on top of himself. She now faced him eye to eye, just inches apart.

"That is not fair... girl talk?" Scolding her.

She just laughed.

"Fine, I'll let you off this time."

"She says she's never seen me as happy as when we're together. She's my girl and I agree, I trust her observations."

Kate kissed him again softly.

"I was thinking I should tell her I consider it my public service, to service the police."

"You are so bad, you better not tell your daughter that!"

She was quiet for a moment or two, "But could you service me...now?"

"Feeling slightly cheap, but I am her at your bidding." he turned and flicked off the lights, then again pulled her to himself.

XX

The company was organized with a rotation of the CEO position. Every two years, one of the four partners would serve as the companies leader. During that time, the CEO was given three votes, while the remaining partners would have just one. When an decision ended in a tie, all partners reverted to a single vote.

The meeting had been short, the group of four partners had heard the complaints and discussed the issues. The debating had been intense at times, especially in light of the long history. But in the end, the evidence yielded a 4 to 2 vote. The solution would be a reprimand, and the a promise to correct the conduct. They all expected there would be a brief disruption in the status quo, but then things would return to normal. They were all wrong.

XX

Richard Castle sat at this desk, he'd been back to work for several weeks and was finally seeing an end to his list of urgent things to do.

As he had arrived Monica greeted him and asked, " How is my favorite Detective Mr. Castle?"

"Monica, and of which policeman are you speaking?" Monica blushed.

"I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to overstep." She looked down at her stack of papers. Wondering to herself, Why can't I keep my mouth shut?

She could feel his presence. She raised her head just a fraction and saw his hands folded in front of her on the receptions tall counter top. Oh no.

She looked up into his blue eyes, and wide smile. "She is just wonderful, thank you for asking."

As he entered his office and sat at his desk, he considered and thought he'd been happier at work than anytime he could remember, but knew it had a lot to do with Kate. They normally met for coffee or lunch sometime during the day. She was a the bright spot of everyday, he was always pleased to see her.

He wondered how he'd gotten along without her for so long. For the first time in maybe ever, he felt like everything was together. The parts finally fit. He wanted to hug Orletha for introducing them. She'd pushed their two otherwise parallel lives onto a collision course. He'd have to tell her the next time he saw her on his commute home.

The knock on his open door startled him, he looked up to see Linda Gallo standing in his door way. "Rick there's a meeting in my office in 10 minutes, could you ask Monica to hold your calls."

"Sure, I'll be there at 10:15." He made the call to Monica and put away what he'd been working on.

When he walked up to the large office doors he looked over at Linda's assistant, she smiled, "She's ready to see you."

As he walked into his bosses office he'd expected more people, instead it was just Linda. "Please sit Rick." He did.

"Rick, I don't have much time and so I need to get right to the point."

"I met with the partners early today, and we have some concerns about your work."

"My work?" He was genuinely surprised. None of the four partners had ever said a single word to him about his work, except to praise it.

"I don't understand, is there something wrong with my work?" Trying not to be defensive.

"We feel your involvement with the police department has become, a significant distraction." She sat with her elbows on the chairs arm rests and steepled her folded hands under her chin. Castle thought she looked both smug and vindictive.

"Linda I don't understand. I haven't taken a single minute off work to assist the NYPD. So how has it distracted me?"

"Rick you were off work for a full week and it's taken you sometime to get back up to speed and it's because of the NYPD."

"I was kicked by a thug at a subway station, it had nothing to do with the NYPD."

"Is that so? And were you alone or with someone?"

"You know I was with Detective Beckett. But we were riding the subway home together, it had nothing to do with the NYPD."

"Rick, didn't she try to break up a fight, because she's a police officer, and you got hurt?"

He sighed, "The police are always on duty. They don't have the option to ignore a dangerous situation. She intervened because it was her job."

"Precisely, because you were with a police officer, you ended up being injured." She paused for effect, "I'd call the results of being with the police, a significant disruption of your job." She had leaned forward and was now more animated in her delivery.

"I'll have to respectfully disagree. I was with a friend that someone tried to harm and I lent my assistance. I'd do the same for you if someone tried to attack you. It's what friends do."

"Did you know Detective Beckett before you were asked to assist in whatever you're doing for the police."

"It's a murder investigation, and no I didn't know her before then."

"Rick, my point is that if you hadn't been with the police, you wouldn't have ended up injured and we wouldn't have lost a week of productivity."

"Linda, it was my sick leave!" He was growing angry with this ridiculous conversation.

"I didn't ask for pay for not working, I took time off that I had accrued."

Linda paused and studied her office for a few moment, then looked back at him, "This is moving in a direction I really didn't intend. Let me move us back to my point."

"The partners all agree that your work is good, but, your involvement with the police is a problem. We are asking you to agree to sever your ties with the NYPD, no more after hours work with them."

"We would also ask that you tell Detective Beckett to not come to the office during business hours. It has a potential to cause some of our clients...well, lets just say distress."

What had been ridiculous seconds earlier, had now crossed into absurdity to him. He decided to keep silent.

"Rick this is the bottom-line! You being seen with her here and in public it's simply not good for our business." He still said nothing.

"Do you understand?"

Yeah he understood, this was about Beckett. This was about, hell hath no wrath...and he was getting it right now. He'd never responded to this woman's advances, he wasn't interested and she was his boss. But her dislike of Beckett had been clear from their first meeting. He knew she'd do anything to disparage her.

"I do understand, but I don't agree." He stared back, still struggling to keep his temper under control.

"Rick this is not really open for negotiation. We're asking you to put the reputation and well being of our firm, your firm, ahead of your extracurricular activities. While it is noble of you to want to help the police, it cannot come at the price of business for us."

"Linda has there been a single complaint about my work with the PD?"

"No, not yet. But..."

"Has there been a complaint about me being seen with a police detective? And if so, how would anyone know a plain clothes cop is a cop?"

"Rick this is preventive. If we receive a complaint it will be too late. We'd be in a damage-control mode, we don't want that and we can't afford that."

He sat silent for twenty or thirty seconds. He thought about the words he was about to say. It would be a game changer for him, but he didn't see any other possibility. This was not about work, not about the PD, this was about him and Beckett.

"I can't agree to that Linda!" He was pleased to hear his own voice at least sounded steady, he certainly didn't feel steady.

"We've worked hard on the case and we're getting close. I've asked the PD to obtain records, through a Judge, to narrow our search and find the killers of two people. I can't abandon ship now."

"Rick..." now she paused, appearing to consider her own words.

"Rick, this is not optional. Either comply or else."

"Or else ? Are you actually firing me for assisting the police in a murder investigation?"

"You know that is not at issue here."

He said nothing. Just stared directly at his boss.

"Tell you what," she stood behind her desk. "Say nothing more. You and I will meet after lunch, say 1:30, to allow you time to think this over."

"Linda, thank you, but I don't need time to think this over. The answer is no. If that is unacceptable, I'll clear out my desk."

She was the one who seemed shocked. This was not what she had planned. She was certain she could scold him into giving up the PD and staying away from the cop at least during work hours. Now he'd drawn the line in the sand and flatly refused.

"We'll miss you Rick."

He said nothing, turned and walked out of her office.

XX

Castle called and nonchalantly asked for a favor. Beckett agreed and headed for his office. He'd told her he needed to move somethings, but that he needed a car. She said she'd bring her cruiser. He didn't want to tell her anymore on the phone.

When she pulled up to the curb he and Monica were standing together, Beckett's heart sank. Monica was in tears and Rick was standing near, speaking to her. Next to him sat a box, brimming with office stuff and Monica held a coat and two framed pictures.

"Guys what's up?" She walked up to Monica and put her hand on her shoulder. The young woman could not speak but just sniffled.

Kate looked to Castle, "Ugh, I got fired."

"What? How could you get fired?" Kate eyes looked like saucers.

"It's a long story...but for later?" He continued, "If we can just load my stuff in your car, Monica needs to get back inside."

After the car was loaded Kate turned to the distraught receptionist, "Monica, you gonna be OK?" The young girl shook her head no.

"You will. It just takes some time to get over this kind of shock." Kate thought, for both of us.

Monica straightened and took a deep breath, "Mr. Castle when you get to your next job, if you need an assistant, will you call me?"

"I will not forget you Monica, I promise."

First Kate hugged the girl, then Castle wrapped his arms around both of them.

Monica wiped her tears, and tried at a smile, "Thank you. I hope it's sooner rather than later." She turned and disappeared into the building.

Kate drove two blocks in silence and then pulled over at the first chance she got, "Castle, what happen?"

He told her the story and his conclusion that it was them and not the PD. Linda was just using the PD as an excuse.

Kate looked like she'd just lost her best friend. "Rick, why didn't you just agree?"

"We could have tried to finish without you, or done it at night...at home."

"Oh man," She now in full freak-out mode, "I would never...never ask you to pick me over your job."

He laughed softly and then, " Beckett, listen to me..."

"There's no choice between you and my job. That's a no brainer!"

"It will always be you." He put his hand to her face.

She scooted across the seat and hugged him. "I love you, Mr. Castle...boy do I love you babe."

"Kate, please don't freak out over this. I already have a plan."

"I really do...when she started making up the story about the clients, I thought that was a little strange. It's not like we represent crooks...no one has anything to hide and certainly not from a homicide detective."

"But when she said you couldn't come into the office, " My BS meter was pegged and I knew it was all a flat-out lie. I don't know what she told the partners, but it surprises me they let her get away with this."

"Don't you see Beckett! I just thought...we're done., the second those words came out of her mouth."

Beckett laughed and hugged him again.

He looked at her, "Hey can you have a play day?"

"No, Castle I do have a job!"

"You are no fun Beckett."

"Well you're wrong! You're gonna have more fun with me than you thought possible. Just wait and see."

XX

On Friday Kate called Castle to see how her unemployed boy-friend was doing.

"Castle, you still at home?" She used the flattest tone she could muster.

"Detective Beckett, is this your mean side?" Clearly not buying her fake concern.

"Mr. Castle I'd never be mean to you."

"Why are you calling me Mister?" His voice now conspiratorial.

"The team, was discussing... your new circumstances and it was suggested that Mr. Castle might hop on the subway and give us some help on a certain case, while it's still daylight out side."

"Wow! Are you offering me a job."

"No, I suggesting if you get down here we can go home early and see what happens."

"I'll ignore your suggestive comment, and yeah, you bet I'll be there."

"It will take a little over an hour, I need to shower first, I smell like the perfume of a lady friend?"

"We'll as soon as you can...and I better be that lady."

"Do I detect jealousy in your voice Detective." Teasing her more.

"Did you hear that noise Castle?"

"What noise?"

"Me, checking the clip on my gun."

He laughed, "I'll wash behind my ears."

After he hung up she considered how happy he seemed to be, even without a job. She was still amazed that he was OK with his decision to leave rather than stop working with the PD. She laughed, that wasn't true, what really amazed her was he didn't even hesitate in picking her when pressed by the wicked witch. She had known, from the start, their relationship was something big, but now he had taken the first giant leap.

She noticed, almost immediately, that his sense of humor had been set free. He was more playful, which was surprising in his current topsy-turvy life.

XX

The four of them met on Friday after Castle arrived.

"Hey big man, so you got your butt fired?" Esposito grinned.

"It's the price you have to pay for working with the good guys." Castle offered.

"Castle, sorry about your job, Beckett told us." Ryan leaned close, "She's not to happy about it."

"Castle," he heard her voice behind him.

"Detective, you're are looking good today." Esposito and Ryan laughed.

"Castle, knock that crap off, we're at work, remember."

He stepped close, so just she could hear, " I was going to say you looked hot, but thought that might be pushing it."

"I'm glad you think I'm hot, but I don't think the Captain would be that impressed."

They failed to notice Esposito had walked up, "Get a room!"

Beckett spun to face him, "Don't you have something better to do than give me grief?"

"Nothing Beckett, is better or more fun than giving you grief," he commented over his shoulder as he headed to his desk.

She stood at the murder board, the three guys leaned against the nearest desk.

"I just don't like Morris for this." Beckett shook he head, one hand on her hip.

"So you think it's someone outside this branch, maybe at the information center?" Ryan inquired.

"No! The problem with that Ryan is, it's only Lilly and the computer guy that are linked to this branch. How do we explain that away?"

"OK, so who is it? Smith?"

"You interviewed Smith," Esposito said as he turned to face his partner, "You know he's a dud!" He then rose and walked around Beckett and then paced back and forth in front of the board.

Castle finally asked, "There's no one else on the board, so who are you guys thinking it might be?"

"Not sure, so, it's time for Shake & Bake!" Esposito shook an imaginary bag in his right hand. "You know, lets shake up things at the bank and see if it sticks to anyone."

"I have an idea, or actually two. First where are you and Ryan on the owner of the accounts off shore?"

Espo hedged, "Ah...that could take some time, it's an Embassy to Embassy thing. Theirs has to agree with ours and allow the breaking of the confidentiality agreement the bank has with it's customer."

"Yeah," Ryan cut into Espo's thought, "they have those laws to attract the money in the first place. Murder can change things but we're really still fishing."

"Well the killer doesn't need to know that." Beckett added.

"So what's part two of your plan?"

"I thought I'd take Castle and we go visit the manager Mr. Smith. We show-up without an appointment and make our presence known. I'll say NYPD loud enough for a few others to know we're there. Within a couple a minutes, I'm sure the grape vine will spread the word."

"Why we chat-up Smith, you guys can be outside watching, just in case a rat, or two, makes a run for it."

"I'll tell Smith that we think the problem is in his branch. I'll then tell him we should have the ID once the State Department provides the information on the off shore accounts."

"Meanwhile, you guys do a follow-up with the State guys and see if we're getting any closer."

"Will do," they both chimed in as they returned to their desks.

Castle sat in the chair at her desk. And looked at her for instructions.

"You have got to stop that Castle." She said quietly.

"Stop what?" Not knowing what she meant.

"You stare at me like I'm your lost pup, or you're a dog in heat."

"Beckett you talk so trashy."

"Well you need to crank back the love-lorn looks."

"How, I am love-lorn?"

She refused to make eye contact, but instead pretended to read her screen.

He laughed. She looked at him, "What?"

"You don't fake it with me do you?" Her look switched to horrified.

"Castle you know we both can't get fired in the same week. We do need money for rent and food."

"You can't say those kind of things in the middle of the precinct with people everywhere."

"My point was, you pretending to read the screen was a miserable fake job. And some how I ended up...well you know."

"Do you want me to call you to come in again?"

"Of course? I love to be with you."

She just glared, "Castle you don't love anything here at the precinct. It's work, just work."

"Well, there's someone here, I love and..."

"OK, that's it! Go get some coffee, cool-off and then come back. We obviously have to talk about work conduct this week-end. You're hopeless."

As he stood he leaned towards her, her eyes went wide, she feared he'd try to kiss her. Instead he whispered, "You're so hot!"