CHAPTER 3

It was Martha. She was in a hurry so she entered in the house and went upstairs and didn't even notice Kate was there. Rick and Kate looked at each other, they were paralyzed with a "what the hell" face. Martha got back and left the apartment, she didn't say a word, so Rick figured she went there to catch something she needed and left.

They started laughing and he locked the door in case anyone else would enter there and find Rick and an almost naked Kate, both exhaling "morning after's" air. Kate put on her pants and said:

"You should go to the Precinct, I'll get home take a shower and I'll meet you there. If we get there together would be weird, so…"

"Ok"

She grabbed her car keys and walked through the door, but before she could leave, Rick held her arm and leaned to give her a kiss; then she left.

Kate spent her way back home replaying the most passionate night she had had in her life. With someone that she was sure that was the right one.

-3 months later-

Kate woke up in the morning; she went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. She sat on the table, all sleepy. There was a calendar on the wall. She realized that in that day would complete 3 months since she was with Rick and all this time they managed to hide this from everybody.

It was a Monday, and as incredible as it could look like she only had to go to the Precinct to do paperwork, no murders at all. She got to the Precinct and there was Rick, sat in the chair right beside her desk, waiting for her with two cups of coffee. They smiled and looked around to see if anyone was watching, and they gently kissed each other, really fast. She sat on her desk and said:

"Well, no murder, just paperwork. Ready?"

Kate noticed that Rick was a little upset so she put her hand on his leg and asked if he was okay. He said he was, and he put his hand on top of hers.

"I didn't get much sleep last night. Alexis had an argument with her boyfriend and she was crying. I tried to calm her down but nothing worked. So we stayed awake, watching TV and eating…" – He said. "I'll be right back; I need to go to the bathroom…"

Rick went to the bathroom and Kate started with the paperwork, she knew what Alexis was going through so she thought about offering some help, like talk to her or something like that.

"Kate. You haven't changed a bit, beautiful as usual".

Kate couldn't believe.

"Paperwork? You never liked it. I remember when you use to run from paperwork leaving it for Ryan and Esposito and we would go out for a drink. Do you think I could have that same luck today?"- He completed with a smile.

How ironic he was. He was the one that hadn't changed a bit. He still looked like a motorcycle boy (as Castle would say).

"Hey… Josh. It's been a while. I'm sorry but I—"

"Josh" – Rick said, interrupting Kate.

"Hi Castle. If I'm not mistaken, you are the writer right?" – Josh asked.

"Yes, I'm the writer. What brings you here?" – Rick was feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm here for Kate" – Josh replied and turned to Kate, hoping she would take his side and walk away with him.

"Actually…" Kate said and got up, staying between them. "Josh, I think I'm not available". She said it while she held Rick's hand. "If you know what I mean"

"Oh, I see. You're… with him" – Josh was clearly out of orbit. "I'm impressed it took this long for you to admit your feelings for each other"

"Not that this is any of your concern" – Rick said.

"Yeah, it's not. Kate, it was nice to see you again" – Josh said and left.

Kate sat at her desk again.

"Shaken up?" – Rick asked.

"Not at all… I was just surprised he came back after all this time…"

"Yeah, of course he would. Now that we are together a lot of stuff is going to try to get in our way. It's how we manage to skip them that matters".

"Well said Writer" and she gently kissed him.

"Anyway, I was thinking. Maybe I can talk to Alexis, help her deal with this situation with her boyfriend".

He looked at her with a surprised face like he never thought about that.

"Yeah! You could. It would be so great for her, she looks up to you anyway" – He said.

"Does she?"

"Yes, she keeps on telling me how she thinks you're great and lovely. You've always given her good advices, but because of these 3 months that we are together you stayed away so she wouldn't find out about us…" He stopped, like he had something in mind. "Do you think she knows? I mean, about us?"

"How could I know Castle? I don't live with her… And I'm sure I didn't say anything…"

"I didn't tell her either. It's just… You see, she always talked about you saying how great you are, but these last few months she's doing it regularly… Looks like she's trying to tell me that she would approve if we get together someday…"

"I don't know Castle. Maybe she's just trying to be nice. Besides, we didn't give any sign that we are together…"

Kate turned and started her paperwork again.

"Detective. My office. Now".

Kate looked at Captain Gate's door and there she was. She got up and so did Rick.

"You stay Castle" she rapidly warned.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?" – Kate entered the room.

"Detective, you know you are the best I have and you know I would never let anything get in the way of your performance. But I've noticed you and Castle are hiding something".

Kate swallowed dry and fixed her gaze on her Captain, expecting an angry Gates to show her frustration on having an internal romance inside the Twentieth.

"You know… I'm just guessing. Detective thing... Anyway, are you two investigating your mother's case again? Because if you are doing it behind my back you know I stick with the protocol".

Kate was relieved to know that Gates was talking about another thing and not the fact that she was dating one of her co-workers even if he wasn't really a cop.

"Yes Sir, I know you stand with the protocol and no, we are not investigating my mom's murder" – Kate answered.

"Great. Thank you"

Kate was leaving the room when Gates completed: "Oh yes, I almost forgot. Be aware to let you personal life outside my Precinct"

"Excuse me?"

"Cameras, Kate. Elevator's cameras"

Oh, the elevator. She knew she shouldn't have had that sneak preview of the romantic night they would have that day on the elevator. After that, she reconsidered what she had just said to Castle a couple of minutes ago, a thing about not giving any sign about their relationship to anyone. But the thing was: the only person that could not know knew. "Damn" she though, but now it's too late.

"Right, Sir. Cameras" – Kate was embarrassed. "Can I... Go…. Now…?"

Captain Gates gave her a "you are warned" look and she left her room. Kate sat at her desk, paralyzed.

"So?" – Rick asked.

"So? A disaster Rick... She knows". Kate put her hand on her head, she couldn't believe.

"She knows what?" – Rick innocently asked. Kate gave him a mad look.

"Ohhh, she knows!" – He said. "What do we do now?"

"I don't know Rick… You know, the day is boring, there's only paperwork, it's not urgent, so let's go home. We can work this out there"

She took her jacket and they both left the Precinct. They went straight to Kate's apartment. They sat at her couch and talked for hours.

"I think it's time for our friends to know about us" – Rick said.

"Yeah, I know. We hid for so long, I feel kind of guilty now"

"You're not guilty of anything, we did what we thought was right. We were not ready to show them, and they were not ready for us. But I think we gave enough time to figure what we want for us and I'm pretty sure we'll keep together".

Kate felt some urgency in his voice. Like he really wanted to tell everybody, but she soon turned away from that thought and said:

"I know Rick. In fact, I don't even know why we didn't say before; you think we should tell them now?"

He showed a mix of happiness and anxiety. Kate knew he was up to something, but didn't ask.

"It's time Kate".