Title: Rock Foundation
Disclaimer: I do not own the Castle characters or their story lines. I just borrow them for fun.
Summary: A Sequel of sorts for my one-shot Rock Solid. Kate and Rick deal with the aftermath of Knockdown and move forward with their lives, learning to balance their partnership with their budding relationship.
Author's note: Well, hopefully you'll actually get to see this tonight, as long as decides to work with me. Anyway, this chapter has a bit of everything, including some…ahem…MATURE content…so if you're not into that…skip it. You'll know when you see the lead up.
I do have a question for which I'd like some feedback. This story started out with almost equal narrative given in both Kate and Rick's perspectives. Recently, it's felt Kate heavy. I'm fine with that, since it suits how I normally write, but please let me know if the shift has been too dramatic. Rick always gets his moments, but it's nowhere near as even anymore.
Chapter XIX:
"Rick?" Kate said quietly.
The bullpen was empty. Everyone had either gone home, or was out chasing more leads to nowhere. Rick looked up from where he'd been staring at his phone while Kate did paperwork on everything they'd gone through during the day.
"What's up?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," she said softly.
"Oh, just…Maybe Alexis will call again."
Kate gave him a sad smile. "It's late Rick, she's probably asleep. They've called you three times tonight."
"I know," he replied, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "Long day."
She nodded in agreement and brought a hand up to rub at her neck. They'd been going through their evidence all day, and they were no closer to figuring out where Tyson had vanished. Ryan and Esposito had gone with the husband to 'Ron Jonston's' place, to no avail. It was empty.
Karpowski had been running former associates of Tyson's all day, to nothing as well. Every turn they'd taken had been a bust. Rick had even spun a few credible theories that got them further, only to snap them back when evidence was just too far out of their reach.
"How about we call it a night?" she suggested, taking in the circles under his eyes.
"Sounds good," he said.
He stood and helped her into her jacket and they made their way into the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his side. Kate turned and wrapped her arms around him. She felt him nuzzle his face into her hair. When the bell dinged, she didn't bother to detach herself, content to lead him to the car, an arm wrapped around his waist.
They only disengaged as they got in. Kate pulled out of the station and drove them to her apartment, figuring that Rick would be more comfortable if the Tyson effect wasn't hanging over his head. There was also the added benefit of Kate being able to be ready for the day at a moment's notice.
She parked and led Rick up to her floor, their fingers threaded together. She opened the door and guided him inside, throwing the deadbolt behind her. They looked at the room together, his hands resting on her hips.
"You hungry?" she asked.
"No," he replied, tugging her closer. "You?"
She leaned back into him and smiled as his arms wound around her midriff. "No. Let's just go to bed."
He nodded. They walked toward her bedroom, stopping so that she could take off her gun and put away her things. Then she led him through and into her bedroom, turning on the light and stopping to look at him. He was tense. His face was set in more of a frown than his usual smile and his eyes lacked the sparkle she'd come to anticipate every day.
"How about we take a bath first?" she suggested.
He gave her a weak smile and tugged her into the bathroom. Kate filled the tub and they undressed each other, laying soft kisses against exposed skin. He stepped in first and she followed and sat between his legs, leaning back against his chest.
"How you doin'?" she asked a few minutes later.
"I'm okay," he replied.
"Liar."
He sighed and ran a hand up and down her side. "I'm sorry for being so bothered by this."
"Rick," she tried to protest.
"No. I know that it's okay for it to get to me, but it's not helpful if you're worried about me. You don't need to be trying to take care of me while we're trying to solve this."
Kate turned in his arms so that she was kneeling and could look into his eyes. "You listen to me, Richard Castle. Don't you think for one second that you're a burden to me in this."
"Kate I didn't…"
"No. My turn. You get to be bothered. The damn man tied you up and put a gun to your head, then left you to live simply so that this could happen. And you're freaked out. You had to send your family away. You get to be bothered by this, Rick."
"But what about…"
"Did you or did you not give us one of our better leads today by spinning your crazy stories?"
"Yeah, but…"
She brought a hand up to his lips. "You're an asset to my team, Rick, and I want you there. If that means that I need to let you hug me and take baths and cuddle up on the couch after work, then, by God, that's a sacrifice I'll have to make."
He cracked a small smiled. "That'll be hard for you."
She leaned in and brushed her lips across his for a second before pulling back. "Damn straight. But seriously, Rick, if it were reversed, would you be willing to hug me and tell me things would be all right? Isn't that what you did during my mother's case?"
"Well, you had Josh then," he said petulantly.
She laughed. "I'd say flowers and beating Lockwood to a pulp count as hugs and cuddles, since physical attention wasn't quite kosher."
"I would have though, yeah," he said, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek.
"Right. So let me be here for you."
He nodded and drew her in for a kiss that quickly turned passionate. Hands slid over slick skin, caressing and stroking. Rick scooted away from the edge of the tub so that they sat in the middle, and Kate wrapped her legs around him. His lips found her pulse point and she moaned as he began to rock against her, sending shockwaves throughout her body.
They locked eyes and Kate rose up, taking him deep inside her. They groaned as she sank down and Rick captured her in a furious kiss. They began to rock, their movements making the water undulate around them as passion grew. But tonight wasn't about the fast and furious. Tonight was slow, steady and strong.
"Kate, I…" Rick stammered as she twisted her hips just so.
"Let go," she whispered, feeling herself beginning to come undone.
He groaned into her mouth and she trembled, feeling the force of it crash over her like a wave.
It took them several minutes to come back to themselves. Rick kissed her neck where his head had fallen to rest. Kate ran her fingers through his hair and pulled back.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey," he replied, giving a small smile. "Thank you, I…" he couldn't quite say how much being with her that way, this way, any way, had helped.
"There's not much that's more life affirming than that," she shrugged. "And you know, I kinda liked it."
"Just kinda?" he teased, planting a loud kiss against her cheek.
She laughed. "Maybe more. But, come on, let's get out and go to sleep."
They gently disengaged and got out, wrapping towels around each other and smoothing back wet hair. Rick slipped back into his boxers while Kate found a pair of sweats and a tank top. They brushed their teeth side by side, bumping hips and laughing at each other. Then Kate pulled him into bed and snuggled into his side.
"A little less on edge?" she asked.
He smiled and kissed her forehead, pulling her closer. He needed to feel her, to know she was there. Having her, being had by her, in the tub, had helped more than he knew it would, but he still wanted that contact. "Yeah," he replied after a moment.
"Good." She kissed his chest. "Try to sleep. Who knows when we'll get a call."
"Night, Kate," he sighed as he felt his eyes closing.
"Night, Rick."
…
The call came at 4:45am. Kate rolled to her side and found her cell, smiling as Rick tried to pull her back to his chest. They'd ended up spooning and he'd managed to keep a hold on her waist as she got the phone.
"Beckett," she answered, her voice hoarse with sleep. Rick began to kiss her neck and she swatted at his face with her free hand.
"Yo, Boss, we've got another body," Esposito relayed.
"You're already there?" she asked, shocked.
"Yeah. Got the call about 30 minutes ago. It wasn't far from my house. Ryan's meeting me here in a few. Captain said you two left pretty late, so dispatch called me first. Thanks for that, by the way."
"We'll be there soon, Esposito," she told him, struggling not to laugh as Rick ran a hand over her stomach.
"We?"
"Yeah, me and Castle," she replied, her voice slightly breathy as his lips found her neck again.
"Is here there with you now?"
Kate's eyes popped open and she gave Rick a gently whack. "No. Why?"
"Well, it'll take longer if you have to go get him."
"Where, Esposito?" she growled. Rick was laughing behind her.
"Riverside Park, near West 93rd street."
"Be there in 45."
"Take your time. I'm sure you two've got things to do."
"Esposito," she barked.
"Yeah, Boss?"
"Don't you have detecting to do?"
"Of course, Boss. Tell Castle, 'hi' for me."
Then the line went dead. Kate rolled over and glared at Rick. "He knew you were here."
"Must be that poker face of yours. We'll have to work on that."
She snorted. "Right. I'm the one with a problem."
He laughed and leaned in to give her a kiss. "Morning."
"Morning," she sighed. "Early morning."
He pulled her back in and kissed her again, making her momentarily forget about the body and the call and the fact that it was before 5am. But then she opened her eyes and caught sight of the clock over his shoulder.
"Okay," she scooted away from him. "We've gotta get up, shower, get you to your place so you can change, and get over to the site."
"Okay," he said quietly, his eyes sobering. "Is it him?"
"Esposito didn't say."
He nodded for a moment. "To the shower!" he said enthusiastically, jumping up and then turning to extend a hand to her. "We'll save time if we shower together."
She let him haul her out of bed and then put her hands on her hips. "No funny business, Mr. Castle."
"Will you use your handcuffs if I try?"
Kate rolled her eyes. "No."
He pouted but let her pull him into the bathroom. She was glad to see him acting more himself, and less his age. Despite how often she asserted that his childishness was irritating, she found she missed it when it was gone. The smile he gave her as they stripped down and stepped into the shower together was warm and full of life, and it made her feel safe.
"Rick," she said in warning as his hands wrapped around her waist.
"Just a kiss, killjoy," he murmured as he brought his lips to hers. "Now shower, we've got a body to get to."
She laughed. "It's weird when you try to reverse the roles, you know."
"Oh, I see a number of evenings in our future, Miss Beckett, when I do just that." He nipped at her earlobe before gently pushing her to the side to wash his hair.
"If you think for one second that I'm going to let you go all bad cop on me, you're seriously deluded," she laughed.
"Not even just handcuffs?" he pouted as she reached around him to turn off the water.
"We'll see," she said evenly, before slipping out of the shower.
"You're such a tease!" he exclaimed, coming over to brush his teeth as he wrapped a towel around himself.
"Buck up, Rick, and maybe I won't tease you tonight."
His eyes darkened and met her amused smile in the mirror. "I'll hold you to that."
"You better."
…
It was like déjà vu.
They stared down at the body together. A young woman, maybe 24 years old, with blonde hair and lifeless blue eyes stared back at them. Her hands were clasped serenely over her stomach and her face was bruising, the contusions forming into finger marks. Her right thigh oozed blood onto the path below her.
"Morning," Lanie greeted them softly.
"Morning," they replied in unison.
"Looks like the same story," the ME sighed, squatting down to get a closer look. "Asphyxiation, followed by blood loss."
"Any signs of struggle?" Kate asked, looking the girl over. She was in full jogging regalia. Why would you jog in the park before it was fully light out?
"A bump on the back of the head. I'm betting he threw her to the ground, she got stunned by the blow, and then he suffocated her," Lanie replied.
"Why would she be out jogging at this hour?" Rick piped up.
Kate suppressed a smile. That connection was freaky, sometimes. "She's thin and toned, so I'm guessing she's got an early job but likes to be fit," Kate supplied.
"You'd think she could join a gym."
"Would be safer," Lanie added.
"Any ID on the body?" Kate asked as Ryan came up to them.
"Nope, just the keys hooked onto her undershirt," he said, extending them to Kate in a bag.
"Great. Well, we'll get this to CSU and see if they can provide make and model. If we're lucky, there'll be an address as well. Get her picture out. Canvass for people in the area who may know her."
"She's got the rising business girl or young lawyer look," Rick said once Ryan had disappeared.
"You getting that from the lines around the mouth and bags under her eyes?"
He nodded. "And the being out in the dark to go jogging. She's been trying to do too much."
"Tyson was posing as a lawyer, right?" Esposito added, joining them. "Maybe he knew her."
"Or of her," Kate added. "We need to find out everything we can about the identity he assumed. Let's go back and see if he actually went somewhere, or if it was just a name. We'll meet you back at the station, Lanie."
"See you there," she nodded to them.
The three of them walked back toward the crown vics on the other side of the tape.
"You get enough sleep, Castle?" Esposito asked. "Looks like you were rushed to get here."
"Well, she did wake me with a call at about 5, Espo," Rick replied.
"Oh give it up!" Esposito said, exasperated. "We know about you two, okay?"
"What's up?" Ryan asked, coming over to meet Esposito.
"They're trying to pretend that I didn't call Beckett's this morning, where they were both sleeping."
"What proof do you have for that deluded theory?" Kate asked.
"Don't think I didn't hear Castle laughing in the background."
Kate and Rick stared at him together, before glancing at each other.
"You're crazy, Esposito," Kate told him.
"Hearing voices across the phone?" Rick taunted.
Esposito glared at them and then looked at Ryan. "They're lying."
"I know," Ryan told him, opening the door and getting into the car.
"You're lying!" Esposito insisted.
"Whatever you need to tell yourself, Esposito," Rick replied.
Esposito shook his head and got into the car. Kate and Rick watched them pull off from the curb and then got into their own car.
"We really ought to tell them soon," Kate said as she took off from the curb and joined the mess that was rush hour in Manhattan.
"They know," Rick shrugged.
"Right, but I think they deserve a confession."
"You just want to be able to touch me in the Precinct," Rick grinned.
"In your dreams, Castle."
"Don't need to dream it," he said happily. "I lived it last night."
Kate fought a smile all the way back to the Precinct.