ALL'S NOT FAIR IN LOVE
Chapter 12 - Recovery
Rick Castle is dressed up in his very best and carrying flowers. Two days ago Dr. Davidson had told them to go home and they would call when Kate was up. Rick had returned to the loft still dressed in his funeral outfit, now stained with Kate's blood. He had spent the last two days with the boys trying to get leads on Kate's shooter. It was to no avail, the shooter had simply vanished in the air, leaving behind only his sniper rifle. The serial number had been filed off the weapon so as not to be traced, but it was a military sniper rifle. That much they knew. And then came the call that Kate was out of her induced coma and ready to see visitors. Rick quickly returned to the loft to change and then stopped to buy her flowers.
When he arrives at her hospital room, she is awake. He walks down the hallway and attempts to enter the room, but instead passes LT and another uniform who are guarding the entrance to Beckett's room. They see Castle, recognize him, and allow him entry into Kate's private hospital room. Her medical had covered for a shared room, but Rick paid the additional fees for Kate to have a private room. He stops quickly to check his reflection in the mirror of Kate's ensuite, fussing with his hair before taking a deep breath and going to her bed. Kate is in the hospital bed, looking worse for wear. Josh is dressed sharply, sitting at her bedside, giving her a checkup on her condition. She watches Rick's as he enters and her face brightens. She's still groggy and it's reflected in her voice.
"Hey, Castle", she greets him.
Josh seeing Castle gets up, "I guess I should go since Rick is here. He will be far better company than I could ever be!"
"No, don't go Josh, you just now got here to see her after some time", Rick says.
"No Rick, you two need your privacy. Besides Kate and I had a good talk the other day."
"That is great news."
"Yes, she forgave me for how we broke up. Like I said, saving her is redemption on my part. It is my duty as a doctor to do that, but I also had motivation beyond my oath to make up for how the two of us parted ways. That breakup was on me and I will forever regret it. So, now I need to leave so you two can talk."
"Bye Josh, thank you for everything", they both say together again having read each others thoughts, like they so often do, and then speaking out in one voice.
Josh sees them for the first time in a new light and it is an affirmation to him that they are a rare couple. Even if he had not messed up with Kate, he realizes it was bound to end, it was a matter of time. Josh was not her one! Rick was that for Kate and that is a sobering thought for Josh. He leaves the two realizing that he and Kate were never meant to be. Castle truly was Kate's soul-mate. But Josh is now hopeful that he can find his one, as he now has Kate to be his ideal image of that right woman.
"So you finally told him you have forgiven him? Should have been sooner but I know you were not quite ready then for a face to face with Josh."
"Yes, sadly it had to be under these circumstances, but Josh saved my life. So it made it easier to talk to him on our breakup and how we left it."
"Things all good now between the two of you?"
"Yes."
Then Rick enters Kate's personal space and plants a kiss to her lips.
Rick breaks the kiss and then says, "I thought I had lost you. These last two days have been torture and I do not know how I got thru it. But it was comforting to know that you had the best surgeon to take care of you."
"I was dreaming while I was under and it was all about you. You asked me to stay and I was trying to come back to you. It wasn't working until I woke up and realized it was a comma induced dream. Josh was there to see me come out of it and brought me up to speed on all that had happened. Then I asked him to notify everyone so you all could come and see me. I needed to see you all, but particularly you Rick, so I could affirm that this is real and not a dream!"
"Has your Dad been in?"
"No, but he is on his way."
They spend time just talking. It was like nothing had happened and they were together once again, like always. When Jim Beckett enters the hospital room he sees his daughter alive and happy talking to the man who is her one and done. Jim was happy to see her that way. He had come to know that a lot of Kate's happy demeanor was due to Rick Castle's presence in her life. His Katie had finally found her man, the one who made her happy and hopeful for the future.
"Hi dad!", Kate says when she sees him come into her room.
"Hi there yourself Katie Bug! Glad to see you are up and talking to this man. He, like me, was agonizing till we got word you were up."
"Well I am up and with the two most important men in my life here to be with me."
They spend the rest of the time just talking and enjoying each other's company as one by one all of Kate's guests arrived to cheer her up and congratulate her for having survived her ordeal. Kate finishes the day in a happy state and is holding Rick's hand as she nods out to sleep. They had given her a sedative to help her sleep. Once she was under and deep in slumber, Rick kissed her on her lips and said 'until tomorrow'. Rick then left his girlfriend as she slept oh so peacefully and soundly.
Healing
It took Kate almost three whole weeks in the hospital before she was discharged. She wanted to leave the hospital and be in a quiet place for her recovery. She asked her dad about their cabin in the Catskills, and Jim had said he could get someone to prepare it for her use.
"Kate", Rick asks, "why your cabin? My Hampton beach house is available and though not as remote as your cabin, does provide a peaceful setting to heal. Also, they have good hospitals in the Hamptons and you would not need to make the trek back to the city to see your doctors and physical therapists. I can also write there as I stay with you to help you heal."
"Well, since you are offering, Lover Boy, I accept!"
"Lover Boy, huh? I think it will be a while till I can earn that title back."
"Oh and I am so looking forward to it!"
"Tease."
"Stud."
With that banter, Rick once again enters her space and plants a lustful and passionate kiss to her lips with lots of tongue.
"Stop it Rick before I do something that will aggravate my wounds."
"Sorry I couldn't help myself."
"Well do that again in about three months and show me how much you can't help yourself!"
"Promise."
"I'll take you up on that and you better make it good."
"Always."
Later that day of her hospital discharge, the Mercedes is packed with all their stuff. They are headed to the Hamptons. A special place for them as it was from there where they had sailed to a cove off the shore. They had first became physically intimate in that special place. They had made love on a boat that they had sailed out of the Hampton marina to be there. The spot held precious memories for them. It had been there that they had for the first time shared in a carnal union like no other that the two had ever experienced.
The Hamptons
The next three months pass quickly. For the two it is marked with the joy of each other's company. Rick relishes each day with her, realizing he could have lost her forever from her shooting. They once again do walks on the beach, take in the sunsets, and even did a couple boat trips to their favorite cove. Rick drives her to hospital appointments and to her physical therapy. He had made sure that her doctors and physical therapist were the best in the Hamptons.
Kate grew stronger with each passing day and then finally, her doctors give her a clean bill of health to return to the city. Back to active duty as a homicide detective and to that routine of their lives that had been interrupted as Kate healed. When the day came for them to pack up and go back to the city, they did a last minute check of the beach house, before departing for NYC.
Final check done, Rick turns to Kate, "Are you sure you got everything. Nothing left that should be packed?"
"Nope, got it all."
"I think not Kate, you left one thing unpacked."
"Really and what is it that I forgot Rickie?", she says teasing him.
"This", says Rick seriously, as he sees Kate turn to face him. When she is fulling facing him, he pulls out of his pocket a small black velvet covered box. He gets down on his one knee and then opens the black velvet box to reveal an engagement ring.
Rick asks, "Kate Beckett, would you marry me?"
Kate is absolutely stunned and surprised. She was not expecting this!
"Oh Rick", she says, the emotion in her voice evident, "how,... when did you buy,...yes, yes, I will marry you."
Rick pulls the ring from the box and places it on Kate's finger. Kate holds up her engagement ring admiring it. It is a simple but elegant setting, with just the one diamond present.
"The ring is so big and the diamond must be at least 2 karats!"
"Only looks that way because your finger is so small."
"Well, we definitely will have to celebrate tonight at the loft", Kate says seductively to Rick.
"Really, what did you have in mind future Mrs. C?"
"Why but of course the full course meal in bed future Mr. B!"
"I see, but shall we start slow, say with appetizers?"
"Only if it comes with wine!"
"I think I can make that happen, but are you up for this?"
"The question future Mr. B is are you 'up' for it?"
"Such a tease!"
"Oh but you love it Rickie!"
Again she teases him, but she sees in his eyes that it will be a busy night for them. Kate had been cleared for all physical activity and she meant to do just that later that evening. They had not been carnal for three months and both were lusting for a evening to do so.
They head back to the city and to the loft in full aniticipation of how they will celebrate their engagement night!
Six Months Later
The Castle nuptials are the social event of the season for the Hamptons. Over three hundred guests had come to the marriage between Rick Castle and his muse, Kate Beckett. The hotels at the Hamptons were filled to near capacity from all the guests who had arrived to attend the event. The event was good business for the local hotels.
Lanie Parish was Maid of Honor and Alexis Castle was best man in an usual selection. Rick could not choose between Espo and Ryan, so had opted to let his daughter be 'best' man. But Ryan and Espo had planned the Bachelor's party, with lots of constraints from Kate, no strippers, no female entertainers of any kind, and a vow that they would not get Rick too drunk!
The Montgomery's were in attendance to represent Roy in absentia at their wedding. Kate and Rick had them stay in the guest rooms of the summer home. It was all they could do to honor the memory of their fallen Captain.
Presiding Minister was none other than Judge Markaway who had been their go to guy for many of their warrants and a poker buddy of both Rick and the now deceased Captain Roy Montgomery. The press was present to cover the event. It was a mid-morning ceremony followed by Lunch at the estate, now decked out for the joining of the couple in matrimony. Celebrations lasted till early evening and was then topped off with a farewell dinner before guests headed home having spent most of the day at Rick's summer home for the ceremony and celebration.
During the day there was entertainment from guest celebrities doing their routines either musical or standup comedy. A DJ was present for music and dancing once the guest entertainers had done their thing. It is a open bar. The bar staff were from The Haunt, Rick's club and bar, who Castle had paid for their hotel stay. Guests are asked to be prudent in their drinking and not to drive if they had consumed alcohol. Just in case, Rick had a car service with two large stretched limo's available for those guests that needed a ride back to their hotels.
The couple took one of those stretched limo's the next morning after breakfast to Boston Logan International Airport for a month of touring Europe, starting with the UK and then Paris, Spain, and other European destinations. The couple were accompanied in the limo by family and close friends who would see them off for the honeymoon.
At the airport, their close friends wished them a good trip and a safe return. Lanie in particular was pleased to see them off.
"Oh Girl, you're married! Come let me give you a hug before you go off into the sunset with your man."
When Lanie is done, she turns to Rick, "Take good care of our Girl, Rick!"
"I will", Rick says and then whispers in Lanie's ear, "Thank you Lanie for always supporting me with Kate."
Likewise Lanie while in Rick's space then whispers back to him in his ear, "Just have a good life with her, that will be thanks enough for me."
Kate does not notice the exchange between Lanie and Rick as she is busy saying good bye to The Boys, Her Boys. All the farewells done, Rick and Kate give Martha and Alexis one last good-bye kiss and embrace before they depart for their Gate to board.
"Dad, Kate, have a good time!", says Alexis as she kisses her dad and gives her new step mom a farewell hug and then jokingly tells her, "don't wear Dad out too much Mom with all the celebration!?"
"Alexis Castle, did you just say what you just said!", Kate mimics surprise and teasing back to her new step daughter.
Now it is Martha's turn to say good-bye to her daughter-in- law so likewise gives Kate a warm embrace and then whispers in Kate's ear, "You are good for him Katherine, keep him close and be there for him."
"Always", whispers Kate back to her new mother-in-law, and then returns Martha's warm hug.
They board the plane and are in Premium Class with the chairs that converts to beds to include all the amenities, like free champagne, which they eagerly consumed.
"Here's to us", toasts Rick.
They drink their champagne and then enjoy the trip. Lunch is delicious, filet mignon, grilled vegetables, bake potatoe and wine. All serve on real plates and with real silverware. Dessert is Italian gelato. After lunch, the stewardess returns with a bottle of Champagne.
"Care for more champagne, Mr. and Mrs. Castle."
The crew knew they had a celebrity couple on board from the Passenger Manifest. All of the cabin crew knew of Rick Castle and some were devoted fans.
Their seatmate next to them hears the question and then says, "Excuse me, I could not help but overhear, would that happen to be Richard Castle the famous crime novelist?"
"In the flesh", replies Rick.
"And your beautiful wife would be Detective Kate Beckett, also your muse."
"Guilty as charged", replies Kate.
Once word gets around of their presence in premium class, several fans had come to them asking for autographs of the two. Several of the stewardesses from Coach came forward for their customers to ask for signatures from the couple. Kate realizes this was the start of her public life as Mrs. Rick Castle.
Once in London, they spent the remainder of what's left of their day exploring the city before night comes. Then as day ended, Rick and Kate back from their city tour, watch from their hotel room , taking in the fantastic city view of London from their window as the sun sets. They are sipping their favorite wine. As they put their wine glasses down on the night stand that is next to the floor to ceiling window they had used for the view, they enter each other's space and kiss.
"I love you Kate."
"Care to show me Mr. C."
"You don't have to ask twice Mrs. C."
FIN