Sorry for the delay in posting, I was very sick and then had to travel for a wedding. I hope to get back on a normal schedule.
Again I own nothing.
Aftermath part 2
Castles eyes widened and he turned to Wilson "I have, that's a Speznats Tattoo. These guys are Russian Special Forces. Or were at one time." He turned to Wilson just as Roy was approaching "Things are going to get real interesting the next week or so!"
Xx
Castle stood there talking with Roy and Wilson while looking over towards Kate and her Dr. Boyfriend. Roy could tell that Rick's thought were on what was happening across the hangar. They could both see that Kate and Josh were deep in conversation. As Rick saw Josh move closer to Kate and brush a loose tendril of hair behind her ear he turned to Wilson. "Wilson are we secure here?"
"Yes we have secured everything. I have a containment team on its way."
Roy's NYPD training came to bear as he looked at Wilson and Castle. "Containment, how the hell can you contain this? We could keep a lid on it for a day or so but eventually the facts will come to out."
"Roy please don't think this is the first time something like this has happened in the states. This isn't the first time something like this has happened in New York. And this sure isn't the first time that Wilson and I have had to fix one of these." That statement from Castle caught Montgomery off guard. Where did this side of Castle come from? And if this is true, just how many times has something like this happened.
"We are going to go with terrorism. Homeland will have broken up a plot to shoot up tourist spots in the city. We can bring in the FBI to assist in searching for any other 'conspirators' in this plot." Wilson says with a twinkle in his eye. "We can have Gray's team pose as Homeland to insure we have operational control. Maybe even bring in someone from NSA."
Castle looked at Wilson, "Ok David, let's go with that. And thank you for being here. I am not sure that I have taken the time yet to thank you. You did not have to risk this and for that I can never repay you."
"With what I owe you, we will never be even. I am just glad I was in town when Porter made the call."
"Oh no, Porter. I haven't made the call yet to him." With that Castle fished out the older looking flip phone and placed his call.
Xx
Josh could not help but see Castle watching him. With that he stepped closer to Kate and brushed a loose strand of hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear. He knows that Castle said he was kicked out of Kate's life but he also saw how she reacted when the shooting started. He also remembers that she never answered the question. The one question that could change everything for them.
Beckett could not see Castle from where she was standing. But she could feel his eyes upon her. In the last three plus years she has come to have a sixth sense when it comes to Castle. She also could not help but notice how Josh stole a glance in Castle's direction, as if to make sure he was watching as he moved closer to her. She could feel her anger beginning to surface. She sucked both her upper and lower lips into her mouth and glanced over to the helicopter that was shot up. She surmised that Castle had used it for cover during the shootout. He was in a shootout to protect me. I am so going to kick his ass for that. Who does he think he is? Why would he do that? She already knows, he told Lockwood right before he died. He did not know she was behind him when he declared that Lockwood had threatened the three women that he loved most in this world. And now her boyfriend was 'staking his claim' in front of Castle and everyone else.
"Kate, are you ok?" Josh asked still glancing towards Castle and moving closer towards Beckett.
"No Josh I am not ok. My best friend just risked his life to defend me and his family, he then has a breakdown outside, and now my boyfriend is trying to make sure he 'stakes his claim' in front of everyone here. So no Josh I am not ok." She says this all under her breath trying to make sure that Josh and only Josh heard her.
"Kate I am not staking my claim. I have already done that. You are with me, and from what Castle told me on the way here. I don't have to worry about him any longer." He knew he was pissing her off and that was his intent. He wanted to make sure that after tonight he knew where he stood with her. "You never answered my question earlier. DO YOU LOVE HIM?"
Kate nearly seethed as she answered. "Yes I do! I have loved him since before I met him. His books saved me when I was in a dark place. A very dark place. But what you are really asking is am I in love with him. And the answer to that question also yes."
Xx
Mike Porter had safely delivered his charges to Richard Castle's home in the Hamptons. He poured himself a cup of coffee and listened to his report from the team leaders when his phone rang. "Porter."
"Mike this is Rick, how was your trip?"
"No problems we were out of the city with all of our passengers within an hour of the order. We might have scared the Montgomery family more than we should have. They were already down for the night when we breeched. But they are ok now. Everything is locked up tight here. I have roving teams and the main road is manned in two places. No one comes in or out without my approval."
"Thanks Mike, no problems where I am. No casualties on our side. Now is my mother around?"
Mike was already moving towards the kitchen. Martha had taken the adults to the kitchen for coffee. "Yes she and the rest of the adult guests are in the Kitchen. Just a moment and I will be in there." As Mike Porter entered the Kitchen he looked at Martha and mouthed Richard is on the phone and all is well.
"Put it on speaker please. I think we all need to hear what is going on."
"Mother, I hear you and our guests have made it safely to the house."
"Yes Richard we are here. Alexis has Rebecca and Mary getting them settled and then I think they are planning on watching a movie. But what we really need to know is how everyone is where you are?"
"It's been one hell of a night, but everyone is safe. No one was injured. I am going to have to go now. When we get to a secure location I will let everyone call. I have to go Mother, give Alexis a kiss for me. And maybe a hug for Jim from Kate. But no kissing." Castle said this and hung up, leaving Jim Beckett's jaw on the floor and Evelyn Montgomery laughing. Martha being Martha gets up and crosses the floor and pulls Jim into the tightest hug he has had for years. "Don't want to disappoint Katherine now do we."
Evelyn decides to go and let the girls know everyone is safe.
Xx
As Esposito and Lanie walk down the stairs that lead to the door of the Old Haunt they can't help but notice that most of the lights are turned off. When the get to the door Javi turns the handle expecting it to be locked. To his surprise the door opens with relative ease. It's not a modern door, after all the Haunt is over one hundred years old. It always amazes him that for all of the bars age it somehow feels both old and new. Kind of a paradox, just like the owner.
As they enter the bar the can see that Kevin and Jenny are there. "Bro, how long have you been here?"
"We walked in about two minutes ago."
Lane was the next to speak up, "Just why are we here?"
"Let's get into the office before we discuss that. Brian, where's the 'door in the floor'? And what the hell does that even mean?"
Before anyone else could speak Brian pointed to the hidden door behind the bar. "The boss put in an elaborate security system. You are going to need the code. Even I don't have it. He moved our offices up here. I think he uses it to write sometimes, but mostly to hide from the crazy women in his life. You know his agent, publisher and ex-wife, and his mother.
Brian Jones, is the head bartender and defacto manager of the Haunt. He wanted to buy the bar prior to the last owner. When he was unable to secure the funding it got away. Castle stepped in and bought it before one of those franchise boutique bars bought it. The history of the place would be been lost forever.
Xx
As the revelation of what Kate said settled upon Josh, he could see Castle, Montgomery and the 'agent' that seemed to be in charge headed towards them.
"Castle spoke up first. We need to get out of here. Beckett, Roy your cruisers are going to be delivered back to the station. You are going to ride with a couple of agents to the Haunt. Josh you will go with them also."
Josh had felt out of sorts since this ordeal had begun. Now it was his turn to take charge. "Wait just one minute, I am not taking orders from you. I agreed to help you, but I never agreed to this Gabriel. I guess that's the name you are going to go by now." Josh felt pretty good about getting in that dig, but that was before he saw two agents draw their weapons upon him.
"Josh, if you every use that name again I will gut you like a deer. There are less than ten living people that can tie me to that name. To protect my daughter I have no problem killing all of them if I have to! Now I don't really give a damn if you go with Beckett or not. You are probably pretty safe, even though you are dating Kate, you haven't been around enough for them to tie you to her. They would use her Dad to as a bargaining chip over you." Castle knew that this would get a reaction but he pressed on. "It's your call, go with Kate or we will have these guys take you home. Now if you go with Kate you will have to go to the Hamptons, that's where everyone is going to end up until we can formulate a plan."
In an attempt to change the subject of Josh, Beckett asks "What about this place? And don't you dare forget Castle you owe me answers, lots and lots of answers!"
Castle looks at her and motions for her to come with him. He leads her back over to the front of the Helicopter. When they arrive he turns to her and sighs. "Kate I will tell you everything you want to know. But I need you to know that when I do there is no going back."
Kate cocks her head and raises her brow as to ask 'what are you talking about?' Castle continues on with his story. "Kate when you learn the truth about me it will change the way you see me. So before I tell you, you need to ask yourself do you really want to know. Because you can't unhear what is said. When we get to the Haunt I will tell you everything, unless you change your mind."
Kate shakes her head and turns to leave but stops and asks Castle one last question, "Will Josh really be safe if he goes back to his apartment? This is not the place for him."
"Yeah I think he would Castle says with a smile. There are not too many people who know he is in your life, are there." This was more of a question that a statement. But Castle wanted, no he needed to know this answer. For his sanity if for nothing else. But if he was really honest to himself he needed to know just how strong Josh and Kate's relationship really was.
Beckett smiled and replied "Not very many people at all. Dad has not even met him. To be honest I can't ever recall speaking about him with Dad." She knew this would bring a smile to Castles face and she wasn't disappointed when it did.
Xx
As Castle and Beckett were deep in conversation at the helicopter, Josh never took his eyes off of Kate. At this moment he knew that she was out of his life forever. He spoke to Wilson without taking eyes off of Kate "I really will be safe if I chose not to go with them? I have the chance to leave for a trip at the end of next week, and by the looks of things I should probably take the trip."
Wilson looks at Josh and questions "Trip?"
"Yeah, I serve with Dr.'s Without Boarders, and they have asked me to go to Peru for the next three months. I think I want to go. Can you guarantee my safety till I leave?"
Wilson then looks into the direction of Castle and sees him smiling at something the brunette detective said and says to Josh "Yeah I think I can get Porter to put a team on you. They are much less conspicuous than my guys. And they are the best, I can assure you, you will get to Peru safely."
Xx
As Castle and Beckett reach the Josh and the others Castle says "Let's load up. I'll buy the first round when we get to where we are going. Lord knows I need one right about now."
Josh looks at Kate and says "I'm not going, I think that I am needed somewhere else."
With that Castle and Roy begin to walk away, giving Josh and Kate privacy.
"Kate you know this is never going to work. If you are in love with someone else, there is no place for me. God I wish there was a way I could stay because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. But there is no room." With that he motions to Castle, "He has every inch of you heart. Before Castle called me I was in a meeting where I was asked to take the place of the Cardiologist on the team to Peru. I wasn't sure if I would but now I think it would be a good idea. I'll be gone three months minimum."
Kate knew what was happening, it's the same thing that Castle did with Demming last summer, and to a lesser extent Josh. Josh is bowing out gracefully, not making her choose between the two of them. "Josh you take care of yourself. Let me know when you leave." With that she reached up and placed a chaste kiss upon his lips and turned toward Castle.
Xx
Josh sprint behind Castle catching him at the rear of his SUV. Castle was placing his UMP in the duffle. He was trying to decide if he wanted to keep his sig's on him. When he made up his mind to keep them in his shoulder holster Josh spoke up. "Listen Rick, I want to apologize for the quip earlier. You don't have to every worry about me bringing up this evening or your past. Hell I'm not even sure what your past is." He reaches out his hand and says "Please make sure she is safe. She still means a lot to me." With that Josh turns and heads to the SUV that Wilson has waiting to take him to safety.
Wilson looks at Castle and says "Porter will have a team on him until he leaves for Peru."
With that Castle closed the rear and got in the driver's seat surprised to see Kate in the passengers. "Well this is a surprise. You're really going to let me drive?"
"Don't let it go to your head. This is a onetime thing." She looked over to see a smile on Castle's face. And for the first time tonight she saw her Castle, the nine year old on a sugar rush looking back at her. She leaned her head against the window as they pulled out headed for the Haunt and whatever their future had in store.
Thoughs?
