Something to keep you in touch with the story.
If this had actually happened, the series would have been radically different. If she'd just let him in.
OM
She Learned the Truth at 17 by Oldest Man
Chapter 17
Los Angeles
Castle met with Natalie Rhodes for lunch. She was late and he kept looking at his watch and wondering what was going on in Kate's World.
He had been thinking in those terms unconsciously for a few days now – Kate's World, Rick's World, but not TheirWorld. He was beginning to think they'd never have 'their' anything. He'd jumped into a relationship head first without really thinking it through.
He meant what he told Jim Beckett and now he wondered if his mother had been right (she was entitled to one every few years) and that this was Beckett's first 'true love' and that it wouldn't last and he'd better prepare himself for Kate's 'it was nice but…'
Someone leaned over from behind him and kissed his cheek and he was so startled that he almost spilled his drink.
"I guess I should be flattered, Rick Castle. I don't usually startle men when I kiss them." Natalie Rhodes laughed and sat down across from him. The waiter appeared almost before her ass graced the seat with its presence and she ordered 'whatever he's having' and then she got down to business.
"Why, Mr. Castle, don't you want me as Nikki Heat? I know the studio forced me on you but I want to know why you objected in the first place. I'm a good actress. I live the part before I ever set foot on the lot. I become the character I'm to play for days before hand. I'm what they call an 'immersion actor'."
"My mother and ex-wife are actors. I'm familiar with it and, can I be really honest with you, Ms. Rhodes?"
"That's a unique approach. I like it. Honesty. Son of a gun, I really like it. Most of the people in this business are phonies. I'm a phony. I pretend to be someone else for a living and I get well paid for my trouble but no one ever talks to me, they talk to the phony image of Natalie Rhodes. So, go ahead."
"The detective I based my character on is my fiance and I don't want anyone thinking she's a slut and your reputation is that you bring in the big bucks because you take off your shirt at the drop of a hat and use sex instead of ability. If we have kids, I don't want them thinking their mom's a…"
He swore that for just an instant he saw anger and then sorrow in her eyes. Maybe shame, he wasn't certain.
"Well, I certainly asked for it, didn't I?" She blinked rapidly and looked down at her hands that she'd folded demurely when he'd started speaking.
"Mr. Castle, this is my big chance to be in a role that I can showcase my talents and not my breasts. Do you think I like flaunting these across the nation's theaters? I have parents who think I'm just what you do – a slut. I haven't talked to my dad in years and – look, I want this role. The studio has already given me the contract but personally, I want…I need your approval. You created Nikki Heat. I guess I want your blessing."
"Tell me about Nikki Heat, Ms. Rhodes, in your own words. Tell me who she is behind the makeup and the hard shell." He leaned over and fixed her with a stare and said, "Talk to me, Nikki."
"I've only read the script excerpts that they gave me for the audition. I really don't have a…"
"It's 1:15. Go buy the book and read it. Meet me back here for dinner and we'll talk. Be Nikki Heat, Ms. Rhodes, and you'll have my 'blessing' and I'll answer any questions you have about Nikki as I wrote her. I have some calls to make and I'm not really hungry anyway. 8 o'clock, Ms. Rhodes."
He got up, threw a $20 bill on the table and smiled at her and left. She sat there for a couple of minutes and then waved off the waiter who was coming to take her order. She had a book to read and she hoped it wasn't long. She only had until 8pm.
12th Precinct
Kate was frustrated and angry with herself. Her phone hadn't rung except for police business since she hung up earlier with Rick. He hadn't sent her a text or anything and she was afraid that 3,000 miles away, he was sitting in a bar and composing his 'it was nice but…' speech and she didn't think she could handle it if he broke up with her.
They'd interviewed Tariq Humal but he had an alibi for the periods the victims were found and the 18 or so hours before hand. He'd been in New Jersey at a casino photographing models for an upcoming advertising campaign when the first victim was found and he'd been at home with his sick wife and then to the ER when she wasn't getting any better.
They spoke with her through the door of their bedroom. She finally did come out but they didn't 'see' her since she was wearing a chadri or full body covering with just the eyes visible through a fabric grill. Her English was fluent and she clearly understood the circumstances but she deferred to her husband to answer except when directly addressed.
They were back to square one and she was short-tempered and abrupt with almost everyone. Ryan finally asked if he could speak with her in the break room and bluntly asked her 'what the hell is going on with you, boss? You're pacing around, you're short with people, and you look like someone needs to take your gun away from you before you go postal.'
"I'm just frustrated with this case. We have two victims with no connection other than their occupations and our one possible theory blew apart. I'll try and be more patient, Kevin. Thanks for calling me out on it."
She got a cup of coffee and leaned back against her desk and stared at the murder board but her mind was in Los Angeles with Castle.
I should call him. Or text him since he's in meetings. We can arrange a time to talk and maybe we can find out what's happening between us. I know I hurt his feelings but I misunderstood but, hell, I did apologize.
Los Angeles
Natalie Rhodes wasn't dumb. She had a Fine Arts degree from UCLA. She liked being an actor. It filled some need within her. She wanted this role more than any other she'd ever read for. HeatWave was a deceptively contrived love letter written by Castle to this unknown woman whom he fabricated Nikki Heat from. The character of Rook was Castle but she didn't know how much of Nikki Heat was his fiance.
Each chapter brought new questions about Nikki Heat and a few about Richard Castle. Both his main characters were flawed, one psychologically and the other, physically. She appreciated the blind man who could 'see' Nikki Heat for who she was and she felt satisfied that if she had a Rook in her life, he'd see through the façade and see her for who she really was.
But would he love her like Rook loved Nikki and Castle loved his fiance?
Kate's Apartment
Kate got in about 9pm after stopping by the loft to 'check' on Alexis and Martha but really to hear if they'd heard from Castle. She shared a spaghetti dinner with the two redheads and while Martha was taking a personal call, Kate asked Alexis if she'd heard from her father.
"Nope. I sent him a text about the appointment with the therapist but he never responded. He forgot his charger – again – and his phone is probably dead. I imagine he drained the battery playing with it during those meetings."
Kate was relieved. He wasn't avoiding her.
Both Martha and Kate were disappointed that she wasn't spending the night at the loft and hinted strongly that they'd missed her and that Rick had been 'difficult' when she was at her own place.
"I've got this case, the Models you've probably read about? It's keeping me up all hours and it's more convenient to just crash at my place rather than all the way over here. When Rick's back and this case is solved, I'll be 'in residence'."
Martha saw right through her flimsy explanation and Alexis was not totally convinced of her sincerity either but only Martha called her on it just as she was leaving.
"Kate, are you and Richard fighting or something? You seem so, I don't know, uncomfortable around us. What has he done this time?"
"He hasn't done anything. I – I was rude to him and – and Martha, please don't say anything to him but Friday's the anniversary of my mom's murder and I get like this for days before and after. I don't mean to be distant or cold but – "
"Oh, you poor dear. I'll keep mum about it, of course, but you really should explain this to Richard. He only wants to help, Kate, and would never begrudge you your feelings. You know, growing up without a father, every Father's Day was a trial for him so I'll bet he'll understand and offer his love and support. Don't cut him out of this part of your life. Couples share the bad as well as the good, Kate."
"Maybe you're right, Martha. Maybe it's time to really let him see the real me and hope he doesn't run screaming for the hills."
"Kate Beckett, the only way Richard would leave you is if you told him to go away because you no longer loved him. Your feelings haven't changed for him, have they? I know how the blush of first love fades more quickly than later loves."
Kate knew exactly what she meant. She remembered what Rick had said to her father that night at her Dad's place. She would never forget it.
"Nothing's changed. I just don't know how to approach him with this. 'Hi, I've been a bitch because I miss my mom so much and it's the anniversary of her murder and I can't find out who killed her?' I don't think that would go over too well."
"I think it's exactly what you should say to him. Only you should also say, 'will you help me?'"
"I'll try. I have to run. I have some files to review. Thanks, Martha." She gave Martha a hug and called out a 'bye, Lexie' to Alexis and was gone.
Los Angeles
Rick was a few minutes early and he'd ordered a drink and was nursing it while waiting for Natalie Rhodes to make her appearance.
And appear, she did. Somehow in the short time he'd given her she'd managed to transform herself, at least physically, into what most would imagine Nikki Heat would look like.
Her hair was cut and curled exactly as he'd described it in the opening pages of his novel. She'd found a hair dye that matched his imaginary Nikki's almost as he'd envisioned her. She wore dark, tight leather pants and a white translucent tuxedo blouse with a red leather jacket over it and leather boots that she'd laced up over the calves of her leather pants.
He stood when she was escorted to their table and he smiled a soft smile in greeting. She looked over at him and blushed when she saw that the smile included his eyes.
"So, Rook, fire away." She seemed confident and relaxed, a far cry from the woman who sat here and poured out her personal issues with her own parents.
"Why won't you let Rook love you, Nikki? He's obviously progressed past the sex and wants something more. Maybe a commitment?"
"I can't. I just can't let him in. He's clean and innocent and I'd just corrupt him. I need him, but I can't have him because to do so would destroy what we have now."
Castle was impressed. Those were exactly the reasons he'd 'back-storied' in his own mind and she'd hit the nail on the head the first time up.
"Yet you have sex, a lot of sex, but you never spend the night or meet him at your place. You're using him, Nikki, and it's not fair. Either you love him or you don't. You don't get to cop out and say 'I'm afraid of losing the status quo' when he won't be satisfied with it for long."
"And that's why you have to write another Heat novel, Rick. To answer the questions asked in the first. You are going to write another, aren't you?"
"It's finished. Just doing a little fine tuning."
"So, what's the verdict, Rick? Am I Nikki Heat?"
"You'll do, Natalie. You'll do just fine."
"Good, because Monday I'm flying out to New York and starting to shadow your mystery woman. Do you think she'll like me?"
"No. Not at first. But Natalie, give her a few weeks before you show up. She's in a bad place right now and you won't get the full Beckett treatment if you show up on Monday. Believe me, I've been there and got the scars."
"And yet you're engaged?"
"Long story, Natalie."
"I've got all night, Rick…" There was a suggestion of something more but he chose to ignore it. He already had whom he wanted and he didn't cheat.
"I don't, Natalie. No offense. Four years ago I'd have dragged you to my suite and sent you home in the morning in a daze but not any longer. I'm engaged and even if she never found out about it, I'd know."
They ordered and ate dinner, chatting about their families, their backgrounds and their plans. They left as friends.
Rick went back to his suite and packed and made reservations for New York. He called the one he had labeled 'Dilly' and told him Natalie was Nikki Heat but she wasn't to show up in New York until he gave her the okay. There were issues to be dealt with before he'd let Rhodes loose on the 12th.
Besides, Friday was the anniversary of her mom's death and he didn't want Natalie dismissed out of hand. He just hoped his presence wouldn't be rejected. Beckett could be an incredibly private person at the most inconvenient times.
12th Precinct
Kate had gone to lunch with Lanie and they discussed the case and her shitty mood. Lanie knew all about January 19th and why her friend seemed to be PMSing to the maximum but never shared the information with anyone else. If Kate wanted them to know, she'd tell them.
She was dreading tomorrow and the weekend. She never should have agreed to see Rick on Saturday. She knew that she'd still be in 'bitch-mode' no matter how hard she tried to be civil. She didn't want to inflict herself on anyone until at least Monday.
She sat down at her desk and pulled down another file for review. Kate didn't want to even see the murder board. It sat up there, mocking her. She reached over and grabbed her hot cup of coffee and stopped.
Where the hell did hot coffee come from?
"Hey, beautiful, want to go to the viewing room and welcome me home properly?"
She spun around in her chair and there he stood, rumpled from flying and tired looking but looking good enough to eat.
"Rick! What are you doing here? I thought you had meetings in L.A. through tomorrow?"
"Finished them up. I didn't want you to be alone tomorrow no matter what you said or will say. We're a couple, Kate, and this is what couples do. Besides, I think your mom should meet her prospective son-in-law, don't you?"
It got really quiet in the Homicide squad room. Kate sensed that everyone was holding his breath but it was all her imagination. People were talking, answering phones, coming and going. It was just her mind shutting out everything while she figured out what to do. It was so obvious.
"Rick, I've had enough of being Kate the Cop for one day. Let's go back to my apartment and talk, okay? There's something I want you to see and – and Rick, I really need your help. I'm at an impasse and I want your insights."
"Works for me. Let me borrow your phone and call my mother and let her know I'll be in later tonight – "
"No, you won't. Tell her we'll see her Sunday for brunch. And you need to remember to take your charger along next trip."
It was the right thing to say and it got the reaction she'd hoped for. She was going to let Rick in and not let him out until Sunday when they met Martha and Alexis for brunch.
"I'll still need to swing by the loft for some clothes, Kate. I – "
"Castle, my plans for later don't require clothing."