Hope 13

"Ready?" Rick asked eagerly after Kate came out of the elevator since her dorm was one of the gathering locations before boarding the bus for Vegas.

"Ready." Kate raised up to give him a quick kiss. "I'm looking forward to meeting your mother." She hadn't forgotten about that. She'd made sure that his mother had a room in New York-New York just like they did. Three whole days in Vegas with his mother there for all three days. "You didn't have to get rooms that nice, Castle." Kate was still on his case for the rooms he had reserved for them and his mother.

"Yes, I did. We aren't staying in a room filled with other gross guys or girls in one of those Station hotels." Rick hadn't liked the look of the one their bus was going to take them to. He had also arranged for a car for them as well. Kate wasn't happy with the amount of money Rick was spending and she had determinedly placed cold hard cash in his hand to at least pay for part of it. He was also being tight-lipped about what car he had rented for them.

New York-New York's Marquet Suite - it had a clover-shaped tub in the main room that had Kate practically lusting over the second she'd seen it. Ideas of just what they could do in that tub were dancing in her head. Rick had gotten his mother a Spa Suite. It was simply a smaller version of their suite.

They had most of their trip already planned. When they weren't going to go see a show with his mother, they would be gambling, save for the day that they drove out to see Hoover Dam. Rick had shown her that they had tours of the dam that they could take. Actually be inside the dam. She had rejected the idea of driving all the way to Phoenix. She didn't see any reason to go there. Finding out how far away the Grand Canyon was had also ruled out a quick trip out to see it as well. Still Kate was giddy with excitement. Even their teachers had taken it easy on them so that they could enjoy the holiday.

Kate had every intention of finding something for Rick and his mother for Christmas in Vegas. Get it wrapped and present it to each of them.

She brought a deck of cards for them to play with during the trip. "Strip poker?" Rick teased as she shuffled the cards.

"I'd love to see you naked, Castle, but it might distract the driver," Kate retorted with a grin.

"I'm not the one who's going to be naked," Rick countered slyly.

"Care to put your clothes where your mouth is, Castle?" She wasn't willing to back down.

Rick suggested a compromise. "Virtual strip poker. We bet clothing parts but don't actually take them off."

Kate wasn't buying it and shrugged dismissively. "Doesn't have the same appeal."

Rick announced the stakes. "Loser has to go down on the winner the second we reach our room."

"I accept." Kate liked the terms since either way she won and they both ended up naked.

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"WOW, Castle!" Kate walked around the room and found that even the tub in their room was already filled with water. They just had to turn it on to get the jets to start shooting water and making bubbles. She dropped her bag and looked everything over. "When does your mother get here?" She was pretty sure she knew but wanted to hear it again.

"Her flight doesn't get in until much later today. Her schedule and the airlines schedule just didn't get along very well." If she wasn't going to get in so late they would have stayed in the airport to wait for her. It meant they had hours to kill.

"Gambling?" Kate questioned since their show wasn't until tomorrow and their trip to the dam the day after followed by going home.

Rick was in. "Slots or blackjack or craps?"

"Yes." Kate started giggling; she wanted to try all of them. She had never been there since she never had anyone to come with until now.

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The drinks were free and Kate both was and wasn't having fun. When she won she celebrated by downing her drink, when she lost she pouted and downed her drink to kill the pain.

"I hate this game." Kate had decided that Craps wasn't working for her. "What's next?" She turned to look at Rick who she hadn't noticed wasn't playing.

"Black Jack, I guess." Rick was at least willing to play that game. As far as he knew you had a better chance at winning at that game.

Kate gathered up her chips and followed Rick to a different table. "Oooo, what's that one?" Kate suddenly liked the look of it. That part was at least moving even if all it did was spin.

"Roulette, but you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning at that game." Rick had no intention of throwing his money away. Rolling his eyes, he heaved a reluctant sigh and followed Kate when she headed right for it.

"How do you play?" There were numbers on the board and numbers on the spinning thingy and each had red or black.

"You place your chips here." Rick put his finger on a Plus area where the lines intersected. "If the ball lands on any of those four numbers you win. If you put your chips here for example you will win if it lands on either of these two numbers.

"Or you can put your chips on either the red or the black. Or you can put your chips on a single number. The harder is looks like it is to win, the more you win." He thought it was simple enough and even easier to loose your shirt.

To Kate it sounded simple enough so she took a few of her chips and placed them on RED and waited and watched the spinning thingy spin.

"Red 21," the handsome stud working the spinning thingy announced. Kate watched him take away people's chips and yet he added to hers. She clapped her hands and started looking for the barely dressed lady that served drinks. It seemed to take hardly any time at all. She'd only gotten the one drink, the remainder of which she was slamming back. "I hate this game." Kate announced, definitely not fond of this game, either.

"I'm out of chips... How do we get more chips?" Roulette had cleaned her out. She was instantly happy again when Rick handed his chips over to her. "What's next?" There just had to be a game around here somewhere that was fun to play.

Rick guided her over to the Blackjack table that placed a limit on the amount you could bet. He gave the croupier some cash and she handed over some chips. Then he quickly went over what few rules there were. "This one is simple. She gives you two cards. The object is to get to 21 without going over. You need to beat her cards while not going over 21. You can keep asking for a card till you reach 21 or go over or get as close to 21 as you think you are going to get. Numbers are just that and face cards are all 10 while the Ace can be either 1 or 11."

Kate put down too many chips and had to take away all but one since the lady told her she must. "Oh, pooh." Even a little drunk Kate knew the more she bet, the more she won. Kate watched her stop at 18 and found that she had two face cards. "Do I stop?" Kate leaned into Rick and showed him her cards.

Rick immediately placed them face up and showed her a new trick. Since she had two kings he put a chip on each of them. "Now tell her to hit you."

Kate was smiling. "HIT ME!" And Kate watches her put a jack on her king.

"Now set your chips on top. That tells her that you want to stop. Now say hit me," Rick told her.

Kate was still smiling. "Hit me!" And she watched as the dealer placed a 10 on her other king.

"Now place your chips on top," Rick advised her.

Kate watched her add to her chips while taking away Rick's since he went over 21. Kate was still smiling and finally had a drink on the table near her. Her chips hadn't grown but it hadn't gone down any either. She downed her drink when she lost and signaled for another. Suddenly something pointy was in her back.

A deep male voice suddenly threatened, "Come quietly and you won't get hurt." Which is what Kate heard.

What Rick heard, though, was something entirely different. He heard, "Unless you want your girlfriend's blood all over this floor you'll come quietly."

But Kate was a little drunk and took exception to this. "HEY!" She spun and threw what was left of her drink in the thug's face.

This got the attention of the croupier along with her pit boss who started to step that way after pressing a button. It was also the distraction Rick needed.

Rick reached out and took Kate by the arm, then he jerked his head backward as hard as he could. These actions put the guy behind him off his game for just a second as Rick's hard head hit him. It was the second Rick needed as he reached out to grab his arm.

Then he JUMPED!

Kate was blinded at first since where she was had been a little dark and suddenly the sun was in her eyes. Blinking and raising her hand to shade her eyes, she realized she wasn't inside the casino any longer. Actually everything was the color of gray. Then it changed again and she was surrounded by cars. She thought she saw Rick in her peripheral vision and turned to ask him a question when suddenly he just vanished. In his wake was this tiny looking black something that acted like it wanted to suck her into it, before vanishing.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Kate was sober in an instant and started looking around. She was indeed surrounded by cars. Though off to one side was an enormous ship that was entirely gray. Then she saw the gangplank that allowed access to the ship. "The USS MISSOUR?!" Kate didn't notice her mouth falling open. "WHAT THE HELL!?" She wracked her foggy brain as she looked around a little more. The Missouri was in Hawaii wasn't it? So how in blazes did she get here? And where was the man she'd thrown her drink at? For that matter, where was the Vegas casino she'd been in?!

Then a flash caught her eye that left a tiny black hole in its wake that disappeared just as quickly. Kate lifted her hand back up to block the sun so she could see better. Movement caught her eye and for a moment she thought it was Rick with some other guy. Only both of them vanished in the blink of an eye that left a tiny black hole behind.

Kate was all set to yell his name, but he was gone. "What the fuck?"

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Rick really hated to do this in the middle of a casino that had hidden cameras all over the place, however, someone had a knife in Kate's back. He loved her so her safety came first.

He wanted to get far away and a vision of a postcard that he had at his desk in his room came to mind, so he Jumped.

He was on the deck of the battleship just like he had pictured. Since Kate was here he looked out and saw cars. Letting go of the thug, he Jumped again.

Thinking Kate should be safe here in the parking lot he Jumped back to the asshole who still only had his knife in his hand. Rick quickly reached out to that hand and grabbed it and Jumped.

They ended up on top of Turret Two. A quick look around and Rick Jumped again. This time they were up on the outside deck of the bridge.

"YOU!" Rick knew him. He had been the guy that had tried to kill him last time. Rick ignored the knife and literally leaped at him and wrapped his arms around him. Then Rick Jumped again after putting a picture in his mind.

Rick let go of him and Jumped. He didn't Jump far and stood there and watched him land on the solid, rusty, steel floor with a hard thud. Rick Jumped over and grabbed hold of him and Jumped. Then released him and Jumped again. Followed by watching him fall from the ceiling and hit the same hard, rusty, steel floor again. Rick did it three more times as fast as he could.

The man was still awake thought he looked woozy. Rick grabbed him and Jumped and let go of him and Jumped. Watching him fall and land badly this time onto the same rusty steel floor.

Rick Jumped to him and checked him. Rick took his big knife away from him and Jumped. Rick let go of the knife as he was falling and Jumped.

Rick proceeded to strip the guy naked as he remained unconscious. He was an ebony-colored, tall, and well-muscled African American. Rick knew he was no match for him in a fair fight. But Rick didn't fight fair. Not after the last time they'd met.

"Let's see what we've got here." Rick started looking over everything he had on him.

Rick pulled his drivers license out of his wallet, ignoring everything else for the moment. "Aaron Riddick, you live in Minnesota." Rick put it in his pocket and went back to searching his wallet.

"So you have a room in the Stratosphere." Rick smiled wide since it gave him a lead. He pocketed that as well. Then he kept all the money and credit cards. He tossed the various retail cards that he had in every direction.

"A card for a lawyer." Rick pocketed that. "Car insurance with Geico." It gave him the make of car along with an account number and his coverages, so he pocketed that as well.

Rick picked up all of his clothes and together with what was left in his wallet, he Jumped. While falling he let go of everything and Jumped.

What Rick really wanted to do was question this guy. But he figured him for a professional, or at least the guy had boasted about killing last time.

He'd left Kate in a parking lot back in Hawaii, though, so he Jumped.

"CASTLE?!" Suddenly he was standing next to her with a hint of wind hitting her. Kate looked around to try and figure out how he had gotten so close without her seeing him. "WHAT THE HELL, CASTLE!" The only option she had left wasn't one she liked.

"Kate, I can explain." Rick felt Kate bat his arm away.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU!?" How had he done all this? She had reached a conclusion. "You're a FREAK! A GOD DAMN MUTANT!" She stared at him with new eyes.

"Kate," Rick pleaded softly. He just wanted time to explain. He feared what she would think when he told her. He'd had no choice; her safety had to come first.

She swatted at the arm that reached out for her. "DON'T TOUCH ME...FREAK!" Kate looked around for a way out. She wanted to run, run and run and run.

Rick pointed out a flaw in what she was probably thinking. "We're in Hawaii." He also knew that in order to prevent pickpockets, Kate only had a little money and her ID in her pocket. She had done without a purse.

"HAWAII!" It was a place she had always wanted to visit, but not like this. Certainly not with a freak of a boyfriend. GOD! Her boyfriend was a mutant of some kind!

"Let me take you home," Rick offered, reaching out to Jump both of them.

She batted his hand away again. "DON'T YOU TOUCH ME!"

"Kate, we're in Hawaii... Let me take you back." This time Rick reached out quickly, got hold of her...and Jumped.

"LET GO OF ME! FREAK!" Kate screeched him and looked around. They were in their hotel room in New York-New York. She could see both of their bags. "GET OUT!" she screamed, ignoring the hurt look on his face. "GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT! I don't ever want to see you again!" she shouted and saw him vanish in an instant, leaving a tiny black hole behind him and a little gust of wind. GOD! How did such a perfect trip turn into the one from hell!? Kate dove for the bed and her tears began falling.

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"Hello, Mother." While Rick really was glad to see her, quite justifiably, his mood had turned bad.

"Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine." Of course Martha noticed her son was very unhappy. "Where's Katherine?" She'd expected both of them to greet her. She so wanted to talk to this girl.

"She knows." Rick cast his head down and stared at the floor. The same exact spot where his heart now resided.

"OH, Richard!" Martha hugged him. Based on his mood, she was guessing that her finding out what her son was capable of had not gone well. "Come on, you can tell me all about it on the way to the hotel." Martha took his arm and began walking to the baggage claim.

She'd had to drag every last item out of him as she watched him sulk his way to the baggage claim. In the taxi to their hotel and then finally in her room.

Martha had long feared what would happen to her son once people started learning what he was capable of. But she'd never dreamed of someone or a group of someones that would want to kill him for being a DEMON. She had raised her son correctly. He was a good boy. "Give me your room key, Richard."

He started to question why when Martha stopped him. "The key, Richard." She'd heard enough. "Do not leave this room. I expect to find you right here when I get back." Martha pointed her finger at him, doing her best to sound serious, since she was.

Rick watched her leave and felt the door slamming closed like it was the end of his life. He loved Kate with every fiber of his being. She was the perfect woman. Beautiful in the extreme, smart, funny, and not afraid to take charge. She was perfect. She was exceptional. Now she thought he was a freak, some kind of mutant.

Kate had cried herself out. There just were no more tears left to shed. She was lying on her back on the bed with her arms and legs spread wide. Then someone knocked on her door. "PISS OFF, CASTLE!" She never wanted to see that deviant again.

"It's not Richard, Katherine... It's Martha," came the female voice in response to her yell.

MARTHA! She had long since forgotten that his mother was coming to join them. She had very much wanted to meet her. Now she knew she was the mother of a FREAK.

"Go away, Martha." She just wanted to go back to school, go back to her classes, and forget about this cursed trip. Then she heard the door open. The locked door.

Kate watched as a very colorfully attired woman entered the room and let the door close. "We need to talk, Katherine," Martha informed the lovely woman who was lying on the bed. She looked to have recently been crying heavily.

Martha could see what her son saw in her. Katherine was lovely. She had a lot of work in front of her. This wasn't going to be easy.