4. Multicoloured Roses
The early hours sweep across the city of New York. Thick haze sitting heavy in the sky, as tall skycrappers fight their way through the morning, casting dark shadows on its citizens passing by.
Detective Kate Beckett sleepishly pulls her vehicle in front of Precinct 12. She is dying for caffeine, begging her bad night's sleep to evade her. Grabbing her bag, she drags her body from the car, heavy footsteps drawing her into the building.
The office is alive with commotion in these early hours. She smiles to an officer as she turns a corner heading into her familiar corridor. As she edges closer to her desk, she notices the crowd formed. She can make out Detectives Esposito and Ryan in among the visitors to her station. It is not long before her senses adjust to her surroundings.
Red, white, pink, peach, and yellow coloured roses cover her desk, the adjoining desk, and the floor in tall arrangements. Flowers by the hundreds scatter about the room. Beckett is afraid to count the amount, the office now resembling a flower shop and not her place of work. She raises a hand, reaching out to one bouquet gently picking up a card, reading. "I'm Sorry," is written in Castle's own distinct handwritting. A card lies in each arrangement.
Esposito, mouth hung open in shock, looks up to Beckett, "Oh, you have to tell me what he did."
Several other officers look to Beckett, muttering to each other, nodding in unison.
From behind them a voice shouts out, "Where would you like this one?"
Beckett turns to see a young man dressed in delivery greens, holding up a bouquet of yellow roses, another identical note attached.
The officers immediately burst into a chorus of laughter and cat calls. Beckett can feel her skin turning shades of red as Captain Montgomery heads around a corner, shouting above the chatter, "Beckett! My office! Now!"
The silence lasts for only a moment, finally breaking into further cat calls and laughter. She is almost relieved to be called away, the embarassment flooding her nerves, making her feel weak. She enters Montgomery's office, sees him standing at the back, leaning against a window.
"Close the door. Sit down." His tone is short, to the point.
She abides pulling up a chair, folding her hands in her lap.
"Do you mind telling me why my office resembles something out of a Martha Stewart magazine detective?" He turns to look at her, crossing his arms.
"Sir, I.." she begins but is unsure where to start. "It's Castle."
When she doesn't say anything further, Montgomery unfolds his arms, placing his hands on his desk. Lowering his voice he begins, "When the mayor first brought Castle in here to work with you I knew there was going to be tension. It was bound to happen. The way you two look at one another...," he pauses, her eyes make contact with his, "But honestly Kate, I thought you had a better head on your shoulder than to let yourself get involved with him."
Beckett's face flattens, "Sir, it's not that at all."
Montgomery leans back, folding his arms once more, "Then what is it Detective?"
She sighs looking back to her hands again, "It's about my mother. Castle has dug up something."
"And?"
She looks back up to him, head slightly cocked toward him, "And... I can't go down there again. I won't do it."
"Why not?"
"I can't open up those wounds again."
"Because?"
Her eyes brimming with tears now. "Because I'm afraid of what it will do to me," she says, her voice cracking. Her lip curls; ashamed, she looks away.
Montgomery sighs softly. Stepping around his desk, he leans against it, directly in front of her.
"Kate?" She looks up to him, a single tear tracing a line down her cheek. She takes a hand and brushes it away. "Did you ever think that maybe this is what your mother wants?" He questions.
"Yes," she says softly, nodding, looking away from him.
"Don't you think you deserve justice?"
"Yes," Beckett says, looking down now, letting out a heavy sigh.
"Your mother wants justice too Kate. And if Castle can help you get it, I don't see the harm in it."
She is silent for a moment another tear finding its way out of hiding.
His voice low, he leans down to her, "You're stronger than you think you are Detective. I know you can do this."
Still looking down, Beckett nods as a few more tears fall down her face. She finally looks up to him smiling, brushing her hands over her face, smoothing her features.
Montgomery stands, placing a hand on Beckett's shoulder as he heads toward the door. Montgomery opens the door for Beckett and as she exits, calls out after her. "Detective?"
She turns to face him, "Sir?"
"Just don't prove me wrong."
She nods slightly, smiling, "I won't. You have my word."
More to come soon...