I have a Beta! Robert Nielsen is the brave soul who agreed to help me navigate the wacky rules of the English language. He is an author of "Airwolf" stories. I appreciate his words of encouragement and I apologize for making him work so hard.

Thank you Robert!

...and thank you for reading.

A Hotel in Ohio

Rick was sitting on the edge of his hotel room bed, scrolling thru the pictures on his phone. He'd snapped a lot of shots of Kate on their weekend get-a-way. He stopped scrolling when he saw this one, he smiled. It was of Kate alone, standing on top of the 'Watertower' in the Bahamas she was unaware he'd snapped the photo, unguarded her face radiated with happiness. He planned to ask her what she was thinking at that exact moment he'd frozen time. His heart swelled seeing how happy she looked.

He would never forget the journey, getting to this point. Every high and low he'd experience had been worth it, and now they were just getting started, they were ready to join their lives together. She'd finally admitted her feelings to him. No more running, no more hiding. He couldn't wait to see the looks on their friend's faces as they found out they were a couple.

He was ready to ask her ' the question', eager to see the look on her face when he proposed. He planned to take her to 'their' swings and kneel on one knee, and ask if she would take his hand and join him in marriage. It was the last time for him, the first and last for her.

When he thought of her he always smiled, recalling moments shared between the two. Some of their best moments were when they were arguing. They loved to spar back and forth, over anything. Who played the best Batman, (Michael Keaton for him, Christian Bale for her) who held the greatest superhero power; song lyrics on the radio and now his new favorite, who loves whom the most? God, he loves this woman.

Today as he was signing autographs he recalled her telling him how much it meant to her when she'd stood in line and waited for him to sign her book. He'd racked his brain, he wanted to remember her, and he couldn't recall when the brown hair beauty stood before him, asking him to acknowledge her by signing her book. Today as the fans stood in line, he paid special attention to the ones who were quiet and reserved. When they shyly handed over their book, he asked their name and wrote a special inscription just for them. His smile was a little more genuine. He hoped his words touched them in some way, they connected to his story. That's why he had to stop writing the "Storm" series he was disconnected from the story, if he felt that way there was no way in hell the reader couldn't feel it in his words.

He checked his watch again, anxiously waiting for her call. He was a bit nervous; she was having the conversation with her dad, the one where she told him she was involved with a twice divorced and according to page six eligible bachelor number nine. The Truth, he was a loving father, who had thus far been unlucky in love, who enjoyed spending his nights playing Laser tag with his daughter.

He'd been with the wrong women. He knew in the depth of his soul Kate was the one. To steal the words of another she 'completed' him. It wasn't that he didn't have a run of no-where relationships. He did. He soon discovered it wasn't what he sought. He wanted real. The parties and night life didn't appeal to him. He wanted to sit on the sofa, watch a movie with Kate, eating popcorn and falling asleep in each other's arms. He intended on grabbing her up and dancing in the kitchen, the living room where ever the music played. He wanted to spend his nights cooking dinner, sharing a bottle of wine. He wanted her by his side…. he sighed, right now he waited, and his lap top was lying open beside him. He tried to write, but he kept typing her name instead of Nikki's.

Kate's apartment

Kate dashed through the front door, dropping her keys into the bowl in the entry hall. She hopped on one foot as she removed her heels, abandoning them wherever they landed. She headed to the bedroom. She unclipped her holster and stored her Glock in the drawer of her night stand. She undressed quickly, the final task before she stepped in the shower with shaky hands she unfastened the chain that held her Mom's ring. You'd like him mom, Kate kissed the ring and lovingly place it on her dresser. She removed her dad's watch, and smiled recalling their conversation earlier. He knew, and he was happy for her. She was surprised he didn't talk about grandchildren, she checked the time….. Oh…she was burning daylight, well technically it was already night. She'd jumped into the shower and washed away the day's grit and grime. She stepped on the bath mat feeling refreshed from both the shower and the conversation with her dad over dinner. She dried herself off, wrapped her hair in a towel, she strode into the bedroom.

Kate grabbed Rick's shirt, right where she'd left it, and slipped her arms through; she rolled her shoulders and settled the collar against her neck. She inhaled deeply to fill her senses of him, his smell wasn't as strong, and her scent was now mingled with his. It was going to have to do until he came home to her. Finally! She was dialing as she jumped into bed.

His phone vibrated in his hand. He looked at the screen, He smiled. "Hey, you," Rick's deep baritone voice soothing her across the wire.

"Hey" Kate waited all day to hear this voice.

"How was your day, love?" He closed his laptop, his focus was on her.

Kate removed the towel and used her free hand to comb her wet hair. "It's so good to hear your voice. I miss you….Oh, you'll never guess who came in the precinct today," she paused." Jordan Shaw, she said to tell you hello," Kate left out the part about an invite to the wedding. "She came for a case file, it looks like we found a couple more case that fit 3XK's profile." Kate tucked her still wet hair behind her ear. "Shaw asked me if we'd gotten together yet."

Rick chuckled "…She never was never one to be subtle."

Kate laughed "You're right, you should have seen Javi and Ryan, they were giving her a hard time. They didn't like the Fed's taking over our investigation. Espo said the three suits looked like they came from FBI-Or-Us, they screamed I'm a FED."

"Kate, promise me you'll be careful. Tyson is dangerous, if he somehow gets wind of you opening these cases….I don't know what he'll do." His voice lowered as he added "I cannot bear to lose you Kate."

Her voice lowered in response to his. "I...I know babe, I feel the same way." She wishes she could touch him. "Jordon is hoping to find a lead in one of the cold cases. She thinks Tyson left something behind, she took the cases to run through their super computers." Kate was twirling her wet hair around her finger.

"I wish I could hold you." Rick sighed.

Kate smiled, she felt the same way. "Jordon asked if I finally acknowledged my feelings for you."

"What did you say?" he asked surprised, although he shouldn't it was Shaw, she was nothing if not direct.

"I said yes, but we were only going to tell family for now, we are going to let our friends know when you come home." Kate sucked in her bottom lip.

"Stop biting your lip, that's my job now."

Kate released her lip "your job?" she chuckled.

Rick voice deepened "Tell me Kate, do you or do you not moan when I kiss and nibble on said lip?"

He had a point, but she wasn't giving up that easily. She lowered the timber of her voice, "Oooh…my lips aren't the only thing you like to nibble on… writer boy."

Her voice did him in "Kate, you are killing me," his voice course with desire.

Kate squirmed, her own body was coursing with need. This wasn't helping her either. It was time to switch gears.

"Tell me about your day babe." She unwound her hair from her finger and leaned back on the headboard of her bed.

Rick stood and walked around to his side of the bed. He pulled the covers back and got in. "Let's see, I met a young woman at the book signing, she came in with faded jeans and an old faded T-shirt with Einstein's picture on it, reminded me of you, or the version I picture of you in your college days. She held a dog-eared copy of "In a Hail of Bullets." She is studying to be a dentist at Ohio State, she had very nice teeth by-the-way. I noticed when she finally smiled. She asked for the inscription to be made out to Angie, which is short for Angelique, her mother was a fan of Dark Shadows, It was an old TV serial about a vampire named Barnabas Collins, anyway she hasn't read any of the Heat Series, she is planning to as soon as finals are over. My point is, you were right Kate, and the fans are great. I enjoyed hearing their story, even though it was only for like a minute each, more like the Readers Digest version. I didn't realize such a diverse group read my books.

Kate thought even cops. She knew Ryan read his books also.

"I did an interview for 93.3 WODC radio. Standard questions, standard responses. I wonder why the DJ's voice never fits the image in your head when you meet them in person, one of life's mysteries." His voice tapered off, he was thinking.

"Oh! Lunch was a hoot. I met with a group called the Red Hat Society. You should have seen Paula in her hat, remind me to send you the picture later. The group is a "disorganization" of women who meet middle age with humor and enthusiasm. Apparently the group formed when a California woman read a poem by Jenny Joseph, entitled "Warning" It's about a woman who decides when she grows old she shall wear a purple hat with a red dress. Have you heard of them?"

"Actually I have, Sue Ellen Cooper is her name, she was inspired by the poem, she began giving her dear friends a vintage red hat and a copy of the poem as gifts. Which morphed in to a society of women age fifty plus. They get together for lunch or to have tea." Kate imagined him sitting in a room full of women with red hats, she held her hand over her mouth, struggling she was trying not to laugh.

"This group has a book club; they are reading "Heat Wave" Kate, I've never had my cheeks pinched so much in my life. Oh, and one woman I'd guess her to be in her seventy's she pinched my butt! We were scrunched together taking a photo, when I felt a pinch on my back side. She winked at me when I turned around." They both died laughing. Castle was still chucking as he said "The women were a riot. It was a lot of fun."

"The afternoon was, meetings followed by more meetings. Paula set up a 'mixer' with the Chamber of Commerce. Let's see then a reading at the local book store, followed by private dinner of 'distinguished' guest. I couldn't wait for that to end and then back to the hotel for a shower and the best part of my day, you." His smile reached his eyes, his face crinkled the way she loved, only she couldn't see it.

Kate knew he was nervous about her dinner date, she decided it was time to share. "I met my Dad at Mezzogiorno's

"Is that the place where we ate after work a couple of times? Amazing bread. His mouth watered, his dinner was bland mystery meat covered in gravy and limp vegetables. The conversation was just as dull. Who wants to talk about business, the exception being the group he was with tonight.

"Yea, the one on Spring Street. I got there a little early so I sat at the bar and had a glass of wine. My Dad was right-on-time as usual. I expected him to be shocked that I went with you to the Bahamas's. He was so pleased that I went, and that I looked happy." Kate stopped talking, she was going over the conversation in her head.

Rick was relieved, he didn't know what to expect, "And?"

"He told me, all he and my mom ever wanted was for me to be happy." Kate couldn't stop the tears. "He said that he'd come to realize that Mom wouldn't want us to give up our lifes for her." She wiped her tears. "I told him ….I never understood what he lost that day, until now. I fell in love with you. Rick you are part of me and I couldn't imagine living my life without you by my side. I was so angry at him. I don't think I forgave him completely until tonight."

He wanted to reach across the miles and hold her, it killed him to hear her cry and he wasn't there to comfort her. "Kate, that is the most beautiful thing that anyone has ever said to me." Rick closed his eyes; he was fighting back the tears.

"I said I would cook dinner, make my mom's lasagna. He wants to meet you." Kate reached across and pulled a tissue from the box resting on her nightstand, she wiped her nose. He has heard me talk nonstop about you for the last three years. He knew it was you babe."

"I would be honored to meet him." He had a few things he wanted to discuss with Papa Beckett. He wanted to do this right and ask for her hand. He hoped when the time came with Alexis, he was asked for his daughter's hand.

"Someone has to get on a plane," Kate glanced at her alarm clock, "in … she quickly calculated in her head seven hours, thirty-two minutes." She could hear it in his voice he was exhausted, and his voice sounded scratchy.

Rick let out a long breath, he was tired. It had been a long day. He didn't want to hang up. He knew she would be up early as well. "Where am I going to be tomorrow?"

"You are flying to Chicago Illinois." Kate looked at the schedule and grimaced. Paula had the day packed. He would spend the night and then fly out again.

Rick held the phone away and coughed. He tried to hold back, but the coughing over took him.

Kate's listened intently, "Babe, you're running yourself ragged," She wanted to call Paula right now and tell her to back off. "Get some sleep, and like you said to me you need to hydrate." She wanted to be with him, and take care of him for a change.

He took a drink of water to try to quell the coughing fit. "I love you Kate, until tomorrow." The loving words croaked out between coughs.

Kate responded with "I love you too." She knew he wouldn't hang up first she disconnect and fumed. Paula was pushing him to hard. She needed to come up with a plan.

He waited for her to hang up, and then he scooted down and prepared to lie down. He started coughing, so he stacked the pillows and tried again. He would not get sick…..