A/N: Here we go again. Enjoy.
VI
Castles Apartment
"Rick, Rick, stay with me." Kate shouted, gently smacking Castle's cheeks.
"Hey, Kate, ouch, stop hitting me!"
"You idiot! What were you trying to do, kill yourself?"
"Hey, I didn't down a bunch of pills and then drink a fifth of Bourbon. I'm just a little woozy, that's all. I took the pain pill three hours ago and only had about two fingers of Scotch." Rick explained.
"Well, Richard you have passed out on me twice already. Just hold on until the EMT's get here, then you can pass out."
"No, No, No you didn't call an ambulance"
"What, you could die, you imbecile." Kate shouted
"EMT's are the worst gossipers in the world; by the time they get here the media will have already reported that I've OD'ed and lay dead on some coroner's slab."
"That's what you get for being so stupid." Kate said satisfied that Castle would see some punishment for his transgression, even if it was only publicity.
"Do you really want to start answering question about my suicide attempt?"
"What?"
"You're a Cop, Kate. Cops are called to crime scenes. Last time I checked Self Murder is a crime. So if you don't fill out an incident report the press will ask why. If you do fill out a report they are going to ask why I am not being charged with anything." Rick explained.
"Ever heard of Accidental Overdose?" Kate countered.
"Does the word Cover-up mean anything to you? 'Cause the media will certainly scream Cover-up." Castle groused.
"We'll just have to deal with it because I can't un-call the EMT's"
Rick grabbed Kate's hand. "I do appreciate the concern, Kate. I really do, but this is going to be a pain in the ass until something even more sensational happens to take it off the front page."
"I hate to interrupt you two, but the medic's are here and the Mayor just called to make sure you aren't dead." Martha interjected
Kate was astonished. While she had seen the periphery of some of the publicity surrounding Castles life and shooting, but she had been in protective custody while the Media was running rampant while Rick was in the hospital and the Captain or the Mayor had fielded the questions when Castle started following her around doing research. So she was taken by surprise the mob of Reporters and Cameramen that had gathered while Richard was being checked out. She felt a little silly when the doctors had just held him for observation for a couple of hour before releasing him. One of the doctors had puller he aside and had grilled her to see if it had been a suicide attempt rather than just Castle's stupidity. He had assured her that she had been correct to get Castle to the hospital, just in case it had been worse.
Martha orchestrated their exit for the hospital, pointing out that if Kate wanted to stay on the edge of the media's awareness she should grab a cab back to the apartment and let her and Alexis been seen taking Richard home.
Even with the precautions Kate was surrounded by reporters and questioned about what the doctors were calling an 'adverse drug interaction'. She was also questioned about her involvement. She has been coached by Martha to say that she was there consulting on the Next Nikki Heat novel. Still she was deluged with personal questions, which she chose to ignore.
Back at the apartment she used the key that Martha had provided to enter. She felt like an intruder. Kate knew she should not feel uncomfortable there; she had slept in the guest room last night. There was still the lingering feeling of being an outsider. She debated on whether to leave or not, As she was pondering her cell phone rang.
"Beckett"
"Don't you dare leave before I get back." Castle demanded.
"Richard, what makes you think I was going to leave?"
"Don't forget, Kate, I know you. Besides we still need to talk."
"I think we have cleared the air."
"So I still want to talk to you. Look call Li Fong's tell them we want the usual. There is a menu by the refrigerator, just order what you want plus the usual and we can sit down to a nice dinner, okay?"
"Alright, do I use my credit card or what?"
"No need, Kate, we order so much from Li Fong's that they have all the information. Just tell them it's for Rick Castle and they will take care of the rest."
An hour later saw Kate and Castle sitting in his office eating some very delicious Chinese food. The food and Richard arrive about the same time. Alexis had begged off and had taken her food up to her room to do homework, Martha had place her food in the fridge and had blithely explained that she had a party to go to and had left.
"I feel like I need to apologize, Kate."
"What for this time?"
"At the artless way my family ditched us. They are just trying to get us some 'alone time'." Rick explained.
"Why would they want to do that?" Kate asked
"You are one of a very select few women, whom I am not related to, that I have brought home."
"So, you are saying I'm like a lost puppy."
"No, you aren't a lost puppy. Besides Gina and, of course Meredith, you are the only woman that I have asked into my home. Of all the women I have dated you are the only non-ex-wife to be allowed entrance."
"That seems to be pretty farfetched, Richard."
"It's true, let's just say that very few women that I have dated, I have wanted to take home to mother."
"And why do you still live with your mother?" Kate jibbed.
"She lives with me Kate. It's a fine distinction to be sure. Martha's last husband basically cleaned her out, and left her penniless, so I offered to let her stay with us until she got back on her feet. I get the feeling that she may never leave, but that's okay too."
"You are a very complicated man."
They sat in a comfortable silence while they ate. Kate tried to make sense of all the new information about Castle that she had gleaned in the last twenty-four hours. She tried to decide whether she should feel honored at being invited in Rick's home. Being in the same company as two ex-wives did not bode well.
After the dinner was done Kate got up to make her way toward the door. When she turned to say goodbye he wrapped her in his arms while his lips searched hungrily for her own. When, at last, they broke the kiss, Richard searched her face for what she was feeling.
"Good night Kate, Oh what would like for Breakfast tomorrow?"
Kate smiled, it had not been 'are you coming to Breakfast' but what do you want. "I don't have a preference, so long as there's coffee."
A week had passed and the Breakfast routine was becoming, just that, routine. Kate had been hesitant at first; still feeling a little like an outsider, but once Alexis started answering the door with a cup of coffee already made to Kate's taste she began to relax. The fact that neither Alexis nor Martha seemed to take any special notice of her presence but treated her as if she should be in their home helped enormously. She still had difficulty with the 'family' atmosphere, while Kate enjoyed the feeling of inclusion, she still has difficulty. She missed her mother and her family's time together.
The 12th Precinct
Kate & Alexis
Life at the 12th was quiet. They still had a normal caseload but without Castle inserting himself into their work day, things seemed boring. No one mentioned the fact that they missed Castle, but it was evident.
The media frenzy over Castle's emergency room visit raged for a couple of days. Most reporters believed that the Bad Boy Writer had partied too hard after getting out of the hospital. To them 'adverse drug reaction' became 'partied too hard'. After fielding a hand full of calls from very determined reporters, Kate was left alone. She had heard through the grapevine that both the Captain and the Mayor's office had both been swamped with calls. Fortunately for Castle a beloved, retired City Councilman died and a Rock Star had trashed his hotel room after playing Yankee stadium so Castle was old news. Kate decided that she would wait as long as possible before she opened herself up to the media's scrutiny.
Kate was somewhat surprised when she saw Alexis waiting at her desk. A shiver of dread coursed through her. Was Castle in trouble again? Kate noticed that Alexis has a slight smile on her face and relaxed.
"Alexis, how is everything?" Kate asked
"Detective Beckett," Alexis said trying to cover an impish grin. "Everything is fine. I came as a messenger."
Alexis handed Kate, Ryan, and Esposito envelopes, "These are invitations to my dad's 'get well' party"
"A Masked Ball?" Ryan sounded incredulous.
"Rene decided to go big. He has convinced Dad to throw a Masquerade Ball."
"So it's a costume party" Esposito asserted.
"No Javier, you wear formal clothes and a decorated mask. What's this about a charity?" Kate asked.
"Oh, that was Dad's caveat if he is going to be throwing a big party for the upper crust; he was going to soak them for a good cause. Dad chose the Fraternal Order of Police. It's for the Widow and Orphan fund. He has included tickets for all of you. He figured that since you were police you really did not need to shell out for the tickets. Dad is footing the bill for the party so all proceeds go to the Widow's fund."
"Two hundred dollars a ticket!" Ryan was flabbergasted.
"Hey bro, you aren't shelling the money out, so why should that bother you?" Esposito asked.
"I'm still out the Tux rental." Ryan lamented
"But think how impressed you date will be, scoring tickets to the hottest party in town.. She could be very grateful." Esposito countered.
"There is that." Ryan conceded.
"Alexis, would you like some coffee or a soda?" Kate queried
Alexis nodded and the two left Ryan and Esposito discussing the relative merits of going to posh parties, and the effects that such events had on the opposite sex.
"So, Alexis, how is your dad doing?"
"About the same, you just saw him this morning. Nothing has changed since then"
"How about his nightmares, are they getting better?"
"Not that I can tell. He still refuses to talk about them, Grams tried to get him to go to her shrink, but Dad being Dad, refused. They are just about killing me though. I hate that I cannot help him. He won't talk about them to me or Grams. It is just so frustrating."
"Well, I'm supposed to come by for dinner tonight, so I'll see if I can get anything out of him."
"I really did not come here to ask you to. I really came to give you the invitations, and to see you of course, as a friend." Alexis amended
Kate Smiled. "I know Sweetie. Sometime soon we are going to have some girl time. I could sure use some help picking out a dress for the party."
"Well I am certainly not averse to shopping."
"We'll talk about it tonight, unless you and Martha bail on us again." Kate quipped.
"Now would we do that?" Alexis asked innocently.
A/N: I'm wish to offer my thanks to all of you, the readers. your feedback keeps me going.