Enough is Enough

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: This is AU; A different scenario after Rick returns to the Precinct in Episodes 3-1. Based on a few quotes I live by,

"Castle, go home! Go back to your ex-wife, your Hamptons, your book parties, okay? I've got work to do." This is what prompted this story

I don't own Castle; I only use the characters for amusement purposes, except the ones I create.

Also, we take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this more believable fiction, thanks. Remember This IS AU. Timelines, Events, and Outcomes may vary from the Original Script.

WARNING! THIS MAY NOT END AS A CASKETT FIC. If that disturbs you, please delay reading until I decide which ending, I will choose.

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Chapter 2

12th Precinct

Next Morning 5:30 AM

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Kate had spent the evening alternating between trying to sleep and trying to come up with the right words to say when she spoke with Castle. She knew Lanie was right, men like Rick didn't sit on the available shelf long before some woman made a play for him, that thought sent chills up her spine. She knew she was falling or had fallen in love with the man with gorgeous blue eyes, but could she find the courage to tell him how she felt?

Finally, at 4:00 AM she quit trying to sleep and decided to go for a run before work and get there early to double-check some of her work from yesterday, as much as she hated to admit it, Castle and his presence made her lose concentration often.

She had showered, stopped for her coffee, and bear claw, now that Rick wasn't coming in, she was back to fending for herself. She got to her desk just about 5:30 AM and saw the envelope and his familiar handwriting, it simply had KB on the envelope.

She picked it up with trembling hands and managed to get it open without destroying the envelope, it would go into her forever drawer at home, another secret no one knew about. She carefully slipped the sheets of expensive stationery from the envelope and spread them out on her desk. She began to read,

To the extraordinary KB.

I would like to apologize for making you uncomfortable last evening, I really thought you would have been gone by the time I came back to deliver this. A letter, I'm sure you're asking why write when I talk so much. Well, to be honest when I'm around you I forget what I'm trying to say and sound like a babbling idiot most of the time. I'm writing because it's what I do, and I hope the words come out better this way. Regardless, you can't send me home, you can only choose not to read this, which I'm hoping you will.

I am sorry for not calling you this summer. It is a decision I have regretted numerous times. There were more than a few times when I picked up the phone and dialed your number, only to hang up before it even rang. I wasn't sure where I fit in in your life anymore since your relationship with Tom began, and I certainly didn't want to make things, as you said, awkward between anyone.

It seemed like you wanted to spend more time with him, which is understandable, after all, he is your boyfriend, and I was just someone you were forced to accept as a member of your team. He started to help you with cases and if that is what makes you happy, then I don't want to be in the way of that. My only desire is that I want you to be happy.

I want to thank you for the time you have let me spend with you, the boys, and the rest of the precinct. I can list becoming part of your world as one of my life's greatest treasures, and it was nothing short of amazing. I definitely got more than I bargained for in getting to know you. What makes you extraordinary is that you bring an amazing amount of passion and compassion to your line of work.

Every murder, every case is about so much more than just numbers for you. You get behind the people and get involved in the justice they deserve, not just closing another case. I have told you before, but it really is true; you are extraordinary.

When you told me to go home this morning, it made me realize how much I missed you over the summer. I know you already know but I visit the precinct for a far different reason than research, I have done enough of that to write numerous more Nikki Heat books. I'm not going to lie to you Kate, it has become about so much more than the books now, somewhere along the way I got the feeling that I was able to help make a difference in a very small way, and I have enjoyed our times immensely.

If you have room for me in your life, I would love to stay part of it. I will respect your decision and leave you alone if you don't. I just didn't want to leave things hanging between us and I wanted to let you know how I felt. Please know that I will never forget the time I spent with you, and you will continue to be an inspiration, both in my writing and in my life, regardless of your decision.

Till Tomorrow, or some Tomorrow,

Castle

Kate smiled as she read the letter and twirled her hair around her finger as she fought to hold back tears, sometimes allowing a stray one to fall on the paper. One of her concerns had been IF or WHERE she fit into his life, especially after reuniting with his ex-wife for 12-plus weeks. As always, he knew what to say, almost as if he were reading her mind, and this letter gave the thought of telling him how she felt more bearable.

She was still afraid of being hurt and messing up the relationship, but most of all, afraid of losing him. But, as Castle himself had put it, the heart wants what the heart wants, and her heart wanted him. That much she was sure of. She was reading the letter again when she spotted Lanie and quickly placed the letter in her purse.

Just as Lanie reached her desk, her phone rang, it was Ryan, they were en route to a homicide dispatch just called in. Lanie just said, "Don't think we are done with this, I'll see you at the crime scene." She called over her shoulder,

Kate had her phone out and almost hit Castle's speed dial number before she realized, STOP, we need to work something out first, she slid the phone back into her purse, grabbed her badge and gun, and proceeded to the elevator to meet the boys.

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Castles Loft

Previous Evening

Rick had walked home in a fog, almost as if he were having an out-of-body experience. He was thankful that both Alexis and his mother were out of town for the week, so he didn't have to face the scrutiny of their questions. He found himself at the library around 8:30 PM, and that is when he got the idea of the letter to Beckett.

He entered found a quiet spot and typed it out on the public computers before he returned home and transferred it to his stationery. He would have bet the house that Beckett would be gone by the time he headed back to the precinct, just to drop the letter off on her desk and await her decision.

Once he entered his building, he quickly transferred the letter to the desired stationery and headed back to the precinct. He hadn't planned on seeing Beckett, but in one way perhaps it was good that he had. At least he secured a promise from her to call him when she could talk about their situation. He wasn't convinced that she would follow up on her promise, but if she didn't then the decision would have been made for him.

Once he was back at the loft, he called Paula and asked her to put out feelers to inquire if the certain British Secret Agent writer was even a remote possibility. He knew that with Alexis leaving for college, and without his work at the 12th, it would be time for him to try new endeavors, which he hadn't narrowed down yet. One point was certain, he would be leaving New York, as soon as Beckett made her decision, or lack of one.

The more he thought about the treatment he had received from EVERYONE, except Roz and Anne was a shock and a huge disappointment to him. He knew Beckett perhaps better than she knew herself, and the frightening part was he wouldn't bet that she would keep her word to call. She would get caught up in a case, or her mom's case, or perhaps meet someone and once again Rick would be on the back shelf.

He decided to take steps to mitigate the hurt IF he was unfortunately correct in his assessment of Beckett's ability to keep her word. The Hamptons trip may have cost him more than he ever bargained for, BUT as he reviewed the actions, he knew he was not at fault. You can't make someone love you, hell even like you, much less treat you as friends should treat each other.

His first glimpse into what happened was a phone call that evening from a very inebriated Kevin Ryan. Jenny had dialed Rick's number for him and explained to Rick that he kept going on and on about needing to apologize to him, and he had to do it tonight. She tried to get him to wait till he was sober, but that only fueled more drinking by the young Irishman.

Thru a lot of slurs and hiccups, and what sounded like some crying, Kevin apologized to him for almost shooting him, and for taking Kate's side. Tom Demming had seen him and Javi at a bar earlier that evening and set the record straight about who dumped who, and who was stood up, it wasn't Beckett.

It seemed as though everyone believed that Rick left Kate holding the bag when Gina showed up, but Demming told the entire story to Javi and Kevin who were pissed that she allowed them to just assume something without correcting them. She had played the victim role so well, no wonder even Montgomery seemed like he hated him.

Rick assured Kevin he had been forgiven and told him that he would send over courtside tickets for next week's game to prove it. He handed the phone back to Jenny just before he passed out, on the bed. Rick assured Jenny he wasn't upset and asked her to tell Kevin all was forgiven.

The next call he got was from Espo, much more sober than Ryan but bearing the same message. Javi had more anger than Kevin, he was very upset that he had jumped to a conclusion, especially since he and Tom Demming had been very close when they served at the 54th.

"Rick, all I can say is I'm sorry man, that doesn't mean much, but I truly am. We should have known you would never treat Beckett that way, so again, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I called Lanie, and she is going to set Beckett straight, and I also let Montgomery know we all fucked up. I thought he should know, I guess everyone treated you like shit." Javi got out,

"Yeah, yeah, they did but I understand why now, that was what bothered me the most, I didn't lie, I didn't gaslight her, I was honest and upfront, but she played it off as if I dumped her to take Gina. That is a lie, even if she didn't say it, she should have corrected you guys. No worries, Javi, I sent you and Kevin tickets for next week's game, go enjoy, and forget about this." Rick said,

Rick had just settled in with a cold bottle of beer, and his pizza to catch the evening news when the phone rang again, this time it was Roy. He let it go to voicemail the first, second, third, and fourth time Roy called. He had finished his slice and beer when the phone rang for the fifth time,

"What do you want Roy? I've already heard from Ryan and Espo, so spare me the details." Rick was extremely disappointed with Roy. He had been firm, but fair in all of his dealings in all matters, EXCEPT when it came to Beckett, then he was putty in her hands.

"Rick, I called to say I'm sorry, I mean you know me"

"Do I Roy, the Roy I knew would never be so whipped by one of his female detectives who didn't even have to say a word, just pretend she was the victim and the treatment I received was incomprehensible. That's on you Roy, so apology accepted, but remember before you call me for a favor again, you have a lot of ground to make up. Good night" he hung up the phone and finally shut it off. He had heard enough for one night.

Roy knew when Rick was done, and by the sound of things tonight, he had just lost a very important resource, now he had to deal with the other part of the equation. Beckett must know she can't manipulate the entire precinct and cause an innocent man the pain that he must have felt. No wonder he was so confused, he was actually the victim and was being chastised as the offender. Tomorrow he would straighten this mess out once and for all.

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12th Precinct

9:23 AM

Kate and the team returned after a slam dunk case, a husband had come home early to find his wife in bed with his best friend, and in a fit of rage, shot them both and then called the police. He was sitting in his chair, looking at his wedding album when they arrived. It was a no-brainer, and the case was closed as soon as they received the husband's signed confession.

Kate couldn't help but think something was up with Lanie, she wasn't acting like herself, and the quotes under her breath about leading men on, and sometimes the victim isn't really the victim, but the cause of the incident had her thinking what Lanie was talking about. The quips were subtle, but definitely directed at her.

Unfortunately, she didn't have time to have a private conversation with her before she left with the body, and she returned to the precinct along with Javi and Kevin. Now that she thought about it, the boys were acting differently as well, she at first brushed it off as a side effect of being called out so early in the morning, but now, she was wondering what was going on.

She didn't have to wait long, five minutes after returning to the precinct, she heard Roy call out, "Beckett, Ryan, and Esposito, my office NOW" he didn't sound happy, and usually when all three were summoned it was because one of the boys had messed up. They walked into his office, and he greeted them with "Close the door, draw the shades, and sit down, we have some things to discuss", he never looked up, a sure sign that he was angry.

Ryan quickly had the shades drawn as Espo closed the door and arranged the chairs to be directly in front of the captain. After a few minutes, he finally looked up and said "Beckett this is concerning you and what you led your team, this precinct, and me believe after Rick Castle left for the Hamptons earlier this year. I know you never said anything, BUT you allowed everyone to think that Castle had invited you, then stood you up and took his ex-wife and publisher to the Hamptons for the Memorial Day weekend."

Kate turned crimson red, and squirmed in her seat, before getting out in a weak voice, "Sir, I never implied that I was the victim of Richard Castle's betrayal, the team saw the goodbye and just assumed"

"YES, we assumed, and that is our fault, BUT you allowed the charade to go further when you didn't admit that it was you who had lied to Castle, then only when Demming spilled the beans did you tell him the truth, you were never scheduled to work"

"Sir, I can explain, I mean,"

"Beckett, we treated Castle worse than we have treated known low-life criminals yesterday, AND I don't blame him if he pulls not only his physical support but the huge financial contributions, he makes to our department each year.

"You look, shocked detective, how the hell do you think we get new cars, we don't face staffing shortages, and Lanie gets the equipment she needs, do you think it's because the mayor loves this precinct? It's because Rick marks his contributions to us, and the needs of the M.E.,

"Sir, I didn't know, I mean, I"

"I know you didn't know; Rick doesn't broadcast his donations because he doesn't want special favors, but yesterday you took it too far. I have no idea of your personal feelings or his, but I can tell you this, it took me five calls to apologize last night, after Demming filled your team in with ALL of the information. Javier and Kevin have called and apologized, I suggest you do the same, but know this, don't expect the same treatment from Mr. Mayor as you are accustomed to.

"He's pissed, at me, at you, and most of all the LIE, even if it was by silence, it was still a lie, now get out of here and don't let your closure rate drop or we'll both be looking at some serious consequences." He lowered his head back to the report signaling he was done with the conversation.

She stood to try to explain to Ryan and Espo, but they were already out of the office and back at their desks. She started to say something but decided to wait, Roy was angrier than she had seen him in a very long time. Now she had to do this right with the boys, and more importantly, Castle, if he would even speak to her. God, she had made a mess of this,

TBC