Thank you for the great response to the first chapter to this one. I have decided to make it a three chapter story. In this chapter someone has a talk with Castle to maybe get him to open his eyes, too. I hope you enjoy it. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
"Captain!" Castle said, surprised at finding Captain Montgomery at his door.
"Can I come in?" Montgomery asked. "I'd like to talk to you about a couple of things."
"Certainly," Castle ushered him in. While he was smarting a bit over the Nancy Drew comment the Captain had made the other day, he understood the man was under pressure and worried about Beckett. "How about a beer?"
"Got any good Scotch?" Montgomery asked, knowing the man had a liquor cabinet loaded with some of the best booze money could buy. He was supposedly on duty, but this conversation needed a little mental lubrication.
"One 50 year old single malt coming up," Castle replied, making his way over to his wet bar. He poured them each a double on the rocks and brought it over to the older man and sat down across from him.
"Damn, that's good booze," Montgomery admired after taking a sip of the fine liquor.
"Only the best for my friends," Castle quipped, but he meant it.
"I owe you an apology, Castle," Montgomery told him, beginning the conversation. "That dig about Nancy Drew was out of line, and I wanted you to know that you do a hell of a lot for us."
"You were under a lot of pressure and worried about Beckett, Captain," Castle shrugged it off.
"It's Roy, Castle," Montgomery emphasized. "At least outside the station."
Castle grinned. "Rick," he said.
"You're part of the team, Rick," Roy continued. "We all know that, and what's more important, Ryan, Esposito, and Beckett know it. Ryan and Esposito tried to turn down the assignment when I booted Beckett off the case and sent you home."
"Really?" Castle looked up, surprised.
"Oh yeah," Roy nodded. "I threatened to ship their asses back to traffic duty if they didn't work the case as ordered."
"Would you have?" Castle asked curiously.
Roy nodded. "I respect loyalty, Rick, but I can't risk the life of my best detective because the best detectives after her won't take a case because of that loyalty," he replied. "Let me ask you something, and I want a straight answer. No bullshit."
Castle cocked his head, knowing that this was a serious discussion and he wasn't going to get away with any smart ass comments. "Okay," he allowed.
"Why did you go in that building?" Roy asked. "And more important why did you take on, and try to duke it out with, a trained assassin who is likely a top dog in that line of business."
Castle got very uncomfortable. His Mother had essentially asked him the same thing before it all happened in the aftermath of the death of that retired detective, Raglan, and while he knew the answer, he was not comfortable answering it. He'd made such a mess of things for so long, and now he wasn't sure what was going to happen. That damn kiss may or may not have been the best thing he'd ever done with respect to the future with Kate Beckett.
Roy shook his head. "You're still too chickenshit to say it, aren't you?" he questioned. "Damn it, Rick. You love that woman, and I know damn well that she loves you. The real question is what are you going to do about it?"
"She's seeing Josh, now," Castle tried to evade the question.
"As if that's really going to last," Roy shot back with some real confidence. He'd seen how Beckett had been when Castle had not been around the precinct the last couple of months and was with his ex-wife. Beckett may be using this Josh guy as a distraction, but it didn't have any real substance supporting it. She'd figure it out soon enough.
"What do you want me to say, Roy? That I love her? That she should be with me instead of him?" Castle blurted out, frustrated.
Roy sipped his Scotch. "That's a start," he agreed. "At least you'd be being honest with yourself. No one I know with no training for that kind of situation would do what you did. That says a lot, Rick, and I know it will affect her when she thinks about it."
"What if she says no, and it ruins the friendship?" Castle voiced his true dread.
"It won't," Roy told him. "And as for her saying no, I don't think that's going to happen. Not after all that's happened." He drained the rest of the Scotch and stood up. "Think about what I've said, Rick. I can't think of two more perfect people to be together, even though you two are polar opposites."
Castle stood and walked him to the door. He was surprised when Roy stopped and turned to face him.
"I shouldn't do this, and if anyone higher up finds out my ass will be in a sling," Roy started. "I'm going to have Ryan and Esposito give you some training, real training, so that if you're ever in a situation like the other night, or some of the other ones that have happened, you'll know what to do. You won't be authorized a gun, but I'll let them know that if it's an emergency, they can hand you a backup piece. I'm trusting you to help keep my people safe, Castle. That should tell you something about how we feel about you." He paused. "And one more thing. If you do get some balls and make a try for Beckett, and she agrees to give the two of you a shot, remember one thing. You hurt her, and I'll make sure you know the real meaning of Old School. I've always been a good cop and always played by the rules, but that doesn't mean I'm not Old School enough to know how it was done in the old days. That's how much Beckett means to me as my friend, Castle. Remember that."
"Thanks, Captain," Castle replied, using the man's rank to let him know that he understood and respected what he'd said.
Castle walked back to his office and sat down, staring at his rows of books on the shelves. He had a lot to think about, and the Captain had added to it. His Mother had started it all the other day, and then this whole situation had gotten so out of control. He'd kissed Kate the other night because he was so deathly afraid that one of them wouldn't get out of that nightmare alive and he wanted to show her how he felt at least once. He was positive her active response was real, and not the nodding acceptance of his out he gave her about some distraction or other. But knowing that in his mind and talking to her about all this were two different things entirely. But she deserved the truth. His Mother had been right. He stuck around because he wanted to, and he wanted to because he was in love with Beckett. He'd screwed up so bad last Spring, and he was on the verge of screwing up again by being such a coward. He made up his mind that he would be talking to Kate soon. It was time to open his eyes to reality about him and Beckett.
A/N: Another short one where Castle is given some advice. I debated on having Ryan be the one to approach him, but in the end decided on Montgomery as it would cement the respect up and down the line among the group. I hope that you all enjoyed this one. There will be one more chapter to this, probably this weekend, where Beckett and Castle do talk about this. Gregg.