Hello!

Sorry for the delay, real life got a hold on me once more and I've been super busy! Hope y'all enjoy this chapter! As I said before, this is focused all on Rick's training :) please leave a review with your thoughts!

Disclaimer: Castle is not mine :/

[Chapter 22]

Rick and Kate reached the vacant Homicide floor, heading straight for the stairs that led to the gym on the floor above.

Kate opened a door and blindly reached for the light switch on the right wall, flicking the switch up. The lights overhead slowly turned on to reveal a decent sized room with a giant blue wrestling mat in the center. Hanging from the ceiling were a few worn down punching bags that took place on the left of the room. A small door on the right led to the weight room where all of the lifting equipment sat, including a treadmill and a stationary bike.

Rick set his gym bag down on a small bench against the wall before moving to the middle of the mat and joining Kate. "What are we doing first? Blocks, hits, what?" He wondered, bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement.

Her hands were on her hips. "Before we do any of that, we're going to stretch out and get warmed up. Don't want you pulling or straining anything."

"Oh...okay," Rick nodded, standing right next to Kate.

She pulled one arm over her chest, holding it tightly with her other hand and stretching out her upper arms. Rick copied her, both holding the position for ten seconds before switching arms. The two stretched out for a bit, trying to get as loose as possible. Kate led Rick in a few lunges as they made their way across the room.

The writer stayed a little father behind Kate so he could just watch her and the way her leg muscles moved with every lunge. A few minutes later they were warmed up and ready to go.

Kate then led Rick over to a closet where jump ropes, training bands, and gloves were stashed. She grabbed some wraps and some sparring gloves. "First things first, we have to wrap our hands with the gauss."

Rick lifted the bandages up and inspected it. "What are these for?"

Kate smirked at him. "It helps stabilize the entire hand and wrist area, and it protects the bones and tendons in your hands. It also keeps the wrist and thumb stable, preventing you from hurting yourself."

He nodded as he took one of the bandages and began to wrap it around his hand. Rick had no idea what he was doing and Kate noticed this, so she assisted him. She quickly finished Rick's hands before doing her own. They each put on sparring gloves and moved to the center of the mat.

"Alright, Rick," Kate began. "What do you know about defense training?"

"Not much...I've never really done anything like this before," he admitted with a shrug of shoulders.

"That's okay. It's why I'm teaching you," Kate smiled. "But it's not going to all be fun and games. This is serious stuff and you need to pay attention."

"Got it."

"Good. Now show me your ready stance."

Rick looked down at his feet, unsure of what to do. "Uh..."

Kate smirked, moving behind Rick. With her hands braced on his hips, she kicked his feet shoulder-width apart. Then she nudged his right foot back and his left foot a little bit ahead of his right. "This keeps you stay balanced," she told him. "Bend your knees slightly."

Rick did. Kate smiled and moved around to his front. His hands were slack at his sides, so Kate fixed that. She took them in hers and raised them so they were level with his chin, his fists clenched tight in the black gloves.

Kate then, without warning, threw a punch in his direction. Her hand stopped right in front of his face, causing Rick to let out a girlish yelp and duck.

"Whoa! What was that for?" Rick shrieked, his hands up in a defensive stance. "I wasn't ready! And you could've hit me!"

"Focus," Kate ordered. "You need to be prepared for anything that comes at you. If you're in a fight, your opponent won't wait until you're in your stance and ready. And I wasn't going to hit you...I was in complete control."

Rick slowly lowered his hands, looking wearily at Kate. "Y- you won't hit me?"

"If you actually listen, then I won't." He nodded, ready. "What should you do if your attacker throws a punch at your head?"

At that Kate raised a gloved fist and slowly put it in front of Rick's face. He sent her a blank look, "Umm..."

"You block it," she instructed, her fist still raised.

"And how do I do that?" Rick asked, totally clueless.

Kate lowered her hand and grabbed Rick's, clenching his fist and placing it in front of her face. "Watch me. I'll do it slow the first time so you can see it." She raised her left arm up across her body so it was parallel with the floor. As her arm passed her face, she swept her arm up and rotated her hand so that the palm was facing out, allowing her forearm to come into contact with Rick's fist. "Doing this catches, cushions, and diverts the blow," Kate informed him. Rick nodded. "Now, I want you to try and punch me. I'll block it so you can see it in normal speed, okay?"

Rick was hesitant, "I don't want to hurt you..."

She gave him a smile. "You won't hurt me. I promise."

A sigh left his lips as he nodded slowly. Rick waited a moment before he motioned to punch Kate. She blocked him with ease, deflecting his fist. She had done it so fast Rick was in awe. "Wow," he breathed.

"You wanna try now?" Kate asked.

"Yeah, but can we do it slow at first? I wanna get the hang of it."

Kate smiled softly at him. "Of course. I want you to get the technique down first anyways."

They practiced this many times until Rick had it down. Kate began to do it at a fast speed, Rick blocking it every time. The detective then showed Rick the basics of dodging and throwing jabs. This went on for quite some time, giving Rick the practice he needed to get it down to an art.

Kate smiled as she watched Rick. He picked up in it all fast and was doing a remarkable job. "Okay, superstar," she grinned, hands back on her hips. "Take a 5 minute water break and then when we get back, I want to see what you've got."

Both were starting to sweat, beads perspiration sliding down their foreheads. Rick smiled, "I'll try and go easy on you."

"I don't want you to. Give me everything you've got, Rick. I don't want any of that pansy crap, go hard on me."

Rick smirked, his eyebrows waggling in a suggestive manner. "Oh, I can go...hard, Kate. Don't you worry."

"Not what I meant and you know it."

Rick chuckled, leaving the room to go to the drinking fountain right outside the door. He returned a minute or two later ready to go. "I'm ready," he stated, getting into the stance she showed him earlier. "Prepare to be beaten."

Kate got in her stance, hands up. "All talk and no action. And here I thought you'd be a decent opponent. Pity."

Rick glared at her, ready to show her who's boss. "Let's go."

"Oh, commanding," Kate breathed, trying to get him off his game by speaking with her bedroom voice. "I like that."

The two spun in a circle, a few feet of distance between them. Their gazes were locked, unrelenting.

"Don't think that you'll faze me with that sexy voice of yours," Rick cockily spat. "I'll still take you down."

"We going to talk or fight?" Kate asked, calculating her steps as she thought things through.

Rick huffed out a breath of air. "Let's fight, sweetheart."

Kate smiled as she made the first move, faking a jab to Rick's left before going at his right, trying to get his head. He dodged it, tossing a punch at Kate. He was going for her side but she expertly blocked it, pushing his fist away. She rapidly shot up her left leg and nailed Rick in the stomach, shoving him to the ground with an oof.

He grunted in pain, but quickly got his bearings and hobbled back up, getting into his stance. She was smirking at him, an air of pride around her.

"I can do this all day," Kate taunted, her breathing a tad hitched. "Is that the best you've got?"

Rick shook his head, "Ooh no. You haven't seen anything yet!"

He lunged for her, grabbing her right hand as she moved to hit him with it, securing it behind her back and holding it there. Kate yelped in pain as Rick held her tight, not letting her hand go. With her left hand Kate reached back and jabbed Rick's side. Then she stepped on his foot hard, making him release his grip as he took a step back, his foot throbbing.

Kate went after him, her right hand aiming for his head again. Rick blocked it, just like Kate had taught him, and grabbed her around the waist. Lifting her up, her threw her down onto the mat. She gasped as soon as her back made contact with the ground. She took in a large breath, her eyes closed briefly before she looked up at Rick.

"Doesn't feel very good, does it?" Rick asked, holding a hand out for her.

She looked at his offered hand and debated whether to take it or not. She could use this little act of chivalry to her advantage. Kate smiled sweetly at him, taking his hand. As soon as she grabbed it, she yanked on it pulling Rick down with her. He was caught completely by surprise as he fell. Rick landed right next to Kate, his stomach hitting the floor with a thump. Kate then straddled his back, pulling his left leg up with one hand and pushing down on his head with the other.

Rick's face was squished between the mat and Kate's hand, putting him in a very uncomfortable position. Kate pulled his leg up to her back as she pushed harder on his head. He yelped in pain when she tugged his leg. He had to act fast. Rick, with all the strength he had, bucked Kate off his back and sent her flying. She landed on her side, rolling a bit.

He jumped after her, landing directly on top of her. He grabbed one of her legs and pushed it back toward her chest, his hips hitting hers. Kate gasped when she felt his hips touch hers. Her arms were raised above her head, not wanting to move them. She was trapped.

He gazed down at the woman below him, all sweaty and sexy. He noticed that her eyes had darkened and were shining with want. The position they were in was quite...intimate.

"R-Rick?" Kate called, her voice low and throaty. A single bead of sweat sliding from her forehead to her cheek.

He didn't say anything. Rick merely leaned down and kissed her, his arms unconsciously finding their way to Kate's sides. The leg that was braced by Rick's hand was released and Kate straightened it out. Rick's hips rubbed against hers, Kate could feel his growing arousal. She bit on his lip, her arms raising up and encircling his neck. Kate pushed her tongue forcefully into his mouth and deepened the kiss. She smothered his mouth with her own, causing Rick to let out a deep moan from the back of his throat.

Oxygen became a necessity all too fast and the couple broke apart, their mouths ghosting over one another. Rick opened his eyes and stared down at Kate, who had just opened her own eyes. She looked up at him with an amused expression. "You knew how to fight and block the entire time, didn't you?"

Rick kissed her gently. "Yeah." The writer rested his arms on either side of Kate's head, his forearms holding him up. Kate's hands were tangled in his sweaty muscle shirt, wrinkling it.

"How come you didn't tell me? This whole time I could've been teaching you more advance techniques, instead of the basics."

He grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"

Kate giggled underneath him, their chests pressed firmly together. "Just know that next time...I won't be so nice."

"Mmm," Rick hummed, moving his lips to Kate's neck. He began kissing his way up to her ear, biting in her earlobe. "Who said I want you to be nice? Naughty Kate is going to be so much more fun..."

Kate bit her lip as Rick continued to attack her neck, his mouth so delicate yet so rough at the same time. One hand traveled down to the hem of Kate's tank top, lifting it up. Rick smiled as he touched the soft, smooth skin he found there.

A pair of footsteps outside the door halted their movements, Kate and Rick pulled apart just in time to see the door swing open.

I am evil, aren't I? :)

I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as possible! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing it. Please leave a review with your thoughts and comments. I love hearing from you guys! :) Until next time!

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