Kate woke up before the alarm rang, like always. One of the first thing she noticed was that she was naked under the sheets. Nothing too surprising there either. It happened from time to time, although she usually put some clothes on during the night because she was cold. Rolling over to take heat from Rick, that's when she opened her eyes. Why was she naked and him completely dressed? She tried to think back on the previous night and smiled when she remembered the massage Rick had given her. She had known for a while that he was good with his hands, now she knew it covered all fields. She kissed him quickly before going into the bathroom to get ready for the day. When she got out about fifteen minutes later, wrapped in only a towel, she found him in the corner of their bedroom, looking through the window, slightly hidden by the curtain.
"What are you doing?" Kate asked
"Uh, nothing." He answered, letting go of the curtain.
"Come on Rick, what's wrong?" she asked more seriously, going to the window.
"Kate, don't go there wearing just a towel!" Rick almost begged.
"Rick, you know that the windows are tinted right? No one can see from the outside."
"I know, I … I just don't want to share this wonderful view with anyone else?" Rick said, looking hungrily at her from head to toe.
"Well, that was nice." Kate said, "Now talk, what is it?"
""You see that car over there?" Rick asked, pulling the curtain aside. "It's been following me all day yesterday. When I went to the store with your father, when I took the car to go to a meeting with Paula. I wanted to talk to you about it yesterday but you were so tired I didn't want to bother you."
"I'll take care of it today, don't worry. As for yesterday, you massage was amazing! Where did you learn that?"
"That's for me to know and for you to enjoy!" Rick answered.
"Oh, I definitely enjoyed it. I always knew you were good with your hands." she teased. "Maybe one day you could massage the front of my body …" she suggested, turning around and heading to their walk in closet.
"What's gotten into you this morning?" Rick asked, laughing, and following her.
"I'm just super relaxed."
"Super relaxed?"
"Yes, I'm super relaxed because I got a super massage from my super boyfriend last night. So it put me in a super good mood for the day." Kate explained , letting her towel fall on the floor.
"Kate, you may have a super boyfriend but he's only human. If you don't put something on right now, you're going to be super late at the precinct."
"Bring it on, super lover." Kate whispered, turning to him completely naked.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Kate got out of the shower for the second time that morning. It was now 8 a.m. She was late for work. She nearly ran into the closet, put on the first clothes she found. When she turned to the dresser where her jewelry box was, she jumped and yelled. Someone was in the bed. And it was not Rick since he was still in the shower. She smiled when she remembered the last fifteen minutes. The second shower had definitely been more … tonic than the first one. Her thoughts were broken by Rick's arrival in the bedroom.
"What's wrong?"
"I just … there's someone in our bed …"
"What?"
"There is … Meredith in our bed!" Kate repeated, pulling the comforter of the bed."
"What are you doing here?" Rick almost yelled.
"I'm sleeping, what does it seems like I'm doing?" Meredith grumbled, taking the comforter back.
Rick looked at Kate incredulously.
"I'm sorry but I'm already late for work. I love you but I'll let you deal with … that." she said, kissing him quickly before leaving the room.
"What is she doing here?"Meredith asked once Kate had left.
"She lives here. You don't, so you need to leave, NOW!"
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Kate had hardly entered the precinct that Esposito called for her.
"Hey Beckett, the Captain wants to see you in his office."
"What? Oh come on, I'm late once in my life and he catches me this one time …" She mostly whined.
"Beckett, put your things down at your desk and come and see me please?" Montgomery called from his office.
"Yes, sir."
When she entered his office, she suddenly felt nervous. Why was she here? Was she in trouble? Was it really because she was late? No, it couldn't be …
"Kate, close the door please, and take a seat."
"Am I in trouble Sir?"
"What? No! Of course not. Oh, you got that impression from the way I … I'm sorry, you're not in trouble. I just need to talk to you about something serious, and for your ears only."
"I'm listening, sir."
"well, I don't really see how to bring it slowly so I'll just as you and then explain. How do you feel about being Captain? … judging by your face right now, I guess that you'd not thought about it yet."
"No really no. But … why?"
"Well, at the end of the year, I'm retiring and I'd like for you to succeed me."
"With all due respect Sir, you threatened to retire at least ten times since I join the homicide team."
"I know, but it's not just something decided in the rush of things. Not this time. I've done everything I could for this precinct, and I like to think I managed it rather well. But it's time Kate. I'm not getting any younger and I think it's time for me to train my successor. And to be honest, I cannot think of anyone better for the job than you. But don't worry, I'll give you time to answer and if you don't want to move up, I completely understand. There are a lot of good detectives in this precinct I could choose from. I just thought of you because I think you are the most meticulous, and most importantly you care a lot for the victims, which gives you that little something that the others don't have. Now, I would appreciate if you didn't talk about this offer to anyone yet, except for Rick of course."
"Uh, ok … I really don't know what to think … I really need to think about it and talk with Rick. I …"
"That's ok Kate, I understand it's not an easy decision to make. Take your time, think it through and give me your answer in … let's say two weeks. So I have time to prepare things for your training session if you accept or I have time to look for someone else if you don't want to OK?"
"OK. Thank you sir." Kate said, getting up.
She walked up to her desk and sat there. She knew that Esposito and Ryan were dying to ask her what had happened in Montgomery's office but she didn't acknowledge them. She needed to think. She had always planned on taking the Captain Exam but not so early in her career. And it had always been just a plan, not a clear decision. And she had to consider Rick too now. She was not alone any more. She smiled at this thought but she was interrupted by the ring of her phone. She checked the caller ID and picked up.
"Hey Lex, what's going on?"
"Kate, you have to come home NOW! please hurry" Alexis cried in the phone before hanging up.