Sorry if anybody was waiting for this update. Finals, school, etc. keep me busy but here it is. I didn't get alot of repsonse on the first chapter, so I'm wondering if I should continue or not.
Any and all mistakes are mine. I try to catch them, but they can be sneaky little things.
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle, or Young Frankenstein, but I do love them both.
Routine, these past three months has been established solely on routine. The transition had been smoother than he had expected, and for which he was grateful. Now, per their usual weeknights in, one would pick the movie for the night while the other would have the choice of dinner selections; they were laughing on the couch over Young Frankenstein which Rick had chosen for their viewing pleasure, with Kate's pick of Chinese spread out in between them, Bourbon Chicken and Lo Mein for her while he opted for Mushu Pork and Fried Rice.
She was leaning against his side about halfway through the movie with his arm slung around her shoulder, when she spoke up, "I need to go over there tomorrow."
She felt him stiffen distinctly before he responded.
"I know you turn me down every time I ask this, but do you need me to come with you?"
"I would like that; maybe it will even be easier with you there."
"Really?" He questioned, genuinely surprised that she was agreeing.
Nodding her acquiesce she set the empty carton on noodles on the coffee table and leaned back against him, positioning herself tighter into his side and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Just promise me you won't do anything out of line."
"I won't." He agreed quickly pulling her closer.
"No, I know you; you're going to have a hard time containing yourself because of what he's done. I need you to promise me."
"I promise KB, but if he comes at you, I can't stand by and watch that."
"Thank you," she mumbled, falling asleep before he could respond.
He finished the movie, all the while running his fingers through her hair, before picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom. After depositing her on the bed and setting her alarm for the next morning, he continued on to finish his nightly routine with the thoughts of what could go down tomorrow not too far from his mind.
"You ready?" He asked solemnly the next morning while picking up his keys.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
Grabbing her hand and giving it a small reassuring squeeze he led her to the car. Opening her door for her, before sliding into the driver's seat and claiming her hand once more, with no intention of letting it go for the entire ride. Nothing was said on the way over, both mentally preparing themselves for what they might come across.
Turning the key in the lock, she felt his grip on her hand tighten noticeably. Spinning around she caught his gaze, "You promised remember?"
"Of course."
Pushing the door open, she steered herself expecting the worse, so she was not surprised at the sight that greeted them. It had been a week since she had been there last, and if the state of the house didn't speak for itself, it could seem to have been even longer. Luckily, during her last visit, her dad had not been there, and she was hoping for that kind of luck today.
"Do you mind picking up some of the bigger furniture down here? I'm going to go check upstairs."
Seeing him motion his agreement, she took the steps quietly, even if he wasn't home, old habits die hard. Padding quietly to her parents, 'no, parent's' her mind corrected bitterly, as a few tears threatening to spill over at the thought of her mother; she forced the door open double checking for occupancy she stepped inside. With the exception of a few picture frames and the bedside table lamps flipped over. There was no significant cleanup required other than for the trademark beer bottles smashed into pieces throughout the room. After cleaning up the master bath, she returned the bedroom to its natural state. While collecting a few beer bottles to throw away downstairs, her heart dropped to her stomach at the unmistakable sound of the back door opening and slamming shut.
"Who the hell are you?" Her dad yelled in a tone that had her taking the steps at breakneck speed, freezing at the bottom step before turning the corner when she heard Rick respond with an unnatural calmness in his voice, given the current situation.
"I'm Rick; I'm a friend of your daughter's."
"You mean boyfriend."
"Not quite sir, she's my best friend."
"But you love her don't you? Otherwise you wouldn't be over here."
"Yes sir." Rick responded without missing a beat.
"Tell me something, Rick," he lamented almost teasingly, the exasperation evident in his voice. "If you love her so much, why do you insist on keeping her away from her father?" Jim yelled as he took a couple more steps towards him, now so that they were within arm's length of each other.
"It was her choice."
"Bullshit," he responded angrily as he took an approach towards the younger man, forcing him to retreat back in defense.
"She's not safe here!"
"She needs her father!" He yelled outraged as he took a swing at Rick, his fist connecting with Rick's jaw, causing Rick to stumble a bit. Once he gained his footing, he was about to reciprocate when Kate pushed off the final step and into her father's direct line of view.
"Rick, wait," her voice faltered slightly but succeeded in halting Rick's swing in mid air. Letting his fist fall he strode over and took his rightful place by her side. "You promised," she reminded feeling his arm snake around her waist.
Turning back to her father, she summoned up the courage to continue, "He's right though, it's not safe for me here."
"Katie," he pleaded taking a step in her direction, which in turn caused Rick to step in front of her instinctively. Jim got the message and retreated, holding up his hands in surrender.
"You're right about one thing though, I do need my father. However, you are no longer him. My dad left the day mom was murdered and he hasn't been back since. That is the father that I need. The person you are now, I would be ashamed to call him dad." She spat intently.
Sensing she was done, Rick guided her towards the door with the arm around her waist, taking the route around the kitchen island, putting as much space as he could between them and her father. Before they could reach the door though, he reached out and roughly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back towards him. She heard Rick's intake of breath at the loss of contact and knew it was his last hope of restraint.
"Please Katie bear, I can change."
"Dad, you're hurting me."
"Not as much as you're hurting me, you don't know what it's like for your own daughter to disown you. What it's like not to be needed." He pleaded with her now gripping her shoulders tightly.
Rick's tightened his fists so hard that his knuckles were turning white in an attempt to regain his composure, "Let her go," he demanded quietly but forcefully.
"Or what?" Jim challenged just as Rick landed a right hook directly into his stomach leaving him to double over, trying to catch the breath that was just knocked out of him.
Turning around he caught Kate's disbelieving look before wrapping and arm around her shoulders and guiding her outside. She took one last look at her father kneeling on the floor and the unmistakable regret in his eyes before placing a card on the table.
"The best rehab facility in the northeast." She explained, "I'll be waiting."
Once they were safely outside, she shifted to face him with a question look on her face.
"You were the stipulation remember?"
Tilting her head forward in an attempt to hide the small smile that graced her features she settled her own arm around his waist in thanks, "My knight in shining armor, huh?"
"When I need to be."
"No you always are."
Emotionally spent once she got back home, Rick steered her towards the bed for a short nap.
"Don't go." She said once he had turned to leave.
Spinning right back around, he eased himself down on the bed beside her placing a quick kiss on her forehead before taking her in his arms.
"Don't worry," he assured her. "I'm not going anywhere. In fact, you might need a genie and three wishes to get rid of me."
"I think my chances of finding a magic lamp are slim to none."
"Lucky for you then," he joked.
"I like to think so."
So, worth keeping?
Thanks for reading loves,
-Anna Lee