Commissioner Reagan was standing at the mirror looking at himself in his dress blues. He grimaces as he rehearses the eulogy of another fallen hero of the 12th. He has a bit of Déjà vu only little over 3 years ago he was attending another fallen hero from that same precinct. He remembers the way the wind stilled and the clear voice of Detective Beckett rang in the late spring air.
Then all pandemonium happened. Her Consort Rick Castle had tackled her to the ground. This made his security team rush him into the awaiting Command Car. He did not get to see the aftermath of that day. However, Commissioner Reagan was quite visible on TV explaining what had happened. The News reporters plagued 1PP for weeks. Then Detective Beckett left. The Commissioner was left with no suspect and a hole to fill at the 12th. Vicki's name came up immediately. She was Montgomery's partner in the day. It was hard for two such disparate people to get along. They created a life long partnership.
He could remember her eyes when she was brought in from IA. They were ones of haunting. The Members of the Blue Templars were responsible for the shooter to get away. The Commissioner knew it and so did Vicki when she accepted the position.
Later Commissioner Reagan was delighted to learn the return of such a promising Policeman as Detective Beckett. Now it was her turn to come to 1PP but first another comrade must be placed in the ground.
Erin found her Father staring at the mirror.
"Dad…?" She asks breaking him out of his trance.
"Is it time already?" Commissioner Reagan asks.
"Yeah it is Dad…I was sent up here to find out if you are ready…Obviously you are not. Let me do that tie!" She says crossing over to retie his mangled tie.
"Erin you know your mother bless her soul used to do this for me all the time too." He sadly says.
"Yes Dad I know…Maybe that is why you never learned to do it yourself?" Erin asks with a eyebrow cocked at him. "There it is done now everyone is waiting for you."
"Thank You Erin…." He says as he moves past her to retrieve his coat and gloves it would be a blustery day at the cemetery.
"That nor'easter is about to hit in a few hours. Emergency crews were already standing by. It would not be a very long ceremony. The chances of real bad weather will keep most of it indoors. There will be no long graveside service." The Commissioner Reagan's aide reported.
Erin trailed behind as did all the Reagans dressed in Blue they showed such a force for good.
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Kate was getting ready. Rick had as a birthday present had his tailor completely redo her uniform so it fit perfectly. He had already replaced the hat and gloves so stained with her spilt blood.
"Kate, are you ready?" Rick quietly asks as he sunk up behind his wife to nibble on her neck.
Leave it to Rick to take her mind off the agenda to think of the fire growing between them.
Rick looked good in his new tailored suit all in black he was perfect. Both Martha and Alexis were dressed in black too.
There had been a family discussion. It would be only fitting that all the Castle's attend Victoria's funeral.
Kate was concerned about the possibilities of flashbacks for the redheads as to herself too. They laid that worry to rest. They were very courageous.
Rick led them out of the loft then to the waiting limo. St Paul's Church was chosen for the funeral itself. Most did not know of Victoria's Catholic upbringing.
Kate was not looking forward in seeing Mr. Gates or his Children. Kate looking back had no idea what she could have done differently. She just watched helplessly. The disease did the rest.
Rick squeezed her hand then smiled at her. It was sad that the funeral was being held the weekend before Thanksgivings.
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Both the Castle's and the Reagan's appeared at the same time. They walked into the Cathedral together. The Commissioner greeted both Rick and Kate. They greeted the rest of the family of Blue. It was a sign that NYPD will grieve then soldier though this set back.
The Priest conducted the service with a closed casket. Vicki's smiling face was quite well shown to the side as were the amount of flowers. Rick could not help to notice that all five families of the mob were here too. Rick wondered why would that be for a fallen Police officer?
The service was a typical catholic funeral and Rick grumbled having to get on his knees so often. Finally the service part was done now it was time for the Eulogy.
Rick was thankful that was over as he was immediately hushed by all the Castle women.
Commissioner Reagan has taken the podium. The Eulogy started well. Rick looked around then noticed someone he did not expect at this funeral. His Dad was sitting toward the back. Rick thought that was strange. Why was his Dad here? Did he know more than what they were allowed to learn? Probably Rick muses. He was so lost in thought he missed all of the Commissioner's comments. He turns around only to see Kate rising to the podium.
She would be saying a few words in behalf of the precinct she will now lead. Kate's clear voice echoed with emotion and some comments were lost with her being choked with emotion. She took a moment to clear her thoughts as the onlooker waited.
"I only knew Captain Gates for a short time. She was dedicated in learning the truth about my shooter and was instrumental in the downfall of a very wicked man. I will always be grateful for her assistance. One of her last acts was to advise me toward my professional growth. For that aim she placed me in charge of the precinct as she was a casualty of the case I was overseeing. I promised her I would take good care of the men and women in her stead. Little did I know those would be the last words in the precinct I would have with her." Kate says with her voice cracking.
Kate took a breath then concluded her speech. There was no shooter this time waiting anywhere. Kate sat down as Rick squeezed her hand and gazed into her eyes. Gates was not his favorite person but somehow he wore her down to a grudging acceptance. He was sad she was gone.
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The pomp and grandeur of the graveside service allowed Rick to be one of the pall bears along with Esposito, Ryan, LT, Demming, and Hastings with Kate commanding them. Together they conveyed the body to the grave site from the caisson. The Flags whipped around in the overcast day. It was cold and would get much colder. The graveside service was very brief as the honor guard set off the volleys. Rick and other pall bears took the flag then folded it as Kate was given the folded flag to present the grieving family.
Kate did the job and soon everyone was leaving for reception held at the nearby hotel courtesy of Rick's Black card.
They gave their condolences and reminisced about Montgomery and Vicki's adventures on the lower east side as they were rookies together. Rick was very interested in learning all about Vicki's history.
The rest of the Groups had their own sections. Even the mobsters attended. One person Rick did not expect was his own father. He was talking quietly to the mobsters. Rick craned his neck to get a better view. Kate was talking with Reagan's especially Danny.
"So Detective I hear you will be running the place at the 12th? I am without a partner right now. What do you say I transfer to the 12th to show them how we do it Reagan style?" Danny offers.
Kate noticing Danny had been drinking a bit too much then declined to consider his request.
Kate was rescued when Rick reappeared.
"Hello Detective Reagan is it?" Rick asks "…May I take my wife for a moment?"
Danny did not say a word but gave Rick a half hearted salute. Rick interpreted that as ok.
"Thanks Rick you are a lifesaver…" Kate says kissing him.
"Hmm that is so good are you ready to get out of here?" Rick asks.
"Yeah I am let's go." Kate says.
Rick gathered the rest of the family then said their condolences to the grieving family. It was interesting how Evelyn Montgomery and Mr. Gates kept each other company. Rick did not think much of it. There were so many strange occurrences at this funeral that one was the least interesting.
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Rick was back in the limo and was depositing them back at the loft. He could not wait to ravish his wife especially after that kiss.
Everyone dispersed as Kate and Rick disappeared into their bedroom.
Rick immediately turned to be attacked by Kate in such a life affirming way.
Once they were done and their clothes were strewn everywhere Rick turned to Kate.
"Kate, that was one weird funeral." Rick says.
"Rick, I know Gates was not your favorite person I loved how you helped out with the funeral but strange how so?" she asks picking up parts of her uniform.
"Well for one my Dad was there." Rick says.
"Alex Cross? He was at the funeral for Gates?" Kate asks.
Rick nods as he picks up his black shirt which was ripped and buttons missing.
"Yeah did you not think all the 5 families representative were there also strange." Rick asks.
"Really I must not have noticed all 5 mafia families attended? Wow I must have been concentrating on my speech that I did not notice them." Kate admits.
"Yeah my dad was talking to the head of one the families at the reception." Rick confides.
"That is unusual. Could this case be more than meets the eye?" Kate wonders.
"I don't know but our murderer has been transferred into US Attorney's custody." Rick says.
"How did you learn that?" Kate asks while picking up the rest of her uniform then placing it in the hamper.
"I was talking to the lawyer Reagan she let it slip that the DA lost custody." Rick admits.
"I see well I think I will talk to the Commissioner about that to see what NYPD's position on letting a cop killer walk is." Kate says.
"So you have to meet the commissioner, Tomorrow? I guess those dress blues are going to need to be cleaned tonight." Rick says reaching for his phone.
"Rick what are you doing it is 9 at night on a Sunday before Thanksgivings…How…" Kate asks.
"Kate just a minute…" Rick says as he turns to the phone and was speaking Chinese to someone on the phone. Satisfied he hung up.
"Kate your worries are over…Mr. Wang told me they will be delivered in the morning clean and fresh." Rick says as the doorbell rings.
"I've got it" rang out Alexis' voice. "Dad it is for you…It is Mr. Wang."
"Thanks Pumpkin" Rick says as he exited the bedroom in a robe with Kate's uniform in hand.
"Thanks Wang…Here is the package…Light starch ok?" Rick says.
"Ok Mr. Rick…light starch…in morning ok?" Mr. Wang says in broken English.
"Great Wang…This is for you…" Rick says as he hands over the bundle with a Fifty slipped into Wang's pocket.
Mr. Wang smiles then exit with her uniform. Kate watches with an amused expression on her face. Rick turns to her.
"So you see something you like?" Rick asks as he crosses the room to where Kate stood in the doorway.
"Yes it amazes me that you can come through for me in a moment notice…I love you Mr. Castle." She says hugging and kissing him.
"I love you too Mrs. Castle. Let's return to our bed?" Rick asks with his eyes darken with desire.
"I like the way you think Mr. Castle." She purrs.
"Kid in the room…" Alexis yells out as she scurries upstairs.
"Well I've never seen her run so fast so where were we Mrs. Castle?" Rick says.
"Well we were about to go to bed so are you coming Castle?" Kate sultry says.
"I am right behind you" Rick says as he gooses her.