I really appreciate all the wonderful reviews and Thanks to all the followers. We are getting close to seeing what is really going on
As always. My stories are AU. I will base them on the legend but not follow canon.
Richard Castle is walking off the elevator on the 4th floor at the station. He is looking around for his two detective friends. Those friends that have become such a part of his life as a writer but more best buds especially so much more over the last 6 months.
"Hey Bro." Esposito opens up. "What are you doing here?"
"I just dropped by to see if there were any new and interesting cases I might get involved in. I need one more really juicy one so I can finish off Nikki Heat"
Esposito looks at Castle with pain in his voice "So Castle you are really going to completely close the book on you and Beckett?"
"I don't really have a choice Espo. I don't think I can do anything else. I need to move on. I need to create a new character. I need to find someone new"
"I know man, but I just…well you know it just feels so final hearing you say that. What are you going to do to her? Kill her off or what?"
"No! You know I can't kill her. To do that would be too painful for me even after all the other stuff that has happened. So, I haven't decided what I will do with her yet"
"Do with her, who?" is a question the two men hear from the new girl on the block when Crystal enter the bull pin followed closely by Kevin Ryan
"Oh! Good morning detective" Esposito says to Crystal "Castle here is just talking about the closure on his Nikki Heat character"
"Why are you ending the Nikki Heat series? That has been your most popular book so far" Crystal questions
"I've just decided that I need to move on with my life. That's all" Castle responds while looking down the hall as if waiting for her to enter the area
Crystal has placed her bag on the desk. Beckett's old desk. Just having her take over Kate's desk makes Castle bristle, a lot.
Then she looks at Castle. "Hey Rick. I can be your new character. You know you could call me Crystal Heat. The transparent version of Nikki. The younger sister. Prettier, more flamboyant, sexier version of Nikki. I will take Jamison away from Nikki. Treat him better. All that kind of stuff"
Ryan, who is still standing behind Crystal, has a shocked look on his face. He can tell that Esposito and Castle both are not real sure what to make from her forward statement
Esposito looks at Castle. Both men recognize this as a very bold come on from her.
Kate may have been standoffish, private and never letting her feelings about Rick be seen before the two of them got together, but this woman is letting everyone know what she wants from Castle. And wants it now!
Castle's cell chirp in his pocket. Rick takes the phone out and looks at the message. He steps away from the others and has a strange look on his face as he is reading the text.
Castle returns to the group "Excuse me. I need deal with this. Hey Ryan can I talk to you and Esposito just a moment before I go?"
"Sure" both detectives say as the three men walk toward the elevator
Castle stops and turns after the men get out of earshot of anyone else on the floor
"I just got a message that you two need to see" Castle turns his phone to where the two detectives can read the message.
Esposito speaks first "Castle! Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"I don't know guys, but I'm going to go see if it is or not"
"OK Castle. Call us and let us know what is happening as soon as you can" Ryan comments
"Got it guys" Rick gets on the elevator
As they walk back toward their desks Ryan and Esposito notice that Crystal has moved over near where the three men were talking as if she were deliberately listening in on the conversation
.
Beckett is still sitting on the floor of her bedroom looking out the window at the morning sun. What she found in what formerly was Castle's drawer has her emotions all torn up. That was not fair.
Her cell phone rings. Caller ID says it is the hospital
"Beckett" Kate answers
There is a deep baritone voice on the phone "Ms. Beckett. This is the hospital, we need you to come in as soon as possible"
She jumps up and with a shaky voice "Has something happened to my dad?"
"You just need to come in please"
"No! You tell me right now! Has my dad died?"
"Ms. Beckett, just please come to the second floor waiting room and we can discuss this in person when you get there" The caller hangs up
Kate grabs her keys and bag and runs as fast as she can out the door.
On the street she hails a cab and climbs into the back seat. She gives the driver her destination and they head off to the hospital. This is another time she wishes that she were still a New York cop with a squad car. She would be running red lights and siren. But sadly no. She is just inside of a yellow colored vehicle that is stuck at every signal light they encounter.
After a harrowing taxi ride they pull up to the front doors of the medical facility. Beckett puts the money in the drawer before the car even comes to a full stop and she jumps out. Running in the front door she heads directly to the elevator. But there is a large crowd waiting for the next car so she looks for the stairs. She bolts up the stairs taking three steps at a time.
Once on the second floor she looks panicked trying to find the waiting room. She stops a staff member and asks where the waiting room is located. She is told that there is no waiting room on this floor, only a family room and he points to the hall where she can go.
Kate knows that the family room in a hospital is the place where they notify next of kin about the death of a loved one. Stopping and looking down the hall, she knows what is waiting for her in that room. Kate is no longer in a hurry. She knows that this room is a place where someone is waiting for her to give her sad news. So she is in no longer in a hurry.
Her hand is shaking and tears are waiting to flow when she takes the handle and opens the door to enter. She has resolved herself that after today, she will have nothing left here and she can finally return to DC and not think back to New York ever again as the last thing for her life here will finally be gone forever
But the man who is waiting for her inside the room will change everything
She opens the door and freezes when the man inside speaks "Hello Ms. Beckett"
Kate can barely speak "What is going on here?
"I am here to help you"