The two detectives and Lanie have left Rick's office in the Old Haunt leaving Castle and Beckett alone. This is actually the first time the two have been alone together since she came back to the city.
They're sitting on the couch with Rick's arm around Kate and her head on his shoulder. She has been sitting there quietly for several minutes when Castle starts feeling her shake just a little.
"Hey girl, are you OK?"
Kate nods her head gently then Rick feels something wet on his shirt.
Castle reaches his hand down to her chin and turns her face up toward him very gently. She looks up to him and her eyes are filled
"Now come on. Everything is going to be just fine you know."
"Are you sure? I mean Bracken is powerful and all. He had so many cops killed. My mom killed. Had me shot. He can do things to people we never even thought about"
"Kate, he has never faced what we are going to give him. Right now, I want you to go home, get a good night's rest and be there for your dad tomorrow."
"Castle! I want you to go home with me"
"We talked about that. You we know you are being watched and if I were to go home with you, Bracken will know. We need to spring our trap on him tomorrow without him suspecting it is coming. So for tonight, go to your place. Tomorrow will be different. I promise"
Kate stands up and pulls Rick with her. When she approaches the bookcase, he reaches around her and gives her a very soft sweet goodnight kiss.
She travels out thru the passage to the secret entrance, hails a cab and goes back to her apartment. Alone for the last time she hopes
Richard Castle sits back at his desk, takes out a burner cell phone and calls a number. The voice at the other end answers "Mr. Castle! How did the meeting go?"
"Perfect. Everyone is on board and ready to do what is needed to be done"
"Is Detective Esposito in agreement for what he may be asked to do?"
"Yes. He said whatever it takes, he will do it. He said this is what he trained for"
"Very good then we will talk tomorrow"
"Tomorrow" Castle disconnects the call
Katherine Beckett is up before 6:00 AM is dressed and en route to the hospital to be there when they take her father to surgery. When she arrives at the ICU they are preparing her dad for the operation.
Kate waits patiently while the technicians, nurses and doctors get him ready. Just a few minutes after she arrives at the unit, Castle enters the room and steps up close behind Kate and puts his arms around her waist.
She leans back into his embrace hoping he can take away the fear she has about what will happen to her father.
Around 6:45 Dr. Josh Davidson enters the room "Hello Kate, Rick. How are you doing?"
"Hi Josh" is all Kate can respond
Castle has more information he is wanting. He starts by asking "What do you think his chances are?"
"They have improved since he came in. I only gave him a 20 percent chance of survival before. I think since we kept him sedated and on the pump, he has improved to at least a fifty-fifty chance or maybe a little better"
"Kate looks at the doctor "That's good Right?"
"Yes Kate, it is good" Then Josh looks at Rick "I am so glad you came to be with her. She needs you here today"
Castle simply nods his head in acceptance of the comment
"The surgery transport team has arrived and they disconnect him from the wall and connect him to portable equipment and then one of the nurses speaks up "Family, do you want to talk to him, now is the time"
Beckett leans down to her father "Dad. Rick and I got engaged so hurry up and get well. I need you to walk me down the isle" She leans down and kisses her father on the cheek then the teams move him down the hall to the operating theatre
Castle and Beckett move down the hall to the surgery waiting room to wait for the next three hours
Being a US Senator requires a lot of time be devoted to law making and the over site of various areas of the government. Each person elected to Washington not only serves in the chamber to which they are elected but several committees. William Bracken is no different.
This morning the Senate over site committee on Foreign Affairs is meeting in open session. The press is all over the room, but mostly photographers are sitting on the floor below the senator's desk taking pictures of whoever is testifying. The gallery behind the witness table is normally reserved for citizens with a specific interest in whatever is being discussed.
Today, Senator Bracken is in his usual seat looking out to the assembled group when he notices a face that is familiar to him. He is having a little trouble placing who it might be. The chair calls the meeting to order and makes her opening statement. After she has called the first speaker, Bracken looks up again to the unknown member in the gallery and sees something that causes his skin to crawl.
This person is holding in his hand what appears to be a file folder. Not just any file folder. It is obvious that it is a NYPD labeled case folder.
Bracken suddenly remembers where he saw this person before. It was during a murder investigation. This is the Irish police detective that worked with detective Beckett. What is he doing here and why is he holding an NYPD file folder.
The officer seems to be reading and making notes in the folder as the current witness is speaking to the assembled senate committee.
Bracken desperately wants to approach the officer and ask why he is here, but protocol does not allow him to do so until a break occurs. After about an hour and a half the chair calls for a recess and Senator Bracken dashes out the back door and around to confront the officer. But when he arrives at the viewer area, the man is no where to be found. He continues to look around the crowd until the meeting is called back into session.
After the meeting is returned into session, Bracken scans the assembled group again but does not see the officer. After a few minutes of testimony he again looks to the group but this time he sees another familiar face. This time a Hispanic face he remembers as well. The man is also holding the NYPD file folder. Again he appears to be reading the contents and occasionally making a note inside.
Senator Bracken is ready to jump up to find the detective and question him about why he is here and what is he doing with a police folder?"
Once again when the committee breaks, the senator travels to the gallery. Once again he cannot find the police officer. When he returns to his chair, he asks his aide to watch for a police officer with a file folder and detain him so that he can find out what they are going here stalking the senator, but they do not return in the late morning session
Ryan and Esposito have both left the Senate Office building and are quickly on a jet heading back to New York. Castle arranged a charter so there was no official record of either man traveling to DC and back.
Once back in the city, they return to the precinct and walk into the bull pin area. When they arrive, the new detective questions them.
Hey guys. Where you been?"
Esposito answers "We went down to the hospital to check on Jim Beckett. Kate's father. He is having open heart surgery today"
"OH I see. So Beckett's down there?"
"Yeah, her and Castle. He is there to be with Kate for this" Ryan answers
Crystal Roberts is noticeably taken back by this comment. But she tried to not let on that she has issues with this
"Really? So Castle is there with Beckett today?"
"Right. Before she left, they were real close, so I guess he felt like she needed a friend and he is there" Esposito finishes
Crystal glances around. "You know it might be nice if I went to support her too. I mean after all I am her replacement. Taking her desk and so forth."
She takes her bag and walks out to the elevator.
Once the doors close Ryan takes out his phone and sends a text. "She took the bait and is heading your way"
The two men wait about five minutes and they follow her to the hospital
In the waiting room Kate is curled up on the couch with her head on Rick's shoulder and his arm tightly around her
"Castle, what am I going to do if my dad doesn't make it?"
"Kate, don't even say that. You heard Josh, He is more positive about you dad's chances now so we are going with that. OK?"
"OK. If you say so"
"I do"
Kate looks up with a start when she hears the door to the room open. She is afraid that it is the doctor with bad news. It is too soon for the operation to be over.
It is not the doctor. It is Crystal Roberts
Castle glances up to the woman "Hello Crystal. What are you doing here?"
"I just thought I might come and be here for you. I know you and Jim are friends and I thought you might need some comfort. But I guess you are getting all the comfort you need from her" Pointing accusatory at Kate
"Actually, I am comforting her. This is Kate Beckett. Kate this is Crystal Roberts"
Kate sticks her hand out "Nice to meet you Crystal" Then Kate points toward another chair. "Please sit down"
Instead of sitting in the chair opposite, Crystal sits down next to Castle
After the brunette does this, Kate moves her left hand onto Rick's chest so that the ring is very visible to anyone who is paying attention and it doesn't take long for Roberts to see the diamond
"Oh Beckett. What a beautiful ring. I didn't know you were engaged to be married. Who is the lucky guy?"
Beckett lifts her head off Rick's shoulder and snuggles a little closer to him, then moves up to kiss him
"It's Rick silly. Isn't that obvious?"
"OH" is the only word that Crystal can utter. Then pretending to feel her phone vibrate "Oh excuse me, I need to answer this" She gets up and walks out of the room
Castle watches her leave "So far so good"
Kate smiles back to him "She took the hook line and sinker too"