Chapter 10
Lanie looks at her best friend from her seat at the table. So many things are running through her mind right now, but she could not quite put her finger on what is bothering her friend.
"Kate what kind of help could you possibly need?" Lanie asks puzzled.
Kate knows that their relationship has been strained since the day she has told Kate she has found the man of her dreams. It's not that Kate isn't happy for her. She did grow tired of Lanie telling her how her man is this and that. So this is why she is surprised at the fact that Lanie has agreed to meet with her.
"I need help...Lanie." Kate replies.
"Kate you already asked me for my help. Now, I need to know what kind of help that you need? Spit it out!" Lanie responds a bit exasperated with her best friend.
Lanie knows that whatever is wrong with Kate. It has a lot to do with the brief glimpse of whatever she noticed on her face. This is before tapping her on her shoulder then scaring her to death. Maybe there is something to do with her dad? Lanie waits patiently before opening her mouth then her patience wanes.
"Kate, is it your dad?" Lanie tentatively asks.
Kate sighs then shakes her head.
"No Lanie, My dad is fine and right now he is the lease of my problems, at least, I hope not. My problem is that something might be happening and I don't know how to deal with it." Kate confides.
"Happening with whom? Kate, if it is not your Dad, who could it be?" Lanie asks by looking at Kate with a confused look on her face.
Kate did not respond so Lanie continued the questioning hoping to figure out why Kate is being so vague.
"Kate, is it the job? Did something happen there?" Lanie asks as she is grasping at straws now not knowing where to go now.
"Lanie, do you need me to spell it out for you?!" Kate says more aggressively than she meant.
Lanie looks askew at Kate then turns a bit snippy at Kate too.
"You know Kate, I take time out of my day, I moved meetings around then place a body on hold. Now that I get here I hear this...NOTHING! I don't have time for this." Lanie says getting up to leave.
Kate looks at her life line about to get up and leave casting her adrift too.
"Kate…say what you mean! I'm not a mind reader! If you find your voice once again please give someone else a call!" Lanie says as she begins to move away disgusted.
Kate's hand darted across the table before Lanie had the chance to turn and leave taking a hold of her wrist.
"Lanie, I'm so sorry. Please sit back down and I'll tell you the whole story." Kate says apologetically.
Lanie looks at her friend then decides.
"Oh what the hell Kate I'm already here. You better not hold out on me one juicy item!" Lanie warns.
"Right Lanie not one item will be missing I promise." Kate repeats.
"So what has got you so screwed up?" Lanie asks.
"Well, Lanie you know of the guy I met at that crime scene?" Kate asks.
"You mean the tall, dark and handsome one you rescued? What about him?" Lanie asks.
"Yeah him. He's laid up in the hospital." Kate says.
"Yeah, so you went to see him? Is he the person you are having a problem with?" Lanie asks hoping it is going to get good soon.
"No I mean Yes…Lanie, will you wait until I finish my story? Please!" Kate says.
"Well you are taking so long I thought I should help you along a little bit." Lanie confesses.
"Oh Lanie, do you want to know this story or not?" Kate asks.
"Okay, Kate…Please tell it but be quick about it. I don't have all day" Lanie responds.
"Okay well it is him and he has a little girl her name is Alexis. She witnessed the shooting. She is under my protection. Her grandmother came to the hospital last night then retrieved her." Kate says.
"Okay, so what does this kid have to do with your problem?" Lanie blurts out.
"Lanie…?!" Kate says looking directly at her best friend then continues.
"Okay this morning I get a call from a very frantic grandmother, Alexis is missing." Kate says tiredly.
"So this changes from attempted murder to a child kidnapping? Was the child the target all along?" Lanie asks.
"No, it was not a child kidnapping, Lanie. I tracked down her down in her father's ICU room early that morning. She had traveled to see her dad. You see Alexis thinks this attack is all her fault!" Kate says.
"Okay so what happened next?" Lanie asks suddenly enthralled in this story.
"Well as I was talking to Alexis' grandmother Rick woke up." Kate says.
"Rick huh, so his name is Rick…Rick what?" Lanie asks.
"Castle…" Kate says in very low volume.
"What...wait a second you mean to tell me that you saved Rick Castle? I mean Richard Castle the author? Your favorite author you saved?" Lanie squawks.
"Lanie you did not say it loud enough I don't think the booth over there heard you." Kate hisses.
"Oops, so sorry Kate…I'm so happy for you…He is going to be grateful!" Lanie sing songs.
"Okay yeah maybe. Anyway, the grandmother could not pick up Alexis right away. So I called my Captain and got his voice mail again. I swear this new Captain is so hard to reach. I called my Captain to report that I needed to secure an eyewitness and I would be in later." Kate says.
Lanie looks at her with anticipation.
"So I enter the room Lanie I take one look at his amazingly blue eyes…We lock eyes then I swear we had a conversation right then without even speaking. His eyes are so captivating." Kate dreamily says.
"Kate, I have never heard of two people having such a connection so fast. So did you speak to him at least?" Lanie asks.
"Yeah, we spoke Lanie…His voice is like the smoothest red velvet cake I ever have heard. It is so rich, warm and…Wow, Lanie, he knows how it affects me." Kate confesses.
"Damn girl, why are you here and not sitting at the side of his bed?" Lanie asks.
"Lanie, you know why!" Kate hisses.
"Look, Kate, you have it bad…your stupid vow is just that STUPID! You have a once in a lifetime connection with this man. I've heard of love at first sight but damn girl you are the first I have seen showing it!" Lanie exclaims.
Kate is not hearing her friend as she continues.
"Oh connection is not the word, Lanie we touched and I felt such an electric charge run up my arm. I'm scared Lanie. What am I going to do?" Kate says.
"Kate, what did you do? Did you become stupid and rebuke him?" Lanie questions.
"Maybe?" Kate says as her voice gets very small.
"Kate out with it…What did you do?" Lanie coaxes.
"Oh all right, I told him we could be only meeting in a professional CAPACITY!" Kate says as she begins to weep.
"Oh, Kate honey come here…No wonder why you are confused." Lanie says consoling Kate who burst into tears now.
They stayed this way for a few minutes as Kate regains her composure. Kate excuses herself then runs into the ladies room. She comes back much more put together.
"So Lanie please help me out I'm a mess." Kate says.
"Well first we are going to hightail it out of here, then we are going to my apartment! We need to salvage your mistake. Girl, that is going to take time." Lanie says.
Kate nods then they get up pay for the meal then they go to Kate's cruiser.
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Kate is silent as she drives to Lanie's apartment. Lanie has been on the phone arranging with Perlmutter her leave for today. Lanie opens the door. Kate stumbles in then sits down on the couch. Lanie gets them both something to drink.
"Lanie…I appreciate this I do…I need to get to the precinct. This is a mistake…The people of New York are depending on me." Kate says rising.
"Bullshit Kate! You are scared so what is your first inclination? Go bury yourself in your work! Well, the people of New York can wait for once! You sit back down then explain yourself." Lanie says pushing her down slightly with her hand.
"Right Lanie you're right…It is just that he is not that playboy that the papers make him out to be." Kate says twirling her hair around her finger as she speaks or thinks of him.
Lanie notices then sits beside her.
"So Kate, what are you going to do about this little bit of new found information?" Lanie asks.
"Lanie, you know how badly things went with Peter? Then there was that sorry jackass, Sorenson, too. I am not good at expressing my feelings towards another person whether it be male or female, present company excluded." Kate says pensively.
"Kate honey…You have not really burnt any bridges with this Rick Castle...yet. I think you really need to sit down with yourself. You should think about what you need in your life. While you might have been burnt in the past, times change and so do people. You included." Lanie says.
"Lanie he has a kid. If I get involved with him I will be a part of her life too." Kate says.
"Kate…you say that as if it's a bad thing. Just listen to me you would make a great mother figure to her if that's what you want to do. I mean she must like you already. You did save her father." Lanie points out.
"Lanie Yeah I did do that…However, I have a lot going on at work. The test for Lieutenant is coming up next month. I really want to take it. I am still working his case trying to solve that as well." Kate rebuts.
"Kate, what do you want me to say to you?" Lanie asks exasperated.
"Tell me that my decision to stay away from men is the right choice." Kate says not half believing her words.
"Kate honey…You know I can't do that. I have told you your short-sighted pursuit is stupid. I will not retract that statement. Lanie says stubbornly.
"Why the hell not…Lanie…?" Kate asks excitedly.
"Kate…You are all twisted up inside over this brief meeting with him at the hospital. You have never and I mean never acted like this before for any guy. This is special…So special that I think I am jealous that it has never happened to me…Can you see how rare this is?" Lanie argues.
"Lanie…I just can't…I can't put my heart out there again…It will just get trampled on all over again." Kate says with much fear.
"How do you know that he will do this? Those are fears talking. The Kate Beckett I know is fearless. Maybe he is just what your heart needs?" Lanie says proudly.
"Lanie please try to be at least serious here. He is a best-selling writer. He would never want someone as broken as me." Kate says summing up her condition.
"Katherine Beckett I will not sit here and let you beat yourself up in front of me. You are a strong, independent, career driven woman. Sure you put your career first but now that you have figured out what you want for your career it's time to satisfy what your heart wants." Lanie strongly and forcefully says.
"Lanie, I'm not so sure about this. What if we actually have nothing in common? He is so different." Kate says.
"So what if you do. You won't know until you try. Kate I am only going to say this once and once only." Lanie says.
"Okay Lanie, what is your vast wisdom you are going to tell me?" Kate snarks.
Lanie ignores the jibe then continues.
"Kate, take a leap. Make a move. Throw caution to the wind. You are the one who needs to take a chance on something that could possibly make you happier beyond your wildest dreams." Lanie says as she gets up to busy herself in the kitchen.
Kate has so much more to think about now. She is sitting on the couch trying to figure out Richard Castle. She is doing it so badly. Lanie walks in with two wine glasses.
Kate is on the phone. Her Captain has finally called her back. Lanie waits as Kate finishes.
"Well, what does Captain Iron Pants want with you now?" Lanie asks.
"Lanie we have had this discussion…my Captain's name is Miller, not Iron Pants, and sure he's no Montgomery." Kate says,
"You can say that again." Lanie says over the late Captain of the 12th. "Him I liked, this joker well…" Lanie says.
"Yes, Lanie you have made your opinion well known about Montgomery's replacement." Kate says.
"Okay, Kate only for you…to everyone else Captain Iron Pants. What did your captain say?" Lanie sweetly asks.
"He told me I am off for today and tomorrow. I have been requested by the mayor's office bright and early day after tomorrow. I am to be wearing my dress blues." Kate says.
"Dress Blues…what are you going to be doing at the Mayor's office getting a medal?" Lanie asks "So you are off I have a treat for you… here is 2006 Pinot Noir. I was saving it for a special occasion because it was a $90 dollar bottle of wine. But girl, I think we both need it"
Kate accepts the glass as Lanie pours it. Kate sips the wine as she ponders the pros and cons about Richard Castle.
Kate speaks out loud as the wine starts to make her mellow.
"Oh, Lanie Rick is so handsome." Kate muses.
"Well, that is one for the plus column." Lanie says.
"Yeah, it is…He is rich too which is not a bad thing…He could afford this type of wine anytime he wanted!" Kate says.
"Hell girl, handsome and rich too…definitely major pluses" Lanie says getting a bit tipsy herself.
"Yes, he is rich (not that it mattered to her)" Kate muses.
"He has the most beautiful blue eyes that seemed to change with whatever mood he is in. He treated me like I was a real person, not some kind of notch he would probably carve into his bedpost. Then there is that connection. Plus he makes me laugh, Lanie." Kate says laughing.
"Damn girl that is a triple threat. Why are you still here?" Lanie says starting to slightly slur her words.
"Well, those are the pluses…Now comes the negatives." Kate says.
"Well with those pulses what would you possibly have to think up to counter those?" Lanie says lying on her back.
"Well, Lanie… He has a child." Kate says.
"You are calling his child a minus? Where is your head at Kate? What I hear from you that she is smart, resourceful and very kind. What sort of negative is that?" Lanie retorts.
Kate continues ignoring Lanie's last comment.
"Lanie, I know nothing about him (only what she read on his fan site). I know without any doubt that he is a heartbreaker." Kate says.
Lanie does not respond except for a long snort then snore. Kate gets up then retrieves the glasses. She takes them into the kitchen along with the empty bottle of wine. She returns to find Lanie sleeping soundly so she places her in her bed. Kate is not that buzzed. She carefully leaves the apartment then drives home. She enters her loft. She gets her blues ready. While she addresses the sorry shape of her blues she thinks back on the conversation with Lanie.
"She says I am fearless…Not true…I can not afford to get my heart broken again." Kate says out loud to an empty apartment.
Kate looks at her blues then sighs. She would take the course that she has set. She would take the Lieutenants exam and get her promotion then think nothing more about Richard Castle.
/
Rick is still recovering in his now fully private suite. It was a big change from the ICU area. The ICU area was semi-open to give better access to the patients and he felt like he was sharing his room with everyone. Alexis is there with his mother. He is relieved when he sees his mother following in after Alexis. He was thinking that she has left her against his wishes. He would not know what he would do if something had happened to her too. Martha is talking to the lead doctor for his case. Alexis has wormed her way into his bed and is lying comfortably beside him.
Martha enters the room from the hallway after her talk with the doctor.
"Good News Richard!" she loudly announces.
"What is it, mother?" Rick asks a bit annoyed.
"The doctor in charge of your care had told me that you are able to leave pending one more test." She replies.
"What test would that be mother?" Rick asks suddenly curious.
"He wants to test your brain." Martha says.
"What…my brain why would he want to do that?" Rick asks with question.
"Yes, your brain darling. My god I can't believe that they missed this..." Martha adds.
"Mother I don't understand. That does not make any sense." Rick retorts.
"He and I can't imagine how on earth you could let that beautiful detective slip through your fingers this morning without so much as her contact information." Martha tells him. "So you must need some sort of emergency testing or surgery to revive your brain."
"Ha Ha, very funny mother, but you are forgetting one little bit of information." Rick says.
"Oh, and what would that be Richard?" Martha asks.
"I already have her number." Rick crows.
"You do, do you? Do tell." Martha asks dumbfounded.
"Yes, I do. She appeared in my room looking for Alexis. She also called you in the hallway when I was in the ICU. So by deduction, she must have given you her business card the other day right? Plus she left one after she interviewed me too." Rick says showing off he did not need any medicine or surgery for his brain.
He is as sharp as ever as Martha is suitability impressed.
"Why, she certainly did do that. That's why you are so good at what you do. It is especially true when you write your books." Martha says honestly impressed.
"Mother even if she didn't, I still have an ace up my sleeve." Rick confides.
"Oh, really Richard…do tell." Martha asks.
"Oh no mother, I'm not going to reveal my sinister plans to you. You just need to sit back and see what happens." Rick comfortably says.
"Well, then I see you have things well in hand. I think that Alexis and I will be going. She has school in the morning. I need to meet up with some friends. Will you be alright for the night?" Martha asks.
"Mother, I will be fine so. Please do not let my recovery keep you from living your life." Rick implores.
Martha looked at her son with a hurt look on her face. She was going to pursue a line of questioning with him but thinks better of it.
"Alright Richard, we will be by after Alexis is done with school tomorrow." Martha says.
"Good night mother." Rick says then kisses Alexis on the head. "You need to follow your Grams, now be a good girl for her."
"Yes, Daddy" Alexis says as she gives him a hug and kisses his cheek.
She gets down from the bed. As she exits the room she turns then waves one last time. He watches as they walk down the hallway and out of sight. He needed to think. There is one thing that he has his mind, Detective Kate Beckett. Now, if he could only convince her that there was something between the two of them, he was home free...
A/N: My thanks to all the readers that have faved and are following. Over 100 at present count! Thank-You so very much and I hope that you liked this chapter.
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