Chapter 11
Kate has her admission slip for her assigned seat in her hand for the Lieutenant's exam at the NYPD testing site at 1PP. She has arrived earlier than usual. This is always the case with any type of promotion test she takes. It is her routine. Some things never change. There is an added urgency that she scores well on this exam. She thinks back to Roy's words of encouragement. She would do her best to honor him by passing this exam with the best score. This is why she is here an hour before the exam is to begin. She begins to mentally prepare for this test.
The only problem is that she was failing miserably. She has been studying procedure, tactics along with all of the dreaded forms that are part of this position for 3 weeks now. The only problem she has is that she could not get a certain blue-eyed writer out of her head. Ever since her almost blow out with Lanie. She has rethought what she told her.
"Was it even possible to invest her heart with someone again?"
She shakes to the core at that thought. There is not a second that went by that she did not think about him.
She has done the one thing that she said she would. She has kept him up to date with the progress of his case. While she just gives him the barest information to keep him at bay. She still tries to find other things to talk about. Since she has told him this would be a professional call he just takes it that way. She hates hanging up the phone with him when their conversation is complete. She was cold actually, a cold heartless bitch towards him. She needed to keep him from getting inside her walls. Now, three weeks later she is not so sure anymore that he did not get there after all.
She knows that he has been discharged from the hospital about three and a half weeks ago. She thinks back to that day. She has questions to ask him. Due to her spur of the moment meeting that day she would not be able to go and ask him herself. So she sent Ryan. When her meeting was over she is at her desk when Ryan appears at the precinct.
"Well Kev, what are his thoughts about the questions?" Kate asks hopefully.
"Well, I really hate to tell you this. This trip was a waste of time." Kevin says apologetically.
"Wait, why." Kate asks with a bittersweet look on her face.
"It seems that Mr. Castle had been released about 4 hours before I got there." Kevin says.
"Oh…well…thanks Kevin for the attempt…" Kate says as she feels the wind rush out of her sails.
She had every intention to go there to see him herself. She was unexpectedly pulled into that meeting. So while it was really just an opportunity to see him she sent Ryan in her place. She knows that he would be released soon but she has hoped that he would stay at the hospital just a bit longer.
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Then just when she had thought she has him out of her system there was the phone call. It was about eight o'clock on a Saturday before the exam. She remembers the call like it was yesterday. Her cell was ringing with a ring tone she did not recognize. She waited for 3 rings.
"Hello?" Kate asks.
"Detective Beckett…?" The voice asks.
"Yes, who is calling?" Kate replies.
"Hi, Kate…this is Alexis." She says in a very chirpy manner.
"Alexis, please tell me that you are safe!?" Kate asks worriedly.
"Kate, don't worry. I'm safe and at home in the loft. I'm calling to ask you for a favor." Alexis says.
Kate holds the phone back from her ear. What would this child possibly need from her?
"So what is this big favor, Alexis?" Kate asks apprehensively.
"Well, it is not a real big favor…I just would like to know if you would possibly join us for dinner on the following Saturday Please, please, pretty please?" Alexis asks.
Kate thinks that this might be his doing or even Martha's to coax the girl to call.
"Alexis I am so busy. I am not sure I could make dinner with you and your family." Kate says trying to make an excuse.
Alexis would not be deterred by that plan as she struck back...hard!
"Kate pleeeeeeeeeeeease…? It would mean so much to my Dad, Grams and, of course, myself too." Alexis says putting on the charm.
Kate winces from the cuteness barrage.
"Alexis, did your dad or Grams ask you to call me to make this dinner invite?" Kate asks suspiciously.
"No Kate…actually they don't know that I am talking to you. I wanted to get you to agree to come then I'd ask them. Kate, I am going, to be honest with you. All my dad keeps on talking about is you. If you ask me I think he mopes around here like a lovesick teenager." Alexis explains.
"Alexis, what are you trying to do?" Kate asks suddenly frightened.
"Kate isn't it obvious?" Alexis hints at the obvious.
Kate thinks about the offer for a while. It is almost to the point that Alexis has believed Kate has hung up.
"Kate, are you still there?" Alexis asks alarmed.
Kate is drawn from her thinking.
"Yes, Alexis I am still here." Kate says.
"So what's your answer?" Alexis asks.
"Alexis, I will agree to this under one condition." Kate starts to say.
Alexis shouts "Yay" too loudly for Kate's taste. Kate returns to her train of thought.
"Okay Alexis, I will agree to your dinner invitation only if you first ask your dad and Grams. Then I will need to talk to your dad or Grams before I will accept your invitation." Kate says.
"Okay, Kate I accept your conditions. I will be in touch, Goodbye." Alexis agrees.
Alexis hangs up the phone satisfied. She now has much work to do to get this arranged.
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This is where Kate finds herself now Friday morning exam day. Sitting and waiting to take the exam this morning. Somehow over the course of a few phone calls, she has reluctantly agreed to have dinner with Alexis and her family. The reason she has agreed is that it is their way of thanking her for being so quick to Rick's side the night he was shot. She first tries to decline. She did not know what would happen between them. Though, the invite is accepted. Now, she needs to do first things first. She wants to ace this exam. Then she would be able to concentrate on those dinner plans for later on tonight.
The double doors to the exam room open and about 34 candidates enter the room, Kate included. Each takes their assigned seats. The test starts promptly at 8 am sharp. The proctor stands in front of the test takers. Then he goes over the rules for taking the test. With the rules understood they are each handed the test booklets. The proctor has a stopwatch in his hand ready to click it to place it in motion.
"Is everyone ready?" The proctor asks as all the test takers nod yes.
"Begin." The proctor says as he clicks the stopwatch starting the time.
The test has a 4-hour time limit. There were close to 365 questions. Most of these questions are multiple choice. There is also an advanced math section along with an essay at the end. This counts for 40% of the candidates score. Kate is moving along pretty quickly. She thinks that she nails the multiple-choice part of the test and did so-so on the math. When it came to the essay she stares at the topic in horror, the question is:
"Who has influenced you the most in your life?"
Kate has an answer but she is seriously reconsidering her choice. So with an internal struggle, she answers the only way she knows how. The proctor has clicked the stopwatch
"Please stop the test put down your #2 pencils and close your booklets. Now pass the booklets forward." The proctor says.
The officers did as instructed. Once the booklets are collected the proctor speaks again.
"Now please pass forward your answer sheets and any other stray papers used for this exam." The proctor says.
The officers comply then after the sheets are counted they are dismissed one at a time.
Kate gets up with the rest of the officers then exits the exam room.
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Her thoughts now turn to this evening dinner engagement as she drives back to her loft. She needs to pick up a decent dress. She really never dresses up to go out because let's face it she has no personal life. She gets back to her apartment then changes out of her dress blues. Having taken a shower, she now looks at her lack of clothes in her closet. Having a thought she places a call to Lanie.
"Lanie, are you busy?"
"Kate, what do you need? I really will not go through again what I went through with you from the last time. I should never have passed out!" Lanie complains.
"Lanie, well the wine was that good." Kate says.
"Yeah, it was that good" Lanie agrees. "So Kate what's up?"
"Well, Lane I have a different problem this time I promise." Kate says.
"Different problem…? Are you sure it is not concerning that blue eyed man you are so mooning over?" Lanie asks.
"Well Maybe?" Kate says in a small voice.
"So you finally got your head out of your ass? Okay girl, what do you need?" Lanie says all bright and excitedly now.
"I need to go shopping." Kate says.
"So what sort of shopping are you anticipating? Girl, I am the queen of finding a bargain!" Lanie says very exuberantly.
"Well, Lane I need a dress for a dinner date. Will you help me please Lanie you are my only hope." Kate wheedles and coaxes.
"Who is this and what have you done with my best friend?" Lanie responds.
"Lanie I swear it's me. I'm not a victim of some alien body snatcher." Kate replies as Lanie laughs.
"Okay Kate I'll bite…what's going on?" Lanie says. "Do not leave out any juicy details."
"Lanie I took your advice and you were right I did have my head where it did not belong." Kate admits.
Yeah, Kate, I'm so glad that this has occurred. So tell me how did that happen? I know you were so dead set against it. What changed?" Lanie asks happily.
"Alexis did" Kate confides.
"Alexis was able to change your mind? Wow, well the wonders of cuteness never cease to amaze me!" Lanie says.
"Yeah, she is cute especially when she calls me to invite me to dinner." Kate explains.
"Wait I thought this dinner is with her dad?" Lanie asks.
"Lanie…will you ever wait until I tell the complete story…yes, it is with her dad and his mother along with Alexis too" Kate says.
"Wow, the whole family? Girl, once you decide on doing something you go all out, don't you!" Lanie teases.
"Yeah I suppose now what about that dress shopping?" Kate asks.
"Listen I will meet you at that little boutique down in So-Ho. You know the one I'm talking about?" Lanie asks.
"Yes, I know the place. You spend almost every paycheck there." Kate quips.
"That's the place. Give me about a half hour okay?" Lanie says.
"Sure Lanie, I'll see you there." Kate says hanging up the phone as she gets dressed for shopping.
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Within 2 hours and with Lanie's help Kate has a killer outfit for dinner with Rick. She has about an hour to get ready then make it over to his place. She rushes home and gets ready. Looking at her watch, she has about 30 minutes to get to his place.
She quickly locks her apartment door and takes the elevator to the lobby. She looks at her doorman.
"Good Evening Detective Beckett May I call you a cab?" the doorman asks.
"Yes, would you please be so kind?" Kate responds.
"The cab will be here momentarily detective. I must comment on how lovely you are tonight. I hope this is a special occasion?" he asks as he escorts her to the cab which just appears in front of the building.
"Thank you, You are most kind." Kate says as she leaves him with a tip.
"Where to lady…?" The cabbie asks.
"I need to go to 5th and Broome in SoHo." Kate says looking at the address on the card.
"Okay hold on I'll get you there in a jiffy!" the cabbie says.
The cab takes off then arrives at Kate's destination. Kate pays then gets out. She looks at the building. It is from the outside looks like any other New York City apartment building. That is until she enters the lobby. She walks up to the concierge.
"Hello, I am a guest of Mr. Castle's" Kate says.
"Yes, are you Detective Beckett?" Eduardo asks.
"Yes, I am" Kate replies.
"Good Mr. Castle has left instructions. Please take the elevator on the left then go to the 5th floor. I will inform him of your arrival." Eduardo says.
She nervously rides the elevator to the 5th floor. When the doors open she sees she is directly in front of the only door on this floor. Stepping out of the elevator she walks up to the door. She tries to listen at the door for voices but hears nothing. As she raises her hand to knock the front door swings open wide...
A/N: To the guest who signed his/her review with the word "Peace." I am sorry that you will no longer be reading further than chapter 5. You are going to be missing a great fic! I disagree with your review on some points and agree with it on others. Since you have no idea how or what the "Guest" reviewers have left for me to read, there were other reviews that were downright disrespectful towards what I was posting, but since you did not post them (as a writer) you will never know what they said. I will always accept ANY type of review/criticism be it bad or good. To me I think it helps me do two things, first it helps me develop the characters that I am writing about a lot better and second it advances my skills as a writer to become better. The reason I wanted that guest to have an account was to talk to him/her. You can't imagine how one-sided that person is by NOT having an account. He or She can say whatever that they want and I have no way to respond back to them to let them to see what I am talking about within my own story. So yeah, my hands are tied! I'd love to talk to them and find out what their thoughts are but alas this will be IMPOSSIBLE because they don't have an account! But I can see your point of view due to that guest wanting to remain anonymous. Again I am sorry if you are no longer following this story, hey I have an idea why don't you PM me and then we can talk? Oh, wait...you need to create an account to do this...damn!
A/N 2: To the Guest who shrugged at me, I am sorry about the medical section on Rick's release from the hospital. I'm not that good with the medical descriptions and what warrants him to stay in the hospital for that long. Your also right about Kate receiving the commendation. It was only a suggestion and she never does receive it.