Ch. 24 Something Is Brewing
When Kate finally showed up to her apartment, Rick was already waiting. She closed the door after her, kicked off her shoes, and ran right to him. She grabbed him in an embrace that made her feel more secure each time. Between the kiss with Ryan and Cliff's secrets, Kate was about to lose it.
He rubbed her back and rested his head against hers. "Rough day?"
She pulled back from him but held onto his shoulders. "You have no idea." She tried to fight them but her tears won.
"Whoa. What's wrong?" He rubbed her tears off her cheeks. "Just a second ago, you were smiling before running to me. What happened at work?"
"Just… so… much…" Her words came out as little choking sobs. "I interviewed the Waters' family, gave my meeting, picked up my glasses, was…" She stopped. She wasn't quite sure how to tell him about Ryan and Cliff. Her eyes went searching for something more important on the floor.
"Kate, you can tell me." He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer to him.
"Ryan kissed me." She waited out his reaction but he didn't say anything. "Well? Aren't you upset? Worried about us?"
"No. Should I be?"
She smiled before pulling him even closer. She smashed her lips against his and wrapped him up in her arms. His hands began to wander and she didn't stop him. He slid off her suspenders and pulled her shirt off above her head. She started to unbutton his shirt when his phone rang.
"Ignore it." She said between kissing him. But she could feel him start to resist her. "Fine," She pushed him away, "answer it." She watched as he slid his phone out and accepted the call.
"She is one fine piece of ass, that Kate." His face went rigid. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her asking who it was.
"How the hell did you get this number?" He would no longer hide it from Kate, he couldn't help it. He wanted honesty so he needed to give it as well.
"I get one phone call and I choose to call you and this is the thanks I get. You fix it buddy boy or we'll have more to talk about." With that the call went dead.
"Who was that?" She still waited for him, shirtless. She didn't bother to pick it up let alone put it on.
He mustered up all his courage and looked directly into her eyes. "It was Sal. Sal Dobson. He came to see me today. He asked for another favor. I refused but he threatened you and Alexis." He watched as she took a step back from him. "I know you have to turn me in."
"I won't turn you in Rick." She grabbed her shirt and stormed into her bedroom. He followed right behind her.
"You have to. It's your job. You took the oath." He waited while she paced around her room.
"I can't do it!" Tears threatened to control her once more. "I can't lose you. You're all I have! I won't lose you! I can't!" She dropped to the floor and clutched herself. She was exhausted as a ring of emotions threatened to swallow her.
He sat next to her on the floor. "Kate?" He waited until she looked up at him. "I understand that you don't want to lose me but, what about the oath that you took?"
"To you or my job? You're making me choose. I choose you Rick." She grabbed his face closer to her. She held his head in her hands and tried to make him smile.
"I don't want you to have to choose. I won't make you. I'll turn myself in." He could feel her shaking her head no. "Kate," He looked back up at her, "I have to. Because I choose you."
Her tears started to fall but they were silent. "Rick, please. You can't leave me. Please!" She scooted herself closer to him.
"In the morning we'll go. But tonight, that's ours." He stood up and reached his hand out to her.
She shook her head. "I won't be able to enjoy myself knowing that you are going to jail in the morning. I don't want to go." He kneeled down and she looked away.
"You do want to go. I can tell. So, come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her up and into his arms. "I'm sorry."
"I know." She let him go and went to her bathroom. "I look like a mess."
"A hot mess." He came behind her before she banished him to the living room. "Why can't I stay?"
She popped her head out, "Because if this is my last night with you for a while, I want to look really good." She closed her door once more and undressed.
She slipped everything off and went to her underwear drawer first. She slipped out her matching black, lace bra and panties. "For later." She slid them on and went to her closet. She flipped past dress after dress.
She slid on a white and red checkered dress but didn't feel that it fit right. She then tried on a blue satin dress but felt it was too formal. Getting frustrated and about ready to give up, she dug out the one dress that she had never planned on wearing.
As she slid her hands over the bow and floral design on the white, crochet dress, she remembered when she had bought it.
"How about this one dad?" Kate stepped out of the dressing room and twirled in front of Jim. The white, crochet dress spun around her. "Do you like it?"
Jim could tell that she clearly loved it. "You look gorgeous in anything."
"Ugh. Dad, I need your help." Kate slumped down on the stand that rested in front of the three way mirror.
"I told you, you should have brought Lacey."
"Dad, I told you, Lacey is visiting her family. She won't be back for two more weeks. And I have to get a dress before all the good ones are taken. It's prom!" Kate feeling defeated, was on her way to the dressing room when Jim called her back.
"You want my honest opinion?" Kate nodded. "That's not a prom dress but I still think you should get it."
"Really?" Kate ran to Jim. "Thanks Daddy. I'll try on more." Kate headed back in only to come out in a shocker of a dress. It was a big, pouf, lacy, red dress with a black slip underneath it. It was strapless and was breathtaking.
Kate twirled once again for her dad and stopped to get his reaction. "What do you think Dad? Is it me or what?"
"I don't have enough words to describe how amazing you look in that dress. You are no longer my little girl, you're my young lady."
"So I take it this is the dress." She smiled before running to hug him. He stood up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thanks Dad. By the way, I'll always be your little girl."
Now looking at the one she had bought but not worn, Kate once again could feel her Dad telling her that this was the dress. She slid the white, crochet, dress on and twirled.
"Yes. This is the dress." She went to go fix her hair and found another dilemma. "How do I wear my hair?" She picked it up but didn't want it in a ponytail any longer.
She brushed it all out and decided a little curl wouldn't hurt. She curled her hair but left them hanging loose. She took the top of her hair and secured it back with a red bow. She slid on her dressy, black purse and went to step out but realized her feet were bare.
"Shit! All of my shoes are out there." She opened the door, just a crack. "Don't look. Promise?"
"I promise." Rick held his hands over his eyes and she tip toed past him. "When can I look?"
"When I tell you, you can." She opened her hall closet door and rummaged through until she found her red, t-strap shoes. She slid them on and clicked her heels. "Perfect."
"Can I look now?" Rick whined some more before she stood in front of him.
"Yes. Now." She smiled and twirled in front of him and he just sat there, speechless. "Well, what do you think?"
"That I am the luckiest man on earth." He looked her up and down. "You did all of this for me?" He stood and walked to her.
"Of course I did. I love you, you big dummy." She pulled him by the collar of his black blazer and brought him close to her. She kissed him quickly then released him.
"Whoa."
She laughed and looped her arm through his. "Shall we be going Mr. Castle?"
"Why Ms. Beckett, I do believe we shall."
The cab pulled up to the curb of the Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club. There was no one in sight and the dark of the night crept across the city. Rick paid the driver and opened the door and held his hand out for Kate.
She looked skeptical. "What are we doing here? There isn't anyone around here. It's deserted." She wrapped her hand in his and just walked with him.
"That's the point." He kept walking with her and when she saw it, she was speechless. "I wanted something special for us." He watched as she took the whole seen in.
The usual seating was rearranged and was replaced with some blankets. The fire pit was alive and going. And strings of lights were hung everywhere. There was a lantern on the blanket which lit up a big wicker basket.
She turned to him and just smiled. There was a perfect view of the Brooklyn Bridge which was lit up as well.
"I take it you like it."
"I love it." She went over to the blanket and kicked off her shoes. "Come on over Mr. Castle." She patted the spot next to her and waited for him to make his way to her.
"Wait till you see what I packed." He opened the basket and removed a bottle of red wine.
"Fancy." She giggled and relished in his presence. She tried to ignore the fact that he would be turning himself in the next morning. It wasn't that he didn't deserve to go, he made illegal choices to get where he is today, but part of her didn't believe that she had the whole story.
"There's more." He smirked and waited for her hint of impatience before pulling out a Styrofoam container. He lifted the lid and she started to laugh. "A five star meal." He handed her, her burger and fries.
"You are too much." She leaned and kissed him on the cheek. She set her carton next to her and walked to the railing. She closed her eyes and breathed the city in. It was hers to protect and serve. But what really mattered were the people she shared it with. In that moment, she turned to see Rick smiling and watching her.
"What are you thinking?" He drew a smile on the corner of his mouth and waited for her to answer.
"That I don't want to lose you." She started to tremble and turned her back to him, hoping he didn't notice.
"Kate," He came behind her and rested his hand on her lower back, "I have to do this. I need to be clean of it." He forced her to look at him and watched as the trails of tears ran down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to keep this from you. If I would have known how we were going to go, I would…"
"You would what Rick? Let go? Get rid of me? Do you really regret being with me?" She watched as his eyes narrowed in.
"I could never not want to be with you. The things that I regret have nothing to do with you. I wish I could protect you."
"And I you." They both turned to watch the East River splash about.
"Here." She handed him a napkin.
"I don't need no stinking napkin. But in honesty, I really do need one, I have grease all over my chin." He wiped his face and watched her pick her burger up and take a huge bite out of it. "Good idea then?"
"Hell yes." She managed to swallow quite quickly. "Have any wine left?" She held out her plastic cup to him and waited for him to fill her up. "This is truly wonderful. I mean, I have never had this view. You outdid yourself Rick. I mean…"
"What?" He tossed his napkin inside his empty carton. He brushed hair off her shoulder and gently kissed her neck.
"You know me so well. I haven't had that since, well you know. I mean my dad knew by my face what I was thinking. You get me. I don't know if you know this but before you, I had only had two other boyfriends. If you can even call them that, they were just there. But you are the first serious relationship that I have ever had." She ran her fingers back through his hair and then started to rub his chest.
He looked down at her fingers maneuvering his shirt buttons. He caught her look in the flick of the fire. He knew that she wanted him, right now.
"Kate, we could get caught. You know end up in jail?" He continued to watch her unbutton him. She slid off his jacket then shirt. When she started to unbuckle his pants, he grabbed her hands away.
"Suit yourself." She slid off her dress, walked over to the railing, and winked before diving over.
He bolted to the spot from which she leaped into the water. He watched her splash around. Her face lit up and he knew he couldn't resist. He slid his pants off, tossed them aside, then leapt in after her.
"You're crazy!" He splashed her then dove underwater, picking her up and tossing her.
She shoved his head underneath the water and was tackled by him in the process. Her hair clung to her head but she didn't mind it at all. He swooped by her, knocking water across her face. She laughed and mocked being upset. Then when right around trying to tackle him. Rick went underwater and held his breath. He watched her kick her legs and trying to find him. She swam right past him and he heard and saw her panicky searching. Just as she stared to swim away, he popped up behind her.
Kate swung back her hand and smacked him across his face. "Ohmygosh! I am so sorry." Then she realized what he did and she punched his shoulder. "You big jerk." She started to swim back to the railing.
"It was funny. I got you." He followed right behind her. "You're not even upset so you can stop the act right now." He pulled himself up and saw her grabbing for a blanket to dry off.
"I'm not upset. I'm happy. I am happy when I am with you. And I can't help but think that, that pretty soon, I won't be." She grabbed the blanket that had the drinks on it and wrapped it around her.
Rick grabbed the other one and joined her on the oversized chair that rested near the fire pit. "I'm sorry that I cause you suffering. I don't intend to punish you or I but it's been long enough. Kate, please forgive me."
With that, she turned toward him. "Of course I forgive you. And you don't cause me suffering Rick, you bring me joy." She leaned forward and rested her palm on his cheek. She pulled his face to her and gently brushed her lips against his. As soon as she got a taste of him, she couldn't hold back any longer.
With every flick of his tongue, her desire intensified. She brushed her body along his and felt the flush of heat make its way across her cheeks. His response was just as alarming. He glided his hands over her waist then slid them under the blanket. His free hand was grasping the back of her neck and pulling her closer with every touch.
Kate threw her blanket aside and ripped his off as well. She slid off the chair and pulled him along with her. She found a spot behind the big, white, couch and pulled him down on top of her. She slid off her underwear and tossed them aside.
Rick undid her bra and slid off his boxers. He grabbed for her and the chill that ran through him was astounding. Kate brought herself up to him, over and over, feeling the intense heat between them. Her hands found him and she could feel his pleasure in his kiss. Her tongue ran along his bottom lip.
Rick gently bit her lip and ran his hands along her breasts. They crashed into each other with all of their being. Rick moved with her and let himself have the moment. Kate rose to him and pulled him with her when she went back down. They impacted their surroundings as the stars made their way, lighting up, across the city. Kate looked up to the stars and felt their empowering light. She bit his bottom lip and felt his tongue searching for hers.
The Brooklyn bridge was a backdrop for a night that Kate and Rick would remember forever. And she planned on making the moment last. She tried to not get too into her head and turned her attention back to him. He gently nuzzled her neck and she breathed out a soft moan. She felt him becoming a part of her and she could feel the string that was weaving their two hearts together. She felt herself go free. It was a moment of eternal flight that her entirety was taking.
He picked himself up from her and leaned over her like he was getting ready to do a pushup. He blushed lightly and leaned down once more to give her that moment's last kiss.
"Do you want to do it again?" She wore a cheeky grin but underneath it all, she was desperate to get him while she could. She wasn't ready to admit it to herself but she wasn't sure she could guarantee a forever with him after he turned himself in. That part of her was being cussed out by her heart's voice.
"You want to get caught?" He looked around him and she joined in, not sure what he could see, the couch was blocking them in completely.
"I won't tell if you won't." She pulled the weight of him off his arms and onto her. She hungrily kissed him and desperately clung to him and the way he made her body feel everything all at once.
There was a loud bang and they both bolted up and pushed their naked bodies away from each other. The bang got louder and she told him to wait behind the couch and went to reach for her gun but realized that she had left it at home in a mad dash to go out with him. She cursed herself for being so one track minded.
Rick came up behind her and his sweaty chest, smacked against her back, creating a slapping sound. The noise could be heard from across the street, giving away their location. Just when she needed the city to be noisy, it was unusually still. She held her index finger against her lip and he backed away. There were no more noises. And just as she was about to freak out and as he was sighing in relief, footsteps were sounding closer.
She backed into him, slapping bodies together once more. And when she heard no voice and the still settled back in once more, she silently wished she had grabbed the blanket before making love behind the couch. If she was caught naked, she was sure to get arrested and she couldn't let anyone find out.
What am I thinking? This will be news. Everyone will know. It really came to light. Ohmygosh! Everyone will know. Cap, Ryan, Espo, and Lanie. Ohmy, my mom will find out. And what about Rick? This will be a public scandal. He could get into so much trouble that he couldn't be ADA.
She wanted to slap herself in the forehead but her main concern was being undiscovered and as the footsteps sounded again, she knew that hope was a lost cause. It was just a matter of time before someone found them, naked.
Kate, just baiting out time, almost startled herself when she saw Rick inching away from the couch and to the edge of the railing. She tried to wave him back but it was like he already figured she would try to stop him and he bothered not to look her way. She saw him reach out to the railing, where that had come out moments ago but his hand slipped creating a smack of his palm striking the wet ground.
Footsteps stopped and then picked up pace and she had a second to make her decision, if Rick got caught, he could lose his position of ADA, and if she got caught she would be humiliated and fined but Captain Montgomery would fight for her. She made a rash decision and stepped out from behind the couch. When she did, she knew she made the right decision, to help Rick, but the person who was now getting her every naked part was Ryan.
He didn't bother to look away and she didn't bother to try to cover herself up, he already saw her all. But she did make a move for the blankets and it took moving for Ryan to snap out of his stare. He jerked away and faced his back to her. Kate stopped her searching for the blankets just as Ryan threw her his jacket.
"It's okay to turn around now." Kate watched as he hesitated then trusted her enough to look again. "Now, what are you doing here?" He was about to answer but was interrupted by the splashing of water. Kate looked just as Ryan did.
Rick tried not to freak from the chill of the water that night had brought but failed. "Cooold. So cooold." Then they heard the rattling of his teeth. Kate went to help him get up but given his predicament, she backed off.
When Ryan went to dash for him, she grabbed him back. "Um, he's naked as well." She let go when he looked down at her hand gripping his arm. Ryan backed away as well and turned on his flashlight and roamed it around until it landed on Rick's boxers. He grabbed them quickly then tossed them to a now freezing Rick.
Ryan walked off and proceeded to rub his neck. Kate watched him try to physically rub the stress of having seen Rick and Kate intimately, away. Part of her wanted to comfort him and the other part didn't want to rub salt in the wound for noticing in the first place. She couldn't resist. She held Ryan's blazer closed as she made her way to him. He abruptly turned around.
"What are you doing here?" He gestured to the once intimate setting Rick had provided. He stared directly into her eyes, searching for something he couldn't find.
"What are you doing here?" She tried to play it off but it did make her very curious. She watched him start to unbutton his shirt and she started to stop him until he reached out for her to take it.
He turned around and continued their conversation with his back to her. "I was told that you had gone off and I wanted to check in but you weren't answering your phone. I figured that maybe you turned it off so I called Rick. But he didn't answer as well and I started to worry. Especially with Cliff giving me the creeps. I wanted to make sure you were ok. So I traced your phone, drove over then saw that you two were missing. I thought the worse so I was trying to be quiet. I forgot my gun in the car and I was headed back to get it when I heard the noise. I was worried and I let my imagination get the better of me." He waited while that digested and hesitated to turn around.
"You can turn now." Just as he did, Rick walked up to them. She reached out and placed her palm on his wet chest. He grabbed her hand and Kate went back to Ryan and caught him flinch. She pulled her hand away from Rick.
"So, what were you two doing?" He caught her raised eyebrows and shooed it away. "I didn't mean that. I knew, obviously, um…"
"He wanted to take me somewhere special. And we went for a swim." She let him fill in the blanks, surely causing him more hurt. She dropped her hands from gripping his blazer and was thankful that he had given her his dress shirt.
"You're lucky I found you and not someone else. Imagine being locked up well," he flung his arm out and gestured to them both, "you know."
Rick came up behind Kate and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and huddled with her under it. Kate caught Ryan's agony and pulled herself out from under his huddle. Sure she was still cold but not enough that she couldn't endure it for Ryan's sake.
"Better get everything packed up and I'll drive you two home." Ryan said no more but just walked off to his car and waited for them to follow.
"What's his problem?" Rick chuckled then went to packing up his supplies.
"I don't know." Kate grabbed her wet underwear and bra and shoved them into the picnic basket. She grabbed her dress and held it against her chest. She tossed her shoes with her wet clothes and grabbed Rick's clothes as well. He followed with the towel wrapped around him as she made her way to Ryan.
The whole car ride home to Beckett's place was done with silence. But as Rick got out of the car, Kate handed him all the supplies, grabbed her shoes, then let him go upstairs by himself. She climbed back in the car with Ryan and waited for him to speak. She had to first.
"Is this the way you are going to treat me? I need to know Kev." She turned sideways on the passenger seat and carefully adjusted her clothing.
"I'm just upset Kate. I, you don't. It's fine." He slammed his hands against the steering wheel and it startled Kate.
"I can't help it Ryan. I love him. But that doesn't mean that I don't love you, it's just different." She rested her hand on his bare arm and didn't move away when he leaned close. In fact, when he hesitated, she closed their distance. And when her lips moved over his, she felt a shuffle within her. But she didn't stop, she pushed on, pulling him closer.
It was Ryan who gently pulled himself from her. He rested his forehead against hers, and their heated breaths folded across each other's face. He lifted his head up and tenderly pulled her chin up and close. He gently pecked her lips once more before letting go. He hovered near her, smiling.
Kate wanted to make herself disappear. The guilt rested in right where that shuffle had taken place. She made herself feel unworthy of Rick's and Ryan's love. It didn't help that she felt bad for Ryan. She knew how much he cared for her, where that would lead, she was clueless. But letting it happen the first time could be blamed on shock. But just now, Kate was unsure where that came from or what she could blame it on.
"I shouldn't have." She didn't say more before bolting from the car and running into her apartment building. His jacket blew behind her as she ran up every step. He called after her but she ignored every decibel he started to pass.
When the elevator door shut behind her, she felt weak for not even being able to climb the usual routine of stairs. The elevator doors opened way too fast for her to get some time to think. She stepped off the elevator to see Rick waiting for her.
He immediately smiled and it made her sick to her stomach. She brushed past him into her unlocked apartment. When she had handed him the keys, she hoped he would wait inside but his still dripping wet body rested against the doorframe. She ignored his following presence and marched herself into her bedroom.
She stripped herself of Ryan's clothes and kicked them aside. She yanked open her dresser drawer and slid on a clean pair of underwear. She yanked open another drawer and slid on a pair of pink, sleep shorts. She slid on an old t-shirt of Jim's. She quickly jumped into her bed and ignored the gnawing feeling in her stomach and heart.
Rick slid off his wet boxers, toweled off, then grabbed a fresh pair of boxers out. He slid them on as he made his way to her bed. He watched her back that was covered in a black t-shirt with a white skull and crossbones across the front. He climbed in and scooted closer to her only to see her scoot further away from him.
He leaned up on his elbow and very calmly said, "Is there something that I did to make you angry at me? If so, please do share with the class."
She spun around and sat up in bed. He did the same. Her lip started to tremble and she fought to take control. "I am the worst person ever. I feel like scum. I- I-I…" She couldn't say anymore as her tears gently ran down her cheeks. He leaned to wipe them and she backed away. "I don't deserve your kindness. I don't."
"What did you do to make you think that I wouldn't love you?" His eyes narrowed in and he waited.
She huffed then quickly spat, "I kissed Ryan." She looked down for fear but she heard him laughing.
"Kate," he got out between laughs, "you still on that?"
"You're not listening Rick. I said that I kissed him, not that he kissed me. I kissed him and I didn't stop it, he did. Don't you hate me?" She continued to fight herself on crying but the tears didn't relent.
"Kate, I know that's because he likes you and you felt bad about him catching us like that. Don't think that I didn't pick up your little tells back there." She shook her head at him.
"I don't know if that's why so how can you?"
"Because I know how you feel when you look me in the eyes. I can see it Kate. You can't hide yourself from me, I see you for all you are. Not just the parts that you share. Like I know how hard it is going to be on you when I walk with you to the precinct tomorrow morning. Just like," he picked up her chin, "I know that you want more than anything to give love the way you were given by your dad." She went to pull away but he scooted closer and pulled her up to him. "Honey," she looked right in his eyes, "I know you because you're my favorite subject." With that, he leaned so far into her that she fell back onto her pillow.
She kissed him right back and held his head in her hands and pulled him in closer, wanting to feel every bit of him that her body would allow. She let him slide off her shirt and toss it aside and watched him untie her shorts and toss them aside as well. He slid off her underwear and he tossed his with them. He slid back over her body until he could kiss her again.
She ran her hands through his hair and tugged on it and brought her body up and into every part of him. His kisses trailed down her and her body caught fire within and out. She brought herself to him over and over. He pressed into her and tried to feel the need of each other that they both craved. And the desire was a straight match to the passion that they were creating.