Two Weeks Later – The Hamptons
Castle woke up to the routine he's adopted since arriving two weeks ago. He quickly got dressed and headed off for his morning run along the beach. Not one for running, he was still boiling over when he arrived after his brief conversation with Beckett and didn't want to drown himself with alcohol. So he changed and took off down the beach. Now he found himself enjoying it. It wasn't like he was out of shape… he was concerned about his appearance and worked out regularly. He was just never one of those who took to running.
His time out here was a blessing. Naked Heat was completed and sent off to Gina for review and editing. The only issue he hasn't been able to resolve was that of Kate Beckett. He was glad she quit calling. He wouldn't even listen to the messages she left, simply deleting them. Then she started sending him a text every day. For the first week he didn't delete them but he also wouldn't read them. Finally it started to get the better of him and he grabbed his phone and started reading them.
The first couple where her once again apologizing for her actions regarding Demming; then others came letting him know how important he was to her team and that there wasn't anybody out there who could take his place. After, he received ones letting him know how much she missed him and asking him to please come back. Finally she sent information on their current cases… trying to tempt him to return.
He found himself torn. He made up his mind and forgave her for her actions and really wanted to see her again, work with her and the boys again. He knew she had learned from her mistake. But he couldn't… he couldn't be by her side day in and day out feeling what he did for her… knowing she was with somebody else.
What Castle did know was it was time to stop hiding out… out here in the Hamptons and return back to the city. He missed his little girl and even his mother. Talking to them on the phone just wasn't cutting it. So after his run he packed up his stuff got into his Ferrari and headed back home.
The 12th Precinct
Kate Beckett sat at her desk catching up on the paper work that has been piling up since they wrapped up their latest case a day ago. Things have finally gone back to some sort of normalcy after her partner's departure. The boys and everyone else is the bull pen were no longer sneaking glances and watching her when they didn't think she was aware. After her conversation with Castle she had been decimated. She couldn't hide how much it hurt for him to no longer be there by her side. The good thing was that nobody came straight out to ask her what had happened. So after the first few days of moping and being distant she put on an act that everything was fine.
Her talk with Lanie showed her just how wrong she had been about everything. She knew he would not take her phone calls; as a result Lanie convinced her to send him a text every day he was gone. Apologizing, telling him how much he meant to her and how much she missed him, and begging for him to come back.
So for the last 2 weeks she had been doing exactly that. Although he never replied, she prayed that he was at least reading them. She even tried enticing him with the current cases they were working on. She was willing to do anything just to have him back with her.
Deciding she needed a break she turned to the boys "Hey guys I'm going to head down and see Lanie for a few, you guys need anything while I'm out?"
"No we're fine" they reply in unison.
As she leaves the bull pen Ryan turns toward Esposito "I know Beckett keeps everything to herself, but how do you really think she is doing?"
"I'm really not sure Kev, like you said she keeps everything close to the vest. But I do believe she is missing him."
"Yeah, I have to agree. So do you think they will ever make up?"
"After the way he walked out of here that day and how she was acting after she went to see him… I'm not sure. We both know the way Castle feels about her, but it just might be a little too late."
"I hope you're wrong Javi. I really hope you are wrong."
OCME
Beckett enters the morgue looking for her best friend. Not finding her right away she is about to leave when she hears her name.
Turning around "Hey Lanie, I thought maybe you ran out for lunch or something."
"No, sorry just had to go into the back office to look over some old files." Looking over her friend she asks "So is everything going okay?"
"Yeah, just fine" Kate replies while looking down towards the floor.
"Kate, this is me you are talking to… you know when I can tell you're lying."
"Alright I… I'm not fine." Taking a deep breath she continues "It's been two weeks and I still haven't heard from him. What if he is done with me? What if there is nothing I can do to fix this?"
"Kate, you need to calm down. Getting yourself all worked up is not going to help this."
"But Lanie, I did everything you and I talked about and am getting nowhere. Maybe I should just go to the loft and beg Martha and Alexis to tell me where he went."
"I know you want him back, but think about it… even if they tell you where he is do you think it's a good idea to go and ambush him?"
Thinking over what Lanie said she asks "Then what should I do?"
"Give him time, that boy cares about you… dearly. Just give him a little longer to sort things out and keep sending him the texts… don't let up."
Gathering herself she gives her friend a hug "Thanks Lanie."
Castle's Loft
He gets back to the city by early afternoon. Placing his key in the lock he turns the handle entering to find his daughter sitting on the couch… her nose in a textbook.
Raising her eyes up she registers who she sees and squeals "Dad you're back" getting up and running into his arms for a much needed hug.
"Hey Pumpkin, it's good to be back. I missed you like crazy."
"I missed you too; there hasn't been anybody here to corrupt me. Interrupt my studies with games of laser tag."
"I'm sure your grandmother has done enough corrupting for the both of us while I've been gone."
"Maybe, but it is still good to have you back. So how are you doing? I mean obvious you are looking better?"
"Alexis I'm doing okay. The time out there has done wonders. I was able to finish my book and get it off to Gina… and actually I took up running."
She notices the one thing he hasn't mentioned, Detective Beckett. Deciding to let it go for now she instead gives him a doubtful expression saying "You're serious… my dad running."
"Hey don't look at me like that… I do occasionally work out you know."
"I know… it's just in my 17 years I don't think I've ever seen you run."
"Hey, look at it as you can teach an old dog a new trick."
"So are you finally actually admitting you're old?"
He is about to respond with a comeback when she continues "I'm just kidding… we both know you would not admit it anyway."
"Yeah you're right about that. So now that you have quizzed me, tell me what has been going on with you since I have been gone?"
She is not sure whether now is the right time to bring up her good news; she just got him back home and she has missed him. But he will be proud and supportive like he always has been. She starts "Actually, I do have some good news."
Smiling down at her waiting for her, she continues "I got in dad."
"You got in that's great… wait what do you mean you got in? What did you get in?"
She answers "Princeton's summer program for high school students."
Stunned he replies "Last time we talked you told me you were on the waitlist."
Feeling bad she responds "Someone just canceled, but we have to send them a deposit ASAP because it starts in two weeks,"
"Honey, that's great… why do you look sad about it?"
"It's just that with everything you have gone through I don't think it is a good idea for me to leave for the summer."
"Alexis that is thoughtful, but I can't let your pass on a wonderful opportunity like this." After thinking it over a minute he continues "Why don't we all go out to dinner once your grandmother returns? We can celebrate both my book and your acceptance."
Smiling "Sounds great dad."
Later that evening after getting back and Alexis heading to bed, Martha turns to her son "So tell me how you are really feeling Richard."
"What are you talking about mother?"
"Don't give me that…. At dinner you talked about everything except a certain detective."
"That's because there is nothing to talk about."
"Really, you do know that I know when you are not being truthful."
"What do you want me to say? That I miss her? That I want to go back to the precinct and be with her again?"
"Well that would be a start son."
Sighing and not happy about her bring up the topic; he starts "Look mother maybe I'm not ready to address it yet." Then deciding he needed to get out of there he continues "I'm going out for a while."
McSorely's Ale House
Not long afterwards Castle finds himself in a back corner booth at McSorely's. Of course there had to be a few officers from the 12th. He was just glad that most of them acknowledged him with a nod instead of coming over to talk.
He was just in the middle of knocking off his second glass of scotch when somebody approached his table. Looking up he saw the one person he had no interest in ever seeing again.
"Demming" he acknowledged.
"Castle" he returned.
"So is there something I can do for you" he asks.
"Not really, I'm just surprised to see you here… I figured you would be running back to the 12th with you tail between your legs like the faithful dog you are."
Raising his voice Castle replies "What the hell are you talking about Demming?"
This gets the attention of the fellow officers in the bar, causing them to take notice who Castle is talking to. Most can't wait to see what happens… knowing that whatever is going on probably has something to do with a certain female detective.
"Don't give me that shit Castle… both of us knows that ever since I started seeing Kate you did everything in your power to ruin our relationship. Don't try playing dumb about it. You can't tell once you found out we broke up you didn't run straight to her side trying to mark your territory."
"You broke up?"
"Seriously, you're telling me you didn't know? I can't believe it seeing how you're the reason why."
"What do you mean I'm the reason why?"
"Don't be stupid… like you didn't know that little stunt you did wouldn't mess her up. Thanks to you she broke up with me not even two days later."
Castle is surprised by this new information. He didn't mean for his leaving to make her choose between himself and Demming. He just wanted her to be happy and knew he couldn't be around if someone else was the cause of it.
Not saying anything back Demming continued "So I take it now that you know you'll be running to her for some sloppy seconds."
"Excuse me" he replies feeling the anger flowing through him at Demming's comment regarding Kate; he stands up yelling "don't you talk about her like that."
"Come on Castle, what are you going to do… write me a threatening letter?"
Taking all he could he replies "Why don't you step outside and find out?" He then steps around the robbery detective exiting the door.
Demming can't believe what he heard. Was the writer actually challenging him to a fight over Beckett? Smiling he turned to meet the challenge.
Outside Castle takes off his jacket and dress shirt leaving him in a form fitting T-shirt that shows off the physique he hides so well. This catches Demming by surprise as he steps out the door. The robbery detective then does the same. It isn't long before their fellow officers come out to watch the action.
They stand face to face out in the side street. Demming decides to egg him on saying "I don't know why you feel the need to fight for her?" Smiling he goes on "She really isn't worth it; plus she is pretty bad in bed."
Before he can react, the writer flies off with a powerful right hook catching the detective squarely in the left eye. Stumbling backward it takes him a moment to catch his bearings. Once he has he launches himself into Castle taking them both to the ground. Castle is momentarily stunned… having the wind knocked out of him. Demming takes advantage by connecting a right hook of his own to Castle's left eye. He goes to follow up with another when the writer blocks it with his left arm while counteracting it with a right jab to Demming's nose busting it.
This gives him enough time to get back to his feet. The detective staggering back up to his own feet; Castle fakes with a left jab… Demming trying to protect any more damage to his face overreacts leaving his ribs open to powerful body shot. The detective falls down on one knee and Castle decides to finish this once and for all by connecting again with a hook to his face putting him down for the count.
While lying on the ground recovering, Castle steps close enough for him to hear "Don't let me hear you saying anything else bad about Beckett or next time I won't be so easy on you."
With this he leaves the scene passing a battered detective and a shocked group of officers. Hailing a cab deciding he had enough excitement for one night. He contemplates what he has found out… Kate is no longer with Demming. He doesn't know what he should do… he already forgave her, and now Demming is gone. Should he come back to the 12th? Even with all her texts… does she want him back? Maybe he should take a day or two to think it over.
He enters the loft thanking God that nobody is awake, he doesn't want to have to explain the swelling around his left eyes or how he is moving gingerly that's to a sore set of ribs. He decides on a nice hot shower before bed.
The next morning he is up early making breakfast for his daughter. Smelling the bacon she hurries down the stairs.
"Good morning dad" she calls out. He is about to reply when she notices his left black eye "What happened to your eye?"
"Morning pumpkin" he responds taking a minute to answer her question. He then continues pointing to his eye "Oh this, it's nothing… just wasn't paying attention and I walked into something."
"Really, that the best thing you could come up with. Do you expect me to believe that?"
"Alexis, it… it's nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing, start talking."
Sighing, knowing she is not going to let up "Okay, alright… last night after we got back from dinner I decided to go out. I…I got into an argument with someone and it resulted in a fight."
"A fight… what do you mean you got into a fight? And with whom for that matter?"
"I got into a fight with um… Detective Demming."
"You got into a fight with a cop, what were you thinking? You could have been arrested?"
"Look, he started it… so there is no way I would be arrested."
"So he started it, why couldn't you be the bigger man and walk away?"
"Alexis you weren't there… you didn't hear what he was saying about Kate." He replies without thinking.
"Oh, so you were defending her honor."
"Yes, I guess I was."
"Okay, why didn't you just say so?"
He doesn't know what to say and just changes the subject "So eggs or pancakes?"
"Pancakes of course."
12th Precinct
Kate Beckett enters the precinct, hurrying to catch the elevator. As she enters she notices one officer in particular standing towards the back keeping to himself, Demming. By the look of it… someone laid a pretty good beating on him. His left eye was almost completely swollen shut and black and blue. His nose appeared to have been busted and by the way he walked out of the elevator to his floor… his ribs were bruised.
Most of her day was for lack of a better word quiet. Karpowski's team was up, so unless there were multiple murders she should have nothing but to finish up the paper work. She did however notice that every once in a while she would lift up her head to catch to others looking at her and whispering amongst themselves. Shrugging it off she returned her attention to her reports.
By later in the afternoon she was at her limits. Every time she did anything… it seemed people were watching her. Turning to the boys she replied "Ryan, Esposito break room now."
Closing the door behind them and closing the blinds to give them some privacy, she started "Is something going on that I don't about?"
Ryan answers "What do you mean?"
"Come on Ryan, something is obviously going on and for some reason it includes me."
Esposito jumps in "Why do you say that?"
"Javi, you can't tell me you haven't noticed how all day the others have been staring at me whispering when they don't think I'm aware."
She notices the two quickly glance at each other. "Okay boys what aren't you telling me?"
Espo begins "So you really don't know?"
"No Espo… please fill me in."
Smiling at her he starts "Well a bunch of officers were at McSorely's last night and…"
"Can't you just get to the point?" she asks.
"What and ruin the story? Oh no and I think once you hear everything it will make your day."
Somewhat frustrated she replies "Fine… continue."
"Okay as I was saying a bunch of the guys were at McSorely's last night. Well Castle was there" hearing this gets her attention… he's back in the city. "He was sitting in a corner booth when Demming approached him."
Her eyes widen at this. "Anyway some things were said and Castle challenged Demming to a fight."
"Wait, Castle challenged Demming… did anybody hear what was said between them?"
Espo lowers his eyes "Um… um somebody said it had something to do about you."
"That son of a bitch, wait until I get my hands on him…"
"Kate relax, I didn't even get to the best part. So as they walked outside a bunch of the guys followed. From what they told me and believe me it was a shock to them too…"
"Javi, quit stalling and tell me."
"Okay, Castle pretty much mopped the floor with Demming. In fact as he was walking away someone overhead him tell Demming that if he ever heard him saying anything awful about you again" pausing for effect "he wouldn't go easy on him next time."
Kate Beckett is stunned. Never before had they boys seen her like this. She is just standing there staring into space. After a minute Ryan asks "Hey Beckett is everything alright?"
"Yeah, um everything is fine. So just to make sure I understand… Castle kicked Demming's ass defending my honor."
"Yep" he replies smiling.
She stands there for a minute thinking about it. She then turns to the boys with a smile on her face they haven't seen in weeks. "I suddenly have something I need to take care of. I'll see you guys Monday morning."
They both smile back watching her gather her things and hurrying out of the bull pen. She doesn't even wait for the elevator, taking the stairs.
Esposito turns to his partner "So you think Castle will be back on Monday?"
Ryan smiles back "I so sure of it I wouldn't place money on it."
AN: Sorry it took a while to update, still am fuming over the finale. Hope you enjoy… thanks for the reviews and follows. Guess you can tell what happens next. Anyway, update will be coming soon.
Thanks once again for your continued support.