Twenty-two:
Rick and Mindy flew back to New York the day after the Hollywood premiere. Rick needed all of the time that he could to get things arranged for a return to the NYPD. And of course there was always Christmas. Mindy had to admit watching Castle's child-like love of the holiday and everything that went with it, was endearing. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him more and more with each passing day. Mindy knew that despite what he said, or didn't say, he still harbored deep feelings for the woman that chose her career over him. In just the small amount of time that she has been with him, Mindy has found him to be an enigma of sorts. She knew about his past, but yet saw nothing of the agent that he was in his actions or behavior.
Mindy knew that Castle was not ready for any type of relationship. Whatever wounds he carried were still healing. She could only hope that she would be around when they healed, but for now she would do her job and play whatever role was needed for the mission.
Castle wasn't totally oblivious to the fact that there was something growing between Mindy and himself. It wasn't the big acts that they did in public. He'd had plenty of experience with cover dates and putting on a show for the press. No, it was the little touches and glances when she thought that he wasn't looking. There was no doubt that she was a beautiful woman. Rick may be hurting, but he wasn't blind.
Rick spent the first couple of days back from LA on the phone with Bob, the commissioner, and Victoria Gates. He was pleasantly surprised when she agreed to meet him for lunch at one of the better restaurants near the 12th precinct. Her experience in Internal Affairs could help shed some light on who was funneling information to Bracken. He didn't trust Gates, but he subscribed to the old cliche 'hold your friends close, but your enemies closer'.
Rick managed to beg-off on attending the London premiere citing other pressing issues, but assured them that he would be ready for the New York screening. There was a mild amount of grumbling on the part of the studio, but they calmed when Rick agreed to provide additional interviews in New York in exchange.
Castle decided that a night with his friends was in order. He called Ryan and invited him, Jenny, Espo and Lanie out for dinner and drinks. Ryan was eager to come, but wasn't sure how a nine-month pregnant Jenny would feel about going out in public. He promised to relay the invitation to Espo and Lanie and was pretty sure that they would attend.
"So will you be bringing that beautiful blonde that I keep seeing you with to meet us?" Ryan inquires.
Rick has to smile at the question. Of course 'little Castle' would keep track of his actions since leaving the 12th . And if he didn't, Jenny would for him. "Her name is Mindy and I'd love for all of you to meet her.. So what do you say honey-milk, are you going to come? I'm sure if you tell Jenny about her, she'll be there even if she's in labor." Rick has to laugh at the last comment knowing how much truth there was in it.
"Just name the time and the place Castle. We'll be there."
"How about we all meet at The Old Haunt and I'll provide the transportation to and from the restaurant. Is that ok? Say 7:00 pm tomorrow?"
"Sounds like a plan. We'll see you tomorrow. Later man." Ryan replies and ends the call to run and find Javi.
Rick smiles as the call ends and returns his attention to his plan for gaining access to the IA division of the NYPD. So caught up in his work, he fails to notice that it's much later than what he thought it was. Rick walks out of his office and up the stairs to the guest room where Mindy is. He gently taps on the door and asks if he can enter. She summons him to enter as she puts down the book that she was reading. A quick glance at the book reveals that it was Storm Fall, his last Derrick Storm novel. He couldn't help but smile seeing her reading his book and saw that she was a little embarrassed at being caught.
"So you are a fan of my work?" Rick inquires with a smug grin.
"Not really. Just doing research." Mindy counters.
"Research? How does reading a Derrick Storm novel count as research? What we are doing on this mission bears no similarity with the plot of Storm Fall."
"Of course it doesn't. I just wanted to see how much of you was in the character Derrick Storm. If there was something more I could learn about you.. How you tick."
Rick was more than a little pleased by the sincerity in her response. "To be honest, I'm nothing like Derrick Storm. The only similarity we have is we were employed by the CIA. I spent most of my time as either a courier of information or as a partner to another agent who was actually running an operation. My status as a writer and a celebrity gave me access to people and places that would have taken others a long time to earn. No, Derrick Storm was nothing more than a fantasy."
Mindy watched as his body seemed to deflate a little after his admission regarding Storm. She rose up from the chair she was sitting in and walked to where he stood, taking his hands in hers and giving them a tug so he would look at her. "You're wrong. You're more like Derrick Storm than you may want to admit. What you did was important. Don't ever forget that. What we are doing now to take down Bracken may be the most important mission you ever have." She leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. "No worries mate." She commented in a Crocodile Dundee impression and smiled.
Rick had to smile at her comment. "Thank you. I needed that." There was a long pause before he continues. "You know there really was a reason why I came up here and it wasn't to catch you reading one of my books... I've invited a few of my friends from the NYPD out for dinner and drinks tomorrow and wanted to know if you would like to come with me?"
'Was Rick asking me out on a real date?' She wondered. Mindy had to admit that she was pleased that he wanted her to meet his 'real' friends. "I'd love to meet your friends Rick." She replied with a shy smile.
Castle couldn't contain his grin and comments. "Great. It's a date. Until tomorrow Mindy." He turns and walks out of her room.
X-X-X
Castle woke up the next morning after a surprising, dream free night of sleep his nostrils filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. He climbs up from his resting place and staggers from his room to the bathroom. Taking care of business, he saunters out to follow the aroma and sees his daughter and Mindy talking. Alexis is pouring coffee for Mindy and herself as she looks up to see her father shuffling into the room while trying to smooth down his hair that was pointing in every direction.
He walks up to Alexis and places a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Hello Pumpkin. How's my favorite daughter this morning?"
Alexis gives him a stern look and an eye roll. "I'm your only daughter, unless there's something you'd like to confess.."
Castle grins and replies. "Wouldn't matter if I had a hundred. You will always be my favorite.."
Alexis smiles at his reply and Mindy comments. "Nice save Rick."
"Good morning Mindy. I trust that you slept well?"
"Slept very well, thank you."
"So are you two conspiring against me, or can I have a cup of coffee also?" Rick inquires as he pulls his favorite cup from the hook where it hung, proffering it to his daughter.
"Sure thing dad." Alexis replies as she pours him a cup. "Mindy and I were discussing what we were planning on wearing to your movie premiere..."
Castle arches a skeptical eyebrow and responds. "Let me guess, you don't have a thing to wear?"
"How'd you know dad? I offered to take Mindy with me and we could both get our dresses together."
"Let me get my wallet. And make sure that you pay for Mindy's dress. I know just how poorly Black Pawn pays its employees." Rick walks back to his bedroom to retrieve his wallet.
"You don't have to do that Rick." Mindy comments.
He walks back to the kitchen and hands his daughter his black card. "It's the least I can do. After all, you're helping me fulfill my obligation to promote this move." Without thinking he leans over and places a small kiss on her cheek.
Alexis silently watches the exchange between the two and smiles thinking that maybe Mindy could be the woman that finally makes her father forget the lost cause that Kate Beckett was. She would do everything in her power to help things along. "Don't worry Mindy, he likes to buy us things. Don't you dad?"
Rick offers a pained smile that causes the two women to giggle as he returns his attention to the coffee in front of him. "So is Pi going to the premiere with you?"
Alexis' smile fades as she listens to his question. "About that.. Pi decided to return to Spain to be with his family for the holiday.. I decided that we needed to take a break anyway.."
"I'm so sorry pumpkin. Are you ok?" Rick gets up from his seat and walks over to where Alexis was sitting, wrapping her in his arms.
Alexis returns the hug and looks directly into his eyes. "I'm fine dad. Honestly. Things have been falling apart for a while now.. I was so embarrassed at his behavior Thanksgiving.."
"Well it's settled then. You're moving back in with us. I want my family together for Christmas and I won't take no for an answer."
Alexis looked up at her father, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I love you daddy." She replies and squeezes him tighter.
"I love you too pumpkin. Always."
Mindy sat there silently watching the exchange between father and daughter. If someone were to ask her for the moment that she started to fall in love with Castle, she would have to say that this was it. She hoped that he'd give her a chance to prove that she wasn't like the others..
X-X-X
Rick was sitting in a corner booth examining the menu when Gates arrived. He rose from his seat and extended his arm gesturing for her to sit. She offered him a smile as if she was genuinely happy to see him after all of this time. "Thank you for coming captain." Rick comments remembering how she likes to be addressed as either captain or sir.
"Call me Victoria or Ms Gates as I'm not in the office right now and you're no longer working for me.." She pauses for a few seconds as she takes the proffered menu from the waiter and thanks him. "I must say that you're the last person that I expected to hear from Mr Castle."
"Please call me Rick, or just Castle. Mr Castle makes me sound old and only my mother calls me Richard." Rick replies.
"Very well then Rick. Why did you suddenly want to see me after all of this time?" Gates was direct and to the point.
Rick smiles at her direct nature. "To be honest, I think that I've written my last Nikki Heat novel. I just don't see anyplace to take that character that will be believable."
"I understand. Have you spoken to Ms Beckett?"
"Not since May."
Gates smiled to herself knowing that Castle has had no contact with Beckett since their breakup in May. "I'm sorry to hear that. What do you want from me?"
"Well, I came up with an idea for a new story. It could possibly become a series if novels if the first one's successful. I've always been fascinated with the Internal Affairs division of the NYPD. Normally, most stories usually paint them in a rather unflattering light. I know that's where you got your start and I wanted to see what you think about my idea.."
"You're asking me my opinion about a story on IA? Or are you wanting my help?" Gates questioned with a wary look.
Rick simply offers a sheepish smile. "Actually both. You were the youngest female to make detective in the NYPD and rose up through the ranks to make captain. I'm sure you have a wealth of knowledge about the department and how it works."
"I was the SECOND youngest Mr Castle." Gates corrects. "Your former girlfriend was the youngest. The IA division is a pretty tight knit bunch and I'm not sure just how receptive they would be to someone divulging just how things work."
Castle is momentarily stunned by Gates comment regarding Beckett, but schools his features before responding. "I understand. Really, I do. I've already spoken to the mayor and the commissioner about my idea and they're both on board with it."
Gates bristles a little hearing how Castle was once again using his connections with the mayor to force himself on another division. "It looks like you've got everything figured out Mr Castle. So why involve me at all?"
"Look, I know that you felt put-upon when the mayor forced you to let me work with Beckett's team. I hoped that I was able to prove my worth during the time that I was there.. I'm sure that you will be the first person called by the other people in IA when I show up there after the first of the year. I was hoping that you'd tell them the truth.." Castle comments while trying to read her reaction to the information.
"And what exactly would that be?"
"That despite your personal feelings towards me, I proved to be a valuable resource and helped solve several cases." Castle states matter-of-factly.
"What if I asked you to return to the 12th and help out instead?"
"I'd politely decline sir. Too many memories."
Gates knew the real reason why he couldn't return to the 12th precinct. "I understand. If anyone calls, and I'm sure they will, I'll tell them the truth. That you were a valuable resource and helped us. Ok?"
"Yes captain. Thank you sir." Castle replies just as the waiter returns to take their orders for lunch.
It was nearly two hours later when Victoria Gates returned to her office in the 12th. She hadn't been at her desk more than a minute or so before she's on the phone to one of her old friends in IA. "Hey Jack, it's Gates. Just had an interesting lunch with the senator's favorite writer..."