CH17

Kate was at a loss. She had been told to find an armored plate, and wear it, or she would die in a few hours. Did she believe the voice? She didn't understand why anyone would want her dead. What had she done?

Did it have something to do with James Rook. He and all of his men were gone. Weren't they? And how does a gang member get training as a sniper with a .50 cal. Weapon?

Maybe it was the guy that had surrendered. But he was in custody, right? Had he been cut loose and the Feds were keeping quite. Were they following him to trace who had hired him, if anyone had. Are the Feds using her as bait without warning her? If they were, someone was going to die alright.

She hated being used. Hated it even more that she didn't know what was going on.

"DAMN IT!" Kate yelled at the elevator doors. What to do? What to do?

If she didn't listen to the voice on the phone, she might be killed today. If she was killed her father would kill her, and maybe himself. Hell, even her mother may step out of her grave and kill her.

Heavy sigh and with slumped shoulders. Need to find an armored plate, just in case. But from where?

Javi was ex-special forces, he may have a contact. But could he get it fast enough? What was plan B if he couldn't? Plan C would be not going to the funeral in the first place. But that plan died as soon as Kate thought it up. Kate Beckett does not run! Not from anyone or anything! Live or die she was going to attend the funeral.

Plan B? "DAMN IT!" Kate yelled one more time. She had a plan B. She just didn't like it. Not at all.

Kate pressed the button to open the elevator doors and stepped out and pulled out her cell phone. Scrolling down the list she stopped at Espo's number and pressed send.

"Esposito." Javi could barely get out while twisting to look at what time it was. '1:00 am!, NOOOO!'

"Espo, it's Beckett. I need a favor."

"Beckett?" Javi's brain not yet functioning. "We got a body drop?"

"Not yet. I need you to find something for me. It's personal." Kate hopes he does not ask too many questions.

"Beckett it's one in the morning. How much more personal does it get?" Slowly waking up.

"I need you to get something for me. And you have very little time to find it."

"What do you need Beckett?"

"I want you to find me an Armored Plate I can wear under my dress blues." Kate knew this was going to be good.

"An armored plate?" Not believing her.

"Yea, an armored plate. Something that can stop a .50 cal. Round."

"Beckett! What are you talking about?"

"Please Javi. Just find me one. If I live I'll try and explain."

"LIVE!" Javi was awake now. "What makes you think the guy who took out Simmons is after you?"

"I have my reasons. Can you find me one?" Not wanting to spend the night trying to explain. Kate just didn't have the time.

"OK, OK. I'll see what I can find. It might not happen till morning."

"I know, but the sooner the better. Thanks Javi. I owe you one." And Kate ends the call.

Now for plan B. "Maybe I can just shoot myself and get it over with." Kate is talking to herself again.

Scrolling down her call list, she gets the name she wants, and waits.

Taking a deep breath, presses the send button.

"Castle." Rick sounds tired. And he was. He was sitting in his office trying to write while staring at the blinking cursor.

"Castle, I need a favor."

"Detective Beckett? It's ... one in the morning detective." Rick is confused. Shouldn't she be asleep. Provided she does sleep.

"I need a favor Castle. Can you find me an Armored Plate I can wear under my cloths tomorrow?" Please don't say something stupid.

"An armored plate? Like an armored plate from the movie 'V'? Or the armored plate Clint Eastwood wore in that spaghetti western. I forget the name."

"Yea, something like that. Something I can wear under my cloths and can stop a large caliber round."

Rick is silent for a little while. "Do you want it with breasts or without?"

"CASTLE!" Just the kind of response she didn't want.

"I'm serious. With or without space to accommodate your chest size."

Kate unconsciously looks down at her chest. She wasn't flat chested like Jessica was. But she's not that big either. Not that being larger mattered to her. She was happy with her size. What was it with men and chest size anyway?

"It doesn't matter Castle. With would be nice, but without will work just as great." Was he really going to do this?

"When do you need it by?" Could it wait until tomorrow. Ooops, make that later today?

"I need it before I get dressed to attend the funeral for the 4 cops we lost earlier. Their funeral is later today."

"According to the News that is scheduled for 1:00 pm."

"Yeah, and I need it prior to that and have time to get dressed and travel to the site ahead of time."

"So, no pressure than."

"CASTLE." This was as far as Kate was willing to go at pleading. Even if it was her life.

Rick was no fool. Ok, no one but to himself. He could tell Kate was desperate. As to why. Maybe he could get her to tell him later.

"Ok, give me a few hours. I'll start making phone calls immediately."

"Thanks Castle." And Kate meant it. If the lady with the voice was right. Kate needed help. Even if she did have to ask Castle.

And Kate ended the call. And immediately the voice in her head, 'You can make it up to him by kissing him, again!' Kate just sighed, "Stupid voice!"

Kate couldn't leave it to them. So she went back upstairs and turned on her computer. She was tired, but she could sleep later. Just not hopefully sleep forever.

It was 3 in the morning and Kate had nothing. Dejected and hopeful Javi or even Castle could come up with something, she went home for some sleep.

It was 7:13 am and Kate had just woke up and turned to look at the clock. Groaning, four hours of sleep. Not enough and rolled back over to go back to sleep.

POUND, POUND, POUND.

Kate heard that. But it must be part of a dream. Please let it be part of a dream.

Pound, Pound, Pound.

That was the front door. Someone is at her front door? JAVI? He had found something. Kate gets out of bed and shuffles for the front door. Not awake enough to look thru her peep hole to see who it was. And opens the door.

"CASTLE!" What the hell is he doing at her front door? And this early in the morning?

"I brought you a present." Castle states and walks into Kate's apartment going right past Kate.

"Castle, what the hell are you doing here? Wait how did you know where I live anyway?" Not remembering ever having told him where she lives.

"I brought you a present. Just like you asked." Rick states matter of factly.

He did it? Castle found her an armored plate for her to wear? Really?

Rick drops the box he brought with him that was all wrapped up with ribbon and everything, with a loud bang as it hits the countertop.

"Open it." Rick sounds excited. "Oh, you should read the card first." As Rick takes it off the box and holds it out for Kate to read.

Kate takes the envelope and opens it and pulls out a card that has big bold USMC written on it in large light colored letters, with words written over it. "Surprise, surprise, surprise. - Gomer Pyle."

Kate started laughing. She couldn't help it. Kate remembered that TV show. The line was famous. She could almost picture Gomer telling sergeant Carter those words.

Kate put the card on the counter and ripped open the box as fast as she could. Under the wrapping was a box that had an Amazon swoosh on it.

"Castle?" Kate questions.

"It was the only box I could find on short notice that was the size I needed." Rick just shrugs his shoulders.

Kate pulls a pair of scissors out her junk drawer in her kitchen and cuts the tape to open the box. And pulls out a very heavy armored plate. Holding it up to her, she notes it even has little bumps where her breasts are located.

"I thought about having it painted blue with NYPD letters on it, or just NYPD letters in blue. But wasn't sure I had the time." Rick states with a big smile on his face.

Kate is blinking back tears. "How,.. How did you get it so fast?" He may have just saved her life!

"Oh, that was easy. I know I guy who knew where to look. He found one in Chicago, and another one in Houston. But both of those did not have the 'Dimples' you would need. Then he found one in Boston. So I had him have it driven to the airport where I had it put on a charter flight and flown out here over night." Rick states like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"You had an armored plate flown out on a personal charter jet?" Kate is globberstocked.

Castle just nods his head. What else was he suppose to do? Have it driven out here?

"I,... I, don't know what to say Castle." Still in shock.

"Thank you, would be nice."

Kate drops the armored plate on the box it just came out of, steps up to Castle, places her hands on his shoulders and kisses his left cheek twice. "Thank you!" Then moves to his other cheek and kisses it twice. "Thank you!" And she means it. Castle of all people may have just saved her life.

Rick is beaming, he got a kiss from Kate. Not a kiss, kiss, but he'll take what he can get.

"You're Welcome." Talking thru his smile.

"I don't suppose you are going to tell me what this is all about?" Rick really does have no idea.

"I'm sorry Castle. I, ….. I can't."

"There is a formal gathering coming up to help generate money for the charity to support the families of the fallen officers a couple of days after the funeral. I want you to come with me." Rick is hopeful, and changing the subject.

"Castle,... I don't think,..." Kate is cut off by Rick.

"I'll accept your attendance with me as your thank you for this,... hunk of metal with it's own boobs. Besides all proceeds they gain goes to this charity. You want to show your support. Come with me. PLEASE!" Rick really does want her to say yes.

Kate wonders. He did just save her life. Maybe. And it would be good publicity if she attended. And their families did deserve the money. It wouldn't replace their husbands or father, ...but. And his blue eyes are hard to resist.

"Sure Castle, I'll go with you." Not really sounding happy about her decision, but not really that sad either.

"Great! I'll pick you up at 6:00. It's black tie. Is that a problem?"

Kate hadn't thought of that. That just might be trouble. "NO, No problem."

"Great, I'll see you later." And leans in and kisses Kate on her cheek, and then leaves closing the front door behind him.

On the outside of Kate's door was Rick with his hands in the air. SCORE!

A little piece of Kate really wanted Castle to really kiss her. Not just a little kiss on the cheek. But Kate just ignored it. ' I wonder if he'll bring Alexis. She really is cute.'