CH23
Kate launched herself up off the floor and flew into Castle's arms and wrapped her arms and legs around him. It was all Castle could do to remain upright. The force of Kate hitting him almost had him falling on his ass and then the weight of her on his front had him falling forward.
"Castle, castle, castle." Kate is telling him while kissing him over and over.
Castle however has this 'What the hell is happening.' Kind of look. Just minutes ago she was mad, now she is kissing him. Not that he's complaining. But still. …
Kate unwraps her legs from around Castle and stands in front of him, but does not remove her arms. "How, …. How." Kate knows she pulled the door closed and it should have locked behind her. Not the dead bolt naturally, but the other lock should have.
"I was mad. Really mad. I went down the elevator and when it reached to ground floor I just stood there holding it open. I decided that it wasn't worth being that mad at you about and wanted an explanation about what you were thinking when you did the things you did. So I got back in and came back up.
Your door was closed and you didn't answer when I knocked so I turned the handle to see if it was open so I could call out thru an open door. And it was unlocked. So I just came in, re-closed it and waited for you to come back." To Castle it seemed simple enough.
To Kate however it gave her some answers. His holding the elevator on the ground floor explains why the elevator did not show up when she called. And why she could find no trace of him outside. Even though she did not think she was that far behind him.
But why was her front door unlocked? She always twists the little knob to relock it after she enters. How could she have missed that. Oh yea, Castle was a distraction last night. A really BIG distraction. One she would like to repeat soon. 'About damn time' says the stupid voice.
"Castle, … we need to talk." Kate says looking straight into Castles eyes. But the look she gets back is more worry then interested in what she has to say.
"No, …no. Not that kind of talk. There is something you should know." And Kate takes Castle over to the sofa and sits him down, and explains mostly everything about her mother. How she reacted. How her dad reacted. Why she left law school to become a cop. Why she wanted to become a homicide detective.
The only things she leaves out is how Roy found her and what he did. And about her personal murder board in her dining room.
Unknown to Kate is that Castle already knows all this. Just not the part about her personal murder board. He knows a lot about Kate. Just not that little part.
Castle for his part just sits and listens, even though he has read about all this already. Even his daughter knows some of it.
When she is done, castle is smiling (beaming really). He is proud that she has taken a step and opened up a little. Even if she is not yet truly truthful about everything. But it's a start.
Kate however is concerned. Why is he smiling. She has just spilled her guts to him. Something she has not done with anyone else before. Ok, except for Lanie, but that's different. She is her best friend. If she didn't have Lanie she would be flapping in the wind. Well, maybe worse then she already is.
"I'm just glad you thought enough of me to share that with. It answers a lot of questions. It's probably why while I see a light in your eyes. And why I see a heavy cloud that seems to want to descend and stamp the light out.
How old where you when your mom was killed?" Castle asks, even though he knows the answer.
"Nineteen. I was home for a few weeks before heading back to Stanford to continue my studies." Kate tells him.
"My mother died when I was young also. She died in an explosion far, far from home. A lot of others died with her. They never did recover any of the bodies." What Castle doesn't tell her is that she was on a military ship and had died in the war that was threatening to consume them all.
"I'm sorry Castle. I didn't know." And why didn't I even think to ask earlier?
"What about your father?" Kate had an answer about his mother. What about the father?
"He died not long after." Leaving out that he had died on a different military ship that had had a reactor overload, turning it into its own little super nova.
"OH CASTLE!" Kate wrapped her arms around him as tears started to form. Kate had lost her mother, but at least she had not lost everyone.
Pulling back, blinking back tears. "Brothers, sisters?" Castle just shook his head. 'Only child, all alone'. Kate did the only thing she could think to do and was to hold him again. "I'm sorry Castle."
"It's alright. It was a long time ago." A little longer than Kate realizes even.
"I really do need to go. I have to get Alexis." Castle takes his arms away from around Kate and stands.
"Yea, sure. I understand."
"You want to come with Alexis and me to the Zoo around noon? There is a 4D theatre presentation." Castle asks hopeful. Maybe get a real date out of this.
"4D?" Kate questions.
"Yea, 3D glasses and they actually launch stuff out into the audience. Not air or water like they do at 'It's a Bugs Life' at Walt Disney World. Come with us. It'll be fun. I know Alexis would die to have you come. Besides what else are you going to do on your day off?"
Kate thinks it over. More time with Castle. Was this really what she wanted to do? And they haven't had time to talk about last night and this morning, and what it meant for them. If there is a 'Them'. And Alexis IS cute and she owes her a pizza. She could get drunk with Lanie. But Lanie will blast her with questions. And she's not yet ready to talk to Lanie about what happened last night with Castle. Though she can almost hear Lanie squealing in her ear already!
"Sure. I'll be at your place at 11:30. That ok?" Kate makes up her mind.
"We'll be waiting." Castle answers excided, and leans in and gives Kate a REAL kiss, while wrapping his arms around her. Kate responds by kissing him back.
Breaking away, "I really need to get going. We'll see you later." And heads for the door. "Oh, and just dress casual, nothing fancy." And opens the door. "But you probably already knew that, didn't you." And exits quickly before Kate gets a good look at his reddening face.
Kate just stands there smiling. His embarrassment was kind of cute, and refreshing. Not like the guys who usually come onto her. Alpha Males who think the world spins around them and any female should just bow down and worship the ground they walk on.
Still smiling Kate heads for her bedroom. She needs to get ready for her date. 'WAIT, did I just say DATE?' Is it a date? He is buying tickets for the zoo and she is going out with him. BUT, she is buying dinner with a pizza. AT his place? Is it a date?
Still smiling she heads for the shower. Just had one not that long ago comes to mind. Making her smile even wider. Yea, and what a shower.
'I told you so.' Says the voice. "Oh shut-up." Kate replies with an even bigger smile.
Kate arrived just as indicated at 11:30. Only to find that there was a Town Car with a driver already there. Ready to take them to the Zoo and pick them back up again. Kate had decided on straight leg jeans, a black bra under a darker pull over string strap top with a see thru light colored string top camisole on top. Her shoes were strap type sandals with a little bit of heel (only 2-1/2"). Yes there would be some walking involved, but she wanted to make sure castle had a face she wanted him to have while she walked out in front of him.
Castle had arranged for a private guided tour of the zoo. Something Kate had never done before. And everywhere they went Alexis was recognized by all the staff.
Apparently if you donate enough money, they had waved the 22 year old restriction for Alexis. Though she still could not do certain things because of her age. But that did not seem to stop most of the staff members.
Bronx Zoo Volunteer Program
Friends of the Zoo
Become a member of the Friends of the Zoo, the docent organization based in the Education Department at the Bronx Zoo. Enthusiastic adults 22 or older, who can serve weekdays or weekends for a minimum of two years, are prime candidates for the program. Weekday docents serve one day per week; weekend docents serve one day every other weekend. Docents enjoy free admission to the Wildlife Conservation Society's four zoos and the aquarium in New York. They receive continuing education courses on wildlife biology, and discounts at WCS gift shops.
As part of the Education department, docents:
Offer guided tours of zoo exhibits to schoolchildren, organized groups, and families.
Work as exhibit interpreters in exhibits throughout the Park providing visitors with valuable lessons that promote wildlife conservation.
Assist the Education Department with its environmental education programs.
Assist at special events (Members' Nights, Overnight Safaris, etc.)
To become a Friend of the Zoo, candidates need to pass an interview, to participate in a 3 month period of activities and in-park observation, and to successfully complete a 3 month training course.
The Training Program
The staff of the Education Department and the members of the Friends of the Zoo will mentor trainees. Trainees will attend 8-10 days of classes and exhibit tours led by Education Department staff and veteran docents. The training course will include homework and a 10 minute final presentation. The goals of the 6 month training program are:
To acquaint the trainee with the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Friends of the Zoo.
To orient the trainee to the facilities and policies of the Bronx Zoo.
To help the trainee learn about the animals and exhibits.
To help the trainee to feel comfortable as a member of the volunteer organization.
To provide the skills necessary for interacting with the visitors to the Zoo.
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Kate got to see and do things she had never done before. And was amazed at just how much Alexis knew from her time here.
They had run across one lady that was part of the staff, who had been working with Alexis her entire time she was at the zoo. "You have a lovely daughter. She is the brightest little thing. So inquisitive and kind. You should be proud." Then she ran off to prevent some child from throwing things over one of the fences into the animals. Not giving Kate a chance to respond.
'My daughter? She thinks Alexis is, … MINE!?' Alexis was off talking to another staff member along with Castle. 'Mine!?' Have they been telling people here that she was Alexis's mom? Turning in space she needed to find someone to ask. The first lady was long gone. But she spotted another worker and walked over to ask him.
What she got back amazed Kate. No one had even seen Alexis's mom, just her dad. Even he thought she was Alexis's mom. Who else would she be?
Kate didn't contradict him. Mostly because she couldn't form the words. Why would everyone think I'm Alexis's mom? She was going to have a little talk with Alexis over pizza tonight. Without Castle around. Kate didn't want to hurt her feelings, but she HAD to know.
