CH16
It is now one month later: (Early August 1999)
Getting Jim Beckett home went about as well as Kate had feared it would. Lots of yelling, screaming, and insults on Jim's part. He flatly refused to see that he had a drinking problem. He had a drink occasionally and that was all.
As for not going into work. "I'm on vacation and everything is fine." Even having Castle with her didn't appear to help. If anything it made things worse.
Kate was outside the home and in Rick's arms softly crying. "I don't understand. He's just going to go back to drinking and I can't stop him. He's going to kill himself babe and I don't know what to do."
"There are detox sites and AA places, however for those to even have a chance of working, he has to be willing to go to there. I don't think they lock him up at these detox sites, so even if we got him in one he could just walk out, and AA meetings are all voluntary. Until he wants to get help I don't know how to help him either.
I can ask around, maybe someone knows something or has an idea," Rick offered.
"I can't lose my dad Castle, he's the only family I have left." Kate collapsed onto the love seat at home.
"Let me see what I can find and we can go from there," Rick replied, getting Kate to nod her head, happy and grateful to have the help.
"How about you Kate, how are you holding up?" Rick hadn't seen Kate break down since that one time, however that didn't mean she wasn't suffering.
"I'm fine." Kate answered quickly, a little too quickly. Her remark had Rick staring at her. "Honest I'm fine," she said, only to see Rick continue to stare at her. Kate sighed. "It hurts babe. I have questions that she's not there to answer. She's never going to see me succeed at anything. Never going to meet you and know that I'm happy. I miss her so much." Kate fell into Rick's arms.
"A future without her just feels like there is a hole in my life that no one is going to be able to fill." Kate fisted Rick's shirt in her hand.
"You still want answers?" Rick asked, meaning did she want to stay in the Academy?
"Yes, I want to know why, and know that the person who took her from me understands what he has done and rots in prison for it." Kate confirmed.
"You want revenge?" Rick questioned. "I want justice. To know that he is paying for his crime." To Kate there was a difference. It may be a fine line, but still a difference.
Jim had retreated to his room leaving Rick and Kate to themselves. It hurt Kate's heart that her own father was so indifferent to her. At least with Castle present Jim wasn't slapping her and yelling at her.
The two of them spent the afternoon and into the evening cleaning the house and doing laundry while they still had Jim up and sober. Jim had only glared at Rick when he had entered his room and took away the dirty clothes strewn around the room.
"Can your father cook?" Rick asked looking at what food was in the kitchen.
Kate shook her head. "Mom was the cook in the house. Dad is more like you-he would be lucky to burn water." Kate teased.
"Oh hardy har, har. My girlfriend the comedian. Maybe we could take your skill out on the road." Rick countered.
Kate's eyes opened wide. "Girlfriend!?" Kate hadn't really thought about who they were.
"Well we're living together, making love daily, and you don't have a ring on your finger, unless you want one?" Rick went fishing and tried mightily to keep his face blank, though it was a struggle. He feared he was failing.
Kate instantly felt her heart pound in her chest. RING!? Kate was shocked into silence. God, was he really thinking of… "Girlfriend is good Castle." Kate was nowhere near ready to be married. She may love him, but marriage?
"So does that make me your boyfriend?" Now Rick was smiling wide. He lifted his eyebrows a couple of times, teasing Kate.
Kate smiled at his antics and the seriousness of the topic. "Yes Castle, that makes you my boyfriend." Kate was still smiling when she took Castle's face in her hands and kissed him.
"I'll let you go grocery shopping for someone who can't cook while I finish cleaning and do laundry." Rick offered.
"Deal, I'll be back soon. …I love you baby." Kate felt the need to say it again after what they had been through recently.
Kate let out a huff of air when Castle suddenly took her in his arms and pulled her into him. "Baby?" Just when did he become a baby?
"Love muffin?" Kate offered seeing in Castle's face that he didn't like that one. "Honey muffin?" Kate knew she was teasing. "Cuddle Bear, …lover boy?"
Kate felt Castle squeeze her tighter. She was having trouble keeping a straight face. "That's lover MAN, Just Kate. …Lover MAN." Rick countered while smiling at Kate.
"Whatever you say baby." Kate teased him again, kissed him quickly, then escaped his arms to go shopping.
Shopping for food for her dad did present a problem. Kate was using everything her mother had taught her while cooking for herself and Castle and had even gone looking for some new recipes to try. Her dad, however, couldn't cook at all. She needed to find things that only required the use of the microwave or maybe oven, though she tried to stay away from anything that required the use of the oven.
It took Kate almost 2 hours to go, look, buy and come back. "You don't buy this stuff for us," Rick pointed out as he helped Kate unload what she had bought and put everything away.
"That's because I know how to cook Castle." Kate countered, even though she knew that Castle knew that.
"That's my point Kate. Your mother is living in you. You are using what she taught you when she was here. So long as you live so does she." Rick remarked, hoping Kate could see his meaning.
"That's sweet Castle, thank you." Kate kissed him for it. "Castle where are your parents." He had seen hers even if her mother was only in pictures.
"Mother is in a traveling play that happens to be in Chicago at the moment. She is likely be there for another 3 months before moving on to the next major city. Mother takes whatever acting job she can find and sometimes it keeps her moving.
I have no idea who my father is. He turned out to be a one night stand for my mother. Mother says she loved him the moment she saw him and doesn't regret a thing about that day. She's never heard of seen him since that time.
When I was a kid my dad was anything I wanted him to be. Police, FBI, CIA, heart surgeon, farmer, or traveling salesman. The list was endless." From Kate's point of view Castle didn't sound sad, just not that happy. It made Kate make a mental note to remind herself to ask him more questions about his childhood.
"Is your mother married? Her husband isn't part of your life?" Kate didn't know much about Castle's past except for Meredith and their child that she had gotten rid of. Remembering that day pained her heart for him yet again.
"Mother is married to her second husband. He usually follows her wherever her job takes her. The two of us haven't spent much time together. The last time I met him I got the impression that he wasn't interested in being a stepdad." Rick shrugged his shoulders. "Which is fine since it leaves me with my imaginary dad."
Kate felt sorry for him. No father figure. No one to throw a ball around with. Kate buried her head in his chest and prayed for a better future. "You want to go say bye to your dad? Tell him he has food and the house is clean with clean clothes. We can come back next week and do this again." Rick offered.
They were soon both back home and Kate was cooking dinner while Rick sat and watched her cook while typing his next book. "So what's this one called Castle?" Kate asked while she cooked.
"Storm Warning," Rick answered while still typing.
"And what is Storm doing this time?" Kate was fishing and hoped Castle was too zoned out to notice.
"He's investigating a murder-for-hire gang that is based in New York City. Right now he is finding out…" Rick lifted his head to look at Kate and stopped typing. "Are you fishing for inside information Kate? Trying to get a sneak peek perhaps?" Rick glared at her.
"Just curious Castle, nothing more." Kate lied and returned her focus to making dinner.
"I'm not telling you anything in my sleep either. I've been taught by the best not to talk." Rick pointed out.
"What makes you think I haven't already gotten you to talk Castle?" Kate turned her head to smile at Castle and tease him.
"Katherine Beckett, you wouldn't! Perhaps I should switch to sleeping alone in the spare bedroom." Rick fought back, watching Kate drop her wooden spoon on the floor. She cursed while she picked it up and threw it in the sink, which forced her to search for another one.
Rick smiled to himself since he was thinking that he had just won that round, especially since Kate remained quiet. He typed till Kate announced that dinner was ready.
"How about a taxi over to the house after dinner?" Rick offered.
"The contractors will be gone and the place will be locked up tight." Kate didn't see the point since they couldn't get in.
"I was thinking we could walk the area at night and get a feel for the area. See what restaurants, grocery or convenience stores are in the area." Rick explained what he planned better.
"I like it; help me clean up from dinner and we can go." Kate knew she liked the new home, she just didn't know a whole lot about the area itself.
They started off at the corner of Central Park West and West 105th Street where they could see their cathedral area that was their living and dining rooms along with all the work that was taking place just outside the doors and windows.
They walked north up Central Park West with the northern end of Central park on the other side of the street. "We actually have Central Park right outside our front door," Kate pointed out, liking the location. The entire building was having a black wrought iron fence with gates installed for security and privacy for all the tenants.
Walking down Central Park West allowed them to see the red brick three story building at night as well as the round towers on each corner of the building. "These round towers remind me of medieval castles, except for the roofs." Rick pointed out.
From Central Park West, they turned left down West 106th Street. The first thing they found was a small kitchen appliance and knick knack store next to a tour company.
The intersection with Manhattan Avenue gained them a coffee shop and a pair of restaurants, one of which was obviously Japanese. "Sushi!" Rick smiled happily.
The Columbus Avenue intersection gained them several more restaurants, a jewelry store, a church, and a bike shop. "We could get bicycles, ride them across the street, and throughout Central Park," Rick offered, getting Kate to nod her head approvingly.
"Where do we store them?" Their new place was really nice, but it was a little short on storage.
That forced Rick to think about what to do. There really wasn't anyplace out on their back patio area to store them and not have them stolen. "We have two parking spaces so if we only get the one car we could have a storage unit brought in or built. Maybe even a unit big enough to store your motorcycle in for winter." Rick remarked. Kate wasn't convinced about only having one car, but the storage shed made sense. They definitely needed more exterior storage.
Turning left onto Columbus Avenue got them another restaurant, another travel company, and Adel Wine and Liquor store. "I know where we're buying all our wine and beer now." Rick gestured, getting Kate to agree. "Pizza!" Rick pointed. Kate roled her eyes since she was still on her healthy-for-you food kick.
Continuing down Columbus Avenue they found still more restaurants. "Chinese, more pizza, and Yum Yum? What the heck is Yum Yum?" Rick understood the concept, but actually naming your place Yum Yum?
By the look of it, as they both peered through the glass, it was another Chinese food place. "At least we're not going to starve." Rick pointed out.
Turning left onto West 104th Street was a dry cleaners and a small grocery market. However the walk back to where they started was nothing.
While Central Park West was a busy road, Central Park directly across from them was nothing but tall rocks and trees which blocked any sound coming from Central Park itself. The closest access to Central Park was located at West 106th Street. It had steps taking going up to the park with a walking/bike path off to the left.
"Those bicycles might be a good idea Castle." Kate looked from their new home to their access to Central Park, getting Rick to smile. Bike riding in the park beat riding one of those stationary bikes in the exercise room that they would have access to in their new home.
They both knew that this was New York and they had only walked a few blocks in a circle. There was likely more to see and do in the area. There was nothing high end about living in this area, though it also wasn't an area that was frightening to live in. Since Kate didn't know much about this end of Central Park getting bicycles was a good idea. They could use them to tour the area and see what was up here.
Now they needed a car and bicycles and someplace to store them in. When would it ever stop so they could just sit down and enjoy it?
It didn't help any when they got home that Castle went straight to his laptop to start looking for cars, forcing Kate to sit with him, to give him her ideas and acceptance of what they chose. Kate decided this boring task deserved a glass of wine.
"How about this car?" Rick asked as he pulled up pictures.
"A Dodge Viper RT/10? Castle we're looking for a car, not a rocket ship with tires!" Kate killed it as a possibility.
Rick couldn't help but tease her knowing her reaction when he brought it up. "But it's a convertible Kate, how cool is that?"
"In a city where it snows and is frozen solid in winter you want to buy a two seat kiddy kar with no top that is rear wheel drive with no trunk?! Just keep looking Castle." Kate sat back into the love seat till Castle found the next car.
"How about a Porsche 911 Carrera?" Rick pulled up pictures of it.
"Why am I detecting a pattern here Castle? Another two seat pocket rocket with no trunk that is rear wheel drive in a city that is packed with traffic day and night. Move onto the next car, please Castle." Kate sat back into the love seat and took a big sip of her wine.
"How about this car? A 1999 or if we wait a few months, a 2000 Jaguar XKR Convertible. 4.2 L, V-8 super charged 5-speed automatic, 370+ horse power." Rick started showing her pictures.
It had a two-tone interior. Part gray or dark beige interior with white seats and a wood grain dash. It had a built-in navigation screen under the center A/C vents.
"Maybe racing red with white interior and white top. It offers a real contrast kind of like your kitchen." Rick remarked.
"It even has a back seat and trunk space. Okay Castle keep it on the list. What's next?" Kate wasn't sold just yet. It was time to see more options.
"How about 1999 or 2000 Maserati 3200 GT, 365 horse power V8, 6-speed manual." Rick brought up pictures.
"Even less rear seat if it even has one." Kate tried to tilt her head to figure it out. "No navigation, not a convertible and RVs get better gas mileage." Kate wasn't even sure she liked the look of it. "Move on Castle."
Rick thought about it a little before doing more searching. Kate suddenly wasn't against getting a convertible, however she wanted space. She shot the Viper down so she would shoot the Prowler down too, which caused Rick to moan.
Little convertibles like the Miata or anything similar were also likely out.
"How about a 1999 or 2000 Aston Martin DB7 5.9 Volante convertible. 5.9 L, 420 horse power, V12." Rick inquired, bringing up pictures.
"It has a navigation unit, rear seat, about the same horse power. Another wood grain panel with two-tone dash and white seats. Okay, Rick keep it on the list. What's next Castle." Kate saw two almost identical cars. It was going to come down to a test drive to choose between them.
Rick brought up pictures for Mercedes Benz E-Class, M-Class, S-Class, SL-Class and SLK-Class. Kate however shook her head in a manner that left Rick thinking she thought they were all ugly.
So Rick brought up pictures of the BMW 3 series. 328i, E36, Z3. BMW 5 series. E53, X5. BMW E38 7 series. BMW E52 Z8. Kate shook her head and even made a face at the Z3, X5 and Z8 cars that had barf city written all over her face. What Kate did do was yawn wide. "I'm tired Castle and I have more training tomorrow so I'm going to let you find us a third car to go test drive. Just remember the rules Castle. No two seater cars only. It needs trunk space and it has to work during a New York winter. Don't stay up too late babe." Kate kissed the side of his head and walked towards their bedroom.
"Third car, third car that doesn't have just two seats." Rick knew that there were actually lots of those. It's just that he didn't want a US car. He wanted something that said WOW, and he didn't think Chevrolet, Ford or Chrysler had that kind of car. Nothing that could compete with any of these cars.
It took some work but he found one. 2000 BMW E45 M3 coming out in October of 2000. 2-door convertible, 6 speed SMG (Semi-automatic gearbox, meaning it had no clutch pedal. Complete with shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel along with the standard shift in the center console), 3.2 L, 333 horse power straight six.
Satisfied with their three choices to test drive that would be available about the same time their new home would be complete, Rick put away his laptop and slid in next to Kate who was sound asleep. Rick was settling in while noticing that Kate unconsciously moved to snuggle in close and let out a light sigh.
The scare of Kate being already married had turned out to be a good thing. It got both of them to admit that they loved the other. Rick went to sleep knowing that he was in love and was loved back.