CH17

It is now one month later: (Early September)

Kate, with Rick at her side, went to see Jim weekly only to find that he had returned to drinking and had trashed the house each time. They only actually ran into Jim just once where Kate tried once again to reach him and get him to stop drinking.

Rick and Kate had gone to one of the local alcohol dependence cleansing locations to try and get some pointers on how to handle her father and get him to see reason. It was here that they were told that it will be difficult to get him to listen. They weren't going to be able to get him into rehab or even an AA facility until he was ready to try, and right now he had no interest in even understanding that he was drinking. This was going to take time.

On the good side they had also just come from visiting the church on the first day of Kate's two days off from training. The day before Kate had come home pissed as hell and was mad enough to chew nails and spit rust. It took a few glasses of wine to calm Kate down enough to find out what had happened.

Turned out Demming had happened. "He kept to himself for weeks until today. Today suddenly he wanted me to be his new girlfriend! Like I even wanted to talk to him let alone let him try and kiss me! God this guy is gross." Kate moaned while taking another big drink of her wine. It was her third glass and it was loosening her tongue.

"He tried to kiss you?" Rick didn't like this sudden change and expansion of how Demming was acting.

"It was fine, he tried with other trainees nearby and they put a stop to it." Kate was happy to have some people who were willing to back her up.

It also had gotten Rick to make another just past 1:00 am house call. "Since you didn't learn much last time, here is another nightmare that even your nightmares never dreamed of." Rick touched him, moved to the bathroom, and created a programmed illusion centered on when Demming looked at himself in the mirror.

In this case a humanoid form would flow out of the mirror, engulf him into its form, and pull him back into the mirror where he would remain trapped forever behind the mirror, looking out into his bathroom and bedroom beyond.

"Let's see how you like these two, before I take it to the next level and really start to hurt you." Rick was talking to himself as he finished his illusion, stepped back out into the bedroom, and watched as Demming tossed and turned in his bed. Tom was already deep into his nightmare. Rick teleported back home and slipped into bed next to Kate. He felt her turn into him in her sleep like usual.

Their house tour had been eye opening. They were close to being on schedule and should be completely done in a little over two months with Kate still in training for another two months.

Rick's library/study was almost complete. The built-in bookcases were in place and the floor had been sanded, stained and was presently covered to protect the floors. The hallway was still a work in progress, though like the last room, the floor was done and covered to protect it. The doors behind what would be his desk were more like windows with shutters that would allow him to look out onto the hallway while sitting at his desk.

The stairs were also complete and covered. All of the stone arches had yet to be completed and the chandeliers had yet to be hung but the wiring for them was hanging. Stepping into the living room and dining room Kate said, "WOW!" She was walking around with her head tilted back looking up at the ceiling that had been sanded and stained.

"Like it? This ceiling and its height that we measured out as being twenty-five feet, four and one half inches at the peak. I'm kinda proud of how it worked out." Their contractor told them, giving them a tour. He liked these two. They didn't make last minute changes that affected him, they only showed up once a month, and they stayed out of his hair and out of the way of his workers.

"What's with the wires?" Rick moved them around. They were just inside the doorway into the space from the hallway.

"Your security guys told me that was the wiring for the future control and monitor panels that are located in each and every room except for two of the spare bedrooms and all of the bathrooms." The contractor explained. "Oh, they are also done with your panic room. They are just waiting on me to do the finishes to hide the door that accesses it on both levels. That will take place over a month from now."

Kate saw her pass-through into the kitchen that was empty save for the tiles that were at that moment being laid down by one guy. "He'll have the tiles done today and the kitchen cabinets are scheduled to arrive tomorrow with the appliances that you selected being delivered two weeks later."

They were still forced to go up the extension ladder to get to the mezzanine. Up here there was a guy putting up the wall paper while another guy was working on the fireplace. Also like downstairs the floors were done and covered to protect them. "The spiral staircase will be built in place sometime next month after the mezzanine level is done. I didn't want to damage it while we were still working up here."

They stepped outside and went down the only spiral staircase that was actually installed since they were on the second floor technically. It looked like the one inside had open stairs so that you could see through it and not interfere with the look of the building. They found two guys from the landscaper still working on their patio area. The gazebo was up but needed to be stained. The footings for the deck area were in and at the moment the two men were working on the pool area with a walk way through it. Right now it was lined and they were working on the pump to keep the water moving.

The low tiered planting beds were already in while the planting space past the deck area had only been tilled in preparation for installing the automatic sprinklers. There was also exposed wiring showing for all the lights.

Downstairs showed that the floors here were also complete and covered. The two smaller guest bedrooms were going to have carpet like all of the other bedrooms and none of them had been touched, save for the floor tile being in place along with the tubs. "The tile around the tub/showers will go up next week for these two. The other two bathrooms down here will follow the week after," their contractor explained.

They both found that the dressing room and other closets were all complete. Kate had an entire closet just for shoes. It was the closet to the left of the main door from the hallway. It was approximately 6 feet long with shoe racks from floor to ceiling. It had Kate giggling at all the possibilities. Kate knew she was going shoe shopping as soon as they moved in.

They stepped into the panic room to look at the main panel that was going to show the view from all the cameras along with the recording equipment. "It's a little tight Castle." Kate noticed there was barely enough room to lay down. "We need something soft in here Rick. I'm not sleeping on a hard concrete with a metal plate on top."

"We'll think of something for both levels. We may need for it to be up against the wall and fold down kinda like a murphy bed." Rick said. The trap door in the panic room was located up against one side and on this lower level it was installed to swing down. It was also obvious that it could be locked and barred from the top and bottom in case someone gained access on one level. "We need storage for a little food, water and medical kit also." Rick added. "And weapons in case we don't have any with us when we enter."

From here they exited out the main front door and went down to their two parking spaces.

They walked the two spaces. "Well, we could build something here since one of the spaces is up against the outside wall and put the doors in and out here. That would make it as long and wide as the space is. Though maybe we could put a second single door down there instead of a double door here. We're going to need electrical though and I don't know what they are going to think of that." Rick said.

A quick talk with the developer found out that they could use one of their spaces for storage however building an enclosure like they were talking about was out. The space needed air, light and fire protection, so solid walls were out.

They compromised on using and open heavy gauge wrought iron with heavy wrought iron doors that could be locked. It wasn't perfect and it would allow everyone to see what was inside and if it was worth it to try and break inside. "I could get a bike cover so they don't know what kind of bike it is unless they see me riding it." Kate offered.

Now they had one more contractor to install the walls and doors of their storage unit and bolt it to the wall, floor and ceiling.

"What are we going to do about weapons?" Kate had no illusions that they wouldn't need any.

"I've already got that covered. There is going to be a large gun safe down here bolted to the concrete wall with another one in the Library/Study. Each will be big enough to hold several weapons of various sizes along with the ammunition for each weapon stored inside. I was also going to place a single hand gun safe in each and every room save for the two smaller guest bedrooms along with one at the front door for you to place your weapon when you come home." Rick informed Kate.

Kate fidgeted. "I don't know Castle, I'm not sure I want ugly gun safes everywhere." Kate made a sour looking face. Their new place was far too beautiful to mar it with gun safes all over the place.

"Oh you'll like these. They are only a little wider than your weapon and they pivot out of the wall at an angle. You slide your weapon in and push it back into the wall where it will lock in place. You just put your finger on the panel to unlock it and let it fall open to expose your weapon." Rick smiled, pleased with himself.

"So they are all hidden in the wall?" Kate was starting to catch on.

"All of them everywhere except for the one in the kitchen which will be mounted inside one of the lower cabinets of your choice since it's your kitchen. I was even trying to think of a way to have one installed out on the patio. Maybe hidden away in the planter on one of the ends around the fire pit, or maybe one on each end." Rick was really getting off on what he could do.

"I don't want my home turned into an armory filled with these little gun safes that will look like black bars on the wall." Kate wanted a home not a potential combat zone.

"That's the beauty of these Kate. We can place a veneer on the outside to make it look like the wall they are in that will hide them so that all you will see is the finger print reader. Just this little dark red square. You'll never see them unless you are looking for them." Rick was smiling since he had planned everything out.

"If I can see them Castle, we're ripping them out." Kate told him, getting Rick to smile wider now that Kate was on board.

"So what kind of weapons are you talking about here Castle?" Just what did he think they were going to have to fight against?

"I'm still working on that and may not have an answer until the safes are in place." Rick really didn't know what weapons to purchase only that they would need different types, from hand guns to rifles of some type as well as shot guns.

It was time to do some research, just what he liked doing most besides writing.

They were outside waiting for the taxi that Jack had called for them. "Only a couple of more months to go. What do you think?" Rick wrapped an arm around Kate and felt her snuggle in close.

"It was gorgeous babe. That ceiling in the main room was amazing, and all of that glass was breathtaking." Kate could actually start to see it instead of imagine it or see renderings of it.

"Is the kitchen open enough for you? It still strikes me as being a little closed off." Rick had envisioned it as being completely open to the main room.

"Maybe a little, however it is almost 8 feet wide from countertop to ceiling. It should be enough." Kate knew they lost the eat-in bench and replaced that space with lower cabinets and countertop. "Can we extend the countertop a little out into the dining room and turn it into a breakfast bar. We could have seating for three or maybe even four people." Kate had a sudden idea. "Have wood chairs that complement the floor maybe?"

"Jack," Rick called out. "Cancel the cab." He took Kate's hand and they went back inside to talk with their contractor.

The countertop guy was coming out as soon as the lower cabinets were in place to size them for the amount of surface. He could easily add the support brackets necessary for a breakfast bar. Kate had already chosen to have glass countertops that were just over 1-inch thick and tempered, as well as selected the color.

The contractor hadn't even complained and took it all in stride. Now they were back outside waiting for another taxi.

"Happy now?" Rick was grinning wide, which earned him a light punch to his arm for the teasing. "Are they teaching you any hand to hand combat?" Rick was curious.

"Not yet, though some basics is part of the program." Kate responded.

"Are you interested in learning what I can teach you?" Rick offered; they could add it to their weekly visits to the gym.

"Have an Army Ranger teach me combat techniques?" Kate kissed him for his offer just as the taxi rolled up to pick them up and take them home.

Tonight was another date night. They may be living together and having sex almost daily, however, Rick wanted to date her. "I know we're together and I couldn't image being with anyone else but I just want the magic to keep going. Besides I want to learn more about you and getting you out in public I'm hoping will do that."

They were both dressed casually while Castle gave the address to the taxi driver. "308 Bleeker Street at Irving Avenue."

Kate getting used to Rick presenting her with surprise destinations. She still didn't like it but was learning to adapt since it made him so happy that he wanted to give her something that would get a reaction out of her.

"Castle?" Kate was standing out front looking it over, not believing he would bring her here. It had titty bar written all over it, especially when the sign out front said Boobie Trap with the O's looking like a pair of boobs.

"Give it a chance Kate it's not what you are thinking." Rick said. Kate thought it was definitely just what she thought it was.

Inside Kate found the bar easy enough, however she also saw boobs all over the place. All different sizes with different ways of showing them. They were shown to their table by a waitress that put her own boobs on display that you saw at a Hooters to shame. The only thing not showing were her nipples, not that those were all that well hidden.

Kate was still thinking it was exactly what she thought the place was, except for the patrons that all appeared to be doing something on their table. Their waitress took their drink orders and didn't blink when they both ordered a simple glass of soda.

When she came back she had their drinks along with a board game and a menu for them to order from. "Board game?" Kate asked, looking at it.

"This is a restaurant and bar that has a boob boutique to it. Here you play games, color in the boobs on the back of your menu with the crayons at your table, and our BBQ is possibly the best in the city. Trust me anything that says BBQ here is to die for. Just let me know when you want another menu to color. Enjoy your game and I'll be back to take your order," their waitress told them. Kate noted that the waitress did not try to shove her boobs in Castle's face.

Rick flipped over his menu and grabbed a crayon while Kate started looking at the game.

"Candyland?" It was a child's game and it looked well used and even had a few stains on it. The box itself was long gone.

The game was stupidly simple and it brought back memories of when Kate was just a child who had some of her friends over with her mother getting them cookies and milk. It allowed Kate to see the face of her mother when she was younger and it had Kate loving Castle just a little more suddenly.

Kate folded out the board and shuffled the cards and gave each of them a game piece while Castle colored. It had Kate giggling watching Castle being so intent on his coloring. He even had his tongue sticking out between his lips.

"Castle?" Kate was ready to play just as he finished coloring his boobs and lifted it up to show her. It had Kate laughing out loud as she took in what Castle had done.

Each boob was a different color along with a different color for the areola with yet a different color for the nipple itself. The colors he chose didn't even remotely blend with each other; in fact they clashed very dramatically. Then he placed his drawing up against his chest and started grinning which only had Kate laughing louder. Castle was wearing his colored boobs.

"Think you can do better Kate?" Rick challenged her. "Maybe after dinner and our game Castle." Kate hoped he would forget by then.

They ordered BBQ pork and BBQ turkey and made their own sandwiches using the homemade bread provided along with chips and french fries and 2 more sodas.

The game itself was simple and it also explained why it was so stained since they both added their own stains when the BBQ sauce dripped out. You drew a card and moved your piece to the first color shown. Some cards had two colors while others had names of places on them.

Kate drew a name and moved her piece around the board passing by Castle and then some instantly. "That's cheating Beckett." Castle moaned.

"Those are the rules Castle." Kate knew the rules even if the game didn't come with any. "I still call it cheating Beckett." Castle grumbled.

Kate was just a few squares away from reaching the Candy Castle and winning the game. "Candy Castle." Castle started arching his eyebrows a few times grinning at Kate.

"I already have my Castle, Castle." Kate was smiling wide, knowing that was a silly, cheesy comment, but it seemed to win Rick over.

Rick pulled the next card. "HA, Candy Cane Forest!" Rick slapped the card down only to find out that he had to go backwards closer to the start of the game. He was no nearer to winning the game. "No, no, no." Rick let his head fall down to the table top. It had Kate chuckling about how serious he took playing a child's game. Kate won on her turn.

Kate put the game away since Castle was being a sore loser. "Color your boobs Kate and we can go get ice cream." Kate cringed since she had hoped Castle would forget this part, however she had won the game so she turned her menu over and grabbed a color and colored each boob the same color, a dark areola with little pink nipples.

Kate finished and held it up against her chest. "Happy now Castle?"

"More than you will ever know Kate, and I'll be happy to see the real thing later." Rick grinned.

Kate put her colored boobs down on the table. "Let's go get ice cream Castle." Kate got up from her chair while he paid the bill.

"That was different Castle." Kate wasn't willing to say it was bad since it had been a little fun. It was just that being surrounded by boobs, most of which were much larger than hers, had her feeling inferior. Even if a lot of the people looked to be couples who were young, about their age, if not more Castle's age.

"Would you believe me if I told you it was owned and run by a woman?" Rick knew her from the last time he lived in New York and had been surprised she had opened a bar like that.

From the look on Kate's face, the answer was no.