CH40

It is now the next day: (April 2, 2001)

They were technically still off work so they went home with their packets that had all the information they needed for now. "I don't want to go to Vegas, Castle," Kate moaned. After finding out about her fiasco with Rogan, Kate didn't ever want to set foot in the city ever again. No betting, no to the heat, no to the hotel room, definitely no to drinking and HELL NO to getting married!

"We could get married while we are there," Rick teased, which earned him a quick hit to his arm that actually hurt a lot. "OW!" Rick rubbed his arm.

"That was not even close to funny, Castle," Kate told him and readied her hand to hit him again if he made another joke.

"We could look up where Rogan lives and send him his notification of who he is married to. Maybe even send him a subpoena to our hearing so that this husband and wife team can meet each other. After all those two are meant for each other," Rick said instead of making another joke.

Kate placed a finger on her lips and thought about what Castle had offered. "Having him at our hearing would likely backfire. After all he thinks that he's married to me, and not to Gina. That would only benefit her case if Rogan showed up."

"However, we could send him her name and address as an anonymous common courtesy," Kate replied. She smiled while thinking that those two should get together and consummate their marriage.

"Where are we staying Castle?" Kate didn't remember reading that part.

"Boulder Station." Rick made a sour face since it wasn't a hotel on the strip. "Maybe there is something better than a common room that we can upgrade to. … Jack?"

"A common room is fine Castle. It's not like we are staying in St. Lucia." Kate didn't mind staying in something smaller.

"Boulder Station only has three different types of rooms. King standard, double queen standard and Deluxe King rooms that have a 300 square foot living room with a separate bedroom. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available." Jack informed them.

"We'll take it, book it, non-smoking, please," Rick responded. "Are you still going out with your friend Lanie, who you haven't seen the last two months?"

"I was until we got this new assignment." Kate was thinking about staying home now.

"Go downstairs, change, and go have fun with your friend. It doesn't sound like we'll be back for another month." Rick tried to reason with her, but the look on her face told him she wasn't sold. Rick turned Kate around and pushed her in front of him. "Go downstairs and get out of here and have some fun. Go do what girls do when they go out together." Rick stopped at the stairs.

"We usually drink and complain about the men in our lives. Maybe get guys to buy us drinks, dance with them, and go home with them so we can get laid," Kate pointed out, testing Castle.

"Jill will blab to Jack if you do any of those things, so nice try. Now go downstairs and change." Rick countered and watched Kate go down the stairs, not seeing the smile on her face.

Kate was all dressed up for a night on the town. "Castle I don't really…" Kate gave Rick another chance to talk her out of it. He, however, had his hands over his ears. "La, la, la, I'm not listening."

Castle earned a kiss and got to watch Kate leave. "Call if you need me to come get you or just ask Jill to get Jack to call you a cab. Got that Jill?" Rick tried an end run around Kate.

"Got it, Katherine will be fine," Jill answered. "Good now go have fun." Rick opened the door and pushed a now willing Kate out the door.

Being alone allowed Rick to go into the study so he could get some writing done.

Kate had been gone a couple of hours. Rick was on a roll as he madly typed away caught up in his own mind while the story flowed out of his fingers and onto his screen. "Richard there is a woman approaching the front door. Facial recognition says she is…Martha Rodgers, your mother." Jack actually sounded shocked.

"Mother?!" Stunned, Rick stopped typing just as the doorbell rang.

Rick made it to the door and opened it. "Mother?" He thought she was in Dallas, and where was her husband?

"Hi kiddo, surprise!" Martha raised her arms in a dramatic manner and presented herself. She stepped inside and hugged her son.

"This is quite the surprise, I thought you were in Dallas? Did your show end abruptly or something?" Rick closed the door and took his mother down the hall towards the living room.

"We are all abruptly on a holiday till we can open in the next city on schedule. The theater we were going to use burned down yesterday, so we were all told to go home for the next two months and…WOW!" Martha walked into the living room and started looking around and up at the ceiling. She bent down to sneak a peek into the kitchen and up at the mezzanine.

"I know you told me your new home was nice son, but this is amazingly beautiful." Martha continued to spin in place to look it all over. She took off her coat and dropped it on one of the dining room tables, stuck her head into the kitchen, and then walked over to the doors leading outside.

Rick opened them so Martha could look outside. It was still too cold to stay outside without a coat. "This is really nice Richard. Where is this Katherine you've been telling me about?" Martha was dying to meet her.

"Kate went out to paint the town with one of her lady friends, she should be back late tonight." Rick was forced to tell her knowing that she had just missed her by a couple of hours. "How long are you staying?" Rick knew they now had a problem.

"I have two months till the show opens up again in Kansas City," Martha told Rick.

"Two months?" Yeah, they had a problem. "Where's Don?" Rick didn't understand.

"We're divorced, he gave me papers the other day and has gone his own way," Martha informed Rick, however, she didn't sound very upset about it.

"I'm sorry Mother." Rick hugged his mother. "Did he say why?"

"We're just not compatible anymore, it's for the best. Besides I get to spend some time with my son and his fiancé who I still haven't met yet." Martha glared at her son.

"Yeah, about that..." Rick ran his hand through his hair. "Kate and I were assigned a case that is taking us to Vegas tomorrow morning for two weeks likely. After that we'll probably be in another city before we will be home again." Rick hated to burst his mother's bubble; he really did want her to meet Kate.

"That's ok son, I can find someplace to stay." Martha didn't have much choice.

"I can give you keys and you can stay here in one of the spare bedrooms downstairs. We have an exercise room and pool," Rick offered.

"I can't ask that of you…" Rick interrupted Martha. "You can come with us to Vegas. I can get you your own room and when Kate and I aren't working we can spend time with you."

"You can go gambling, go see some shows, have fun, live it up." Rick suddenly had an idea.

"You should spend that time with your fiancé son." Martha countered.

"And I will, just this way we can spend it with you. Kate has been asking where you are and if we had time to go see you. This way you two can spend at least the next 2 weeks getting to know each other." Rick tried to sell the idea. "I can give you money to go gambling with, or go see a movie or a show. Vegas has taxis too." Rick tried smiling at her, thinking that might help.

"Well, it has been a long time since I was in Vegas. …Maybe there will even be a wedding while we are there." Martha sucked at being subtle.

"Kate doesn't even WANT to go to Vegas, let alone get married there. Besides she already has plans on where to get married." Rick put an end to that thinking.

"Katherine has plans? Please tell me you are actually going to marry this girl Richard." Martha knew her son, and his few short years in the Army just wasn't what she wanted for him. His being a writer sounded a lot less dangerous. She was worried again now that he was an FBI agent as was Katherine.

"Yes Mother, I love her with all my heart and we are getting married. Kate is talking about a winter wedding on an island beach." Rick told her.

"A beach wedding? I think I like her already! Get away from a New York winter...she's a smart girl." Martha was smiling. It sounded like her son had hit the jackpot with Kate. Now she just had to actually meet her.

"Kate does all the cooking so if we want to eat, we either order delivery or go out to eat. She took a taxi leaving me the car, so we can go anywhere." Rick informed her.

Martha thought about it and had an idea. "Does Katherine have a favorite place?"

"She does actually. It has an indoor garden, restaurant, and a live band that plays music that she actually likes." Rick had a specific place in mind.

Martha liked the sound of the place not to mention that it allowed her to see a piece of Katherine. "Lead the way son."

Martha noticed that it was the top floor of a hotel. Gallow Green. Martha also noticed that Rick knew exactly where he was going. "Mr. Castle, welcome back. Would you like a table? Are you expecting anyone else?" His young lady appeared to be missing. It also told Martha that these two came here often.

"Yes, please, and it's just me and my mother this time thank you." Rick said.

Martha watched as they are lead through a walkway of nothing but plants, and are seated in a space surrounded by plants. Martha could see where there was a stage for live music but it was empty.

They were handed a wine and beer list along with a food menu. "Which drink is Katherine's favorite?" Martha was full of questions.

"Kate loves the Popsicle Punch Bowl drink. It is 5 Popsicles floating in a punch bowl with fruit soaking in a bowl of vodka. I'm not sure it is something you would like Mother," Rick advised her.

Martha had to admit it wasn't something she was interested in, however it told her something about Kate. "I believe I will take a glass of Vireton Rose Archery Summit." Martha told the lady taking their orders.

"I'll take a glass of Captain Lawrence Kolsch." Rick ordered since it was one he hadn't had yet.

They ordered Grilled Steak Skewers to eat. By the time they ordered Mixed Berry Cobbler for dessert, the band that Kate loved so much began playing. The style of music that they played surprised Martha. She was so sure it would be some band that played rock, hip hop or something fast paced. This was a good surprise. The fact that they were pretty good only helped.

"Katherine likes this music?" Martha needed to hear it.

"Usually Kate has had 2 or 3 Popsicles by the time the band starts so she is feeling mellow by then and the music matches her mood." Rick admitted.

Rick and Martha are on their second drink and just enjoying the alcohol and the music. Martha had to concede, after a couple of glasses of wine, that the music was perfect.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Lanie had arrived first and was nursing her beer when she saw Kate enter. She stood up waving her hand, not worried about who saw her or what they thought. "Hi Lanie." Kate hugged her and sat down across from her. "I'll have what she's drinking." It was a beer and that was good enough.

"How have you been Lanie. It's been a while since we saw each other. Tell me everything." Kate asked.

"Oh, no girl, you are definitely going first and you ARE going to explain this giant rock on your finger." Lanie grabbed Kate's left hand and lifted it up so that she could see it up close.

Instantly Kate smiled. "I'm engaged." Kate was glowing.

"I kind of gathered that, now tell me who, how, and when. I want details, girl and if he's half as nice as that smile on your face tells me, I want to know if he has a brother," Lanie questioned.

"His name is Rick Castle and I met him at the library and…" Lanie interrupted her. "Castle, as in Richard Castle. Derek Storm Castle?" Lanie opened her eyes wide. To Lanie it explained how Kate got a ring that huge.

Kate's smile only got bigger. "That's him."

"Please tell me he has a brother." Lanie started praying.

"Sorry Lanie, Castle is an only child like me." Kate hated breaking it to her.

"Just my luck." Lanie sat back in their booth and stared at Kate. "So tell me what has happened since I last saw you at the police academy. Has the NYPD hired you yet?"

"Actually I'm an FBI agent." Kate told her. "NO WAY, get out of town." Lanie didn't believe Kate until Kate handed over her FBI ID.

"You didn't notice my weapon?" Kate pulled it out to show Lanie and then put it back in her holster. "I just thought you were an officer that carried your weapon around with you everywhere you went. Married to it so to speak."

"So when is the wedding? I expect an invitation girl," Lanie warned her.

"We're going to have a winter wedding on a beach on St. Lucia. We just haven't picked an exact day," Kate told her.

"Oooo, a wedding on a beach dressed in only a swimsuit. Count me in!" Lanie liked the sound of it. Maybe there were some local hunks on this island even.

"So tell me what you are doing Lanie. Last I knew you were studying to be an ME," Kate mentioned and changed the subject to Lanie.

"I finished my classes and have been working as an ME with the NYPD in the 12th precinct under Captain Montgomery. It's fun, I get to go to murder sites and examine the body and examine the surrounding area. Then pack it up take it to the morgue, cut it open, and find out what killed him." Lanie was smiling widely.

"So let me get this straight. You spent all that time training so you could cut open dead bodies?" Kate was teasing Lanie and she knew it.

"And if I told you cerebrovascular accident, or CVA, what would that tell you?" Lanie countered.

"Gesundheit," Kate replied.

"It means the person had a stroke. The question is however was it a thrombotic stroke, embolic stroke or a hemorrhagic stroke? And was it by natural causes or was it induced by some foreign substance?" Lanie countered grinning since she just knew she had Kate.

"I stand corrected. I presume you've had reason to use this information?" Kate was curious now.

"I… I can't answer that Kate, it is part of an ongoing case." Lanie wanted to blab, but she held her tongue.

The rest of the evening was filled with drinks, pool games, drinks, darts, and drinks in that order. As well as both of them telling guys to get lost with Kate holding up her left hand. "I could use one of those," Lanie pointed out.

"You have to find the right guy first Lanie," Kate responded.

"The only thing I'm going to find here is a quick roll in the hay. Where did you find yours again?" Lanie couldn't remember anymore or even if she did know at all.

"Public Library." Kate replied, smiling.

Lanie cursed silently since she had never even thought of going to the library.

Kate was all happy when she got home as well as feeling no pain. Kate closed the door and pressed the button to reset the alarm system for home, when suddenly the alarm went off instead. "SHIT!" Kate pressed another button, however the alarm continued to sound.

"SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!" Kate kept pressing buttons when finally the stupid thing stopped blaring and showed green. Satisfied that she had finally gotten it right she turned to go find Castle since she had something to tell him.

As Kate turned, she ran into Castle. "CASTLE!" Just who she was looking for and here he was. "I have… Uhm, I mean I know…"

Rick smiled and escorted Kate down the hall to the master bedroom, praying that his mother was still asleep or not ready to emerge from the guest room just yet. Rick managed to close the door to the master bedroom just as the door to the largest extra bedroom at the other end of the hall opened with Martha in a robe looking down the hallway.

Rick sat Kate down on the bed. "I take it you had a good time with Lanie?" Rick started to slowly remove Kate's clothes, slapping Kate's hands away when she tried to help him.

"Hhmmm, we played… and then we played… we played." Kate ended with that.

"You played drinking games?" Rick asked just as he got Kate's top off.

"No, silly! We played… there was some drinking involved. Castle I need to tell you… I know something." Kate found herself lying on her back on the bed while Rick removed her shoes and then started on her pants.

"Ooooo, are we going to have sex Castle?" Kate tried lifting her head to look at his face and let it fall back on the bed.

"Not tonight Kate. Tonight is shower and bed for you." Rick was thinking tomorrow was going to be interesting. Hungover fiancé, his mother and a flight to Las Vegas.

"NO!" Kate wanted sex, but there was something else. "Castle I have to tell you…"

"That you had too much to drink?" Rick asked as he lifted Kate back up to a sitting position so he could take her bra off.

"I know what you are doing Castle. You are trying to take advantage of me." Kate wrapped her arms around his neck. "You can make love to me anytime Castle… But I have to tell you… tell you something." Kate was losing what concentration she had as she felt Rick's hands on her breasts as he removed her bra. His touch always did do something to her. Kate started running her hands down his chest to pinch his nipples.

"Kiss me Castle." Kate tried to pull his head down to her so she could kiss him. His lips were close, really close. "I have to tell you something Castle."

Rick sighed and withdrew his lips. "Tell me what Kate?"

Kate grinned. "I'm drunk Castle!" Kate was pleased that she still had enough mind to figure that part out. Then Kate's eyes opened wide. "DRUGS! Drugs Castle." Kate smiled even wider that she had succeeded in telling Castle and fell back on the bed, asleep.

Now it was Rick's turn to open his eyes wide. "DRUGS? …Jill?"

"Lanie Parrish is an ME who is working with the NYPD assigned to the 12th precinct. She received a case yesterday that possibly dealt with drug use. They found a dead body that first gave all medical indications that would suggest the person had died of a stroke. However, his blood work came back with remnants of some combination of drugs in his system." Jill informed him.

"We are headed to the west coast because of drugs. Did Kate think the two were related?" Rick asked.

"Lanie has been unable to determine the nature of the drugs at this time," Jill told him.

"Did they ID the body?" Rick inquired.

"Not at this time, they are having some difficulty with that," Jill responded.