A/N: Sorry for the delay folks. We will get to a drink and dinner shortly, then will do a small time jump in the next couple chapters. Thank you everyone for the reviews and views. Hope you enjoy the new update.

Chapter 3

July 3, 1941

Pearl City, Territory of Hawaii

Richard Castle pulled into the spacious home that he shares with his mother and daughter. He turned off the engine on the 1938 Chevy roadster and grabbing his gear that he brought back with him off the ship, he walked towards the house. "Hi, anybody home?"

"In the kitchen dear." Martha Rodgers, Richard Castle's mother stated. Castle walked into the spacious kitchen and saw his mother sitting at the table reading the paper as their cook Samantha Jackson, a native Hawaiian, cooked dinner. "Samantha has been cooking the most exquisite dinner."

"She always does mother." He told her as he came over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, before going to the cabinet and pulling out a glass. He went to the icebox and pulled out a pitcher of water. "Samantha that smells wonderful."

"Thank you sir." Samantha smiled at Castle. She had been with the family since their arrival on the island and they treated her kindly and paid her well extremely well. She turned to Castle. "Alexis is in her room."

"Thank you." Castle told her as he left the kitchen. He walked into the living room and noticed his teenage daughter coming from the hallway that led to their bedrooms. "Hi honey."

"Hi daddy." Alexis said with a smile on her face. She walked up and gave her father a kiss. Despite being 17 and having been uprooted more times than she can count, she loved her father very deeply. Her mother was an only a mention in a letter or a once a year phone call. She loved being a military child, and even though her dad was gone a lot, she never resented him, because of the loving home that he and her grandmother always provided. "Remember, Jenny, Patrick, Rachel, Johnny and I are going to the movies tomorrow."

"Who is Johnny again?" Castle asked his daughter as he sipped his water.

Alexis smirked at her father. "Chief Johnson's boy."

Castle thought about it for a moment. "Oh off the Oklahoma?"

Alexis nodded. "That's him. Anyway, this is his last weekend in Hawaii, because he and his mother are going back to San Diego because Chief Johnson is retiring on the 8th of December."

"That's fine sweetheart, just be back before 11." Castle told his daughter coming over and giving her a kiss.

"Thank you daddy." Alexis said smiling giving her father a hug. She went back towards her room.

Castle smiled again and walked back towards the kitchen where Samantha was pulling out a huge roast for dinner. He sat down at the table to join his mother. Martha Rodgers was a star on Broadway stage by the age 18, and had life by the shoulders. She married a young army officer and gave birth to their son Richard. Yet when she received the news of his death, she didn't her mourning effect the lasting reminder of her husband, their young song Richard. After mourning, she returned to the stage and began her career again. As Richard grew up, the more shows she did and the bigger her profile became again. As Richard career in the navy took off after graduating Annapolis, she continued to do shows all over Broadway. She even threw a major wedding reception for her son and his new bride, and even a larger baby welcoming party when her granddaughter was born. Yet when the marriage fell apart, she startled all of Broadway when she announced her retirement from the stage to be a grandmother and help her son raise his daughter while he continued his navy career. Many predicted she would come back, but she adored the retirement and visiting different cities and spending time with Alexis. Unlike many of her follow stage actors, Martha's money survived the depression because she invested wisely on the advice of her father when she started to earn more on her acting career. This advice allowed her to survive the depression, and purchased the house in Hawaii they were currently in.

Martha looked up from the evening addition of the paper. "She's going out with her friends?"

"Yes she is. With Chief Johnson's boy." Castle stated as grabbed the front page from the table and began to read the front page. "Can't believe how much she has grown here on the island."

"They tend to do that Richard." Martha remarked as she set the down the paper and looked across to her son. She noticed something different about her son. "Oh dear, who has gotten you all aglow?"

"I am not all aglow mother, and there is no one new." Castle stated as he set the paper down in front of him and stared at his mother. "You know that."

"Oh Richard, I can tell when some girl has your attention." Martha stated again as she got up and whispered in Samantha's ear. She waited for the kitchen door to close. "So who is it?"

Castle "No one. I had my physical for my promotion and the nurse that did the prelimary work was one of the new nurses that arrived yesterday. She is beautiful and very much about her duty, from New York and….. "

"You're attracted to her." Martha said with a smile on her face. She reached out and took her son's hands. "Richard why not ask the poor girl out?"

"Ask who out grams?" Alexis said coming into the kitchen and going to the icebox. She pulled out the pitcher of water and poured a glass.

Martha smiled at her granddaughter. "Your father is attracted to one of the new nurses that arrived yesterday."

Alexis came towards the table. "The brunette?"

"How do you know?" Castle asked in shock.

"Come on dad, it's a small island and not many available females. Heck some of the boys in class were talking about them." Alexis stated with a huge smile on her face. "That is the one nurse that got everybody talking."

"I'm going to get changed for dinner and get a drink." Castle stated getting up from the table and started towards the living room. He turned around real quick. "Just for the record, I asked her if she ever wanted to have dinner as a friendly gesture. Yet I doubt that will happen though, pretty sure she has someone."

"Never know till you find out dear." Martha called to her son who started back towards the living room. She and Alexis shared a smile.

Nurses Quarters

Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor

"Kate, come on, give me some details about the man." Gina said sitting in one of the chairs inside Kate's room as Kate closed up her dress she was going to wear out on the town in Honolulu. "Even just a little tidbit. Something so I can maybe find a way in?"

"Gina, you're the one that stated we have our choice of men here on the island." Kate remarked as she went to the mirror to put on some lipstick and light makeup. She turned back towards Gina as she finished. "Why the sudden interest in this one particular officer."

"Oh maybe because he is on a fast track to rank." Gina stated. She saw the look on Kate's face. She chuckled. "I asked around. He doesn't date, single father, whose mother is a former Broadway star who lives with him. Helped to raise his kid so he could stay in the Navy."

"Sounds like he has issues." Kate stated as she sat back down in the chair and pulled out a set of nylons from the drawer and put them on. "Yet he was friendly, funny, and professional too."

"And you like him!" Gina exclaim at Kate who turned and looked at her. She sat up straighter. "Oh Kate come on, what was it?"

"Gina, I'm not looking for love. Not after the last time." Kate scolded her best friend as Kate put on her shoes. She got up and grabbed her purse from the desk.

Gina got out of the chair and came over to Kate. "Kate, look I know Josh hurt you bad with that nurse from San Francisco. But maybe it's time to move on, and take a shot."

Kate looked at Gina for a moment before placing her hands on her shoulders. "And what if it doesn't work out?"

"Then you leave Hawaii and go the Philippines or back to the states." Gina replied with a smirk. She then hugged Kate. "You won't know unless you take the chance Kate."

Kate hugged her friend wondering if she was right.

July 7th, 1941

Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii

For the fleet following the holiday, it was back to business as usual. Portion of the fleet sailed out for training exercises just north of the islands, while another portion sailed with transports as they went on delivery to some of the island outpost of the United States, to show the flag. The Arizona, her sister ships Nevada and Oklahoma remained in port since they were on a maintenance stand down period following their deployment to the West Coast. The duty boat pulled alongside and Richard Castle bounded up the gangway followed by a dozen sailors. He saluted the flag and the sailor who was manning the quarterdeck. He made his way towards the number 1 anti-aircraft battery where his sailors were supposed to be waiting. As he strolled up, he saw Ensign Tolliver and his sailors waiting. They all jumped to their feet. "At ease."

"Good morning sir." Ensign Tolliver stated as Castle strolled up to the guns.

"Good morning everyone." Castle said as he came to a stop and looked at the faces of the battery. He took a deep breath. "By now I guess u heard that I am being promoted and leaving this battery to become the gunnery officer on the ship."

Everyone nodded so Castle felt a little better. He sighed and walked a little bit closer to the group of sailors. He patted Ensign Tolliver on the shoulders. "Ensign Tolliver will be taking over for me, so we will spend the next month getting him spun up on the procedures, getting to know everyone, and everything. Chief Smith you know what to do."

"Yes sir." Chief Smith nodded.

"Very well. Ensign Tolliver, let me introduce you to your gun captains." Castle stated as he turned to Ensign Tolliver. He then turned back to the sailors. "5 incher gun captains, Gunners mates' second classes Javier Esposito, Kevin Ryan. Chief Smith is also a gun captain on a 5 incher."

Ensign Tolliver nodded so Castle introduced the 50 caliber gunners. He then introduced the rest of the battery. "Finally our new sailor, seaman apprentice Jonathan McGuire. He joined us on the west coast."

Ensign Tolliver nodded his understand. "Yes sir."

Castle checked his watch. "I have to meet up with Lieutenant Commander Douglas to start the turn over process. Ensign Tolliver, the men have gun maintenance and aircraft recognition classes."

"Aye sir." Ensign Tolliver acknowledged.

"Carry on." Castle ordered as he walked away from the battery. He heard Chief Smith giving the orders and the new Ensign who was smart enough to watch the men go to work.

July 7th, 1941

Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

At the end of her duty day, Kate went to the duty officer and retrieved her liberty pass. She went out with Gina and girls the night before to one of the local restaurants than to a dance club for drinks and dancing. She watched her friends pull on the heart strings of officers and enlisted as they danced until they went back to their rooms for the night. Now tonight, she didn't feel like doing the same thing, so she turned down her friends offer, and decided to head to the clinic that Captain Bryan stated in his briefing. So Kate when she was let out of the taxi on the other side of Honolulu, she was a little shocked. The building was run down a bit, and didn't at all look like a clinic. She was hoping that this wasn't a mistake she was making. Yet her remembrance of her mother going into run down areas of New York brought her courage. She walked into the clinic which was packed with Native Hawaiians, some Caucasians, Asians, and blacks packing the small waiting room. The posters and tourism promotions didn't show this side of Hawaii. She sighed as she strolled up to the desk. The young Asian girl behind the desk looked up. "Can I help you ma'am?"

"Yes, I am Lieutenant Kate Beckett. Captain Bryan said if we wanted to help out, we should come over and speak to Dr. Parrish." Kate replied to the question from the receptionist behind the desk.

"One second please Lieutenant." The girl said. She got up out of her chair and moved to an office that was just located behind the office.

Kate turned and looked into the waiting room again. A lot of the faces showed wear, or sickly looks. She shook her head. "Why are we not doing anything about this?"

"I ask that question myself all the time Lieutenant." Dr. Lanie Parrish stated as she walked out of the office. Kate turned around and shook Dr. Parrish's hand. "Dr. Lanie Parrish, Lieutenant Beckett. I understand you want to help out."

Kate nodded and waved her hand towards the waiting room. "Yes I do, and by what I see Dr. Parrish you need a lot of help."

Dr. Parrish nodded as well. "Yes we do. We don't get many volunteers from the military, but we also don't get a lot of love from the local businesses leaders either. We rely heavily on donors, and even those get threats."

"Why?" Kate stated then took it back. Despite the distance, the policies and segregation of races even played here in the islands. "I can't believe this. Some of these people look like they need hospital care."

"They do receive hospital care, but a lot of them need basic medical care, and I am overwhelmed." Dr. Parrish stated as she leaned against the desk. "I hate sending people away without seeing them, but I am short staffed."

"Well Lanie hopefully that will change with time." Castle stated as he came in. His voiced caused Kate to turn around. "Lieutenant Beckett, nice to see you here."

"Nice to see you too Lieutenant Castle." Kate replied with a smile on her face. She looked past Castle at the car loaded with boxes. "Are those medical supplies?"

"Yep. Bought and paid for as a donation to the clinic here." Castle said pointing to the car outside. He came up to Lanie and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You might want to get those inside."

"You're right." Lanie stated. She went behind the desk and spoke to someone in another room. She came back out with several people following her. "Thanks again Rick for the supplies."

Kate looked at him. "You bought them?"

"Well me and my mother, mainly in my mother's name for my career sake." Castle stated with a smile as the group of men started to unload the boxes from the car. "You want a ride back to the hospital."

"I want to stay and help if that is okay with Dr. Parrish." Kate answered as she turned back to Lanie.

"I will definitely love having you on board. Unfortunately we won't see everybody." Lanie stated as the last of the boxes came in. She gave Rick a kiss on the cheek. "Go ahead and head back with Rick. Come back tomorrow and we'll put you to work after your duty shift. Then I could use you on Saturday. That is our busiest day, if you are free or after your shift."

Kate nodded and shook Lanie's hand again. "Will do Dr. Parrish, and thank you."

"Thank you Kate." Lanie stated as she smiled at Rick and Kate. "Get her back safely Rick."

Castle smiled. "I will Lanie, see you later."

Lanie waved as Kate and Rick walked towards the door. Rick held it opened and let Kate out first and quickly caught up to her. She reached the door before him and opened it, but Rick closed it for her before climbing in himself. Kate looked at him. "Where did you get the Chevy Roadster?"

"Bought it off an officer that was heading to the Philippines." Castle said as he fired up the car and pulled out into traffic. He tossed a quick glance over at Kate. "I met Lanie when I was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. I saw a gentlemen laying broken in the road, and I took him to the closest hospital which turned out to be one where Lanie worked. From there we started up a friendship."

"Didn't that hurt your career?" Kate asked as Castle drove.

Castle tossed a quick glance over at Kate. "No because mainly we didn't meet in the public areas where somebody might notice me in uniform, and also generally my mother hosted fundraising events for the hospital and centers where Lanie worked."

"Oh that is nice Rick." Kate said. She realized then what she said and turned away blushing.

"Thank you Kate." Castle tossed her a smile which Kate caught in the reflection of the glass. She smiled back.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived back at the hospital and Castle pulled the car up to a stop. Kate looked at the building and sighed before she turned to Castle. "Thank you for the ride."

"Not a problem Kate." Castle said as he got out of the car and walked around, opening the door for her. She got out. "Offer still stands you know?"

"I know." Kate replied with a smile. She took a quick glance around and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She saw the surprise look on his face. "That is for being a wonderful human being and supporting the clinic."

"We view it as a means to giving back to the places we live." Castle replied as he looked around. He then leaned against the car. "My grandfather commanded a colored regiment in the civil war, and he always said to me, they showed more courage than some white units, and yet we all bleed the same so they should be treated the same."

Kate just smiled Castle. "That is pretty amazing Castle."

"Yeah it is." Castle answered. He looked at his watch and grimaced. "Oh I'm late for dinner. See you around Kate."

"Have a good night Rick." Kate said. Castle shook her hand, and climbed into the car. He smiled and waved to her to which she return. She shook her head. "Kate what are you doing?"

Kate turned around and walked towards the hospital.

Additional note: Remember this was at a time of segregation in the military, the United States and its territories. Latinos were consider white by the military so that is why Esposito is a gun captain. Some officers did view fraternizationwith colored persons as a mark against you and your performance. Just trying to keep within the historical content of the period. I know its wrong, and that is why it was hard to write that part about the clinic. Thank you again for the reviews.