CH56

"I don't think we're in New York City anymore." Espo stated the obvious as he drove the four of them away from Rapid City and into Wyoming following the directions the GPS unit gave him. Kate had assured them that they wouldn't need gas in the 1-1/2 hours it took to drive the distance.

As they drove, the area went from wooded to something resembling more high desert with woods in the distance. They saw horses and a few cows as they traveled. The GPS told Espo to turn off the highway onto a dirt road to his right with another one just like it to the left. So far everything was as Kate had explained, though he was still worried that he had made a wrong turn. "HOLY…!" Kevin exclaimed as the log home came into view.

"WOW!" Jenny was impressed as she did what she could to see it out of the car windows. "Just who is this Rick anyway?" Lanie commented softly. Espo parked in the driveway that held a green Jeep and a large travel trailer. "It certainly looks like the place," Espo commented as he remembered Kate telling him about her Jeep and the fact that she, Rick, Alexis, and the women would be going camping after the guys left to go back to work since Lanie and Jenny got more time off work than Montgomery had allowed for them.

All of them got out of the car and went up to the front door leaving their luggage behind for now. It was a little late and they were all weary from traveling. Espo pressed the button and heard the doorbell ring followed immediately by loud barking from a pair of dogs that sounded like they were willing to rip whoever was on the other side of the door to pieces. They could hear Kate's voice on the other side of the door. "Midas, Maggie, SIT! Now be nice, they're my friends," she told the dogs and was amazed when they both did as she asked them.

Kate opened the door to find her four friends standing there. "Hi guys!" She was smiling widely as Lanie wasted no time in giving Kate a bone-crushing hug. "You said the house was nice, not a mansion," Lanie chastised Kate after releasing her. "I'm glad you like it," a new voice spoke up as Rick arrived which signaled the dogs to start poking their noses into everyone causing all of them, especially Jenny, to question this. "Give them a chance to get used to your scent, they're just trying to figure out who you are," he said trying to reassure them.

"This is Javier Esposito, Kevin Ryan and his wife Jenny, and Lanie Parish. Guys this is Rick Rodgers. His daughter Alexis and a house guest are asleep upstairs. You'll meet them in the morning," Kate told them.

"Come on in and get comfortable. Can I get anyone something? Beer, wine, soda, or just water?" Rick asked as Kate closed the front door and walked them inside. However all he got back was silence as their guests were busy taking in the living and dining room with the opening into the kitchen. "Midas, Maggie, go upstairs to Alexis," he commanded and they watched the dogs run upstairs and disappear. Still everyone was looking at the open log beams, wood ceiling, giant rock fireplace, and one wall of windows. Kate had gotten so used to living here that she had forgotten just how nice the house really was. Rick and Kate went into the kitchen to get beers, wine, and a soda for Jenny leaving them to look the place over.

"What do we do with Sam?" Rick asked since the original plan was for someone to get that room and everyone else went over to her house. "There's only the one bed in Alexis's room and it doesn't feel right having her sleep on the floor, plus it's late." Kate had forgotten about Sam spending the nights with them.

"You have what, 2 spare bedrooms?" Rick questioned. "Three if I sleep over here," she replied. "Sounds like we don't have a choice," he said, stating the obvious. Kate's friends would all have to stay at her place.

He went back into the living room with three bottles of beer, only his was his favorite honey ale. Kate came out balancing two full wine glasses and a glass of soda for the girls. "Come on I'll show you the game room," Rick told the guys and took Espo and Ryan downstairs leaving the women to talk.

As soon as the guys were out of sight Lanie turned on Kate. "Now start talking and don't you dare leave anything out! You can start with that rock that's on your finger." Lanie took Kate's hand and held it up to get a better look. Jenny was shocked since she hadn't noticed. Kate tried to hide her face knowing that she was blushing. "Rick proposed a couple of days ago." She let Lanie keep her hand.

"Who are you and what have you done with Kate Beckett?" Lanie questioned her trying to sound serious. Kate laughed softly at that since she knew that she wasn't the same person that Lanie had last seen. "It's still me Lanie, honest," she replied trying to defend herself. "Un-uh honey. The Kate Beckett I know wouldn't be engaged just months after finding a guy. Have some fun with him, a few rounds in bed maybe, but engaged and with a smile that's threatening to break her face? No way. So start talking." Lanie wasn't buying it.

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"Oh man, I'm going to love this house." Espo walked into the basement where the pool table, air hockey table, and poker table were all located. "There's also an exercise room through there and a theater room through there." Rick pointed in each direction.

Ryan searched for all the balls while Espo looked for the rack to set up the balls. "Cutthroat?" Espo suggested as he racked the balls. "Roshambo?" Espo offered to see who went first. The three of them held out their hands and shook them up and down three times. Espo had paper to Rick's scissors while Kevin also had scissors. Espo was out leaving Rick and Kevin. Once more and Rick had rock to Kevin's scissors. So Rick broke and started playing until he missed leaving it to Kevin who was next.

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Lanie and Jenny turned their heads when they heard Rick break on the pool table downstairs. "Is there anything this house doesn't have?" Jenny asked knowing what the guys were doing downstairs. "It doesn't have a pool, though summer doesn't last that long out here to have one. At least not outside anyway," Kate replied.

Kate couldn't take the look Lanie was giving her anymore. "It's me Lanie, I swear. It's just that Rick makes me happy. As sad as it sounds I only thought I was happy before." There was no way Kate was going to tell them that she was Rick's bound life mate, let alone that she was a real honest-to-god dragon. Or that Rick and Alexis were Kodiak bears.

"And his little girl that I hear he has?" Jenny questioned. "Alexis is so sweet and so well behaved. Rick's done a tremendous job raising her alone. You'll get to see her tomorrow while I'm at work. I can't afford to take the entire week off. We're still short staffed in the office and I need to be there." Kate apologized again. "Now that sounds more like the Kate that I know. You never did know how to relax. So do you miss your old job?" Lanie let Kate off the hook for now. She was here for a week and was willing to use the entire week to get the answers she wanted.

"I miss you and the guys, but the job? Not so much. I made the right choice to move. You should see Mom now. I was positive she was killing herself slowly after Dad died. She's so much more like she used to be. She's actually happy again." Kate smiled, pleased that her mom was doing so well. Kate didn't know if it was the 1.85 million or Oscar or anything she had done. Maybe even Patch had paw in this. She didn't know. She was just thrilled to have her mother back. Jenny hugged her knowing the price Kate had paid to help her mother.

"Now tell us about Rick. What does he do? How can he afford this place?" Lanie spread her arms wide and looked around. Everything looked so very nice. "You can't tell this to anyone, anyone at all. Promise me, give me your word that you'll tell absolutely no one." Kate knew Rick had run from who he used to be. "Cross your heart and hope to die kind of promise," she tried to make it sound serious. After getting her promises she said, "Rick Rodgers is Richard Castle." Her statement had Jenny slapping a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out while Lanie sat there stunned. "The author Richard Castle? The author who has books in the top ten time and time on the New York Times best seller list. That Richard Castle?" Lanie needed to hear it. Kate simply nodded. "It's a long story but he left New York to get away and he wants to stay hidden away. He's a ghost writer now so he doesn't do book signings or book tours anymore," she explained.

"You're engaged to Richard Castle." Lanie sat back, speachless at it all. How had Kate found and gotten engaged to playboy Richard Castle? Lanie sat up straight and looked at Kate. "Aren't you at all worried that he will just leave you? He's a playboy Kate!"

"That's why he's out here. It was his publicist and publisher that talked him into being seen as a playboy who was only interested in women for one thing. He changed his name and came out here to get away from that life. That's not him Lanie, I swear he's different than his public persona was." Kate was already sure in this belief. He almost literally couldn't keep secrets from her.

"I'll try and keep an open mind honey, but a leopard doesn't just change his spots," Lanie countered. "That's why he's out here. It was his publicist and publisher that talked him into being seen as a playboy who was only interested in women for one thing. He changed his name and ran out here to get away from that life. That's not him Lanie, I swear he's different than what they had the press display him as." Kate was already sure in this belief. Rick almost literally couldn't keep secrets from her.

She looked at her watch. "Maybe we should go. You have work in the morning and I'd rather meet your mother tonight than in the morning after sleeping in her house," she remarked. Kate nodded in agreement. "Oh, Oscar will be there just so you know. He's dating my mom." With that she called downstairs to get the guys back upstairs to leave for her mother's house. She led them across the street in her Jeep. The house felt less like hers and more like just her mother's home. Rick's house was her home now.

It really was late and while Kate was getting them into various bedrooms when her mother showed up wrapped in a robe and looking sleepy. "Hi, sorry about the time." Lanie was the first Johanna found. Still Lanie got a hug and after Johanna made sure everyone was here she went back to bed. It did, however, tell Kate just where Oscar was since Lanie and Espo were not sharing a room. It was one more example that her mother was moving on.

She sat in her Jeep outside of the house and was still trying to work it all out in her head. She really did like Oscar, he was a good man. But she didn't know how to take him being a shifter. She did know positively that she was going to have to talk with her mother about her being a dragon and keeping that from him. Kate was taking seriously what Serena had said about countries who would kill to get their hands on her. Literally kill. Maybe Serena had information on Oscar and his family. That thought had her resting her head on her steering wheel. "We still don't have a way to contact her. Or even know where she lives," she groaned in frustration.

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Kate woke up to an empty bed yet again and since the sheets were cool he had been gone for a while. She fell back into her pillow. 'I hate waking up alone.' Kate didn't mean to complain to Rick, it was just a quick thought. 'I'm sorry. I'll remember that in the future. I was just trying to get the girls up early and fed and then into the tub,' Rick responded. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to complain to you. It was just a sudden feeling.' It was another example of how she had changed, that she needed to be careful what she said or thought about saying.

She shuffled down to the kitchen and found Rick cooking and the girls sitting at the table eating. "Morning sweetie." And she kissed the top of Alexis's head. "Morning Mom," Alexis replied. "How are you Sam?" Kate kissed the top of her head as well. "Are we really going camping?" Sam just wanted some reassurance that she was going with them. "Of course honey. That reminds me I need to take the papers Amber needs to sign with me this morning babe." She walked up behind Rick, wrapped her arms around him, and buried her head in his back. "I'll print them out while you are showering and getting dressed," he responded as he reached over to plate her breakfast.

"Where are we going?" Sam was far more awake it seemed than Alexis was. "It's called the Devil's Tower and you two are going to learn to be Junior Park Rangers. We're going to walk the various trails that they have." Rick answered her question. "Park Rangers!? Do they have bears?" Alexis was awake now it appeared. "You'll just have to keep your eyes open and report it you see one. That's the job of Junior Park Rangers," Rick replied as Kate sat down next to Sam to eat. "Not to worry honey, we'll be there to protect you." She placed a hand on Sam who very likely still didn't like her first encounter with bears.

It was over an hour later and Kate was pulling up to the sheriff's office with Sam who had been talking non-stop about nearly anything and everything that came to her mind. "You must be really excited about going camping." Kate had reached a conclusion, and watched as Sam blushed and went quiet. That was until they went inside and Sam rushed over to her mom with Rick's paperwork in hand. "Sign Mom, sign…PLEASE!" which had Amber laughing. "Where are you going?" Amber asked looking at her daughter. "Um…" Sam hadn't been paying attention to that part.

"Junior Park Rangers," Kate whispered over her shoulder on her way to her office. "OH YEAH, we're going to be Junior Park Rangers!" Sam was still excited. It took reading the papers Rick had given her to sign for Amber to find out where her daughter was going.

Kate heard a knock at her doorframe and found Amber with Sam standing there. "Thank you," Amber simply stated. "Oh, and these are yours." She walked in and handed over the signed papers. "I couldn't leave without giving you these," Amber whispered which had Kate chuckling.

"BYE KATE!" Sam yelled from the front door as she followed her mother out. Kate smiled and shook her head. "It's a good thing ma'am," a new voice announced at her door. "And you have an early lunch function with the mayor in over an hour," she reminded Kate and went back to her desk. "How goes the change over to the new computers?" Kate called out getting Elizabeth to come back.

"We're spending a lot of time on the phone getting the first one to work properly, which reminds me," Elizabeth ran for her desk and came back with a paper. "This is the list of programs we need that work on Apple's operating system. Not everything we have is compatible with the new computers…sorry." Elizabeth knew it meant spending more money and she hoped they had the funds.

"Thanks Elizabeth I'll get right on it." Kate looked at the list and the cost. "ELIZABETH!" Kate yelled which had her stopping dead in her tracks and cringing. "Is this right?" Kate questioned her. "Yeah, sorry. One of the programs requires a license so we have to purchase a license for each computer that needs the program." Elizabeth tried to explain. "And we need this program?" Kate demanded. "If we want the computers in the cars to talk to the computers in the office we do." Elizabeth lowered the boom on Kate's choice of new computers. "So our new computers can't talk with the ones in the cars?" Kate hadn't really thought about it. They were computers; computers talk to other computers all the time, right? Watching Elizabeth shake her head wasn't helping.

Kate slumped, dejected. "Where's that list of equipment you did?" Kate started searching her desk until she found it. The computers in the cars were almost as old as the cars they were in. Kate got out of her chair, left her office, and found Greta. "Car keys." Kate held out her hand until Greta handed them over and watched as Kate strode out the front door.

"Am I fired already?" Greta whispered softly as Elizabeth stepped up. "I don't think so." Elizabeth was grinning and immediately struggled to stop grinning when Kate came back inside and handed Greta back her keys. She walked back into her office and picked up the phone. Elizabeth leaned down to Greta. "I think we're about to get new computers for the cars now too." And Elizabeth walked off back to her desk.

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"Ready?" Rick looked down at Alexis who hadn't as yet met Kate's friends since she was asleep when they showed up. "Don't worry they're going to love you and Patch will keep Midas and Maggie busy," he added. Alexis nodded and stood ramrod straight. He knocked and opened the door to the sound of laughter as Midas and Maggie wasted no time and rushed inside. What he found was all the women sitting in the living room and they turned to watch him enter with Alexis. "The guys are out back Rick, you come sit right here sweetheart." Lanie patted the empty space between her and Johanna.

Rick recognized a dismissal when he heard one. "Be a brave girl and go sit next to Kate's mother. If it gets to be too much just get up and go play with Midas and Maggie, they'll protect you." Rick kissed her head and headed for the back door, praying his little girl could handle what he was sure was coming her way.

"So you've been banished from the house too?" Oscar spoke up first as Rick watched Espo and Ryan smiling guilty smiles. "Why is it I get the feeling I should go rescue Alexis now?" Rick inquired. 'Is leaving Alexis with your friend Lanie a good idea?' Rick asked Kate. 'Where are you?' Kate asked. 'Your house, the guys have been banished to the backyard,' he explained.

Just the vision of it had Kate smiling, right up until she considered what Lanie was going to ask Alexis who wouldn't know better and just how dedicated Lanie was. Her mother was one thing, Lanie was 10 times worse. 'Go rescue Alexis now before Lanie has her telling her everything about shifters!' Kate didn't have enough faith that her mother would stop her before she said too much.

Rick hurried back inside and found Alexis talking with Lanie. "Alexis, pumpkin, can you take Midas and Maggie outside so that they can be good dogs and not make a mess inside? And maybe take Patch with you just in case," he asked her. "Okay Dad!" Alexis said happily as she jumped up and called for the dogs who all came running and went out the front door followed by Alexis. "Thank you Alexis," Rick called just before the door closed.

"Sorry. I kind of forgot about that before we drove over. Carry on." Rick waved both arms and withdrew back outside not missing the look Lanie was giving him. 'Lanie isn't going to give up is she?' Rick asked Kate. 'No, she's relentless. Trust me on that.' It left both of them wondering what to do about it. Plus Lanie was staying for an entire week and going on their little camping trip. 'Leave Lanie to me Rick, I'll handle her…I hope.' All Kate knew was that it was going to cost her; she just didn't know how much.

Johanna and Oscar retreated to their bedroom to take a nap since the restaurant would be open tonight. Yesterday was the only day they were closed each week.

"How about a tour of the town? I think I can fit all of us in my truck. We can stop for lunch somewhere maybe," Rick suggested. "Pizza?" Alexis brightened up since she had her favorite place in town to eat. "Maybe," her dad said.

Newcastle, they all found, wasn't all that big. "I don't remember ever being in a town this small," Jenny remarked while the others silently agreed. "I'll admit you can't get anything you want delivered at least not without a long wait for UPS to deliver it," Rick said. "UPS knows where this place is?" Espo teased Rick. "Yes, UPS knows where this place is. So does Santa Claus," Rick added. "We have a chimney for him to come down," Alexis said, happy about that.

"This area looks newer than everywhere else," Jenny pointed out, not seeing really old buildings everywhere. "The town had a growth spurt a number of years ago and people built instead of renovating. Which reminds me - I'll drive you over to Johanna's restaurant that will be open tonight," Rick said and drove there, parking in the empty parking lot.

"After Dark," Jenny read the sign. "It's only open for dinner at this time. According to Oscar it's doing pretty well. I can call and make reservations for us. We can eat here tonight if you like. Johanna is actually an excellent cook. She was making all of us dinners for weeks while she worked on her menu. Kate came over to the house to use the exercise room to work off the meals she made." Rick chuckled a little at the memory of the first day she did that.

"How long have Johanna and Oscar been together?" Lanie asked. "That's hard to say exactly. They've been dancing around each other for weeks. Actually being together is relatively recent," Rick said. "And how is Kate taking it?" Lanie questioned him again, searching for information she can use on Kate. "She hasn't talked about it much. I know she's happy that her mother is happy after the loss of her husband," Rick told her.

"Losing Jim was hard on both of them. I never thought Kate would ever leave the city, but she seems to be happy here. We probably have you to thank for that," Lanie said. "Kate is special, she deserves to be happy." Rick was happy she came here too.