Seems, I'm on a roll. I'm really into this episode and making my way through it. We all know what happens so I'm rolling through the motions to keep the storyline making sense but to mostly get to the story bits I've created. This one creates a bit pivotal point in the whole story and I will soon meet up with where I actually began the story way back about this time in 2017. My, how the world has changed, how my life has changed in that time. Enjoy…

Chapter 113

Beckett caught a subway train to her nearest home station, then walked the rest off the wa. Now off the Coonan case it meant she had the rest of the day off and would resume duties again tomorrow or the day after and be assigned another case. That's what she hoped for. It was a given that Montgomery would call her later to dress her down for leaving work as she had done, but he would let her get away with that and she knew it. Someone would clock off for her later on in the day. The dressing down was just a show.

After she called her Dad to book a dinner date with him, Castle called to check in on her. They talked for a few minutes. He didn't bring up what Lanie had told them, and he didn't ask her to return to the Precinct. He only asked her to call him if she wanted him for anything. Their talk gave her confidence, that it was okay for her to take time out, process the information and accept it. She unpacked a few more boxes of belongings. The new apartment was larger that the previous one and had more storage space and shelving which enabled her to showcase knickknacks she'd bought on vacations to other countries. She kept busy to distract herself from her mother's murder and the bottle of whisky sitting on the kitchen counter.

Beckett left the apartment five minutes after 6 pm to meet her father at a diner they both liked when they ate casual. She wore jeans, a sweater and a light brown woollen trench with wide collars that had belonged to her mother. There was some comfort in wearing the coat. As usual, she was seated first and waited a few minutes for her father to arrive. While she waited, she read Castle's text asking her whether she was ok, what she was doing and whether she was coming to his place after dinner as they had planned. She texted him that she would call him later.

Jim placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Good evening, Katie."

Beckett smiled, reached for her father's hand as he sat opposite her, "Hey dad."

"Where's Rick? I thought you two were joined at the hip nowadays."

"No. Not so much since I moved into the new place. And he's at home with Alexis." She studied him. "You're not wearing a suit."

He glanced down at his clothing. "Arr no. Worked from home proofing an agreement. Two of my junior lawyers have been working their asses off drafting it for me this week. Are you settling in to your place?"

"Yes, Dad. I'm still unpacking but only a couple of boxes left."

"Good." He gave her hand a squeeze. "So, what have you found?"

Beckett leaned in, "I don't know yet. The murder victim case I was working on. Lanie and another ME made a direct connection to Mom's murder."

"Oh dear." Jim breathed deeper. "Okay. That's something new. And that's enough to scare you?"

Beckett nodded, "Yeah. I told my Captain I couldn't continue to work on it."

Jim raised an eyebrow, "I'm quite surprised you stepped down when you found such a connection after ten years of searching, but I also know that you're afraid you'll lose yourself in it."

"It could get dangerous, Dad."

"Mm, I didn't sleep well that whole first year after you got out of the academy. I'd hear sirens in the night and imagine you off in the darkness some place. I had nightmares where it swallowed you whole."

Beckett breathed, well aware her father was always worried about her wellbeing, "Dad, I don't want to lose this one. I walked out today but having thought it out I think I should have stayed."

Jim smiled, "That's you, Honey. Your mother always said that life never delivers anything that we can't handle, she lived by that. Called it 'Johanna's immutable law of the universe.' And for years I thought she was wrong because I couldn't handle losing her. Now I can almost hear her whisper 'I told you so.'

Beckett smiled, "Four of Mom's favourite words."

"Yes, especially on you," Jim replied. "Look, she was a devout believer in the truth and if she were here right now, she'd tell you the truth can never hurt you. Now this may be your mother's way of reaching out to you, Katie, and reminding you that the truth is still your weapon to wield, not theirs. What did Rick think?"

"I haven't spoken to him about it since I left the Precinct earlier."

"What would he say?"

"He would say we should try to find Mom's killer."

"Then do it, Honey, but be careful. Please don't get stubborn with Rick about this. Do it together and you will be fine."

Kate smiled, sat up taller. "He's always there, with me."

"He's good for you even if you don't see it. Are you ordering the usual? I'll go get it."

"Yes, thank you."

After their dinner, Beckett caught a cab to Castle's loft. She texted him on the way to ensure it was okay she stay the night with him, and his response was to hurry up. A quarter hour later, she knocked on his door. She had a key to his place but since she had moved out it felt out of place and wrong for her to use it.

Castle swung upon the door dressed in a t-shirt and track pants. "Hey."

Beckett gave him a timid smile, "Hey. I'm sorry about earlier, Rick."

Castle gave a dismissive wave of his hand and said as he stepped back, "Come in."

"Thank you."

"Now come here." He held out his hand luring her to him and gave the door a push hard enough to close it. He embraced her tightly and whispered, "I love you. We'll get through this."

Beckett nodded her head against his chest and seconds later, he let go probably aware his mother was right behind him. Kate went to Martha and gave her a hug.

"Mmmphf hang in there kiddo." Martha said.

"Thank you, Martha." Kate stepped back to Castle and slipped her hand into his.

Martha headed towards the stairs as she said, "Leftovers in the fridge, upstairs if you need us."

Castle backed up, taking Kate with him, "Please. I will do anything that you need, including nothing, if that's what you want."

"What I want is to find my mother's killer."

"Well, then, we need to break Johnny Vong," Castle said.

"Is he still under Police protection?"

"Yes. He's totally scared shitless he will be killed so the boys left him in the cell for tonight."

"Okay." Beckett said, "So let's break him."

"First thing we will. I'll figure out something to get him talking. But right now? It's about us. I opened a bottle of your favourite wine for when you showed up, and we have privacy for the rest of the night as the red heads have gone to bed."

"Wine might help me relax."

"It will." He pointed towards the sofa. "Head there and I will bring the wine and glasses."

*. *. *. *

Later in the evening, Castle sat on the side of the bed and with gentle manipulation he put Kate between his knees. They were down to underwear and she held a glass of red wine in her right hand. His glass was on the nightstand mainly because he preferred to have his hands on Kate, and his arms were loosely looped to the back of her legs. The lights were down and late night low key radio played in the background. Beckett had put on a good impression that everything was fine, but Castle felt it to his bone that she was unstable with the news about the murder. She was toey and a little distracted by his advances in the living room, so he'd brought their little party to the bedroom where she could be confident there would be no interruptions. Her long fingers combed through his thick brown hair.

"Blue eyes," she murmured.

"You love them." His palms glided up her thighs over her hips, hooked onto her panties and made their way back down sliding the panties down. His bright blue eyes shifted from her eyes to where his thoughts were now focussed. He rested his forehead to her abdomen aware his boxers were tenting. He wanted her so much, but her mind was still on her mother's murder.

She stretched out to her right and placed the wine glass beside his. She then pushed him backwards so he was laid out.

"Stay there," she said as she undid the bra. It was discarded on the floor and her panties followed. She then straddled his body, crawled up him until she was in a position to kiss him. She did just that then looked into his eyes. "Would you please go down on me? I could really to with a good sleep, Rick and you know how much it makes me sleep."

"You don't need to ask me. Get on your side of the bed and lay down. I'll rock you to sleep." He chuckled at his own humour and using his strength he hoisted Kate over his head letting her go to tumble to the mattress. Her laughter as she bounced a bit made him happy. He rolled over, then got to his hands and knees to migrate over the bed. He dropped his frame at the apex of her legs, smiled aware she watched on, then gave her body a lingering gaze.

"How would you like to start this?" He asked, his eyebrow raised, his right index finger making patterns along the extent of her left inner thigh.

"Really, Castle? You, of all men, has to ask this?"

"Well…" he paused, considered his options then decided to tackle her head on, "Should I be insulted?"

Her brow furrowed and she sat up to her elbows. "For what?"

"Implying I'm over experienced for the job."

She laughed, sitting up. "No!" She cupped his jaw, leaned in closer, "No. But you have to agree you certainly know how to navigate your way around the female body."

"Won't deny that." He cleared his throat and using a deep voice he ordered. "Lay down. I'm going for the target." And with that he rose and began to clamber over his girlfriend coercing her to physically submit with the use of playful kisses and nibbles exactly where he knew she liked it.

About 45 minutes later, Rick slipped from the bed and found his boxers. He dressed in them and made his way to the living room for a drink he was dying for and perhaps a midnight snack. The physical exertion had brought on some serious hunger. As promised, he had sexually satiated Kate and she was now sleeping it off. And she was snoring just a little bit but he wouldn't tell her that tomorrow.

He found a glass and used the tap to pour himself a drink. He drank slowly, reminiscing about how much her body had writhed beneath him. The cute but glorious sounds that emanated from her to the obscene choice of words she delivered at the climatic point. There was no doubt in his mind Kate was his best sexual partner and making love with her was one of his favourite activities.

"How is your girl?"

Castle almost dropped the glass in the sink. He spun around to see his mother standing on the other side of the counter in a hideous orange dressing gown, red hair tied back and a skin care mask of a mucky blue adorning her face.

"Mother! You scared the crap out of me," he hissed. Kate would have had a private giggle about his mother's get up. He pointed towards his bedroom as he stepped to the counter, and said, "Do not wake her. I finally got her to sleep."

"Mm. I heard."

Castle frowned. "You were upstairs."

"Bathroom. Its directly above yours." She pointed upward.

"Christ, Mom. There's no way. And she'll stay here again if she knows you can hear us," he said.

"She won't know unless you tell her." Martha sighed, "So, did you calm her down?"

"Yes. Enough that she's going back on the case tomorrow and sleeping soundly." He studied the ceiling and deliberated whether it would be a good idea to phone a guy to check the insulation between the floors.

"Good."

"I'm getting a builder in here to inspect the acoustics in this place."

"Oh, Darling. I'm teasing you. She needs to follow this case to its end but right now she needs to get a good night's sleep and that's been taken care of." Martha smiled devilishly as she made her way to the fridge.

Castle pressed his lips together in frustration. "She will work on the case, and I will be right there with her."

Martha stared into the fridge, "Are you eating or just having water?"

"Any decent leftovers? I'm famished."

"No wonder, Darling."

He reached over her for a container of pasta salad, and said quietly and close to her ear, "You know, Mother, maybe Kate having her own apartment was not such a bad idea."

"Well, it gives you both have a private place to retreat. This is not exactly private here with all the open plan design. Even I don't bring men back here."

"Surprising, isn't it."

Castle copped a playful knock to his ribs that caused him to grunt and shy away.

"If only you knew how many I didn't bring back when you were a boy."

"Mother…." Castle cringed. "I could say the same thing. Must run in the family."

They both looked upwards in the direction of Alexis' bedroom.

"No, I don't think so," Martha commented.

"Yeah. Nah. I was up to no good by the time I was her age." Castle confessed as he opened the lid. "I'm fine the way she is." He sat on a stool at the counter.

"Oh, but who knows, what with the internet, cell phones, what do we really know about her?"

That gave Castle pause, then he dug into the pasta salad with a fork. Between mouthfuls he said, "I will find an app that tracks her movement."

"No you won't."

*. *. *. *

Early the next morning shortly after they had awoken, Beckett lay against Castle her head on his shoulder. They were sort of dozing and sort of hitting the snooze button every 7 minutes. Earlier, well before the alarm shattered the quiet of the morning, they'd been awake. By the time the alarm sounded, they were flat out on the bed and in recovery mode.

"Do you think we would be telling everyone we're dating if we arrive at Lanie's party together?" Kate asked breaking the silence in his bedroom.

He inhaled long and slow.

She felt every muscle move and something in his shoulder creak. So much noise going on internally she was forced to lift her head a little to break the seal between her ear and his body. In response he stroked her upper arm. "I mean," she said, "We're getting along, we're together most of the time. Would our friends get suspicious?" Her palm felt his chest and she fell quiet mostly due to his silence. She didn't want to fill the air with useless conversation. Nervous fingers rode the contours of his massive frame and she watched them, felt him. Not long ago they had finished making love. Not a quick fuck or a play around. It had been pure love making, when their moods, their hormones, their bodies had been in perfect harmony. She loved those moments when great became brilliant. She'd found him, feeling vulnerable and insecure about the case. Last night he'd done his best to care for her and make her feel safe. She'd slept soundly. This morning had been mutually satisfying.

The air smelled of them.

"You're worried about the party on Saturday night?" He asked his hands on her waist.

She smiled, "You mean am I worried I will get drunk and then hit on you and then everyone will be speculating and making bets? Yes, I am."

"So you think turning up together will make it less of a surprise? If you want, I could stay sobor and manage you."

"Manage me?"

"Yeah," he sighed, "Bad answer."

"No kidding, Castle but where's the fun in you doing that?"

"You're right. I do enjoy those evenings you make a spectacle of yourself in front of your friends and then simply blow it off the next day as intoxicated actions."

She laughed, a girlish laugh he loved. "Maybe," she said her tone high. "They all accept it as us."

"And we're staying the night, right?"

Kate nodded. "Lanie insists and she threatened she's putting us in her guestroom together."

"Oh." Castle thought about them and where they were right now. It had been rocky when she moved into her new apartment but lately, they had returned to being like they used to be, before things got all weird with Alexis having Kate at the loft all the time. "They all anticipated we would get together when you stayed here."

"Mm."

"You've just made love, so its not a time to make commitment decisions for public, Kate." He pressed his lips to her head. "Get past this case too."

"You'll be there with me?" She asked.

"Of course. We have to crack Vong."

"Yes. Hey, can I ask something?"

"Sure," Castle replied closing his eyes, hoping for just a few more minutes.

"Um… why did you drop the pillow over my head before?"

"When we were … like before?" Castle asked his eyes wide open.

"Yeah."

"Accidental," Castle replied grimacing about how his mother had made him conscious of them, their noise. "But it did work well as a silencer".

"Are you implying I'm loud."

"What? No." Castle replied way too fast his tone high. Calmer he added. "No. I love the noises you make. Reinforces I'm doing the right thing." He squeezed her. "We need to move if we've gonna get Johnny Wong to talk. I have an idea."

"Good. Share it with me on the way." Beckett flung back the bed sheets and got out of bed. On her way to the bathroom she yelled back, "And you can share why I copped the pillow."

Castle dropped his head back to his pillow and gritted his teeth as he cursed at his mother for once again getting in his head and interfering.