All'S NOT FAIR IN LOVE
Chapter 6 - Old Horse, New Tricks?
Things seemed to be going well for one Josh Davidson. He now had hopes that he and Kate have a chance together. After his talks with her, they were still together as a couple. That situation had him in a good mood the whole day. Getting close to the end of his shift, he decided on a good dinner before his work period ended later that night. He would have a late dinner.
Josh Davidson was having that dinner in the hospital cafeteria when his friend, George Saunders, walks up to him with his tray. He and Josh are old hunting buddies. They both enjoyed the chase for a woman's affection and the surrender of those affections after a good hunt. George, like Josh, is a surgeon, but in George's case, a general surgeon, and like Josh, single. George joins Josh at his table.
"So are you still seeing that hot girlfriend of yours, Kate is it?"
"Yes, it's Kate and she's fine."
"I'll say she's fine, simply gorgeous with a capital G. Have you slept with her yet?"
"Is that all you can think about George?"
"Woa ha, is this the Josh Davidson I know. Usually you bed them after a month of dating and then drop them when you've had your fill of them. Some of those conquests you have passed on to me for sloppy seconds. So this is new for you, since I take it you have yet to sleep with Kate. So what gives here? Have you turned in your Playboy Club Card or what?"
"She's not like that George. This one is different."
"And by different you mean you haven't slept with her yet. She's playing hard to get, is she? Doing it well then if she has you talking this way. Have you tried getting her drunk?"
"She's a homicide cop and can hold her drink. I tried it and she drunk me under. She's too smart for that."
"Well, well, there, what do you know! Dr. Josh Davidson has finally met his match. She's a tough one, Kate is? That makes it even more difficult, but , makes her more enticing."
"George, quit the male bravado speak, Kate is different. She is her own woman, and if she were male, she would be an alpha male."
"Well sounds like she's an alpha female and one you are not used to handling. Well, will wonders never cease. I thought I would not live to see the day the mighty Josh Davidson is brought down."
"Quit it George. Stop that conquest speak, Kate deserves better respect than what you are giving her."
"Okay no more", George sees that look on Josh's face like Josh just had an epiphany, "so here take this."
He shakes Josh's hand and leaves something there. When Josh examines it he realizes George had slipped him some drugs, roofies to be exact, or the 'club drug'. Otherwise known by its formal name Rohypnol. It is used as a pre-surgery anesthesia so many surgeons have access to it. Rohypnol is also known as the date rape drug due to its amnesia properties, when used illicitly. Victims given the drug would have limited or no recollection of a sexual assault.
Josh had only used this drug once before, when he had started his dating life early on and had not became skilled in the ways of seduction. It took several conquests to become skilled in the art and thus afterwards there had been no need for the illicit drug. Wine and alcohol did the same thing when administered in the right manner. But to Josh's surprise, Kate could hold her drink! Plying her with alcoholic drinks had not worked.
The one and only time Josh had used the drug, his date had given consent. However dubious that consent had been after Josh gave her the drug. If roofies did not work in full effect, the drug did at least lower one's inhibitions so seduction is facilitated. As was the case that only time Josh had used the drug. Josh used a more potent kind of drug now, it was called charm. He had skilled himself in the art of charming a date into his bed.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Kate was also immune to his charms. This had caused a loss of confidence with Josh that he could bed Kate. Josh slips the drug into his scrubs pocket and finishes his meal before heading back to work and then home afterwards. He might have need for the drug again, although he was attempting to continue his charm offense with Kate. It looked like it might be working. After serious talks on where they were going, and the two incidents that exposed Josh's jealousy for Castle, Kate had stayed with him. That was encouraging so, Josh was indeed hopeful that with time, Kate would wind up in his bed.
Driving home Josh is thinking about what George said to him. Had he really changed or was he still the same man George knew? Josh decides he has changed. Kate has changed him. He no longer needs the thrill of the chase, but the goal of the chase; finding the woman who best suits you. One with whom you can have a life time together. That is his goal now, or, was Josh just fooling himself by thinking he had become the kind of man that Kate wanted?
In his teen years, Josh had always thought about finding his 'one', but as he grew older, became a surgeon who attracted many woman, his goal morphed. His object then became to bed as many women as he could. So many women but so little time for them. It had become a numbers game to him. As a handsome and competent surgeon, with a good income, he could have the pick of the litter, so why settle for one? Then he met Kate and she was so much different from all the women he had dated in the past.
She too was looking to find a life mate but did not fall easily. Kate had admitted in her younger years she was more of a collect, select, and reject type woman. She had an easy selection criteria back then. As she grew and matured into an accomplished woman, her taste in men had evolved and become more discriminating, more selective. The men she dated had to check all her boxes now, and few could. A man had to live up to her standards before she allowed him to share her bed.
Kate had rekindled in Josh a desire to be the one for her. But had Josh really changed? Was it just a created image so he could sleep with her? Or was it ego, making him fit the role to bed Kate. She was indeed a catch, but could Josh measure up to her standards? Of late, he had not, but he took consolation in that she continued to be his steady girlfriend, even though she said she was not ready to sleep with him. But was Kate playing with him, had she been using her partner Castle to make him jealous? Whatever it was, Kate had managed to keep his attention these past six or more months. Usually by this time in past relationships, Josh had bedded his prey and was now on a new hunt for the next conquest.
Josh was not used to being denied sex from a girlfriend. Denial from Kate just flamed his desires to sleep with her. Josh however was becoming more frustrated with Kate. There had to be an end to his situation sometime soon. Josh was starting every day to wonder if all this waiting for Kate was worth it. He could easily move on from Kate, but he did not want her to be the one who got away from him. His ego was such that he would do almost anything to get Kate to sleep with him. And that included playing a role as the kind of man that Josh knew was her 'type'. Was it all a masquerade for one Josh Davidson, or had Kate really changed him? Could this old horse learn new tricks?
All Josh could think about his situation with Kate was a saying that his friend George used to tell him at the start of a hunt: in for a dime, then in for a dollar. The bets had no limits in this game of conquests. What scared Josh most, however, was that Kate might outbid him! But Josh would call her hand. He would be all in for the pot. He would risk it all to get the spoils.
12th Precinct
It was a slow day and they were just doing paperwork.
Rick was playing a video game on his cell phone but every so often would steal a look at Beckett working at her desk.
"Castle, what did I say about staring. You are staring at me and it is creepy!"
"But detective, you are so much more to stare at, your appearance beyond that of the plain and ordinary, quite stunning really."
"Trying to butter me up Castle? Stop, it will not work on me."
"Seriously though Kate, how can you persist with all this paperwork?"
"I don't know Castle, you're the writer, want to come and help me write my reports."
"I write fiction Beckett, not reports."
"Well then stop distracting me so I can finish."
By lunch it appears that Kate is done.
"Beckett, go for lunch?"
"I don't know, want to make it worth my while, Writer Man?"
"Why detective, the presence of my company should be worth your while, but to sweeten the pot, Italian, my shout."
"Now you're speaking there Castle."
"Espo and Ryan went to file their reports with the ADA and said from there they would go to lunch. So it's just the two of us."
"Oh heart be still, alone with Rick Castle for lunch. What more could a woman want!"
Kate rolls her eyes at Castle as she spoke her one last response to his lunch invite.
They go for NY style pizza at their favorite pizza place. That was somewhat Italian, wasn't it? They order a whole pizza knowing that if they could not finish all of it, that Espo and Ryan would. That is, if the two had managed not to catch lunch. As they sit at their table Rick speaks.
"Seems you and Josh are getting closer", Rick had made the statement as he was probing for something.
"You think!? I don't see it, we are just the same way that we always are."
So now Kate was denying that as a couple they had become closer. Rick then tells her what has been on his mind for a while now.
"Seriously Kate, if it is getting to a level where you think my being your partner threatens your relationship with Josh, I will stop following you. Stop seeing you. I will not be a reason for a breakup with Josh."
Was Rick giving her space, or was there purpose to his proposal?
"Why would you do that Rick? Josh is comfortable with me having you as a partner", on her comment, Kate knew it was not completely true, but she didn't want Rick to leave as her work partner. Besides, she and Josh were at a detente with Castle as her partner. By why this talk now from Rick? What did it mean, or was Kate looking too much into Rick's question?
"Well, all right, in that case, I remain here for you Kate." Rick had posed this question to Kate when he realized that maybe she was holding off from Josh because of her office partnership and friendship with himself. Or maybe Kate did not want to ruin the effectiveness of her detective team to which Rick had made such a contribution to their high case closure as to be the highest in the whole NYPD. So maybe Kate's decision to keep him close was more for professional reasons rather than personal reasons, despite her professed affections for him. So Rick's remarks were meant to probe that very thought.
Still, Rick needed to give her an out, if she wanted it, but would she take it? She had not. Rick needed to ponder that and what it meant to the future of his partnership with Kate. The only other reason for this situation, Rick had deduced, was she was using Josh to keep Rick at arm's length. Lanie had said Kate feared having to be with anyone without a foot out the door. So is Rick 's presence Beckett's plan B for Josh? No, Kate was not like that, and Rick as quickly had dismissed that thought so as not to linger on it.
"Castle, please, don't bring it up again. I will let you know if something changes, ok?"
"Deal."
But her talk with Rick had lead her to believe that maybe Rick was now himself doubting her and trying to find a way to break from her. This despite his promise to always be there for her. What better way to that situation than if she herself admitted that Castle's presence was indeed impacting her relationship with Josh. That would allow her to call it quits with Rick and give Rick a convenient out on his promise to her. It was a disturbing thought for Kate.
Has this now become a repeat of that last summer when she had taken up with Demming? Was Rick trying protect his heart by letting her down gently? This thought becomes a concern. Kate needs to figure out what Castle's talk with her really meant, beyond the words they had spoken.
Girl Talk
Back at her apartment, Kate could not help but revisit the talk she had with Castle at lunch. Was he sending her a veiled message, even maybe a declaration for her to resolve her feelings for Josh. Rick wanted his chance with her and he had made his affections for her known. Rick was being very adult about their situation and had been so since she told him the truth that she did in fact have feelings for him. Had she gone with Rick to the Hamptons, she wonders if Rick would have been her steady boyfriend now.
That outcome most likely would have happened, had she gone with Rick to the Hamptons that one weekend. Certainly she would not have met Josh and life, that is her life, would be less conflicted. She needed to come to a resolution on where she and Josh were heading and in so doing, let Rick know. Then Rick could move on from her whatever that resolution came to for the three of them.
She is constipated on the matter once again and needs some help. Kate speed dials Lanie.
"So what's up Girl, want me to come to your place for a talk."
"NO, you came to my place last time so I will head to your place. Wine and chocolates on me."
"I was not expecting otherwise."
Lanie's Apartment
"Enter", says Lanie when she opened her apartment door for Kate.
"Thanks, got the wine and some Godiva chocolate."
As they sat on her couch, wine glasses in hand, chocolate being sampled, Lanie asks, "So what is it this time, Josh still pressuring you to sleep with him."
"Rick told me he would stop following me if it complicates what I have with Josh."
"And you don't want that?"
"I don't know what I want Lanie, I am so conflicted."
"Kate, what are you really afraid of, that Castle will leave, or that he will stay?"
"What? What are you saying?"
"Hear me out Kate. You know that if Castle stays, and the two of you become an item, and you will have to commit 100%. No one foot out the door like you've done with other past BF's, Josh included. The only one you ever fell quickly and completely for was Sorenson, and he hurt you so badly when you two split. Since then you have never been completely in on any one of your past relationships. You get into these hookups with men you don't love. Are you now hiding from Rick with Josh?"
There is a significant pause as Kate takes in what Lanie has said.
"So you think I should break up with Josh?"
"Girl that is your choice! Josh or Rick, pick. You gotta make that hard call. You got to put on your Big Girl pants and choose. I see who you want, but you do not." Lanie is trying to be completely objective here despite the fact Lanie favored Castle for Kate. But Lanie spoke what she knew Kate had to hear, whether Kate liked it or not!
"So who do you see that I should choose?"
"You got to figure that one out on your own Kate. But here is an observation, who has been with you for almost 4 years now despite all the men coming and going in your life? Who returned after he left you because he would rather be with you , rather than be without you. A choice made, despite the other men in your life? Who has been at your side all this time that you clearly do not see or maybe have taken for granted that he will always be there? This is my final word to you Kate. That's it, time for you to be a Big Girl here. Take the shot, but stop with keeping both men in limbo. One or the other, or it may just happen, with neither of them and not be the outcome you want."
Kate did a sleepover having brought work clothes for the next day. But her sleep is restless. She is dreaming of an outcome and it is almost like a nightmare. She dreams that she loses both men and is left alone for the rest of her life.
The next day she texts Josh that she wants to see him for dinner when he has a free evening. She knows Josh has a free night coming up and plans to break up with him at that dinner. She had finally come to a resolution. It was the same resolution she had with Demming. She wanted Rick in her life. She did not want Josh.
Josh gets her text and sets up for a dinner date that Saturday weekend . He plans to seduce her into his bed on this date. He had fallen for all her talk about finding the one and had attempted to play her game. No more! Kate would have to play his game and if she does not surrender willingly, he plans to have his way despite. He would be all in on this date.
Josh was determined not to let Kate get away. Josh had concluded that he was not being aggressive enough with Kate. He would offer all his chips on the table. Josh plans to risk it all on this date. He is done role playing with her. Josh had stepped back to his past predatory nature. The old horse had not learned any new tricks. This spelled disaster for one Kate Beckett.