Something Old, Something New
by Castlefan6
A/N: By Request, PRE-Series Hookup, SEQUEL to Diminished Recall. Picks up exactly where that ends. COMPLETELY AU except for the conversation that prompted this and the use of some character's names. For CeCe, Friend, and Co-Writer with Pen2Paper.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only
I hope it's close to what you wanted.
A/N: Laurie's occupation was a songwriter, she said she had been lucky a few times. For the sake of this fiction, please assume the songs written by Diane Warren were her work, under her pen name of DW. Thx
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Chapter 10
Gallagher's Bar and Grill
Three Days Later
7:00 PM
Rick and Laurie were on their way to date night, a quick burger and shake at Remy's then they were taking in a Yankee game, a surprise for Laurie. She was a huge baseball fan, and while Rick barely knew the basics of the game, she enjoyed watching and explaining the subtle moves, the pinch hitters, the bunts, and sacrifice outs to advance the runners.
She got into the games and voiced her opinions of lousy calls. Rick enjoyed watching her argue with an umpire's call on the TV as if it would make a difference. He smiled, this was his woman, his partner, and the love of his life. They had stopped by the 12th precinct for Rick to sign a witness statement in one of the cases that he had worked on.
It was a quick in-and-out trip, and as they walked towards Remy's Rick heard someone call his name from across the street outside Gallagher's Bar, a cop hangout. He at first ignored it, thinking who would be calling him at this hour of the day. Then he heard it clearer and louder.
"Castle, I'm talking to you, what are you gonna do hide behind your girlfriend's skirt?" Esposito had been getting his courage from a bottle and was beginning to let it show at the worst possible time.
"What do you want Esposito, you're drunk, go home and sober up before you fall and hurt yourself," Rick said, putting himself between Laurie and the loud-mouthed man across the street.
"Go home? Home? Hell thanks to you I won't have a home after they fire me, and it's all because you have to be the big shot. I'm gonna do what I should have done the first time I saw your wimp ass. I'm gonna kick your ass all the way to the precinct." He slurred,
"Esposito, I warned you once, don't let that big mouth of yours write a check your ass can't cash, right now you are just irritating me, keep it up and you're gonna piss me off," Rick warned, trying to avoid what the short cocky detective seemed to be spoiling for, a fight.
"Is that supposed to scare me away, like that fake ass tattoo you have under your watch like you are some badass from the Marines? Well, I was in the Air Force, Special Forces, and we were the ones you pussy's called to bail your ass out when you were getting the shit kicked out of you." He slurred worse, he was drunk and full of liquid courage, but he kept his mouth going.
"I don't like you or your big mouth, but watch your language in front of the lady. If you think you have the stones to do what you say you're going to do, come on across the street, I'm right here. Just to set the record straight, you washed out of Special Forces after three weeks because you talked too much.
If you think you are the one to bail this Marine out, come on over, or turn around go back inside the bar and have them call you a cab." Rick said he turned to Laurie, "Baby walk on down the street at least half a block, there's no telling what this drunk is going to try, and I don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm coming over right now Castle, you better get running," or" he had almost reached Rick by this time.
"Look Esposito, I don't beat up drunks unless they won't shut up, so you have the chance to walk back to where you came from, or take a ride to the hospital in a bus, your choice," he said,
Javi made the fatal mistake, he spit at Castle and found his nose cracked from an open hand thrust to the face, the blood was gushing down his face, and into his mouth. Rather than quit the idiot tried to tackle Rick, who sidestepped him, added a kick to his ass, and sent him sprawling into a pile of boxes next to the dumpster. He got to his feet and took a swing, his only one of the night, all he felt was his arm break as Rick had him in a martial arts hold, and slapped him 5 times with his open hand as he screamed out in pain. The slaps were more insulting than painful, but Rick didn't want to destroy him, one last right hand to his eye and he fell in a heap, next to the garbage.
Some of the cops had come out of Gallaghers to see what was going on. They had heard Javi challenge Castle, and as he lay in a heap, Rick called out, "One of you blues call a bus, he's going to need a doctor" as he walked down the sidewalk to meet Laurie. "I'm sorry about that Laurie, he was spoiling for a fight, so he'll be out of commission for a while," Rick said,
"Rick, I went into the drug store over there and got some hand sanitizer, some band-aids, and if you needed it some antibiotic cream for your knuckles, in case he bit you, I thought you showed great restraint in not kicking his ass to the dumpster." She said, "Thanks for sticking up for my honor, it's been a long time since a gentleman has told someone to respect me as a lady," she kissed him.
"Well, you are my lady, and they are going to respect you. He's pissed because he's on his way out of the 12th, for his laziness. He can't blame that on anyone else, so I don't feel sorry for him. Hey, you hungry?" he asked as he pulled the door to Remy's open and excused himself to wash his hands.
The meal was great, and the game was a nail-biter, the Yankees finally winning it in 17 innings, with a walk-off home run. Laurie was a very happy camper, so they decided to make an entire night out of it. Rick knew a small carnival that was set up for the next few days. They walked through the food section arm in arm, munching on the elephant ears, caramel corn, and hot buttered steak sandwiches they had accumulated.
"Well, we are running tomorrow, Rick, no ifs, ands, or butts, and don't look at my butt every time I say that" she giggled,
"Why Not, I think it's gorgeous, everything about you is gorgeous." He waggled his eyebrows,
"How about we go home, and you get a chance to change your mind, it's getting fat," She said, and before she knew it the limo was there, and they were on their way home. She loved the limo, not for the status, but Rick didn't have to watch the road, they could get a warm-up session started, and that's what they did.
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Presbyterian Hospital
25 Minutes After Rick Called the Uniforms
Javi was loaded on a stretcher, his arm was broken, his left eye was swelling shut, and his entire face was swelling, probably from the rapid succession of open-hand slaps delivered by Rick. The ER Doctor asked the EMT "So what do we have here?"
"Detective Javier Esposito decided to call out someone who used to be in the US Marines, even after he told him to go home and sleep it off, he pushed it. This is the result." One of the EMTs relayed the story they had received on the scene.
"How long did he beat this poor bastard,?" the doctor asked,
"That's the thing, the crowd said that all of the blows, but one were delivered with an open hand. The arm got broken when this clown tried to spit on him and wound up with his nose and arm broken. After that, the witnesses said, it was a rapid-fire open hand slap probably 6 to 8 then one punch and he lay on the ground out." The medic relayed,
"Damn this guy messed with one badass, I've seen martial artists with less damage inflicted than this poor smuck got, hope he learned his lesson, he'll have the reminder for about six to eight weeks." The Doctor said,
"OK, we can't do much until he sobers up, so it's gonna be a few hours, his blood alcohol was almost three, and he's going to be in pain when he sobers up. The doctor packed his nose, and set it, with his hands, placing a strip of tape over it. He left, leaving the curtain open slightly so they could monitor his state of inebriation.
Several hours later he was finally sober enough to receive treatment, he had to sign the forms, and since he was suspended there was a question about his medical insurance. The doctor came back and said, we have a party who has guaranteed payment, so we should go ahead.
They went through several concussion protocol testing and applied a lotion to reduce the swelling of his face, although it hardly made a difference. His left eye was swollen shut and had turned an ugly purple color, the most painful part was when they had to set his arm and apply the cast. He screamed out as they realigned the bones, and applied the black plaster cast.
Finally, almost nine hours after he had arrived, he was discharged, to a cab waiting to take him to his apartment. They had supplied him with enough pain pills to last until he could pick up the prescription tomorrow at his local pharmacy. He was hurting like someone had beat the hell out of him, then he remembered someone had. Castle, that bastard. (For you CeCe )
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12th Precinct
Ten Days Later
7:30 AM
Today was the day that Javier Esposito and Katherine Beckett would learn their fates, one was hoping her TO was correct in his encouragement, the other was already making plans for life after the NYPD, except he had about six weeks left to heal before he could begin interviewing.
Kate arrived early, as usual, she couldn't stand sitting in her apartment any longer, she wasn't allowed on the floor until 15 minutes before the hearing, so she was sitting in the lobby when a cab pulled up and assisted a passenger out, she rose to hold the door open as she would do for anyone with a physical disability, and when the person got closer, she realized who it was.
"MY GOD, Javi, what the hell happened to you?" she asked as she went to help him in the door, he held his good hand up and waved one finger no. She held the door as he made his way, awkwardly into the lobby, and checked in at the desk. He was told the same information, to take a seat, he would be called when they were ready for him.
He shuffled his way over to the chair one down from Kate, and sat down, gingerly. "Don't say a word, Kate, this was between Castle and me, you had nothing to do with it." He said after a few moments of awkward silence.
"I didn't know there was anything between you two except that for some reason you didn't like each other. Hardly a reason to inflict that much bodily damage on one another, I mean, God, you look like you had the hell beat out of you." She said,
"Yeah, well, I did. I was drunk, but it wouldn't have made any difference, except maybe I wouldn't have been so full of liquid courage, I guess I called him out in front of his girlfriend, he didn't react well," Javi said slowly, still breathing through his mouth since his nose was still packed, and he was wearing the tape across the bridge to hold the bones in place.
"His girlfriend? I didn't realize Castle had a girlfriend, or the personality to even attract someone of the opposite sex unless it was for his fame and fortune." She said sarcastically
"Oh, he has a girlfriend, and she's gorgeous. She definitely wasn't a groupie, she adored him, I think it was the maid of honor or the bridesmaid at that wedding we worked with him where the bridesmaid was killed." He said,
"Wasn't that the wedding where his girlfriend he went with for almost three years in college married the guy whose uncle killed the girl to try to hide his embezzlement?" Kate asked
"Beats me, I think Lanie knew the whole story, but she didn't share it with me." He said, then Kate remembered, her talk with Lanie. It had been Kyra's or KB's wedding and the girl was the maid of honor.
"Beckett, Esposito," the desk Sargent called out. "You'll need visitor badges, so step up here and register, they will be ready for you in five minutes." He said, Kate thought how much more humiliation would they subject her to. Hell, needing a visitor badge and an escort to the homicide floor where she worked, make that had worked, was a slap in the face to her, actually it was just following regulations, but she still thought she shouldn't have been subjected to that kind of treatment.
When they had completed the sign-in sheet, the Sargent handed each a temporary badge and had a young patrol officer escort them to the elevator, ride to the fifth floor, and walk them to the main conference room.
He stopped, motioned for them to wait, knocked, and heard "Enter" bellowed from the Captain. "Sir, Esposito, and Beckett are here for their hearing." He said they were simply motioned in and told to take a seat, only two were open. The room was full of top management from One PP, HR, and WHAT, what the hell was Richard Castle doing sitting next to the mayor?
She had to remember Mike Royce's words, "Don't play into their hands, they're gonna try to get you to lose your cool if you do, you've lost your job." Mike had called her after she left a voice mail telling him when the hearing was, and talked to her again, about how important it was to remain cool under fire.
"Consider this one of those stress exercises we put you through, except this time, there are no do-overs, you only get one shot to keep your job." He told her yesterday, then wished her luck, his last words were "Well Kid, it's either keep your cool or show them your boobs" and hung up as she started laughing about a memory they had shared long ago it seemed now.
Roy looked at the clock and just as the hand struck 7:30, he spoke, "This hearing will come to order, for the sake of the clerk who is transcribing this, as well as recording it via media, all leadership team members are to identify themselves and their titles, Roy Montgomery, Captain 12th Precinct NYPD. Mr. Mayor, we will start with you and move to your left please" Roy said,
Weldon cleared his throat, and said, "Robert Weldon, Mayor and Chief Executive Officer of the City of New York," he glanced to his left to Rick, who followed, "Richard Rogers Castle, Special Consultant to the NYPD by request of Mayor Weldon, and so it went on down the line.
He was a special consultant, whatever that was, but it was clear he was there at the request of the mayor. The roll call had been completed, and Roy once again took charge of the meeting.
"We have before us today Lead Detective First Class, Katherine Beckett, and Detective 2nd Class, Javier Esposito, each of the board members has been supplied with a synopsis of the infractions each detective has been charged with, and the events which led to the suspensions and charges. Do either of the Detectives request a reading of this document, or do you consent to move to the order of business, disciplinary investigation, recommendations, and finally orders signed by Mr. Mayor, and Commissioner Boyle?"
Javi spoke first, "I consent to the next order of business."
"As do I Sir, no objections," Kate said quietly.
"Very well, it has been investigated and found to be accurate there was a willful, and deliberate submission of inaccurate information contained in an official police investigation. This occurred on two separate occasions and was submitted by, and approved by the supervising detective on both occasions. The penalty for this infraction ranges from a lengthy suspension to termination of the individual.
"It is the opinion of this board that we have two separate levels of infractions, one is deliberate, the other is sloppy at best police work. The board has determined that the penalties will be as follows"
"Detective Beckett, please stand," he paused as Kate stood and faced the panel, "It is the opinion of this board that your actions were not intentional, BUT did not display the care and detail required from a supervisor. You are suspended for six months without pay or benefits, also loss of two grades rank, and will now be Detective Beckett reporting to your lead detective Anne Hastings.
"We have considered the extenuating circumstances and have waived 4 months of your suspension; you will be frozen in rank and pay for a period of one year after your suspension and successful completion of your new probationary period of two months have been completed. Your suspension period will be reduced by the 16 days you have served on suspension awaiting this formal hearing. Do you have any questions or wish to meet with your Union Rep to formulate an appeal for this decision?
"Sis, no Sir. I wish to thank the board for their time, and thoroughness of the investigation sir." She remained at attention standing,
"Very well, Detective Beckett, you may be seated.
"Detective Esposito, please stand, that is if you are physically able to," Roy said, just noticing his arm in a sling, and his face a poster child for an abusive fist.
"I can stand sir.," he grimaced stood, and walked gingerly to face the board.
"Detective it is the unanimous decision of this board that we convert your temporary suspension into a permanent situation. You are hereby discharged from the city of New York, for cause, meaning you forfeit all benefits and accumulated pay exceeding 80 hours.
"You are not to represent yourself as an NYPD employee, under penalties of the law, understand that HR has no option but to state that you were discharged for cause to any potential future employers, we sincerely wish you the best.
"It's hopeful that you learned something from this ordeal, and that you have remorse for the pain inflicted upon your supervisor, whose only sin was to trust you, your betrayal is on display for the gravity of its personal cost to her. Do you have any questions or wish to meet with your Union Rep to formulate an appeal for this decision?" Roy asked,
"Sir, no sir. Thank you for the opportunity sir, and I regret the pain and suffering my actions have caused Detective Beckett, sir." He remained standing as best he could until Roy said,
"Very well, you may be seated. Officer Tolliver will escort you to the Human Resources department and then out the door once all forms have been completed. This hearing stands adjourned." He said and then looked over to Rick, he whispered something in his ear, and Rick nodded.
LT, or Officer Toliver arrived to escort Esposito, and her out of the precinct until she had served her suspension, and Espo, well until Espo came back as a witness or suspect. Ironic, all of the hours she had spent sleeping in the break room, and now she had to have an escort to exit the building.
Royce had been correct, although she wondered who lobbied to waive four months of her suspension, certainly not the Commissioner, not it couldn't have been Castle. Then again, if not him, who else had the clout, oh well it didn't matter, he was with his girlfriend, and she wasn't ready for another Swanson as her Dad had called Sorensen. She smiled, perhaps for the first time since this whole mess started.
She thought I wonder how far away Georgia is from New York by bike. Hell, I have nothing but time. Well, take it easy Kate, it's only been a couple of calls, just don't set your hopes up too high.
TBC
