Disclaimer: I own a very expensive coffee machine for which I am very thankful this morning but I don't own Castle.
A little earlier than last week comes Chapter 7. Sorry, it's a little short. Otherwise, I don't have a lot to say to this one and I don't have time to think of something as I'm already halfway through the door while I'm posting this.
I hope you enjoy! Feedback is as always very appreciated!
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Kate walked down the stairs from her apartment while fiddling with the collar of her blouse that just wouldn't stay in place. It was 8 a.m. and she had been awake for a couple of hours. She didn't have a good night's sleep like she told Castle she wanted to the evening before. Countless scenarios of how her talk with Captain Gates could go down had been running through her mind and she had struggled to find rest at all. But that didn't matter now, she would just have to get through with it.
She pushed open the door leading her outside and was taken aback by the sight of Castle's car on the side of the road. He was looking at his cell phone and didn't notice her walking up to his car until she opened the passenger door. "Hey!" he said, a happy smile appearing on his face. "Important day today!" He exclaimed and looked like a child who was overly excited to go on a school trip. "What are you doing here?" She asked utterly confused and ignoring his cheerfulness. She wasn't feeling like that at all. Now he seemed just as confused as she was.
"I'm picking you up. I told you I would be waiting in the car, remember?" She nodded. "Yeah, I remember." She thought about their talk and how reassuring and optimistic he had been. At least that explained his good mood. "But Castle, we can't show up at the precinct together." He gave her a puzzled look. "Yes, and that's why I'll be waiting for you in the car." "But everybody could see you." "Kate, I've been walking in and out of that building like ten times a day for the last four years. It doesn't matter if anybody sees me. And it also doesn't matter if they see us together. Nobody knows what happened, you're being a little paranoid."
She opened her mouth to give back a snappy comment but closed it when she couldn't think of one. He was right, everyone was used to seeing them together and even if the whole precinct already knew what happened with Maddox, and she bet even the last employee of the 12supth/sup precinct had heard the story by now, nobody knew about what happened between them. "But that still doesn't mean we can show up in your car together." She retorted. "Because that hasn't happened once in four years." He playfully rolled his eyes at her. "Fine, I'll park a few blocks away so nobody will witness the highly suspicious act of you in my car." She couldn't fight a smile. And probably he was the only person on the planet that could make her smile right now.
"Now get in the car or you'll be late." She gave up her defense and took a seat beside him. After all, it would be nice to have him there once she knew if she had ruined her career for good or not. When she closed the door he handed her her usual morning coffee and she gave him a surprised look. "Not planning on letting go of our traditions." And again she had to smile. Seeing that he felt his heart lighten up a little. He had wished he could cheer her up a bit. "Oh and good morning by the way." He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
On the drive to the precinct, or rather a few blocks away from the precinct, she remained mostly quiet, her thoughts focused on what she wanted to say to Captain Gates. He understood and didn't try to start a conversation, knowing she was terribly nervous. When he spotted a good parking spot in walking distance to the precinct he pulled over and brought the car to a stop. Kate exhaled deeply and couldn't bring herself to leave the car. He reached for her hand and caressed it with his thumb. "Everything will be all right." She looked at him, wondering where he found his unwavering optimism. "You're the best detective this city has ever seen. You just go in there, remind her of that and everything will be fine. And then the two of us will go and celebrate."
He wiggled his eyebrows at her and again he reached his goal to lighten her mood. She let out a little laugh and finally found the courage to leave the car. Her heart pounding in her chest, she walked down the sidewalk until she reached the building. She walked inside and stopped her finger from trembling when she pushed the button to call the elevator. Though she was nervous and a lot was at stake right now she couldn't allow herself to show Captain Gates any of her insecurities. She straightened up her shoulders and when the doors opened she crossed the room with big and steady steps, ignoring all the eyes following her.
She reached Captain Gates's office and without further hesitation, she knocked on the door. The Captain looked up from her paperwork and raised her eyebrows as she saw her through the glass door. But then she slightly nodded, allowing Kate to step inside. She closed the door behind her and took a stand in front of Captain Gate's desk. The older woman looked up at her and in contrast to how she had last seen her, she was absolutely calm.
"Detective Beckett, I expected you to come. But I'll admit I thought it would take you a little longer." Kate ignored the comment and started with what she had to say before her courage had a chance to fade again. "Sir, I want to apologize for my actions in every possible way. I know my evaluation of the situation was entirely wrong and that I far overestimated my power and rights as a detective. And I also realized my decision to resign was driven by anger and nothing else than thoughtless." She kept a steady look at the Captain's face who straightly looked back at her. Captain Gates slightly nodded. "Go on." Kate's heart jumped a little at the fact she got a chance to fight for her job at all.
"I am a good detective that made a bad decision. Actually, I am a great detective and Sir, you know that. And I do not want one mistake to ruin the career that I love and that I fought for for so many years. So if there is any way you could put me back into service I will prove to you that I sincerely regret what has happened and I will continue to do an excellent job."
Captain Gates kept staring at her and Kate could feel her palms become sweaty when the Captain finally started to answer. "I agree with you, Detective Beckett. You are an excellent detective and it would be a great loss for the precinct if your career came to an end." Kate's heart jumped again. But Captain Gates wasn't finished yet. "Still I can't simply forget about the incident like you haven't strongly damaged the reputation of the precinct and also lost my trust in you." Kate's hope started to waver. So Castle had been wrong.
A long pause followed while the Captain got up, looked out of the window of her office, and then finally turned back and walked up to her. Kate was sure the smaller woman could hear her heart racing in her chest as she came to stand before her. "But I am willing to give you a second chance. However, with reservations." Kate couldn't bring herself to say anything so she just waited for the Captain to continue. "You are still put on a week of administrative leave. And I want you to use that time to really think about whether you will be able to follow my instructions and not your own intentions in the future." Gates paused to wait for a reaction. "Yes, Sir." Kate almost whispered, her eyes still glued on her Captain's face. "And furthermore you will face a probation period of three months. That is the time you get to gain back my trust in you. And if you can't convince me you are able to work under my instructions at all times I won't have any issues to end your career on the spot. Did I make myself clear, Detective Beckett?"
Kate nodded and again answered, "Yes, Sir." But this time her tone was firm. That was the best outcome that she could have expected. "Thank you, Sir." Gates turned away from her and walked back to her desk. "No need to thank me. Just prove to me that this second chance isn't a mistake." As Captain Gates wanted to sit down again and therefore end their conversation a sudden wave of courage washed over Kate.
"Sir, may I ask one more question?" The strict woman gave her an unnerved stare."Yes." She answered through tight lips. "Does that mean Castle and I can continue our work together?" The Captain clenched her jaw and slowly started to lose the calm she had maintained until now. "Detective Beckett, you are not in any way in the position to make requests." Kate nodded. "I know. I just want to remind you that his work here has led to a significant rise in solved cases and that he has become a very valuable member of our team." When the Captain didn't answer Kate feared she might have pushed it too far. But then a barely hearable and very reluctant "Fine." Came from behind the desk. "You can both return next Monday. And now get out of my office. I need that week too to get over how very angry and disappointed I am."
On her way out of the building and back to the car Kate could barely keep herself from jumping down the street. She felt so relieved, she could hug the whole world. But rather than the whole world, she would hug Castle. She hurried down the sidewalk and had to dodge away from a few people who were crossing her way. Before she reached the car the door on the driver's side opened and Castle walked around the car to meet her.
He had been anxiously waiting for her to come back figuring it couldn't take too long. While he watched the minutes go by on the clock of his car he felt his optimism fading. He knew he had exaggerated a little to not get her hopes down but now he wondered if he maybe made a mistake and her disappointment would be even bigger if Gate's wouldn't let her come back. He checked the rearview mirror for the dozenth time when he finally saw her walking, almost running, towards the car. Without hesitation, he opened the door and walked in her direction. He saw the beaming smile on her face and felt the weight of the world fall from his heart. When she reached him she fell into his arms without thinking about it for a second.
Hugging her tightly he felt her joy immediately being contagious. "So everything went well?" He asked and loosened the hug to look at her. "Yes!" She nodded and slowly came down from her rush of adrenaline "Get in the car, I'll tell you everything. But I don't want to instantly ruin my second chance with a cop walking by and seeing us." He did as she said and turned to her as she closed the door on her side of the car. She started to talk before he could ask her to. "I can come back but she made some conditions. One week administrative leave and then a three-month probation period." She paused as she remembered Captain Gate's stare and a slight shiver went down her spine. "She said I will have to gain her trust back. And within the next three months, I get the chance to do so. But she made clear that this is my last chance."
He listened and nodded. "But that's good! You can manage that! It wouldn't be like Gates to just place you back at your desk without any consequences. But three months will go by in a blink and I'm sure you will do great." She nodded and he smiled at her, just being happy for her. "I think there isn't more you can wish for." He added. She looked at him and a sneaky grin appeared on her face. "Oh, there is one thing more I could wish for. And I did." He gave her a puzzled look not understanding where she was going. "I told Gates if she would let me come back it would be best for the team to also have you back." He gasped. "Oh Kate, that was risky, you shouldn't have done that. You know she isn't really that fond of me." "But it was worth it." She answered with a wide grin spread all over her face. "You and I will be going back next Monday."
Castle's jaw dropped. That was too good to be true. "You mean... Are you saying we can still be partners? Just like we used to be?"He had already gotten used to the thought their time of working together was over, though it hurt him more than he wanted to admit. "If we can manage to keep it a secret, what happened this weekend then yes. Otherwise we will probably both never see the precinct from the inside again." He frowned a little. "And that is a risk you're willing to take?"
She took his hand in hers and gave him a look of deep affection. "I do. And as soon as the three-month probation period is over, we will find a way to let everyone know and hopefully still be able to work together."He squeezed her hand and returned the look she gave him. "And if that doesn't work out we still had another three months together at work. So we better enjoy them and don't worry about what will happen afterward." She smiled and agreed.
"So, but for now you are on leave. For a whole week, you said?" Kate nodded. "Oh, I have so many ideas on how we can spend this week!" She laughed at his teasing smile as he started the car. "As long as one of them contains breakfast and then going back to my place so I can take a nap, I'm in." "Breakfast is no problem. But I can't promise you I'll be able to let you nap. I've had a very, very lonely night."