Presumptions

Chapter 2 - The 'Cheer Up' Dinner

As evening came and they quit work, Castle and Beckett head out to one of their favorite diners that served the best mac n cheese with hot rolls. They find a little booth in the back that affords them some privacy and away from the many ears nearby them so as not to be overheard as they talked.

"Josh was always so insecure about you Castle, and it was starting to weigh on me, to weigh on the relationship. I had stayed too long with Josh trying to give us a chance. When Josh decided not to go to Haiti after that bomb scare case we worked, I was hopeful for us. But we actually declined more from there. So much so I had decided to end it with him. He found out about the trip to L.A. and knew that I was with you on that trip. He accused me of sleeping with you in L.A. After almost a year, his true feelings came out. He did not trust me and it hurt that he accused me of cheating. I knew then the relationship was over, but he was the one who called for an end. In a way it was good for me as I did not have to do the 'its me not you' speech", Kate recounts to Castle on her breakup with Josh. There is sadness in her voice and her eyes as she spoke.

"I am sorry it ended that way and I feel guilty to being the spark that caused the break", Rick replies, distressed that Kate is so hurt by it all. He wants to make her pain go away.

"It was not your fault Castle, you can not help that Josh was so jealous. But strangely, it was only with you. On many instances around his friends, many would try to flirt with me, but it never brothered Josh. I think it was an ego boost for him that men came on to me despite him being present and I'd clearly show that he was my boyfriend. He never questioned if those men , some of whom were friends, were hitting on me or trying to interfere with what Josh and I had together. With his friends, Josh did not feel he had to mark his territory with me. But, he always reminded me of your playboy ways and that you were only here to bed me. This despite the fact that you were consciously showing respect for our relationship, keeping your distance, and not flirting with me openly in Josh's presence. I am still puzzled as to why he was that way only with you?"

"I know my reputation, and I know you have learned that it is more PR than the real me. That public image is meant to promote book sales with my fans, particularly my female fans, and that image is not who I really am."

"If those fans could see you like I have. See what a good father and son you are. How well you treat those near to you. If they only saw how you come in every morning with coffee and a pastry for me, they would know about the real Richard Castle."

"Thank you for that Kate, I have known you for almost four years and have always wanted my chance with you, but there was always someone in the way."

"Like Ellie Monroe, Kyra Blaine, Natalie Rose and your ex, Gina!"

"Touche, but you should know they were just distractions and it was you I thought about. But you were also in relationships with men you really did not want. Why is that?"

"Because I was afraid to get close to you. At first it was because I did not want to be another conquest. But as I got to know you better, I realized that public image of you was not the real you. Over the years my feelings for you have changed, have grown for you. Still, I also was insecure about committing to you, perhaps because you know me so well and that makes me vulnerable. I was hiding from you and kept you at a distance, but all the while I was longing for you. The heart wants what the heart wants, and it can only be ignored for so long until it comes out with a vengeance."

"So where does that leave us Kate?"

Kate answers his question by entering his space and planting a passionate kiss to his lips with lots of tongue.

When they break, Castle tells her, "That was so much better than that first kiss we had, although that one was also hot!"

"Castle, that was a fake, a ruse to rescue the boys. This one is for real."

"Fake or not, that first kiss was awesome! I hope there's more of that in the future."

"I don't know Castle, play your cards right, and there just might be!"

Rick swallows hard trying not to gasp, he had not expected that remark.

"Tease."

"You're so easy Castle!"

He looks at his watch, "Tell you what, since we are done with dinner, how about a night cap at The Haunt. Our evening is still young?"

"You're on Writer Man, lead the way".

The Haunt

They take a quick cab ride to Rick's bar. Once there Brian the Bar Keep sees them.

"Evening Boss, Detective Kate, should I open a tab?"

"No Brian, we will sample my private stock in the office.'

"Wow, must be a special occasion."

They get to Castle's basement office and Rick pulls out the $2500 bottle of rare scotch a cache of which they found from their one case. He had purchased a bottle with a donation to the City . Montgomery had made it a BOGO, so Rick got a second bottle of the rare drink. They had celebrated the buy with a round of the scotch for everyone. That first bottle still had more rounds left in it and that was what they would consume tonight.

After about the third round, there was still a lot more scotch in the bottle. They are sitting on the couch of Rick's office chugging the rare whiskey. Each has developed a good buzz from these shots. Rick takes the bottle and refills their shot glasses for a fourth sampling of the vintage alcohol. Once both glasses are filled, he hands Kate hers and motions for a toast. They down the fourth round.

It is then that he enters Kate spaces and gives her a kiss to the lips. It tastes of scotch, but the kiss is filled with desire.

"Don't stop Rick", he hears Kate say as she pulls him closer in a tight embrace.

Ricks hands are roaming and then comes to her front, landing on her breasts, which he fondles from the outside of her button down shirt. Kate feels the heat coming to her core and she moans as Rick continues their kiss. Suddenly there is a knock on the office door.

"Sorry to interrupt boss", they hear Brian on the outside of the door, "I'm getting ready to lock up, do you want to close after I'm done."

They both break away from each other like teens having been caught in the act of making out.

"No Brian, we're done here, will be out shortly and I can close The Haunt before we leave. I will make sure the Bar is secure. Could you call for a cab for us please. Then you can leave and I will close up."

"Can do boss."

Kate's Apartment

They arrive at Kate's place in record time.

"Let me see you to your door", he tells Kate

He gets out as the driver opens the door for them. Rick hands the man a $100 bill and then tells the driver to wait fifteen minutes and if he has not returned, the man can go and keep the hundred. The drivers nods his head in response to Rick's directions.

At her door, Kate is struggling to open it, as she was a little tipsy from their drinking. Also, she had her back press against the door as Rick continued to kiss and fondle her. She manages to turn the knob to her door after using her keys and both she and Rick fall thru the door, but remain barely standing. Once in, Rick kicks the door shut with the back of his shoe. Their coats come off first, thrown to the floor, as both deal with the buttons on the other's shirt. Down to underwear, Kate leads Rick to her bedroom and they fall in bed.

"Kate, are you sure, this is not the whiskey talking. I mean you just broke up with Josh and I don't want to be the rebound."

"Rick, you are not a rebound. Josh was the rebound. I want this. I want us."

With that reply, Rick is quick to divest Kate of her bra and panties, while Kate slides his boxers down and to the floor. Both their undergarments are now on the floor. Rick fondles her breasts and commences to take them with his mouth as his hands continue to feel her all over. She is particularly responsive to a kiss to the back of her neck where it joins her shoulder.

"Rick", she moans out, "take me now, I need to feel you inside me!"

Rick responds as Kate opens for him. He enters her and starts to thrust. They are slow pumps at first and then more forceful pumps as he speeds up finding himself close. Kate responds by matching her moves to that of Rick's thrusts. They both go over the top together, and it is a first for both of them, mutual spontaneous orgasms. After her last intimate time with Josh, she knows Caste is the one for her. That last encounter with Josh before their breakup was lackluster and devoid of any passion. Their joining had degraded to such a sad state and Kate knew then that they were done. She and Josh had arrived at an end to their union.

But now with Rick, it had been so much more than she had ever dreamed about! Yes, she had dreams of being with Rick this way, but her dreams fell short of the reality. Kate now knew she had found her true life partner. Rick too was on an emotional high. He had waited for her patiently, watching her with other men. Despite the hurt of seeing her with those others, Rick had let Kate come to her own decision on them. For their first time to end in mutual in sync orgasms spoke about the chemistry Rick and Kate had together. This first time was so much more than either of the two had ever imagined it could be! It was the best 'first time' either of them had ever had and it spoke volumes to the desires that they had kept hidden and had now released.

The Next Morning

They wake up early and then struggle to get dressed. Kate has a new outfit but Rick is in the same clothes from last night. They take a cab to the 12th where Rick drops her off, and then goes to his loft for a new set of clothes and then to get coffee for Kate.

Later, as Rick walks into the 12th he has with him a takeout tray of two coffees and a bag of pastries in between the two cups. He sees the duty Sergent and greets him.

"Morning Sergent Ortiz!"

"Morning Castle, Alpha's already here, you're the last one in as usual."

Rick nods his head in acknowledgement of the Sergent's comment and then heads to the elevator to get to the Homicide floor. He exits once the elevator doors open on to that floor and walks up to Kate's desk depositing his morning offering to her on the desk.

"Good morning Beckett", he says in his usual manner and not giving away what had happened on the night before.

"Well you finally make it in Castle, thought you might have taken the day off", she banters for the sake of the people on the floor, particularly for Espo and Ryan, trying hard to make it seem like a normal morning.

"Yeah, Castle", says Espo, "how come you never bring us coffee?"

"Cause Beckett always needs it more than the two of you. Besides if I don't , she'll be grumpy all day and take it out on us."

Ryan was going to speak up and dig the knife deeper into Rick with a follow up comment meant to emphasize Espo's remark, but is stopped short with Rick's parry to Espo's wisecrack.

Instead Ryan's says, "Right on that Bro, keep her happy!"

With that the team continues their day once the exchange of comments had ended.

Back To Normal

Kate and Rick had decided to make their new status hidden for a while. Primarily to come to grips themselves with their new intimate and growing relationship. The two also wanted to avoid all the breakup gossip when word got around on Kate's split with Josh. They wanted not to have the rebound rumors start once people knew that Rick and Kate were now a couple. It had happened so quickly between them and both knew how it would look to others. So for the time being they were not disclosing anything about their being together.

So weeks after they had slept together for that first time, things seemed to be settling back to normal. No one still knew of their being a couple, not even Lanie. Both were keeping their current status close to their vest, not showing their hand. They had also managed to repeat that first night on numerous other occasions. Those events being more passionate than the one before. Both had come to realize that what they had was rare. The new found joining had both wondering why it had not happened sooner. Eventually it would come out about them being together, but they wanted the timing to be right. They needed the time also to let the new union sink in for both of them. But each day now was filled with hope for a better future as Kate and Rick grew closer as time passed.

Then one morning, Rick sat in his chair observing Kate as he normally did, but now Kate did not call him out for staring at her. She knew now that Rick's staring was out of affection and his face and eyes just said it all. Kate was worried that her boys would catch on to their new dynamics before they chose to reveal themselves to the precinct and the public.

Just then, as both sat together in their usual manner, Captain Montgomery is seen coming out of his office, looking a little excited.

"Turn on the news", he tells Alpha and they turn on the TV.

"ZNN Breaking news", is heard on the audio to the news broadcast, "A DWB team to Columbia has been attacked by Rebels. It is reported the whole hospital staff is dead with the exception of two doctors, believed to be taken for execution later, or for possible ransom demands. No word yet as to the identities of the two doctors who were taken."

"Wasn't Josh thinking of going to Columbia?", Montgomery asks Kate.

"Oh my God, Josh took that mission. He is there now and that is his team!"

Everyone in Homicide hears Kate's remark and now they are all gathering around the TV to get more news. Kate had yet to reveal publicly her breakup with Josh, so as far as Homicide, the others on their floor, and the whole 12th precinct were concerned, Kate and Josh are still a couple.

Rick on seeing the broadcast, turns to Kate and sees the worry in her eyes.

"Kate", he says trying to comfort her, "Josh may still be alive, he may be one of the two taken away!"

But Kate is clearly shaken by this news. All can see the shock and angst in her.

"Kate", says the Captain, "take the day off, you have enough leave, so I want you to take the next few days off. Rick please see that Kate has company to help her in the next few days to cope with this event as it unfolds."

"Captain, I don't...", Kate starts to say but is cut short.

Montgomery does not wait to hear Kate's protest, "This is not a request Detective, consider this an order from your C.O."

Then he continues, "Castle, see to the need of your partner, that too is an order!"

Both nod yes to acknowledge Montgomery's directive.

Once back at Kate's apartment, the two fall into bed. It is stressing relieving sex they have. Once finished, they spoon.

"Kate, I'm here for you. I know this has affected you despite the breakup. You two were together for almost a year. That counts for something."

"Thank you Rick. I need you more now. Help me to deal with this if it turns out badly."

Kate is away from the job for two days, and Castle is with her during those days. Rick knew that Kate would be affected more now by this news. It was a double impact for her, a breakup, and now the possible death of her ex boyfriend, just weeks apart. Although no one but them knew of the recent breakup with Josh that had happened in the past recent weeks. Rick was there for Kate now and he had helped her cope with the news. The event of Josh's possible death had Kate needing Rick more than ever before, but this time, she allowed him to help her. No more the Detective persona of the tough Beckett. Kate now felt comfortable being needy for Rick, and she was surprised how good it felt.

Still, the possible death of Josh Davidson and his absence now in her life was bound to affect her. They had been together for almost a year and had been sleeping together during that time. That was a past that could not be denied and one that Kate had been trying to put away. She had enough guilt for what she had put Josh thru, but it was just not Josh she felt guilty about. Rick was also involved and had stayed with her through that time with Josh. She realized now that as much as Josh had been hurt by her, there had been a similar impact on Rick.

She was regretful that she had taken up with Josh, not just for him, but also for Rick. She had really messed up when she decided to become Josh's girlfriend. Kate had done so out of hurt after being rejected by Rick with his ex-wife Gina. She was aware now that she had been hiding in that relationship with Josh to fend off her reaction to Rick's rejection of her. The whole circumstance with Josh was one painful experience that would forever leave a mark on her psyche.

Kate now fully intended to make it a go with Castle. She knew that Rick is her one and done! Kate would show to Rick that she was his and he was hers. Kate had not felt that way with any other past boyfriends. This thing with Rick would be for a lifetime. She wanted to be Rick's third and last wife. Kate was determined to make it all happen.