Home is Where the Heart Hangs Out: Part Three.
Kate has recovered from her shooting at Montgomery's funeral enough to go home. Home is where she had been living for the past couple years… Castle's loft. But now there are going to be changes made.
All standard disclaimers apply.
A/N: If one remembers the story "Home is Where the Heart Hangs Out" that had Kate still living with Castle after her apartment was blown up by some wacko who was challenging Nikki Heat. And the follow up Postscript story which took us through Kate's shooting at Montgomery's funeral and how they found out that neither of them was still seeing Josh and Gina. So Kate let Rick know that she intends to lay claim on him when she comes back from her healing up at the Beckett cabin. This is the story of her return to the loft… and Castle.
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Kate Beckett was almost finished packing up her 'stuff' before Castle would arrive to bring her back home. Home, she couldn't help but feel a shiver race through her body when she thought of Castle's loft as 'home'.
She been living there since her apartment had been blown up during a case where some nut bag had challenged Nikki Heat to solve his murders. It then took on the inclusion of the FBI and their super-agent Jordan Shaw. For a while it had been touch and go, including a kidnapped Shaw, and Beckett and Castle going rogue to finally shut down the murderer.
Now after more than two years living in Castle's abode, and getting to know him even that much more. She was positive that she was going home to where she felt she belonged. Her experience with Rick started out with him being a nuisance, and soon became a friend, then the best partner she'd ever rode with. And finally he became the person she wanted to share her life with.
There were some at the precinct who still felt that, once a playboy always a playboy. They didn't believe that a leopard could change its spots. What those naysayers never knew was Castle never was a playboy. It was all just publicity created by his publisher and his agent to keep Rick's name in the papers.
It hadn't taken Kate long to find out that much of his reputation was fabricated. That's not to say that Castle didn't enjoy himself playing the part, but he never brought any of those women back to his home. He had a teenaged daughter.
Having a pleasant meal in a swanky restaurant with a young, attractive woman wasn't much of a burden, but that's all it ever had been. And now, after working with Beckett for a few years, he didn't even do that anymore.
Now, he found going out on the town with a young woman only a couple years older than his own daughter had become distasteful. The two women who watched over his career; Gina his publisher and ex-wife, and Paula his agent were not pleased with his decision to stop playing that game anymore.
Kate never said anything about it, but she was glad he had stopped doing it too. For a few months, Gina the ex-wife was able to play the role of the 'hot' date on some of their outings, because they'd reconnected for a bit. But that didn't last long. The reasons they didn't last the first time around became obvious once again, and they both realized that you can't recapture something that you never really had.
Kate had to work her way through a similar situation herself. She had hooked up with a handsome, but somewhat egotistical doctor. He was very busy, and liked to volunteer for Doctors without Borders, so he was often not home. In some ways that made things easier for Kate because he wasn't around a lot to put pressure on her. He couldn't complain when she buried herself in a case, or if she had some time off and she needed to just decompress. When he would be available he would want to do something and would normally expect Kate to automatically be available. Because, obviously his time was more valuable than hers.
He had also been jealous of the time that she spent with Castle. He somehow saw it as her being unfaithful to him. Anytime Castle's name came up in conversation, he'd get annoyed and pouty.
He was there for her when she got shot though. It was a time when it was handy having a cardiac surgeon as a boyfriend. Especially when you get shot in the heart. But by then they were already over, and both knew it. They said their goodbyes, again, and she hadn't seen or heard from him since.
She picked up her bags, and moved them toward the front door. She still was amazed that she was back to being able to get around and do most things for herself again. Though some actions still reminded her she wasn't fully well yet when flashes of pain reminded her that she hadn't completely recovered yet.
Her physical therapist was an evil man who seemed to relish torturing his patients. She threatened to shoot him several times. But they both knew that she didn't have her piece.
For being the most evil man she'd ever worked with, he did get results. So Kate supposed she could cut him some slack… though if she'd had her gun she might not have been so forgiving.
She glanced at her watch and noted that Castle would be there in just a few minutes if he were on time. She planned for him to be a few minutes late. But she knew he was just as excited to have her back at the loft as she was to get back home.
She decided to take one last bathroom break so they wouldn't have to stop someplace along the way.
Once she had finished her business she moved over to the single small sink to wash her hands. As she did so she noted her reflection in the small mirror which hung over the sink. She bit down on her lower lip. Her hair had grown some over the past months she was sidelined. It now flowed over her shoulders and ended at her shoulder blades.
She knew that Rick liked her hair when she wore it just above her shoulders. But it had been a while since she had long flowing locks like she had back in school. She wanted to see herself with long locks again.
Kate had to admit that she was surprised that Castle seemed to like shorter hair on her when he'd had a virtual career being seen with long haired beauties on his arm making the scene at some swanky locale. One that would ensure his photo on page six the next morning. If Castle had a "type" most would say it would be younger women with long flowing locks. But Kate had learned that wasn't really his preference. She shook her head. Maybe she'd ask him sometime.
She turned away from her reflection and started to head back to the small living room. She suddenly stopped, turned, and looked back at herself in the mirror. Could it be?
Rick's first wife was a long haired redhead. It was a disaster almost from the start. Meredith was a completely self-absorbed wanna be actress. Her only real problem was that she had no talent. The only thing that kept them together was the fact that she got pregnant. Once Alexis was born, Meredith immediately went back to being an upcoming star. At least in her mind. Unfortunately for her she never got better as an actress so she was forced to do whatever she had to for a chance at stardom.
Like so many young starlet wannabes she felt that the reason she hadn't yet made it big was just bad luck and not bad acting. Caught up in her own fantasy, Meredith couldn't have a child and a husband getting in the way of her imagined career so she divorced Castle and signed away her child for money.
A little later Gina came along. Rick and Gina seemed to 'work' well so he, wanting to give his little girl a mother figure, thought that making Gina a step mom would be a benefit for both him and his little daughter. As most who knew them could have told him. There was no chance that it would last. And once again Castle paid a hefty sum to untie that knot.
Kate stopped moving toward her luggage and stared at nothing. Could it be? She wondered. Gina and Paula both, had decided that the playboy facade for Castle would be a great way to keep his name and face in the papers.
Kate had found out that Castle almost never chose the women for those publicity dates. And there definitely was a type that they put on Castle's arm. Because Rick was tall, they tended to avoid short women. They chose attractive women who always seemed to have long flowing locks. It fit the typical stereotype.
Rick had confided with Kate that most of those 'dates' weren't exactly Rhodes Scholars, but Castle had mentioned that he'd told Gina, that he definitely would not tolerate gigglers. He expected that the arranged date could at least follow a normal conversation.
Kate bit down on her lower lip. Could it be that all those phony 'dates' with long haired arm candy have subconsciously caused an aversion to long-haired women. It seemed a bit out there to Kate's logical mind, but he'd often compliment her plain chin to shoulder length bobs she had mostly worn in the years they knew each other. Was he searching for someone who wasn't a plastic, painted, boring manikin? Was he really looking for a 'normal' woman to spend time with?
She wondered if she should just ask him, or if he was even aware of it.
She heard some commotion on the deck. A smile came to her. Rick was here. She turned and moved back out into the main room.
Castle was grouping the few pieces of luggage that had been accumulated over the months she had stayed at the cabin during her recovery. She came over to him and put her arms around him.
"Hi." She hugged him. He smiled back at her and kissed her on the nose.
He ran his fingers through her longer hair. "It looks like you've gotten quite the jump on growing out your hair some more." His smile was genuine but not exactly warm.
Kate reached up and threaded her fingers through the over the shoulder locks. "Yeah, I'm still deciding how long I want to let it go."
He leaned over and grabbed a couple of the larger suitcases. "Well, I'm sure whatever you decide will look great." He grinned but his eyes didn't quite sparkle.
He turned and took the luggage he carried out to the car. Kate leaned over and grabbed the two smaller cases that were left and followed him out.
Kate knew that the length of her hair wasn't going to be a big deal once she was back at the loft. They had many more issues to sort out concerning their cohabitation. Her growing her hair some was going to become a back burner issue once they got into how she envisioned certain changes she felt were needed in the loft.
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The drive back to New York seemed to take a lot longer than she remembered. It was like everything that could slow down their travel that could happen, did happen. The traffic was terrible, the weather as they got closer to the city deteriorated and too soon it began to rain. And it got heavier as they got closer to the big city.
Kate knew it was just her anxiousness to get back to the loft. Normally, especially if she didn't have to be the one driving in it, she didn't mind a ride in the rain. But it was getting more severe the closer to home that they got.
She let a slight tick push up of the corner of her mouth. Once they were home, it was obvious that they'd be stuck inside for a while yet. No leisurely walks around her city that she'd missed while she was up north.
While it was calm and peaceful when she went out walking around the lake and the wooded land around the cabin, walking in the city was something different. It wasn't peaceful, and it was never calm. It was alive. Everything was in motion at all times. She would find herself feeding on the energy that surrounded her.
But Mother Nature forced a postponement of such a walk. She'd have to think of things that could be done inside… with Castle. She grinned.
Kate had finished putting away the stuff they brought back from the cabin in the spaces that Castle had made available for her in the master bedroom. She had taken her time and found herself lying down on his massive bed several times just to let herself feel the sinfully luxurious mattress support her back and her legs.
Now that Kate was going to be sleeping in this bed, she wondered how she was going to be able to get up in the morning to go to work. Though she still had a couple days yet before she had to show up at the precinct and meet the new dragon lady that 1PP had gifted to the 12th.
She poked her head out of the door and looked over to where Castle was making something for Dinner. She grinned as she saw him whipping them out something substantial for dinner.
"What did you do with Linus?" She leaned against the door frame.
He looked over at her. "I tried putting it up in the guest room, but Alexis thought it didn't work in there." Kate raised her brow. He shrugged. "So I put him in the storage space I have down in the garage until I can think of a better place for him."
Kate smirked. "Sounds like a pretty good place for him to me."
Castle rolled his eyes at her.
"It probably could be a good place for that creepy Boba Fett manikin you have in the bathroom, too."
Castle turned and gave Kate a sour look on his face. "That's the best place for him. He doesn't take up a lot of space, and he was very difficult to obtain." He shook his head. "Ol' Boba cost me a pretty good chunk of cash. He needs to be seen."
Kate laughed. "Well he's going to have to be seen somewhere else because I'm not having that creepy little pervert watching my naked butt while I'm in the shower."
Rick chuckled. "He won't tell anybody."
Kate glared at him. "Okay, here's how it's going to be. Only one person is ever going to be allowed to see me wandering around in my birthday suit while I'm in that bathroom. Either you, or Boba Fett. I'll let you choose."
"I think I'll let Boba Fett keep Linus company." He responded quickly.
She smiled. "Good thought."
She ducked back into the large master bedroom and began moving the last of her stuff around. She came back to the door and stuck her head out. "What side of the bed do you normally sleep on?" She asked.
Rick chuckled. "I usually sleep in the middle."
Kate rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Oh course you do." She stared at the grinning Castle for a few seconds. "I guess it'll just have to be first to bed chooses."
He smirked. "Or who wants to be face on or spooned?"
A crafty look came over Kate's face. "Or we could trade in that huge bed for two twin beds, then no one would have to worry about disturbing the other."
It was Castle's turn to glare. "We'll work out comfortable positions on the bed that's there. No need to even think of separate beds."
She just smiled and ducked back into the bedroom to finish putting away her clothes. She did have to keep some of her shoes upstairs in the guest room because there just wasn't enough room to get all her shoes in the closets and allow Rick some room for his shoes, which he had more than a few pairs.
Castle had been generous providing room for Kate to put away her clothes. While she had been out at the cabin recovering, Rick had purchased a couple new larger dressers, and had added an extra shelf in the closet. And he had a custom built double level shoe stair for the bottom of the closet.
She still had to bring some stuff up to the guest room to put in that closet. She had done like Castle had. Sorted out some of the seasonal stuff to keep up there during the off season.
Most of her wardrobe was now fairly new. She lost much of the clothing she had when her old apartment had been blown up. She had added to her meager wardrobe over the time she was living with Castle in the guest room. In that time she had managed to fill up the space upstairs.
Now that she was sharing space with Rick, she had to make some decisions on clothes that would be used frequently and those that won't. She wasn't a clotheshorse by nature, but she did like her shoes.
After a comfortable dinner, they both went back into the bedroom with the intention of finishing the putting away the last of her clothing and shoes. Then came the conversation as to who gets what side of the bed. Neither claimed any specific preference to one side or the other, and both kept trying to allow the other to claim one side or the other first.
Kate tried to make Castle make his choice since it was his bed in the first place, but Rick stubbornly wished for Kate to choose first. They went around and around for several minutes until Kate remembered the surgical scars she had on her left side where Josh had opened her up to find where she had been bleeding internally. She was still tender on her left side and had gotten used to lying either on her back, or on her right side.
After mentioning that to Castle, the two of them discussed how each of them usually moved while in bed. It was decided, for the initial sleep trials, Kate would sleep on the right side of the bed so she could roll to her right side easily. That, and Rick kind of liked the idea of being able to spoon with Kate. Both agreed to try it that way for a while to see how well each accommodated to the other in bed.
The reality of the bed in the bedroom was that it was actually big enough for both to sleep a night away and never actually come into contact with each other… unless they wanted to.
So with Kate fully moved into the master bedroom with Rick, they were ready to put the mattress that Castle had bragged so much about over the years to the test, and try to get a good night's sleep.
Kate was sitting on 'her' side of the bed and looked over at the grinning Castle.
"What?" She gave him a puzzled look.
He smiled wider. "I'm just looking forward to the official christening of our official status as a couple by sleeping together for the first time."
She smiled and shook her head at him. "Yeah, but just remember, I'm not quite healed enough for any sex capades just yet. Let's just keep it slow and gentle for a while."
He smiled. "I can do that."
She raised a brow. "I'm hoping you can. I don't want to have to go back upstairs because you can't reign it in for a week or two."
His smile got bigger. "I will constrain myself to gentle spooning and some tender kisses on the back of your neck."
She smiled, wondering if those kisses might bring him a mouthful of hair now. "Oh, and even though I don't have to go in until next week on Monday morning. I want to stop by the precinct tomorrow, if that is possible, to introduce myself to the new Captain and get a read on her."
Castle harrumphed. "I can tell you, she's not pleasant reading." He made a face. "She didn't like me right from the start. Didn't even give me a chance to defend myself."
Kate smirked. "So I've heard." She grinned. "Don't worry, I'll convince her I need you as my partner."
Rick rolled his eyes. "Don't count on any understanding from 'Iron Gates'. She has her own personal rule book firmly stuck up her butt."
Kate laughed. "I'm sure she'll be reasonable." From the look on Castle face and the shake of his head, he wasn't buying it. "Well if reason doesn't work, I guess we'll have to play dirty." She smiled a cruel smile. "Aren't The Commissioner and The Mayor still friends of yours?"
Castle nodded his head at her and chuckled. "Going over her head to her bosses, not the best way to ingratiate yourself with the new boss."
She turned so her back was to him. "Sometimes you have to play dirty."
A smiling Castle snuggled down and reached out and pulled her next to him. "I sometimes forget how determined you can be when you want something."
She reached up and grabbed his hand and pulled it over her. "Never forget that."
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Kate was surprised at the incredible night's sleep she'd gotten in Castle's amazing bed. Even Rick's hands around her waist, and up and down her back hadn't distracted her enough to not slip into the most restful sleep she'd had in months. The wake up kisses on the back of her neck and along her jawline didn't bother her either.
She was so comfortable that she almost let herself stay in bed. But after a short conversation with herself she decided that she needed to show up at the precinct to settle several things before she was officially back to work. The most important situation that needed dealing with was Richard Castle as her partner.
She rolled over and looked over at her sleeping handsome man. Kate couldn't help but smile. He looked like a little boy dreaming of his favorite toy. She suddenly noticed a familiar quirked half smile that came over his not so innocent expression. She could guess what favorite toy he was currently dreaming about. Just looking at him, she couldn't hold back on a smile of her own.
She reached over and pushed back the floppy bang that hung down over his forehead. By reflect his hand reached up to catch hers but she was too fast for him. She pulled her hand away with a giggle, then slid her well rested body out of the bed… from her side of the bed. She smiled.
She stepped into the huge en suite bathroom. She noted the corner of the room that was conspicuously missing a certain creepy statue who now found itself down in the garage storage along with the large framed poster of Linus. She smiled as she shed her sleeping shorts and top as she looked forward to a hard spray hot shower to prepare her for a possibly interesting introduction to her new captain, Victoria "Iron" Gates.
While Kate was happily drenching herself in the hot shower, Rick decided to get up and fix something for breakfast before he took his shower. He wasn't quite quick enough to be able to join the angelic goddess who wiggled herself into the bathroom a few minutes before. He made a mental note to be aware of when Kate gets up so he can join her in the shower as often as possible.
He dragged himself into the kitchen to decide what he could talk her into eating while she slurps down her excess amount of coffee.
Normally he'd fall back on the ever popular waffles, but this was an important day for her. He needed to give her an advantage of a good meal before facing the new bear in her old den. He was bright enough to start the coffee maker first though.
By the time that Kate had finished her morning routine and had dressed typically for work, Rick had set out on the island a breakfast feast for his lady. He had prepared French toast with a choice of three different heated syrups. Hot blueberry muffins, and of course, bacon. Kate also had the choice of two different juices and her beloved sugar free vanilla latte coffee.
When she stepped out of the bedroom, following the incredible smells that overwhelmed the kitchen. She couldn't believe her nose let along her eyes.
"Castle! What have you done?"
He shot her his loopy grin. "I've made breakfast."
Kate looked around the room. "Where are the rest of the people you invited to breakfast?"
He pulled her in for a slow smoldering kiss. "Just you and I, but I wanted you to be fully prepared to deal with the dragon lady."
Kate chuckled. "You're just against her because she threw you out."
He nodded. "A reason I consider valid."
Kate walked over and looked at all the food that Castle had put out. "I hope you didn't plan on me eating all this." She raised her brow. "You know that I seldom eat much for breakfast. Coffee and something sweet is usually all I need."
He waved his hand across the incredible spread he'd laid out for her. "You'll need all the energy you can get to take on Iron Gates."
Kate laughed. "I'm now sure you don't like her just because she threw you out of the precinct."
He shrugged. "Still seems like a good reason to me."
She grabbed him by his Green Lantern shirt and pulled him in for a kiss of gratitude. "I'll take a run at this breakfast for an empress, but don't expect me to eat like this every morning. Or hardly ever. I wouldn't be able to fit into any of my clothes within a week."
He waved his hand at her. "Oh, you eat like a bird. You need to eat better."
Kate choked out a laugh. "The only bird that could eat this much would be a pterodactyl."
Kate had her coat over her arm and was standing at the front door next to Rick.
"I still think you should let me come with you." He whined. "I can give you some tips as to how that evil bat operates."
Kate smiled, and drew her hand over his cheek. "I need a little time to come up with my battle plan. I don't need her getting all worked up about you before I have a chance to size her up and work out my strategy."
Castle threw his hands up. "There is only one way to go. Call Bob, and have him read the riot act to the I.A. cast off." He frowned. "Why would anyone even choose someone from I.A. to take over a precinct captain's spot anyway?"
Kate shrugged. "Maybe she was next in line for a promotion. Who knows?" She put her palm on his cheek. "I'll feel her out and if I can't change her mind, then we bring in the hammer."
"Why don't we just do that from the start?"
Kate rolled her eyes. "I'd like to try a method first that doesn't put me on her shit list right from the start."
He frowned. "Good luck with that."
She grinned and went up on her tip toes to give Rick a soft kiss. "I consider myself lucky."
He laughed as she left through the door to the loft's hallway. She waved at him as she stepped into the elevator.
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Kate made a quick stop at the morgue so she could say hi, to her best girlfriend, Lanie. She hadn't planned it so she hadn't called previously to let her know she was coming in. Kate hoped she wasn't out in the field, or elbow deep in some poor unfortunate's chest cavity.
She walked in, not seeing Lanie immediately, so she knocked on the door jamb to see if that brought anyone out.
"Kate!" A screech erupted from behind her. She barely had time to get turned around when a small bundle of teary girlfriend practically threw herself at the unprepared Beckett.
Kate managed to dodge a full on collision, but was able to catch Lanie's hands with her own.
Beckett held Lanie off a couple of feet. "Hey Lanes, I'm still a bit too tender for any of your hugs."
"Sorry," the teary M.E, apologized. "But I'm so happy to see you up and around." She returned Kate's grin. "When did you get back?"
Kate walked in arm in arm with Lanie until they reached her desk. Then Beckett sat herself down on the desk's corner. "I just got back yesterday, and I'm not cleared to come back to work until Monday, but I wanted to drop by and get a feel for the new command structure."
Lanie rolled her eyes. "Good luck with that witch. She's not exactly warm and cheery."
Kate's longtime friend took her hand in hers and gave her a sad look. "I'm sorry to hear about Castle being banned from the precinct." Lanie raised her brow. "You and writer boy still sharing the same domicile?"
"Where am I going to come up with anything decent anywhere near the precinct?" Kate waved her hands back and forth. "So, to answer your question. Yes, I'm still living at the loft."
Lanie raised her brow. "You still seeing that doctor?" Kate shook her head. Lanie raised her other brow.
"Is Castle still seeing his ex-wife?" Kate shook her head again. Lanie grinned like a kid with a lollipop. "Are you two…?" Before Lanie could start describing sexual gymnastics Kate grabbed her hand.
"We are together, but I'm not fully recovered enough for any sort of excessive workouts like what your one track mind is conjuring." Kate bit down on her lower lip. "At least not yet."
Lanie squealed again. "I'm so happy for you."
Kate smiled. "Yeah, me too."
Lanie suddenly frowned. "So what are you going to do about Castle being thrown out of the precinct?"
Kate smiled. "I'm going to get him back in."
Lanie laughed. "Good luck with that." She shook her head. "What are you going to do, sic the Mayor on her?"
Kate smiled again. "If I have to, but I'd rather not have to do that. We still have to work there under her command."
Lanie shook her head as she walked up and gave Kate a soft hug. "I wish you luck, but I don't have much faith that you'll be able to do so without bringing down the word from the top. And that will put you in her doghouse for a long time."
Kate shrugged. "We'll see won't we?"
Kate waved goodbye to her friend and made her way back to the lobby and then onto the elevator pushing the button for the 4th floor, and the homicide department. Also the Captain's office.
While the elevator made its way up through the few floors, Kate had to get some things straight in her mind. First, she knew that Castle had gotten his buddy the mayor to allow him to shadow her for his books, but she never knew if the Police Commissioner had ever actually okayed the idea, or was he just stuck with it because mayor wanted it. Oh well, she'd just assume that the Commissioner was okay with it since she never heard anything about them being at odds with each other about Castle's access to her.
If she wasn't mistaken, the Commissioner was a friend of Castle's too. Or at least he shared a poker table with him, and that one judge on occasion, so Kate assumed they were friends. Who was to say they weren't.
She stepped out from the elevator to a quiet floor. She was surprised, but then everyone nearby might be out working a case. She was a bit bummed out because she was looking forward to seeing her boys and checking in on how things were going for them.
Not quite sure what she should do, she walked over to her desk and sat down. She was happy to see there was no paperwork still laying on her desk. She smiled when she saw her elephants still sitting on her desk. She would have been crushed if someone had taken them.
"Detective Beckett?" The sudden call out from behind her startled Kate. She turned in her seat and saw a middle aged woman only about five foot six holding a stack of files under one arm. From the descriptions she'd heard from the 'boys' she guessed that the woman looking questioningly at her was the new captain, Victoria Gates.
Kate practically jumped out of her seat and stood looking at the diminutive woman with an expressionless face.
"Captain Gates, hello." Kate felt like a kid with her hand in a cookie jar, even though she was at her own desk.
Gates gave her a piercing stare. "I was under the expectation that you wouldn't be in until Monday. Was I in error on that?"
"Um, no sir," Kate stumbled over her words. "I decided to drop by to get a quick check on everybody and get an idea what to look forward to on Monday."
Gates just barely raised a brow. "Really, you expected to find your team just lolling around at their desks rather than being out doing their jobs?"
A quick flash of dislike came over Kate, but she pushed it down. Nothing would be gained by annoying her new captain.
Kate took in a deep breath. "Okay, no I didn't expect to find my team lolling around at their desks rather than being out doing their jobs. But you never know, they might be doing paperwork or checking up on some information they were looking into." Kate tool another deep breath. "But I really wanted to meet you and have a conversation with you."
Gates nodded. "See, it wasn't all that hard to say what you wanted to say right from the start." Gates reset the pile of files in her arms. "Give me five minutes to put these away and come into my office and we can talk."
Kate nodded her head. "Yes sir." She just watched as the short bundle of barely contained energy looking for an explosion entered her office.
Kate flopped back into her chair. Suddenly she was thinking that this just might not be the right time to discuss Richard Castle.
Kate waited for five minutes exactly, then got up and walked over to her Captain Montgomery's old office and knocked on the partially opened door.
"Come in." Kate heard. "Close the door." She did.
The diminutive captain indicated one of the chairs "Sit." Kate did.
Gates took a few moments to shove some papers in a drawer then looked up at Kate.
"First off," she said. "I'd like to thank you for addressing me as sir. Sir, or captain is how I prefer to be addressed. I dislike being called ma'am. Obviously someone passed that information on to you."
Kate just nodded.
"Now, "the captain leaned back in her chair. "Since you aren't here to officially return to duty, I'm assuming this visit is about Mr. Richard Castle."
Kate smiled. "I have heard of your being uncomfortable with the idea of having Richard Castle in your precinct even after his being here for nearly three years already."
Gates scowled at Beckett. "If you've 'heard' such things then you know that I won't run a precinct with some writer who has no other reason to be here than to 'play' at being a cop to give himself greater publicity to sell his books."
Kate stared back at the grumpy captain. "So, you feel that even though both the Mayor and the Commissioner allowed Richard Castle to research with a homicide team. And allowed him to do so for going on three years now without any real problems or complaints. That his presence here is somehow detrimental to this precinct specifically and the NYPD in general."
Gates leaned back in her chair and presented a stony face. "I know that Captain Montgomery was a friend of Mr. Castle's and I'm sure he managed to cover up any problems that were caused by Mr. Castle's actions."
Kate smiled. "Yes, Captain Montgomery was a friend of Castle's, as were the Mayor, a district judge, the Commissioner, and several other individuals over at 1PP."
"Exactly!" Gates shouted out. "He used his contacts with people in high places to gain favors for himself. It was all about politics, and how this access would be advantageous to his career."
Kate clasped her hands together on the captain's desk. "I admit that, at first, I believed like you do. I thought he was just an egotistical playboy who only wanted to have his jollies hitting on me in the name of research."
"And that wasn't the truth of it?" Gates had a slight smile because she felt she scored.
Kate allowed herself a smile. "Some of it was. But it wasn't until later that I was able to understand the genius of the Mayor and the Commissioner in letting Castle shadow my team."
"Genius?" Gates response didn't speak of agreement.
"It took me some time to see the bigger picture. I needed to experience some of what I'm sure the Mayor figured out would happen. I needed to see the first novel to really catch on."
Gates just gave Kate a look of doubt.
Kate chuckled. "I wasn't thrilled about the sexual content of the book at first because everyone knew that Nikki Heat was supposed to be based on me, and Jameson Rook was supposed to be Castle. That caused more than a few embarrassing moments. But being a fan of his other works I read the book for what is was. A really good detective novel. And that's when the light bulb switched on over my head. I saw what the Mayor and the Commissioner had hoped for… and got."
Gates still had a sour look on her face. "Go ahead, enlighten me."
Kate just smiled back. "Richard Castle is a fiction writer, but he's well known as someone who gets the details right. He creates the most realistic environment around his fantasy characters. Once that book came out, the Mayor knew he'd been right to support Castle on this. The NYPD has never had better publicity than they got with Heat Wave."
Kate shifted in her chair. "The NYPD has suffered from bad press and a lack of positive coverage as long as I can remember. Even in contemporary fiction the police were at best inept if not out and out criminal. But suddenly that changed. Here was a book that made the police the heroes. They were hard working, dedicated, and determined. They came off the pages as real people who put their lives on the line to make this city a better place. And Castle was able to make his readers believe it."
"The fact that everyone knew that Nikki Heat was based on a real NYPD detective only made it all the more real for the readers." Kate leaned in, over Gates' desk. "I went to a couple of Castle's book signings and sat with him just to see what he had to deal with." Kate shook her head. "He does get mostly women at his signings, and many are there to flirt with him. But they had to buy the book to do so, and that means the message gets out."
Gates still held on to her frowning face. "From what I've heard, that's his whole attraction. The women want to come up and flirt with him. Some probably hope he'll be interested in them."
Kate laughed out loud. "I'm sure there are those who do. But you'd be surprised how many young women asked me for my autograph. My picture has been around in the papers and in the promotions. But do you know what? They never want me to sign their book as Nikki Heat. They want me to sign it as Detective Kate Beckett." Kate had to take a moment to wipe an escaped tear from her cheek. "I've had many ask me what it was like being a police detective. And how hard was it being a woman detective. Out of curiosity I checked with the police academy and I found out that women enrollment at the academy over the last two years have risen by several per cent."
Gates stared at Kate for a few moments. Her expression still hard. "You've made some interesting points but I can't say as if I necessarily buy into your logic. You yourself said that at first you were very much against having him on your team. In fact, you tried to fight it from what I've heard." Gates folded her hands in front of her. "Why the change of mind?"
"Because I was wrong." Kate smiled. "I admit that it took me a little while to adjust to having someone like Castle on my team. He was childlike in the way that a child would always be excited by new things. The hardest lesson he had to learn was that he wasn't really a cop. And that meant that he had restrictions that we, as policemen didn't have. He was to never go in first, he wasn't allowed a firearm, and he had to obey any order given by any of us. After our first case together he bought his own protective vest but he was still restricted from coming onto a crime scene unless it had been cleared."
"So of what use was he?" Gates was refusing to give up her attitude.
"The reason he was there for his writing, was the same reason he was an asset for us." Kate smiled and looked off to one side. "Castle is like an information sponge. He can walk into a room and within minutes he can tell you a story of who was here last and what they had done. He saw everything, but was exceptional in noting the details, and little things like knowing that something was out of place. He was often the one who caught something seemingly insignificant which later turned out to be the one piece that made everything else fit."
Gates shook her head in denial. "You make him sound like some kind of Sherlock Holmes."
Kate laughed. "No, nothing like that. He often isn't able to help much more than making bad jokes or spewing outrageous theories."
"Which just wastes time detective." Gates added.
Kate shook her head. "No, most of the time it kept spirits up and helped against the frustration that comes when nothing seemed to fit."
Gates leaned back in her chair and gave Kate a stern look. "This is still my precinct, detective. We have a few more days until you show up for reinstatement from injury leave. I'll consider what you've told me and I'll have my decision then."
Kate leaned in and met Gates' eyes with her own. "Then let me add one more factor that must be considered." Kate leaned a little closer. "Castle is a member on my team. We are the most productive team in homicide, and to keep that team intact I will, if I have to, go over your head. I don't want to and I have no desire to make either of us look bad to anyone. But I will do what I have to. I will do what is needed to restore my team."
Kate stood up from the chair she was sitting in. "Thank you for listening to me Captain, and I look forward to seeing you this coming Monday to get all the paperwork signed and get back to work where I belong."
She then turned and left the captain's office and strode directly to the elevator. Luckily she didn't run into anyone who wanted to say hi, so she was able to get into the elevator and escape from the fourth floor quickly. She was out the precinct front door in less than a minute.
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"You should have seen her. I thought there were a few times when I thought she'd have a stroke from holding back her anger." Kate laughed along with Rick.
He palmed her cheek with his hand. "You took some chances there coming down so hard with the threats and such."
Kate shook her head. "Not really so much. The reason I could do so was because I just threatened to go over her head. But it was only a threat and Gates knew that I hadn't actually went over her head and I wouldn't if she didn't force my hand. And if she's as smart as I think she might be. She won't let it happen because the last thing she'd want is to be in the Mayor's doghouse over Richard Castle."
Castle smiled as he nodded. "But you realize that you've put yourself into her doghouse pretty much all the time. She won't forget how you manipulated her and she'll be constantly looking for a legitimate reason to slap you down."
Kate nodded. "I'm sure she'll be keeping a close watch on our team. She'll be watching for any chance to come down on us." Kate shrugged. "We'll just have to continue to close cases so she won't have anything to criticize us for."
Rick shook his head back and forth. "She'll make stuff up if she has to."
"I don't think so." Kate shook her longer locks. "But if she does, we can always resort to using our trump card."
Castle raised a brow. "But you know that if we do that, she'll make our lives miserable from that point on."
Kate shrugged again. "Then I guess we quit." She grinned up at Castle. "You're still rich aren't you?" She giggled at the face he made.
"If I thought that would work on you I'd make sure I was particularly annoying to Iron Gates." He kissed her on the cheek. She kissed him back on the lips.
She looked into his eyes, her smile switched to tightly pursed lips. "As much as I'd love to be able to ride off into the sunset with you, I still have unfinished business to take care of." She turned and leaned back into his arms.
"I know. And we'll get whoever was behind your mother's murder." He kissed her head. "Not even Iron Gates will be able to keep us from bringing her the justice she deserves, and the closure you and your father need."
Kate turned in Rick's arms. "Why did it take so much time for me to realize how wonderful you were for me?"
He laughed. "I hid my wonderfulness well."
"I'll say." He pouted. She laughed. "So how can I trust your feelings for me if you don't like the way I wear my hair?" She smirked to show she wasn't really upset.
Castle rolled his eyes. "That's not true. I think your long hair is beautiful."
She captured his with her stare. "So if that's true, why have you always encouraged me to cut my hair shorter?"
"Okay, I see the confusion here." He gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. "When you had longer hair in those pictures when you were younger, and lately with your longer hair now. It was beautiful and you were beautiful." She raised her brow. "But when you wear your hair shorter, like back when we first met, you looked adorable." He shrugged. "What can I say? I love that you are beautiful, but if I have a choice, I prefer adorable."
She shook her head and grinned. "Has anyone ever told you that you aren't dealing with a full deck?"
He smiled. "Is that a trick question?"
She slapped him on the arm. "Well, you're going to have to be disappointed for a while. I want to let my hair grow out past my shoulder blades. It's been since I left college that I got to play with a lot of hair, and I want to be able to do that for a little while."
Castle lifted his hand and looked like he was going to say something but Kate put her fingers over his lips.
"Don't worry. I'll probably get sick of taking care of a lot of hair quicker than I think. When that happens I'll give you the scissors and let you chop it to whatever length you wish."
Kate noted the sudden strange smile on his face.
"Within reason." She added quickly.
He laughed out loud and threw his arm around her shoulders. "What do you want for dinner?"
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm not really hungry. Someone stuffed me with a huge breakfast. Maybe we should just order in something quick and then hit the sack."
Rick looked down on her. "Are you tired?"
She grinned up at him. "Nope."
FIN
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All Readers are Appreciated, Review if you wish.
A/N: I finally got around to finishing this little group of stories that started with the small twist in the lives of Castle and Beckett. What if, when Rick offered Kate his guest room after her apartment had been destroyed, she never left? I hope the gentle readers enjoyed it as much as I did writing it.
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The man gave a single nod, then pulled out a high powered revolver and put two into Kate's chest. It only hurt for a second, then all went black.