"There's no way to ask this without sounding kinda douchey," Rick said - sounding somewhat apologetic - as they walked through his building's parking garage. "But... do you want to take the Merc or the Ferrari?"
Kate rolled her eyes. "Let's keep it low-key, shall we?"
"Got it."
Rick pressed the unlock button on the Mercedes key. But as they strolled past the shiny, red Ferrari Kate couldn't help but admire it.
"You can take it for a ride anytime you like," he told her. "Just say the word."
"I'll keep that in mind."
He rushed the last few steps toward his car; opened the passenger door for Kate. She tossed the tote bag she had packed in secrecy into the car.
"Thank you," she said softly.
She placed her hand over his as she slipped past him, let her fingertips glide across his knuckles as she ducked into the car and he knew it was a purposeful act; her way of saying I'm okay now.
Or, at least, she was trying to be.
He didn't blame her for the dip in her mood earlier: if he were in her position he probably would have been uncomfortable with his confession, too. For a moment there, he had regretted his decision to tell her. She could have remained blissfully unaware, he tried to tell himself. But knowing Meredith the way he did - and knowing how much she seemed to dislike his relationship with Kate - he was almost positive it was only a certain amount of time before she would say something to try and upset the woman she deemed her replacement.
The truth of the matter was simple enough. Once upon a time, Meredith had actually cared for Rick. She had actually wanted this family life with him and - before it all fell apart so spectacularly - they had been happy. She knew him better than anyone else ever had. She could read him like a book; no part of him was a secret to her, even now. And he knew, without a doubt, that that was why she pushed back against Kate. Meredith could see how much he cared for already, how instant and deep that attraction had been even on that very first night.
To Meredith, Kate Beckett had been a genuine threat to her way of life from the very moment Rick had met her.
He had to keep things friendly with his ex-wife for the sake of their daughter. And, for too long, he had mistaken friendly for giving in to her every whim in fear of retaliation. Not saying that he was entirely innocent in all this: he had certainly reaped the benefits of Meredith's desire to remain close. But a line had to be drawn, new boundaries had to be set and right now he was regretting his past weaknesses in doing this.
It was reasonable for Kate to be wary of Meredith, of Rick's weak spots. He just hoped that she would see his honesty for what it was: his first step toward redemption.
"So, where are we headed?" he asked as he turned out of the garage.
"Just head toward Jersey," she instructed him.
"Jersey?" he repeated as if he had misheard her.
Kate smiled. "I promise you, we won't be any more than an hour-ish away if Alexis needs you," she assured him.
"That's not my concern," he said and Kate turned her head to look at him. "It's just... Jersey?"
She laughed quietly and shook her head. "Just- trust me."
And he did.
They drove for a little over an hour until they reached the beautiful little town of Pottersville, New Jersey.
It was picturesque: tree-lined streets, historic buildings and rolling hillsides; this place exuded charm.
"Okay, maybe I judged a little quickly," Rick said as they drove the winding road toward their final destination.
"I can't believe you doubted me," Kate complained. "Turn left here."
Rick followed her direction, turning off the main road onto a long, narrow dirt road that led them toward farmland. About a mile down the road, they came to a simple colonial-style farmhouse. It was a very welcoming little house: with crisp white wood panelling; a large wrap-around porch and carefully tended to garden beds with an array of brightly coloured flowers. On the chain-link fence that bordered the home, Rick noticed a small wooden sign that read : Walsh Farms.
"Follow the driveway out to the back," she said. "There'll be a carport that you can park under."
He turned into the driveway and followed it around the house, then came to a stop under the wooden shading and killed the engine of his Mercedes.
Kate got out of the car and rushed toward the house - bounding up the two steps to porch, where a woman (around Kate's age) had stepped outside - while Rick lingered a little to observe.
"Aggie," Kate greeted and wrapped her arms around the woman. Aggie returned the warm embrace with equal enthusiasm. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you, too," the woman said with a smile. She pulled back, placed her hands on Kate's shoulders as she studied her face with a look of genuine concern. "What have you done to yourself, Katie?"
Kate just smiled. "A little mishap at work," she told her friend casually, as if the injury had come from something silly like tripping over her own feet, not from hand-to-hand combat with a ruthless killer twice her size. "I'm fine. In a few days it'll barely be noticeable."
Much to Rick's delight, Aggie gave Kate a very knowing look; one that practically screamed that's bullshit.
"Anyway..." Kate drawled, turning her attention to Rick. Aggie looked over at him, too. "This is my friend, Rick."
"Nice to meet you." He waved, walked toward the house and the women met him halfway, at the bottom of the porch steps.
"The writer, right?" Aggie asked as she took Rick's proffered hand and shook. "I read some of your books. Aunt Jo was always readin' them."
"Oh, you're cousins?"
Kate smiled and shook her head. "Aggie's mum went to boarding school in the city," she began to explain.
"She met Aunt Jo at an inter-school science competition or something," Aggie continued. "They were teamed up for the final task and they hit it off. Instant best friends."
Rick couldn't help but notice the way Aggie looked at Kate, the way Kate looked at Aggie. There was a deep connection between them; like Aggie was someone truly special to her... and he was being allowed in to this precious corner of her life.
"Katie and I practically grew up together: I love the city and, because Aunt Jo and Uncle Jim worked so much, she would spend some time out here during school breaks helping us out on the farm."
Rick couldn't suppress his chuckle. "I'm sorry. I just- I had mental images of you, like, trying to milk a cow."
Aggie laughed, too.
"It's a blueberry farm," Kate corrected him with a forced frown. "I spent my days picking fruit. Kind of."
"Barely," Aggie corrected with a smirk. "We spent most of our time dodging our responsibilities. It was much more fun to sneak off and hang out with the college kids that were home for the break. Or to go have a picnic by the river." She stopped, turned her focus back to Kate. "Speaking of which; everything is ready to go."
"Thank you so much," Kate said, before giving her friend another warm hug. "I owe you, big time!"
"You owe me nothing," Aggie insisted. "You know where the key is. Have fun."
Kate walked back to Rick's Mercedes and retrieved the tote bag she had tossed into the back seat during their drive, then signalled for Rick to follow her. They walked a few hundred yards toward a large, 3-bay shed at the back of this fenced-off section of property.
Behind the shed Rick could see vast fields of green shrubbery.
"Blueberries, hey?"
Kate looked at him, smiled when she saw the dopey half-smile on his face.
"You got some Farm Girl Fantasy I need to know about?"
"No, but I wouldn't object to you calling me Darlin' in a thick Southern accent," he admitted.
She laughed. "Not gonna happen." She lifted the rolling door of the first shed bay, then turned to Rick with a smile. "You ready?"
"Ready, Darlin'," he said, sticking to the shtick.
Kate rolled her eyes and stepped into the old shed. Rick followed.
Sunlight streamed through the open door and through cracks in the tin panelling, illuminating airborne specks of dust that swirled through the air. The back wall was lined with shelving and a workbench; old tools and half-finished projects laid scattered in the space before them. As Rick moved further into the shed, he passed a beat up pick-up truck that was covered in a thick layer of dust. It was old, circa 1988, and had obviously been put to use over the years; flogged by day-to-day farm work. It's dull orange paint job was embellished by stickers - supporting the local surrounding farms and schools - that had faded from exposure to sunlight.
"Bobby's true love," Kate stated with a fond, reminiscent smile. Then something in her eyes changed, became sad. "He passed away almost a year ago. No one's touched his space since."
Rick's hand, that had been resting on the tray of the pickup, fell to his side. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Kate pushed on, wouldn't allow the lingering grief to be felt. Not right now, anyway.
"This one's ours," she said, pointing to the newer, shinier pickup down in the third bay. "Can you get that door?"
They pulled back out onto the narrow, dirt road and followed it down toward the thick forest land that separated Walsh Farms from Lamington River.
Kate took a sharp turn onto well-worn tire tracks that cleared a path between the trees. She drove slowly, careful not to rush down the steady slope, toward the river until they came to a clearing. She reversed and pulled up on a firm patch of grass by the riverbank and killed the engine.
She jumped out of the pickup, moved to the back and started to unhook the elastic loops of the soft tonneau cover. As he had for most of the afternoon, Rick followed her without a word. He began to assist, unlooping the elastic from the other side of the tray. He looked up, across the tray and saw Kate looking at him, smiling playfully. Without a single word exchange, he knew why. She shuffled along her side of the vehicle, picking up her pace. He followed suit, a sudden competitiveness overcoming him. Her giggles as she came to the end of the tray, hooking her forefinger through one elastic loop after another, were like sweet music to his ears but he wouldn't be deterred or distracted; he took advantage of having use of both his hands and began reaching for two hooks at once.
"Hey, you cheat!" she declared as she swatted his hand away from the final hook.
Rick swatted back playfully, earning himself a hip-bump as she tried to scoot her body in between him and the pickup.
She unhooked the final loops and cheered victoriously, "I win!"
"Nuh-uh! You had a head start and I still managed to meet you halfway. I think you'll find that makes me the winner."
Kate scoffed. "On what planet does that make you the winner?"
"On a more logical planet than the one that would declare you the winner," he retorted.
She simply rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Help me pull this off?"
They each grabbed a corner of the tray cover and began to roll it back, revealing what awaited them beneath. The inside of the hard plastic tub was pristine - definitely not what one would expect of an everyday-use farm vehicle - decorated with colourful blankets, marshmallow-like cushions and a large, wicker picnic basket in the very centre of the tray. Tucked neatly into one corner were two tidily rolled towels.
"When Aggie said you guys would picnic by the river I was picturing a little rug and some shrink-wrapped sandwiches," Rick commented as he studied the set-up.
"Aggie had always been one to, ah, overdo it," Kate explained with a smile. "But, in the best way!"
Rick tore his attention away from the rather romantic little set up and settled his focus on Kate, who looked over their picnic with what could only be described as a look of utter gratitude.
"I can see that."
She turned her attention to him and smiled. "You wanna go for a swim?"
"I would love to," he said. "Unfortunately-" He took a small step closer to her. "you didn't warn me that I might need swimmers."
Kate's eyes slowly raked over him; from his eyes, down, and then back up again.
"I am starting to regret being so prepared," she said, her voice husky. She tilted her head back toward the cab of the pickup. "The tote."
He walked to the passenger door and pulled the tote bag from where it had sat at his feet. Opening it, he found his swimming trunks and two of his plain cotton tees.
"Do you always just help yourself to people's closets?" he said jokingly as he tipped the contents of the bag into the back of the pickup.
"Only when necessary, I assure you." She stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I hope you don't mind but, seeing as I didn't have the foresight to pack my own swimwear, I'll have to borrow one of your shirts."
He smirked as he looked over his shoulder to her. "You could always skinny dip," he suggested.
She laughed.
"Unfortunately we're no longer on Walsh property and the last thing I want is to be arrested for public indecency. Besides, some of the local kids fish around here after school, wouldn't want to traumatise them."
"How unfortunate for me," Rick pouted.
"Race you to the river?" Rick asked as he swapped his jeans for trunks.
"Are you a child?" Kate laughed as she tucked her clothing into the tote bag.
Before he could answer, she tossed the tote into the back of the pickup and ran off toward the flowing water.
Rick threw his clothes haphazardly to the side and rushed off after her. He caught up quick enough, just in time for them to both splash into the water together.
It took a second, but as soon as his body registered the change he sucked in a gulp of air. Kate turned to him, her eyes wide with shock and regret.
"It's freezing!" she all but yelped.
He shook his head. "Just gotta push through," he assured her. "Let your body adjust. It's fine. It's fine."
But the more he said it, the less convincing he sounded. Thigh-deep, he waded closer to her and wrapped his arms around her in attempt to warm her: not that his body would do any better than the warm sun could when her lower-half was completely submerged in the cold streaming water.
Still, she melted into his arms and rested her cheek to his chest as if he was the solution to all her problems. He held her just that little bit tighter, pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
The water lapped at their thighs, slowly warming as their bodies adjusted to the sudden change and - when he was sure the chill wouldn't carry quite so much bite - he smiled to himself.
He just couldn't resist.
"You ready?" he asked her.
She lifted her head from his chest and looked up at him, confusion glimmering in her eyes. "Ready for what?"
He watched as it dawned on her, and confusion became anticipation: excited, yet slightly fearful.
"No," she said and shook her head, but it only encouraged his antics.
Rick leaned to the side, with a theatrical "Woah!" as if he was losing balance, not purposefully dunking them both.
"Rick, don't!" she warned through poorly withheld laughter. "No!"
Her protest was the last thing he heard before they went under. By the time he surfaced, she was already upright and wiping the water from her face.
"You are a child!" she scolded playfully, then splashed water in his direction.
She splashed him again, not satisfied with her first attempt.
"I'm sorry," he said in between laughs.
He reached out for the soaked material that clung to her waist, ghosted his fingertips over her hips.
She shook her head. "Uh-uh! You're in trouble now," she warned.
But her smile was bright, her laughter so pure and unadulterated.
He loved it.
Loved her.
He grabbed her waist and took another step closer - drawn to her, like a moth to a flame - and her hands fell to rest on his chest as she relaxed into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, this time devoid of laughter.
Her laughter came to an end, too, and she stared into his eyes as she tried to catch her breath.
Rick leaned in slowly and kissed her.
Author's notes:
Hi guys!
Once again, thank you so much for reading! I hope you're all enjoying the story so far. Your reviews and messages have all been so kind and wonderful and are absolutely making me so giddy right now! Thank you guy so much, I really appreciate the love you're sending.
I hope you're enjoying the little step outside of the city that we've taken in this chapter (and the next).
I know absolutely nothing about Pottersville, NJ except for one little travel blog I stumbled upon so I do apologise if I have interpreted it's charm entirely wrong.
As for Johanna's backstory... I really just needed a valid reason for Kate to know someone who lived by a river with a big ol' pickup truck! And I loved the idea of childhood friends growing up and raising children together, you know? And with Pottersville being only an hour(ish) away from NYC I figured it isn't entirely impossible.
Maybe we'll get more stories of little Kate and Aggie... or maybe I'll forget all about poor Aggie, who knows. But it was nice to write a friend outside of the main group.
Anyways, I'm rambling on now. Thank you so much for reading!