JAG Lawyers
Chapter 18 - Medical Leave
They were back in the DC area, both on indefinite medical leave, the end of which to be determined by their attending physicians. They were now both outpatients with daily physical therapy prescribed for them. Kate, in better health from her injuries, was allowed to drive and so picked up Rick daily for their PT sessions. They were exploring new territories with their now budding and more intimate relationship. Both had not yet been cleared for full physical activities, so sexual intimacy had not happened for the two, but both wanted it at the right time, their health permitting.
Their therapy sessions were in the mornings, so they took to having lunch afterwards. They had been to all the various restaurants in the area exploring cuisines from all countries, French, Spanish, German, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian, etc. The list was seemingly endless and each explored the culinary frontiers with eagerness and anticipation. During their luncheons the conversations were varied and interesting, each getting to know more of the others thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Their discussions about their union were the more intense and intimate of their talks. They were now more open and sincere with each other in a manner both had only fantasize about in the past but now were achieving.
"So how much did you make on your one and only modeling gig?", he had brought up during one of their lunch discussions.
"Enough to buy my Harley Softail and then some."
"I am surprised you were even allowed to do so, you were just in high school and only recently qualified for a license?"
"Oh, my parents had no say in the matter. It was my money and I earned it honestly so I could spend it on whatever I wanted."
'But why a motorcycle Kate?"
"Truth?"
"That's why I asked."
"I had an older boyfriend who had one and he got me interested?"
"How much older Kate?"
"He was a college junior."
"You had just become a high school senior and was dating a college junior! How had that happened?"
"That is quite a story, but first I must ask you to keep secret what I tell you?"
"Wow, now I am intrigued. You have my word", Rick says crossing his heart with his index figure and then making a gesture of locking his lips with a key.
"When I turned 17, I looked very much older when I got decked out with makeup, hairdo, and very revealing outfits. I also had a fake ID that said I was 21 and I could dress to fit the part."
"Kate Beckett, you are an officer of the law and are confessing now to an illegal action!"
"Hence the oath of secrecy LCDR Castle."
"Okay, I'm all ears."
"Well remember that college bar by NYU that we would do happy hours at?"
"Do I, many good memories from there."
"Well, me and my high school BFF, Maddie Queller, snuck in one night using our fake id's and dressed to kill looking like college coeds. We got hit on from the male college students there."
"So this biker boyfriend was one of those male students?"
"Precisely."
"And what was his pick up line?"
"Oh very effective. He said he drove a Harley and asked if I had ever ridden on one."
"So you fell for it and got a ride."
"That I did, and was hooked. I said I would only continue to go out with him if he taught me to ride."
"So he did?"
"Yes."
"Did he know you were only 17 at the time?"
"He only found out later."
"So how serious did it get with him and when did you break up?"
"He was my first Castle and we broke up when he learned how young I really was."
"Oh, sorry I asked. Your sexual past need not be disclosed to me Kate. I just need to know I am now your one and done."
"You are my one and only, and I will always be truthful to you and you can ask and I will answer. This is a new dynamic between us, being open and holding nothing back", Kate states.
"The same applies for me Kate. You are it for me and I will always be open with you. So, you lost your virginity to your biker boy friend."
"Yes, on his bike no less."
Rick goes silent and Kate starts to think she may have shared too much with him and then she sees the faint smile on his lips.
"Castle!"
"What?"
"You were thinking you want to have me on my Softtail Harley, weren't you!?"
"Oh, what?…no!….yes!… you know me so well Kate."
"Well that should motivate you to do your PT and get in shape soon! That so as to be cleared for full physical activities, lover boy!"
"Lover boy! You're such a tease Beckett! But you still dream about that one night we had together, don't you?"
"And you don't?", Kate says, then tells him, "Oh Rick, if you only knew. Had them for years after that first night."
"As did I!"
"But we always danced around those feelings not wanting to tell the other. We wasted that time and I can't wait for you to get better Rick. I do not want to waste any more time with you."
"Nor I?"
And with that reveal by Kate they both kissed.
"That was just an appetizer Rickie boy."
"Then I can't wait till the full course meal."
"Full disclosure Rick?"
"Granted."
"I am a great cook in preparing meals in bed."
With that comment Rick becomes really quiet. She had left him speechless with her words.
"Kate….I….oh my God Kate… you're such a tease!"
"Only cause you can't get some now, but when you do, you'll enjoy my cooking."
"I remember Kate."
"Good, get better and we can take a stroll down Memory Lane."
Weeks later Rick is cleared for full physical activity. Kate had been so cleared weeks ahead of Castle. She had been getting more feisty with each passing day till Rick was certified good to go for physical intimacy.
It was a good thing Kate recently returned to JAG for work and with Jim Olson had argued some cases at court martial. That had kept her busy and Castle off her mind. The time seemed to go oh so slowly for Kate. The fact they were now sharing their most intimate of thoughts and desires during their lunch break talks continued to stoke her libido. Rick had been cleared for driving, so they took to still having lunch together after Rick's PT. Kate could not wait to get her hands on Castle.
When he was finally certified, Kate's UST with Castle had hit a new high and Kate's biological clock was beating fast. They went for a bike ride on her Harley the day after Rick was cleared for full physical activity. Kate wanted to celebrate his now recovered health by fulfilling one of his fantasies, which had become one of hers too. It was now their fantasy. They did their second intimate joining on her bike and continued with more in her bedroom afterwards.
Rick surprised her after she had driven them to a very secret and secluded location in Rock Creek Park and then did the deed! She was so sated and spent after their session that she was out of it for a while. So Rick drove them back to her apartment on the Harley. Kate never knew he could ride a bike. He had kept it a secret from her.
She loved riding with him as his passenger. Her bike ride with Josh her ex did not compare with the emotions she had riding with Rick as she held on to him tightly from behind. Rick had even dressed wearing bike leathers for their safari to Rock Creek Park. She was always drawn to a bad boy look and Rick dressed the part more so than Josh. Rick was such a turn-on in bike leather.
That same night they had a pillow talk after their session.
"Rick", she had said as they lay side by side in bed.
"What Kate?"
"I'm sorry for Josh. It should have never happened with him. But I was so in denial about my feelings for you I thought I could move on with him."
"But Josh caught on to it. He was really that tuned-in to your emotions Kate?"
"He had a past bad experience with a girl friend that made him more aware."
"Okay now you have my attention, I need to know the story Kate."
"You always need to know the story Rick, that is what makes you a successful author, it comes out in your novels."
"So please continue."
"She was his first, but he put off getting serious with her because he wanted to become a doctor and he feared she would be a distraction to that goal. So they drifted apart and she married another man."
"Sad ending then?"
"No, it was far sadder. That marriage ended in divorce cause the lady still longed for Josh and called out his name as her husband and her were having sex. The husband used that as grounds for a divorce, and the woman having failed twice at love, fell into deep depressions ending in her committing suicide after one bad depression. Josh carried that baggage into all his following relationships. That is how he sensed that I was not fully into our relationship and unselfishly asked me to make it right with you. He knew he might lose me with what he asked me to do."
"I have a deeper respect for him now, not just because he saved my life, by his surgical skills, but that he really cared for you. He asked you to do the right thing, knowing full well he could lose you. I have him to thank for us, and for what we now have."
"Do you see now that Josh not only healed you physically, but emotionally, by asking me to resolve my feelings for you. Josh loved me Rick, but sacrificed that for my happiness even if he could not be the source of my happiness."
"But he did do that Kate. His unselfish act allowed you to be happy with me. I have such a higher respect for him now."
"What I want for Josh in his future is for him to find his one. To move forward from me."
"When that happens, and it will happen, Josh is too decent a man to live a single life. It will happen for him and then I will shake his hand and congratulate him."
With that proclamation the couple goes silent recalling all that had happened to lead them here, to this moment. After what seemed like an eternity. Rick speaks.
"Kate!"
Kate comes out of her thoughts, "What Rick?"
"Marry me."
"Castle, that's just the magic of the moment speaking thru you."
"Kate, you know it is more than sex. What we do is not just sex, but love making. I have never experienced so much with any other woman. You are the center of my life now Kate. You have got to realize that."
"I do Rick as you also are the center of my life."
"Then what is holding you back?"
"How will it affect our military careers?"
"If it should come to that, I will transfer to the active reserves and like Lanie, just do my weekend drills and annual active duty."
"You would do that for me?"
"I would do it to have you in my life and to keep by your side. I would be free to follow you as your husband to all your duty assignments or to your home port if you deploy. I don't need the job to subsist Kate. My writing has made us wealthy. Even if you were to resign your active commission, I have enough for both of us."
"So you would become my sugar daddy and have me as your kept woman!"
"Well that thought had come to mind", he teases.
Kate gives him a playful punch to his arm, "Look whose being the tease now!"
"Or, you could have me as your kept man. As you climb to Full Colonel you'll make more than enough for the two of us. Then as your kept man, you could have your way with me every night."
"So you would degrade yourself to being my love slave?"
"I would look forward to it."
She is amused by his banter and provocative tease so she plays along the same track.
"Well in that case, Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle, I will agree to be your wife. But only if I can have you at my beck and call every moment of every day for the remainder of our lives."
"Wait a minute, did you just counter propose to me?"
"Oh shut up Rick. You do realize if I make Colonel before you make Navy Captain, I technically would be senior to you."
"Again that thought had crossed my mind."
"If that happens you will then have to stand at the foot of our bed and request permission to come aboard".
With that, Rick jumps out of bed and stands at the end of the bed, renders a salute and says very smartly and in his best military fashion, "Permission to come aboard, Sir!"
"Granted, now come to bed Rick."
"Aye, Aye sir", and with that he crawls back into bed with Kate.
They go for three rounds that night!
