WORTH WORKING FOR
A SEASON 4 MEETING AU
"Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for."
-Seamus Heaney
"Besides, sometimes, to resolve desire, it's better to let the thing bloom. To feel this thing, to let it catch you unaware, to hold onto the ache. What is better than believing you are heading towards love?"
-Caleb Azumah Nelson, Open Water
CHAPTER ONE
SEPTEMBER
"What do you want to drink?"
Kate glances at her friend before turning her attention back to the bar. The dim, relatively subdued atmosphere isn't exactly what she'd expected when Lanie had announced a night out, but she doesn't mind. It seems like a good place to get her feet wet, to have her first foray into nightlife after almost dying, and without being thrust into a loud, crowded, suffocating club.
Lanie nudges her arm. "Kate. Drink?"
"Oh." Kate shrugs. "Surprise me."
She hasn't drunk much during her recovery, first because of her pain medication, then because her dad doesn't stock alcohol at his cabin, and she wouldn't dream of asking him to. She didn't want to risk being unable to control herself, to use alcohol to forget about her problems, as he had all those years ago.
But with Lanie here, she won't. She's here to let loose with her best friend after her first week back at work, and she's ready to. Lanie won't let her go too far.
She snags an empty booth, and looks around as Lanie orders at the bar. Most of the tables are full, but they're situated in such a way that the place still feels roomy. It has a cozy, homey feel, and she could see herself coming here again.
Loud, raucous laughter cuts through the din, and she turns her head in search of the source. She finds it slightly behind her, where a few men gather around a pool table near the corner. The one who caught her attention with his laugh is the tallest of the three, she notices when he laughs again and slaps one of the others on the shoulder.
"Think you'll believe me next time?" she hears him tease, his voice deep and rich and making her body tingle.
"They have a decent wine list, but I got you a Manhattan."
Kate turns her attention back to Lanie to find the drink in front of her. "Thanks."
Lanie takes a sip of her own drink and slides into the booth. "So, first week back. How are you feeling?"
Kate opens her mouth to answer, but they're interrupted by the same boisterous laugh, this time closer as the men walk past them, apparently done with their game.
"We'll get you next time, Rick," one of the men says, causing Rick - the source of the rather attractive laugh - to chuckle.
"Sure you will." Rick glances over as he walks past, and when his eyes meet Kate's he pauses, holding her gaze for a few seconds, then keeps going.
Kate feels her cheeks warm, and she takes a long sip of her drink.
The heat in his eyes…
It's been a long time since she's felt nervous butterflies in her stomach.
Lanie's staring at her when she looks up, her eyebrows raised and an amused smirk on her lips. "You know him?" she teases, leaning forward.
Kate shakes her head. "Nope."
"Hmm." Lanie slides out of the booth and motions toward the pool table. "Come on. Play you for the drinks."
Kate picks up her drink and follows her friend. "Loser pays?" She grabs a cue as Lanie racks the balls, and she leans over to practice a shot, getting a feel for the cue. She played quite a bit in college, but she's out of practice.
Once Lanie sets up the balls and motions for her to break, Kate falls into a routine, eyeing shots and sinking balls with an efficiency almost matched by her friend.
She's grateful for the distraction, to focus on something besides talking about her recovery. Lanie's been a vital part of her support system, even when she was at her dad's cabin, and she means well.
But Kate doesn't want to get too deep, to talk about how claustrophobic she felt in the city, how every light reflection on a window made her think it was the barrel of a gun pointed at her.
She didn't even fully open up to her therapist, told him just enough to get him to sign off on her return.
If she were honest, she'd admit just how badly her first case shook her, how she froze when she came face-to-face with a gun. Thank god for her partners, for coming to her rescue and not mentioning the tremble in her hands as she holstered her own gun.
She motions to a waitress for another drink, asks her to keep them coming. She's not here to talk about her feelings. She wants to let loose, to forget about her problems for a few hours.
"Impressive."
She looks up at the familiar voice after sinking a tough shot, and she notices two things: the man named Rick is leaning against the wall with his hands tucked in his pockets, and Lanie is nowhere to be found. She leans a hip against the table and grips the cue with both hands, doesn't miss the way Rick's gaze darkens.
"Thanks." Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Lanie sit in their booth, obviously not willing to interrupt this exchange. "You play?"
His brow quirks. "Occasionally," he quips. "May I challenge you to a game when you and your friend are done?"
"Um-"
"Go ahead," Lanie calls out from the booth, lifting her drink. "She needs the competition."
Kate rolls her eyes. Lanie's just as good as her, so she's obviously trying to set Kate up. Well, if it means she gets to flirt with a handsome man, who is she to say no?
She crosses one ankle in front of the other and watches Rick's gaze drop to her legs. She smirks; no wonder Lanie had suggested she wear this dress. She knows it makes her legs look amazing.
Judging by the look in Rick's eyes, it was the right choice.
He clears his throat and grabs a cue from the holder on the wall, rubs chalk over the tip. "Right. You want to rack, or break?"
"She'll rack them."
Kate glares at Lanie, but her friend just shrugs and sips her drink.
Well…may as well have fun with it.
She takes her time, bending over a little farther than normal, making a show of pushing her ass out, her body warming with every sharp inhale and quiet groan she hears from Rick.
They dance around each other during the entire game: she makes sure her dress accentuates her assets, he brushes her arm as he passes her. Usually she gives her opponent space when it's their turn, standing on the other side of the table so she can't be accused of messing with their shot.
But not with Rick; she simply moves to the side, far enough so she's out of the way, but close enough that she can check him out. She lets her gaze rake over the curve of his ass in his jeans, the muscles in his forearms flexing as he lines up the shot.
Rick takes his shot and stands, and she quickly tears her gaze from his ass. He's smirking, obviously having caught her, and her face goes hot with embarrassment.
"Your turn," he teases, his voice a low husk, his heated gaze traveling down her body.
The bar around them fades away, reducing the world to just the two of them, the desire electrifying the air between them. She doesn't notice Lanie leave, doesn't hear the ambient noise of the growing number of patrons.
All she can focus on is Rick, his fingers gripping his pool cue, his eyes darkening as she takes a step closer, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. She lays her cue down on the table and trails her finger along the green felt.
God, she hasn't felt this drawn to someone in a long time.
"I'm taking my shot," she hears herself say when she's just inches from him.
He clears his throat and brushes his finger along the back of her hand. "What shot is that?" he rasps.
She pushes away all her doubts, her insecurity about someone else seeing her ugly scars, even the voice in her head that cautions her that she may be moving too fast.
She grips the front of his shirt and lifts her mouth to his.
The kiss escalates almost immediately, her tongue slipping between his lips, his hands circling her waist. He turns them, and he lifts her onto the pool table, their mouths never parting.
She has the fleeting thought that they're in public and should maybe tone it down, but then his hands are sliding up her thighs and teasing the skin just under the hem of her dress. She tears her mouth from his before he can move his hands even higher, but he just grunts and trails his mouth down her neck.
"Wait," she gasps, pushing on his shoulder, "not here."
He lifts his head and gazes at her, his lips swollen, eyes glazed over with desire. He drops his gaze to her mouth. "Right. Uh-"
"My place," she blurts. "It's close."
His lips lift in a smirk, and, oh, she hopes she doesn't regret this. She never invites a stranger over, doesn't even like people to know her building until she knows them, but there's something about Rick. She's relaxed around him, and she doesn't think it's just from the alcohol. Arousal aside, he exudes a warmth, a comfort. He seems safe. And, well…
She wants him.
She ducks into the restroom while he pays his bill, and she fires off a quick text to Lanie, letting her friend know of the development. She grins when Lanie immediately responds with encouragement, and the final suggestion has her hesitating before making her decision and sliding the scrap of fabric down her legs.
Rick's waiting for her by the door when she emerges, and she lifts her purse higher onto her shoulder. "Ready?" he asks when she's in front of him.
She takes a deep breath and nods. "Let's go."
A/N: This is my contribution to Castle Ficathon 2024. Posting will begin at twice a week, and could change depending on how many chapters there will actually be. It isn't finished quite yet, but it's close enough that I know it'll all be posted before Ficathon ends.
A/N 2: Although the fic is rated T, chapter two does contain M-rated content. It's the only M-rated content in the fic, though, so if that's not your cup of tea, feel free to skip and come back in chapter three. You'll be in the clear for the rest.