I apologize for my delay with this chapter. I had two other stories in my head demanding to be set free. And this last chapter just wouldn't come to me. There is a sequel in the making and I needed to figure out the transition. Not exactly happy with it (esp. the end) but I'm glad to be on to bigger and better things. Now back to Random Acts…
Chapter 11
Kate walked through the hospital carrying a bag full of magazines and the latest mystery novel. She hated hospitals, which kind of came with the territory. As a cop she was here frequently to give blood for other injured cops. Sometimes she was here because this is where someone died as a result of another's wrong doing. Sometimes she was here because she was injured herself.
She stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor, the home of Women's Services. They had taken Emma here to recuperate as soon as she was strong enough so Ethan could be here with her. On the ride up, she thought about her day.
Spending the morning with Avery, the girls and Castle. Then taking Little Kate and Lily to the park with Castle. There was something that niggled at her brain about that. She kept feeling like they were being watched, but every time she turned around the only one staring at her was Castle. There was a moment of panic when they couldn't find Lily. Avery had warned them that she was a Houdini. Kate shuddered at the memory of her terror, and Castle's. She had just seen too many awful things to not think the worst, but they found her sitting on a bench about thirty feet away. She said she was "westing." That was when they decided to head back to the house.
Kate drove Castle back to the city after the trip to the park. He asked her out on a "date." She couldn't help but smile at the memory. He was taking her out tonight, "Dinner and a movie," he had said, "the traditional 'first date.'" He gave her a very chaste kiss as he exited the car and winked at her. In typical Beckett fashion, Kate rolled her eyes at him. Kate made the decision then to come see Emma, so she returned to her apartment, showered, changed and drove over, stopping at a bookstore on the way.
The elevator doors opened to the maternity floor. As Kate approached Emma's room she heard laughter and familiar voices. The door was open just a crack and after knocking she pushed the door open. She expected to see Jorge and Emma, of course, and she'd heard Avery and Maggie's voices from outside the door, but what surprised her was seeing Castle sitting next to Maggie on the window seat/couch. Shifting her emotions from surprise back to concern, she went to Emma.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Kate asked as she sat the bag down on the hospital table next to the bed. Emma already looked better than she did the morning they dropped Ethan off just over 48 hours earlier. Some color had been restored to her cheeks and the sparkle had returned to her eyes. She was even smiling.
"I'm much better. Still very sore," Emma glanced at Avery, "which I understand will take a while to get over. Really, Avery, do you expect me to not drive for two whole weeks?"
Jorge answered before Avery could open her mouth. "Really, Emma. No driving. We are following Dr. Roberts' and Avery's instructions to the letter. Just think about it like a chemical reaction, if you stir it too soon or too fast, it can get out of control."
"Oh that's nice. I'll have to remember that for future reference." Castle chimed in. "Good advice for relationships too." He winked at Kate, who rolled her eyes.
"You look better. It's good to see you smile." Kate gushed over her friend. It was good to see her smile. With all Emma had been through, the fact that she could ever smile amazed her. The same way Avery amazed her.
"They say I'll be able to go home in a couple of days. I'm really looking forward to that. Of course, my mom is going to stay at least until I can drive and they take out the staples, so I'll have to suffer through that, but all things considered…I'll take it." Emma said with a smile. "Your friend Castle here brought me a book to read." Emma held up a copy of Heat Wave.
"Yeah, well, I brought you a real mystery novel for when you get tired of the fluff." Kate replied smirking at Castle.
"Hey!" Castle exclaimed, holding his hand over his heart.
"Don't sweat it Castle. We know she owns every one of your books. And that even if she didn't say so, she's flattered you based this one on her." Jorge looked straight at Kate when he said it. "Your secret is out, sister. We know what happened Friday night. Our child better not be scarred for life."
Kate gasped and looked at Castle, who immediately held up his hands and said "I did not say ONE word."
Kate looked to Avery.
"I told the mouth." Avery jerked her head towards Maggie.
Kate looked to Maggie. "So, Mags, is this going to be on the front page of the Times tomorrow?"
"Only if you have pictures." Maggie deadpanned. "Really, my little sister shags a famous author and you expect me to tell no one?"
"Maggie!" Kate's face turned pink with embarrassment. "Oh my God."
Ethan piped up from Maggie's arms and that was the first time Kate noticed him in the room. Maggie couldn't help herself. "Kate, you want to hold him again? You're going to need the practice."
"Avery!" Kate was used to being toyed with by her sisters, and even Jorge and Emma, but doing it in front of Castle, well, she wasn't sure she was ready for him to see this side of her. They were all laughing now, including Castle, and Kate couldn't help but smile.
"Please, please stop!" Emma begged. "It hurts to laugh."
"Only you would think that way, Maggie. You and Justin couldn't walk by each other in the hallway without you getting knocked up. It isn't any wonder he had to get a vasectomy. Avery's just hopeful because she needs the business." Kate retorted.
"Wouldn't be all bad." Emma said. "Ethan would have someone to play with."
Kate got a lump in her throat. She didn't want to be pregnant. Not now. They needed to get to know each other. And truth be told, she wanted to be married before she had a child. Honestly, she hadn't even had the chance to see what Castle wants for the future. Hell, they haven't even been on their first date yet. But there was the tiniest part of her that wanted it for her friend. Kate would give anything to make Emma's life a little happier. Tears formed in her eyes.
Emma spoke up quickly when she saw Kate's face. "Kate. I didn't mean it. I mean, I was just looking for the silver lining. I wasn't hoping or anything. We'll be fine. Maybe we'll adopt." Emma was starting to get choked up too.
Kate sat on the edge of the bed and gently leaned down to embrace her friend. "I know. It'll be fine either way," she murmured in her ear. "My offer still stands you know."
The entire room stilled when the phrase passed from Kate's mouth to Emma's ear. Every one except Castle knew what the "offer" was, and Castle wasn't stupid. He would probably figure it out.
At that moment Ethan decided that it was time to eat, which meant that everyone but Jorge left the room. Emma wasn't uncomfortable, but Maggie and Castle were, so everyone made excuses to leave and return the next day to visit.
They rode down to the lobby in silence. Once in the lobby, Maggie started in on Kate again. "Really, Kate, I can't believe you let that happen."
"Mags, give it a rest," Avery shot. "She knows it was stupid. Don't act like you've never made that mistake."
"I've been with the same man for nineteen years. No possibility of getting diseases and we at least knew where we stood on having children."
"I think we can leave Castle. They obviously don't know we're here." Kate spat.
"I think I'd like to defend myself. First, I have NO diseases. Clean as a whistle. I haven't had unprotected sex in fifteen years. Except for yesterday." Castle paused. "And while Kate couldn't know how I would feel about children, she does know that I have enough money to take care of whatever happens whichever way she chooses."
Maggie's red hair took over. "I'll give you that she knows you have money, but the 'clean' thing? You have quite the reputation; there's no way she could know you were clean. That makes her actions stupid."
Kate sat down in one of the lobby chairs. Elbows on her knees, Kate put her face in her hands. "Oh…here we go."
Avery tried to head off Maggie's tirade. "Maggie. She's an adult. She can make her own decisions."
Castle was shaking his head. "I can't believe this. You are talking about her like she's a teenager. Do you know who she is? Do you know what she does every day? She hunts down murderers. She gives families like yours, families who have lost loved ones in violent ways, answers. Now I get that she's your little sister and you feel the need to 'mother' her, but I won't listen to it. She's one of the most incredible people I've ever met." Castle could feel Maggie winding up to strike back, and took it as his cue to leave stage right. "I'll see you all later. I have a date to get ready for. Kate, I'll be by at 7."
Kate's eyes were wide. Castle's outburst stunned her, but it also made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. "I guess you're finished now." Kate stood up. The three of them together were quite a sight. None of the Beckett siblings looked enough alike to say they were related, but there was something about Kate, Avery and Maggie that let you know they were sisters from a distance.
"I like him." Maggie said casually as if nothing had transpired between them. "I think he can hold his own."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, he thinks you're a bitch now. And by the way, this little 'piss off Kate's man' skit is getting really old."
"Sorry. Old habit. I'll apologize to him. Maybe I'll give you free babysitting." Maggie grinned at Kate.
"Shut up." Kate didn't smile, but her eyes said she wasn't angry. "I have to go get ready for a date. See you later." Kate turned from her sisters and walked in the opposite direction of Castle to the parking garage. She loved her sisters, but the tendency they had to treat her like a child was extremely annoying. And Maggie would always try to "break" any beau Kate brought around. No one has ever fought back though; usually they would just ride the wave until it crashed. Kate was pretty sure Castle could handle her family.
As she reached her car, she had that feeling again. It was coming more and more, the feeling that someone was watching her.
Kate arrived at her apartment building with two hours to pull herself together for the date. On her way up in the elevator, felt the familiar butterfies in her stomach. Why was she nervous? They had already slept together; the date was a formality, right? It would be the first time they went out in public as a "couple." But they weren't likely to run into anyone she knew. Maybe this was what love felt like; she was just excited to see him again.
Kate walked in the door to her apartment and stepped on a piece of paper. It was a nondescript envelope. "Kate" it read. Grabbing a knife from the kitchen and using it as a letter opener, she slit the seam of the envelope and grasped the note inside. As soon as she opened it the smile left her face. She immediately laid it on the counter so she wouldn't get any more of her fingerprints on it. It was a letter handwritten to her in unfamiliar block lettering. It said:
"MY DEAREST KATE,
I HOPE YOU ARE OKAY. I FOLLOWED YOU LAST NIGHT AND
NOTICED YOU WERE UPSET WHEN YOU LEFT DINNER. I HOPE THAT
MAN DID NOT HURT YOU. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT ANY ONE
WHO HURTS YOU WILL PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
I THOUGHT MAYBE NOW WAS OUR TIME, BUT I CAN SEE THAT
YOU ARE STILL SOWING YOUR WILD OATS. I AM A PATIENT MAN.
YOU ARE WORTH WAITING FOR. BUT I WILL NOT WAIT FOREVER.
SEEING YOU HOLD ANOTHER MAN'S HAND OR KISS HIM FILLS ME
WITH RAGE. PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
I LOVE YOU,
YOUR SOUL MATE
Kate was angry. Someone was following her? Really? She had a stalker? What kind of idiot would stalk a cop? She wasn't afraid. Kate knew how to take care of herself. The fact that someone had the audacity to follow her around and invade her privacy like that pissed her off. She grabbed a latex glove out of her purse and used it to put the letter in a zip-loc bag. Then she put the letter in her desk drawer. Castle would not let it rest if he saw the letter, and she didn't want to ruin the evening. Lanie could dust it for prints tomorrow. Now it was time to get ready for Castle.
Kate Beckett was known for being straight-laced and buttoned up; she knew that was her reputation especially around the office (which also meant Castle). So this night she decided to mix it up a bit. If Richard Castle was going to date her before they "wrestled naked" again then she was going to make him squirm. Kate chose a pair of tight dark denim jeans and a red backless halter top that just held on to her by strings in the back. She would finish off the look with her black leather jacket. She teased and curled her hair into a sexy slightly wind-blown look. Putting the finishing touches on her make-up, she heard a knock at the door.
Smiling, she opened the door to a handsomely dressed Richard Castle. He was wearing a different sweater from this morning and a pair of khaki pants. He took her in and shook his head. "You are full of surprises, Kate Beckett. You are incredibly stunning tonight."
"Thank you. You clean up nice yourself, Castle." She smiled alluringly at him. "Let me get my jacket and we can go." Kate turned around and while she wished that she could have seen his face, the audible gasp was sufficient in letting her know that the torture had officially begun. She heard the door close and felt his hands on her arms and his mouth on her shoulder.
"On second thought, let's stay here."
"No way, I'm ready to go out. There's nothing to do here." But we better hurry. I'm not sure how much I can resist.
Kissing her neck, Castle said, "You."
Getting more breathless by the second, Kate said, "Me what?"
"I can do you here." Kate trembled and then steeled herself for her next move. She turned around, startling him.
"Oh no, Castle. Not a chance." She grinned at him. "You said you wanted to 'date' first. That is what we're doing."
He advanced towards her. "Maybe we can go on the date after and do naked wrestling before. You know a little dessert before dinner." Just when his lips were about to land on hers she backed off and put her hand on his chest.
Shaking her head Kate uttered seductively, "Uh-uh Castle. We are sticking to the plan. Just like a first date. Pretending Friday night didn't happen. At least for now."
"Fine." He whined. "I guess I can wait until after."
Kate put on her jacket. "After what?" She asked innocently.
"After the date, then we can have dessert when we get back." He waggled his eyebrows at her.
"I don't know who you think I am, Castle, but I don't sleep with guys on the first date." Kate grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
"What! You mean tonight we're not going to…" He followed Kate to the door.
"I'm just respecting your wishes. Wouldn't want you to have any regrets. And I think dating will be good for us." Kate opened the door for Castle and he walked through.
"So how many dates are we going to go on before you'll sleep with me, again?" Rick is starting to wonder what he's gotten himself into.
"I never sleep with a guy before the fifth date." She smiled to herself as she locked the door and walked to the elevator. Sure this would be torturing both of them, but she knew she could hold out. And it would be worth it.
"Fifth date? No exceptions?" She was going to make him pay. He suggested the dates and she was going to hold him to it.
"Not on your life, Castle. Now, where are we going for dinner? I'm starving." Kate leads the way onto the elevator.
Castle stepped onto the elevator preoccupied with his thoughts. He didn't hear her.
"Rick!"
"Huh?"
"Aren't you going to answer my question?" At some point she was going to have to let up a little. She still intended for him to take her on five dates, but she was being extra hard on him about it.
"I didn't hear your question."
"Keep it up mystery writer man, and I won't even let you kiss me good night." Castle groaned. Kate laughed heartily as the elevator doors closed.
Kate Beckett was right about one thing for sure. Dating was giving their relationship a proper start.
The End