The Good and The Bad (A Caskett Story)

Chapter 8

"Hey, you okay?" Rick asked from behind her. They had gotten back to the loft a few minutes ago. She went into the office and sat on the couch while he made them some coffee.

She looked away from the window to him. She smiled small and grabbed for her coffee from his hands. He sat down beside her. "She was alive this whole time." He could tell that she had been crying.

"Are you sure it's her?" Rick asked carefully. She dropped her head to look at her coffee.

"I don't know, Castle. She called me Katie. The only two people who called me that was her and Jim. She looks and talks like her. And there's something in her eyes," Kate looked up at him. He looked at her with the most saddest look. "This whole time, I was drowning my self in her case. I built up walls because of that case and it made me push you away. I got shot and almost died because of her case and you almost lost me. Multiple times."

"Hey," he placed his hand on her leg, "that's the past, it doesn't matter. We are together now, that's all that matters."

"I don-, I don't know if I can ever forgive her," she dropped her head again and placed her hand on his.

"You don't ever have to. But you should try and talk to her. See what she has to say, if it changes your mind," he suggested.

"You know, if she never did what she did and came back earlier, we would've been together sooner." She let a small smile past her lips.

"You think so?" He asked. And she nodded with a smile.

"What do we do now?"

"We," Rick got off the couch and held out his hand. She took it and he pulled her up. "are going to make some dinner and forget about everything that happened today." She smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him.

"Thank you Rick," she said into his chest.

"For what?" he hugged her back and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"For always being there for me. Not leaving me and staying with me no matter what happens. Most importantly, for loving me and caring for me. Without you I probably would be drowning myself right now and start to push everyone out including my dad."

"Kate," he loosened his grip on her so he lift her chin up to look at him, "I will never, ever run away from you. We are partners in crime and life and partners stay together and have each other's back. I'm never going to leave you, I love you too much to do that." She smiled as a couple tears ran down her cheeks. He wiped them away with his thumbs.

"I love you too," she reached up on her tippy toes to kiss him. It was light and quick but full of love.

"Now let's go make your favorite dinner," he let go of her and was almost out of the door when she spoke.

"Actually, I was thinking we could go to The Old Haunt or Remy's."

"Even better," he smiled. "We will leave in 10." She nodded in agreement and went into their room to get cleaned up.
xxx
The boys game out of the elevator and walked into to Homicide. Their brows knit in confusion when they didn't see Beckett or Castle in the bullpen.

They walked over to their desks and Gates came out of her office.

"Captain, where did Castle and Beckett go?" Espo asked.

"Her mother, she's alive and came to see her. It didn't end well so I let her and Mr. Castle go home for the rest of the day. She told me to tell you to send her any new information on the case." Gates looked at the two confused and shocked detectives.

"But how is that possible, she was murdered. Dead," Ryan said.

"She was in witness protection and living in Florida for the past 12 years," Gates explained.

"And you're sure it's the Johanna Beckett? Not just some bitch who thought it would be funny to make Beckett mad?" Espo asked.

"Yes, I'm sure. I called witness protection and they confirmed it. But could you do me a favor? Could you look into it? She said she used the name Teresa Denne."

"Yeah we will get right on it," Ryan told their captain and went to work. Espo sat down at his desk pulled his phone out and dialed her number.

"Beckett," he heard her answer.

"Hey, Gates told me. You alright?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. Did you find anything at Wild's apartment?"

"Yes, we did. We found the gun used to kill him and the place looks like someone's been living there. We had CSU sweep it and are waiting for their results. Did you find anything?"

"Yeah, actually. Nicole's uncle, the one where Wild got the name from, died from an allergic reaction. We asked for the autopsy reports and it said that food was shoved down his throat."

"They didn't put it down for murder?" Espo asked.

"No, everyone they asked had an air tight alibi so they said it was suicide. That reminds me, check into Nicole's whereabouts. She said she went for a run and that her neighbor could vouch for it."

"Will do boss. Get better, tell Castle he better treat you well." She laughed on the other end.

"Thanks Espo." And they hung up.
{930 words}

A/N: These chapters are getting longer than the first couple chapters. Dang!