Surface (Team Castle, Ch. 5)
Title: Surface (Team Castle, Ch. 5)
Characters/pairings: Kate Beckett/Rick Castle
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Sometimes Kate can't see past the surface.
Spoilers: none. Some speculation about Rick and Meredith based on 1x06
It’s Tuesday again and Castle will not go away. Which, since they’re at his apartment, he is not obligated to do, but she wishes he would anyway.
He’s been especially himself today. Got in the way at the crime scene. Sat in her chair. Asked inappropriate questions in interrogation. Took the last donut. Wheedled the captain into letting her go early, so now she’s stuck at his apartment for an extra hour with a headache and no escape.
“Kate, seriously, have some fruit. Granola bars and donuts do not a good diet make. Alexis is always telling me that the food pyramid is proportionally wrong, and that we need to eat a lot more fruit.” He waves a banana at her and keeps jabbering. “Did I ever tell you about the time I ate thirty Ding-Dongs-”
“You know, you didn’t leave me much time for lunch today, what with that stunt you pulled with Esposito’s car.”
“It was just a little research for a chase scene!” he protests. “Aw, come on, it was funny. And I said I’d pay for the damage.” When she doesn’t answer, he pouts a little.
Beckett massages her temples. She thinks longingly of home, where Thai leftovers await her in the fridge, and more importantly where she doesn’t have to ride herd on a twelve-year-old.
“Hey. You okay?” Rick asks, putting the banana down. “You look tired. Do you need to go home?”
She forces out something resembling a smile. “Martha’s going to be ready for me in a few minutes. And I’m fine.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re here.”
His smile is all the apology she’s going to get, but her traitorous stomach still flip-flops. Where else would I be, she wants to ask, half-exasperated.
Since their little talk a few weeks ago, Castle’s been overly conscientious about what he calls “KB QT.” Which is ridiculous; he gets plenty of quality time bounding around the city at her heels during the day. But he’s trying to separate work time and free time, make sure they hang out. The trouble is that she’s not sure how much of her free time she wants to give him. Lately his immature qualities have been grating on her.
Olga emerges from Martha’s room. “She’s all set for the night. I’m heading home. Mr. Castle, before I go, we need to talk about ...”
Beckett takes that as her cue to head toward Martha’s room. She exchanges a smile and a wave with Alexis, who’s coming down the stairs, then closes the bedroom door and lets out a quiet sigh of relief.
Martha’s restless today. Her color’s a little off, her good hand fretful on the coverlet.
“Hi, Martha, how’s it going?”
The older woman gives her a strained smile. “Less said, the better.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Beckett takes her usual seat. “Do you want to keep going with Mamet tonight?”
Martha shrugs with an eyebrow. Beckett takes that for as a yes for now and flips the book open. They’re half a page past where they stopped last week when there’s a commotion out in the main room. A woman’s voice-a different timbre than Alexis or Olga. In a few minutes it starts moving down the hall toward them.
Martha mumbles something extremely profane right before the door swings open.
“Martha!!” Meredith exclaims over a huge bouquet. “It’s been ages!”
“Mm-hm,” says Martha.
Meredith notices the cop in the corner. “And Rick’s, uh, lady friend from the police-so nice to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Beckett says diffidently.
Meredith comes over to the bed and says to Martha, “You must be suffering so much, I can’t imagine! You’re so brave!” And to Beckett: “Ricky’s really torn up about this. His own mother having a stroke and having to keep staying here? It’s just horrible.” Back to Martha: “I brought you some pansies because I remember how much you used to love them! I’m just going to leave them here on the table, okay?”
Beckett’s lips compress. “She can hear you, you know. You don’t have to shout.”
Meredith appears briefly embarrassed, lifts a hand to her mouth. “Oh. But isn’t she ... ?”
“She can understand you. She just has trouble speaking.”
Martha’s looking sardonic and furious all at once. Beckett diplomatically says, “Why don’t we go put those in water,” and escorts Meredith out.
In the living room, the two Castles have their heads together and are talking quickly in low voices. They straighten as the two women emerge.
“Aw, look at you two,” Meredith says. “I’ve missed you so much! Let’s go do something. I’m not tired at all.” It’s true; she looks remarkably energetic for a woman who’s just flown across the country on (apparently) the spur of the moment.
“Mom, I have book club tonight.”
“Surely you can skip that ... What’s with the look?”
“It’s just kind of a surprise to see you.”
“Can’t I hop on over for the weekend every now and then? You’re happy to see me, aren’t you?”
Alexis sighs. “Mom. It’s not that we aren’t glad you’re here, but ... why are you here?”
“To come pay my respects to your grandmother, of course. She was my mother-in-law for some time, after all. And I’m here to support you. By shopping. Very therapeutic.”
Beckett’s been going through the kitchen cabinets, bouquet in hand. She can’t remember ever having seen a vase in here before. Rick comes over and starts looking too.
“You didn’t know she was coming?” Beckett asks quietly.
“She doesn’t usually call first,” he says, digging through a cupboard. “Keeps life interesting. Alexis says she called a week ago, but they just talked about movies.”
They find a vase hidden behind some tall mugs. She watches him cut the stems under running water. “You okay?”
He glances at Meredith, who’s holding forth on the benefits of new clothing to her daughter. “Yeah. I just ... It’s strange to see her here in the middle of everything.”
“Everything” means two wheelchairs in the living room, the old one and the motorized one; small orange cones, which were for the obstacle course Rick set up and test-drove the first day they got the motorized chair, and which are therefore a little worse for wear; a folder of care information left by Olga; and a cane propped in the corner (Martha can’t walk yet, but she likes to gesture grandly and poke people with it).
“Well, can we get going, Kitten?”
He winces. “You want to go shopping? Now?”
“Goodness, no. Out to dinner! We could go to that place with the singing waiter, you remember? The gnocci were to die for.”
Alexis clears her throat. Meredith hesitates, eyes flicking between her ex-husband and the woman at his side. “Do you like Italian, Detective?”
Beckett smiles politely. “Thank you, but I had prior plans. Martha and I are reading together tonight.”
“Oh ... that sounds nice ... Richard?”
He musters up a gallant smile. “Singing waiters it is, then. Even if he was a little off-key.”
“He was not off-key. He was adorable.”
Castle looks heavenward, and then at Beckett. “Sure you don’t want to come?”
“I’m sure, but thank you. Have a good time.”
“And you too!” Meredith says brightly.
Beckett heads back to Martha’s room. Behind her, Meredith collects Rick and Alexis. Once they’re gone, Beckett leans against the doorframe and exchanges a glance with Martha, who reads her mind and grumbles, “Loud.”
She stifles a smile. “They’re out to dinner, so we should have a couple hours of peace and quiet.”
“Damn woman. Talked about me like I’m dead.”
“You heard that?”
“Like you said. Not deaf.”
“I’m sure Alexis will straighten her out.”
“Have to. Long as I’ve known her, Mer never noticed that stuff. Like daffodils, not pansies.”
“How long were she and Rick married?”
“Four years.”
Beckett thinks that they had probably been well-matched. Both are sort of ditzy. “They must have been an interesting couple.”
“Pair of crazy kids. Had Alexis right away. Mer’s idea. Should’ve gotten a puppy instead.” Martha rolls her head slowly back and forth on the pillow, smiling a little in memory. “But Richard took to her so. First word was ‘Dada.’”
“So Alexis was three or four when Meredith left?”
“Mmm. Wasn’t cut out to be a mother. Think she knew it by then. But she didn’t work at it much.” There’s old anger in Martha’s eyes. Beckett’s surprised by its strength. “Tried later, when they were both older. But I couldn’t forgive her for leaving that little girl. And Richard. Poor Richard.”
“Was it hard on him?” Beckett asks. She realizes she can count on one hand the times Rick’s talked about that period in his life.
“Oh, yes. He and Mer never would’ve worked in the end. Too different. But he tried. And the way she left-her and that director, not a word until the divorce papers-” Martha catches her breath. “My son’s a good man. Good husband, father. But she wanted someone fun. Wanted to always be doing something. Full-time writer, full-time dad-not much time for fun, for doing things.
“Tell you something, Kate: nice to have men to flirt with, paint the town red with. But you find a man also sticks around to do everyday things, just likes being around you-that’s a keeper.” She fixes her eyes on Beckett and enunciates with visible effort, “Any woman recognizes that in a man and lets him go is a fool.”
Beckett sucks in a breath.
Martha’s gaze is kind but firm. “Now listen here, dear. Got lots of time for people-watching these days. See the way he looks at you, under the twelve-year-old act. Don’t think he stays ’cause he needs more inspiration for Nikki Heat, do you?”
“Rick’s just ... having fun pretending he’s a detective. He’s like a kid in a candy store.”
“Dear. Having fun ’cause he’s with you.”
“He-”
“Knows enough to write Nikki without you. He’s there ’cause he wouldn’t be happy anywhere else. And if you don’t let him in eventually, might end up as bad as Mer leaving.”
The silence is uncomfortable, broken only by Martha’s harsh breathing. The conversation’s drained her. But Castle’s mother musters the energy to say one more thing. “Mer’s a fool. Saw what was in him at the start. But she forgot it. You won’t. Just have to make yourself look. If you don’t, I’ll get out of this bed and smack you myself. Won’t have my son’s heart broken again. Got it?”
Beckett agrees almost meekly. She’s not sure what to say to all that. “Do, ah, do you want to me keep reading?”
Martha settles back and waves a finger majestically. Thoughts roiling, Beckett opens the book again.
An hour later, the Castles return amidst a great rustling of takeout bags. They decided to get their food to go and bring it home to share, Meredith announces. “We couldn’t choose, so we got some of everything!”
“Mom’s idea,” Alexis adds, looking proudly up at her mother.
Meredith beams. “You’ll stay and eat with us?”
Rick is asking her the same thing with his eyes. It’s him she answers.
“Sure, for a little while.”
As she eats, she observes the Castles. It’s odd how Meredith fits. She probably deserves every word of Martha’s censure, and everyone knows it. But Rick’s smile and jokes come easily enough and Alexis snuggles comfortably against her mother’s side. For a time they seem like a family unit.
Beckett silently watches from the far end of the couch and considers. Meredith knows both the persona and the man who are Richard Castle. What confounds Beckett is the realization that Meredith left not because of his surface, but because she saw the bedrock underneath.
They’re all finished with their pasta, so Beckett makes an excuse and gets ready to leave. Rick follows her to the door. “You could stay a bit longer. We have tiramasu.”
“Sorry, I can’t. And, uh, I actually won’t be able to stop by for a few days.”
She can tell he wants to ask why. Maybe he realizes she feels a little weird with Meredith around, because he only says, “Okay. Is there anything you need?”
“No. Thank you.”
“All right. I’ll see you at work, then?”
“See you at work.” Beckett pulls the door open, but he catches her wrist.
“Kate-before you go-” He digs into his pocket with his free hand, presses something into her palm and folds her fingers over it. “For reading nights.”
The gift’s unnecessary. Someone’s always home, especially with the caregiver working here. “Rick-”
“We want you to have it.”
It’s the we that gets her.
The metal warms to her body temperature during her walk to the elevator. She opens her hand and studies it on the way down.
Castle’s given her a key. The symbolism isn’t lost on her.
Author’s note: This chapter is dedicated to fairienote, because she finally watched some Firefly. Shiny!
Definitely the hardest chapter yet-wouldn’t do what I wanted it to do-so concrit appreciated! Kate’s still a little in denial about her feelings and is wrestling with reservations (or excuses, depending on your perspective). She’s not the type of person to make snap decisions. It may be obvious to all of us and to the other characters that she and Rick are perfect for each other, but it’s taking her longer to arrive at that conclusion. Maybe Martha gave her the kick in the pants she needed ...
Characters/pairings: Kate Beckett/Rick Castle
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Sometimes Kate can't see past the surface.
Spoilers: none. Some speculation about Rick and Meredith based on 1x06
It’s Tuesday again and Castle will not go away. Which, since they’re at his apartment, he is not obligated to do, but she wishes he would anyway.
He’s been especially himself today. Got in the way at the crime scene. Sat in her chair. Asked inappropriate questions in interrogation. Took the last donut. Wheedled the captain into letting her go early, so now she’s stuck at his apartment for an extra hour with a headache and no escape.
“Kate, seriously, have some fruit. Granola bars and donuts do not a good diet make. Alexis is always telling me that the food pyramid is proportionally wrong, and that we need to eat a lot more fruit.” He waves a banana at her and keeps jabbering. “Did I ever tell you about the time I ate thirty Ding-Dongs-”
“You know, you didn’t leave me much time for lunch today, what with that stunt you pulled with Esposito’s car.”
“It was just a little research for a chase scene!” he protests. “Aw, come on, it was funny. And I said I’d pay for the damage.” When she doesn’t answer, he pouts a little.
Beckett massages her temples. She thinks longingly of home, where Thai leftovers await her in the fridge, and more importantly where she doesn’t have to ride herd on a twelve-year-old.
“Hey. You okay?” Rick asks, putting the banana down. “You look tired. Do you need to go home?”
She forces out something resembling a smile. “Martha’s going to be ready for me in a few minutes. And I’m fine.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re here.”
His smile is all the apology she’s going to get, but her traitorous stomach still flip-flops. Where else would I be, she wants to ask, half-exasperated.
Since their little talk a few weeks ago, Castle’s been overly conscientious about what he calls “KB QT.” Which is ridiculous; he gets plenty of quality time bounding around the city at her heels during the day. But he’s trying to separate work time and free time, make sure they hang out. The trouble is that she’s not sure how much of her free time she wants to give him. Lately his immature qualities have been grating on her.
Olga emerges from Martha’s room. “She’s all set for the night. I’m heading home. Mr. Castle, before I go, we need to talk about ...”
Beckett takes that as her cue to head toward Martha’s room. She exchanges a smile and a wave with Alexis, who’s coming down the stairs, then closes the bedroom door and lets out a quiet sigh of relief.
Martha’s restless today. Her color’s a little off, her good hand fretful on the coverlet.
“Hi, Martha, how’s it going?”
The older woman gives her a strained smile. “Less said, the better.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Beckett takes her usual seat. “Do you want to keep going with Mamet tonight?”
Martha shrugs with an eyebrow. Beckett takes that for as a yes for now and flips the book open. They’re half a page past where they stopped last week when there’s a commotion out in the main room. A woman’s voice-a different timbre than Alexis or Olga. In a few minutes it starts moving down the hall toward them.
Martha mumbles something extremely profane right before the door swings open.
“Martha!!” Meredith exclaims over a huge bouquet. “It’s been ages!”
“Mm-hm,” says Martha.
Meredith notices the cop in the corner. “And Rick’s, uh, lady friend from the police-so nice to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Beckett says diffidently.
Meredith comes over to the bed and says to Martha, “You must be suffering so much, I can’t imagine! You’re so brave!” And to Beckett: “Ricky’s really torn up about this. His own mother having a stroke and having to keep staying here? It’s just horrible.” Back to Martha: “I brought you some pansies because I remember how much you used to love them! I’m just going to leave them here on the table, okay?”
Beckett’s lips compress. “She can hear you, you know. You don’t have to shout.”
Meredith appears briefly embarrassed, lifts a hand to her mouth. “Oh. But isn’t she ... ?”
“She can understand you. She just has trouble speaking.”
Martha’s looking sardonic and furious all at once. Beckett diplomatically says, “Why don’t we go put those in water,” and escorts Meredith out.
In the living room, the two Castles have their heads together and are talking quickly in low voices. They straighten as the two women emerge.
“Aw, look at you two,” Meredith says. “I’ve missed you so much! Let’s go do something. I’m not tired at all.” It’s true; she looks remarkably energetic for a woman who’s just flown across the country on (apparently) the spur of the moment.
“Mom, I have book club tonight.”
“Surely you can skip that ... What’s with the look?”
“It’s just kind of a surprise to see you.”
“Can’t I hop on over for the weekend every now and then? You’re happy to see me, aren’t you?”
Alexis sighs. “Mom. It’s not that we aren’t glad you’re here, but ... why are you here?”
“To come pay my respects to your grandmother, of course. She was my mother-in-law for some time, after all. And I’m here to support you. By shopping. Very therapeutic.”
Beckett’s been going through the kitchen cabinets, bouquet in hand. She can’t remember ever having seen a vase in here before. Rick comes over and starts looking too.
“You didn’t know she was coming?” Beckett asks quietly.
“She doesn’t usually call first,” he says, digging through a cupboard. “Keeps life interesting. Alexis says she called a week ago, but they just talked about movies.”
They find a vase hidden behind some tall mugs. She watches him cut the stems under running water. “You okay?”
He glances at Meredith, who’s holding forth on the benefits of new clothing to her daughter. “Yeah. I just ... It’s strange to see her here in the middle of everything.”
“Everything” means two wheelchairs in the living room, the old one and the motorized one; small orange cones, which were for the obstacle course Rick set up and test-drove the first day they got the motorized chair, and which are therefore a little worse for wear; a folder of care information left by Olga; and a cane propped in the corner (Martha can’t walk yet, but she likes to gesture grandly and poke people with it).
“Well, can we get going, Kitten?”
He winces. “You want to go shopping? Now?”
“Goodness, no. Out to dinner! We could go to that place with the singing waiter, you remember? The gnocci were to die for.”
Alexis clears her throat. Meredith hesitates, eyes flicking between her ex-husband and the woman at his side. “Do you like Italian, Detective?”
Beckett smiles politely. “Thank you, but I had prior plans. Martha and I are reading together tonight.”
“Oh ... that sounds nice ... Richard?”
He musters up a gallant smile. “Singing waiters it is, then. Even if he was a little off-key.”
“He was not off-key. He was adorable.”
Castle looks heavenward, and then at Beckett. “Sure you don’t want to come?”
“I’m sure, but thank you. Have a good time.”
“And you too!” Meredith says brightly.
Beckett heads back to Martha’s room. Behind her, Meredith collects Rick and Alexis. Once they’re gone, Beckett leans against the doorframe and exchanges a glance with Martha, who reads her mind and grumbles, “Loud.”
She stifles a smile. “They’re out to dinner, so we should have a couple hours of peace and quiet.”
“Damn woman. Talked about me like I’m dead.”
“You heard that?”
“Like you said. Not deaf.”
“I’m sure Alexis will straighten her out.”
“Have to. Long as I’ve known her, Mer never noticed that stuff. Like daffodils, not pansies.”
“How long were she and Rick married?”
“Four years.”
Beckett thinks that they had probably been well-matched. Both are sort of ditzy. “They must have been an interesting couple.”
“Pair of crazy kids. Had Alexis right away. Mer’s idea. Should’ve gotten a puppy instead.” Martha rolls her head slowly back and forth on the pillow, smiling a little in memory. “But Richard took to her so. First word was ‘Dada.’”
“So Alexis was three or four when Meredith left?”
“Mmm. Wasn’t cut out to be a mother. Think she knew it by then. But she didn’t work at it much.” There’s old anger in Martha’s eyes. Beckett’s surprised by its strength. “Tried later, when they were both older. But I couldn’t forgive her for leaving that little girl. And Richard. Poor Richard.”
“Was it hard on him?” Beckett asks. She realizes she can count on one hand the times Rick’s talked about that period in his life.
“Oh, yes. He and Mer never would’ve worked in the end. Too different. But he tried. And the way she left-her and that director, not a word until the divorce papers-” Martha catches her breath. “My son’s a good man. Good husband, father. But she wanted someone fun. Wanted to always be doing something. Full-time writer, full-time dad-not much time for fun, for doing things.
“Tell you something, Kate: nice to have men to flirt with, paint the town red with. But you find a man also sticks around to do everyday things, just likes being around you-that’s a keeper.” She fixes her eyes on Beckett and enunciates with visible effort, “Any woman recognizes that in a man and lets him go is a fool.”
Beckett sucks in a breath.
Martha’s gaze is kind but firm. “Now listen here, dear. Got lots of time for people-watching these days. See the way he looks at you, under the twelve-year-old act. Don’t think he stays ’cause he needs more inspiration for Nikki Heat, do you?”
“Rick’s just ... having fun pretending he’s a detective. He’s like a kid in a candy store.”
“Dear. Having fun ’cause he’s with you.”
“He-”
“Knows enough to write Nikki without you. He’s there ’cause he wouldn’t be happy anywhere else. And if you don’t let him in eventually, might end up as bad as Mer leaving.”
The silence is uncomfortable, broken only by Martha’s harsh breathing. The conversation’s drained her. But Castle’s mother musters the energy to say one more thing. “Mer’s a fool. Saw what was in him at the start. But she forgot it. You won’t. Just have to make yourself look. If you don’t, I’ll get out of this bed and smack you myself. Won’t have my son’s heart broken again. Got it?”
Beckett agrees almost meekly. She’s not sure what to say to all that. “Do, ah, do you want to me keep reading?”
Martha settles back and waves a finger majestically. Thoughts roiling, Beckett opens the book again.
An hour later, the Castles return amidst a great rustling of takeout bags. They decided to get their food to go and bring it home to share, Meredith announces. “We couldn’t choose, so we got some of everything!”
“Mom’s idea,” Alexis adds, looking proudly up at her mother.
Meredith beams. “You’ll stay and eat with us?”
Rick is asking her the same thing with his eyes. It’s him she answers.
“Sure, for a little while.”
As she eats, she observes the Castles. It’s odd how Meredith fits. She probably deserves every word of Martha’s censure, and everyone knows it. But Rick’s smile and jokes come easily enough and Alexis snuggles comfortably against her mother’s side. For a time they seem like a family unit.
Beckett silently watches from the far end of the couch and considers. Meredith knows both the persona and the man who are Richard Castle. What confounds Beckett is the realization that Meredith left not because of his surface, but because she saw the bedrock underneath.
They’re all finished with their pasta, so Beckett makes an excuse and gets ready to leave. Rick follows her to the door. “You could stay a bit longer. We have tiramasu.”
“Sorry, I can’t. And, uh, I actually won’t be able to stop by for a few days.”
She can tell he wants to ask why. Maybe he realizes she feels a little weird with Meredith around, because he only says, “Okay. Is there anything you need?”
“No. Thank you.”
“All right. I’ll see you at work, then?”
“See you at work.” Beckett pulls the door open, but he catches her wrist.
“Kate-before you go-” He digs into his pocket with his free hand, presses something into her palm and folds her fingers over it. “For reading nights.”
The gift’s unnecessary. Someone’s always home, especially with the caregiver working here. “Rick-”
“We want you to have it.”
It’s the we that gets her.
The metal warms to her body temperature during her walk to the elevator. She opens her hand and studies it on the way down.
Castle’s given her a key. The symbolism isn’t lost on her.
Author’s note: This chapter is dedicated to fairienote, because she finally watched some Firefly. Shiny!
Definitely the hardest chapter yet-wouldn’t do what I wanted it to do-so concrit appreciated! Kate’s still a little in denial about her feelings and is wrestling with reservations (or excuses, depending on your perspective). She’s not the type of person to make snap decisions. It may be obvious to all of us and to the other characters that she and Rick are perfect for each other, but it’s taking her longer to arrive at that conclusion. Maybe Martha gave her the kick in the pants she needed ...