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Fan Fiction – The Funeral

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3:27 pm
February 20, 2010


Moby Dick

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 387

Rock on Nev827,you've got me excited with this story. Bring it on home.Were all waiting.

A+ Writing A+

"The heart wants what the Heart wants"

1:04 pm
February 21, 2010


Nev827

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 3279

OK, everyone. Here's the next part. Enjoy!

“Oh, my God, Katie!” Jim Beckett exclaimed and didn’t waste a minute running over to the casket where she laid, stroking her face, her hair and imploring her to wake up and speak to him.

Castle followed him to look over Beckett, barely able to maintain his composure, especially when he thought he saw tears forming in Jim’s eyes. He could make out some singed clothing and minor burns on her face, but for the most part she looked to be unhurt. After a minute or two, he headed over to check on the other woman. He shook one of her shoulders twice and failing to rouse her, he felt her neck for a pulse. It was faint, but there. He also noticed an FBI badge on her waistband. Could this be the FBI agent who had gone missing that Beckett had idly told him about a week ago? Beckett…

He returned to Kate’s side and immediately felt her neck for a pulse. It was stronger, but she showed no signs of consciousness. Before turning, Castle steeled himself for the impending confrontation. He could never remember feeling so angry, and yet so focused on what needed to be done.

“What in hell did you do to them?” he fairly growled at the man, who had removed his top coat and now wore a black suite and bow tie. Castle could tell he had been smirking to himself as he and Jim had had their backs turned.

“Have no fear Mr. Castle, Mr. Beckett. They are just asleep. I drugged them so they won’t wake up for hours. That way they’ll barely feel anything when I kill one of them. ” The man spoke slowly and confidently, almost like a snake as he stalks his prey. Castle felt the tension in the room ratchet up.

“What do you mean kill one of them?” Jim asked. His voice trembled with either fear or anger. Castle couldn’t tell which.

“Well you have to choose. Either her,” he gestured in a gentlemanly fashion towards the FBI agent, “or your beloved daughter, Ms. Beckett,” he crooned.

“Who is she?” Castle asked motioning to the FBI agent.
“Her? I’m surprised you don’t recognize her, Mr. Beckett."
“Why … how would I know her? We’ve never met.”
“Oh, but you’re wrong. Apparently,” the man continued smugly, “she was a favorite former student of your late wife, Johanna.”

Jim’s face contorted with what Castle could tell was a tremendously confused mixture of anger, sadness, and fear. His chest heaved back and forth as he struggled to control himself.

“How do you know that?” he asked.

“Oh, a little birdie told me,” the man said as he began to pace slowly in front of the caskets. “See, this young lady you see before you sleeping so soundly, changed her mind about becoming an attorney with Johanna’s help. From what I understand, she didn’t want to spend her life in a stuffy law office, but wanted to be out in the field doing the real investigating. So Johanna encouraged her, advised her and pulled some strings to get her into the FBI academy. She’s built a solid reputation for herself – she’s tough, uncompromising, empathizes greatly with crime victims…like someone else we know, hmm?” The man eyed Beckett playfully.

“Oddly enough, they’ve something else in common. You see, Johanna Beckett’s death affected her profoundly just as it did Detective Beckett. She looked over the case file, took some notes, and from what the aforementioned little birdie told me, was on the verge of contacting Katie to offer her assistance, as a thank you for her mother’s mentoring.”

“This ‘little birdie’ wouldn’t happen to be the person who ordered Johanna Beckett’s murder would it?” Castle asked intensely.

“Clever devil, aren’t you?” the man said silkily.
“Now I remember her,” Jim remarked. “She came by the house for dinner one time. Katie was off at college, so they never met.”
“Let me get this straight,” Castle said. “ ‘ Little birdie’ finds out that she's investigating Johanna Beckett’s murder, begins to worry that between her and Kate’s investigating skills, they’ll uncover his or her identity, motivation, et cetera, and has you kidnap her?”
“Correct, Mr. Castle,” the man answered, seemingly pleased himself.
“So why drag Katie into all this? Why don’t you just try to get out of her whatever she knows and leave Katie alone?” Jim asked.
“Mr. Castle is the answer to that,” the man responded.
“Me? Why me? Why are you doing this? Just tell us why you’re doing this?” Castle was getting desperate and impatient. Furthermore, his eyes were beginning to play tricks on him. He thought he had seen Beckett’s eyelids flutter and a finger move a minute ago.

“I’m an artist, Mr. Castle, just like you. I create an environment here where people can forget about their daily lives, comfort each other and enjoy each other’s company as much as possible.”

“In a funeral parlor?” Castle asked incredulously.

“Yes, in a funeral parlor, Mr. Castle. I’d have thought you, the Master of the Macabre, would understand. But of course not. You make light of death, write about it as casually as a college student would write a term paper,” the man hissed. “He’s made a career out of describing other people’s pain and misfortune with minimal regard for what those who have actually been there are going through. Every day people come through here, some are genuinely distraught by the death of their loved one or friend, but others merely feign their sorrow. They put on a sad face, maybe even shed a tear in a pathetic display of sincerity, but they really couldn’t care less. They really just want to get back to work, to their Blackberries, to their lattes from Starbucks, to their boyfriend or girlfriend. If you stand back and watch long enough, it’s disgusting.”
The man had lost his playful demeanor now and had a fierceness and bitterness in his eyes.

“And so, you both are here because Mr. Castle needs to be taught what that kind of suffering is like. Regardless of who you choose to be marked for death, the other two individuals left alive will suffer and for the rest of your life, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you contributed to their suffering, created it in fact, like one of your characters. So, if you choose our lovely FBI agent, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you destroyed yet another link that could have led to the discovery of the identity of Johanna’s murderer. If you choose, Katie,” the man said taunting Castle and Jim by emphasizing Jim’s nickname for his daughter, “then you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you destroyed Jim’s last living link to his late wife and what is left of his family.”

Jim now had a tear slowly coursing down his cheek. Castle could only shake his head in disbelief at what was happening. He was almost completely spent from the roller coaster ride of emotion that he had ridden in the last several hours.

“The time has come, gentlemen, for Mr. Castle to make his choice. What, or shall I say who will it be?”

Castle swallowed hard. For the first time in all his life, he felt as if the eyes of the entire world were boring into him, waiting for his decision as if the fate of the planet hung in the balance. For all his fame, he had never felt like this – had never held the lives of real people in his hands.

He looked at Jim Beckett, right into his eyes that plead with him to spare his daughter’s life. He looked at Kate Beckett, dear Kate Beckett, laying comfortably in her casket. He looked back at the FBI agent, who was just trying to show her gratitude to Johanna Beckett by trying to track down her killer. He thought hard, and after almost a full minute or two, realized what he must do. The only thing he could do. He approached the man who was holding all of them hostage, stood as straight as he could and looked him dead in the eye.

“Me. Take me. Leave them alone.”

“Castle, what’re you-?” Jim pleaded in shock.

Castle turned back to him. “Jim, you and your family have suffered enough, more than enough even. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do, no amount of money I wouldn’t spend to give you and Kate the happiness and peace you’ve both earned. She’s a strong lady. She’ll get on without me. Hopefully find someone that doesn‘t get on her case as much as I do.”

As another tear feel from Jim’s face, Castle couldn’t avoid a chuckle or wiping tears from his own eyes.

“Is this outcome satisfactory to you?” Castle practically hissed over his shoulder to the man in the suit.

“Most definitely. I get to see your daughter suffer instead of you,” he answered pointedly.

Had he been holding a weapon in his hands, Castle would have taken the man’s head off without a second thought in that very moment. He thought of everyone breaking the news to Alexis and Martha – how he’d sacrificed himself to save Beckett and the FBI agent. He imagined what his funeral might look like, what Alexis would grow up to be, what would happen to his mother, to Lanie, Montgomery, Esposito, Ryan and Jenny, to Beckett and Jim. God, how he’d miss all of them. But something told him they would all understand and that Alexis would pull through. She was a decent, strong, intelligent young woman who already admired Beckett tremendously and was sure that she’d come to look up to Jim just as much. And she and Martha would never have to worry about money, since they’d both inherit his fortune.

“Fine,” Castle growled. “Can I do one thing though, before we … you know … go through with it?”
“And what would be?” the man asked as he pulled a hand gun from inside his suit coat and began loading it.
“I just want to tell her goodbye.” Castle replied, indicating Beckett.
“Very well. Why not?”

Castle approached the casket where Beckett lay and paused over her limp body. He so wished that things could have worked out differently, that they could have had a life together with Jim, Alexis, and Martha, but he also knew that he wouldn’t let any more Becketts die if he could do something to prevent it.

He leaned over her, slowly inhaling the faint scent of what remained from the perfume she had been wearing when her apartment exploded. He smiled to himself, then whispered clearly in her ear “After all this time you still smell like cherries.” He then kissed her a short, but strong kiss on the lips.

Before he turned back to face his death, his mind registered something. Was his brain playing tricks on him again or did he feel something on the other end of that kiss? That’s impossible, she’s out cold, he thought. Or was she?

"Make you a deal," she said. "I'll watch my ass, you watch the crowd."

- Nikki Heat in Heat Wave

Avatar by SKB

1:24 pm
February 21, 2010


musiclover

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 1486

Noooooo now castles gonna die as least he's doing to save Beckett can't wait till the next chapter

1:43 pm
February 21, 2010


lacey08

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 93

Okay, this one made me cry but it was so good. Please update soon.

1:48 pm
February 21, 2010


lmr32385

Naperville, IL

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 271

This is some powerful stuff. Love it! Love

Can't wait for the next chapter. Also, the man in the dark suit is very diabolical. I love it!

Well, it seems to me that the best relationships–the ones that last–are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is…suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with. ~Dana Scully 

 

Whoever hired you, he can't hide from me. ~Beckett

No sweetheart. You got it ass-backwards. You can't hide from him. ~Lockwood

 

Don't be stupid. You can't hide her from us. From me. ~Lockwood

You got that ass-backwards, boy. You can't hide from me. ~Montgomery

Icon made by reema_patel

2:22 pm
February 21, 2010


SinginPrincess

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 281

Oooooo thank god there is more! This is great! Very powerful! And you added a kiss! WOW! Keep the story coming!

"That was Joe freakin' Torre! I gotta call my dad"

2:42 am
February 22, 2010


ShutTheFrontDoor!

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 698

I just finished reading the first three parts – great story!!! You're a phenomenal writer – keep it coming!

Jordan: He cares about you, Kate. You may not see it. You may not be ready to. But he does.

♥ ♥ ♥

Kate: Of course he makes you feel alive but eventually you know he's just going to let you down. So, why risk it?

Castle: Because the heart wants what the heart wants.

10:42 am
February 22, 2010


Moby Dick

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 387

Thank you Nev837 for a very entertaining story so far.Keep it coming. Loving it. ReadLove2

"The heart wants what the Heart wants"

11:54 am
February 22, 2010


Nev827

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 3279

Thanks everyone for your awesome feedback. If I don't get the chance to post the next part when I get home from work, my next opportunity wouldn't be until late. So hang in there. Only 2 more parts.

I must say that this is the longest piece of fiction I've written in a very long time, and I'm quite proud of it (hope that didn't sound arrogant Embarassed). So I really appreciate your feedback and can't wait to see your reaction to the ending. If you have negative feedback, please let me know as well. I like to think of myself as my own worst critic and try to correct things that my mind says doesn't make sense or won't read well, but sometimes I miss details or plot points along the way. And I'm always looking to improve. Thanks. Tongue

"Make you a deal," she said. "I'll watch my ass, you watch the crowd."

- Nikki Heat in Heat Wave

Avatar by SKB

5:02 pm
February 22, 2010


SinginPrincess

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 281

You are doing a great job Nev827! I don't usually read fanfictions…but maybe I should start! LOL because yours is really good!

"That was Joe freakin' Torre! I gotta call my dad"

10:44 pm
February 22, 2010


Nev827

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 3279

Here's the next part. Only one more after this. Tongue

Castle knew that if Beckett was faking her unconsciousness, first, she was exceedingly good at it, and second, he couldn’t blow her cover.

“Alright, Mr. Castle enough sentimentality. I think I’ll kill you right here, so your lifeless body will be the first thing Detective Beckett and our FBI friend see when they wake up.” The man directed Castle with the gun to a spot in the middle of the room and circled around in front of him, such that his back was to Beckett’s casket.

“Any last words, Author Man?” The man said quickly dropping his gentlemanly ways and transitioning into a demoniacal glee at the thought of his plan coming to fruition.

“Yes,” Castle said. “The jig is up.”

Then the man saw a shadow shift outside the room and he knew instinctively that he had to act fast. Somehow, Castle had summoned authorities that were quickly tightening a noose around his neck. The man’s eyes flew open in shock such that Castle thought they’d pop out of head.

Several things happened at once. Jim realized that the man was going to try to carry out his plan despite the police that surrounded him, and ran at Castle, knocking him to the floor. Unfortunately, the man had succeeded in getting a shot off, but it only hit Castle in the right shoulder. Then Jim and Castle heard another gunshot go off from the area where Beckett had lain in the casket, and the man in the black suit crumpled to the floor on his stomach, shot point blank in the upper back in between both shoulder blades.

“You bet it is,” Kate Beckett said with her usual casual intensity. She was awake, alert and sitting up in the casket with her police-issued hand gun pointing straight ahead of her and smoking slightly. She had fired the shot that felled her lunatic captor.

Finally, Esposito, Ryan, Montgomery, and a swarm of police, FBI agents, and SWAT team members flooded into the room. Esposito cuffed the man in the suit and called for an ambulance, while Ryan checked on Castle, who was having trouble filtering through the melee to see if it really was who he thought it was who fired the gunshot from the casket. When he saw Jim help his daughter to the floor then both of them melt into each other’s arms, he knew it was her. As usual, she had saved him, all of them. She was alive.

Secure with the feeling that the ordeal was over, he passed out.

Castle spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from the wound. The recovery went smoothly since the doctors and surgeon were able to remove the bullet with little trouble and since he was in generally good health. Lanie’s consistent tending and keeping tabs on the hospital staff didn’t hurt either.
He had a steady stream of visitors, as well, to keep his spirits up. Martha stayed during the day and Alexis came by every day after school. They reported that Captain Montgomery had posted a patrol car in front of the building when they were home and had a plain clothes officer driving them everywhere in an unmarked car, just as a precaution, though he acknowledged that the threat was most likely behind them. Esposito, Ryan, Karpowski, the Mayor, and even James Patterson and Steven Cannell came by too, causing Castle to quip that he’d be willing to substitute as the target in the precinct’s shooting gallery if it meant he’d get the same star treatment.

“You know, I’d be more than happy to oblige you there,” a voice from his hospital room door said. It was Beckett, standing with her arms crossed and a wry grin on her face. She looked as radiant as ever, despite being dressed casually in blue jeans, a red boatneck top and one of her black leather jackets. Her badge hung from her jeans waistband as always.

She visited as much as she could, given that she, Ryan and Esposito still had their regular caseload to work. Even though the rest of world seemed to be focused on visiting Castle in the hospital, in reality, the murders, crime and violence still went on. And since she was staying with her Dad, it took her a little longer than usual to get around.

She explained that she had been in her apartment building, but down the hall from her apartment when the bomb went off, so she wasn’t too close to the impact zone. The explosion blew her off her feet and in those few moments of disorientation, the man, who apparently had been lurking in the building, injected her in the neck with the same drug that had put her and the FBI agent to sleep in the funeral parlor. This made it easier for him to just act like he was helping an injured tenant escape the building. According to witnesses, he bore her out of the building, put her into his car, told anyone who asked that he was taking her to the hospital, and sped away.

She never could be sure where exactly she and the FBI agent had been held in the days between the explosion and the funeral because he drugged both of them whenever he moved them. The day of her funeral, though she didn’t realize it was, she sensed something was up. It was intuition. Miraculously, she still had her cell phone on her but was unable to get a signal until that day when they were moved to a new location – the funeral home. They were held in the same room where the caskets were. The riddle that she left on Esposito’s voice mail was a creation of the man and he had forced her to leave the correct message by putting a gun to her temple. She had reasoned that he knew she would try to call Castle, so he deliberately interrupted the phone call to further spur Castle and everyone from the 12th into action. The FBI agent had figured out that he wanted Castle and Jim to find them, which explained to Beckett why he didn’t search her when he kidnapped her.

She had awakened from the drug-induced unconscious state while the man in the black suit had stepped out of the room in the funeral parlor briefly to greet Castle and Jim.

“He may be a brilliant kidnapper and bomber, but he’s lousy at human chemistry. The last dose he gave me didn’t last nearly as long as he had thought it would,” she told Castle. “Lanie says my body must have begun getting used to it, which he didn’t account for, leading him to seriously miscalculate when it would wear off.”

She had quickly finagled her backup handgun out of an ankle holster and into her waistband at the small of the back, then laid back down in the same position and made every effort to stay as still as possible. But with all the talk about the FBI agent and the connection to Johanna’s murder, it was a tough challenge. When she heard the gunshot from the man’s gun, she put two-and-two together and figured that he knew that the police were close. She had to take quick action, so she threw caution to the wind, sat up, drew her gun, aimed and fired at the man, hitting him in the upper back.

“But how did you signal the guys to go in?” Beckett asked Castle.

“The cherries comment I whispered in your ear. Jim and I were wearing wires and I told Montgomery, Ryan, and Esposito to listen for any mention of cherries, or more specifically, the fact that you smell like cherries. Remember where that came from?” he answered and smiled devilishly.

Initially, Beckett rolled her eyes, but quickly smiled to herself and blushed.

Castle was surprised when he realized she had heard everything that was said, but whatever her thoughts were regarding his actions and his new feelings for her demonstrated by his kiss, remained hidden from him. Save a few telling looks that, at the least, said she was glad he was OK, and a peck or two on his cheek, he had no idea if she felt the same way or if he had scared her away from him. But, it was obvious to both of them and to almost everyone else that something significant had changed between them.

On his first day back at the precinct, he was greeted with a surprise party in the lounge around the espresso machine he had bought for everyone. Martha and Alexis had come with him to share the moment. Lanie had come up from the morgue too, but to his dismay Beckett wasn’t there. Ryan said she had been called away on a case and there was no telling when she’d return. As Castle chatted with all the well-wishers who dropped in to see him, felt like a seasoned veteran of the force: comfortable, right at home, like this was where he was supposed to be. He was happier than he had been in a long time, but still something, someone was missing from the moment.

Once the party was largely over, the cake cleaned up, the cops back at work doing what they do best, Castle sat in the lounge alone reflecting on all that happened. He couldn’t help but smile to himself: without realizing it, he had found a second family. He decided then, that if his Nikki Heat series was ended tomorrow, he’d still continue to consult with the department. He had to continue doing whatever he could to find justice for the families of New York City’s murder victims.

He heard footsteps outside approaching the lounge and stood, assuming it was Martha coming to say that she and Alexis were leaving. But it wasn’t – it was Beckett. Castle didn’t think it was possible, but she looked even more beautiful than she had at the hospital. She was wearing a form-fitting pastel blue top with black cap sleeves and a deep V neckline, blue jeans, and her requisite heels.

“Guess I missed the party, huh?” she said.

“No worries,” he answered. “What matters is that you’re here now.”

“Castle, we need to talk,” she said with trepidation in her voice. They sat down on the lounge’s couch. Castle knew that in a moment he would find out how she felt.

“I don’t think we can work together anymore,” she began. “It’s become too dangerous for you and your family and I couldn’t deal with it if something happened to Alexis or Martha – or you.” She swallowed hard on those last two words and had trouble looking him in the eye.

“Kate, I spoke to Alexis and Mom when I first started shadowing you. I told them that it would be odd hours, and that it might be dangerous. They couldn’t believe all the paperwork I had to fill out, remember? But they get it. And it’s not like I just became a world-famous mystery writer yesterday. They’ve heard the stories about crazed fans and stalkers. Remember when that article came out in the paper listing me as New York’s 9th most eligible bachelor?”

“Are you kidding?” she said. “Don’t you remember what it said about me? You and me more specifically?”

“Right. We’ll get to that in a minute.”

She raised a curious eyebrow, but didn’t stop him from going on.

“You wouldn’t believe all of Alexis’ teachers and classmates who handed over their numbers for her to give to me and who gushed over how apparently ‘choice’ of a catch I am. She was pissed at me for days.” Castle finished.

“I know the feeling.” Beckett said directly.

“My point is, all of us Castles are willing to accept the risk if it means catching a murderer and bringing a family some peace and resolution. These cases aren’t just stories to me anymore like they were in the beginning. It’s the human side of it that I’ve come to appreciate and to recognize as the most important thing. That’s what you’ve taught me,” he finished.

Beckett had unconsciously inched a little closer to him and her lower jaw was hanging slightly open. Her eyes were full of happiness, sheer happiness. She blinked back tears, but didn’t pull back from how close she was to him.

“What did you mean when you said we’d get back to that story about our being romantically linked?” she asked.
Castle felt like an Olympic diver standing on the edge of a diving board and preparing to plunge into the pool of water below. He took a deep breath and jumped.

"Make you a deal," she said. "I'll watch my ass, you watch the crowd."

- Nikki Heat in Heat Wave

Avatar by SKB

11:10 pm
February 22, 2010


lmr32385

Naperville, IL

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 271

Another awesome part to the story!! Bounce2 Can't wait for the ending!

Well, it seems to me that the best relationships–the ones that last–are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is…suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with. ~Dana Scully 

 

Whoever hired you, he can't hide from me. ~Beckett

No sweetheart. You got it ass-backwards. You can't hide from him. ~Lockwood

 

Don't be stupid. You can't hide her from us. From me. ~Lockwood

You got that ass-backwards, boy. You can't hide from me. ~Montgomery

Icon made by reema_patel

8:04 am
February 23, 2010


nalissa2

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 1183

Sweet. Um… next chapter please? Love

NYPD. Open the damn door!

8:04 am
February 23, 2010


MomInIllinois

Castle Groupie

posts 42

Cannot wait for the next chapter!!

avatar compliments of Taija

9:00 am
February 23, 2010


musiclover

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 1486

Sweet can't wait for the next chapter

9:15 am
February 23, 2010


Moby Dick

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 387

Wow,I haven't looked forward to the next part of story this much in a long time Nev827. Congratulations,it's a real winner and looks like we all love it. I know I do.Thanks!Smile

"The heart wants what the Heart wants"

10:03 pm
February 23, 2010


Nev827

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 3279

OK everyone. Here is the conclusion. My internet is running slow, so I hope this posts correctly. Enjoy. Read

“The importance of respecting the human side of these cases isn’t the only thing that I’ve come to realize. Kate, the experience of losing you, working without you, going through your funeral – it almost broke my heart,” Castle said.

“Why is that?” she asked even though her heart knew the answer.

“Because I’ve fallen in love with you. Hook, line and sinker, truly, completely, totally. I love everything about you – your smile, your mind, your warmth, the way you connected with Alexis, who, by the way, is crazy about you too, your eyes, your humor, your intensity, and I’d be seriously remiss if I left out your body.”

Kate blushed deeply, smiled and lowered her head, embarrassed to let her eyes, which were now swimming with tears, meet his. He put a finger under her chin and lifted it up so she had to look into his eyes.

“I mean it. Every word. Ever since you whispered ‘You’ve no idea’ in my ear after our first case, I have been in love with you.”

Kate now couldn’t hold back her tears. She covered her face with her hands and fell against Castle’s shoulder. Unfortunately, it was the one that took the bullet. He yelped in pain causing her to back off and apologize through tears and giggles. When he had recovered, she turned back to him, looking deep into his eyes. He lightly brushed a tear from her cheek.

“Castle … Rick, when we first started working together I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever say what I’m about to say to you. But even in those days when you drove me nuts, I felt something too. Yes, you were obnoxious and annoying and didn’t listen to the simplest instructions, but you were also charming, witty, intelligent, fun, warm. Qualities that I’ve come to look forward to seeing more and more each day. And as much as I tried to deny it for so long, you’ve become a very important part of my life, a part that I don’t want to lose.”

Castle’s face broke into a wide smile and he lifted one of Kate’s hands and kissed it. Tears now ran down both of their cheeks.

“Until that day at the funeral parlor, I wasn’t exactly sure what it was that I felt for you. But when you offered to sacrifice yourself for my family, it was then that I knew that what I felt was love and still is,” she finally said. “So, you were right when you said you thought you detected something on the other side of that kiss you gave me in the casket.” She paused and took a few deep breaths.

“You OK?” Castle asked.

“Yeah,” she answered. “It just feels so good to say it after all this time.” She looked deeper into his eyes than she ever had. “I love you Richard Castle.”

“And I love you Katherine Beckett.”

Their arms entwined each other as they kissed deeply and unashamed right there in the lounge of the 12th precinct, where they had shared so many talks and cups of espresso. Suddenly, they heard thunderous applause from all around them. It was Alexis, Martha, Ryan, Esposito, Lanie, Captain Montgomery, Karpowski, and everyone at the precinct who had been watching their whole conversation with faces pressed against the windows that looked into the lounge. Beckett and Castle looked around at everyone and each other sheepishly, but realized they couldn’t take any of it back. They laughed, cried, held hands, and hugged each other as if they’d been together for years.

When the crowd began to disperse, Kate finally stood up to exit the lounge. Castle, who was still sitting on the couch, took her hand and pulled her back to him.

“Castle, as much as I’m REALLY enjoying this, I do need to do some work,” she protested.

“One last thing. And it shouldn’t take long,” he reassured her, then paused for a moment. “Will you marry me?”

Kate’s jaw dropped and she clapped her free hand to her mouth.

"Cas…Rick, are you serious?” she finally choked out.

“Do I look like I’m kidding?” he said and again flashed that devilish smile that she so loved seeing.

“Kate, dear Kate, I want you in my life always and not just as a work partner, but as a life-partner. You are by far THE most beautiful woman I know, in every way anyone has ever measured beauty. Please Kate, do me the honor of being my wife.”

“Rick…” she stammered, letting the question wash over her. Both were completely unaware that the lounge was again totally surrounded.

“Yes. Yes, a million times yes,” Kate finally answered and they flew into each other’s arms. The precinct erupted in cheers and applause. Alexis and Martha hugged each other with tears streaming down their faces. Lanie cried too and joined in on Alexis and Martha’s hug. Esposito and Ryan whistled, while Captain Montgomery just beamed and clapped enthusiastically, standing next to Jim Beckett who had arrived late but still just in time and was also smiling from ear to ear.

When they finally broke the embrace, Kate composed herself and whispered in Castle’s ear.

“I don’t mean to be critical, but shouldn’t you kinda slip a ring on my finger at some point?”

Castle backed off slightly, looking like he’d just spilled coffee all over his new fiancé. “Oops. I knew there was something I forgot.”

“Are you kidding? Castle, how can you go through a proposal like that with no ring?” Kate demanded incredulously.

“Wait, now I remember where the ring is,” Castle recovered, but made no movement as if he was going to pull a little box out of a pocket. He curled his good arm around Kate’s neck and slowly lifted over her head the chain from which Johanna Beckett’s wedding ring hung. He undid its clasp with surprisingly little trouble, took the ring in his hand and held it up.

“Here it is.”

He took her hand and slipped Johanna Beckett’s ring on her finger. Kate glowed with approval. They then sealed their commitment to each other with a passionate, deep kiss.

THE END

"Make you a deal," she said. "I'll watch my ass, you watch the crowd."

- Nikki Heat in Heat Wave

Avatar by SKB

10:27 pm
February 23, 2010


lacey08

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 93

Awww so good. Great story.

10:43 pm
February 23, 2010


lmr32385

Naperville, IL

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 271

Good ending. Like how Castle gave Beckett her mom's ring. That was a nice touch. Overall, it was a great story. You are a very good writer.

Well, it seems to me that the best relationships–the ones that last–are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is…suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with. ~Dana Scully 

 

Whoever hired you, he can't hide from me. ~Beckett

No sweetheart. You got it ass-backwards. You can't hide from him. ~Lockwood

 

Don't be stupid. You can't hide her from us. From me. ~Lockwood

You got that ass-backwards, boy. You can't hide from me. ~Montgomery

Icon made by reema_patel

10:36 am
February 24, 2010


musiclover

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 1486

Yay castle and Beckett are engaged awesome ending.

4:17 pm
February 24, 2010


SinginPrincess

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 281

WOW! That was great! Wonderful ending! You really have a talent for writing! Love

"That was Joe freakin' Torre! I gotta call my dad"

7:43 pm
February 24, 2010


monique

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 81

Loved it. great way to end it.

LoveBounce2

1:15 am
March 7, 2010


Moby Dick

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 387

Enthusiastic  two thumbs up.  Bravo !  Thank you for an entertaining story with a great ending.

"The heart wants what the Heart wants"

6:45 am
April 7, 2010


mikaaeleyy

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 86

Wow, this is so awesome! You are such a good writer. :)) Hahahaha, I can imagine this as an episode on the real series. :))

Credits to those who made the icons in my avatar. :D
—mikaela

7:39 am
April 7, 2010


SydneyDeb

Hard Core Castle Groupie

posts 940

Awesome story and I'm so looking forward to many more from you.

Let me tell you something about crazy people. The sex is unbelievable.

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