1041. Chapter 1041

After Knockout

Episode 3.24

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Yes, I own Castle. I am such a liar. Rating: K Time: AU between and during episodes 3.24 and 4.01.

Author's note: I never thought that Kate's decision to go to her father's cabin after being shot made any sense at all. She was obviously in bad shape physically and mentally, had no backup, either police or medical, and, as far as anyone but Castle knew, she still had a sniper after her. Even Castle, trained to think of worst case scenarios, was probably worried that Montgomery had put the wrong address on the envelope. Hence, this story.

Kevin Ryan leaned carefully across his desk and whispered to his partner. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Esposito shook his head. "You were here same as me. She came in, went to talk to Montgomery, then came out and told everyone that Castle was out of here permanently. Then she went back to her desk and has been snarling at her computer ever since."

"Did you call Lanie?"

"Yeah."

"Well, what did he say?"

"That I should mind my own damned business, And, that if I really wanted to know what happened, I should just ask Beckett."

"Are you going to?"

Espo shook his head. "Do I look like I want a six inch stiletto heel up my nose?

Kate Beckett was having trouble keeping her mind on her work. Her fight with Castle kept intruding. He had actually asked her to give up the most important thing in her life. He wanted her to stop looking for her mother's killer. Like there wasn't a killer, Hal Lockwood, already out there gunning for her. She remembered the conversation word for word:

"They're going to kill you, Kate. And if you don't care about that, at least think about how that's going to affect the people who love you. You really want to put your dad through that? And what about Josh?"

"And what about you, Rick?"

"Well, of course I don't want anything to happen to you. I'm your partner. I'm your friend."

"Is that what we are?"

"No, you know what? I don't know what we are. We kiss and then we never talk about it. We nearly die frozen in each other's arms, but we never talk about it. So, no. I have no clue what we are. I know I don't want to see you throw your life away."

The argument had just gotten nastier after that until she had told him they were over and told him to get out.

What are we to each other? She thought. At first I thought he was just an obnoxious playboy, looking to bed me and write some scandalous book based on me. But he proved to be more than that. He's a great father and son. None better. And he does care about the victims, he wouldn't do the things he's had to do just to get me in bed. I started to like him. Oh, I never let on that I did. His ego did not need any more stroking. But I thought about it. Then that bitch Ellie Monroe came along. Everyone but Castle could see that all she wanted was to bed a famous author and talk him into recommending her for the part of Nikki Heat. I had to ask myself if he was just so arrogant that he thought all women wanted to fall madly in bed with him, or did he just not care that he was being used as long as he had fun? Whatever the answer was, it put me off any relationship with Richard Castle. Okay, I admit it. I was jealous of Ellie and I was hurt. What hurt especially was Castle gloating over his sexual conquests with me like I was some locker room buddy of his and not a woman.

Then Tom Demming came along. Nice looking, polite, smart, and a cop like me. So he wasn't Richard freaking Castle, he was there. I was so damned tired of being alone. God, I let Lanie set me up with Brad Decker who asked me in the middle of dinner if we were going to have sex later. Even Castle has ever been that obnoxious. If Castle could have a little fun in his life, why not me? And Tom was fun. But, he wasn't what I was looking for. Maybe Castle was what I was looking for? Kate smiled ruefully to herself. And then I waited too long. Just as I was about to accept Castle's invitation to the Hamptons, in walks his ex-wife and he left with her, making me look like an idiot in front of the whole homicide team. I was hurt and angry. Angry at myself and at Castle. Can't that man go without a woman for a little bit?

So I was miserable the whole summer. Then it became obvious that Castle had no intention of coming back to me. Not even as my partner. If he hadn't stumbled across a murder, I probably would never have seen him again. At least I managed to fix it so I got him back as a partner. But he's no longer with Gina, but I'm still with Josh. Sort of. God! How could I have ever thought that I would ever be able to compete with his work as a doctor?

Kate took a sip of her coffee. It was cold. She looked over at the gleaming coffee maker Castle had bought for the team. She couldn't stand the thought of using the machine. She wanted her coffee brought to her. She wanted her coffee brought to her by Castle. I may as well admit it to myself, anyway. I miss him as a partner and a friend. When things settle down, I'll call him. He'd never have asked me to walk away from Mom's case to get me in bed. He was just trying to keep me alive. He does care for me in some way. I'll talk to him and explain things and maybe we can be partners again.

On impulse Kate stood and gathered her things. "Guys, I'm going out to get some coffee. I'll be right back."

"Beckett, we have a perfectly good coffee machine…." Ryan began, but Beckett was already in the elevator.

Even preoccupied by her breakup with Castle and the fact that Hal Lockwood was out there someplace, Kate still noticed him. She had seen him outside the coffee shop near her apartment. He had been wearing a grey sweat shirt and a Mets hat. Then she saw him on the subway, one car behind her. He had his hat on backwards and was wearing a ratty, baggy old tee shirt. Now he had mirrored sunglasses and a leather bomber jacket. He was following her from across the street.

She sped up and walked past the coffee shop, making sure he'd seen her, she ducked into an alley. As he came around the corner, she grabbed his arm, shoved it up behind his back and threw him against the wall, shouting "NYPD."

She reached under his jacket and pulled a 9mm Glock from a shoulder holster. "Do you have a concealed carry permit for this?" She barked.

"Yeah. My credentials are in my left hand inside jacket pocket."

She pulled out a small leather case. In it was a badge and an ID. What she saw surprised her. "Officer James Two Horses? Comanche Tribal Police? You're a long way off the reservation, chief."

"Oh, wow! That was really funny. I've never heard that one before. Mind if I write it down?" He said sarcastically.

"Is there a problem, officer?"

Kate whirled around to face two more men. These two were obviously Native Americans as well, but dressed in dark suits. "And who are you?" She demanded.

"Captain Miguel Vasquez and my partner Sergeant Tomas Pecos. Pecos means pecan in Comanche."

"I'd like to know why you're following me."

"We're not. We're looking for someone in this neighborhood and we just happen to be in the same places you are."

Bullshit. I know damned well when I'm being followed. Thought Kate. "You're way out of your jurisdiction, Captain. And it's customary for other police forces to contact the NYPD if they're working in the City."

"One, we're part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is part of the Department of the Interior, which is Federal, so we're in our jurisdiction. And, we're Native Americans. Do you know that up until 1924, we weren't US citizens? We were citizens of out own tribes. Even now we have some of the attributes of independent nations. Why, the Iroquois issue their own passports. Not a lot of countries accept them, but some have. As far as it being customary to check in with the NYPD, well, it is just customary, and we're not checking in."

"Do you mind telling me what you're doing here then?"

"Yes we do." Vasquez said with a smile. "Need to know. Now, if you'd give Officer Two Horses back his weapon, we'll be on our way."

Kate thought for a moment about refusing and making them come to the station to retrieve the weapon, but decided against it. She handed the weapon back and the three men left.

She came back to her desk with coffee and a bear claw. She sat down and started looking up the Comanche Tribal Police. Finding an 800 number, she called it.

"Officer Sunny Nadua. How can I help you?"

"This is Detective Kate Beckett, Homicide, New York Police Department. Can I speak to your chief of police, please?"

"I'm sorry, but the chief and all of the brass are at a big meeting in Dallas. They won't be back for a week and they left strict instructions not to be disturbed."

"Who could I talk to then?" Kate asked, trying to be civil.

"There's Sergeant Two Humps, but he's out of radio range. He won't be back for…Well, to tell the truth, I don't know when he'll be back."

"Is there anyone I can talk to?"

"There's me. How can I help you?"

"There are three Comanche Police here in New York, a Captain Vasquez, a Sergeant Pecos and an Officer…."

"I'm sorry, Detective, but it's strictly against department policy to comment on any ongoing investigations. Need to know, you know."

"I'm just asking for…"Kate began.

"I'm sorry, but it's strictly against department policy to comment on ongoing investigations." The officer repeated.

"So I can't get any information?"

"I'm afraid not. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No." Kate barked.

"I'm so glad I could help you. Goodbye."

Kate slammed her phone down in frustration. Then a thought hit her. Castle! He just can't stay out of my life. He's the guy who always knows a guy. Of course he'll know some Comanche cops." That thought was swiftly overtaken by another. Even though I kicked him to the curb, he still wants to protect me. That's sweet.

Kate dove into anything and everything on Hal Lockwood she has found. There's a report from Canada. There's a Hal Lockwood in British Columbia, an ex-bank robber. And he's eighty seven years old. Harold Lockwood. Age 16. A joyrider. Hal Lockwood, a violent offender, and all of five feet, four inches tall.

She keeps plowing through reports. She doesn't see Ryan and Esposito leave, nor Montgomery. She hears every one of the 23 calls from Castle. She decides to call him back when things have settled down. They can't have a serious conversation now.

She gets another call. This time it's Montgomery. She's out the door and headed for the hanger in no time flat.

TBC