46. 47: Thursday

47

Castle watches his mother enter the loft with her usual flair, sweeping her arm as she encompasses Kate in a hug, solicitous and concerned about the break-in.

"That's what we want to talk to you about," he starts.

Kate shoots him a look, like she doesn't agree with his approach, and he frowns back at her.

Kate cuts in. "Martha, actually, we were thinking about getting out of the city for the next few weeks."

"Oh, you should. How lovely would that be?" she says, clasping her hands together and turning to look at him. "When will you guys be leaving?"

"Well, Mother, actually, I want everyone to come. A vacation. I suggested Belize and Kate thought-"

"Oh no, no," Martha interrupts, holding up both hands to stop him. "I'm not going."

He jerks forward, but Kate puts a hand to his chest, not even looking at him.

"There's some concern," she starts, angling her body in front of his. "We have some concern about everyone's safety, after this. I'm sorry, but we think if we get out of the city for a while, it will prove that we're not a threat."

Martha shakes her head and gestures somewhere off in the distance. "Where are you wanting to go, and for how long?"

"Belize," Castle says shortly. "Three weeks. I got everyone tickets already."

"Richard," she admonishes. "I cannot go to Belize! My summer session starts Monday and it only runs for four weeks. I won't miss-"

"Mother-"

But Kate nudges him back with her elbow. "Martha, the plan is to let Alexis come back that last week, stay here before her Summer Experience at Columbia. You could come back with her."

"And miss half of my session? No. I don't think so. It's a terrible idea. Richard, why in the world did you get tickets and just-"

"I need for everyone to be safe," he grits out, hearing the rasp in his own voice and unable to hep it. Kate turns to look at him, compassion in her eyes even though he can clearly see she thinks it's a little much.

His mother puts her hands on her hips and isn't swayed by his emotion. "Richard, you have no idea that this is even a real threat. What if the break-in was just a way of cleaning up loose ends? What if it was just a warning? You said they took everything from Kate's mother's case. Well, and dear, excuse me for my bluntness, what kept them from staging a break-in while Kate was there and just ending it then?"

Rick sucks in a breath, rocks back as he faces his mother.

"They've left you alive. All this time. They could've done more, but they haven't. Let's not panic."

He makes a noise in his throat, and Kate reaches down and takes his hand, squeezing. "Martha," she begins, and he hears the strength in her voice, takes strange comfort in it. "I'd rather not take any chances."

"Dear, I don't think it's as dire as you both are predicting. But I do understand your caution. I can - I imagine I can find substitutes and guest stars for the first week-"

Castle feels the relief unclench his heart and he squeezes Kate's hand back, breathing again.

"-but after that, I need to be back here. A week away can be good for us all, let the heat die down. But then I come back to the city and my acting school."

"It will be okay," she murmurs, eyeing him from his bed. She's sitting up against the headboard, legs bare, knees pulled up nearly to her chest. "Castle."

He waves her off, heading for the bathroom, and she doesn't know if it's frustration over how the whole vacation/running away thing has played out, or if he really does just need to go to the bathroom.

She waits, not liking that she waits, but doing it anyway. She can give him this; it costs her little.

She hears him washing his hands, brushing his teeth, and she loops her arms around her knees, tilts her head away from the bathroom door. The windows of his bedroom are narrow, letting in sleek city nightlight; it's late and she's so tired, worn out from walking on eggshells with his family, but she can't let go.

One last thing, one last person to apologize to.

Him.

Castle comes back in the room, rubbing his hand down his jaw as if measuring the degree of stubble, and she reaches up and hooks her fingers around his wrist, draws him down to her. He sits on the bed, doesn't look at her, but he does at least take her hand, warm and confident in that.

She rubs her thumb over his skin, waits a moment to try to find the right words, but they're not there. She has nothing but an apology, weak and ineffectual as it is. "I'm sorry."

"I know you're sorry," he sighs.

"You don't sound like you forgive me," she says back, eyebrows knitting. His fingers flex.

"I didn't know that was an apology. Thought it was sympathy," he says back, turning to look at her. He does actually look surprised. "What should I be forgiving you for?"

She opens her mouth but there's nothing.

"You didn't ask for your place to be broken into. For these guys to dog your every step. Kate, there's not - this is just how it is."

God that sucks. "I don't want your family to get hurt." And it hurts even to say it, because she knows she hasn't done this, it's not her, but it is. It is her. "I don't want you to get hurt."

He gives a huffing laugh that doesn't sound very funny. "I don't either."

She leans in, pressing close, puts her forehead to his neck. His arm comes around her waist, fingers gripping her hipbone.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs, her breath catching.

There's a long pause, her heart is sinking, but then he turns his mouth to her temple and sighs. "All's forgiven, Kate."