931. Chapter 931

After Heartbreaker

Episode 8. 16

By UCSBdad

Disclaimer: It doesn't break my heart that I don't own Season Eight. Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: This is a sequel to chapters 785, 788, 808, 830, 842, 859, 875, 897, and 909, which chronicle the adventures of the pirate Captain Kate Beckett in the 18th Century.

Captain Kate Beckett's ship, the Revenge, was completely immobile and she hated it. And, there was nothing she could do about it. She sat in the cabin she shared with her husband, Dr. Richard Castle, and wondered at the unaccustomed rock steady feel of the ship. Even in the calmest of waters, a ship moved like a living thing.

She sighed and looked out the stern cabin windows at the dry dock in the city of New Orleans in the French colony of Louisiana. Britain and France were at peace for the time being, even if the Royal Governor of Jamaica, Sir William Bracken, sent pirate ships to raid the ships of all nations. The peace, and her friendship with Le Chevalier de Montgomerie, the Governor of the French Island colony of Voulez Vous Couchez Avec Moi, Ce Soir, had allowed her to have the Revenge's bottom covered in copper sheets, at the shipyard in New Orleans. Thus retarding the growth of marine weeds that would slow a ship down and preventing shipworms from boring into the wood of the hull. She recognized that this would be good for her ship, but she still hated to be stuck in one place.

She felt the arms of her husband go around her waist. "Don't worry. We'll be out of here in another couple of days." He murmured in her ear.

She leaned back into him. "I know and then we'll have new copper bottoming and all sorts of repairs done on Revenge that we either didn't have time for or couldn't do outside of a dockyard, and I know that our magazines will be full of powder and shot courtesy of our friends ashore."

"Perhaps I could take your mind off of this by taking you out to dinner tonight. They've named the Main Street here, Bourbon Street, after the ruling family of France. There are several nice pubs there. Good food and drink they say, and music."

Kate looked out at the small town that straggled along the Mississippi River. "Bourbon Street? Good food and drink? And music?" She laughed. "Never. But, a night with my husband will be magical."

As Rick planned their night out, and Kate supervised work that needed to be done on Revenge, no one noticed a sloop of war, flying the British flag, anchor off the city.

When the sun had set, Rick, dressed in his best broadcloth suit went to the cabin he shared with his wife. There he found that she was no longer dressed in her usual attire, sea boots with four inch heels, skin tight doeskin pants and silk shirt that was tied up under her breasts. Instead, she was dressed in a blue gown that would have not been out of place at the Palace of Versailles. Her long chestnut colored hair fell loosely around her shoulders and around her neck was a diamond necklace. As Castle gasped, he saw that his daughter, Alexis, now the navigator of Revenge wore a stunning red dress that he thought showed entirely too much of Alexis. And, L'Anie, an African queen that they had rescued from slavery was dressed in a stunningly tight white gown, set off by a pearl necklace.

"Are you going to say something or just gawk at us?" Kate teased.

"Um, I have a longboat waiting, my ladies." Rick finally managed.

"Did you find a place, Father?"

Rick nodded. "Le Petite Boulangerie is said to be the best. The best food, drink and music."

The longboat's crew, led by Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan, quickly rowed them to the shore. In minutes they were at Le Petite Boulangerie, but as they walked in, Kate stiffened.

"What is it?" Rick asked, looking around.

"I've met that woman. The brunette in the black dress. I recognize her voice. It's quite distinctive."

"God. She looks a lot like you. How do you know her?"

Kate explained that she'd met Simone Renoir in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Sacre Couer de Guadalupe, where Simone had advised her that Jordan Shaw, a British Agent who was trying to gather evidence on Bracken's misdeeds, had been arrested on false charges. Then Simone had disappeared.

Noticing Kate and her party, Simone walked over to them. "Good evening and welcome to Le Petite Boulangerie, my little place. I am Simone Renoir. I do not believe we have met."

Deciding that Simone probably had good reasons for not knowing an infamous pirate captain, Kate agreed that they had not met and introduced herself and her party.

Simone led them at once to a table and advised them on what was good that night. When the food and drink was served, they had to admit it was superb.

Then the door opened and a group of men in the blue uniforms of the Royal Navy walked in. In their midst was Governor Sir Willian Bracken himself and his daughter, Priscilla Bracken. Bracken stiffened when he saw Kate and Rick. He talked to one of the officers and a large, truculent man walked to their table.

"You are a pirate, Kate Beckett, and in the King's name, you are under arrest, as are your friends."

"Your king does not rule here. You are on the soil of France." Said Simone. "Now either behave, or I shall have to throw you out. "

The officer laughed. "It'll take more than some French whore to throw me out. Bring on your men. I'll take them all."

"No men. Just me." Simone said, walking towards the officer.

The man laughed again and swung at Simone's face. Amazingly, she grabbed his arm and his fist stopped as if he'd hit an iron bar. Simone twisted his arm until they clearly heard a bone break. Then she kicked the man in both kneecaps, shattering them. Then she punched him in the jaw, breaking it and scattering his teeth on the floor. Simone lifted the man off of his feet, walked to the door and threw him out. She returned to Governor Bracken and his party. "I hope you gentlemen have better manners, or I shall have to treat you the same way."

The stunned officers assured her of their peaceful attentions. However, as they sat, Bracken and his men looked at Kate and muttered among themselves. Soon, a man stumbled over to the bar with an empty glass. As he past the table where Kate sat, he dropped his glass.

"You clumsy oaf!" He yelled at Rick. "You intentionally knocked my glass from my hand." He slapped Rick across the face. "I demand satisfaction, and since you're a well known cowardly pirate, I demand we go outside this instant and duel."

Kate rose." My husband is a doctor. A man of peace."

"A coward you mean. If he won't fight me, I'll cut him down as soon as he leaves this place."

Bracken and his party made ready to leave. Bracken took his daughter's arm, but she pulled away. "Father! Do you honestly expect a lady of my breeding and station to watch such an event? I would be mortified in front of all good people. I shall stay here!" She promptly sat back down and glared at her father. Bracken and the naval officers left.

As soon as they did, Priscilla Bracken rushed to Kate. "Captain Beckett, I have never told my father that I was…dishonored by those pirates, nor of your part in my rescue. I was able to assist you by slipping you a note advising you that your husband and his daughter were being held in the ruins of your family's home. I fear that what you told me of my father is true. He is an evil man, and although it breaks my heart to say this, I must help to destroy him."

Kate nodded. "Priscilla, you should leave. Is there a back door?" She asked Simone.

"It is no use." Priscilla said. "My father sent for sailors from our ship. All exits are guarded by armed men with orders to kill you all."

One of the naval officers stuck his head in the door. "We'd like a bottle of rum. Lieutenant Slaughter gets especially thirsty before he kills someone." He laughed nastily.

Simone nodded. "Rum? We French do not usually drink rum. I shall have to get a bottle from the back. Simone disappeared into the back and came back in a few minutes with three bottles. "This is all I have and as the gentleman has yet to finish his supper, he will be a few minutes."

The officer laughed again. "A man's last meal should be a good one."

"Perhaps I can intercede with my father." Priscilla said.

"He won't agree. "Kate said. "One or the other of us must win this."

Rick got up. "We may as well get his over with. I'll attack them and you women run."

"Like hell." Said Kate, Alexis and L'Anie, in unison.

"Do you have any weapons here?" Rick asked Simone.

"Here? No. But, you should wait another four minutes." Simone pushed Rick back into his chair with an ease that surprised him.

Simone nattered away and then said, "Four minutes are up. You can go now."

Rick and the women, including Simone, walked outside. What they saw astounded them. Bracken and his men were on their hands and knees vomiting. And it appeared that they had lost control of their bowels and bladder. Slaughter, moaned and grabbed at his stomach, going face first into the muddy street.

"Perhaps they had too much rum?" Simone said lightly. "You might return to your ship. Once there, you will be safe. This is a French port and your ship has many more men than Bracken's ship. If he were to attack you, he'd be defeated and start an international incident. Go now."

"Thank you." Kate said.

Simone shrugged. "For what? I did nothing."

"Thank you anyway." Kate said with a smile.

Two days later, Revenge sailed from New Orleans. As they passed Bracken's ship, Kate saw no officers on deck. Rumor had it that all of the officers and Governor Bracken were still unable to eat or drink.

Rick put his hands on her waist as she ship sailed down the river. "I feel sorry for Priscilla. Imagine finding out that your father is a monster."

"She's a strong woman. She will adhere to the right, even if it destroys her father and breaks her heart, although I don't envy her, Rick."

"I'm sure we'll see Priscilla again. Do you think we'll see Simone Renoir?"

Kate watched as New Orleans disappeared around a bend in the river. "I wish I knew."