962. Chapter 962

After Flowers for Your Grave

Episode 1.01

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: This will not be the first time I tell you that I don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

"Sorry for saving my life?" That made no sense.

He shook his head. "No. I went to a police supply store and bought a handcuff key. When you handcuffed me to your car, I got in out of my wallet, but I dropped it. I couldn't reach with my hands, so I had to take off a shoe and grab it with my toes. If I hadn't been so clumsy, I could have gotten there earlier and saved you a lot of pain. The whole time I was standing there I was terrified out of my mind that I was going to screw up and get you killed. Nothing, and I mean nothing, like that has ever happened to me and I hated it. I just….I just…." Castle went no further.

"Castle, you did nothing wrong. Far from it, you probably saved my life. You sure as hell saved me from any further beating. You have no reason to feel bad and every reason to be proud of what you did. I know I'm proud of you."

He nodded vigorously. "I know that here." He tapped his head. "But not here. "He tapped his chest over his heart. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I mean Alexis fell off her bike once and sprained her wrist, but what happened to you is a million times worse. Intellectually, I know everything is Tisdale's fault, but I still feel guilty. I just keep thinking…." His voice just trailed off since he didn't want to think about what might have happened. "I just can't stop thinking…."He shook his head.

She took his hand. "Castle, when you told me about myself when we were going over your fan mail, you were very accurate. My mom was murdered when I was nineteen. The police just wrote it off as random gang violence and just forgot about it. And that's why I'm a cop and not a lawyer. But I felt just like you did. If only I had gone with her. If only I'd driven to her office to pick her up. If only I'd cooked at home that night. If only…. a million things. It took me a long time to get past those feeling, and you'll get past them, too. You have no reason to feel guilty and every reason to be proud of what you did to save my life."

"I know and I still feel awful about what happened to you."

Once at her apartment, Castle walked her to her door. "Castle, I'd invite you in, but I feel terrible. I just want to lie down and rest. Call me tomorrow, okay?"

"Tomorrow. Right."

Kate felt much better the next day. Castle called and he offered to bring her some food so she wouldn't have to cook or go out. He arrived with a large paper bag full of Thai takeout.

Kate made a show of looking out the door. "Did you bring the rest of the precinct with you? There's enough food there for every one of them."

"I just wanted to make sure you got whatever it is you like."

"I like it all." She said with a smile." Now help me set the table."

She noticed that Castle seemed uneasy through dinner. "Are you still upset about what happened to me? It's not your fault, Castle. It's really not your fault."

He grinned sheepishly at her. "I still am upset…But I'm worried for another reason. I've been writing like crazy since yesterday. I haven't written a thing in months."

"That's good, isn't it? To be writing again?" She was a bit confused.

"It's just that I'm writing about a brainy and beautiful NYPD homicide detective. She's based on you."

"Me?" Kate was puzzled. "Why me?"

"Because you're remarkable. And….I don't know. The words just started flowing as soon as I opened my laptop. In fact, I brought the laptop with me. I'd like you to read what I wrote. It's just a few chapters and some character notes and the book outline, but I really like it. I really want you to like it because of what happened to you when…. "

"When you saved my life, Castle. You saved my life. Remember that and nothing else."

Kate took the laptop and began reading. It didn't take her any time at all to find something she hated. "Nikki Heat? Are you kidding me? The name's gotta go. It's not a cop's name, it's a stripper's name or worse yet a hooker's name. Change it, Castle."

"I can't."

"Yes you can. It's very easy. I'll show you how. You highlight the words Nikki Heat and you press delete. Then you put in a real name."

"Beckett, I already signed a contract with Black Pawn. It specifies that the lead character is named Nikki Heat. They're already sent advanced e-mails to the trade papers, book reviewers and book store chains. It's got to be Nikki Heat."

"I hate it."

"Please, just read the rest of what I've written. Please."

Kate read the few chapters, then the character notes and finally the book outline. "Okay. It's good. I like it, except for the name. But you made a few mistakes about police procedure."

"That's why I want to shadow you."

"What? Castle, you can't do that."

"Why not? I was with you for the Tisdale case."

"That was different. You had special knowledge about the case. The NYPD is never, never going to allow you to follow a homicide detective around. Everyone from Captain Montgomery on up would say no."

"But it would be okay with you?"

Kate was about to tell him that it would not be okay with her, but she remembered Castle bravely going after Tisdale in the alley. Why should I get into a fight with Castle when the NYPD will stop him cold? She thought. "It'll be fine with me. You did save my life, so I owe you."

When Kate arrived at the precinct, she was surprised to see Castle sitting by her desk. "Castle, what are you doing here?"

"Getting ready to shadow you, like I said."

"Castle, you have to get the NYPD on board with this. You can't just walk in here and start following me."

"The NYPD loves the idea. I talked to Bob last night and…"

"Bob?"

"Mayor Robert Weldon? You may have heard of him. He liked the idea. Said it would get the NYPD some much needed good PR. And if the mayor likes an idea, the police commissioner and the chief of police are going to love it." Castle frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"I didn't think you'd get permission. You can't follow me, Castle."

"You said I could?"

"I lied. I didn't want to start an argument with you. But I never thought that the NYPD would go along with this."

"Then you shouldn't have lied to me."

"Castle…." She began.

"Hey, Beckett." Esposito called to her. "We got one to roll on. Grab your shadow and let's go."

Castle headed for the elevator. "Beckett, can I drive?"

"No! You cannot drive."

By the time they solved the Candela kidnapping, Beckett had decided that, against all her expectations, Castle was actually useful, even good, at being a detective. A year later, again against all of her expectations, she found herself in her mother's wedding gown, being married to Richard Castle.