Hypocritical Oath

By Swordwriter

Author's Note: I am writing this story inspired by the story Loose Ends by NikolitaNiko and with her kind permission. Thank you. This story is AU and I realize that both Rick and Kate are ooc according to the canon of the show. That's one of the reasons that it's AU. I have interpreted parts of Rick's character very different than in Loose Ends or the show for that matter. As for the subject matter, I consider domestic abusers of any kind total scum and all of our legal punishments are much too lenient. Domestic abuse, no matter how minor should be a felony carrying a minimum penalty of five years in prison without chance of parole or time off for good behavior or credit for time served before trial, Ramping up from there depending on the severity of the injury up to and including life without parole.

Disclaimer: The show Castle and its characters are the property of Andrew Marlowe and ABC.

Chapter One: I will care for you.

Rick Castle woke up for the second time that morning, on the couch. Kate Becket was huddled against the couch, wrapped in Rick's comforter, one slender hand enmeshed with his larger one. She had come to him last night, from a women's transition house after being abused and violated by her boyfriend. He had comforted her as huddled on the floor of his bathroom holding her gently as she cried and told him about her ordeal.

Rick had put her in his own bed and retreated to the couch for the night. He had awakened to find her on the floor, leaning against the couch, obviously having sought him out in the night for comfort. Rick's heart ached to see her in this condition with bruises marring her delicate features and her arms and legs. Her wrist was sore and her ankle either sprained or strained.

What was far worse, in his mind were the psychological bruising on her mind and her fragile heart. Rick loved her like he'd loved no other woman in his life and he had so wanted to be the one she loved and trusted. The one she came home to. Oh how much he wished that the first time that she'd been in his bed was under far different circumstances. But now, it was likely that she'd never fully trust any man and sex would be revolting to her.

Nevertheless, he would always love her and take care of her as much as she'd let him. Kate woke up and gave Rick a tentative smile. She hurt all over and didn't want to move but the pressure on her bladder was making it imperative. She tried to stand but cried out in pain as she put weight on her ankle. "Rick, help me, please."

Rick knelt beside her and said, "What do you need Kate?" Trying and failing to hold back her tears, she said, "I need to go to the bathroom." Rick slid one arm under her legs, one behind her back and effortlessly rose to his feet cradling her to his chest. She wanted to protest but she hurt too much and it felt so good to nestle against that broad chest.

Despite her injuries and shock the core woman was still there. Castle was wearing only boxers and a t-shirt. Kate had never seen him in anything but dress clothes and she couldn't help but admire the massive, muscular arms and the sculpted chest revealed by the thin t-shirt. She'd thought that Josh was well built and he was but nothing like Castle. She knew that to be built like that Castle had to work out a lot.

Castle set her down and said," Call when you're finished and I'll draw a bath for you. Mother will come in to help you get in and out of the tub." Before she could protest, he held up his hand. "Before you say anything Kate, you have nothing to be ashamed of and Mother will understand. You see, she's been where you are."

A few minutes later Kate sat on a bench in the bathroom. She couldn't believe this place. You could fit her living room and kitchen inside it. The glassed in shower had two separate shower heads. The tub was huge and there was a separate Jacuzzi. There were two separate vanities with sinks.

Castle ran a bath for her and set out an array of soaps and bath oils. Martha came in and Castle left. Martha helped Kate undress and slip into the tub. Kate lay back and relaxed into the soothing water. As she lay there Martha said, "Katherine, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Even the strongest woman has her weak moments and can become entrapped in a bad situation. I know I was. Richard was 15. I met a fellow actor who seemed to take an interest in Richard as well as loving me or so I thought. He became more and more controlling and the sex rougher. One night he forced me into anal sex. It hurt. He made one serious mistake. Richard was supposed to be spending the night with a friend. His friend got sick and Richard came home.

He heard me crying. Peter tried to throw Richard out, while bragging about what he'd done to me. I've never seen such a terrible anger before or since. Have you ever really noticed the size of Richard's hands? He beat that man to a bloody pulp and would have castrated him if I hadn't stopped him."

Despite her own injuries Kate was appalled at what had happened to Martha so long ago. After all, Josh had sexually assaulted her but hadn't managed to get his penis inside her. Martha had been brutally raped and still she had not only survived but had triumphed and by all accounts still had an active enjoyable sex life. That helped Kate. Not a lot at the moment but it helped.

After Kate had bathed and used some of Martha's make up products she donned one of Martha's robes and Martha helped her back to Castle's bed. Castle came in a few minutes later with a breakfast tray loaded with Strawberry Crepes, scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee and orange juice. Kate's eyes opened wide in surprise as he carefully placed the tray over her lap. In addition to the food, a linen napkin and silverware the tray held a vase with a single yellow rose the symbol of friendship. Kate's lovely eyes filled with tears not of sorrow but of gratitude.

She choked up as she tried to find the words to express how thankful she was for the care she was shown and how safe she felt in the Castle loft. Castle shushed her. He smiled as he brushed his fingertips across her brow. "It's okay Kate you don't need to say anything. Just eat your breakfast and I'll be back in after I eat mine." Kate surprised herself that after what she'd endured she felt regret and a little hurt that Castle hadn't brought his own breakfast on a tray to eat with her.

When she finished eating and had taken some ibuprofen her spirits lifted a little. Castle came in and said, "Kate, if you want me to, I can go to your place and retrieve your guns and badge. Mother can go with me and pick up some clothes and personal products. You're going to stay here for a few days at least. That bastard might be able to get into your apartment. I want you to be safe." Kate would not have accepted such an arrangement in the normal course of things but now she was so frightened and traumatized that Castle's loft felt like heaven to her.

Castle gently cupped Kate's face in his large hands. "When we get back, I'm taking you to see a doctor. I want you thoroughly checked out and your ankle and wrist treated. Don't worry she is a friend of mine and discrete."

Kate rolled her eyes and said, "Rick, I don't need to go to a doctor. I'll heal on my own in a few days." As she watched his face, she noticed a change, from concern to determination.

"Kate, what would you do if I got beaten during a case? You would insist that I see a doctor. You know that you would. So I'm insisting that you give me the same courtesy." A note had crept into his voice that she'd never heard before, a note of command. Not the nasty note of dominance, contempt and even maybe hate that was in Josh's voice but the same concerned note a parent might have with a reluctant child.

Kate blushed, then nodded. She couldn't deny him the peace of mind that an examination would bring. She dresses quickly, with Martha's help , navy slacks and a simple white shirt, a gray blazer and Martha produces a pair of soft embroidered slippers. Kate's feet are like the rest of her, fine-boned, elegant. Castle wraps her ankle in an Ace bandage, furious as he sees the discoloration just below her ankle.

He makes a silent vow, he's been thinking about this since last night. Josh Davidson made the worst mistake of his sadistic life when he abused Kate Beckett. Rick Castle would prefer to let the law handle this but Kate would be dragged into court and humiliated in front of her peers. Kick-ass Kate Beckett couldn't even take care of herself? That's not going to happen. Her career would be damaged if not ruined. With a good lawyer Davidson might even beat the charges or get a minimal sentence. The so called justice system was about laws not justice. Rick was interested in justice, retribution not revenge.

The ride to the Doctor's office was short and the office was empty except for the receptionist, a nurse and the doctor. Rick had called ahead and arranged for the doctor to skip most of the questions usually asked, except the vital ones. There were no insurance forms as Dr. Cabello was doing everything free of charge. She owed Rick a huge favor. Her daughter had been severely injured on a family trip and no public air ambulance was available. Dr. Cabello had been an intern and a single mother at the time and couldn't afford a private aircraft. Angela Cabello had been a childhood friend of Rick's. She'd panicked and called Rick.

He'd chartered a private air ambulance and had the child flown to the best children's hospital in the tri-state area, refusing any payment over the years, claiming that he would have missed a lot of meals as a youth if it hadn't have been for Angela's mother.

The doctor was with Kate for nearly an hour and a half before she called Rick in to join them. She smiled at Rick. "Thankfully Ms. Beckett has no internal injuries or broken bones. She has a number of painful but not serious contusions and a severely sprained ankle. I recommend that she stay off the ankle as much as possible for the next week. I've written a prescription for Ibuprofen and a light massage with essential oils might help. I also recommend crutches when you do move around." Kate had some bruising on her vaginal walls but that didn't need to be discussed.

Castle stood, Smiled and said, "Thank you for everything Angela. I really appreciate it." Angela returned the smile, her dark eyes going soft as she hugged Rick. "It was my pleasure Rick. Laurie and I can never thank you enough. You saved her life. By the way, Mama and Laurie would love to have you over for dinner sometime soon. It's been almost three years Rick."

"Has it been that long? Sorry Angela I have been rather busy." Angela gave a slight frown. "Too busy to see old friends? If that's true, you're working way too hard, make it soon Rick."

Castle helped Kate to the car and seated her. She gave him a sly look and said.

"Is the good doctor an old girlfriend, Castle? She's very pretty."

Castle looked shocked. "Angela, girlfriend? Eww, no Kate. I've known her since I was five or six. She's like a sister to me. It would feel like incest. I may get my Kink on once in a while but I'm not that Kinky."

Kate didn't say anything else but somehow she felt a slight rise in her spirits. A soft smile touched her lips. When she was able to put this behind her and she would, she was going to have to find out about that kink."