Kate Beckett shook her head and rose up from her desk at the precinct. She had been writing reports all evening and was getting really tired. Luckily she'd be finished soon, it couldn't take more than half an hour before she could finally head home to bed. She walked down to the coffee machine and pulled out a cup to pour the coffee into. It may be just a little time left, but she was so tired now there was no way she would be able to stay awake long enough for her to finish the reports if she didn't get some caffeine into her system. She took her cup, now filled with hot and oh so deliciously smelling coffee, and went back to her desk. She glanced at the clock on her arm telling her that it was way past her working hours. No wonder there wasn't anyone left. And she should have been out of here much earlier too if she wasn't so distracted. But she'd been feeling so weird lately. No matter how much she slept she was still like a zombie during the day, and she was always hungry. Not that he food tasted good though, things had started to smell weird and really strong. She could get gag reflexes from just walking by a restaurant nowadays. And she didn't just get sick from food, no now she could start feeling sick from anything. Just climbing out of bed in the morning made her rush for the toilet... Just from getting up in the morning... She sat up straight, the realization dawning on her face. Oh god... no... she couldn't be! Could she?

She started to count the days, and then she counted them again. And again. She took out her phone and checked her calendar, just to be sure she didn't miss some dates in her head. But she hadn't. And deep inside she knew she hadn't. But she couldn't accept it yet. Not without proof. Solid proof. She was a cop after all, and those instincts went out of her job and into her personal life. It was just the way she was. She got up in a hurry, throwing her jacket over her shoulder as she practically ran to the elevator, not even looking back at the papers spread all over her desk or the hot coffee that was slowly starting to cool off. Now when she'd thought of this, she couldn't possibly get it out of her mind. She had to know right now, but she wasn't even sure what answer she wanted. Why would this happen now? It's not a good time, we've only been together for a couple of months for gods sake! How could we be so reckless? She kept thinking over and over again. But it wasn't really true. Sure, they'd only been together officially for a couple of months, but unofficially? Well, way longer than that at least. He'd been following her around for years and they both knew that that wasn't for any research.

She got into her car and turn the ignition key. Then her eyes fell on her clock again and she cursed silently under her breath. She'd totally forgotten about the time. What store would still be open now? Not any store she wanted to go to right now at least. She sat back in her seat and closed her eyes. What was she going to do? Go home? No way she would be able to sleep without knowing and then she'd look like hell tomorrow in front of everyone. And call Castle to tell him what was on her mind? Hell no, not until she was completely sure of what was going on with her. Maybe she was just overreacting. Maybe it was just some weird flu, and it would all be over in a couple of days. Yeah, maybe. Keep telling yourself that Kate! She groaned. Wasn't there anyone she could go to in the middle of the night to let this out of her chest? Was she really this lonely? Other, normal, people would just go over to their girlfriends house...

Lanie! Her foot was on the gas pedal before she was even aware of it and she started making her way out of the garage. Why hadn't she thought of Lanie before? She may have to wake her up and she'd probably be a little grumpy but when Kate told her she was sure Lanie would listen to her. Hell, she may even have what Kate needed, her being a doctor and all... Suddenly Kate couldn't get there fast enough, and in a lot less time that it should've taken her she stood outside the ME's door knocking continuously until a very tired and irritated Lanie opened the door.

"Kate, what the he..." she started her sentence, but her voice died out as soon as she saw the look on her best friends face.

"What's wrong honey?" She said with a worried look on her face.

"Can I come in? I need to tell you something" Kate answered in the most professional and feelingless face she could present at this point but her eyes betrayed her, flickering around in a very stressing kind of way.

"Of course sweetie" Lanie answered, still holding the worried look. Kate walked through the door, absentmindedly taking off her jacket and shoes. She then stood in the middle of the hallway, not sure of what to do next. Lanie caught her confusion.

"Just sit down on the couch and I'll go making us some coffee" she said and started walking towards the kitchen.

"Thanks Lanie but I'm good. I just made myself one minutes ago" Kate hastily added after she caught her friend's now not only worried, but shocking look on her face. That wasn't so strange though. After all, Kate was a really heavy coffee-drinker and come to think of it, she'd probably never turned down a refreshing cup of coffee before. Well, except that one time in a bar downtown, but that liquid could probably not even be called coffee. And she would probably have said yes today too, if it wasn't for the thought that had been occupying her mind for the last half an hour now. That thought brought her back to the subject she was her for and she swallowed heavily. Lanie shot her another worried look and made her way to the couch herself instead. Kate followed and sat down on a chair beside the couch, feeling that she would need the space, considering the talk that was soon to come. They sat there in silence for a moment, but soon Lanie ran out of patience.

"Kate, what is going on here? You showing up on my doorstep this late at night needing to talk and then sit quiet? Girl, can't you see I'm worrying my ass off over here? Tell me what's wrong before you've driven me crazy!" Kate sighed a little.

"I'm sorry Lanie, it's just that... I don't really know where to start. Hell, I'm not even sure if what I'm thinking is true".

"Just get to the point Kate, we can take the backstory from there" Lanie answered, a little calmer this time. Kate looked down at her fingers, playing around with them in her knee. After a moment of silence she breathed in, worked up her courage and looked her friend in the eyes.

"Lanie I... I think I'm pregnant".

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