A/N: This has been in my head for months and I've been wanting to write it down just as long. I really, really, really hope you like it!
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Andrew W. Marlowe, though they have found their own way into my heart.
It was seven thirty. She'd set the alarm at minimum volume so he wouldn't wake up when it went off. As gently as she could, she got out of bed and padded silently into the bathroom. She'd showered the night before, so she just needed to get dressed, brush her teeth, and she quickly did her hair and applied some make-up. When she was done, she tiptoed across the bedroom to the door that opened directly into the living room. Her hand closed around the handle and pushed down.
"Where are you going?"
She startled at the sound of Castle's voice, her heart skipping a beat. She sighed and turned to face him with a bold look on her face and holding a defiant posture. Sitting up on the bed, Castle leaned against the headboard and folded his arms across his bare chest. He didn't look happy at all. She squared her shoulders, determined to win this round, and took a couple of steps towards him.
"I'm going to the precinct," she answered confident.
"No, you're not," he said in a cold harsh tone.
"Yes. I. Am." She turned and started towards the door again.
"Kate," he warned, raising his voice.
"Rick, I'm fine! I said this would be my last case and I will keep my promise!"
Castle leaned forward on his thighs. "You weren't fine yesterday! You have been-" But she didn't hear him out as she spun around and exited the bedroom. "Dammit Kate, wait!" he called after her, jumping off the bed and getting his legs tangled in the sheets in the process. He ran to catch up with her but by the time he was out in the living room, the front door was closing behind her. He got out into the hallway and saw her standing a few feet away waiting for the elevator. "Don't get on that elevator!" he ordered, holding a finger up and a deep frown creasing his brow.
"You are going to tell me what I can and cannot do?" she growled. "You think I would go to work if I wasn't feeling OK? I can't just sit still doing nothing!" she yelled. The elevator doors slid open and she stepped in.
"Beckett," he hissed between clenched teeth, "get back inside or I swear-"
"What? You'll drag me back in yourself?" she snapped, her hand pressing the lobby button.
"Yes!" he shouted and hurried to her, but the doors shut before he could stop them. "Dammit woman!" he slammed his fist into the closed doors and strode back inside the loft. Getting his phone, he called Esposito.
The detective answered on the second ring, "Hey, Castle! What's up?"
"Kate just left the loft. She should be at the precinct in 20 minutes."
"I thought she'd be staying home today," Espo said surprised.
"I thought so too, but you know her, she's a stubborn thickhead," he groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "Could you keep an eye on her until I get there?"
"Sure thing, man."
"Thanks. I'll be there in half an hour," he said, turning the shower faucet.
"Alright, see ya!"
Castle quickly showered and got dressed. Fifteen minutes later, having gotten everything he needed, he headed out the door.
"Hi guys," she said as she walked into the bull pen.
"You're supposed to be resting," Ryan told her without greeting her. The two detectives were staring at her with identical disapproving furrowed brows and she scowled back at them. Then Ryan added, "You've been having contractions since yesterday."
She said, "Castle called, didn't he?" Their expressions gave them away. "Yeah, of course he did… Well they're just Braxton Hicks contractions. I'm fine," she punctuated the last two words. They were about to say something else but she silenced them with a threatening glare. Ryan sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets, and Esposito threw his palms up in the air in surrender. "Did the arrest warrant arrive?" she asked and sat down in her chair.
"Three minutes ago. We were waiting 'till you got here," Esposito informed, holding up a manila envelope.
"Alright. Bring me that son of a bitch so I can squeeze a confession out of him, and then go home and make all of you men happy." They nodded, grabbed their jackets from their chairs and started towards the elevator. As they walked past her, Esposito slowed down and turned to her, hesitating. "I'll be fine. I'm in a building packed with cops," she reassured them and waved them off. "Now, go!"
Beckett hadn't had any contractions since three in the morning. She felt the baby move inside her, kicking her under the ribs, and she gently rubbed a hand over her tummy. While waiting for the boys to get back, she ate breakfast and had a cup of tea, caffeine being banned due to her pregnancy.
She stopped reading the suspect's rap sheet when she sensed a big figure hovering over her from behind.
"The boys are making the arrest now," she said in a monotone voice without looking up at Castle. "I'll have him confess and then you can take me home."
"Can we talk?" he asked coldly. She swiveled her chair and raised her gaze to his face, waiting. "Privately?" he added.
Kate surveyed the bull pen and shrugged. "There is no one else around."
"Fine," Castle mumbled and sat down in his chair beside her desk, throwing his jacket over the back. He rested his arms on his knees and took a deep, calming breath before looking her in the eye. "Kate…, this is not healthy," he murmured. She was about to interrupt him but he shot her a silencing stare. "You're 37 weeks pregnant. You should be resting. I'm worrying sick all the time," his voice was pleading.
He may be right but she needed to catch this guy. He'd killed five women and she was going to make sure he was put away behind bars for life.
"I just told you. We are arresting the guy and closing the case today."
"It doesn't matter!" Castle hissed through clenched teeth, trying to keep his voice down while leaning forward closer to her. His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white. "You should have stopped weeks ago!"
"There are lots of pregnant women who work until their 38th week!" she argued.
"Yes, but they're not cops! You are surrounded by stress all the time. That's not good for neither of you," he said, putting a hand on her swollen belly.
"You're the one who stresses me!" she muttered under her breath. "Just let me-"
"Yo Beckett!"
Her head snapped up and she saw the boys walking down the corridor, leading the suspect in handcuffs to the Interrogation Room. She rose from her chair, picked up the file from her desk and moved off to follow them. Castle caught up with her outside the door to Interrogation 1 and took hold of her wrist.
"Kate, please," he whispered gravely, all anger and frustration gone. The other two detectives stood waiting behind her.
"Esposito, you're in with me," she said without taking her eyes off Castle, and then she spoke to him in a quiet, strained voice. "If you want to stay, you can watch from Observation with Ryan." And with that she entered the room where the suspect was waiting. Esposito mouthed a 'sorry man' before getting in after her and closing the door.
Castle leaned against the table inside the Observation Room and watched through the two-way mirror as Kate forced the suspect into a confession. The guy didn't look like he would break any time soon. He kept his cuffed hands on the table, his fingers drumming on the surface and his gaze fixed on a dead-spot above Kate's head.
"How you holding up?" Ryan asked quietly.
Castle exhaled a long puff of air before answering. "She drives me completely insane," he groaned. "The last couple of weeks she's been impossible." He paused for a second, then continued, "She's so picky. And she complains about everything. 'Your hands are too hot, your feet are too cold, you breathe too loud'…" he mimicked her. Both their gazes flicked up to the glass when they heard Beckett slam her hand down hard on the table. The suspect flinched at her ferocity. "She's mad at me all the time. According to her, everything I do, I do wrong. Whether it's for doing too much or not doing something." Castle sighed. "I'm glad it's almost over, because I'm telling you… pregnant Beckett? Not pretty."
"She's strong-minded," Ryan sympathized with him. "I hope with Jenny it doesn't get so-"
"Castle!" Beckett screamed. As his eyes darted to the two-way mirror, Castle saw her groan and bend over, both her hands clutching her swollen stomach. He ran out of the OB room and, kicking the door open to Interrogation, he stormed in and crouched in front of her.
"Kate, what's wrong?" he whispered with urgency. Esposito and Ryan took the suspect out of the small room. Sitting on the edge of the chair, she panted and breathed through clenched teeth. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and lowered his head so he could see her face. Her eyes were clamped shut and her face was contorted in pain.
"This is…not nor-mal…" she muttered, her voice so strangled he almost didn't make out the words.
"Kate, what is it?" Castle asked, trying to stay focused and not panic. He gently placed his hand on her womb; it felt hard under his palm. "Is it a contraction? Are you in pain?"
The boys got back, followed by the Captain. "What's going on here?" he heard Gates enquire.
Kate tilted up her head. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Castle gasped. "Oh god... Guys, we need an ambulance!" he yelled over his shoulder. Gates pushed her way in and knelt beside Castle, asking what was wrong. "Kate honey, we're going to the hospital." Castle caressed Beckett's cheek, wiping away the tears. "You're going to be okay."
"Castle," Ryan intervened, "we can get you there faster with one of our cars."
Castle glanced at Gates and she nodded. "I'll call to let them know you're on your way."
Esposito hurried to get the car.
"Can you walk?" Castle asked Kate. She shook her head once, so he slid his arms under her legs and around her back and lifted her carefully off the chair. She shut her eyes, pressing her face into the crook of his shoulder, and one of her hands fisted into the fabric of his shirt. He carried her across the bull pen, a dozen people murmuring and staring at them with confused and shocked looks on their faces. Ryan was holding the elevator doors open and they stepped in.
"Castle," she breathed out on the ride down, "I'm scared. The baby-"
"Ssh, you're going to be OK. Both of you," he promised, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
They reached the lobby and Ryan went ahead to open the entrance door for them. Esposito had brought the unmarked car over to the curb in front of the station and Ryan helped Castle get Kate into the backseat. The detective rode shot gun, and Castle circled the rear of the car and slid into the backseat next to her. Esposito turned the sirens and gumball on and floored it.
Beckett's legs were up on the bench and Castle turned to her on his seat so she could lean her back against his chest. Taking short, shallow breaths to control the pain, she found his hand and held it tight. He gently pushed her head back until it rested against his shoulder. Castle kept whispering comfort words in her ear as he pressed his palm to her forehead, brushing back the sweaty hair from her face.
"Hang in there Beckett," Esposito said in a strained tone as he sped the car, weaving through the morning traffic and dodging vehicles. "We'll be there in three minutes."
"I'm so-rry Castle," she sobbed. "I'm sorry I ye-" she took in a sharp breath and closed her eyes, then continued, "-I yelled at you."
He shushed her and pressed his lips to her temple. "You're going to be fine."
There was a man and a woman in scrubs waiting for them outside the emergency entrance when they arrived at Bellevue Hospital. They got her out of the car, laid her on a stretcher and rushed her inside the building. Too many things were happening around her, too many people talking and dashing about, so she focused on the hand she was still holding tight. Someone removed her pants and a resident examined her while an intern made an ultrasound. A third person wrapped a belt around her belly to monitor the baby's heartbeat.
"Is that blood?" she heard Castle exclaim alarmed. "Is she bleeding?!"
"What?!" she gasped and tried to peer around her big tummy.
The man in scrubs, the one who had examined her and seemed to be the one in charge, addressed them, "You've suffered a placental abruption. The placenta has half-detached from the wall of the uterus. The baby's heartbeat is a bit low, so we need to perform an emergency C-section."
Detached placenta? A C-section? Low heartbeat? No, no, NO. This could not be happening. Her vision clouded but she fought to stay conscious and in control as they rolled her to a Pre-op room. Castle never left her side as they prepared her for surgery and put an IV in her arm.
"You stay with me Castle," Kate's voice trembled. "He can stay with me, right?" she asked a nurse standing next to her. The woman nodded and handed Castle a set of scrubs.
A minute later she was brought into the operating room and put under anesthesia. Castle sat next to her head, holding her hand as she drifted into sleep.
"I love you," she mumbled, her eyelids falling over her eyes.
"I love you too," he whispered in her ear.
The last thing she felt was his lips on hers.
-TO BE CONTINUED-
Thank you so much for reading!
