AN: ABC's show and Characters
Chapter 1- The Right Place at the Right Time
Rick Castle pays his tab and heads to the door. Another night of research accomplished for his next book. He opens the door and steps out into the cold January night, sticking his hands in his pocket, heading out of the shady alley to hail a cab. He doesn't make it five steps from the door before he sees a woman running toward him with a masked man hot on her trail. He reacts as almost anyone would and starts to run towards the woman.
The man finally catches her and shoves her against the wall.
"Please don't do this," the woman begs.
"You should have stayed away from the case" the man replies softly into her ear.
He doesn't see the other man running toward him, too focused on doing his job. He brings a knife out of the inside of his jacket. "Goodbye Johanna Beckett" again whispering in her ear and brings his arm back to deliver the blow, only to be tackled just before he strikes.
He grunts from the unexpected impact but uses his military training to roll on top of the man and punch him in the face with his left hand.
"Looks like I'll be getting two for the price of one" and brings his right hand back and stabs him in the stomach.
He gets up and turns back to Johanna Beckett and hears a shot ring out into the night. He looks to his target and sees her holding a small handgun with smoke coming out of the end.
BANG!
Another shot and he slumps to his knees bringing his hand to his chest, feeling the blood pouring out. He cast one last surprised look at his target before he slumps over and his breathing stops.
Johanna snaps out of her fear induced nightmare and runs over to the man who saved her and gasps.
"Richard Castle" she breathes out. She doesn't hesitate as she takes out her phone and calls 911. She gives them her location and tells them what happened before hanging up and pressing her hand to the authors wound.
"Hang in there Mr. Castle. Help is on the way."
"Are you okay?" he rasps out, short of breath.
"I am thanks to you. Please don't try to talk. Save your breath okay?"
He nods keeping his eyes focused on hers.
"Hear the ambulance? It's almost here, don't give up. Please don't give up okay? I need you alive to be able to repay you," she says smiling softly at him, still keeping pressure on his wound.
He laughs a little before coughing up some blood. He turns his head and spits it out on the ground. He hears tire screech to a halt at the entrance of the alley and sees the flashing lights of the ambulance and police cars along with paramedics running toward them.
"Miss you can let us take it from here," one of the paramedics says as he reaches them.
"Of course," she replies. She steps back to let them do their work.
An officer comes up to here and gets her statement and she hands over her gun to the detective.
"His name is Richard Castle," she says to the Detective. "Can I ride with him? Please? He saved my life; I want to be there with him."
The detective looks to one of the paramedics loading him onto a stretcher and nods his approval.
"Sure. Keep a hold on his hand and squeeze it if you see him start to go out of it okay?"
"We will need you for further questions later Mrs. Beckett" says the detective.
"Okay." She hands him her card and he give her a nod of the head to follow the paramedics.
They climb into the ambulance and it takes off to the closest hospital.
"Left pants pocket," Rick croaks out as he stares at the woman he saved.
She reaches into the pocket and pulls out his cell phone.
"Please call my mother and daughter when we get there. Martha and Alexis," he rasps out.
"Okay, I promise, now no more talking until later," she says as she gives him a stern glare and soft smile which he returns.
"Please listen to the woman Mr. Castle" says the paramedic, "talking won't help."
He nods again and focuses his eyes on the ceiling.
The ride to the hospital is soon over and they are rushing him into the ER as Johanna Beckett looks on. She goes to one of the waiting rooms before turning on Mr. Castle's phone. She finds Mother in his contact list and presses call. She picks up on the third ring.
"Richard darling you better be on your way home so you can tuck your daughter in for the night."
"Is this Martha?"
"Yes this is she. Who is speaking?"
"Hello my name is Johanna Beckett. We don't know each other but your son has just been taken to the ER for a stab wound and he told me to call you."
Martha gasps on the other end.
"Oh my God! Is he okay? Which hospital are you at?"
"We are at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and I rode with him on the way here. He was awake the whole time."
"We will be there as soon as possible thank you. Johanna Beckett right?"
"Yes. I'll be waiting for you in the ER okay?"
"Okay, thank you again."
The line went dead and Johanna gave a huge sigh, so not what she had planned for the night. Then she remembered her husband and daughter were waiting for her for dinner and she dug out her own phone to make another call.
"Hey Jim."
"Jo where have you been? We have been waiting almost an hour for you. We already ordered for you. It should be coming shortly."
"I'm sorry but I need you and Katie to meet me at New York Presbyterian Hospital. I'm one hundred percent okay, just a little shaken. I'll explain when you get here okay?"
"You're sure you're okay?"
"Yes babe, I'm fine. Please tell Katie that too okay?"
"Yeah, see you in a bit. Love you."
"Love you too."
Johanna sighed again for the umpteenth time that night and headed to one of the chairs to relax for a bit. She knew that the case was dangerous she just didn't think it would be dangerous enough to get her killed. She would have to tell the Detectives everything when she went into to the precinct, probably at some point tomorrow.
It was ten minutes later when an older redheaded woman, who had to be Rick's mother, entered along with what looked to be a three or four year old, completely adorable little girl with long red hair and bright blue eyes. She stood up immediately and walked towards them.
"Martha?"
"Yes, you must be Johanna Beckett" Martha replied as she walked to her.
"Hi, nice you meet you however grave the circumstances" Johanna replied.
"Did you save my Daddy?" a little voice said as Johanna looked down to the adorable little girl.
Johanna kneeled down to eye level and said, "Yes I did sweetie but your Daddy saved me first. I owe him my life."
She barely got the words out before the Alexis launched herself into her arms. Johanna cast a surprised look up at Martha but wrapped her arms around the little girl as Martha smiled softly down at them. Johanna tried to pull away after ten seconds or so but Alexis wouldn't let go so she just picked her up and continued to hold her. She turned to look at Martha for an explanation.
Martha just shrugged. "Her Father is her world, so that makes you her new favorite person."
"She's adorable."
"Thank you for saving my son."
"Please Martha, I only made the 911 call after it happened. I have to tell you the rest later but like I told Alexis here, he saved me. I really do owe him my life."
"Well either way thank you."
Martha and Johanna walked back over to the seats but before the sat down Johanna heard her husband and daughter call out to her.
"Jo!"
"Mom!"
They both rushed over and saw the little girl in her arms. Alexis turned her head where is rested on Jo's shoulder to get a look at the newcomers.
"Who are you?" Alexis asked.
"Alexis this is my husband Jim, and my daughter Katie."
"Your Mommy saved my Daddy," she replied as she retched out her arms for Kate. Kate took her and looked at her mother for an explanation but she just smiled and shrugged.
"Martha this this my husband Jim and my daughter Katie."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Beckett."
"Please call me Jim."
"Okay and you must be Katie then."
"Yes but please call me Kate."
"Of course darling," Martha replied.
"I like Katie better," Alexis said from Kate's shoulder.
"Well then little Miss you can call me Katie. How does that sound?"
"Good and you can call me Lexi," she replied.
"Sounds good," Kate replied.
"She has only ever lets her father call her that" Martha said, shocked to hear those words come out of her mouth.
"Who is her father?" Kate asked.
"Richard Castle."
"Wait a sec, Richard Castle the author?" Kate exclaimed.
"Yup!" said Alexis popping the 'P' much to the amusement of the three adults standing there.
Kate blushed when she realized she was holding Richard Castle daughter. Johanna just laughed when she saw her daughter blush. She turned to Martha and said "Katie has a little crush on your son at the moment."
"MOM!"
"Oh come now Katie its nothing to be ashamed of."
All three adults just chuckled at the embarrassed teen until Alexis spoke which sent them into full on laughter.
"You are really pretty Katie. Don't worry, my Daddy will like you."
After the laughter died down they all remembered where and why they were there and sat down on the chairs in the waiting room making small talk for the next couple hours. Martha explained the whole situation to the Beckett's while Kate kept Alexis entertained until a doctor came into the room.
"Family of Richard Castle?"
All five of them stood up but only Martha and Alexis, who slid off Kate's lap, walked up to the doctor.
"Yes I'm his mother and this is his daughter. How is he?"
"Hi my name is Dr. Sanders. I was the one who performed the surgery. You are very lucky he was able to get help right away. He had a deep stab wound to his left lung but we were able to repair the damage relatively easy. He shouldn't have any problem making a full recovery. He is in his room now and may have visitors. Family only for right now."
"Mister Dr?" Alexis said as she looked up to the doctor.
He kneeled down to look at her. "Can my friend come with me? She isn't family but I really want her to come with me."
The doctor sighed and looked to the small family of three behind this adorable little girl.
"I suppose I can make an exception just for you, as long as your grandmother is okay with it."
"Would mind terribly if all three of them came with us? "
"I suppose so. Mr. Castle isn't in critical condition so I don't see why not since you approve of it. His door number is 413 down the hall on the left."
"Thank you doctor," Martha said.
"Just doing my job. He should be awake shortly."
Martha nodded and grabbed Alexis' hand. "Let's go see your brave Daddy munchkin." Martha and Alexis started down the hall, followed by the Beckett family until they reached the door. Martha took a deep breath before pushing it open and ushering Alexis in before her.
End of Chapter One
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