Hey. I've had this vision in my head for a while now, and decided that it's time to get it written down. It's my vision on how that night went down for Kate Beckett and her Father. I hope I do it some kind of justice.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.
"Dammit, I'm gonna be late," Kate Beckett murmured to herself as she fumbled around, grabbing whatever she could find that she may possibly need that night, before tossing it into her bag. She hesitated for a moment, looking around the tiny apartment. There was something she was missing or forgetting, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She shrugged to herself as the scent of Chicken wings drifted in through the open window to her left. She wrinkled her nose and grasped up her bag before slinging it on her back, glad to be getting out of this place, even if it was only for the night.
As she made her way out of the apartment, she laughed to herself as the thought of leaving it open crossed her mind. Maybe if she did, someone would ransack the place. Maybe give her a reason to look for a new one. Kate rolled her eyes and turned to slip the key into the lock before turning it, and giving the handle a quick juggle, making sure it was locked tight. She checked her watch again and almost stumbled over her own feet as she spun around on the spot and bolted for the stairs, running down them quicker than she had done before.
"Can't be late…Can't be late," She chanted to herself as she dashed out into the cold sidewalk. The air hit her instantly, freezing her in her tracks. The January air stung her ears and nose, while pinching at her cheeks. Kate shivered and pulled the orange scarf tighter around her neck, trying her best to lock in the last scrap if heat she had in her body. Her hands tucked her jacket tighter to herself before diving into the pockets to pull out the matching orange gloves. She slipped them on as she walked along.
The traffic in the city was bustling, and there were people who were rushing from work to home as the darkness set in. Cutting across the street, Kate darted between cars that had parked, and some that had simply stopped due to the high amount of traffic. A few blasted their horns at her as the lines began to move again. One car even had to swerve in order to miss her. "Jackass," She mumbled and laughed as she skipped up onto the sidewalk at the other side of the road and peered down at her watch. There was only ten minutes to left in order for her to get uptown on time –a thirty minute journey on a normal day for her. She sighed, and started walking in the direction of the Diner.
As Kate moved her feet, her pace began to speed up and her eyes fell to her feet. The four inch stiletto heels she had decided on hours earlier weren't exactly perfect for this manner of traveling, but she started lifting her feet, and soon found herself breaking into a full out run.
As her feet pinched in the shoes, Kate groaned and pushed herself further. Never know when the time or need will come when I'll need to run in heels like this, Kate rolled her eyes at herself, deciding she'd probably never see a day that she'd need to run in heels like this, ever again.
Kate pushed herself faster as the hands on the watch ticked passed. She couldn't be late; she had promised her father she'd not be late, again. It had become a regular thing for her lately. The whole, working and studying thing hadn't exactly gone the way she had hoped, it hadn't been the best thing for her. However Kate refused to let it bring her down. She refused to allow her situation to get the better of her, but most of all, Kate Beckett refused to give up.
I'm a fighter, Kate often found herself saying out loud in moments that would make her second guess herself. These were the moments she'd normally find it hard to hang on, and often made her feel like just throwing in the towel, but for Kate, this wasn't even an option. She'd work as hard as she could, studying to pass her classes, and working so she didn't have to fall back on her parents help. She craved the independence in life. She needed to make her parents proud, and for this, she'd do anything.
As she grew closer to the diner, the beating in her heart began to thud against her chest, and Kate's eyes lifted. She still wasn't as near to the Diner as she had hoped, but it wouldn't help to even stop for a cab. Every single yellow cab that passed had been full. There were too many people that were trying to get out of the freezing cold. Kate had even let the thought of jumping on one of the bike cabs that passed her, but even those were full so she made the decision that running definitely was going to be her best option.
"So… gl –glad for the wo –workouts," Kate stuttered to herself as she ran. She was glad that the regular workouts she had been doing lately –thanks to studying dance, she thought, were paying off. A few months ago, and this running would have been the death of her. She laughed at her thoughts, and continued to try moving faster against the icy cold wind that was hitting her harder now. Her cheeks were a perfect rosy red and a shiver passed through her body at the fight between the wind and the heat from her body that was now surging due to the exercise.
A few minutes later, with numb feet and sweat causing her brow to shine slightly, Kate found herself outside the Diner. She heaved a sigh of relief as she bound to a stop just by the door, her eyes falling on the clock in the window. She smiled as the clock showed that she was only five minutes late. By running, she had managed to shave the journey in half. This pleased Kate and she beamed as she tugged open the door to the Diner and wandered inside.
The smell of hearty home cooking hit her as she let the door close quietly behind her. Kate took in a deep breath and allowed the smells to envelope her. For as long as she could remember, she'd come to this Diner with her parents at least a couple of times a month when she was little. They enjoyed the family feel, and the food was amazing, but the meetings were less often now that she was in school and living away from home. However, Kate's parents made sure that they always managed to meet here at least once a month for a catch up. This was Kate favourite time; the night she'd meet her parents and share information about school and work life, even if they had had dinner just a few nights before. It was different somehow to her too meet here. It brought back memories. Memories she loved.
Kate sighed another happy sigh as she slowly scanned the room, and a wide smile spread on her lips as her father stood up from the table in the corner, his arm was raised into the air and he was now waving. He hasn't changed at all since last week, Kate thought to herself as she wandered over, tugging at her scarf to loosen it before pulling it off altogether. Of course he hasn't, Kate... it's only been a week.
"Katie," Jim Beckett stepped from around the table and threw his arms around his daughter. Kate simply smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on to him tight. She loved the moment whenever she would see him after a long break, and he'd call her 'Katie' for the first time. It made her feel safe, loved. Kate allowed no one else to call her this, except of course her mother, who had always preferred using Katherine. This bugged Kate slightly, but for her mother, she always let it slide.
"Hey, Dad," Kate's wide smile allowed her eyes to shine brightly as she pulled back from her father's hold, still holding onto him with both hands like she did as a child, not wanting him to leave for work.
"It's good to see you, Katie," Jim said, moving away now to sit back in his seat. "How've you been?"
Kate followed, moving to sit at the seat opposite him, placing her scarf down in the empty seat beside her. "I'm doing great, Dad. Thanks. How're you?" She asked, undoing the buttons on her jacket as she spoke. The warmth of the Diner was beginning to hit her, and she could tell that the slight shine on her brow would only get worse if she didn't get this jacket off.
"How did you get here?" Jim asked, watching his daughter with a slight humour about him. "It looks like you ran the whole –You ran the whole way?" He shook his head disapprovingly, and Kate's eyes instantly lowered. She hated that look.
"I promised you I'd not be late," Her eyes lifted again, meeting Jims. She held his gaze, and flashed him a smile which in seconds had him smiling with her.
"I didn't mean for you to run a marathon to get here, Katie." His eyes rolled and he laughed the laugh that Kate knew so well. He was happy, and she liked to see her father happy.
"Uh, in the want of getting away from the subject of my 'marathon'," Kate quoted her father with a tiny giggle. "Where is Mom?"
"She called about an hours before I left to come here," his eyes fell down on his phone that sat at the edge of the. Kate's gaze followed his. "She has to work late, but she promised she wouldn't be long. Said we've to order, and order her the Chicken Salad and she'd get it when she arrived." Kate caught a glimpse of the forced smile on his lips, and knew instantly that her mother wouldn't be joining them.
The truth was, Kate wasn't surprised. Johanna had been so busy at work lately. She had case after case to work on, and her nights were getting longer and longer. She had begun noticing the change in her mother over her Christmas break when she had spent a few days at the family home, but it was only part of who Johanna Beckett was, and Kate loved that about her mother. She loved the strength she had and the pure drive for her work and to help people. Kate believed that her mother was the person she'd love to be. The one she looked up to the most. She was a fantastic mother, yet she could handle her work. Plus, Johanna had never missed a dinner with her family, so she'd be here soon, Kate thought.
"She'll make it," Kate smiled and nodded over to her father who returned her smile. "So, how is work for you? Still busy busy?"
Jim nodded, and pulled the menu out in front of him and scanned it, looking for what he'd have to eat. "It's been… quiet, I guess you could say." He sighed, and Kate knew that it was because his firm had taken a hit lately. One of the partners had been arrested for some kind of fraud, or something. Kate couldn't remember exactly, but the rest of the firm had suffered along with them and as a result, her father had had a very quiet few months.
"It'll pick back up again, Dad. It always does, right?" She asked enthusiastically, as she fidgeted with the corner of the menu, bending it back and forth.
"Well, we've never been hit like this before, but yes, we will bounce back." Jim offered just as enthusiastically, before pointing his finger to the menu. "I'll have that." Kate laughed at his quick change of the subject and peered over to where he was pointing.
"Dad, you always have that." She rolled her eyes and scanned her own menu.
"Ah, but this Steak is the best." He laughed and nodded. "The perfect amount of hickory smoking with just the right amount of bourbon." He winked, and Kate laughed. He picked the same stake every time they came to this diner, and if Kate were to bet each time, she'd be very rich.
"I wouldn't know. You never let me try it, do you?" She teased him, wrinkling her nose at him.
"Hey kid," he stopped her with his hand out stretch before him. "If you want the Hickory smoked steak, you order the hickory smoked steak. You do not eat mine." He replied with a stern, yet joking tone. "What'cha having?"
"Hmm, I think I'll have the… Hmm…" Kate scanned the menu, before opening her mouth, only to be cut off by her father once more.
"The Cheese Burger?" Jim asked with a knowing smile on his lips.
Kate narrowed her eyes at her father and simply folded the menu back up and placed it in the stand before sitting back in her seat, her arms folding over her chest.
"Hey, I'm not the only predictable one at the table, you know," and her father flashed a cheeky smile that forced a laugh past her lips. It was moments like these that Kate cherished.
After a few more moments, the waitress, who'd name Kate knew to be Daria, approached their table. Her tiny note pad was perched in her hand and she held her pen with the other. She was poised perfectly, ready to take the order.
"Hello again Beckett's," Daria spoke with a strong New York accent. Kate smiled up to her as she spoke. "Great to see you back again, you ready to order?"
Kate opened her mouth, ready to order as she had done the past few times they'd been here. Normally her father would do it, but Kate had taken to doing it faster, and a lot more clearer, so she relieved her father of the duty.
This time was different though, Kate was cut off by the strong New York accent. "Let me guess, a Hickory smoked steak, one full cheese burger with fries, and," She paused, looking at the empty seat. "Where's Mrs Beckett this evening?"
Jim looked up to the waitress, before answering. "Working, she'll be along soon though."
Kate laughed, and nodded as she thought the order over. "That's perfect, Daria. Can we add the Chicken Salad on there and an extra fries for the old man over there?" She nodded at her father who wrinkled his nose at her. "And two coffees, please?"
Daria nodded as she wrote the order down on her note pad, and read it back to the father and daughter, who agreed with what she had written down.
Kate watched the waitress disappear, before turning her attention back to her father. "So, wonderful daughter of mine. How is school going? And that apartment, still doing alright?"
Kate narrowed her eyes. She knew her father disapproved of her choice of apartment, yet she loved the fact that he had something to disapprove of. It was what their relationship was based on. He disapproved of everything she would do, and a few months down the line, after doing the things he didn't like, Kate would get bored, and move onto the next thing. And thus the whole situation would repeat itself.
"The apartment is perfect, Dad. Thanks." She grinned, and saw the look of disgust in his eyes. "It's only a chicken joint. I'm Nineteen; do you think I care where I live? It's close to school, and it's cheap."
"Yeah. It's cheap because of the smell." Jim mumbled under his breath, and Kate quickly changed the subject before he could continue listing everything that was wrong with her apartment.
"School is going great. I still love all my classes." Kate smiled as Daria place the coffees down in front of them, before returning back to the counter to grab the food. "Studying is tricky while trying to work and all, but I'm managing."
Kate looked up just in time to catch the look on Jim's face. She sighed and shook her head as the plates full of deliciously scented food were placed in front of them. Daria smiled at Kate, and then Jim before heading to another table to serve. Kate knew the look on her father's face to be that of disappointment. She'd hated that look her whole life, and would usually try anything to avoid it, except right now.
"Katie, why don't you just take the money?" Jim asked as he sliced into his steak.
"Because, Dad, I can make my own. I'm fine, honest." Kate chewed on one of her fries. "It's Mom's and your money. You both need it."
Jim sighed a heavy sigh, and fell into eating his food. Kate watched him for a moment. She really did hate to disappoint him and she wanted nothing more than for her mother and father to be proud of her. However they had offered to pay for a better apartment, and to give her money ever since she had started School. Kate had refused help, always turning down their offer of money. Of course, she'd do it politely, but she always felt that they had done enough for her growing up. It was time to look after herself now. She got a job working in a coffee shop on the evenings and weekends and would often find herself working if she had a day off. This helped to pay for her apartment, and anything else that needed paying. Kate was happy with her life, she didn't need anything else.
Digging into her meal, Kate kept her eyes on her father and smiled as he looked up and met her gaze. "I'm proud of you, Katie. Your mother is too, you know?"
She beamed. It wasn't often that she heard the words coming from her father, nor her mother, but when she did hear it, Kate felt a lightness in herself. This was the proof that she could go on. That she could continue with the harsh study plan and the difficult way of living and always rushing around, hardly getting sleep. She had too; she couldn't let her parents down.
"Thank you, Dad." She smiled, before they both lowered their heads and continued eating.
Kate stole a few glances to the full plate of food sitting beside her father, and then over to the clock on the wall. Each time she did, a frown would cross on her lips and she'd wonder what could be keeping her mother so late. She had never known her mother to stay so long at work, even when working on a difficult case. She guessed that this just showed her how like her mother she actually was. Kate smiled to herself and pushed her empty plate further way from her. Jim followed her actions and glanced at the clock.
"We've waited two hours, kiddo," he forced a smile on to his lips as Kate nodded. "I don't think we can wait much longer. Daria is getting impatient." He pointed his head in her direction. Kate laughed as she saw the waitress standing by the counter with her arms folded, watching them.
"Maybe you're right." Her nose wrinkled and she grabbed her scarf from the seat beside her. "I guess we can get this to go, right?"
Kate watched as Jim waved Daria over before asking if she could package the left-over food up for them to-go. She agreed, and moved off to place it in foil containers.
After the waitress returned, and placed the container down on the table, Kate grabbed it and placed it in her bag. "I'll get this tonight, dad." She offered, digging around in her bag for her wallet.
"Katie, put that away. I'm paying." Her father pulled out the money before Kate even had a chance to pull her wallet all the way out, and he handed the money over to the waitress who smiled before heading over towards the cash register. "No change, please." He called after her, before tucking his wallet back into his pocket. The waitress turned and beamed at him, before nodding and offering a quiet 'thank you.'
Kate stepped away from the table and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, before turning towards the door, checking back to make sure her father was following. Satisfied that he was, Kate pushed open the front door to the building and stepped out on to the sidewalk. The chill in the air hit her instantly, and her teeth began to chatter.
"Hey, Katie. Where is that contained for your mom?" Jim questioned as he followed, his hands stuffed into his pockets to keep warm.
"In my bag, why?" Kate answered as she turned around, her feet pinching in her shoes. For the first time since she sat down, she had wished she had taken a cab instead of running.
"Well, I'm gonna need it for your mom. She'll be hungry."
"What did you think I was going to do? Take it home and eat it myself, Dad? I've just had my dinner." She laughed, nudging his shoulder with her fist as she started walking in the direction of her parent's home.
"Well, no," Jim started, before moving to follow his daughter. "What are you doing with it?"
"I'm taking it to Mom, duh." Her eyes rolled as her father fell into step beside her. "I haven't seen her in almost a week. If I don't see her tonight, it'll be next week before I do." She shrugged, and continued to walk. "I've no class tomorrow, and I'm not working until tomorrow night, so I'll just crash in my old bed."
Her father nodded in her direction, and she slipped her arm through his as they walked side by side, heading in the direction of home, looking forward to some warmth. Kate smiled and decided that even though today had stared out bad, the night could be much better.
A/N: This is part one, of two, maybe three. It totally depends on how long the next part is.
Please let me know if you have enjoyed it so far, and if you think I should continue writing it and finishing it. I would be so, so grateful.
Thank you so much for reading so far. You guys rock.
Kerrie.