Hi guys! Sorry for a pretty late update. I've had a lot of things going on but now it's finally easter break! And thanks so much for all the alerts and favorites! It's really making me happy. Something that would make me really glad too would be some reviews. Pretty please? (A) Anyways, here's the chapter. Oh and the next chapter will be really, really dark, so the M-rating is seriously strong.
The day went by as it usually did, not many changes there. She worked the case they had, gave orders to Ryan and Esposito, checked up on facts about the victim, conducted interviews and wrote on the murderboard. Castle were stuck in meetings which was somehow unusual, but still quite normal. She did all these things as she always did.
Everything was the same, and yet nothing was. Her whole world had been turned around and over and over again during the day when that thought struck her she just couldn't hold back the smile that spread on her face. She was pregnant. Before, that word had meant nothing to her. Now? She was carrying a new life inside of her and sometimes she just had to look down on her belly where she knew the baby was. Nothing was visible of course. Actually, nothing had changed since yesterday, and she was extremely surprised by her own reaction. Sure, she had always loved kids, but wasn't it a little too early to feel all these motherly feelings she had? Fact is, she didn't really care. She already loved her child and how it should be she couldn't pay less attention to.
The days went by and slowly she started to draw nearer to the earth from the cloud of happiness and euphoria she'd been floating on. Rick had had some trouble with the new Nikki Heat movie and had been forced to fly to L.A to sort it all out. Since the case they had had been a high profiler Kate couldn't go with him, which meant that she'd barely seen him since she found out she was pregnant, which also meant she hadn't told him yet. And honestly, she wasn't sure she was gonna tell him yet anyways. When her cloud of fluff had started to cease a growing worry had took place in her head instead. What if she had a miscarriage? She wasn't that far along, there was a big risk. She just didn't want Rick to have to go through the sorrow if she lost their baby. She knew she had to tell him soon of course, but she could wait a few days at least. The risk grew a little smaller each day right? That's what she told herself at least. Besides, he was still in L.A. She wouldn't tell him until he got back anyways.
She woke up from her thoughts when Espo stopped by her desk to ask her if she wanted to come out on dinner with the rest of the gang. She smiled at him.
"That'd be really nice, I'll just wrap this up and then I'm coming. Where're we going anyways?"
"I'm just as clueless as you. It was Lanies idea. Ryan and I were thinking about going to the Old Haunt, but she thought it'd be nicer to go do something else than just drink for once in a while."
"Sounds good to me. I'll be done in a minute!" She went back to her work to finish it up. Smooth, Lanie, she thought.
They all had a really good time together and the evening flew by as fast as it often does when you have fun. It was late when they all got out of the diner and parted, each of them finding their way to their own place. No one noticed the shadow hiding in the alley. No one ever did, the shadow thought. But tonight, this is my party. And I'm gonna be rockin' it!
Kate walked down the street, feeling happy but oh so very, very tired. She barely noticed the people around her and stumbled over things more than once. I need to get home to my bed right away, she thought to herself. Maybe I should take the shortcut. It's a dark and pretty abandoned street but if I walk really fast I'll be fine.
She followed her shortcut and turned right, walking into a small alley, not a very long one but very dark. She usually didn't go here after the sun had set, but she was so tired all she could think about was getting home to rest. Which was why she didn't notice the shadow following her, sneaking up behind her. Her cop senses were drowned in her state of too little sleep, making her just walk casually until something hard hit the back of her head, making the pain sear through her skull. She could feel herself falling to the ground, hitting the pavement hard, and then everything went pitch black.
Richard Castle picked up his luggage and started walking out of the airport. When he got out it was still night although dawn had begun to show, making the light glow a little dimmer and the sky, although still dark, show signs of caving in for the daylight to possess it. He breathed in the air of New York city again, realizing he had really missed his hometown even if he'd only been away for a week. He shouldn't even be back this early, the meetings were expected to last at least to weeks longer, but suddenly everything had been solved so nicely there wasn't really anything more to do. And Rick had not complained. The thought of being back in New York with his family had been too appealing to wait for, so he'd taken the first flight he could, even if that meant coming back at 4 am. The thought of being able to sleep in his own bed again made him hurry his footsteps a little. He stepped out to the side of the road, getting into the cab that was conveniently rolling up to him.
On the whole way home he kept picturing himself getting up the stairs, unlocking the door and stepping into the house. He'd have to be very careful so he wouldn't wake anyone up, although that's what he really wanted to do. Alexis would be so mad at him if he did that though, so that was out of the question. But he would go into her room just to watch her sleep. That may sound creepy but it was one of his favorite things to do. To see her laying there, snoring peacefully with her red hair spread all over her pillow made him calm.
The cab finally arrived to his door and he payed the cabdriver and went into the building, greeting the doorman politely as he walked past him. He walked up and into the apartment, and just as he had thought everyone was sound asleep. He went in to Alexis room to check on her, and found her just as he had pictured her only minutes ago. He walked up to her bedside, pulled some hair away from her face and kissed her forehead lightly, careful not to wake her up. He stood there for a minute, just watching his daughters innocent face and then he slowly went out of her room and continued to his own. Maybe Kate is here tonight, he thought with excitement. She should be. Nowadays she practically lived in Castle's loft and he had gotten used to her soft body warming him at night. The bed he'd slept in in his usual hotel room in L.A. were really soft and cozy, but without Kate in it it wasn't the same. It wasn't home.
He opened the door to his bedroom silently, only to find out the bed was made and completely empty. He muttered a little under his breath and went in, putting his luggage on the floor beside the drawer. Her lack of presence had robbed him of the little energy he had left and all he could think of was getting at least a few hours of sleep. I wonder why she isn't here? He thought to himself. Maybe she'd gone home for some alone time in her own apartment. Granted, she didn't even know I was coming home tonight. She's probably sound asleep in her own bed by now. And with that reassuring thought he climbed into bed and was asleep in a blink. Little did he know that Kate wasn't in her apartment nor sleeping very well, and that there would be sometime before he saw her again. If he ever would.
