After some very awkward and embarrassing manoeuvring on both sides, Kate managed to get Becca in and back out of her car.
After following the girl's clear instructions, to the letter, of how to put her wheelchair back together, Kate helped her transfer back into her chair and then pointedly ignored the frustrated and humiliated blush coating the young girl's face.
"You need me to push you or...?" Kate asked, cautiously.
Becca shook her head quickly. "No, thank you, I'm good." She babbled hurriedly, and rolled away from the car, while Kate gathered her stuff and locked the car.
She set her head in her hands for a moment. "Well done Katie, nice one. First meeting, and you've embarrassed the hell out of her. Great."
After the most silent and strained elevator ride of her life, Kate followed Becca to the loft door, watching, impressed, as she wheeled to the door, three-point-turned to get side on, and unlocked the door with the key from her purple plaid shirt pocket.
Kate smiled when the girl pushed open the door and invited her in. "That was awesome."
Becca shrugged. "I've been doing it for a couple of months, you get used to it."
She made her way over to the couch and transferred herself, before pulling the chair out of the way and turning to Kate.
"Dad'll be back soon enough. Gina keeps going on about these meetings he's avoiding, but he can usually get out pretty fast. Not like he wants to hang around."
Kate finished hanging her coat up and looked at the child, confused. "He doesn't want to spend time with Gina after them?"
Becca scoffed. "Would you want to hang around with the person you rather dramatically left in the summer?"
Kate paused to take that in.
She wouldn't ask the girl, that wasn't fair, but she'd have to find a way to bring it up later with Castle.
The detective made her way to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, only to stare for a few seconds, before closing it again. "You hungry?" She called out to the couch.
"Not really. You can help yourself to whatever you like though. Dad won't mind." Becca replied, sighing as she hauled herself back into her chair and rolled through the open-plan-space to meet her chaperone. "So, you're the famous Detective Kate Beckett, huh?"
Kate chuckled, switching on his coffee maker to make herself a cup. "That depends entirely on what your dad has told you."
Becca giggled and Kate felt the atmosphere lift at the sound. "Mostly good things. He says you're frustrating, but apart from that, apparently you're pretty awesome."
Kate smiled softly, leaning against the counter. "I've heard a lot about you too. Never your name but..." She tailed off, smirking.
Becca shrugged with a small smile. "Habit. Dad tries to keep me out of the public eye, as much as is humanly possible for someone like him. He doesn't mention me to many people. You basically have to be blood or hired, and highly vetted, security to know my name. He can get overprotective, knowing what kind of a stir him not being with my mom especially, would cause but, I understand and appreciate the effort."
Kate smiled softly. "He's a good dad. One of the best I've seen."
Becca shrugged. "Don't tell him that, his head already struggles to fit through the door."
Beckett laughed, making the young girl smile.
"Say Kate, you mind if I go get changed? Physio, y'know?"
Kate shook her head, turning to grab her mug. "Course not. You got it or you need a hand?"
"Nah, I got it." She smiled and rolled away. "Cheers for offering though." She called over her shoulder.
Kate shook her head with a smile, taking her cup with her as she started to look around.
Castle's home was impressive.
That couldn't be denied, but it was still homely.
There were huge black and white prints on the wall, very art-deco Kate thought, but it was the full colour collage on the wall behind the couch, between the windows, that caught her eye.
What looked like a collection of professional photographs and spontaneous snaps, of Baby Becca Castle through the years.
It was beautiful.
Mostly portraits of the girl, only about four of them included her dad, but there wasn't a mother figure in them anywhere.
Kate sighed, sipping her coffee slowly.
Castle had enough on his plate, without trying to raise a daughter single handedly. Let alone a daughter who apparently, however short term, couldn't currently walk.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, bringing her out of her introspection sharply.
"Beckett." She answered habitually.
"Hey, I presume you're at the loft by now." Rick's rushed voice reached her, a smile she'd deny later creasing her face at the sound.
"Yeah, Becca's just getting changed." She replied happily.
"Great, listen, this meeting is gonna take longer than I thought it would. I'm sorry. Are you good to stay with her for a while? She'll be as good as gold and there's plenty of food in, if you wanted to cook, or I'll reimburse you if you wanted to get take out. If you can't stay, I'll come get her and bring her here. I'd rather not do that, but I know you're a busy woman..."
"Hey, Castle, calm down, okay? It's fine. We'll be fine. Take as much time as you need." She reassured him quickly.
"I owe you one, Kate. I really do. Becca's meds are in the cupboard above the stove, if she needs them. She gets achy after physio. She's pretty independent, but she may need help in and out of her brace."
"Got it." Kate smiled.
"I know, you're brilliant and I'm worrying unnecessarily, I know. But I'm available at any time, okay? You're on my do not disturb list, so you'll get through. If you need to, call me. No meeting is that important."
Kate's smile widened. "I know. I'm on it, Castle. I promise. I've got it. And you don't owe me anything, Rick."
She heard him sighed softly down the line. "You're pretty great, you know that?"
"Yeah." She chuckled. "Now get back to it. The faster you finish the meeting, the faster you can come home."
At his gasp, she realised how that sounded.
She'd meant to say 'go home'.
'Come home' sounded far too domestic for where they were in their non-relationship.
"Yeah." She heard him sigh. "I'll be home as soon as I can."
Kate nodded, despite the knowledge he couldn't see her. "See you soon."