A/N: It took me ages to get this chapter to feel right; even then I'm still not to sure about it. I don't think I've done Martha justice, but then people do make snap judgements about people that are, quite often, wrong, so that's kind of what happened here. I'm also not that sure about hospital procedure in America, so apologies for any mistakes in that area. I hope you enjoy and I'm hoping to get one more chapter done before I go internet less. Once again, if you have any ideas that would make my writing better, please tell me. I love criticism, as long as it's constructive and will help me improve.
Disclaimer: No. Despite popular belief, I do not own Castle.
When Rick got home he immediately went into his study and turned his laptop on and began looking at the latest headlines on the NY Ledger page. He wanted to know more about thins mysterious Kate Beckett, and if she was a Detective, injured in the line of duty with a child, then surely, there would be something about it online. And right there, the first headline of the page the 'Breaking News' headline: 'NYPD Detective Seriously Injured in Suspect Takedown' Rick continued reading, he wanted to see if he could find where she was being treated so he could return her book.
'NYPD Detective Kate Beckett was seriously injured after a suspect takedown went wrong. What was supposed to be a routine follow up on a witness statement almost turned deadly then the witness actually turned out to be what the NYPD is calling their prime suspect. Robert Harrison former Navy SEAL is looking good for 5 counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Detective Beckett's condition remains unknown, although witnesses say it looked very serious as she was wheeled away from the scene unconscious and taken to Lennox Hill hospital. More details will be published when more information is given.'
Rick let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and looked up as Martha entered the room.
"Hello mother," He grinned. "What brings you into my study? You're not after my credit card again are you?" he reached protectively for wallet.
"No, dear. You seemed rather distracted on the way home today and I was wondering what was wrong," his mother replied, frowning.
"Well mother, I had just finished the book signing this afternoon and I saw a boy a couple of years younger than Alexis trying to get past the security guard to get a book signed an-"
"Where were his parents? Surely they didn't just let the boy run round the city. Anything could happen to a child," Martha interrupted, concerned.
"As I was saying mother, before I was so rudely interrupted," Martha rolled her eyes at her son's antics. "He wanted a book signed for his mother, who is a Detective, and I'm not actually sure why he was wandering around unaccompanied, I assume he ran away from whoever was looking after him, anyway, just before I sign the book for him, he gets a call from someone who tells him that his mom's in hospital, and then two minutes later a Detective pulls up and takes the kid away. I still have the book, and I think I should return it."
"Oh, that's horrible. Imagine that, knowing your mother could end up dead any day, dreading that phone call that will ruin your life forever. The poor child, how could you put yourself in that position, what is that woman thinking?" Martha ranted dramatically.
"Grams, you can't say that. I think she's amazing, being a Detective and looking after a child and you have no right to judge," Both the adults looked at Alexis in surprise as she frowned at Martha. "There's a kid in my class like that, he's really nice. His mom is a cop, and he is the sweetest person I know, he's really shy though, and quiet, I don't know him very well. Jack his name is, I think.
Rick looked up in surprise. "Jack? As in Jack Beckett?" At Alexis' nod he continued. "That's the kid that I met today, there is no way was he old enough to be in your class, and how does a Detective afford to send their kid to a private school?"
"He's only a year younger than me, he skipped a grade. He gat a scholarship I think, he's like, freaky smart. If his mom's in hospital, we have to go and see him. He's gonna need friends, and I don't know if he's made any yet, he only just skipped a grade this year. He's gonna need someone to take notes for him in class, and drop off homework and stuff, he won't want to came into school for a while," Martha and Rick looked on amused as Alexis began muttering to herself, and grabbed a bit of paper off Rick's desk to start writing a list of what she thought she should do.
"Sweetie, are you sure about this? I mean, you said you don't really know him, and it would have to be rather awkward for the kid, you just showing up at the hospital. And hey, he might not actually want his homework. Not everyone loves the extra work like you do," Rick said, although he knew that when his daughter set her mind to something there was no changing it. He sighed when Alexis levelled a glare in his direction. "Okay, but do you want to go now we just got home," he whined.
"Dad, come on," Alexis turned on her heel and walked out of the study.
Martha turned to her son. "Are you sure she's not adopted? Or an alien?" Rick rolled his eyes and followed Alexis out of the study, grabbing his keys and wallet on the way out.
…
When Rick and Alexis arrived at Lennox Hill, Alexis took the lead. She walked up to the desk and smiled sweetly at the receptionist.
"Hi," she said brightly. "My friend Jack's mom was admitted to hospital earlier this afternoon and I was wondering if you knew where I could find Jack. His mom's name is Kate Beckett."
The receptionist looked at Alexis for a moment before replying. "Ms Beckett is still in surgery, her son is in the waiting room over there," she pointed in the direction of the waiting room. Alexis gave her another smile and headed off in the direction of the waiting room with Rick following, rather bemused.
Rick recognised Jack the moment they entered the waiting room. He was sitting in a plastic chair, looking lost and alone even though he was surrounded by people. Alexis walked over to him, and gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Hey, I'm Alexis and I'm in-"
"My class, yeah, I recognise you. What're you doing here? Do you know someone in hospital?" Jack interrupted, tilting his head sideways as he looked at Alexis, but seemed rather grateful for the distraction.
Alexis smiled softly. "Yeah, you," at Jack's puzzle expression she continued. "I heard that your mom was in hospital and thought you could probably do with some company. Also, I thought you might want someone to take notes for you and drop off any homework," Jack opened his mouth to speak when Alexis rushed on. "And I know you don't really know me, but I know if my dad was in hospital I would hate to be all alone and I'd want someone my own age to talk to so I thought you could use a friend. But I can go if you want me to," she finished looking rather unsure of herself.
"No, stay, please. You're right I could really do with a friend, and I'd really appreciate it if you could take notes. And if you could bring me my homework, I can't fall behind in class," As he was saying this, a surgeon came into the room and walked over to him.
"Jack Beckett, I'm your mom's surgeon, is your father here or any other family? I need to give an update, and it is standard procedure that I have to tell an adult family member. Is there anyone I can contact?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't know where my father is, and mom has no family other than her dad, and he's not available at the moment. It's just me, but please, tell me what's happening. Is my mom okay?"
"She's going to be fine, sore for a while and off work for a couple of months, or at least confined to desk duty. We had to do some reconstructive surgery on her right wrist because it was badly broken, her right shoulder was dislocated so we had to put it back in the socket and fix some tissue damage surrounding the shoulder. Your mom also had a nasty head wound that needed stitches and we think she has a reasonable concussion. She also has two cracked ribs and multiple bruised ones, they will be tender for a while and they'll need taping until they heal, and there is bruising around her throat and on her face, and probably on her arms and torso too, from the fight. I know it sounds scary, but she's going to be okay, all the injuries are rather minor, the only thing we have to keep an eye on is the concussion. If you have someone to stay with your mom can probably leave in a couple of days but if not she'll have to stay here for about a week so we can keep an eye on her. We are just moving her into her room now, and she should wake up from the anaesthetic within half an hour. If you'd like I can take you there now."
Jack was quiet for a minute, as the surgeon's words started to sink in. Then he turned to Alexis. "Would you come with me? I know you don't really know me, but I really don't want to go in there alone," when Alexis nodded he turned to the surgeon. "Please take me to see my mom."
Alexis caught Rick's eye and indicated for him to follow. Rick trailed after them at a discrete distance, the two pre-teens talking as they followed the surgeon. When the surgeon stopped Jack look up at him.
"Than you, sir," he said quietly before entering the room. Rick heard a small gap as Jack entered the room and saw his mother for the first time since the morning. Alexis followed Jack, and also gasped at what she saw. When Rick peered around the door, he could see why Alexis and Jack had reacted as they had. Detective Kate Beckett was lying in a hospital bed, unconscious, her right arm was in a brace and her wrist was in a cast. But that wasn't the worst part; half of her face and her entire neck were covered in developing bruises, Rick could actually see the hand prints on her neck. He glanced at his daughter and her new friend, and then smiled as he saw Alexis envelop Jack in a tight hug. Alexis then dragged two chairs over beside the bed. Rick remained in the doorway as Alexis and Jack sat down in the chairs. They talked to each other as they waited for Kate to wake up, occasionally stealing glances at the battered and bruised form of the sleeping Detective.
About twenty minutes after they entered the room, Kate began to stir. She twitched, and then moaned, and Rick could see the pain on her face. Her eyes fluttered open, or at least they tried to but one had swollen almost completely shut. Looking at her, Rick felt an overwhelming urge to find whoever had done this and beat them to death with is bare hands; how could anyone even think of hitting a woman, especially one as beautiful as this woman. And she was beautiful, he thought, even with over half of the skin that was visible covered in bruises, she took his breath away. She looked wildly around the room, as if she couldn't quite place where she was, however when she saw her son, her body visible relaxed.
"Jack," Kate croaked quietly. So quietly in fact, that Rick had to strain his ears to hear it. Jack, who had been deep in conversation with Alexis, looked at his mother immediately, and when he noticed she was awake he grinned at her.
"Mom! You're awake. Let me just get a nurse," and at that he hit the call button above Kate's bed, then continued speaking. "This is my friend, Alexis; she's going to be taking notes for my classes and dropping my homework off while I'm off school." Kate frowned, when Jack mentioned time off school but before she could reply a nurse bustled past Rick and into the room and began looking at Kate's chart and checking vitals.
"How are you feeling sweetie?" The nurse asked Kate as she flipped through the chart making notes here and there.
"Like I've been hit by a truck," she croaked, grimacing as her throat objected. "What happened?" Her eyes started drifting closed as she finished talking and Jack looked at the nurse, worried.
"Why can't she remember what happened? Is it normal that she went to sleep again? What about her concussion?" Jack bombarded the nurse with questions.
"It's okay, and yes, it is normal that she went back to sleep, the anaesthetic hasn't quite worn off yet, so she'll probably be in and out of consciousness for a while, we are monitoring the concussion but it should be fine, although that may be why she can't remember what happened. When she's more lucid she may remember what happened better. I'll bring you some ice chips for next time she wakes up, they'll help sooth her throat and make speaking easier," the nurse turned to leave and raised her eyebrow when she saw Rick still standing in the doorway. Rick gave her his best charm smile and she just shook her head at him as she left. She re-entered the room a few moments later with a cup containing ice chips and left it on the table beside the bed, then left again.
Rick felt like an intruder, standing in the doorway, staring in, but he didn't know what else to do, going in would be even more intrusive but he just couldn't bring himself to leave. Suddenly Alexis seemed to remember that her dad was there too because she turned to Jack and caught his attention.
"Jack, this is my dad, Rick, is it okay if he comes in too?" When Jack saw Rick, he paled.
"Wait, your dad is Richard Castle?" Then turning to Rick he continued. "Please sir, you can't tell my mom that I was at the book store this afternoon, I wasn't supposed to be there and she'll really freak out," he cast a glance at Kate to make sure she was still asleep. "And she already has enough to worry about."
Rick smiled at him. "It's okay, I won't tell her, but you kind of left the book behind when you left. Not that I blame you, you had way more important things on your mind at the time. Unfortunately… I think I left it at home," Rick frowned, somewhat disappointed in his forgetfulness. "Never mind, Alexis can drop it off with your homework at some point," He shrugged in response to a glare from Alexis at his last comment, then all three returned their gazes to Kate as she started to wake up again.