Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! I'm having so much fun with this and you guys just make my day! :)
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Castle. Key word there being "wish".
Chapter 3- Shreds of Doubt
Loud beeping woke Kate from a nice dream. She shot up into a sitting position and glanced around wildly before realizing it was her alarm clock. Beside her, Castle had turned, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Was goin' on?" He slurred.
Kate shook her head, trying to clear her foggy mind and hit 'snooze'.
"Nothing, go back to bed. The alarm scared me is all."
"Alarm? Why's the alarm set?" He asked, propping himself up on his elbows and staring at his watch.
"Castle...I'm working today, remember? Vacation's over." She replied softly, swinging her legs out from under the warm covers and slipping a robe over Castle's t-shirt she was wearing.
Castle was drifting off again, so Kate let him be and went out into the kitchen on her own. The only light came from the electronic clock on the counter and it allowed just enough for Kate to find the coffee pot and heat up water. While it warmed up, she started to pace back and forth, trying to wake herself up. This was what two-week vacations did to you, she realized. Sleep had become another thing that she had started to take for granted.
Finally, the pot began to whistle and Kate took it off the burner, pouring the coffee into her mug and sitting on a stool, sipping thoughtfully.
"Hope that's decaf."
She whipped around to see Rick standing in the bedroom doorway, watching with a still-half-asleep smile plastered on his face.
"Babe...of everyone in the world, I think I would be the last to forget that I'm six months pregnant." She responded, "of course its decaf."
He grinned and made his way over to the stool next to her, taking a seat with his chin in his hand.
"You nervous?" He asked.
"For...?"
"Well the last time your co-workers saw you, your midsection was next to flat and you were wearing a very loose shirt."
"So?"
"So...you're going to have a lot of explaining to do. Obviously a lot can happen in two weeks." He said.
Kate pursed her lips and nodded thoughtfully. Honestly, she hadn't really worried much about it. Lanie already knew, Gates already knew, and the other two would be fun to suprise. But now that she thought about it, Castle was right. Now that she wasn't trying to hide her growing baby bump under a loose t-shirt, it was pretty obvious.
"No...not really. Mostly I'm just worried that they're going to get protective all the time and not let me come places with them."
"Well to be fair, you are carrying a baby, Kate." Rick offered.
"Well yeah...but that doesn't mean I can't handle myself!"
Rick looked her in the eyes, worry growing on his face. He had expected this, and wasn't quite sure how to handle it.
"I know. You're right, you can. But please, please, please, just be careful, okay?"
She looked down and smiled, "I will Castle...I promise."
The precinct was quiet as it often was in the morning. Only a few cops trudged around, likely making up for missed days. Kate stepped out of the elevator and made her was past empty desks and closed doors until she spotted Ryan and Esposito.
Glancing back at Castle to make sure he was right behind her, Kate walked into the large, desk-filled room. It looked exactly how she had left it. The windows had been cleaned, the murder board was empty and the boys looked bored. It was as if nothing of interest had happened while she was gone.
"Hey guys." Kate said loudly, scaring Espo into dropping his feet off the desk. Ryan set the phone down and turned in his desk chair.
"Yo Beckett!" Espo hopped out of his chair, grinning.
"Hey guys! Glad to have you back!" Ryan added, standing as well.
"Glad to be back." She responded as they approached.
It took half the room for Espo to stop. He squinted his eyes, watched Kate's amused expression, glanced at Castle, and dropped his jaw. Ryan gave him a funny look then glanced at Kate himself. It only took a second for a knowing smile to appear on his face.
"Wait...okay...wait. Either y'all spent WAY too much time at fancy restaurants, or..."
Beckett laughed and rolled her eyes, "oh yeah Espo, that's it."
"Congratulations guys!" Ryan ran forward and threw an arm over Beckett's shoulder
Espo patted Castle on the back and smiled, "wow...that's awesome! When are you due?"
"August." Beckett replied, trying hard to contain the grin on her face.
"Hey...captain's coming...you better watch it." Both backed off and let Gate's approach.
"So glad to see you back detective! How was your break?"
"Good, sir. Thank you."
"Good, I'm glad. And Mr. Castle?" She turned and shot him a death glare," you just took my best detective from the field for NINE MONTHS. You're stepping on thin ice, my friend."
Kate smirked and slapped Castle's arm, giving him a fake-disapproving look. Gates smiled.
"I'm joking. Congratulations you two." She touched Beckett's arm and raised her eyebrows threateningly toward Castle before walking away.
"Wait...did you already tell her? Before us?" Espo asked, looking hurt.
"Well what was I supposed to do? Let her find out the way you guys did? Talk about trouble..."
"Kate! You're back! Oh my god! Come here, lemme see!"
Lanie rushed toward them threw her arms around Kate, who smiled awkwardly and hugged her back.
"Oh Kate! I'm so happy for you!" She shrieked, putting a hand by Kate's over her baby bump.
"Wait, you told HER too?!" Espo asked indignantly.
"Oh come on, Javi. I think the girl's got the right to tell her best friend before y'all lazy butts."
Espo was about to comment, but held back. Then he turned to Ryan, "okay am I the only one who feels totally left out here? She told everyone but us!"
"Well...to be fair Espo, everyone includes my best friend, boss, dad, and husband." Beckett responded pointedly.
A phone rang in the background and Ryan turned to grab it.
"Yeah I know, Beckett. I'm just kidding, congratulations." Espo gave in.
"Yo guys...we caught a case."
Walking up to the crime scene felt so normal after a crazy two weeks of nothing but relaxing. It was an apartment in downtown, and the victim was, much to everyone's dismay, a teenage girl.
"Name's Abigail Hartford. Neighbor heard gunshots and called 911. She's 18, just graduated two weeks ago. Her house is in Brooklynn." Lanie reported, setting her clipboard down and sighing, "looks like she took two nine-mils to the chest. She would've died pretty quickly." She added the last part for reassurance.
"So if she lived in Brooklynn, what was she doing in Manhattan?" Beckett asked.
Before Lanie could answer, Espo and Ryan came in carrying notebooks.
"I just got off the phone with her parents. Apparently, Abigail was down here for the weekend to babysit her 3-year-old niece while the parents went on vacation. They're due back tonight." Ryan reported.
"Wait...a 3-year-old niece?" Beckett asked, shooting Castle a worried glance.
"That's right."
"Well where is she?"
Everyone stopped mid-progress and looked up.
"Oh god..." Lanie muttered.
"Okay search the house! If there's ANY possibility she's still here, I want her found!" Beckett commanded, pulling her gun and following Ryan through the archway that led to the living room. They checked each and every room, opened closets, peeked behind shower curtains, and turned up empty. The only evidence that the girl was ever here was a dirty teddy bear sitting, abandoned, next to a smashed window.
"God no...no..." Beckett shook her head and returned to the main room, getting negatives from the other searchers. A sinking feeling formed in her stomach as the truth set in.
"Our killer took the little girl."
Authors note: thanks for reading and sticking with this story! You guys are the best. Reviews are gladly appreciated! Thank you!