Chapter Three
She likes garlic on her popcorn. She's nervous about asking him if that's alright, but he's already in the midst of grabbing it from the seasonings side table. He didn't even think of it as odd until she mentioned it, but now he remembers how his mother always wrinkled her nose every time they saw a Sunday afternoon flick together. He remembers thinking that he must have gotten it from his father because Martha practically gagged every time his hand reached out for it.
He smiles down at her and shakes the little garlic powder tube, then sprinkles probably too much on the bucket of popcorn he'd sprung for. Joey beams at him and Castle laughs. She probably thinks he's doing this just for her, but she has no idea. He adds the usual salt and some butter to the popcorn and watches as she practically salivates over it, then grabs her hand and they make their way into the auditorium.
Throughout the movie, he can't help but watch her. Beckett had told him and Alexis, one more than one occasion when they were asked to babysit the girl, how much she loves old Leslie Nielson comedies, like Forbidden Planet and Dracula: Dead and Loving it. It's something that she and her daughter share, which was, initially, a surprise to Castle. Since having met her, Beckett always seemed like the no-nonsense type. She looked like the kind of woman who enjoyed foreign films and could understand them without subtitles. The kind that liked action and drama films, even some romance from time to time, but comedy had not been his first choice of film favorite for her.
She just continues to surprise him.
Especially today, he thinks, looking down at the girl he is about 99% positive is his own flesh and blood. How either of them could have any doubt in their minds about this (Beckett so doesn't believe in coincidences) is beyond him now that he sees her practically wolfing down the treat and sipping from the comically large soda he bought her ("don't tell your mother or she'll shoot me") without removing her gaze from the screen. He does the exact same thing every time he's at the theater, too. There's no getting him out of that kind of trance without something else to distract him.
Like her. His—maybe—little girl. Whether or not she actually is his daughter really shouldn't matter to him because he already loves her like his own, even though he's only known her for about a year. And, unlike Big Beckett, Johanna seems to love him just as much.
Still, he wonders what her reaction will be when she finds out that he's her father (if, he corrects himself half-heartedly); will she accept it, be ecstatic and embrace him? Will she start calling him 'Dad' right away? Or will she be angry at him for not being a part of her life sooner? Will she blame him for his absence in her life? As logical a Beckett as Joey can be—especially considering who her mother is—her anger can sometimes be just as big an influence—especially considering who her mother is.
He doesn't want to lose that smile or the excited squeals or moments like these, where she's laughing hysterically at something Leslie just said on screen, her eyes lighting up as those dimples pop in her cheeks. He doesn't want to lose her hugs or the way she giggles when he pokes her playfully in the side, or that light in her eyes whenever he tells her a joke or whispers some sarcastic comment behind her mother's back. He doesn't want to be without that adorable wrinkled nose when she smells something disgusting or sees a gross picture on the murder board (which Kate has long since stopped trying to hide from her) or without the amused smirk when Castle and Beckett argue over something or build theory.
Of all the fans he has—and he's big enough to admit that there's quite a few out there—she's the only one he doesn't want to lose and he prays that he doesn't.
When the movie is done and the popcorn and soda has been depleted, Castle has the practically carry her out of the theater, groaning. "Too much to eat," she whines and he laughs, lifting her up into his arms. At eleven years old, she should be too big to hold up like this, but she's like a feather in Castle's arms. He cradles her like a baby and she squirms for a bit until her cheek is pressed to his shoulder and then she allows her body to relax in his arms. Before he's even hailed a taxi, she's asleep and he's careful not to jostle her as he slides in and whispers the address for the twelfth precinct.
The cabbie nods and starts the meter, then pulls out into traffic. For a moment, they ride in silence and then the man catches his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Cute kid you got there," he says. "She looks just like you."
Castle doesn't even try to suppress the grin that spreads on his face at the sentiment. He just nods and smiles back, looking down at the sleeping girl in his arms. "Thanks," he says, simply. "Thanks a lot."
C&B
Kate's staring blankly at her computer screen when the elevator dings and she turns just in time to see Castle stroll in with her preteen daughter in his arms. Their preteen daughter, she corrects herself. Maybe. She'll never be a hundred percent on that until Lanie calls in with the results of the DNA test, but at this point she doesn't even care what the papers say.
There's no denying that Richard Castle is that girl's father. She's gone over every man she'd been with before she had left school for winter break and the only one who's even close to the correct timeline is Rogan O'Leary and they broke up at least a month before her tryst with the airport guy, so it's highly unlikely that it resulted in the birth of her daughter. But, again, without the definitive evidence, there's no way to be completely certain.
And, if she's being totally honest with herself, the thought of Johanna's father actually being Castle...well, it scares her. Not only because it'll mean possible having to share her daughter with another person (because it will be up to the girl to decide whether or not Castle will play that role in her life), but because it means that she once had such a deep connection with this man, whom she didn't even know at the time, that she willingly had sex with him, got pregnant with his child, and decided to keep that child; all before she even turned 20 years old. And, as blurry as that night is now, Kate can't honestly say that it wasn't one of her fondest memories.
And not only because it brought her the love of her life.
"I'm gonna put her down in the break room," Castle informs Kate as he carries said love past. Joey is practically drooling on his shoulder, and emits a tiny snort as they pass, which makes both of them smile affectionately at her. Kate nods and watches through the window as he lays her down on the couch and removes her sneakers, jacket, hat and scarf. Then he covers her with a blanket and—probably absentmindedly—kisses her forehead before standing and walking back out.
Her heart is soft as she watches him return and take his usual seat next to her desk. She doesn't even notice that she's still staring until he's sitting right in front of her, looking back in confusion.
"What?" he asks, snapping her out of whatever daze she's in.
Kate shakes her head and looks back to her screen, where only half of some kind of form is filled out. "Nothing," she lies, but her heart continues to pound ceaselessly. Castle squints his eyes at her for a moment, but then decides to let it go as he pulls out his phone and opens up some game app.
While she fills out paperwork, he plays that game, making noises as he does; groaning in frustration and practically dancing in his seat whenever he beats a level. Kate watches him from the corner of her eye and has to bite her lip to keep the smile at bay.
They both nearly fall out of their seats when the phone rings and Kate reaches for it without thinking, already getting out her pen and a pad to write down whatever address she's about to receive. "Beckett," she answers, all business.
"Kate, it's Lanie," the ME says on the other side. "I've got your results down here if you wanna come check them out."
"Have you opened them yet?" Kate asks, locking eyes with Castle.
"The lab tech just brought them in. I'm not allowed to look at it; not without your express permission. Do I have that?"
Kate bites her lip as she thinks about it, then sighs and shakes her head. "No," she says. "Wait for us; Castle and I will be there in a minute."
"Okay," says Lanie. "I'll see you soon. And Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"If this test is positive, I'd really like to suggest you finally stop dragging your feet and let that boy take you out to dinner already. You're out of excuses."
"We'll see you soon, Lanie," Kate says through her teeth, then hangs up the phone and turns to Castle, praying that her cheeks are not as pink as they feel. "The results are in," she says. Castle nods in understanding and they both turn to Ryan and Esposito, who are working on their own files. "Guys," Kate says, "keep an eye on Jo, alright? We're, uh, making a lunch run."
"Ooh, what're you getting?" Ryan asks, perking up.
"Burgers from Remy's," Castle says. "On me."
"No pickles!" Espo shouts after them.
"Extra onions," Ryan adds and Kate rolls her eyes at Castle as they head toward the elevator. He just snorts.
C&B
In the morgue, Lanie greets them with a manila envelope in her hands. The seal has not yet been broken and she practically throws it in Beckett's face.
"Hurry up and open it," she exclaims.
"Patient much?" Castle snarks, receiving a deadly glare from the Medical Examiner. He frowns and turns to Kate. "Please open it; I'm terrified."
Kate rolls her eyes and tries to keep her hands from shaking as she tears the seal on the envelope, takes a deep breath as she reaches in to pull out the single sheet of paper and closes her eyes for a second, holding them to her chest. When she opens her eyes again, she's looking into Rick's blue ones and is relieved to see that they are filled with as much anxiety as hers are.
"Are you ready for this?" he asks her and she doesn't even have to think about it before she shakes her head no. "Neither am I," he confides and she smiles softly at that, before taking another deep breath and bringing the paper away from her chest.
Both pairs of eyes scan it quickly, both widening as their respective breath gets caught in their lungs.
"Holy crap."
"Oh my god."
They speak in unison and without them even having to say it, Lanie already knows the answer as they turn to share one of those deep, meaningful looks. Still, for her benefit, both Castle and Beckett turn to her and say, in scary unison:
"It's positive."
Thank you all, once again, for reading this! As promised, there will be two more chapters and maybe an Epilogue depending on how that goes. Please review and let me know what you think! I love you all so much! *smooches*
