This part is what occured after Always for this stories time line. I didn't want to include Always originally, I don't like to write what the show is going to cover, but it was easier. I am spoiler free so it should be safe.


Ch 4.

"What is taking her so long to get here?"asked Esposito

"I don't know? How long do those appointments usually take?" questioned Ryan.

"Why are you asking me you're the married one. Shouldn't you know?"

"Well Jenny and I don't have a umm bump to be concerned about just yet, so I wouldn't know."

"Oh man Gate's is looking out here again and the seeing Lanie in the morgue story isn't going to work. Beckett's over two hours late," stated Esposito.

"Yeah I know and the last time we lied it didn't go so well. You got suspended for a month, Beckett quit, and I got sent to be partnered with Slaughter until you got back."

"Yeah and then Beckett and I had to come save your ass after Slaughter managed to get you kidnapped by Valez. Man it was scary getting a call from Jenny in the middle of the night saying that she had been notified that you had gone missing during the drug bust."

"How did you ever get Beckett to help you find me?"

"Bro all I had to say was you were with Slaughter going after Valez. I still don't know how she got her job back though. She went completely rogue and stole her gun, my gun, our badges, and a file from Gate's office and everything to come rescue you; even while she was still recovering from bruised ribs and a strained rotator cuff."

"Wow I didn't realize she did all of that, but I know how she got her job back. Well she didn't exactly get her job back. I mean I'm her boss now and it's really weird running point and having to boss her around."

"Yeah it is weird that we take orders from you now, but hey it makes us the lead partners in the team. So how did Beckett get her job..no wait let me guess, Castle?"

"Yep he called the mayor."

"So that's why he's been on his best behavior around here. Oh man what do you think Gates will do to him once she finds out about him putting Beckett out of commission?"

"I don't know she did just get off her suspension almost three months ago. I hope Gates doesn't kick him out. We are going to need his help with Beckett. You know she is going to get defiant and moody. I mean she cried in front of us last night. I'm not going to be able to tell her no if she starts crying. Oh man especially since I'm going to have to make her sit out on the cases now. Well do you think she could still come to the crime scene once it's been cleared? Plus I'm going to have to do it discreetly until she tells Gates."

"Until she tells me what Detective Ryan? Where is Detective Beckett now that you mention her?

"It's not really my place to tell sir," Ryan said and received a cold glare from gates, "but..well she um..ok so last night she discovered…well she found a ..um..lump and she was able to get into a doctor early this morning to get it checked out. She was suppose to be here by now."

"So you're telling me that Detective Beckett found a lump and she has a doctors appointment that is running late?"

"Yes sir."

"Notify me when she gets here," Gates said storming into her office.

"Why didn't you warn me?!"

"I tried but you were too busy bumbling on about a hormonal Beckett."


"That was not what she had expected to hear, far from it," she thought as she looked out of her office window looking at the two detectives who were now arguing. She had just gotten that team back together three months ago. Yeah she was slightly pissed at how Detective Beckett got back to work but she was happy to have her back. They needed her in the precinct. Not because she was the best detective, but because she would stop at nothing to get to the truth. That is why she originally suspended them after Beckett's roof incident and hadn't fired her and Esposito. She wouldn't admit it to anyone if they asked but yes she did care about the cops in her precinct and especially Beckett. Beckett had been betrayed by her training officer and her former captain. Yes she knows about their lie to cover for their former captain. How do they think she got assigned? She worked for IA and Beckett's name had come up on too many files involving people linked to her mom's murder. She was there to keep an eye on Beckett, to trace the information each of those detectives looked up about Beckett's mother's case and now Beckett's own. Yeah they did pull a fast one on her when she didn't pick up on the hints that Beckett's team had found her sniper and Beckett decided to try base jumping without a parachute. Anyway that's for another day. Hasn't this poor girl been through enough? Now cancer?


"Dude, Gates and Beckett are going to kill you," said Esposito.

"What? Why?"

"You just told Gates that Beckett found a lump. She probably thinks Beckett has cancer."

"Well ..it wasn't a complete lye. She did find a lump, just ..not that kind."


Kate stared out the window of the passenger side of the car as Castle drove to the precinct, watching the people walking on the street spotting women with strollers and children.

"Kate?" She didn't respond. "Please just say something Kate."

"Hmm?" she responded as she turned to look at Rick with worried eyes.

"We're going to get through this Kate. It'll be ok," he said taking her hand.

Kate gave Rick a weak smile and turned to look out the window again. "Of course he would say that he isn't responsible for five children's lives. God they could lose them any day." With five the chance of miscarriage skyrocketed and preterm labor was likely. The goal was 32 weeks. She had to keep them in there for at least 32 weeks. She had to watch for signs of bleeding and contractions. "What the hell does a contraction feel like anyway?" Even if they were born at 32 weeks they wouldn't be out of the woods. There are so many complications associated with them being born early more then when the doctor described the complications of just triplets, ventilators, IVs, eyesight problems, long hospital stay, and worse of all another surgery. She never wanted to be in an operating room again but she has no choice now. She went to place her hand on the lump containing her children but stopped, "No don't get attached. Don't get attached. Please don't take them away from me." Kate bit her lip as a tear escaped from her glazed over eyes. "Pull it together Kate your almost to work. Ok this isn't happening, it's not. You're not pregnant, nope. It's just another regular day going to work. Though you let Castle drive the cruzer. What were you thinking? Oh right you weren't." In the reflection in the passenger window she could see him moving toward the switch for the siren and lights. "Castle don't even think about it."

Castle sighed and continued up the two blocks to the precinct.

"Shit," Kate thought. It hadn't even occurred to her that she would have to tell Gates within the next few days. The doctor said that she was already measuring at the 12 weeks and she was only 10 weeks pregnant and that within the next two weeks she could look like she is six months pregnant. Oh she could strangle Castle right now.

Castle pulled into the parking spot out front of the precinct and switched the engine off. "Remember Rick no talking about this ok? It's just a normal day. You sit next to me while I do the paperwork for the Buckner case. Just …Just pretend that we didn't find out that I'm pregnant, that we aren't together like we've been doing." She quickly got out of the car and slammed the door shut. She could do this it's just a normal day. "Nothing has changed," she thought as she swept her way into the precinct leaving Castle to jog to catch up.


Hi everyone,

Sorry it took so long, but I hope to have another chapter up in a few days. I only have one week to continue writing then you most likley won't hear from me for awhile. I'm attending an art school that takes 4 years of learning into 10 month program, so I probably won't have time. Sorry for any mistakes since I wrote this fast so I can get the story to at least ch6 before I have to stop.

Here is the story time line so far. Always occurs July2nd, Ryan kidnapped July 16-18, Esposito suspended July 2nd-July30th. Beckett suspended July 18-August 6th. Chapter 1-3 take place October 21st and this chaper takes place the 22nd.

Hope this helps,

T.E.