Ch. 4 Get Back To Your Baby Blues
Kate sat down with the woman that let her in the ICU. The conference room they were occupying was stuffy. The woman's name tag read, Stara.
"I don't know what this is about." Stara adjusted herself in her chair and Kate could tell that she was nervous.
"You are not under arrest or anything. I just want to know everything you know about one of your patients. A Richard Castle." She opened her notebook so it looked official.
"I don't know much."
"Anything will help. Please." Kate new she looked desperate but this was not a time to hide her emotions. That took too much strength, something she was low on.
"He was brought in with some head trauma. We rushed him in because he had coded."
That word made Kate crack.
"He was beaten pretty badly so we were unsure of how extensive his injuries were. We did an MRI and there wasn't much on it. We attempted to do a CAT scan but then we got overcrowded."
"You mean you didn't check his brain out? At all?" Kate wanted to leap across the table and shake the woman.
"We ordered it and as soon as it can be done, it will. In a few minutes we will take him down."
"Any broken bones?"
"Two cracked ribs. Here and here." She pointed to two different bones along the side of the chest.
"Did you see anything on his brain?" Kate was getting antsy and wanted to get back to Rick.
"There was some swelling, but we'll check out more on the CAT scan. Trust me when I say that this isn't our ideal situation either. I do apologize. We are keeping him sedated because we are unsure of how far his injuries stem." Stara looked content and started to show sympathy. She knew that Kate was more than just some cop investigating but she did not let on.
"Who brought him in?"
"That would be Craig and Daniel. Why?"
"Because I need to talk to them."
"You can try. I'll page them for you."
"Thank you." Kate stood up and went over to shake Stara's hand. It took everything out of her to act polite but that was how she was raised.
When Kate saw two men walking towards her, she didn't need to ask because she knew it was Daniel and Craig.
"Yeah we brought him in. Why?" Daniel leaned forward in his chair.
"What can you tell me about how you found him?"
"Well, we pulled up alongside the curb and we saw him lying there. He wasn't moving so we hurried and checked his pulse and it was low so we quickly asked him what happened. And you know what he said?"
Kate shook her head no and Craig spoke up next.
"He said 'My past is back. I thought this was over.' It made me think he was confused. You know, out of it. But then his heart stopped so we inserted a breathing tube and got to work. He was pretty bloody and his face was all smashed up but we took very good care of him. I swear."
"I am not here to charge you with anything. I just needed to know everything that happened. Did he say anything else before he coded?"
"No. But he was right by his car. Like he got attacked out of nowhere."
"Thank you. I'll let you know if I have any more questions." Kate said her goodbyes and let them get back to work. She looked at her notepad and looked at what she quickly scribbled down.
My past is back. I thought this was over. What does that mean?
By his car.
Coded.
Badly beaten. Who?
Bloody and, confused?
She took a deep breath then headed back to see Rick. I'll figure this out, I have to.
When she stepped into the room, the sight of the tubes and chords shocked her once again. She was never going to get used to it. The noise and the smell was all too familiar. The pain in her chest was writhing its way up her throat making her want to scream.
"Hey Rick. I just talked to the guys who brought you in. They said that you said that your past is back. What does that mean?" She sat down and once again reached for his hand. She wasn't tuned into her surroundings. All she could do was look at him. She couldn't find the words of encouragement he surely did need. She ran her fingers through her now tangled hair and leaned back into her chair.
"What am I going to do, Rick? I need you. I have never needed anyone the way I need you. I know you'll get better because you have to. You have to and I don't care that you are probably very angry with me. I sure am. I should have stayed with you. If I stayed with you, you wouldn't be hurt. I could have protected you. I know it's not something you want to hear, well too bad." She allowed herself to laugh but then had to wipe her face of tears. She fidgeted in her chair until she heard someone enter his room. She quickly turned and saw Alexis with a look of pure horror.
"Is he going to be ok? I mean, look at him." She slowly stepped closer and stopped right next to Kate.
Kate didn't answer, she couldn't lie. She didn't know if he was going to be ok. She released his hand and stepped up and around Alexis, offering her, her chair. Alexis immediately grabbed Rick's hand and squeezed. When she turned to talk to Kate, her tears were pouring.
"What is wrong with him?"
"Head trauma. But they don't know how bad. Two cracked ribs and his face, well, you can see. He uh, was attacked and I will find out who did it, I swear." Kate wanted to ask Alexis about Rick's past. The fact that he said that was important, but Kate knew that this wasn't the right time. She would ask just not that minute. She saw Alexis smile, probably a habit for hope.
"Thank you. I know that you will. Kate, can I have some time alone with Rick?"
"Of course. I am going to grab a drink and get a few things. I am staying. I can't leave him." Kate was nervous of asserting herself but Alexis was receptive.
"Neither am I." She smiled and got up to hug Kate. The tears gathered on Kate's blouse and Alexis released her. "I'm sorry. I got my tears all over you."
"So did I." They laughed a little. I am going to get a few things. Do you need anything?"
"No. I'll get some of my stuff when you get back."
"OK. Bye."
"Bye."
Kate left the room and slid on her cardigan as she walked. She wasn't sure of how to control her emotions and just kept walking. When she stepped outside, it was already dark out. She quickly looked up at the sky and saw how the moon was trying to make its appearance. Careless night. Nothing ever good comes out of the night. I lose everything in the night. And the one person who gives it all back is lying in a bed, unconscious. So, fuck you new day that is on its way.
Her anger fed her all the way to her apartment. She grabbed a pair of sweats and a hoodie then moved over to her closet. She pulled out a baggy t-shirt and a clean blouse. She tossed in some undergarments and threw in her travel toothpaste and brush on top. She kicked off her boots and slid on a pair of her sneakers. She glimpsed back at her living room and saw the moonlight creep its way in and she turned her head in disgust.
"Rick, remember when I fell off my bike when I was little? I was so determined to ride without training wheels and you thought I was crazy but you still taught me. I rode all the way down the block and you continued to chase me until I finally stopped. I was laughing so hard but you were mad. When I saw how upset I made you, I apologized. You said I didn't need to." Alexis rubbed his hand and slid her hand under the chords to rub his arm.
"I know you'll get better. I do. Because you taught me that everything happens for a reason and I still believe that. But what I can't figure out is what the reasoning behind this was. I know you would tell me to wait that the answer will find me but I can't wait. Ricky, you are lying here, with all the tubes and chords and I am scared. You were the one to comfort me when I was sad or scared. It has been that way my entire life. So who is going to tell me that everything will be ok? Who is going to hold me? I am scared and I don't know what to do." Alexis stopped talking when she heard some noise by the door.
A nurse stepped in and calmly made her way to Alexis. "We need to take him down for a CAT scan. Ok?" Alexis nodded to her and left the room.
Rick was being wheeled away and all Alexis could do was watch him go. She couldn't go with him or tell herself to relax. She couldn't tell her heart to stop beating so rapidly. Her breathing was in overdrive. She couldn't get a full breath and just as she was about to fall, someone grabbed her.
Kate held Alexis and they both crumpled to the floor, together. Alexis turned her head towards Kate and was shocked. At first, all she did was look. She then pulled on Kate and clung to her tightly. She was afraid to let go of her.
Kate saw a nurse making her way to them but she waved her off. She picked up Alexis and still cradling her in her arms, took her back to Rick's room. Her bag was knocking into Alexis as they crept their way back. Alexis still didn't let Kate go as they sat together on the bench by the window. For the first time, in a while, Kate was being needed. She was there to comfort Alexis. She put all her emotions on the back burner and looked down at the little red head in her arms. She ran her hand atop Alexis's head and kissed her. Kate couldn't help but think Alexis as a little child when she held her. It was as if Alexis had snapped back to the past, in the same way Kate did. She probably felt the same way even.
"Alexis? I will hold you all night if you need me to. I am here for you and always will be. Cry and get angry, I am too." She didn't cry as she fed the words into the air.
Alexis released Kate enough to see her face and she looked at her with a childlike curiosity. The only other person in her life that would be willing to stay with her like that was Rick. He had truly found his counterpart. Kate was meant to be. Meant to be a part of their lives in the biggest way.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Kate let Alexis cling to her and shook her head.
"For saying that. For being there for me and Rick whenever we need you to be. No one, and I mean no one, has ever been like that to be but Rick. I know you were meant for him. And I don't say that to freak you out I just need you to know it."
"Why wouldn't I be there for the people I love? I love Rick with my whole heart and I love you too." She squeezed Alexis and she fell into Kate's arms.
Quietly, Alexis whispered in Kate's ear, "I love you too." She let her go from her embrace and smiled. "I will go get a few things. Oh and by the way, Rick is getting his CAT scan."
"I figured. I didn't worry but thank you. Go ahead and I'll be right here."
"Bye." Alexis waved her hand and carried herself close together.
As soon as Alexis left, Kate slid out a sandwich she had quickly thrown in her bag and took a couple of bites. She stopped because she felt guilty, a feeling she brought upon herself. She slid her legs up on the bench and stared at the moon. It wasn't something she usually disliked but it signaled the end of the day. Now that was a fear of Kate's; having the day slip away knowing that nothing was ever set in stone. Things could come out of nowhere and knock her over and that was a surprise Kate never welcomed. She glanced at her watch and decided to make a quick call to Ryan and Espo.
"Hey, how is he?" Ryan signaled Esposito to come listen.
"He has two cracked ribs and some head trauma but they don't know how much. He is getting a CAT scan right now and that is all I know in his condition."
"How did this happen? Who did it?" Esposito leaned his ear to the phone once again to hear Kate.
"He was making his way to his car and he was jumped. But the guys who brought him in say that Rick knows who attacked him."
"How did they know that?"
"Trust me, I know. But I want you guys to see if there are any cameras that captured what happened. There should be some cameras across the street."
"Will do. Anything else?"
"Yeah. Any news on Sylvia Peters?"
"Combed through her financials. She sure does spend a lot. She is always dropping money on clothes, shoes, and handbags. But other than that, nothing pops. But here is something interesting for you. She is a trust fund kid. She is thirty - one as you know, and her daddy is Samuel Peters."
"Thee Samuel Peters? As in, multimedia mogul Samuel Peters?" Kate closed her gaping mouth and leaned against the wall.
"Sure is. We called him and he said he would talk to us tomorrow."
"Wait, he finds out that his daughter is murdered and he wants to put off talking to us. Doesn't he want to know who did it?"
"What are you thinking?" Esposito craned his neck to hear better.
"Maybe he knows something. Maybe he arranged it or it didn't come as a surprise. Meaning, maybe she got herself into some problems that daddy couldn't or wouldn't fix."
"Wow. Ok, well, are you coming down tomorrow? You want to talk to him right?"
"I will see if I can. Is Cap still there?"
"No. He went home an hour ago. It's really late Kate and we are wrapping up to go home. Get some rest and keep us posted on Rick."
"Thanks guys. I want to hear about her phone calls and that footage you guys combed through. As soon as you wake. Got it?"
"Sure do. Now bye."
"Bye." She heard them bicker about the phone as she hung up. She leaned herself up against the wall and held herself. She closed her eyes and listened to the horrible noises of the hospital. She heard someone screaming, actually a few people were screaming. She heard babies crying and someone was sobbing. It made her sick; well that and the smell. She made her way back to Rick's room and the only sound she focused on was the squeaking of her sneakers. When she finally came upon his room, he was there lying in the bed. She ran towards him and kissed his hand.
"I hope you listened to the doctors. You have a problem of sticking to the rules when it comes to your health. Oh Rick, I am working on finding out who did this. Ryan and Espo are helping too. Alexis and I are staying the night with you. Don't you worry. We'll be fine. This is where we need to be. I will be in the chair and she will be occupying the bench. It will all work out. Shit, I am reassuring you. Something is wrong with this picture. Shouldn't you be comforting me?" She laughed a little and sighed as she sat deeper into her chair.
"You can change if you want too. I'll watch him real quick." Alexis smiled down at a very exhausted Kate.
"Did I fall asleep?" She rubbed her lower back and sat straight up in her chair. She tousled her hair and smiled.
"Yeah. I wasn't going to wake you because I didn't know how much sleep you got but I didn't think you would want to sleep in your work clothes."
"Thank you. And don't worry about it." Kate got out of the chair and grabbed her bag and headed to the bathroom.
"Hey Rick. I only have a couple of minutes before Kate gets back so I have something to tell you. I got my chip today. Six months sober. I couldn't have done it without you or Kate. Which is why as soon as you are better, you need to ask her to marry you. I swear to God Rick. She is the one. Thee one, you know the one every person dreams about. The one everyone hopes really exists. Well, it's her. I know deep down inside me that she is the one, and I know you do too. Just as she knows that you are the one for her. I love you guys so much and you guys are meant to be. I just wish you could talk to me. It's so weird to be around you and for you not to say something reassuring." Alexis stopped talking as soon as she heard quiet footsteps approaching. "We'll finish this later."
"You can get changed now if you want. And here, I brought you one of my extra pairs." Kate handed her a pair of beige slippers and Alexis smiled.
"Thank you. I'll be right back."
As soon as Alexis left, Kate stowed her bag behind her chair and snuggled herself up to Rick. The chair was pulled right up against the side of the bed and she held his hand in hers. The blanket she asked for from one of the nurses covered her and warmed her up instantly.
"Rick, I love you so much. You are everything and I want you forever and for always."
When Alexis stepped back into the room, Kate was almost asleep.
"Goodnight Rick." Alexis kissed his head. "And goodnight Kate."
"Goodnight." Kate turned her head back on Rick and closed her eyes.
Alexis smiled at the sight of their intertwined hands and walked over to the bench. She noticed a couple of blankets and a pillow was laid out for her and she smiled back at Kate and offered her a silent thank you.
With both of them tucked in for the night of, hopefully, peaceful sleep, neither of them would expect what lay ahead.