Six months later…
Knowing when something doesn't add up is a hard fact for him to admit to. He re-read what Paul had given him about the four (well six if you counted the two that were held at the lobby) elevators that were stalled in mid-motion. The Otis elevator service techs who had searched everything that Rick and Smitty had searched, and came up empty as well. He read on and found out that there was a relay that had overloaded and shorted out the three south side elevators and the one he was in with Kate in the north bank. The two that were held in the lobby were also affected.
Trying to place blame on something as simple as an overloaded relay was something he needed to get a handle on. Not every circumstance was something for him to solve. He closed the file and returned it back to the cabinet.
"Are you happy now?" Smitty asked as he watched him put the file away.
"I am. I only thought the worst and this would be just another way for my past to come back to haunt me."
"Rick, not every case involves you and what happened in your past. What happened here was a random event. From the minute you stepped into that elevator, to the relay overheating, to you getting stuck with Kate, to you jumping to conclusions."
Rick gave Smitty a shove and a look. But he was right. He was only seeing things that were really not there. Things are getting back to normal.
Xx
The news from abroad is terrifying, to say the least. Extremists have decided to step up their attacks on the civilian population. They started with simple attacks causing more property damage than deaths at first. Being that they were not well funded, they used what they could to get their point across. But now with the backing of some big organizations in the Middle East, they have an unlimited amount of money to purchase what they need to make their statement even bolder. The attacks are meant to cause maximum destruction. But in most cases, it seems that it's the people who are nearby that end up paying the price by being collateral damage. And many cities have been hit more than once. It started in Paris and in one week they were hit with two separate incidents that claimed the lives of more than 119 people.
Next to be hit was London and the underground. The terrorists had waited until rush hour started on a rainy Thursday. Then without warning in the Waterloo, King's Cross and Oxford Circus stations, London's busiest subway stations were all attacked at the same time. The loss of life was in the thousands.
The reign of terror did not end there. It moves South to Dover England. The terrorists have decided that taking a ferry out in route to Calais France was a way to inflict more death and destruction. Halfway through the cruise filled with locals, vacationers, and tourists the DFDS ship is destroyed halfway across the channel. The loss of life is overwhelming, 672 at last count.
Xx
Rick is watching the latest BBC world news broadcast in his office. They show the carnage that has taken place after the recent ferry bombing. Yes, a bombing. They have determined that bombs were used in these attacks in every instance. What he thinks is that whoever is carrying out these attacks will soon set their sights on the US. And he knows that no matter what, even with the most populated areas of the city now being heavily patrolled due to the possibility of a threat, these extremists will still find a way to get to these areas.
He decides to be pre-emptive. He drafts an email to every member in his unit. The email will be a request that will not be disregarded and attendance is mandatory. Everyone in the unit will be sent a copy. Smitty, Baez, Dave, Juan, and the two newest members of the BDU unit. They're young, but he has taken one of them under his wing. Martin Anderson and Jonathan Phillips are two new promising bomb techs that he was able to hire with the surplus of money he got from the City Council when he requested additional funds to strengthen the unit six months ago.
He requests that they all be in the unit conference room by Friday at 8 a.m. The email is short and sweet and there's no topic listed in the body of the email.
Rick sends the emails and shut down his computer. He checks his watch one last time to make sure he's on time to get home to his wife and daughter.
Xx
Kate has been to the doctor regularly since she found out that she was pregnant. When her second visit began some time ago, both Alexis and Rick came with her to the appointment. Rick was there because he wanted to support her, and Alexis, well she had read like a woman on fire. Anything and everything about the first trimester that involved a baby and the mother who carried it. She wanted to make sure that the doctor took care of her little brother or sister.
She has her first bi-weekly appointment this afternoon and while Alexis wanted to come to it, but she couldn't because she needed to be at Columbia for her final test before summer break. They had agreed to meet at a favorite bistro of theirs after her test and Kate's appointment. She packs up her personal things from her desk and shuts down her computer. It's then when Ryan looks over at her and gives her an unexpected look.
"Kate? What gives?"
"What are you talking about Kev?"
"We're in the middle of this case, and you're just leaving?" He told her as he gestured to her packing up for the day.
She gets the implication.
"Doctors appointment this afternoon."
"Ohhh sorry."
"Ryan you should know about this by now. You went through it about eight months ago."
"Yeah, I did at that. And I'm so glad that I did. Is Rick meeting you there? Or is he coming here to pick you up?"
"He should be here any minute. He left BDU about a half hour ago."
"So?"
"So what? Kate asked.
"Are you going to find out whether your baby will be a boy or a girl? This is the first time in your pregnancy that you'll be able to do that."
"I'm not sure. Rick said he wanted to be surprised, but I want to know."
"That's okay I guess, me and Jenny, well we wanted to know. It gave us a head start."
"There's a part of me that wants to know and then there's a part that doesn't."
"Whatever it is Kate, I just hope that he or she is healthy."
"So do I!"
Kevin and Kate turned to see Rick walking up behind her dressed in his dress white shirt and tactical pants. She really loved him dressed this way.
"Hey Rick, how are you?" Kevin asked with an extended hand.
"I'm good Kevin. How are you, Jenny and your newest Ryan?"
"Midnight feedings suck! But other than that, we're all doing great."
"Yeah, midnight feedings I don't miss those! Are you ready babe?"
"Just about, I just need to let the Captain know that I'm leaving for the day."
Rick could only stand there hoping to have a conversation with Ryan while Kate was gone.
"So, Kevin, how old is your daughter now?"
"Her name is Sarah Grace, and she just turned five months two days ago."
"I can tell that she makes you happy."
"She does. She's my world!"
"Ready babe?" Kate asked as she came up alongside him.
"I am. I'll see you, Kevin."
"Ditto Rick. Have a good day."
Kate and Rick join hands and head for the elevator. They will be right on time for the appointment and with luck, they will be able to get to the bistro by four fifteen just in time to meet Alexis.
Xx
"Kate, how are you feeling? Any discomfort at all?" Suzanne asked her patient.
"I'm feeling a little big! Is this normal for the sixth month?" Kate asked thinking that she was as big as a house.
"Listen, Kate, every woman is different when they are carrying their child. Let me take some measurements and we'll talk about that later. Right now, I am going to put this gel on your belly so I can find your baby."
Kate took her husband's hand and held on to it waiting for the cold gel to touch her very warm belly. She was so pleased when she felt a warm sensation there instead.
"Suzanne, it's warm!"
"Yes, this is a brand new machine. It has a warmer for the gel, I don't feel so bad using it now. And you are the very first patient I'm trying it out on!"
"I feel honored?" Kate questions.
"Yes, you should!" She said with a smile. "Now if I can get this image to come in a little clearer…. there that's better!"
Both Rick and Kate stare at the image on the monitor. Their baby has grown so much since the last time they did this last. But something looks different with what they're used to seeing.
"Suzanne, why does the image look so different?"
"This machine is so new that it has the ability for us to see the baby in 3-D."
"That is so cool!" Rick says.
"Now, do you guys want to know if it's a boy or a girl?"
Kate looks to Rick and she can tell that he's still undecided.
"Rick? Do you want to know?"
He thinks about what this could give them. They would know what clothes to buy, what color to paint the nursery, and Alexis would be in heaven if they know.
"I do. Do you?"
All he can see is the start of a smile on her face. Suzanne knows instantly that they are both in agreement.
"Kate, just let me scan around for a second or two and if your baby is not shy we should know really quick.
Kate watches as Suzanne moves the transducer around her stomach and presses down with a little more pressure. She stops and twists the wand holding it in place and then tells her,
"Kate, Rick say hello to your son!"
"A boy! Oh boy, we're having a boy!" Rick says proudly.
Kate can only hold her husband's hand a little tighter to show him how happy she is.
