They had been up on their feet all day, following Castle's idea of locating the playground where the photograph had been taken and then tracing Eliska Sokol's steps back to her work place, an upscale apartment building where she had worked in client services. Speaking to the manager they learned, that their victim had been fired after an incident with one of the tenants. The Talbot's had complained that Eliska had been overly attentive toward their son Zane, but after talking to the family, Castle and Beckett believed that they had in fact not wanted Eliska to get fired.
They met up with the boys afterwards who had questioned the staff and in doing so had come up with a new lead. Teodor Hajek, the victim's ex-husband had a history of domestic disturbance, which was reason enough to bring the man in for questioning. But after hearing the sad story about the couple's son, who had passed away three years ago and Hajek's alibi checking out, they were back to square one.
Another trip to Eliska Sokol's apartment building turned out to be a success though. A neighbor had seen their victim argue with a man in the hallway, the description matching no one other than Dr. Talbot, who later confessed that he had had an affair with Sokol. He had tried to break it off, but according to him Sokol hadn't let go. He had an alibi though and so Kate and the boys made their way back to the precinct, while Castle headed home to the girls.
The last development of the day came from Karposwki who had been on the phone with the 74th in Brooklyn. A uniform remembered their victim's name from a complaint that was filed against Sokol. He would have pulled the file by tomorrow and get back to them.
Kate called it a day after that, sending the boys home as well so they could all get ready for Castle's big night.
"Are you ready?", Castle asked as their town car slowly pulled up to the red carpet and the flashing lights of the photographers. The car service had picked them up twenty minutes ago. Martha, Alexis and her friend following in a second car.
Kate leant into him, an amused smile playing around her lips, "It's not like this is my first book party."
"No, but it's the first one where main character of the book is based on you. The press might go a bit crazy," he winced.
"I'm sure I'll be alright," she squeezed his hand in reassurance. It was true, events like this were not her favorite, but she loved her husband and was proud of his achievements and if it meant she had to deal with the press for a night she would gladly do it.
"Okay, here we go," he grinned at her, before climbing out of the car first, holding his hand out for her to grab as she followed.
The minute they both stood on the red carpet the flashlight thunderstorm started in earnest, their names being shouted to get them to turn and pose. Castle smiled politely, nodding left and right, but still keeping a steady pace to guide Kate inside, not wanting to submit his wife to the craziness longer than necessary.
"Worst is over," he whispered into her ear when they finally stepped inside and she smiled back at him.
"I'll leave you to it for a while, okay? Let you mingle with the crowd. I'll go and talk to Montgomery and the boys in the meantime."
He nodded, "See you later. Love you."
She winked at him, placing a kiss against his lips and shoved him toward the waiting press, "Get them tiger."
He laughed and walked over to Gina who had already assembled most of the press for a quick Q&A. It was his less favorite part of the evening, but part of his job and so he put on his most charming smile and hoped it would be over soon. Gina waved at Kate over Rick's shoulder, signaling her that she would try to keep it short and Kate mouthed a silent thank you back at her, before turning for the bar where her colleagues were enjoying their first round of drinks.
She saw Alexis and Taylor giggling as they sat at one of the tables in the back, observing their surroundings as Martha was already approaching an elder gentleman. Her family was entertained for the moment and so she gladly accepted the glass of champagne the bar tender handed over to her as she joined the precinct gang.
"Are you having a good time?", she asked the boys and Ryan nodded eagerly.
"Castle's parties are the best," he grinned from ear to ear. "Open bar."
"You're easy to satisfy, Ryan," she smirked.
"Yeah," he smiled happily. "Wait what?"
"She got you, bro," Espo chuckled, slapping his partner on the back. "Yo Beckett. Did Lanie mention when she'd be here?"
"Why Espo, are you planning on finally making a move on her?", Kate raised her eyebrows in amusement.
"What? No," Espo shook his head, scrunching his face. "Why would I?"
"Because you have had a crush on her ever since Beckett introduced you guys to each other. And how long ago has that been? Eight years?", Ryan teased.
"And what about you and what's her name, Jenny?", Espo fired back. "How is that going?"
"It's going, which is more than you can say about yourself and Lanie," Ryan replied.
"Guys, it's enough," Kate interrupted their little show-off. "Don't make me sent you home."
Montgomery laughed, "I tell you Kate, they'd just come back in through the back door."
She shrugged, clinking her glass with her boss's, "I guess you're right."
Espo and Ryan shot disapproving looks their way, but kept their mouth shut otherwise, ordering another round of beer instead and ignoring Beckett and their captain for now.
"He's very proud of you," Montgomery said and Kate followed his line of sight, finding Castle beaming their way while he was talking to the press.
"I'm just as proud of him," Kate replied. "He's a great writer and a great man."
"You're a great team," Montgomery said wistfully. "Why were you so reluctant to let him work with you in the beginning? It seems it's working well for everyone."
"It wasn't reluctant because I thought he wouldn't be helpful," Kate looked back over to where her husband was trying to bring the questioning to an end. "I knew we would benefit from his ideas. He thinks outside the box, has a different approach than we do, but we're married and we have three kids. I was reluctant because I wasn't sure we would be able to handle all of it without anyone feeling neglected."
"And?", Montgomery asked.
"So far so good," Kate shrugged with a small smile, but her smile faded when she saw a certain someone approaching her.
"Kate," Paula's shrill voice reached her before the woman was even near her. "Can we talk?"
"Now?", Kate frowned looking at her boss, who simply shrugged and turned away to give the two women some privacy.
"What is it, Paula?", Kate asked annoyed.
Paula shook her head, "Not here." She pulled Kate with her through one of the service doors and Kate had to take a deep breath not to give Paula a piece of her mind for taking her from her husband's party.
"What is it Paula?", she hissed, once they stood in a dimly lit hallway.
"How can you let him do this?", Paula hissed back. "This is a chance he will get just once and he's willing to throw it away because of you and Nikki."
"What are you talking about?", Kate looked at her confused.
"What I'm talking about?", Paula spluttered. "He's got the official offer to write the next three James Bond novels and I can't even get him to speak to me, because he's out with you all day, playing cop. Do ever think of his career? What he's giving up because of you?"
Kate was about to tell Paula to mind her own business, when the service door swung open und Castle stepped through, "What's going on in here?", he demanded to know, looking from his wife to his agent and back.
"You got the official offer, that's what's going on," Paula growled, shooting another accusing look into Kate's direction.
"I told you I'm not interested," Rick hissed, sensing Kate's discomfort and feeling guilty. Had he known Paula would ambush his wife like this he would have told her about the offer sooner.
"Richard Castle, you -," he cut her off.
"No Paula. This discussion is over. I'm not available. Tell them I'm flattered but I'm not interested," he glared at her to drive his point home. "And now excuse us."
He shoved Paula toward the service door and waited until she had disappeared before he turned back to Kate, finding her glaring at him.
"Thanks for the warning," she hissed.
"Kate, look -," this time he was the one to be cut off.
"No Rick. When were you planing to tell me about this offer? Isn't this something I should know about?"
"Kate, it's not like that. Paula came by this morning, told me there was an unofficial offer, but I told her wasn't interested. We talked about this, I'm not done with Nikki and that hasn't changed. I haven't told you yet, because I wasn't even considering it and I told Paula so. I'm sorry she dragged you into this. She had no right to do that," he tried to explain.
"I still don't get why you didn't even mention it," Kate shook her head. "This is something big. We should have talked about it."
"I'm sorry, but we were so busy with the case and the party. I would have told you, Kate. I'm sorry I didn't mention it before. It just wasn't important to me," he sighed.
She took a deep breath, "And you're sure you don't want to do this? You love James Bond. Casino Royale made you want to be a writer. I don't want you to throw that chance away, just because you feel some kind of obligation toward Nikki or me. I wouldn't be disappointed if you wanted to do this, you know that right?"
"I know," Rick nodded, stepping closer to her, "but I really wanna keep writing Nikki Heat. I have so many ideas for her and Rook. And if it means I'll have to pass on James Bond, then that's the way it is."
"Okay, if you're sure," Kate sighed.
"I'm sure," he whispered, closing the remaining distance between them. "I'm sure, Kate."
She leant into him, placing a soft kiss against his lips. "Alright, let's get back to your party."
"Our party," he corrected with a grin, before shoving her toward the door.
They had barely made it back into the main room when Martha came rushing their way, her face pale as she held out her phone to Rick and Kate, "It's the babysitter," she got out, worry lacing her words.
"Mother what's going on?", Rick asked.
"It's Ellie …," she started but didn't get any further as Rick snatched the phone out of her hand, immediately putting it on speaker. They could hear sirens in the background and Kate grasped her husband's arm, their eyes meeting as the both dreaded what they were about to hear.
"Audrey," Rick said, trying to stay as calm as possible. "What happened?"
"I'm so sorry Mr. Castle," the young girl sobbed into the phone. "I turned my back on her only for a minute, I swear. I was just getting something to drink for the girls and - ."
"Audrey, calm down and tell me what happened. What about Ellie?", Castle tried to get the girl's attention who was rambling and therefore not getting to the point. He needed her to focus. He needed to know what happened to their daughter.
"She fell off the table. Oh my God, there was so much blood. The ambulance just left. I'm so sorry," Audrey got out and Rick could hear his wife whimper at his side, already pushing them toward the exit.
"Which hospital are they taking her?", Castle asked, as he guided his wife out of the party, pressing the phone to his ear to be able to hear Audrey over the party noise, while they ignored the confused looks they received from various guests as they hurried toward the exit.
"Presbyterian," the babysitter got out on another sob, "We weren't allowed to go with her. I'm going to go back upstairs and wait with Jamie."
"Yes, that's good," Castle nodded. "My mother and Alexis will be there shortly. My wife and I will go straight to the hospital."
He didn't wait for confirmation, just hung up and turned to his mother while signaling one of the staff members to get their car.
"Mother, I need you to find Alexis and go back home to get Jamie. They're taking Ellie to Presbyterian. Kate and I will go there directly. I'll call you when we get there and we know what's going on."
"Of course, Richard, of course," Martha stammered, blinking against the moisture in her eyes. Her daughter-in-law looked as miserable as she had ever seen her and Martha reached out, snatching her hand to give it a quick squeeze in support, having no words to lessen the pain. With a final look she turned to find her oldest granddaughter, Montgomery and they boys already hurrying her way while shooting worried glances at their partner and her husband who stepped toward the arriving town car.
"Richard!", the shrill voice of his agent rang out through the foyer. "Where do you think you're going?"
Castle ignored her, instead helped his wife into the waiting town car, following her and leaving his fuming agent behind without an explanation. He gave the address to the driver, urging him to go as fast as possible before pulling Kate into his side who was desperately trying to keep it together.
"It's gonna be alright," he muttered into the crown of her head. "It's gonna be alright."
They rushed through the hospital doors, receiving odd looks from the staff and other visitors, looking out of place in their elegant evening attire, but Kate couldn't care less, all she wanted was her baby girl.
"Can I help you?", a tired looking nurse asked from behind the reception, lifting her eyes to look at them over her red rimmed reading glasses.
"Our daughter was brought here," Castle started.
"Eleanor Castle," Kate jumped in, her voice and her hands trembling when she went on. "She's only two."
Castle reached for her, pulling her into his side and the nurse demeanor softened.
"Oh the little girl," she nodded as she typed something into her computer. "She's still in Trauma 2. I'm afraid you can't go in there right now, but I'll let the doctors know that your here and see that someone gets to you as soon as possible. Why don't you wait over there for now." The woman smiled gently as she pointed to a small waiting area where currently only one older man was sitting.
"Is there nothing you can tell us?", Castle asked again.
"I'm sorry," the nurse shook her head, "she just came in."
"Okay, thank you," Rick sighed, guiding Kate to the waiting area. The older man looked up when they entered, giving them both a nod which only Castle returned, while Kate sacked down on one of the chairs.
"I'm gonna call Mother and your dad," Rick mumbled into her ear. "Will you be okay for a moment?"
"Yes," she nodded, squeezing his hand. "But make it quick."
"I will," he promised before stepping outside.
Kate shivered, her dress not offering much warmth in the slightly chilly waiting area and the older man sitting opposite from her gave her a soft smile.
"I don't know why they think they have to keep it freezing in here," he said softly. "I complained about it before, but they keep telling me there's nothing they can do."
"Are you here often?", Kate asked, glad for the small distraction while Rick was outside on the phone.
"Yeah," the older man sighed. "My wife, she has lung cancer and a weak heart."
"I'm sorry," Kate said gently.
He smiled and nodded, "Why are you here?"
Kate swallowed, tears clouding her eyes, "Our daughter. She fell. We're not sure what happened. She was with the babysitter."
"Oh I'm so sorry dear," he moved to sit at her side, grabbing her hand between his, a gesture that would have usually made Kate uncomfortable, but right now was exactly what she needed. "I'm sure your little girl will be alright. What's her name?"
"Ellie," Kate got out.
"I'm sure Ellie will be okay," he said again, giving her hand another squeeze, just as Castle returned to the room.
"Hey," her husband greeted her. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," she chocked out, then looked at her companion with questioning eyes.
"Thomas," the older man helped her out, "I'm Thomas."
"Thomas kept me company," she finished, giving Castle a weak smile.
"Thank you, Thomas," Rick forced a smile for the sake of the other man and his kindness when he himself obviously wasn't here for pleasant reasons either.
"I'm Rick and this is my wife Kate," he introduced them, sitting down back at Kate's side, while Thomas moved back to his previously occupied chair, giving them some privacy.
"You're dad is on his way to the loft," Castle filled her in. "Apparently some of your colleagues from the 15th are there to talk to Audrey."
"That's standard procedure," Kate nodded.
"Once they're done at the loft, your dad will bring mother and the girls over."
"You think that is a good idea?", Kate frowned.
"No, but I don't think we can stop them," Castle shrugged, "and I think Jamie needs us. Mother said she's shocked."
"Oh God, Castle" Kate sighed, "She has seen everything."
"Hey," he tried to reassure her as much as himself. "I'm sure once she can snuggle up with you, it's all gonna be alright."
He pulled her closer, feeling her shiver and quickly shrugged out of his suit jacket. "Here," he whispered as he wrapped her up in it, accepting her grateful smile.
"Mr. and Mrs. Castle?", a young doctor poked his head around the door of the waiting room.
"That's us," Kate immediately replied as they both stood and followed the man out into the corridor.
"I'm Dr. Mellow," the physician introduced himself with a soft smile.
"How is our daughter?", Rick asked, clasping his wife's hand in his.
"I'm afraid it looks pretty serious," the doctor replied solemnly.
"God, Rick," Kate turned toward her husband, her eyes filled with fear.
"Your daughter took a nasty fall. She has a laceration on the back of her head, but that's not our main concern right now. We fear the fall has caused a cerebral edema, a swelling that puts pressure on your daughter's brain."
"Where is she now?", Castle asked, desperately trying to keep it together and not to panic.
"She's currently being prepared for an MRI, after that we should be able to tell you what exactly we are dealing with," Dr. Mellow explained.
"Is she awake?", Kate asked. "When can we see her?"
"No, we'll keep her sedated for now. After we get the test results from the MRI we will re-evaluate her medication," he told them. "You can see her as soon as we have settled her into a room, but you can follow me right now and wait upstairs."
They both nodded, following the doctor to the elevators and Castle glanced down at his wife, giving her a weak smile as they stepped inside.
Kate leant up, pressing a kiss against his cheek, "We can do this," she mumbled into his ear, where her head was resting against his shoulder. "We can do this together."
AN: I'm not a doctor ... just saying. I've already started on the next chapter, so I hopefully I won't make you wait too long.