One of Us – Chapter 14 – Aftershock I
Previously - Gates has told Beckett of Castle's injures and now the shockwaves from the news begin to spread.
Disclaimer – even in my wildest dreams I don't own Castle or any of the characters. If I did, you'd see way more than primetime TV allows!
All the other legal stuff applies too.
Unit TwelveCharlieFive
The journey from the 12th to Bellevue is completed under lights and sirens. Beckett is in the back of the marked unit as Hastings is riding shotgun with her new partner – Thomas? – driving. As they set off Hastings had mentioned that LT was originally meant to be driving but Gates had sent him back to the crime scene for something. She is grateful for the separation in the back of the unit as it gives her an excuse to minimize any likely fraught and painful conversations even with her fellow cops. In addition, it gives her time to think now that her initial terror at the news had abated a little.
"Beckett" Hasting's voice interrupts her thoughts. Damn she must have been really distracted to have lost track of time on the journey to the hospital. She cannot even remember what her thoughts had been aside from the one overriding objective of taking Rick's hand and never, ever letting go again. She's definitely not running, not now, not ever.
Looking forward through the mesh separating the rear of the cruiser from the front, she can see the entrance to Bellevue ER coming into view. At the front of the hospital is a fairly significant crowd including an array of TV cameras and photographers formed up covering the entrance area and surrounds. She can see hospital security putting up crowd management barriers and some uniforms assisting.
"Beckett, we can go round the back? No audience there." Hastings offers.
"No, I need you to get Alexis as soon as possible. I'll jump out in the drop-off zone. How scary can a bunch of cameras be, right?"
Who's she kidding? She's spent years avoiding the spotlight, it was one of the key reasons she had refused to contemplate dating Castle in the early years, and they had gone out of their way since May to avoid the limelight for this and other reasons too. Well, all those were irrelevant now, and she knew she would have to face the cameras and press eventually but doing so without Castle was something she had never considered.
The marked unit gives one more blast of the siren before Hastings mutes it, but leaves the lights flashing. This has certainly attracted the attention of the crowd and press. As the unit pulls to a stop in the drop off zone, the strobing of flash guns begins and the glare from the LED lights on the TV camera illuminates Beckett as she exits the vehicle and sprints for the ER entrance ignoring the calls and night-into-day lightshow from the assembled press and onlookers.
At the doors to A&E are a hospital security guard and a uniform from the 12th. The uniform, smiles at Beckett and they step aside allowing her to enter the ER department.
Bellevue Emergency Room, 7.33 pm Thursday.
Making her way to the Emergency Room reception area, she strides directly up to the desk and palms her Gold Shield from her belt. She feels the solid weight and hefting it in her palm derives familiar comfort as her skin traces over the pattern of the shield and her number. She lifts her hand with the Gold Shield up to make it visible and the receptionist blinks once, twice and goes to speak but before she can, Beckett fires a direct question
"Richard Castle and two Detectives from the 12th were bought in by EMT. Where are they?"
"Ma'am" begins the receptionist.
"Detective Beckett" she corrects, once again pushing her badge forward to confirm her title and authority.
"Can you please tell me what happened to Richard Castle, Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito of the 12th Precinct?" Beckett is being a hard ass because it is the only thing stopping her from breaking down and she can't be another broken person stuck in the ER waiting room with no control. She needs control and focus.
The reception nods, and reaches for her phone "I'll see what information I can get you. Please take a seat for the moment Detective."
12th Precinct, 7.35 pm
With her door and internal windows shuttered, Gates had finally got off the phone conference with Chief of D's, Assistant Commissioner, Press Relations and Mayor's Office. There had been a lot of questions and very few answers.
Late for her own 7.30 pm bullpen meeting she had emerged from her office to find the bullpen full. Given that it was late evening, she was expecting a few detectives and perhaps a third of the watch roster of uniforms. Instead she is surprised to see pretty much the whole detective team for the Precinct, and almost half the precinct's total uniforms crowded into every space. Looking around she spies officers who were rostered off, even a couple who were meant to be on vacation, and at least one who was on medical leave.
She uses Castle's chair to step up onto Beckett's desk. The low murmur of conversation stills and she has the full attention of the Precinct.
"Thank you all for coming in.
In case you haven't heard, Richard Castle was critically injured today whilst assisting the 12th Precinct with an active homicide investigation. Detectives Esposito and Ryan received minor injuries. All are at Bellevue receiving treatment. Esposito and Ryan are expected to be released before morning. Castle is in surgery and we currently have no further information on his status. It is very serious, he was shot twice by a shotgun.
Castle's actions today prevented more serious injury to those detectives and to myself. I can only pray that it does not cost him and his loved ones more than it already has.
I have spoken to the Chief of Detectives and to the Commissioner who have made the full resources of the NYPD available to the 12th. The Mayor has assured the Commissioner that any necessary City resource will deployed as required.
I thanked them for their offers of support but told them that we have it. The 12th looks after its own, and make no doubt that Castle is one of us.
We will be providing officers at the hospital for security and also to escort and support Castle's family and Detective Beckett. This will be on a volunteer basis, please see Sergeant Adams who will manage the roster. We have already have coverage sorted until 08:00 am tomorrow. Those participating are requested to wear uniform. Detectives to wear NYPD dusters or similar attire as well.
There will undoubtedly be extensive media interest. Can I remind you that any press inquiry needs to be directed as normal to Press Relations or to myself.
One final point. The surviving suspects are under guard at Mount Sinai Hospital. It is expected that one will be released to our custody tomorrow and the other in a few days. The Commissioner has expressed his full confidence that the investigation will be handled professionally and dispassionately by the 12th. I trust I make myself clear on this matter?
Are there any questions?"
After she had fielded one question regarding blood donations, she thanked and dismissed them and returned to her office to make more phone calls.
Bellevue ER Public Waiting Area, 7.40 pm
It's only some 5 minutes or so later, and Beckett has confirmed to herself that hospital waiting rooms are a terrible place to spend any time, even 5 minutes. There is a lot of noise and bustle - distressed people and distressing people. She is currently perched on a chair in one corner of the waiting from with her jacket pushed back so not only is her badge visible but also her Glock. This has at least made the other occupants shy away and keep their distance.
Giving in to her frustration, Kate stands and begins to pace looking for a corridor to walk off her tension but before she can exit the reception area, Lanie Parish bustles through the entrance hall and spotting Kate pulls her straight into a deep embrace, almost crushing Kate's chest.
"Lanie, thank you for coming. I can't get an answer from them about anything. I don't know where the Boys are? Or where Castle or how he is?" The unresolved questions flow from her as she struggles to hold back the tears.
The growing desperation colors her voice and she knows it must be apparent especially to someone like Lanie who has known her years. But she no longer cares. She will shout it from the roof tops, declare her love for Richard Castle on national TV, do anything to know more and to keep him safe.
Dr Lanie Parish pulls back a little from her best friend but with their arms are still connected, and she assesses the scared woman in front of her.
"Leave that to me Girl. I'll get us some answers and then we'll get you somewhere out of the way. I'll be right back."
With that Lanie has gone in search of answers and the Boys, and Kate decides to chance a vending machine coffee before resuming her occupation of the corner seat.
Columbia Dorms, 7.55 pm
Alexis Castle is huddled by the entrance porch of her dorm block. A protective posse led by her roommate, and several other students has her cocooned in a state of attempted distraction with conversations about anything and everything meaningless and trivial. It is so sweet, and well meaning, that Alexis accepts it without compliant even though she wrought through with fear and the emotion pounding her head – she really does have an awful headache too - and she wants to escape so desperately into the arms of her family.
Suddenly, the past-twilight is lit by the flashing lights of a police cruiser approaching. The group ceases their conversation and falls silent watching as the car comes to a halt and a compact but athletic female officer exits the car and dashes towards them. Within seconds, she is standing in front of them. Her name badge identifies her as Anne Hastings. Alexis knows the uniform who she has seen about the Precinct and chatted to briefly during her internship with the ME's office.
"Good Evening, Miss Castle. I'm Anne Hastings. We're here from the 12th to take you to your Father at Bellevue."
"Alexis" the girl corrects automatically.
"Please come with me Alexis and we'll get you to the hospital and your Dad as fast as possible."
Hastings turns back to the group of wide-eyes young women and men. "Thank you for waiting with and looking after Alexis. We appreciate it. The NYPD looks after its own and we'll take care of Alexis for now."
Bellevue ER Waiting Room 3, 7.57 pm
Lanie had worked her magic and got a waiting room assigned for their use.
Kate Beckett is sat on one of a small couch with her feet up on the same chair Lanie had briefly sat in after guiding her to the room. Lanie has now disappeared in search of the Boys. The vending machine coffee is terrible and Rick's phrase of 'monkey-peed-in-battery-acid' springs to mind. She smiles despite the current desperation.
Her body is folded in with her head between her legs as she breathes deeply, momentarily losing herself in the control that the long inhalation of air offer her before slowly exhaling. She has no idea how long she has been doing this exercise that she learnt as part of her recovery from her shooting and again as part of PTSD management. She remains alone in the room waiting for news, for anything.
Hearing the sound of the door, she barely lifts her neck to raise her head to check who it is.
Oh, it's Lanie and she has found her Boys.
Ryan has his jacket off, and upper left arm wrapped with bandages. Esposito has some cuts to his head, and his jacket is ripped and stained. But otherwise they are healthy though their faces are streaked with what like tear tracts.
As they both enter the room, they stop and stare at Beckett for a moment and then their heads drop.
"Beckett…Kate…" Are the only words that Kevin Ryan can force from his mouth.
Esposito can't say anything. There are tears pooled in his eyes and traversing his stricken face.
Without speaking the two approach her chair and them reach down together to pull Kate up and into their bodies. No words are exchanged. None are needed.
Lanie has closed the door and stands guard, mutely witnessing the immense pain and shared love of her best friend and her partners.
Then Esposito speaks.
"Beckett, that man of yours…he saved all our lives today. He disarmed a suspect with a shotgun. None of us saw the second shooter."
Kate knows they will both be wracked with guilt but there is nothing to forgive and she needs to let them know this.
"Javi, Kevin. Thank you for being with Rick. It's not your fault. I don't blame you and I'm sure Rick doesn't blame you. It goes with the job."
Both try to raise protests but Kate continues.
"It was always his choice to stand with us. It means so much to him, and just like he would never ask me to give this up, I couldn't ask him to do the same. I want you to know how much Rick appreciates your friendship, and that it means the world to him, to have…" Kate hiccups through her tears "brothers after all these years."
They stand there wrapped in each others' arms and they are dimly aware of Lanie's comforting hands rubbing across each and every back.
Kate suddenly remembers that Lanie went out with two tasks. The first was to find the Boys.
"Lanie? Rick…?"
"Sweetie, they don't have any news yet. He's was received into the ER around 6.25 pm and they had to stabilize him before taking him straight to surgery around 6.55 pm. He's still in surgery since then and likely to be so for some time.
Paula Haas & Associates LLC, 8.10 pm
"Thank you Captain Gates. I'm sure will be speaking again very soon." Hanging up, Paula Haas finds she is slumped in her home office seat. She often worked from home rather than her expensive serviced office in Manhattan simply because she could appear to be perpetually mobile and mobility in Manhattan meant being alive in the cut-throat market unless you were the top of the food chain and could make everyone else come to you.
Paula Haas has dealt with Rick Castle and Rick Castle's issues for many years. But never has she faced anything like this.
"Goddamn you Rick Castle! Don't you dare die on us!" She pauses to swipe at the tear that threatens her still fresh looking makeup. "Damn it Gurl, get your act together, we need to call the press and then the Dragon Lady."
Reaching for her desk phone, she dials her assistant.
"Hilary, we're going to need all the press release material we prepared for Rick." Pausing to take in the response at the end of the line.
"Yes, it is true. Rick is in critical condition at Bellevue. They don't know anything else at this time. Please get everything packaged up and ready for courier pickup. I'll let you know more when I do." She disconnects the call.
She really wished she hadn't given up smoking all those years ago. And now is not the time for alcohol as she needs the clearest of heads for what she is about to do.
She picks up the phone and hits a number on the speed dial panel.
"Ledger, City Desk Editor" echo's back down the line.
"Hi Mark. It's Paula Haas, I have a press release for you on behalf of Richard Castle's family. However, I need to obtain final approval for release and this may take some time. Probably not until after 10 pm. I know your print deadlines but this is breaking news and we're offering it to you as an exclusive. I think you'll want to wait on it."
Author's Note – Wow thank you again for all the feedback for Chapter 13.
The chapter kinda got away from me, so I split it into two. Part II to follow real soon.
Thank you for your ongoing interest and support.