Okay so this is going to be the last chapter of my story, I'm sorry if you all want to kill me for having you all wait so long for this chapter, I mean two years is a long time to leave a cliff hanger, so here I am with the final chapter and an explanation. The past two years, a lot has happened and I have had no motivation to write, I became depressed due to certain events that had happened. I know it is no excuse but with so little motivation to do anything (and writers block) I was unable to post this chapter, so if you can all forgive me; please enjoy this last chapter. Although I would like to do a small sequel based on Kate meeting her daughter and follow up with little Ella, who she met in the hospital. And I promise there will be no two year breaks.
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle.
Chapter 26 – Some Things Aren't What They Seem
The sun was rising over the New York City skyline, Alexis was watching it from the Hospital rooftop. Ryan was sitting next to her mimicking Alexis' sitting position, arms around their legs with their chins resting on their knees. Alexis calmed down after a while, Ryan was sure that there were no tears left to let loose, but who knows what could happen.
"What did you mean; by it was your fault?" Ryan asked hesitantly.
Alexis slowly turned her head to the young cop and said in a barely audible tone, "I'm pregnant."
Ryan's eyes widened in surprise "Are you sure."
Alexis nodded as she swiped at a single tear that rolled down her cheek. "I took a test, and it was positive."
"But there is a chance it could be a false positive, Jenny told me tests aren't always a hundred per cent accurate."
"Do you really think that- That I might not be pregnant?" Alexis asked voice just above a whisper.
"Come on," Ryan said as he stood up, outstretching his hand towards her, Alexis looks at him confusion screaming on her face, "Come one, we're in a hospital aren't we? Let's go find out."
Alexis took his hand and they both headed down into the hospital on their way to find some answers.
Esposito walked down the hall, not surprised to see that Beckett hadn't moved from the seat she was in when he and Ryan came to the hospital. She was a mess, hair tangled from Kate running her hand through it more times than he could count, smudged make up from the tears she's shed from the worry that he might not make it. Every so often he would see her rest her hand on her stomach, about an hour ago he realised it was a protective instinct, that his sister was pregnant. He was happy for her; Kate has been there for him so many times and would do anything for her. Kate and Ryan were his only family, his parents dying when he was young, put him out in the streets. Until he joined the forces and although his platoon was like a family to him, the bond he's shared with Kate and Ryan over the years was stronger than anything else. When Castle joined it felt like his family was complete, and although he would never admit it to anybody but he was routing for Castle and Beckett since the beginning and he's happy she's found someone like Castle, so she could have a normal life.
Espo looks down into his hand full with a tray of coffee; he takes a deep breath and continues walking towards Beckett, Martha and Lanie. He handed each of them a coffee, once he got to Beckett he could tell she was going to decline, "Its decaf" he simply said, and she took the coffee and gave him a small thankful smile.
"Any news?" He asked, knowing it was a longshot.
"Nope, it's been hours Javi," Kate said quietly, her voiced croaked as she was trying so hard to keep the lump in her throat down.
"Hey," Javi said as he wrapped his free arm around her, trying to comfort her, "He's going to be fine Becks, He's in good hands."
Kate simply nodded and gave him another small smile, her green eyes shone with her tears, as single tears gently rolled down her cheek.
For the next half an hour every time the doors opened, they all looked to see if Josh was walking out but again it was the nurse giving them the "progress report" which at the moment still hasn't changed from the other times she had come out.
"He's still fighting; Doctor Davidson is still working with Doctor Hewitt in trying to safely remove Mr Castle's rib, as well as trying to stop all of the internal bleeding and the swelling of the brain, which is pushing against his fractured skull." The nurse said.
Kate got up and started pacing around in the waiting room, Martha shakily placed her hand over her mouth, shocked as her eyes started to tear up again, Lanie tried to comfort Martha as Espo turned towards the nurse. "Thank you, you better get back in there," he simply said as he turned to try to get Beckett to sit down.
The nurse turned around and walked back through the double doors of the waiting room.
"Becks, he's going to be fine." Espo said to try calm her down.
"How is he going to be fine Javi? She basically said he's slowly dying and we are out here like sitting ducks!" Kate started to shout anxiety and worry getting the best of her.
"Kate, you need to calm down." Esposito said quietly, as he gently grabbed her arm.
"Calm down? Calm down! How the hell do you expect me to calm down, the man I love is in there, and I have no idea if he's going to be okay!" she shouted as the sobs started, Kate was struggling to fight them as they uncontrollably shook her. She fell to the ground hiding behind her hair as the crying over took the silence in the room, Esposito knelt down next to her, wrapping his arms around her and soothing her until the sobs finally stopped.
"How can you expect me to calm down?" Kate whispered, while looking up at her big brother with a tear stained face, sadness and worry shining through her eyes.
"I'm sorry Kate," Espo whispered as he pulled his little sister close, "I'm sorry."
Their hug was broken up when another presence was sensed next to them, surprised to see Martha kneeling on the floor next to them, salty liquid in her eyes, he tear stain cheeks glistening in the light.
"Katherine Beckett," she started, "You know my son, he is the strongest willed and stubborn man we know, he has you, Alexis and the baby to keep his will to live, he will live because he loves you and he knows what it will do to you and Alexis if he leaves. He will make it through this, do you understand me?" Martha asked with a shaky voice, as sobs she was fighting started to show through the cracks.
Kate watched as tears started to spill over, and watched as they rolled down her lovely structured jaw before looking Martha in the eyes and whispered a barely audible "Okay."
Martha smiled at Kate before saying "Okay, now let's get off this floor; we have no idea what diseases are on here."
Kate smiled at Martha's attempt to lighten the atmosphere in the room, despite the fact that her son has been in surgery four hours she still does everything she can to make sure everyone is okay by comforting and lightening the mood.
"She is one incredible woman." Esposito thought.
It's been three hours since Ryan and Alexis made it to the OB/GYN clinic in the hospital, Alexis' knee was shaking unconsciously to her. Ryan looked over to the young red haired and gave her a gentle smile of reassurance. "Everything will be okay Alexis."
Ryan watched as the girl looked straight ahead, not blinking as she replied with a haunted look, "I hope so," she murmured as she slowly turned her head to look at Ryan with her steel blue glassy eyes. "I really hope so."
Alexis turned back to look at the door ahead, hoping and praying that the next doctor that walks through the door calls her name.
A tall brunette in a white coat with her short shoulder length hair bouncing as she moves through to the waiting room, and over to the receptionist pulls out the next patient file out of the tray. The doctor looks up from the paper and scans the room for her next possible patient, "Alexis Castle?" The doctor asks.
Suddenly Alexis freezes at hearing her name being called out.
"Alexis," Ryan says as she notices she doesn't move, "It's your turn, you need to go." Ryan says gently.
"I can't," she whispered, as fresh tears started to spill over and roll down her porcelain cheeks, "I can't, I can't, I can't," she says repeatedly as sobs threaten unveil.
"Alexis, you can okay, you've been through a lot and you are one of the strongest people I know." Ryan says encouragingly.
"Alexis Castle?!" the doctor asked again, her voice becoming louder.
"Will you come in with me?" Alexis asked, her voice quivering like a scared child.
Alexis was like a niece to Ryan, and to see her so scared, petrified to find out the truth. Whether she was pregnant or not, he couldn't leave her to do this herself.
"I will come with you." Ryan said with a reassuring smile.
"Is there an Alexis Castle here?!" The doctor asked again, starting to get agitated.
"Here." Alexis somewhat shouted as she stood up, she waited for a few seconds, took a deep breath and the started to walk towards the female doctor.
Ryan stood and followed Alexis and soon the doctor through the big heavy doors, exiting that chatty and loud waiting room and into the quiet hallway that lead to several rooms.
To Ryan the walk through the hall was daunting, the unknown was killing him, but he had to wonder how Alexis was feeling, she was the one going through this mess, he had to feel for Alexis, she's been through a rough patch. Looking at her even from behind he could see the fear in her face, as she tries to control her emotion.
The doctor turned the corner at the end of the hall and went into the exam room, third door on the right.
"Please take a seat." She said as she held the door open, watching them both as they entered the exam room.
"I'm Doctor Kelly-Anne Harvell, I am one of the OB/GYN on call, and what can I do for you today?" Doctor Harvell said, flashing Alexis an award winning smile.
"I um," Alexis muttered, she cleared her throat and tried projecting her voice, "I think I may be pregnant."
"Right," Doctor Harvell started, "When was the last time you had sex?" The Doctor asked.
"I um," Alexis took a deep shaky breath, she looked over to Ryan and he gave her a reassuring smile and encouragingly nodded for her to continue. "I was raped, a couple of months ago, about a month after it happened and around the trial of my rape I was vomiting, I haven't had my period since before it happened." Alexis mumbled.
"Have you taken any tests?" The Doctor asked.
"Yes one, it said positive." Alexis said barely above a whisper.
"And, did you have a rape kit examination after the rape and take the morning after pill?" Doctor Harvell asked, while taking notes on her computer.
"No." Alexis whispered, "I didn't."
Even Ryan had to look up at her shocked at the confession Alexis had just made, he thought that Castle would've made sure it was done.
"May I ask why not? I mean it is an obligation to have one done, so situations like these are minimised." The Doctor asked, turning to look at Alexis.
"I, uh I couldn't," Alexis started, "I mean, um after it happened I wouldn't go near anyone for weeks, my dad's girlfriend tried to convince me to go to the hospital and get one done, she even tried to get me to agree to her best friend – who is a medical examiner – to do the tests if I was more comfortable. But I just couldn't I was so ashamed for anyone to see after it happened that I didn't leave my room or let my dad look at me for a few weeks." Alexis explained, strategically avoiding the word 'rape'.
"Okay then," Doctor Harvell said turning away and making new notes on her computer, once she was done she turned back to Alexis and Kevin, "Okay well we will do a few tests, mainly just bloods and we will see how they will come back, it should take a few hours for the bloods to be processed, hopefully though you have nothing to worry about, okay Miss Castle?"
Alexis nodded as Doctor Harvell stood, she asked Alexis to sit on the bed and roll up the sleeve on one of her arms. Alexis did so, and Ryan watched as The Doctor put a strap around her arm and tightened it. Once Doctor Harvell swabbed Alexis' arm in the crook of her elbow, she looked for a vein and when she found a reasonably sized vein, Ryan watched Alexis flinch and bite her lower lip as the need went into her vein.
Keven watched as blood filled tiny vials and once Doctor Harvell filled the third vial, she took the needle out of Alexis' arm and covered the point of injection with a small cotton ball.
"Could you hold that in place for me please Alexis," the doctor asked, "Is it okay if I call you Alexis? You can call me Kelly-Anne or just Kelly if you like." Doctor Harvell said with a smile, trying to make Alexis feel comfortable.
"Yeah, it's fine." Alexis said with a tight smile.
"Okay Alexis, I am going to take your bloods to the lab personally," Doctor Harvell said as she was placing a tape strip over the cotton ball, to keep it in place. "I am going to try to get them to rush your bloods, put them as high priority for you, I'm lucky I know people down there." She said with a chuckle.
"Thank you Kelly." Alexis said.
"No problem, if I'm successful it should only take an hour." Kelly-Anne said as she opened the door, she turned around and gave Alexis a small smile again as she shut the door behind her.
"You did great kid." Ryan said with a small smile.
"Thanks," she whispered. "I hope, the bloods a negative, I really do Kevin," she said as she looked at him with teary eyes.
"I know Alexis I hope so too, we just need to wait and see." He said as he walked over to her and gave her a small reassuring hug.
What seemed like forever, Kelly came back into the room, with a file in her hand. Ryan assumed it was the test results and suddenly became extremely anxious; however not as anxious as he assumed Alexis would be feeling.
"Alright, here are the results, I haven't opened the file yet, and I assumed you would like to be the first to know, well besides the technicians." The Doctor had said half-heartedly in attempt to have Alexis relax a tad.
She handed Alexis the file, Alexis' shaky hands accepted the offer of the papers determining if she was really pregnant or not.
Alexis took a deep breath; before she could open the file she felt Ryan's hand reassuringly squeeze her on the shoulder. The gesture relaxed Alexis a little; gently caressing the edge of the file she opened the manila and began reading the results.
Kevin stood next her waiting for her reaction, attempting to read her expressions to give him some clue as whether the news was good or not so good. He noticed a little something, her eyes watering as if she were about to cry.
"Alexis?" He asked softly.
The words came out ever so softly he almost missed them when she spoke.
"I'm… I'm not pregnant…" All of a sudden a smile grew on her face as she repeated herself, "I'm not pregnant!" she dropped the file and gave Kevin a hug, then let him go and embraced the doctor into a hug. "Thank you so much for looking after me." The smile slowly left her face as she pulled away.
"Alexis, are you okay? Kevin asked.
"Yeah, I was just thinking, how did I get the symptoms?" She asked looking up at Kelly.
They all sat down again, and Kelly began to explain the symptoms to Alexis. "Well, the vomiting around the court case, could have been the stress and the reliving of that night resulted you into feeling sick, as well as seeing your attacker that is a sign of PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder I do recommend in seeing a psychologist to overcome your sexual assault. Now if you don't mind me asking before the attack, when as your last period?"
Suddenly Ryan felt awkward and started to excuse himself to give Alexis the space to talk to Doctor Harvell in private; "I will leave you two to this, I think it's better if I wait outside while you two talk privately." He awkwardly stated as he quickly shuffled out the room.
"Men," Kelly said as the door closed, "The first sound of the word period and they run for the hills." She said with a strong smile.
Alexis giggled and nodded her head in agreement; she then answered the Doctor, "um I believe the week before the attack."
"Okay then, it doesn't happen very often but sometimes after a sexual assault that seems to be excruciatingly painful, can do damage to the cervix, now did you have excessive bleeding after the attack?" Alexis nodded in response, "Alright well from what I can tell is that the excessive bleeding from the attack was too much for your cervix to handle, the damage that your attacker has done to your cervix has made the shedding of your lining harder than it usually is when you have your period, which is why you haven't had your period since the attack, by next month it should have healed enough for the lining to shed, if it hasn't come back and I'll examine you and see what action we can take from there okay?"
"Okay, thank you Kelly, for everything." Alexis said standing and giving the doctor another hug.
"No worries Alexis, if you have any more questions or worries, call me," Kelly replied as she handed Alexis her card, "Anytime or pop in if you need to or just to talk about what happened over coffee, some people don't feel comfortable in talking to a stranger so if you want to talk to a friend give me a call."
"Will do, thank you again, it means so much." Alexis said as they walked over to the door.
They opened the door and stepped out to where Ryan was waiting for Alexis, "I'll look forward to hearing from you Alexis, nice to meet both of you."
"Thanks," Ryan said to her, hand out to shake her hand, "Good to meet you too," he said as she accepted the gesture and shook Ryan's hand. They let go of each other's hands and they all said their final goodbyes as Ryan and Alexis turned to walk towards where their family was waiting, waiting on them and on news of her dad.
"Hey Kevin…" Alexis started on the walk back to the waiting room, "Thank you for telling me to go to the doctor and coming with me, I'm glad I went."
"Hey, no worried yeah? We're family, you're like the niece I never had, if you find you can't talk to anyone, you can come to me okay? Don't go making yourself sick with worry."
They stopped in the hallway, he could see tears in her eyes, "Thank you Kevin," She gave him a hug, which he reciprocated. Comfortingly pulled Alexis closer to him than she allowed herself he heard her whisper something into his chest, "Thank you," she whispered again.
"Anytime Kiddo, come on let's see how everyone is."
Espo came back into the family waiting room after what seemed like the hundredth coffee round, realistically it was about the sixth round, but that was not the point. He walked in and found Kate had moved from her seat, and started pacing. "Kate," he said, "anymore pacing from you there will end up being a big hole in the floor." He said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Instead of a small laugh or even a smile, there was just more pacing like she hadn't even heard him speak in the first place. "Kate." He said louder this time in order to get his attention, still no reaction. Javier felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Ryan with Alexis behind him.
"Let me try," He heard Alexis say. She calmly walked to where Kate was pacing and stood in her line of pace, Alexis gently held her arms out and put each hand on Kate's arms, "Kate, I'm here." She said softly.
Kate stopped in her tracks when she saw Alexis standing in front of her, hearing those words she broke, crying in her spot Alexis moved in and hugged her, gently playing with her hair in order to calm her dad's true love, and her friend. Alexis pulled away and looked at the older woman in the eyes, "Please sit down, try not to worry too much, the stress is not good for your baby." Kate nodded and sat down on the hard plastic chair. Alexis sat next to Kate with an arm around her shoulder, gently rubbing her back in attempt to calm her down.
"I went to the doctor," Alexis whispered, Kate looked at her confusion and worry in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" She asked gently.
Alexis nodded, "Yeah, the test… it was a false positive, I'm not pregnant." She whispered, her half smile still showing sadness on her face.
"That's great news Lex!" Kate beamed, Kate slowly turned towards Alexis, registering the sadness in her eyes. "Aren't you happy?" Kate asked.
"I am, but I just realised something… we are here because dad ran out, freaking out that I was pregnant. But I never was. It's my fault dad is in surgery and it turns out he's suffering, we're suffering because of nothing…"
Kate used her hand to guide a wayward strand of hair behind Alexis' ear and said soothing words to the hurting teen, "Alexis, none of this is your fault. Your dad did not react the way he should've since he freaked it wasn't because you thought you were pregnant, it was the fact that you're so young, you're his baby no matter how old you are. The fact is that he thought you were going to be a mum, and it was too overwhelming for him. He's the one who acted stupidly, he's the one who ran into traffic; and trust me when he's better I'm going to kick his ass for doing this to us. It is not your fault, not the tax driver's fault. Not really your dad's fault but the way he reacted, he could have reacted better and we wouldn't be here. Okay Alexis? It is not your fault, please don't blame yourself."
Alexis smiled through the tears that spilled down her cheeks, "Okay, thank you Kate."
Kate pulled the red haired girl into a hug, "Anytime, I'm always here for you Lex."
An hour later the waiting room was filling up with everyone from the team, Ryan and Espo next to Lanie and Jenny once she arrived, Martha was keeping Kate and Alexis Company and even Gates turned up, although she and Castle had their differences, she had grown to like the annoying mystery writer. Once she arrived, she saw the glum looks on her team's faces and knew it was serious. She sat down next to Kate and wrapped an arm around her team leader's shoulder. Gates never said anything, she just sat there comforting Kate, which Kate welcomed the comfort. She looked her captain in the eyes, Gates replied with a small nod, knowing what Kate was trying to say. Kate laid her head on Gates' shoulder.
Kate had found Gates and Martha to be the mothers that she lost; they managed to fill that void that no one but her mother could fill. Gates knew that Kate was thanking her for being with her while she waits to hear news, and for Gates knew that she needed that mother figure, although she did have Martha, she also needed someone who could look out for in that maternal way at work. Kate and Gates stayed like that until Kate saw a familiar face walk in.
Kate stood up immediately as she saw Josh walk in, the rest of the family stood up behind her, "How is he?" she asked him.
Josh looked Kate in the eyes; "There was a lot of damage…" he started
Twelve Months Later
"Come on, we're gonna be late!" Kate called out; she grabs the keys and the baby carrier. Her two months maternity leave is over, and she has to admit she can't wait to go back to work. However, she was going to miss her little man like crazy. She placed the carrier on the kitchen bench and unclipped baby Reid out of his carrier, she held him in her arms. Adoringly watching as he stared up at his mommy. As Kate gently swayed her two month old boy in her arms, she felt arms slide across her waist and his chin on her shoulder gazing down at the little boy in Kate's arms.
"What took you so long?" she asked quietly, continuing on looking at her baby.
"Well I was on the phone, planning something." He replied.
"And what exactly are you planning Mr Castle?" Kate said as she turned in his arms.
Rick smiled cheekily, the way he did when he was up to no good. He gently placed a hand on his sons head and bent over to give him a kiss. "Oh nothing," he replied looking back up at Kate, he leant in an gently kissed her, making sure that their son had enough room to breathe.
"Hmm," Kate started as he pulled away, "I will find out Castle, don't think you can distract me with your kisses."
Rick laughed and picked the carrier off the bench top, he held his hand out for the keys which Kate gladly gave him and they headed for the door.
"Now we can't be late for our first days back," Rick said as he held the door open for Kate.
"I still can't help but wonder if the crèche is the best place for Reid," Kate said as she walked through the door.
Castle locked the door behind them, "Well Kate, the precinct crèche is pretty good, and many people leave their babies there during the day. Or are you afraid of going back after so long?"
"Maybe the latter one…" Kate said looking down at a now sleeping Reid in her arms, Rick placed one arm around her as they walked down the hall to the elevator.
"Kate you'll be great, everyone is gonna be glad to have you back, and Reid is gonna sleep eat and poop all day the crèche. Everything is going to be fine, okay?"
Kate smiled up at him, the doors for the elevator opened and they stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed Kate looked down at her baby then up to her fiancé and smiled, she's happy and so is her family, "Okay," she replied.
Rick leant down and kissed the top of her head, "And I am gonna be by your side, Always."
Kate smiled and leant up to kiss him; she looked into his eyes and replied, "Always"
Author's Note:
So that's the end of Surprises guys, hope you all enjoyed the story, despite the cliff hangers and not updating for two years. But now it is done, as I said earlier in the chapter there will be a sequel, I am not sure how long it will be, but please bear with me on updates. Thanks for reading and reviewing and for waiting until I FINALLY updated see you guys next time. - Bobby-John09