Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it. The story it's self is nearly finished although how many chapters it will take to actually do is another question entirely. Hope you like it.
By the time lunch time rolled around all the paperwork was done. It would have been done sooner but Rick had taken it upon himself to distract and annoy both Kate and the boys. Or at least he had until Kate had threatened, in a low whisper next to his ear, to withhold sex if he didn't behave. After that he had been surprisingly quiet and helpful, keeping the three of them supplied with coffee. Ryan and Esposito had smirked at him and each time he walked past them they would make whipped sound effects.
Rick just ignored them but Kate couldn't help the smirk that they actions placed on her face, although she made sure that Rick didn't see it, he would end up looking like a kicked puppy and she knew it.
Just as they had finished up the last of the paper work and Rick had finished taking the case photos off the board and into a box, Gates came out of the office, Thomas holding onto her hand as he came with her, Clint clutched in his other hand.
Ryan, Esposito and Kate all put their completed files into the box and Rick put the lid on before he squatted down beside the desk and said to Thomas, who had just reached the desk, "Hey there bud, how are you?"
Thomas smiled at him before he let go of Gates' hand and wrapped his arms around Rick's neck in a hug. Rick smiled up at Gates before he supported Thomas and stood up and moved to lean against Kate's desk. Over his shoulder Esposito and Ryan pulled faces at Thomas, causing the child to laugh and bury his head in Rick's shoulder, occasionally peaking up at the two detectives. Whenever he did look up Esposito and Ryan would pull a different face.
Kate and Gates watched and both smiled before Gates looked at Kate and said, "It's time for you to go home Detective, you've done all your paper work and you're not on call so you might as well leave, before another case turns up."
Kate nodded and smiled her gratitude before she started packing up her desk. "The same goes for you two," Gates commented, looking at Ryan and Esposito.
They too nodded and started to pack up. Gates watched for a few seconds before she turned and walked back to her office. She knew that Kate and Rick were going to make amazing parents for Thomas and she could see from the way that Ryan was with the boy that when his child was born he was going to love them and be a brilliant parent too.
"Do you want to move some more of your things to the loft tonight?" Rick asked Kate as she shut her computer down and doubled checked that everything was sorted.
Kate nodded. "Might not be a bad idea. Get everything sorted and then concentrate on giving Thomas a stable environment."
Rick smiled, "Sounds like a plan."
Kate then looked over the Esposito and Ryan and asked, "Are you two up to anything this evening?"
They both shook their heads. "Do you fancy coming and helping me move the rest of my things to the loft?" she asked, "Pretty much everything is packed, I just need to get it to the loft and pack up the last few little bits."
"Sure," Esposito replied, "What about your furniture and stuff? What's happening to that?"
"It's staying there," Kate answered, "Martha is going to take up my tenancy."
"Cool," Ryan declared. "We'll meet you there when we've finished up here, that way there's two cars instead of just your cruiser so we'll be able to move more."
Kate smiled at her two boys. "Thanks," she said as she put on her coat and took Thomas from Rick so he could do the same. Esposito and Ryan just smiled at her before they turned back to straightening their desks.
Once Rick had his coat on Kate put Thomas back on the floor and took one of his hands. Thomas looked at Rick and then solemnly handed him Clint before he took hold of his hand too. Rick smiled over his head at Kate and the three of them headed towards the lift, walking side by side and causing everyone they passed to smile at them.
It didn't take them long to get to the car and once they did Kate and Rick put Thomas into the back seat. "We need to get him a booster seat or something," Kate commented as they did up his belt and then shut the door, "He can't just keep sitting on a pile of blankets. It's not exactly what I'd call safe."
Rick nodded over the car as the two of them got into the front. "I think I've still got Alexis' old one in storage," he mused, "I'll have a look when we get back to the loft."
Kate nodded as she started the engine and pulled away. The drive from the precinct to Kate's apartment was uneventful and quiet. Every so often Rick would look over his shoulder, or Kate in the rear view mirror, and see that Thomas had Clint pressed up against the window while he himself was watching as the city whizzed past.
When they reached the apartment Kate pulled up in front of the building and the two adults got out. While Kate went to open the front door Rick got Thomas and Clint out the back and followed her up. Kate used the remote to lock the car as the two of them walked past her and into the building before she followed after them. They headed towards the lift, Rick holding onto Thomas' hand while Kate walked a little behind them, until a voice stopped them.
"So who's this then?" Dee asked them, looking down at Thomas, who was now hiding behind Rick's leg.
"Hello Dee," Kate greeted, "This is Thomas." Kate looked down at Thomas and then knelt just in front of Rick and gently spoke. "Come on Thomas, come and say hello. Dee's not scary, I've known her for a long time."
Thomas came out from behind Rick's leg but stayed close beside him. "Hello there Thomas," Dee greeted.
"Hello," Thomas replied in a quiet voice.
Dee smiled before she looked to the now standing Kate and asked, "Why is he with you?"
"His parents were murdered," Kate answered in a low voice, "I got the case and we've been looking after him. Since he hasn't got any family we're going to hopefully adopt him too."
Dee beamed at them. "Your dad will be so proud, and so happy to be a grandfather."
Kate smiled and nodded. "But can you not tell him please? I'll do it when we know for sure that Thomas is going to be staying with us."
Dee nodded. "Of course dear." She looked at Rick before she looked back to Kate and said, "I'm guessing you're here to finish packing and moving out." When Kate and Rick both nodded she continued, "That's great. Do you know when Ms Rogers will be moving in?"
Rick and Kate looked at each other before Kate replied, "I'm not actually sure but it shouldn't be too long after I've moved out completely I'm sure."
"That's great dear," Dee accepted. "Well I'll leave you to it." She walked back towards her door while Rick, Kate and Thomas headed over to the lift once more.