It was the day for the trial. Rick got up did his normal routine. The clearing which happened yesterday ended just as quickly since it was storming again. Rick just sighed as he climbed into the shower then dressed for court. He was met down stairs by Wu, Alexis and Martha. Kate had not come down yet. Rick was not that worried she was getting her normal pretrial jitters.
Rick remembered the first time he found out about Kate's nervous stomach when going to trial. It was the Tilsdale case Harrison was going to be charged with 3 separate murders. Rick was going to be called as a witness. Rick remembered being all excited. This was his first murder trial. He got to court early after dropping by the Precinct first. That is where he saw Kate dash into the ladies room as soon as she saw him. Montgomery pulled him aside and explained.
"Kate does not like to go to court. It reminds her of what she has been missing." Roy said
"I understand" Rick said but in reality he had no idea what Montgomery was speaking about at the time. It was something Kate had lost but why was still a mystery. Montgomery smiled and clapped him on the back.
"Good man… just don't mention it ok?" Roy said walking away.
Rick came back from his memory to see Kate standing in front of him. Both she and Alexis were yelling at him.
"Dad…?" Alexis said. "Earth to Dad we have to go! Mom you try!"
"Rick?...Castle wake up we need to go!" Kate shouted.
"Kate Pumpkin you do not need to shout I am ready." Rick said.
"Really Dad you stood there for 20 minutes. I swear you are getting worse." Alexis said.
"Hey Man I know Nick does that all the time too. They'll get used to it I did." Wu said.
/
The trial started the DA himself was conducting this prosecution. The defense attorney looked like he was out of law school which he was. Griff has not sprung for any fancy lawyer. As far as anyone was concerned he and his crew were penniless. The hardened men just sat there as witness after witness explained the case to the jury. The defense attorney would not even cross examine any witnesses.
He only said, "no questions your honor."
Then it was Kate's turn. She was sworn in. She looked at the grim men and was asked the first question.
"Can you describe for the court what brought you to this case Det…Excuse me Lt. Castle?" The DA asked.
Kate gave a lengthy testimony on the facts of the case but as she spoke she felt worse and worse until Kate stood up and announced
"Please I need to go now." Kate said rushing off the stand and to the ladies room. Alarmed Lanie and Alexis both ran after her.
The court was in an uproar. The Judge banged on his gavel several times to bring order to the court.
"Please can we have the court's indulgence? Lt. Castle was under the weather just a few days ago. I believed she may have had a relapse on the stand. I do not need her testimony to continue." The DA said.
"Ok Mr. DA you can call your next witness." The Judge said.
"I now call Captain Victoria Gates NYPD to the stand." He said.
Rick looked around he had not noticed when the Captain had arrived. The Captain strode into court. She was dressed in her dress blues too.
The Captain told the court of finding the bugs how she authorized Rick's ruse and the capture of the men.
The defense attorney at this point asked "were their not someone else in the warehouse?"
The Captain replied "not in my recollection nor does any of the associated electronic recording show such a thing."
Rick knew then he must have been zoning again. Since the recording was played for the court.
Next up was Wu. He gave his testimony on how he was a decoy for his cousin. Then he left the stand.
Rick was getting worried Kate had not returned to the court yet. Though he knew Alexis and Lanie were with her. It was his turn to be called to the stand. The photographers took many pictures of him in the hallways.
Rick took the stand and told his part from the time of the original crime which none of the conspirators had survived to where he was the hero which saved the German Economy. To where, it was his plan to flush out the men who were standing trial for conspiracy. Rick told it all to the court. The defense attorney did not have any questions then it was Hiram's turn and he explained the website and how Harriet used it. At this point the Defense Attorney and the DA approached the bench. They had a conversation then the attorneys return to their chairs.
The Judge agreed to the plea deal. Court was dismissed.
Kate still had not returned but Alexis had.
"Hey Dad what is going on?" Alexis said as a huge flood of people came out of the court room.
"The trial is over…The judge accepted a plea deal…It is secret so it was not announced to the court. The judge just declared the trial over…So where is Kate?" Rick asked.
"She left with Lanie. Dad she is late." Alexis looked into her Dad's bluer than blue eyes then there was a sparkle to them as he realized what his daughter was saying.
"Kate is late? Kate is really late or sort of late?" Rick asked his Daughter.
"Dad Really late…. Like 6 or 8 weeks type late." Alexis said not wanting to think she was having this sort of conversation in the hall of the court.
"Really…?" Rick said being all excited.
"Really Dad… Could we not have this conversation at home or at least not in public anymore?" Alexis pleaded.
"Sure Pumpkin. Come on Wu let's get you to the airport." Rick said.
As they were leaving the Captain came up to them.
"Oh Mr. Castle just tell your wife to come in when she is feeling better." Gates said.
"Yes Captain I will tell her." Rick said.
Just then Rick saw one of the defendants free and running down the hallway. He had a gun too. He was spraying bullets in front of him as he ran.
Rick sprang into action and started running after the crazed gunman. There was more gunfire from within the Court room before the gunman burst forth. Squads of uniforms were converging on the court. Alexis and Wu followed the Captain to safety.
Rick was gaining on the man whose gun just jammed before the doors which were closed and locked down. Rick lunged at the man and tackled him to the ground. Rick pummeled the man until he was no longer moving. There were hordes of reporters and camera's recording Rick's feat of strength and agility. The gunman was attended to by the medics who were in the Court to testify. The man needed medical attention. The man later known as Griff's second in command was in the hospital with broken bones and a concussion.
After it was all over the number of casualties were 6 which included the bailiff whose gun was stolen, the presiding judge and the 4 other defendants. It was a massacre. It was caught on video and flashed across the country and world.
The Captain led Alexis and Wu to the underground platform.
"Here is some money get on the next train to anywhere but get out of here." The Captain said.
"What about my Dad?" Alexis asked.
"He can handle himself. Now go so he does not have to worry about you two too." Gates said turning around to leave.
"There is nothing we can do here let's go." Wu said.
"Ok Wu you are right. Let's get out here." Alexis said fearing for her Father.
The Captain once she got Alexis to safety returned to take control of the investigation.
She quickly learned that the Number 2 guy objected and grabbed the bailiff's gun and shot him then shot the judge and his crew members then he reloaded and tried to run to safety only to be tackled by Mr. Castle who beat him into submission and placing him in the hospital. There was 6 dead in the courtroom. This was a mess!
/
Meanwhile Lanie had a long talk with Kate in the bathroom and determined she must be pregnant. She convinced her to return to the morgue with her.
"Ok you know the drill Kate pee in the cup!" Lanie ordered.
"Lanie I am not pregnant just sick." Kate complained.
"Uhmm… Girl Friend I'm gonna smack you if you say that one more time." Lanie sternly warned. "…Pee in the cup!"
Kate took the cup and did what she asked.
"Ok here it is… Are you satisfied?" Kate asked sarcastically.
"Sure as soon as I run these tests. It will only be a few minutes. You are not looking that well go into my office and close the door. Keep the light off." Lanie said.
"Thanks Lanie" Kate said.
Lanie was doing several tests one was the quick and dirty one home pregnancy tests used the other would take about an hour. The first test result was back as she was reading it. Alexis and Wu burst in.
"Lanie where is My Mom!" Alexis said out of breath.
"Alexis calm down you will have a stroke. Sit in this chair and you too Wu!" Lanie said "Deep breaths in and out that is good."
"That is what I was telling her" Wu said also out of breath sitting down as ordered.
Alexis tried to stir from the chair but Lanie caught her.
"OOOH I'm gonna smack ya if you move on inch from that chair until I say so Alexis Castle!" Lanie said. "Whatever it is it can wait until you get that blood pressure down."
Kate hearing the commotion came out of the office.
"Lanie what is going on?" Kate demanded.
"Alexis and Wu just burst in here looking like they ran a marathon. It is ok I got them both settling down now you look worse. Go back into my office and prepare to be wrong since the first test proves I'm on the right side but not until the final test will I confirm it." Lanie said.
"Ok Lanie I trust you to take care of my little girl." Kate said returning to the office then closed the door.
Lanie busied herself with the second test results it was looking promising the second confirmed the first but the third would be the deciding factor.
"Lanie… May I talk to my Mom now?" Alexis said no longer red in the face and could breathe normally.
"Ok sweety just be careful she is in a delicate position if these tests are any indicators." Lanie said.
"What I will have to tell her will be upsetting." Alexis warned.
"Great Alexis I will make you a deal you tell me and I will decide whether you should tell my best friend or not? Do we have a deal?" Lanie asked.
"Yeah Lanie I trust you we have a deal." Alexis said.
"Fine go ahead and tell me…" Lanie said.
"There was a shooting at the courthouse when we were leaving. There were reporters and camera's everywhere it should be on the news now." Alexis said.
Lanie turn on the monitor in the Lab.
"This is the footage of Police consultant and Mystery Writer Richard Castle catching the lone gunman and subduing him this is not for the faint of heart. It is quite gruesome." Wendy said.
The video ran showing Rick pummeling the guy into submission. Then they switched to Warren at the hospital
"The gunman is rushed to the hospital. He is in serious condition with broken bones and a concussion. Doctors report he is resting." Warren said "…and back to you Wendy."
"That is so dramatic footage. But not necessarily new here is the footage of him rescuing a police officer from a riot in a Portland Shopping mall and here he is again subduing two masked bank robbers also in Portland. There is word on the net they are calling him the 'Hulktler.' Bad guys everywhere beware of him." The anchorwoman said chuckling "That is cute and back to our reporter outside the steps of the courthouse. What do you have for us Carol?"
"Wendy I can confirm 6 dead from this lone gunman. Captain Victoria Gates NYPD had this statement." Carol said.
"Yes Mr. Castle saved many lives after the gunman a defendant in a trial I was attending got the bailiff's gun. Then shot him and the judge and turned it on the others in his crew. Then he ran out of the room firing. If it was not the courage of Mr. Castle we have no idea how high the death toll would have been." Gates stated.
"There were no further comments since this is an on going investigation. Again we repeat six dead at District Courthouse Downtown." Carol said.
Lanie reached up at turned it off then looked at the assembled group.
"Well it looks like Castle was all right but I am not too sure about that other guy." Lanie said. "There is no need to upset Kate right now. Oh look the final test is done…Hmm…just as I'd suspected."
"What is Mom Pregnant?" Alexis asked with glee in her eyes.
"I need to talk to Kate first but yeah she is. You are going to have a sibling!" Lanie said smiling.
Alexis wrapped her arms around her old boss.
"That is so great! So go tell her!" Alexis said jumping for joy.
Lanie came in to her office and found Kate slump over. Lanie called emergency and started an IV.
"Lanie what is wrong with my Mom?" Alexis asked as the EMT's arrived to take her to the hospital.
"It is she is too dehydrated I just gave her an IV but I wanted her to go to the hospital just in case. She seemed anemic so to be safe she should be checked by a specialist." Lanie said.
"Ok let's go Wu." Alexis said.
"Where are we going this time? Are we going to have to run?" Wu asked.
"No I've called my Dad's car service they should be here soon. We can wait outside for them. Alexis said. "I am texting my Dad to meet us there."
