Too Close

Chapter 100

At 5 a.m., Kate opens her eyes to the sound of Bennie's lusty howls from the upstairs guest room. Groaning, she pokes Rick. "I thought you said that babies Bennie's age sleep through the night."

Castle grabs his watch from the bedside table to check the time. "He did. For a baby, this is sleeping through the night. He's been asleep since Miranda fed him around eleven. She would have put him down on a nice full tummy of what only Mommy could give. But he's probably hungry and wet now." The cries die out. "She probably just picked him up, or Paul picked him up and brought him to her. The first couple of months after Alexis was born, I used to get her from her bassinet and bring her to Meredith."

Kate props herself up on her elbow. "I can't picture Meredith as wanting to nurse a baby, especially given the way she left you to cope when Alexis was still so young."

"Are you kidding? She looked at it as having a boob job, at least a temporary one, without needing a surgeon. She went up a cup size and had a bunch of new pictures taken for her portfolio. I'm not sure what she did when she went down again."

"Trust me, Babe, women have their ways." Kate's ears strain for any more sounds from Bennie. "The baby's quiet. Does that mean he's going to let his parents go back to sleep until a decent hour?"

"Unlikely," Castle admits. "Babies tend to start the day early, but at least at Bennie's age, there are still naps for the little one, and if mom and dad are lucky, they can catch one too. So can others in his orbit. And we both love naps."

Kate slides back beneath the covers and snuggles against Rick. "Yes, we do."

At six, the siren scent of a hearty dark brew draws Rick and Kate to the kitchen. Miranda looks up apologetically from behind the counter. "I hope you don't mind that I started coffee. I wanted to bring some to Paul. He's really stiff from how those animals beat on him. He took a pill he got when he was checked out at the hospital, but it hasn't kicked in yet."

Castle takes an appreciative breath. "Mi cocina es tu cocina, especially if you're making coffee. If you're going to take some upstairs when it's ready and sit with your family, I can make pancakes and bring them up to you."

Miranda lifts an eyebrow at Kate. "He cooks!"

Kate wraps her arm around Castle's waist. "He does, and his pancakes are great, but I would pass on his s'morelets if I were you."

Miranda checks the coffee maker. "I'll keep that in mind, and thanks to both of you."

Castle starts the griddle heating after Miranda has made her way upstairs while Kate pours glasses of orange juice to accompany their coffee. "So," Castle asks, reaching for a cannister of flour, "how does it feel to have a baby in the house, if temporarily?"

Kate takes a sip of her coffee. "Different. I'm not crazy about the idea of being even more sleep-deprived than I get when we have a hot case, and I can't say I love the smell of dirty diapers, but there is a change in the energy."

"A positive change?" Castle queries.

"I think so. But we still don't know what's coming with my promotion. I can't think very far ahead until we do. Gates didn't hear anything yesterday."

Castle picks up a whisk. "Perhaps today will be the day."

"Detective Beckett, a word," Gates calls from the doorway of her office.

Castle gives Kate's hand a quick squeeze as she pushes out of her desk chair to join the captain.

"Close the door," Gates instructs Kate and motions her to a chair. "Sergeant Ortley from Robbery is retiring. The spot will be open, and you're the first pick to fill it."

"I'm not a robbery cop," Kate protests, "I'm homicide."

Gates pulls off her reading glasses and taps them against her desk. "I'm well aware of that, Kate. You may be the best homicide cop I've ever known. And the truth is, they don't really need a sergeant based in Robbery. The lieutenant down there is a hands-on supervisor. Also, you're aware of the reorganization taking place in the N.Y.P.D. Under the new structure, you'll be a lead in the precinct detective squad. What I'm proposing is that you'll be robbery-homicide. We can set up a cubicle for you up here. You'll spend most of your time with murder investigations, but you will pitch in with robbery when necessary. Crossover cases involving both elements will be in your portfolio. You're going to have a big job, a bigger one than Ortley had. Are you game to handle that, Detective?"

Kate relaxes hands that she'd unconsciously balled into fists. "More than game, Sir. When would I start?"

"This is Ortley's last week, so first thing Monday morning. I imagine we'll have the whole Vail situation straightened out by then."

"Yes, Sir. Miranda, Paul, and Bennie are here, and I expect news from Kristen Ariza anytime now."

Gates sticks her glasses back on the tip of her nose. "Very well. Keep me apprised. That's all."

Castle pops up from his chair as Kate approaches. "What did Gates say?"

"I'm getting a promotion, but not exactly what we've been talking about. I'll give you the details later, and we can discuss how we'll handle it. How are the Vails doing?"

"Miranda and Paul are on pins and needles, and I think Bennie is feeling the tension. I just walked him around a little for them, the good part being, I gave him back to Paul to change. And…"

Kate's cell dings a text. "It's from Kristen. She says that since Miranda isn't being charged with a crime and the doctor at the hospital signed off on Paul, the Vails are free to take Bennie home. She'll drop by their place with paperwork later."

"A happy ending if I ever heard one," Castle declares. "But I'm going to miss the little fellow."

"Yeah, me too," Kate confesses. "We wouldn't need one for a couple of years, but do you think it would be possible to build a nursery in the loft?"

Castle grins. "I know a contractor that could build one to perfection."

Ken slides into a seat opposite Martha at a corner table in a hole-in-the-wall bistro. "Sorry I'm late. Some of the fans following The Matchsticks found out where they were staying and tried to break into their hotel suite. I had to get them resettled."

"It's fine, Ken," Martha allows. "I've been internalizing the ambiance. I read the script for an avant-garde production that takes place in a restaurant much like this. I'm almost finished with my run in Gypsy, and I'm considering doing something fresh and cutting edge. You've created a new life for yourself. I'd like to take a leap or two as well."

"There's one leap we could both take," Ken murmurs.

"What are you talking about?" Martha demands.

"Martha, I waited over 40 years for the chance to be back with the woman who made it worth it to risk everything, and the family we created together. I don't want to wait any longer. Martha Rodgers, will you marry me?"

"That would be a leap," Martha agrees. "I don't have the best track record, but then maybe I was just waiting for the man I really love to come home. Yes, Ken or Jack or whatever you need to call yourself, I will marry you."