Accidental Miracle
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: From a fan prompt, (Thank You new2castle) PROMPT REQUEST # 2 – Kate decides to have a baby on her own. We explore how seeking the perfect donor of life may lead to more than Beckett bargained for. COMPLETELY AU, Some Scenes and events used to enhance the story,
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take MANY liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events from other Canon episodes to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
This fanfic is dedicated to Diane, AKA new2castle I hope I do your request justice. Thanks for being a super fan.
Chapter 17
Presbyterian Hospital
4 hours Later
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Rick landed in New York and was whisked away in a limo as if he were a foreign dignitary, he only had one thought on his mind, getting to Kate and Jimmy. He had called Alexis and his Mother, and they should be there, God please let everything be OK, he prayed silently as his car whipped through back streets and shortcuts his driver knew to get him to the hospital.
He didn't even wait for the car to come to a complete stop before he had leaped from the vehicle and was running toward the entrance doors to the hospital. The first person he saw was LT, thank God,
"Rick, hey man, everything is OK, I'm going to take you to them, BUT you have to calm down. Doctor Helen will not let anyone near Kate or her baby if they are upset, she's too fragile right now. Get a grip Rick, Man Up, you can do this" LT cuffed his shoulders with his huge meat hooks for hands.
Rick took a few cleansing breaths and walked quickly to the neonatal recovery room, where he could see Kate gowned and masked standing over a sleeping Jimmy. There was a crowd outside in the waiting lounge, including Gina, Alexis, Martha, Kevin, Jenny, Lanie, and Espo. Rick looked again and Nurse Hillary was in the room with Kate, all covered with PPE as well, as he started towards the waiting area, Kate looked up and locked on his eyes, she was out of the room and in his arms in a flash.
"Rick, god you came, you don't know what this means to me, to us, for us." She half cried, and then as he held her, he asked gently,
"So, how's our little man doing, I was praying all the way here" the anguish evident in his voice,
"He's better Rick, much better, thank you, I think we need to talk, in private once you greet Jimmy's fan club." She half cried, half spoke,
Alexis hugged him and whispered, "He's going to be fine Dad, everything is working out fine" then Martha hugged him, finally Gina stepped up. He could tell she had been crying, but she hugged him and whispered, "you know I love you, and anyone you love, don't you? I'm glad you called me and let me be part of this. He looks just like you, but you need to talk to Kate, now," she said, as Rick's face looked puzzled, perhaps Gina was in the moment and thinking Jimmy was his biological child, God he wished.
Kate took his hand and led him to a small private office off the room, she turned and just fell into his arms sobbing. He held her for at least ten minutes, letting her try to talk several times, until she finally got some composure back, "God Rick, I needed you so bad, and you came, you busted your butt to get here, I love you, and I love you even more because I know what you did." Kate said still wrapped in his arms,
"What would that be, Kate, I mean I chartered a plane, not much else, what are you talking about babe?" He said confused,
"Well, Gina came down and pulled a power play on the Medical Director, she had it all; your Power of Attorney, your marriage license, copy of your divorce, and your attorney on the phone as she spoke to him"
"Wow, she's determined, she always is when she wants something," Rick said,
"Yes, well what she wanted was to carry out your wishes that your bank of AB Negative blood go to Jimmy, so his surgery could go forward. Rick, she told me how rare your blood type is and why you always bank blood every 56 days, she also told me about convincing you to donate "Reproductive Property" as the lawyers called it, to New York Fertility Center one week before I was inseminated," she said softly still holding him tightly,
Rick's breath caught in his throat, "eh Kate I was going to tell you I swear but I wanted you and Jimmy to get past your six-week checkup, you went through enough worry during pregnancy" he apologized, hoping she would forgive him,
"You made me promise not to google it, remember? I stalked you at the Clinic here, and you made me promise and I kept it, Rick you shouldn't have done that babe? What if something had happened and you needed blood? I would never have forgiven myself if it was here and I didn't know about it." She was crying again,
"Babe, shhh, please, see this," As he pulled a medical ID necklace from around his neck with a patient number, Presbyterian Hospital and Call Immediately for Emergency, Hey I know I do a lot of dumb things but, I'm not stupid, not when you and Jimmy are depending on me, well I, eh,"
"Rick, shut up, we do depend on you, more than you ever know. Could I ask you a question, well questions, they're personal, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, OK?" she said sadly, as she pulled back from him, kissed him gently,
"Ok, I guess, go ahead, I thought you knew pretty much all there was to know about me, but go ahead." He said, fear in his voice,
"Did you donate sperm to New York Fertility Management Corporation as part of your divorce from Gina? Babe, I'm sorry, but Gina told me you asked her to come and donate your blood, she also told me less than 1% of the population has this type, the chances of locating one donor, much less two would be like winning the lottery not once but twice? Rick, I'm sorry if this upsets you, but if you don't want to answer, well it's OK." Kate said as she noticed him stiffen a bit,
"Kate, I did, I knew it was donated but I only found out where after I talked to Walt, my attorney last week in Los Angeles. It could be a miracle Kate, but do you think, I mean, I, eh what"
"Rick, nothing would please me more, I would love to know that Jimmy is yours, to me he is already, you and I both know where his eyes travel when you walk into the room. To me, you're his Dad, as long as you want to be, or will have us. It would be fantastic if by some accidental miracle that it was your sperm who created life in me, to begin with." She fell back into his arms again and sobbed,
"Well we can find out easily enough Kate, but before we do that, I have to ask you, and not just because of Jimmy, but"
He dropped to one knee, held out a beautiful ring, and asked Katherine Beckett would you marry me, I asked Jimmy he already said you could" his big smile came out,
It was all she could do to utter a "Yes, Of Course, Always Babe" and then as he placed the ring on her finger noticed for the first time the cheering going on from the waiting room, Rick had opened the blinds without her knowing it, and the family and friend were going crazy, even Gina was smiling, when you love someone, you're happy when they're happy.
Doctor Helen knocked on the door, and Kate panicked,
"Easy Kate, easy, I just wanted to give Dad the update, Jimmy is going to make a full recovery, and of course we'll start replenishing the blood as soon as possible, but we only used one unit, so there is still plenty in reserve. Do either of you have any questions?" She asked
"Just one Helen, how soon could you confirm DNA testing of mine and Jimmy? I know he's mine, Gina told Kate she noticed this birthmark on the same ear, and well when I hold him, I know it, I just do."
"Rick, I will need Kate's authorization, but Jimmy was already processed at birth, and of course you and Alexis have had yours on file for years. Once Kate approves, perhaps a few hours, just to be sure the correct people sign the paperwork" She hugged him, "For what it's worth, I saw his birthmark, and well, I had more than suspicions. Kate, I will say an added prayer for you if he turns out like this one" she laughed,
No one had noticed in the frenzy of Rick's marriage proposal Gina slipping away, to the cafeteria, after a quick stop at the ladies' room to dry her tears and reapply her makeup. She was sitting at a table, drinking her coffee when a doctor approached her,
"Excuse me, mam, I'm not trying to be forward, but are you OK? I mean I'm not asking to be nosy but we have all types of resources here to help, grief counselors are here to help, all you need to do is ask" she noticed his slow southern drawl,
She looked up and smiled, "Well thank you, no grief, actually good news for most, my ex-husband has just discovered he is a Dad again, and his son pulled through the surgery and will make a complete recovery, so it's good news." She said, still fighting tears,
"Somehow Mam, I can see that hurts you, and I'm deeply sorry, I mean I shouldn't even be saying this but if you need to talk to just a friend, I get off at 11:00 and there's a good coffee shop around the corner, I mean, I'm not usually this bold mam, I beg your pardon,"
"What's your name Doctor Thompson, I mean the name your friends and family call you?" she asked,
"I'm not sure a lady like you should hear such language" as they both laughed, "but my first name is Chris, and I'm from Tennessee so New York has been different" he smiled his big smile,
"I bet it has," Gina just felt comfortable, with him,
"Well, here's my card and if you need or would like to get that coffee, just give me a call, mam," he said,
"If we get that coffee are you going to call me mam the rest of the night, my name is Gina, she stood and shook his hand, and for the first time in a long time she was looking into another pair of blue eyes but the spark she felt was nice.
"OK, Gina, I hope I hear from you, I have to run, getting paged" he drawled, she thought he was cute, and his accent was really attractive,
She started out of the cafeteria to see Alexis, standing in the door,
"Sorry Mom, I was just checking to see if you were OK, he seems nice, I mean" Alexis
"Sweetie, your Dad, and Kate are made for each other, and I finally came to terms with that, so why not start exploring, he wants to get coffee after his shift" she smiled,
"Go for it Mom, just be happy, thanks for all you did tonight to help Kate and Jimmy, I know it was pretty stressful, if I knew he was going to propose I would have gotten you out of that room," Alexis said
"Sweetie, I'm glad you didn't, now I know he's really moved on, now I won't feel guilty moving on either, so it was a moment that freed me, sounds like a cheap Hallmark card, but I mean it" she laughed as she put her arm around Alexis and headed back to the floor.
"It's days like this that make me want to stay a teenager the rest of my life, I still haven't figured out the love part of seeing someone you care about with someone else, maybe I'm not as grown as I thought I was," Alexis said,
They entered the waiting room, Kate was waiting for them, as she watched with a smile on her face, and tears in her eyes and Rick, all covered with PPE, just stood and adored his son, he didn't care what the DNA results were, Jimmy was his, as long as Kate would let him be his Dad.
"Gina, can I talk to you in private for a minute please?" Kate asked,
"Sure Kate, just no coffee, let's go outside and talk on the benches, you won't see Rick until they make him leave that little man." Gina smiled, even though a tear appeared in her eye,
They walked down the stairs, silently, Kate trying to find the words to say what was in her heart, Gina, trying to truly let go, and let Kate and Rick have a smooth lane, life had thrown them enough speed bumps already.
They reached the benches, as Gina sat Kate cleared her throat,
"Gina, I have no words, to say, nothing I could say would ever be enough, but thank you for your help in saving Jimmy, I know how hard it was, or at least I can only imagine, I know there is still love on both sides and I understand.
"I want you to know I love him with all of my heart, and I'll take care of him, I know you have worried about him for years, you still can if you want, it's OK, I know you will forever be part of the Castle family. You're the mother of Alexis, no ifs ands or buts about it, and I want you to feel welcome in our home.
"I guess, I'm saying is I truly want to be friends, not just friendly, and Gina, thank you for pointing out that birthmark, I know now, or will know soon what we both already know in our hearts. My son is not only a miracle but the fact the man I love, the man I'm going to marry somehow accidentally became part of that miracle even before I even met him.
"I know you are hurting; I saw your tears as you left the room, and I'm so sorry, I never"
"Kate, it's OK, in fact, it's better than OK, seeing you two together, Rick proposing, and now him with little Jimmy makes it all right. I have to move on, and can I confide in you woman to woman for a moment?" She asked, a sly smile on her face,
"Of course, Gina, anything, my God you are part of the family, how can I help?" Kate asked,
"Well, I went to the cafeteria to get a cup of coffee, and I actually met someone, it's early, who knows but for the first time since Rick and I split, I had that, well you know that sting of excitement, he's a doctor and has such a cute southern accent, it has me hanging on every word." Gina got out, with a bit of a sparkle in her eye,
"WOW Gina, that's fantastic, really I hope you take him up on his offer, I mean southern gentlemen in New York are about as rare as AB Negative blood type, so go for it" Kate took her hand, and smiled,
"Alexis saw him and told me the same thing, hell, it's only a cup of coffee, right?" Gina said,
Kate took the card Gina had been playing with and dialed the number, "This is Doctor Chris Thompson, how can I help yawl? came the response,
She quickly handed the phone to Gina, "Hi Chris, it's Gina, I'd like to meet for coffee, under once condition?" she said,
"Yes, Mam, whatever you need" came the drawl,
"Well, Chris, may I ask you to never call me Mam again, I think there's more to us than that or at least there could be," she said softly
"Yes M, eh sure thing Gina, I'm tickled to death that you want to meet for that coffee, I hope I'm not being to forward,"
"Not at all Chris, see you at 11:00 or shortly after, have a good rest of your shift, and this is the phone number you can reach me if you want to call or something comes up," She said, flirtingly
"Great Gina, I already have someone to cover for me, so I'll see you at 11:00, and thanks Gina, I look forward to seeing you again," his southern drawl had Gina captivated on every word and his tone was so sincere,
"Great, I'll see you soon, Goodbye"
Hampton's Home
Three Years Later
Once again Kate and Gina were sitting in the shade by the pool talking, but a lot had happened in the last three years. Rick and Kate were married in a civil ceremony two months after Jimmy was born. Gina and Chris had gotten married, 6 months after they met, he was delighted she had preserved her eggs, and she was now pregnant, in her 7th month, everything pointed to a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Kate sat across from her, also 7 months pregnant, and shared the laments of the pains and inconveniences that they were going through for the unborn lives each was carrying. Jimmy was playing in the pool with Daddy, and Uncle Chris, Alexis was home on break from college, and Martha had finally slowed down to the point she was in her retirement home. She had no interest in the Hamptons, preferring to stay with her circle of friends reliving the glory days.
"Gina, I never asked you, how did Chris react when you used the harvested eggs?" Kate asked,
"Oh, I thought you knew, we didn't. This one is made the old fashion way, with all the fun included" as she patted her bump gently and laughed,
Alexis was sitting across from them both, and looked up her nose crunched,
"So, you both got pregnant the regular way, no harvesting no AI, just the fun parts as you say?" she asked,
Kate and Gina answered in unison, "Yes, the old fashion way with all the fun" and laughed,
"Damn, there went six bucks down the drain as she pulled out presents for each, both wrapped identically," as she handed them to the ladies,
"What's this Alexis, I mean thank you but why?" Kate asked,
"Open them and you'll see", she laughed
Gina and Kate both opened their gift boxes to find Turkey basters and a photo from the movie "The Switch" as they both burst out laughing,
"When did you do this Alexis?" Gina asked
"I was over at Paige's and we found this old movie on demand, and it gave me an idea for a joke, guess the joke is on me, now I'll have three little siblings, and you didn't need the turkey basters" she laughed,
"Well, I would tell you to ask your father, but knowing him he would tell you the step by step and you're not ready to hear it" Kate started before Alexis interrupted her,
"Uggggg Parental Sex, Alexis shivered and they all laughed,
The End
Calling this one Complete, once again, thank you all for your reviews, instant messages, and support. Diane, I hope you are satisfied with this, I know you referenced the movie, and I tried to pull it in, but Espo or Ryan fathering a child gave me the shivers, We have room to build on this fic if there is demand, again, this was fun to write without trying to stay under the story arc set by Mr. Marlowe.
Tank, you hit the nail on the head, I have been accused as a Beckett Basher by some, this was written in the guise that the cases only served as supporting details, and her Mom's death didn't play such a huge dark shadow over everything the character had to do. I also used some of the rumors of real-life drama between the two leads to set up the movie crisis, I don't care if they were true or not, water over the damn to me. Hopefully, you enjoyed, we could go to the next phase with a sequel if there is interest,
Tim