Charlie is waiting at the curb, when Kate emerges from their building. He holds the door for her as they exchange greetings. Sometimes she feels guilty taking advantage of being married to a multimillionaire, but not this morning. She opens her contacts in her iPhone, finding Dr. Burke's number quickly. She leaves a brief message, asking for a call to set up an appointment. Her next task is a text to Lanie, asking for a chance to grab lunch together and chat. She opens her briefcase and starts reviewing some paperwork. She'll email Gates once she arrives in her office.
It surprises Kate, when Charlie stops in front of the 12th. She thanks him for making the trip so smooth. "Captain Beckett, it's always a pleasure to drive any member of your family. I especially enjoy it, when Mr. Castle has me take him and Lily somewhere. You have a delightful baby."
"It's wonderful to hear, that she behaves in your car. I was pleased, when Rick said you were the one picking me up. You have a great day," Kate replies as she exits the car.
"The same to you, Captain."
Kate sends a quick text to Rick, letting him know she has arrived safely at the 12th. They have established a routine of constant contact since their shooting. It keeps both of them reassured, now that they spend their days apart.
Dr. Burke's office calls with an opening at 4pm. Kate texts Rick: Appt w Burke at 4 Be home after that ILY
Rick responds a few minutes later: Great! Lily & I'll prepare a feast for tonight ILY
Kate laughs at Rick's text: Doubt Lil will be any help Talk ltr
Rick responds: K
Kate has a thought and adds another text: Call car srv & give Charlie bonus He deserves it
Rick decides to call Kate. Kate answers the phone on the first ring, "Hey, Babe."
R: "It's hard to text, when a baby wants to be held. I'll call the car service and add some extra to Charlie's tip. (Lily, you can't have my phone. Just a minute, I'll let you babble to Mommy.) What time do you want the car service to pick you up for your appointment with Burke?"
K: "I can take the subway. It'll be faster."
R: "The Weather Channel is predicting more snow for this afternoon. At least let me schedule a car for the end of your appointment, please. I don't want a Kate popsicle arriving home this evening."
Kate laughs, "Fine, O Over-protective One, schedule a pick-up for me at 5:10. If the snow starts causing problems, I might have to come back in to work."
R: "Lily keeps trying to grab my phone. Talk to her for a minute. I'll arrange for the car service. Love you."
K: "Thanks. Love you, too. Now let my baby have the phone."
Kate hears Rick talking to Lily, "Okay, darling, talk to Mommy."
Lily squeals into Kate's ear, followed by, "Mamama Dada goo Mama eee pa oooonn."
K: "Is that so baby? You have fun with Daddy, and I'll see you after your nap."
L: "Mama baba oooo Dada gaga oh sss."
K: "Mommy needs to work, baby. Can you say bye bye?"
L: "Ba bye."
K: "Bye bye, baby."
Kate hears Lily talking to Rick, "Dada Mama ba." Rick speaks into the phone next. "Does that qualify as a sentence? Did you hear what she said?"
K: "I don't think so, Babe. Love you. Lanie's trying to call. I better answer that."
R: "Always, Kate."
Kate switches to the call from Lanie, "Hi. How's it going in the land of the dead?"
Lanie: "Ooh, girl, you are sassy this morning. You and writer boy have a great morning?"
K: "It's Writer Man, Lanie. Meet me for lunch, and I'll tell you all the ways he took care of me last night."
L: "You're going to make me green with envy, aren't you."
K: "Maybe. Actually, there's some news I want to share with you. When are you available for lunch today?"
L: "I have a guy waiting on my slab, so I should be finished and free by 1. Meet me at Rosa's at 1:15? It won't be as crowded as Remy's"
K: "See you then."
Kate types up her resignation. She emails it to Rick and prints out a copy for Burke. She folds up the copy and places it in her bag. She'll tell Espo and Ryan after lunch. She knows her secret will be safe with them. She taps out an email to Gates asking for an appointment tomorrow. She wants to give Victoria a heads up, before she delivers her formal resignation. She closes the letter's file quickly, when there is a tap on her door. Time to get back to being a Captain.
The snow has held off so far, and Kate arrives at Rosa's before Lanie. She's shown to a table in the back and orders a coffee while she waits for Lanie. Her coffee arrives almost simultaneously with Lanie.
Lanie slips into the chair across from Kate. Their server takes Lanie's order for tea, and tells them she'll take their lunch orders when she brings the tea.
Lanie asks Kate, "Are you having your usual, so you can tell me what Writer Boy did, or do you need to look at the menu?"
Kate smiles, "I know what I want. You're impatient today."
L: "Spill, Kate. You look too smug for words."
K: "Here comes your tea. After we order, I'll tell you why I really wanted to talk today."
Their server delivers Lanie's tea and takes their orders. Kate sips at her coffee, while Lanie adds lemon and honey to her tea.
Lanie takes a sip of her tea, before starting her interrogation of Kate, "That's so good. Okay, spill it, Kate."
Kate smiles at Lanie, "Yesterday was a miserable day at the 12th. Sanders and Forbes slid on the ice and damaged their cruisers. We had accidents to deal with all over the place. Two murder investigations are ongoing. When I left work late, I took the subway home. I knew I'd never get a cab…"
Lanie interrupts impatiently, "Why are you smiling while you recite this chronicle of woes? You're hiding something."
K: "I am setting the scene, as my husband would say. In short, I had a terrible day at work. I arrived home cold and wet, after trudging through the ice and slush from the subway to the loft. Rick, the caring man that he is, had warmed up a blanket, a towel and my fluffiest socks to wrap me in when I arrived home. He had hot cocoa and a glass of wine ready for me. He ran a bath for me and …"
L: "You are making me jealous. I arrived home to a pile of bills and an empty apartment."
K: "Lanes, you just need to drop a hint, and Alan will put a rock on your finger. You should call him, and invite him over tonight. I know you love him, and the man is crazy about you."
L: "Haven't we had this conversation, but the roles were reversed? I guess I should take my own advice. Now tell me how else Writer Boy spoiled you last night."
K: "He helped me into the tub, prepared my dinner while I enjoyed the hot water. He listened to me complain about work. We checked in on Lily, and he didn't grumble at all, when I accidentally woke her and spent time rocking her back to sleep."
L: "That man is the best father I've ever seen in action."
K: "Last night he was the Best Husband Ever. All the ways he takes care of me, he makes me feel loved and special. I don't deserve him. Remember what you told me, when I came back from maternity leave?"
L: "How you should be home with your rich, handsome man and adorable baby girl. I remember. Most women would kill for what you have waiting at home for you."
K: "Little too close to recent reality, Lanie."
Realizing how close to death Kate and Rick had been last year, Lanie apologizes, "Sorry. Figure of speech. Still, most women would be jealous of what you two have."
K: "I know, and I'm grateful and happy and…. I've decided to take your advice and resign."
Lanie is silent, her mouth open in surprise. At just that moment, the server delivers their lunches, refills Kate's coffee cup and sets a fresh teabag and a small pot of hot water next to Lanie's teacup.
Kate starts eating her cream of broccoli soup, waiting for Lanie to snap out of her daze. She adds cream and sweetener to her coffee, eats some more soup and sips her coffee. Lanie is silent, while she prepares her tea and eats her French onion soup.
Katie is adding dressing to her salad, when Lanie finally gathers her thoughts and speaks, "Captain Katherine Beckett is going to resign. I never thought you'd do that. I expected you to be Chief of Detectives or Police Commissioner someday. Are you sure about this?"
K: "I have a baby and a husband. I've been shot, almost died multiple times, and damn close to widowed. I want to see Lily's first steps. I want to hear every new word. I want another baby. I've gotten justice for my Mother, and now I want the life I dreamed of before my Mother died."
L: "If we weren't in a restaurant, I'd scream with happiness. I will miss having you at the 12th, but you better not become a society wife and a stranger."
Kate laughs loudly enough to draw attention from other diners. "Seriously, me, a society wife? Not a chance. I'm hoping to get a writer's credit on Rick's next book."
Lanie giggles at Kate's comment. "You're not satisfied with having all those books dedicated to you? Does he know about your new aspiration to be a writer?"
K: "I'm kidding, Lanie. But he is way behind on his next book. He told me after I made my decision, that he's only written two chapters. He was essentially a single Dad, when Alexis was a baby. His books from those years are good, but not nearly as great as the Storm Books or the Nikki Heat books. He doesn't want to let the quality of Nikki and Rook's story to degrade, because he's busy with Lily. It's not why I'm resigning, but it's a better reason than having a bad day."
L: "His adoring fans won't know, but I'm happy that he'll have time to write. Maybe you can convince him to make the sex scenes steamier."
After their laughter died down, the two friends ate and made plans for keeping in touch after Kate steps away from the NYPD.
Kate arrives back at the precinct just before 2:30 pm. Javi is on the phone. Kate stops at Kevin's desk and asks that he and Javi come to her office, when they have a minute. "Kev, it's nothing bad. I just need to tell you both something."
Kevin smiles, "Sure thing, Captain. As soon as Javi gets off his call. We could use a moment of your time for some brainstorming anyway."
Kate peruses their whiteboard for a few minutes, before she strides into her office. She checks her email, and responds to Gates that 2:30 pm will be fine for her tomorrow. She sends Rick a text about Lanie's reaction to Kate's news. Rick's reply is a simple, "Talk later. ILY" Kate knows Lily is napping, so Rick must be typing as fast as he can right now.
Kate is compiling comp stats for 1PP, when there is a knock on her door. She motions for Ryan and Espo to come in.
"We're still working on that lead on the Martin case. What's up?" Javi starts the conversation while closing the door.
"I didn't ask you here for a progress report. Have a seat." Kate responds to Javi. The two detectives exchange a glance and sit down in front of Kate's desk.
"I want to share some news with you. I need you both to promise to keep this secret, until I announce it to the rest of the 12th." Kate waits for both of her detectives to nod in assent. "I'm going to tender my resignation on Monday."
Before Kate can say another word, both men jump up. Javi says, "Is this a prank?" Simultaneously, Kevin exclaims, "Seriously, you have to be kidding."
K: "Sit down. I don't want to start the rumor mill going, because you are both drawing attention to our conversation." The men mumble an apology and sit down. Kate continues, "I know this is unexpected. You two need to keep this between us, until I officially announce it to the precinct. I'm telling you privately, because we are friends more than colleagues."
Javi is obviously surprised and asks, "Why? I never expected you to resign. Are you sick or something?"
Kate takes a moment to gather her thoughts. "When I was a kid, being a cop was never one of my dreams. It only became my goal, after my Mother was killed. The people responsible for her death are dead or behind bars. Pushing papers and worrying about 1PP's expectations is not as appealing as enjoying my baby and my husband. This is the right decision for me and for my family. It's time for me to step aside."
Espo and Ryan sit immobile and silent for a few moments. Kevin speaks first, "Kate, we'll miss having you here. It won't be the same without you. I understand the desire to have time with your kid. I know Castle must be deliriously happy about this."
"Castle actually tried to get me to reconsider. He knows me well enough, to know when my mind is made up. I'll make sure you two still drink for free at The Old Haunt," Kate finishes with a smirk.
Javi looks Kate in the eyes. She smiles at him, and he nods his acceptance. "I never expected you to quit, retire maybe, but never quit."
"Rick suggested I take a leave of absence, but I'm done. I'll be here for another month. When Castle/Beckett baby number two enters preschool, I'll be ready to start on Beckett 2.0. It'll be something, that won't put me in danger of leaving my kids without a mother." Kate takes a moment to swallow down her emotions. "Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. Except, we'll always be friends. Castle will still invite you over for Halo and poker nights. Sarah Grace and Nicholas are Lily's de facto cousins. We'll have a weekend for all of us at the Hamptons House during the summers. It won't be the same, but it will be good."
"We're happy for you, Kate. We'll just miss you," Ryan sums things up.
"Okay. Before you two make me cry, get out of here and get back to work. Where are you on the alibi for Martin's girlfriend?" Kate leads the guys back to business.
A/N: I thought I'd get to Dr. Burke in this chapter, but it was getting long. Next chapter we'll see Dr. Burke, and probably Martha, Alexis and Jim. Thanks for reading my AU.