A/N: Sorry for the long delay. Son got a stomach virus, and I caught it. Daughter in Alabama got COVID. [She's fine now] My cousin died from a fall. And happily, my other daughter got married. Real life gets hectic sometimes, even when you're retired.
We're entering Kate's final week as Captain of the 12th:
The weekend before her last week, Kate was relieved to only have a couple phone calls from the 12th to deal with. The weather was too cold to take Lily out of the loft. Rick and Kate enjoyed watching Lily crawl and pull herself up. Her attempts to stand-alone were rarely successful or long lasting. Rick had used pool noodles to soften the hard edges of the tables in the great room.
"I'm sooo happy that you will be a full-time Mom in a week. Lily is going to be walking soon, and you will be here to see it. Having a partner to share in raising a child was only a dream, when Alexis was small. Meredith was rarely home. It's going to be awesome to do this together."
"There is nothing I want more than to share raising Lily with you." Kate leaned in to kiss Rick, but Lily chose that moment to squeal.
"Apparently Tiger Lily wants our attention on her, not each other." Rick sat on the sofa a couple feet away from where Lily was clinging to the cushion. "Come to Daddy, baby. You can do it."
Lily squealed again and sped up her transit along the sofa. When she arrived at Rick's knee, she grabbed onto it and looked up at him, "Dada, hi."
Rick scooped her up. "I knew you could do it. Mommy, Lily is cruising the sofa like a pro." He tried to high five Lily, but she was looking at Kate.
Kate chuckled at Rick's over the top celebration. "What a great job, baby. You'll be walking soon won't you?" Lily leaned toward Kate and cuddled in when Kate hugged her. "I'm going to love being home with you and Daddy."
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Kate walked toward the kitchen Monday morning, and heard Rick talking to Lily.
"I am the Tetris Master of the Dishwasher. Alexis gave me that title when she was in the 5th grade. The secret is that moving the dishes that are already in the dishwasher is totally allowed. I'll teach you when you get bigger."
Lily responded, "Dada, ohs. Ohs, ohs."
"More cheerios coming up,"
"Hi, little one. Mommy has to go to work. I'll see you and the Tetris Master after work." Kate kissed the top of Lily's head.
After Rick laid some cheerios on Lily's tray, he turned to Kate for a goodbye kiss. "See you this evening. Have a great last Monday at the 12th."
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Lieutenant McCarthy's replacement had taken over his current position. He would be shadowing Kate during her last week as Captain. She made sure he was introduced to any personnel who had joined the 12th after her maternity leave. She packed the things she wanted to take home, while McCarthy handled the paperwork of a Captain. She reviewed the paperwork, and there were rarely any errors to discuss. Monday and Tuesday he observed while Kate checked in with her detectives about their current cases. All of Wednesday and Thursday morning she let McCarthy take the lead with the detectives. McCarthy's experience from his time as her temporary replacement prepared him well to take over permanently. It pleased Kate that the 12th would be in good hands, and it saddened her that the 12th wouldn't be hers anymore.
Her exit interview appointment at 1PP was scheduled for 2 pm on Thursday. At 12:30 she left McCarthy in charge and left for lunch with Lanie. She and Lanie had planned to meet at a place close to 1PP for their final lunch as colleagues. There would be lunches and dinners and girls' nights as friends in their futures.
Kate met Lanie at a small bistro known for their salads. After the two friends placed their orders, Lanie sighed. "We won't be meeting like this anymore, will we?"
"Of course we will. I'll need to get a break from Rick's antics on a routine basis. You have days off, and we'll have girls' days. Or you can come over and play with the munchkin. In the summer you can spend some time with us at the Hamptons House. Lily and I can buy you lunch when you have time to spend with us. Rick and I are hoping to take you up on your frequent offers to babysit. And Lane, if you need me for an evening of wine and commiseration, I'm still your friend."
" Thank you. We've been close for years, and I don't want to lose that."
"You're my best friend. That will not change. Now, tell me about your date with Alan."
"It was perfect." Lanie smiled and laughed while sharing details about the restaurant Alan chose and the club they danced at after dinner. "Thanks for the nudge. Would he be welcome, if I brought him along to the Hamptons?"
"Maybe…. The first weekend I have you up there, I want it to be just you. Is that okay?"
"Yes, definitely."
"I'm excited about my future, but I'm aware it will be a transition. Rick and I are happy, and I love him more everyday….but, he can get on my nerves at times. After the shooting we spent months in the Hamptons recuperating. We spent a month there when Lily was a newborn. When we go this summer, I'll have to adjust to it being our getaway home, not a place to hide out and recover. Having friends visit will help me with that, but I'll need some trial runs. Do you understand?"
"That just means I'll get invited for more than one weekend this summer, right?" Lanie teases with a beaming smile.
"Absolutely. If you have some vacation days you want to spend watching Lily toddle around, I'm sure she'll be walking by this summer. Lily's birthday is the Saturday after Memorial Day. I'm hoping to have her party at the Hamptons house. So put that on your calendar."
Lanie pulls out her phone. "I'm entering that in my calendar right now. I'm happy for you, Kate. We better eat these salads, so you're not late for your appointment with the Chief of D's."
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Kate made it to her meeting with the CofD's on time. She had to wait a few minutes, but it gave her time to settle her nerves. The Chief was welcoming and pleasant. "Victoria and I have an idea that we're hoping might interest you." He held up a hand to stop Kate from interjecting anything. "Would you be interested in doing a seminar a few times each year at the Academy? Most would be for the cadets close to graduation, and a possible seminar for newbie Homicide detectives. If you only want to do it for the newbie detectives, we'd be happy with that."
"Would that be for a couple hours each time, or did you have a half day envisioned?"
"We thought we'd leave the length of it up to you? Are you at all interested?"
"Let me think about it. I'd like to discuss it with Castle first."
"Of course. If he'd like to join you in the presentation, that would be acceptable. I'm fully aware that his unorthodox perspective is an asset. Victoria has told me it took her time to recognize what a difference it made."
"It took me a little time to see that also." Kate smiled.
"Let me know before the end of March. That way we can work out a date before the current recruits graduate. You have been a valuable member of the NYPD over the years.
You have an exit interview in HR scheduled after this. There's always paperwork around here."
Kate and the Chief stood to shake hands. "Thank you, Sir. I'll talk to Castle and call your office next week with our decision."
Kate's time in HR was spent mostly signing some forms. Gates would be at the 12th tomorrow for the transfer ceremony, and Kate would surrender her badge and gun then. The HR rep was impressed that "Kate's accountant" had been in touch about her retirement money transfer. It meant the HR rep didn't have to explain Kate's options to her. Along with all the normal separation from service paperwork was a form for the transfer of her funds to an account Greg had set up. Greg had sent the information to HR, so she only had to sign it along with everything else. Kate made a mental note to thank Rick and Greg for that later.
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Kate's last full day at the 12th ended on time. Charlie carried her box of personal items to the town car. All she would have to take home tomorrow is her family pictures and the parade of elephants on her desk. She wanted them there until the last moment.
The weather was chilly and damp. Kate settled into the town car and relaxed. Being Rick's wife had some definite advantages. Having Charlie pick her up was one of those. One more day and she'd be Mrs. Kate Castle, not Captain Beckett. She smiled all the way home.