Flu

Chapter 82

"Kate, what are you going to do?" Rick asks after a call from Lanie confirms what they both already knew.

Her back stiffens. "My job, same as I did with Simmons today."

"You did that sitting at a table in a room where only the good guys had guns," Rick points out. "I'm talking about going out on the street. When you put yourself in the line of fire, you won't be the only one in danger anymore. The possibility that you'll take a bullet is bad enough. I know you've made peace with it. I'm still working on that, and so's your father. He and I talked about it when you were in the hospital with the flu. But a baby, Kate. You can't hang a target on our baby. Or don't you want to go through with the pregnancy?"

Kate leans her head against his chest. "I admit that I didn't want a child this soon, but of course, I want to keep our baby. I also want to keep on being a cop. I need to figure out a way to make that work."

"Maybe we can figure one out together," Castle suggests. "A little help from Montgomery wouldn't hurt either. You managed to do a hell of a lot of crime-busting without leaving your bed when you had the flu. Toting our kid around in your tummy is a lot less limiting than that. Your incredibly well-trained body and eagle eye help you pursue the bad guys, but it's your brain that takes them down. No reason to put any restrictions on your mind. But to start, do you have to notify Health Services?"

Pulling away from Rick, Kate begins to pace the floor. "Yeah, I do. But that can wait until tomorrow. I want some time to think this out. And I wouldn't mind hearing one of your famous Castle brainstorms either."

"If the winds of brilliance rise, you'll be the first to know. But in the meantime, as Lanie pointed out, we do have your triumph over Kyle Simmons to celebrate. Unfortunately, alcohol is out now."

"Not for you. I know how much you love your scotch and good wine."

"Kate, that would be like eating a banquet in front of a dieter. Your sacrifice is my sacrifice. And thank God, last I heard, there's no rule against pregnant ladies savoring the joys of chocolate. Feel up to some of the good stuff?"

A grin creeps over Kate's face. "Bring it on!"

Carl Osnitz is usually the first one to arrive for the morning shift at C.S.U. That way, he can get a comprehensive report from the graveyard supervisor and get himself organized before most of his people show up. If anyone beats him in, it's usually Alexis Castle. Today is no different. She was waiting for him, her report in hand.

It's a damn good report, too. She must have barely breathed while shadowing Myron. She seems to have observed his every move but didn't accuse him of doing anything wrong, just pointed out possible avenues of contamination in established procedures. And hell if she isn't right. What was fine a few years back when amplification was less advanced opens potential vulnerabilities now.

The girl even proposes an example of an argument a defense attorney might put forward. She has at least some of her father's out-of-the-box thinking. Her example is unlikely but far from impossible. The lab can address the problem with a simple change, and he can examine the records of recent analyses to make sure it was avoided. The cops and the D.A. will both appreciate that. And it won't hurt the standing of Carl's team, either. He heads out to the lab floor to encourage Alexis with a more exciting assignment than extractions. She deserves one.

Rick is less nervous than he was in the waiting room of Health Services when he'd brought Kate in with the flu, but not by much. Lanie said she didn't pick up any problems she wouldn't expect with a normal pregnancy, but then, she didn't examine Kate either. A doc who treats the living is doing that now. Assuming all is well with Kate, they still have to figure out their next step, preferably before they cross the threshold of Roy Montgomery's office.

Rick stands as Kate emerges, the remnants of frown lines still visible on her forehead. "What's wrong?"

"She said that coffee might start smelling good to me again in a couple of months, and if it does, I'll only be allowed one mug of the real stuff a day."

Rick's relieved exhalation is audible. "If that should come to pass, I'll make sure it's top-of-the-line. What else did she say?"

"That I'm about six weeks along, which is what Lanie thought and that everything looks good, but…"

"But what?"

"Because of what happened with the flu, I might be at a higher risk for blood clots, and she wants to watch me carefully."

"And that means?"

"For now, more blood work, but she gave me a list of symptoms to look out for, and she wants to make sure I don't sit too long."

A smile sneaks onto Rick's lips. "Somehow, I don't see keeping you moving as being much of a challenge."

Harvey Bender would have liked to attend Columbia Law School, but he had a problem, two really. He didn't have the money, and his grades weren't up to snuff. So he got a job in security at a genetics lab while going to Seton Hall part-time to earn his J.D. After he got it, he finally, with some difficulty, secured a position as an associate with Townsend, Townsend, and Grey. The competing associates are younger than he is and hungry as hell. To move up, he needs to make a name for himself ASAP. Representing a dirty cop, accused of particularly dramatic rapes and murders, will put him front and center.

While the citizens of New York might recoil at his defense of Heitner's crimes, the partners will be watching to see what rabbits Harvey can pull out of his hat. This case could be just what he needs to make his mark. The charges, like those in numerous other cases, hinge on D.N.A. analysis. If he can mount a serious argument, he'll be an instant legal star. He paid attention while he was working at the genetics lab and even took notes on discussions he heard about screwups and do-overs. In Harvey's opinion, what comes out of a lab – any lab – is far from error-free. The Heitner case will be his chance to take advantage of what he picked up, and he's determined to succeed. If that means poring over every word of discovery, he'll do it. And the way he sees it, the crime lab should eventually be grateful to him. His efforts will help them do better work, but hopefully not on other cases he defends.

"Are you going back to court on the Heitner case?" Lana asks as she and Eli meet for a quick dinner at the Nice and Spicy truck.

He shoves a piece of tomato back into his taco. "I just heard that Heitner changed lawyers. We're on the docket in the morning to amend the paperwork, the new counsel's request for discovery, just procedural stuff. I've never dealt with the replacement, but I haven't heard about any problems with him. I doubt that the switch will slow the case down much."

Lana hands him a paper napkin. "I hope not. The last thing the department wants is to have the trial of a dirty cop drag on. The city needs to have confidence that Heitner will be slammed for what he did, as hard as a civilian would be."

"Amen to that," Eli agrees.