Kate Beckett was taking delight in the fact she was scheduled to work today. It was one simple shift. She could do them backwards, blindfolded and upside down. And she could also do them nine months pregnant. She'd been sitting behind a desk for far too long and wanted to get one last go-around before the baby came.
"Hey, Alexis; when I'm on maternity leave, you'll be taking over for me. Riding with the boys should be fun." Kate waddled around to her desk, setting down her purse and taking off her shoes. They were already two sizes bigger but now, at 8am in the morning, they felt two sizes too small.
Kate had felt like a beached whale throughout her pregnancy and she found she'd developed strange pet peeves over the last nine months like being unnecessarily touched. It hadn't been until it annoyed her that she realized how much it occurred during a regular day…she was a detective after all.
Kate takes a breath and gets back up from her chair to lean against her desk while staring at the murder board. She was too antsy to sit down. Her feet had swollen up like sausages and her lower back had been aching for the last week. All this, partnered with the persistent Braxton-Hicks contractions, it was set to be a fun day.
Then the elevator doors open to reveal Lanie. As she approaches Kate's desk, her eyebrows furrow almost immediately, "Kate? Are you ok?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine. Just some Braxton-Hicks." She shrugs it off, trying to hide the sharp, biting pain the practice contractions were causing.
"I remember when I was pregnant. The false labor kept me up for days." Not helping, Lanie. "Kate, are you sure?" Lanie doled out the patented look of sarcasm and disbelief she'd come to associate with her friend. It was a look she knew all too well.
After a moment, Kate slowly shakes her head no. She turns to Alexis, "Looks like you'll be taking this one." And then turning back to the medical examiner, "I-I think my-my water just broke." She tries to keep a straight face through another supposedly real contraction and hide her worry and fear over this delivery. Kate felt like she could burst into tears at any second. The flashbacks of her last pregnancy were not helping the situation.
This was technically her second baby. Four years ago, right before the final Loksat showdown in the loft, the stick turned blue. Then, while she and Castle had laid helpless on the kitchen floor until backup arrived, she thought about the life inside of her. The hospital soon confirmed the unthinkable tragedy.
"Ok, ok. Let's sit you down. I need a wheelchair over here! And someone find Castle!" Lanie exclaimed, taking control of the situation, "Alexis, can you go tell Gates and see if she knows where those three hooligans went off to." She was ordering anyone within earshot, hoping Gates had left her door ajar,
"I am so sorry, Lanie, I'll get someone to help with everything I promise." Kate groans out, her hand clutching her stomach…well, uterus but it's all the same when there's a tiny human trying to make its way through your body.
"Don't worry, you're having a baby, dead people can wait!" Lanie laughs,
"I've texted and called them both 911. Eva's trying to get her shift covered and transferred and up here. However, Castle is not answering my calls." Alexis says as she walks to us.
"Alexis, hand me my radio." She winces, reaching for the clunky black device, fiddling with the knob, trying to get on the same wavelength. She didn't use it often but it would feed through the scanners in the car and was a quick and easy way for direct communication.
"Kate, I can't talk right now, I'm in a meeting. Is everything ok? Why do I keep getting 911 calls from Lanie?" What was Castle doing at Black Pawn today?
"Castle, uh, it's nothing major, but I'm in labor…which you would've known about five minutes ago if you would've answered your damn radio!" Kate cries out.
"Kate, honey, I'll be right there." From the static, you could tell that Castle dropped his transducer. "Gina, Paula, finish it! I'm having a baby!" You can hear the pure joy in his voice and she smiles through the pain that's about to get a lot worse. A few words get scrambled and the line disconnects.
"I'm here! I'm here!" Eva exclaims, rushing to Kate's side. Still in her powder blue scrubs, she takes the stethoscope from around her neck and places it on her stomach. Eva was one of Lanie's friends from medical school and she was often around the precinct with her court support dog, Pickles. "Strong fetal heartbeat. Baby's ready to come out. Let's get you across the street, momma." She says, perky as always.
Alexis is trying to coordinate with Gates and the rest of the precinct to get another qualified candidate to replace Kate in Lanie's court case. Eva takes the wheelchair she lugged in and pushes it in the direction of the ambulance that apparently followed her. "Did I not tell you to take the day off?" She jokes,
"Not funny, Ev-a!" Kate groans through another contraction.
"Ok, here we are. Let's get you checked out." Eva says and helps the laboring mom into bed.
Lanie and Alexis have finally found their way to Kate's room and are fielding calls from relatives with Alexis having assumed the role of professional hand holder.
"Little Castle reporting for Big Castle duty." She chuckles with a wink, assuming the role for her dad.
"You are about...four centimeters." Eva says, finishing her exam. "And do you wanna stay in these clothes? We could get you in a gown. Trust me, I've gotten this down to a science." Kate was still in her maternity top and leggings. Eva hands her back her pants which are promptly denied.
"I'm going to be uncomfortable in whatever I'm in." Kate sighs, "Hey, can I get up? Movement's always helped, especially with the last one."
"Yeah, sure. Do you want a bouncy ball or something?" Eva asks, motioning to the reddish-pink exercise ball in the corner.
"Wait-you said last one?" Alexis questions, shooting a look between Lanie and Eva.
"Yeah, um, four years ago after your Dad and I were shot." She whimpers over the pain of the contractions and the memory.
Alexis gasps, almost teary-eyed and holding Kate's hand tighter. "Why didn't you guys tell me?"
"I begged Castle not to tell you. I didn't want to make it your burden. I barely wanted to tell anyone in the first place." Kate says, her voice small. "So, yeah, it's been a rough four years." She sighs again,
"Are you praying?" Castle chuckles at his wife, looking quite handsome in a casual suit, sliding his jacket off.
"No, I'm not praying." Kate says as if it's the most obvious thing, "I probably should be but this is the only position that doesn't make me look insane." She groans as another contraction washes over her body. "Whoever decided a baby is supposed to tunnel its way out of my body through my vagina…I would like to have a serious conversation with them."
"I think the only way to actually have that conversation, is in fact, by praying." Castle quips, being the know-it-all she loved.
"We have epidurals for that, you know." Eva laughs,
"No, I can't. It has to be natural, no drugs." Kate groans. She was set on a natural birth plan because she didn't want some adverse reaction or other tragedy to affect her baby. How could she only be four centimeters?
"Hey, you want me to call Elizabeth?" Castle says, taking her tablet and pulling up the contact.
"Yeah." Kate keeps swaying from side to side, even though it's killing her knees.
"Hey, Castle." The older Beckett sibling greets the call. He sets the tablet on the edge of the bed. "Katie! It's happening!" She smiles, seeing where Kate was.
"Oh, it's happening alright. Is David there? I'm sure he wants to see a healthy baby outta me." I say, somewhere between sarcastic and serious. Liz was one of the few people who knew about the baby she'd lost.
"Yeah, hold on." Liz hollers for her husband, "DAVID! KATE'S IN LABOR!" She was sitting on the white leather couch in their living room. How that thing has stayed so clean with a five-year old, she might never know.
He dashes into the room. "Kate!" David smiles, "So, I'm very glad I'm not in your position right now." He chuckles,
"David!" Liz exclaims, smacking his arm playfully.
"Hey, Beckett." Espo announces, a knock on the door with Ryan by his side.
"Espo? Ryan? What are you doing here? You're supposed to be taking my place in court," Kate exclaims, pointing at Espo, "And you're supposed to be working the case with Gates!" Kate was being the bossy, opinionated woman Castle fell in love in.
"Well, court can wait when you're having Castle's kid. Did you really think we were missing this? I mean, we won't be here for the gory stuff but we're still family." They may not be a biological family but she held true to the notion that family was also the individuals you choose for yourself.
"We saw Martha and Jim were in the waiting room. They said they'll come up soon and we'll save their seats."
"And don't worry about the case. Gates has everyone pitching in." Ryan says, knowing the couple would be worried.
"Thank you. And I know you guys, just ask." Kate says, knowing how strange she must look.
"What did you guys decide to name this pipsqueak?" Espo asks,
"Yeah, I should know after all. I am your sister!" Liz chimes in from FaceTime.
"Rick and I are still deciding between the two, you know that." Kate chuckles, and then groans through a contraction.
Alexis laughs slightly, popping in, "You probably already know this, but all your stuff is still at the precinct. Do you want me to bring it over?"
Kate had been so focused that she didn't even notice. "Castle! The baby bag's still in the car!"
"It's ok, I'll get it." Alexis offers, taking the proffered keys from her Dad.
"Hey, I'm going to check you again. I'll come in about every hour." Eva says, helping me into bed again.
"Boys, David, close your eyes." Castle tries to ease the tension,
"Need I remind you that he passed out when Ethan was born?" Liz says, making Kate smile as she placed the tablet on the other side of the bed, her doctor out of view.
David just rolls his eyes, "We could be there in like four-ish hours. Do you want us to try and make it?" Liz says, checking the time on her phone.
"No, it'll be over by the time you guys get here. I can't wait to see you guys in person, I'm so glad you're coming down after the baby's born." Kate says, content to have them technologically side by side.
"Ok, we'll stay." David says,
"Labor is progressing nicely. You're five centimeters and got some time to spare." Eva says, "I have to check on a patient but I'll be back. Anything you want me to bring you? Knowing you, you're probably starving." Eva chuckles, knowing about her voracious pregnancy appetite. It never failed to make Castle laugh as he constantly made jokes about Kate having to eat every three to four hours like their baby would.
"Sure, I hadn't eaten much yet." Kate accepts.
"Yes, a hungry Kate is not a happy Kate, trust me." Castle jokes,
"I know you're probably wondering about whatever you were doing down at Black Pawn. You can go, you heard her, it's going to be hours." Kate sighs, looking over at the tablet percentage; 83%.
"I'm not leaving. I'll just be in the waiting room getting service and talking to our parents." Castle says, giving me a kiss and waves a goodbye to Liz and David.
As the room quieted, Liz asked, "Back to the baby name conversation. I am your sister. I should know first, so spill." She had been absolutely delighted looking at the baby books when she found out Kate was pregnant.
Kate tried to get comfortable in her delivery bed, "We were considering a form of Alex or Johanna but I think we're pretty set on Lily Johanna Castle." She sighed out-another contraction. Statistically speaking, they were only about half as bad as they either would be.
"I come bearing food!" Eva exclaims, sliding into the room, handing me a domed, mango-colored, probably mango-flavored popsicle. She was also armed with graham crackers.
"These are the cafeteria pops!" I say, easily recognizing the cold treat in Eva's hand. "I steal them when we've had to drop off perps."
"We share 'em." She smiles and unwraps the only food I've had since this morning. "I wish I could give you more but honestly I'd rather not."
"I'm going to need a lot more of these! Do you still have the strawberry ones?" Kate groans, but this time, not in pain.
"Next time around, I'll see if we have any other flavors. I saw a cherry one up here yesterday." Eva says, before heading back out onto the L&D floor.
"So what's new with you guys?" Kate asks,
It's then she notices that the room has dwindled to just Lanie and Alexis talking softly as Espo and Ryan went down with the rest of the Beckett-Castle clan in the waiting room.
"Um, nothing much. Busy as always. Ethan is about to start kindergarten though…which is kinda terrifying!" Liz says and David leaves, assumedly to retrieve their child.
"Hi Mr. Ethan! How are you?!" I coo, still trying to be Aunt Kate, even in labor. He shows me whatever toy he was holding and goes on his five year old tangent. I smile and nod.
"And plus, watching you like a live broadcast is pretty amusing." David laughs,
"I'm not an owl or a giraffe or a panda, I am a cop who needs a healthy, safe baby out of this and not to lay awake at night worrying that she is still breathing in the room next to me." Kate's on the verge of tears, but she's not sure from what though; childbirth or worry.
"Kate," Liz says with contrition, "sweetie, that doesn't go away once you have your baby, it gets worse. She's all cozy and safe inside your belly and now, she has to meet the big bad world."
"Well, that was comforting." I say monotonously, secretly knowing Liz was right. Right, something she hated not being.
5 HOURS LATER
"Eva, I need to-agh." Her pain-filled sentence is cut off.
"I know, mama, I know." She says knowingly, giving her a pat on the shoulder. She takes her position at the foot of Kate's hospital bed.
"Where's Castle?!" Kate moans, writhing on the uncomfortable bed. After her talk with Liz, Castle had come back up for the room with Martha and her dad for a quick visit before heading down with them later for a bite to eat. They hadn't come back up yet.
"He said he'd be back, where is he?" Eva looks out into the hall, "Someone find Richard Castle! He should be downstairs."
"He can't miss this! He can't miss her. He can't, he can't!" I moan and groan, half delirious from the pain.
"CASTLE!" Eva shouts,
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I fell asleep!" Castle rushes into the room.
"You fell asleep?!" All four women exclaim, pretty much simultaneously.
But Kate continues, "Me, your wife, is in active labor with your child and you freaking fell asleep!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! But I'm here now, now let's meet our daughter." Castle apologizes, trying to comfort me again. He takes my hand and it instantly turns white with pressure.
"Can you get Liz and David back on FaceTime?" I ask, my face contorting. I know they say it's all worth it in the end but seriously, I need this to be over with.
Liz doesn't say anything but just smiles. David and Ethan are elsewhere.
"Ok, Kate, I need a few giant pushes and she'll be here ok?" Eva instructs. Kate lets out a scream, bearing down with all her might. "Good! You're doing great!" The L&D doc praises.
Half passed out, Kate mumbles. "Castle, I can't do it anymore. I'm so tired. I-I-I can't." I know exactly what I'm going through. It's in all the baby books. They call it the plateau. And it's as bad as it sounds.
"Come on, Kate, you're so close." He peeks over the curtain. "She's almost here. I can see her head."
"He's right." Eva smiles, momentarily looking up at me. "Now, give me one last huge push."
Not a minute later, Eva speaks again, "Kate, Rick, I'd like to introduce you to someone." She's all wrapped up in one of those white, pink and blue striped blankets.
"Hi, Lily." Kate mumbles, pulling back the blanket slightly, soaking in her beautifully squished face.
Castle hasn't said much and as Kate looks up and they lock gazes. This is all we've ever wanted; a family.
Castle takes the words right out of my mouth as David returns to the computer. Liz hasn't stopped smiling. "Hi, baby. It's me, your dad."