Chapter Ten: Much Ado About Something.
Jim Beckett was almost on the edge of his seat throughout the entire movie. He loved military fiction and this was the best war movie he'd ever seen. His gut told him that although it was fiction, many of the scenes weren't all that fictional. Sitting to the left of his daughter he could sense the tension rolling off her in waves. He realized that she too sensed the authenticity of the battle scenes.
Rick was amused, worried and turned on by Kate's reactions to the movie. During the battle scenes she gripped his hand so hard it hurt. The love scenes, while not particularly graphic, were quite intense and Rick could hear Kate's breath rate increase as her hand fell to his thigh, caressing it intimately. One point in the movie was very hard on Kate. The scene was a very accurate reproduction of the first time Rick was badly wounded. Kate gasped, let out a sob and buried her face against Rick's shoulder.
To Jim's surprise, Johanna reacted much like Kate, gripping Jim's hand and sobbing too. Martha, an experienced actress was better able to control the evidence of her emotions. Nonetheless she was horrified at the graphic depictions of what had happened to her son. Knowing that he had been wounded, did little to prepare her for the scene.
The family and friends had watched the movie in a private section of the theatre. As the lights came up it became obvious that Rick, Jim, Kevin and Javi had gone through their snacks like ravenous wolves. Kate and Johanna shared a fondness for the little chocolate candies called Sno-caps. Both of their boxes were unopened, both too upset by the movie to enjoy their treats. Rick noted how pale Kate was and how hard she was still gripping his hand. He'd never imagined that the movie would upset her that much. After all, he was here with her. He cupped her cheek.
"It's only a movie Sweetheart, Hawkins isn't me I should know, I wrote him." Kate turned to face him squarely. He was surprised at the amount of anger mixed with the pain in her eyes."
"Isn't he? I was there for that flashback. You said the same things that Hawkins said. You have scars in the same places. Even if you exaggerated Hawk for the book you couldn't have exaggerated that much, not judging by the ribbons you're wearing. Damn it Babe, No man should take the risks you took, putting the ones that love them through the pain of mourning.
If you had been killed in action I would have eventually found out and I would have been destroyed. No more risks like that, promise me Babe, no more."
Rick took Kate in his arms. "I don't want to leave the Army Sweetheart but I won't lose you and Lisa. Let's wait to see what the Army offers me as an assignment. If I can't get a non-deployable long term permanent assignment, I promise you I will become a civilian."
Rick watched the anger and fear leave Kate's eyes, replaced by happiness and hope. She kissed him, sweetly and a soft smile graced her face. Neither one of them noticed a very similar smile on Johanna's face, relieved and happy for her daughter's sake.
Kate, Johanna and Martha went into the lady's lounge, Lanie and Jenny joined them. Why did they always have to do it together? Rick wondered. Their make-up repaired the women joined their men and exited the theater. The crowd outside the theatre was substantial, pushing against the security barriers and straining the efforts of the combination of private security officers and NYPD officers as well.
The worst offenders weren't the fans they were the paparazzi, their barrage of flashes and questions bombarding the stars of the movie, Rick and Kate. The studio's publicist, Paula Hass and Terri Greer Rick's agent and publicist respectively were trying to run interference, hurrying them to the limos that were to take them to the after parties. They are almost to the limos when the unthinkable happens.
A woman who looks remarkably like Leila Grant burst through the security line. She is dressed all in black, turtleneck sweater, tight pants and high boots. She is wielding a nine millimeter handgun. She aims directly at Rick.
"Robert Hawkins you cheating bastard, nobody cheats on Kristin Boyle." She fired. Rick's combat honed reflexes kick in and are almost quick enough. Instead of hitting him in the center of his chest the bullet takes him high on the left pectoral muscle. It is a jacketed bullet so it just drilled a nice clean hole without hitting a bone or vital organ. He was diving toward the woman anyway so the impact has little effect as he hit the ground.
What happened next stuns everybody. A screaming fury launched herself at the would- be assassin. Heedless of her fancy dress or the other woman's weapon. Her friend Esposito has taught her a few moves. Kate grabbed the woman's wrist and pulled it down while twisting. There is an audible snap and the woman screamed, dropping the pistol. Kate held on to the injured arm, pulled her forward, turned and executed a hip throw. The woman sprawls, the wind knocked out of her and before she can move two cops pin her down. Around them complete pandemonium reigns. People are screaming and running in fright. Camera flashes are going off.
Kate whirled around and dropped to her knees beside Rick. The tears already streaming down her face. Rick is already trying to rise but Johanna and Martha are both with her holding Rick in place. Despite her fear, blood is already soaking Ricks coat, Kate tried to remain calm and pulled Rick's head into her lap. Johanna, ever practical decided to hell with modesty hikes her skirt until she can grasp her slip and pulled it off. Ripping it down the seam she forms two pads of it presses them against the coat, front and back.
Ryan and Esposito have both drawn their guns and stand, scanning the crowd for any other threats. Lanie pushed through and dropped beside Johanna. For a small woman, Lanie had a powerful voice. She yelled at the top of her lungs;
"I'm a doctor. I need the paramedics stat!"
Rick groaned then said; "Let me up, it's not that bad." Lanie added her hands to those already holding Rick.
"Just stay where you are, damn it. Doctor's orders." There were paramedics stationed at such a large event and they were at Rick's side in less than two minutes. One of the cops had already called for an ambulance. The paramedics checked Rick's vitals then sat him up. The ambulance arrived quickly and they sat Rick on a gurney, cut away his coat sleeve and part of the shoulder then unbuttoned the coat and removed it. They cut away his shirt and taped gauze pads in place.
They started an IV and lay him back down. Kate climbed in the ambulance.
"I'm going with him." She said. One look at her face and the paramedic didn't argue.
Whether it was just luck, the angels were looking out for them or the gods of chance were dancing, the emergency room at Mount Sinai was nearly empty. The triage nurse was on them as soon as they entered. She didn't even get to say anything when the lead paramedic called out;
"Gunshot victim, upper left torso." During her break the nurse had been watching the entertainment news earlier and seeing the uniform trousers and bloused boots, she knew exactly who the victim was and how costly any mistakes would be to the hospital's reputation. She also recognized the beautiful but distraught woman beside him. It must be horrifying to see your fiancé shot right in front of you. She reached out and grabbed Rick's dog tag.
"Blood type A positive." She hit a button on a pager. The ER doctor on duty walked quickly over to Rick.
"Okay people let's get a unit of whole blood into him and get a portable x-ray unit in here. He'll be in bed three. Miss, you'll have to stay in the waiting room." Rick squeezed her hand.
"It's okay sweetheart I've had worse than this. Everything will be fine."
Kate went into the sparsely populated waiting room, getting curious looks from the couple of people there, obviously eyeing her torn, stained dress. It didn't stay that way long. The room filled up rapidly. First the family showed up. The embarrassed Lieutenant in charge of security provided cruisers to take Martha, Jim and Johanna, Natalie, Lanie, Esposito, Ryan and Jenny to the hospital.
Gina and Paula arrived, Liz Ravenscroft and her boyfriend and to everyone's great surprise, Brock Cameron accompanied by Leila Grant. Two of the cops who had driven the cruisers stayed with hospital security to keep the paparazzi out. On the sidewalk in front of the hospital a sizeable crowd was growing. Some of them were sincere well- wishers but for a lot of them, who had seen the incident, unfold, this was better entertainment than a cop show.
Inside the waiting room, the adrenaline was wearing off. Kate was shaking and crying in her father's arms. She finally settled down, pulling out of Jim's embrace and gratefully sank into a chair. Natalie, as most teen-agers can be was occasionally insensitive And crass.
"Oh Kate, it's terrible, your beautiful dress is ruined." Kate just gaped at her. Then reacted.
"I can't believe you just said that, Natalie. Rick's just been shot. Do you really think I'm worried about my dress?" Natalie blushed a bright red. Even she couldn't believe what she'd just said. Liz Ravenscroft put a gentle hand on Kate's shoulder, smiling at her.
"You don't need to worry about the dress either Kate. It's only the skirt that is damaged. I still have plenty of that material on hand. I'll have it repaired by next Wednesday."
Ryan volunteered to go to a nearby coffee shop and bring back coffee. Nobody wanted to chance hospital coffee. Jenny went with Kevin to get the coffee. They had just come back with the coffee when a bad evening got worse. Doctor Josh Davidson walked into the room. The cardiologist had been called in earlier to see one of his patients who suffered a cardiac arrest earlier that day. He looked up from his smart phone and saw Kate. He walked over to her.
"Oh my God, Kate what happened to you?" He tried to put an arm around her shoulders but she pushed him away.
"Nothing happened to me Josh but my fiancé was just shot." The doctor scowled.
"Your fiancé Kate? You broke up with me less than a month ago and you've already got a fiancé. What did you let another cop get in your pants that quick? That's pretty slutty."
Kate didn't slap him; she hauled off and punched him right in the nose.
"Get away from me you arrogant asshole. I'm sorry that I ever met you, you selfish, high-handed son of a bitch. Your job was always more important than me and I realized that I never loved you, not that it mattered to you." Josh put both hands to his face and snarled;
"I'll have you arrested for this you're going to jail for this."
Jim Beckett stepped between them. "How are you going to do that Davidson? There are two cops and a lawyer who saw you assault my daughter. I'd advise you to get out of here while you still can." Lanie stepped up and poked Davidson in the chest.
"If you ever think of bothering Kate again, well let's say there are ways for your body to disappear without a trace." Davidson stomps out of the room thoroughly humiliated and completely cowed.
Kate slumped over in her chair, leaning against Jim. What's taking so damn long, it's been over two hours and they haven't told us a damn thing? Just as she completes the thought a doctor steps through the door. He looks around the room, surprised at such a large group clustered together. "Family of Captain Rodgers?" They all stand, looking at him expectantly.
"You're all family?" He asks, obviously perplexed by Lanie and Esposito.
"In a sense Doctor, Martha says. I am his mother and this young lady is his fiancée. Anything you have to say to me you can say to all of us."
"Captain Rodgers is currently sleeping off the sedation. He should wake up in an hour or so. The bullet passed through his pectoral muscle and exited beside the clavicle without hitting any major blood vessels or vital organs. We had to perform a minor surgery to clean out the wound channel. Fortunately the bullet was jacketed and did not expand. We expect that he will make a full recovery. Judging from the numerous scars he bears he has been wounded before and is one tough specimen.
We would like to keep him overnight for observation and release him tomorrow afternoon. He will need to take it easy for a week and it will take the wound from three to six months to completely heal."
"Thank you Doctor. Martha said. Now I think that we should all go home and get some sleep."
Kate crossed her arms and said; "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay with him. I want him to wake up to me."
Jim Beckett said; "Katie I don't think that they'll let you do that."
Lanie stepped over to Kate and Jim. "I'm accredited here. Let me speak to the charge nurse and Doctor Gordon. I think that we can slip a bed in there and I can get Kate a set of scrubs. He's in a private room after all." Lanie walked off to make arrangements.
Kate turned to Brock Cameron, giving him a smile and touching his arm.
"Mr. Cameron I am very grateful that you came tonight but I'm not sure why you did. Surely you had better places to be. That goes for Ms. Grant as well."
Brock smiled at Kate and put an arm around Leila.
"That's no great mystery. Working with Rick was a lot of fun and we became friends on the set. He's a great guy. Being around him made me a better man. I really wanted to earn his respect. So I needed to be here. Leila and I met on the set. And pretty soon we'll be making the same announcement that you and Rick did. She's here both because I am and for Rick too."
Lanie came back with a set of scrubs and one of the hospital's courtesy hygiene kits.
"Okay it's all set. He's been moved to room 316 and they're putting a bed in there right now. Oh girl, you really owe me for this one. I will want all the juicy details you've been withholding from me." Kate blushed and raised one eyebrow.
"Really Lanie? That's not information you need to know. I don't kiss and tell." Lanie grinned wickedly. "I'm not talking about kissing, Kate."
Liz Ravenscroft came to Kate. "Why don't you change into those scrubs? I'll wait for you and then take your dress with me. You know they're going to reschedule at least two of those after the premier parties. Instead of Wednesday, I'll have the dress ready Monday afternoon."
Kate hugged her family and then changed into the scrubs, gave Liz the dress and went up to Rick's room. She went into the bathroom, completed her nightly routine then went and sat on the edge of Rick's bed. She took his hand in hers and raised it to her lips, placing a kiss on his palm.
"I'm here Babe, I'm right here. It was only a few minutes later, though it felt much longer, when Kate noticed Rick stirring. She glanced down as he opened his eyes and a slight smile touched his lips. He tried to sit up and groaned. Kate reached for the bed control and raised the head of the bed until Rick was almost sitting up. She leaned in and Kissed him.
"Oh thank God, Rick, I was so scared. It was so close, too close. What have I done that was so wrong that the world seems out to get me? I just found you again and I almost lost you."
"Hush Kate, you haven't done anything wrong. If anyone did it was me. But really neither of us did. It was just some deranged fan. Besides, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."
She pouted. "Did you have to mention hand grenades? I've seen your scars."
Rick kissed her. "You're right Kate but I survived them just like I survived this. So now you need to go home and get some sleep." She slapped his good shoulder, in irritation.
"Can't you see what I'm wearing and the extra bed? I'm not going home until you do which, thankfully will be tomorrow, actually later today. I told you that I'm never going to willingly sleep without you again."
The next morning passed quickly and around eleven the doctor came in. "Everything looks good Captain Rodgers. We'll be releasing you in about an hour. I want you to take it easy for the next couple of weeks, don't put any strain on that left side, I don't want you popping any stitches. No alcohol for another week. It won't mix well with the pain meds. Limit your intake of coffee as well. Come back in immediately if the wound starts bleeding, you feel undue pain or start running a fever."
Before Rick could say anything Kate spoke. "Thank you Doctor I will make sure that Rick complies with your orders. You're not the best of patients left on your own." Kate said after the doctor left. "Remember I know how you were when you got sick in high school. I doubt you've changed. I know we had the bossy talk but I'm allowed to be bossy when you're sick or hurt, just as you're allowed to be when I am."
"Rick chuckled. "I have memories too Kate. You were no better a patient than I was." She giggled. "You're really going to be in for it when I get pregnant with our child."
He feigned horror. "Well then I guess we'd better slow down on our practicing." She glared at him. "Don't even think about it. A horny unfulfilled Beckett is not someone you want to encounter!" Neither one of them noticed Lanie standing at the door. Rick continued the banter.
"You heard the doctor I'm not supposed to strain my left side." He smirked as he said it. She smirked right back. "Well you can just lie back and let me drive."
Lanie piped up. "Thatta girl, Kate. Ride him like a cowgirl!" Kate was outraged.
"Lanie!" Lanie shrugged. "Just trying to help." She held out a Victoria's Secret bag to Kate.
"A little something to encourage Rick to heal faster." Kate peeked into the bag. The lingerie was red, lacy and barely there. Jim and Johanna showed up a few minutes later with clothes for Rick and Kate. Jim shook his head and grimaced.
"There's a crowd of paparazzi out front like you wouldn't believe. I'd sure like to know who informed them of your discharge time."
"Don't worry about it, Lanie said. I'm going to get you out the ambulance entrance where Espo is waiting with a cruiser." The paperwork finished, Kate and Rick changed they followed Lanie out the back and into a police marked SUV. They had been warned that the paparazzi had staked out both Kate and Rick's building so they went to the Beckett's house, something that the vultures didn't think about. There they picked up the Beckett's SUV which had darkened rear side windows. Kate and Rick slumped in the rear seat and Jim drove them into the underground garage at Kate's building without incident.
Entering Kate's apartment they were greeted by Lisa running at them. Kate scooped her up and kissed her. The worried and all too perceptive child was looking at Rick's arm in the sling. Her little face scrunched up, tears starting, she said; Daddy hurt?"
Kate responded. "Yes Baby, Daddy's hurt but he will be okay soon. You can sit with Daddy but don't hurt his arm." Rick sat on the couch. Lisa immediately squirmed out of Kate's arms, climbed on the couch, kissed Rick's cheek then snuggled into his lap.
Kate went over to the kitchen table where Sarah had laid out five different papers. All five carried banner headlines, all similar. Hero Author Shot, Deranged Fan shoots Rick Castle, or similar wording. Kate carried the papers over to Rick. She turned on the television and as luck would have it, two news people were discussing Rick's shooting. Rick shook his head.
"It's all a tempest in a teapot. It's like Shakespeare's title Much ado about nothing."
Kate flared. "You couldn't be more wrong Rick, that witch shot you. My one and done. It's definitely much ado about something!"
Author's note: I originally, as I stated intended this story to be relatively short but I feel that I have more story to tell than ten chapters will hold. That however is up to you, my readers. Shall I continue or end it soon.
Please review.
Swordwriter.