Now he was really confused. Since when did they ever have a son? And if she was telling the truth, why didn't she tell him anything earlier?
Kate pulled out a box from a shelf. Inside it was a tape similar to the one that recorded the first interrogation. She puts it in the player and turns on the TV.
"I had Ryan and Espo take this when I knew you took the case," she said. "I'm sorry, Rick."
It was the same interrogation room. Only this time, the time and date stamp was about 3 days later than the first. She was sitting there, again. This time, she was not cuffed. The same man entered and again his face was hidden from the camera. This time he was carrying only a case file. He opened the case file and slides a picture from it to Kate.
"Is that your son?" The man asked.
Kate picks up the picture.
"Yes," she replied.
"Who's his father?" The man asked.
"Richard Castle," she replied.
Rick's heart flinched.
"The author?" The man continued to ask.
Kate nods slightly.
"Had been in DNA only," she replied. "You know, I never asked him for anything. Not money, nothing. I raised Caleb all by my own. He was everything to me."
"What happened?" The man questioned. "The accident, I mean."
"We just got home from football practice," she answered. "He just got out of the car and –"
Rick pauses the recording. He was rendered speechless. He was completely shocked.
"He said he'd kill him if I didn't confess to the crime," she started.
"Who?" Rick asked.
"I can't," she replies. "The reason why Caleb's still alive is because I confessed to the crime. Then when you came along, I just…"
He hated to see her like this but there was nothing he could do to stop the pain. He pulls her in for a hug but instead she shoves him away.
"Don't, Rick," she whimpered. "Please, don't."
He moved away from Kate and watches her cry.
"Where is he?" Rick asked. "Can I see him?"
She gave a slight nod.
They arrive at the hospital's children's wad. She leads him in the room and then he sees the boy. He looks so serene as if he was sleeping but Rick knows that he was in coma ever since the accident. Rick notices the similarities between him and the boy. His son. Their son. He was still getting used to the idea. Kate on the other hand was running her hand through the boy's hair. The same colour as his. She bent over him and gave her son a kiss on his forehead. Then, Kate went over to Rick and stood beside him. The room was silent except for the beeping noise from the monitor. Rick wanted to say something but he couldn't find the right words.
"He adores you, Rick," she stared. "He used to beg me every night to tell him about us or to read from your books. Caleb was quite a writer himself."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Rick asked. His eyes still fixed on his son.
Kate was quiet for a moment or two. She was not as good with words as Rick was.
"I was afraid," she replied. "We were young and in love. Then you left. You just left, Rick. I felt betrayed. I know you're not entirely wrong but neither was I."
Rick recalls the day that he left.
It was 6 o' clock in the morning. He had told Kate about LA a few months back but she wanted him to stay. The cab was already at the door. Too late to back out now, he thought. He carries a sleeping Alexis in one hand and dragged his luggage in another. The trip to the airport was silent. He knows that she's not going to forgive him for this and probably never will. But this job? What's in it for him? Why does he want this so badly? He was already a best – selling novelist. Maybe he just needs a breather, something different. And Kate? Isn't she worth everything? Sure she is but…
But what? He could never understand the real reason behind him leaving. But one thing's for sure, he let her get away. If he hadn't how different thing would be for them. For Kate. For his son. And Alexis. Alexis! How is he going to tell her about this? And his mother too.
"I'll leave you two for a while," she continued.
Kate steps out of the room and waits for Rick at the waiting room. She buries her face in her hands and started crying. She hates this, all this. Her mother murdered, her father with his alcohol problem, Rick leaving and then re – appearing, her son in the hospital, the accident, the murder, her confessing to save her sons life. She wants to walk away, just leave and never come back. But that's not going to solve anything. On the contrary, it'll make things worse than it already is.
In the meantime, Rick is left alone with his son. He barely knew the kid but he feel as though he already knew the boy through and through. He walks over to Caleb and softly stroke the top of his head. Running his fingers through the boy's hair he realises how much he's missed out on this boy's life.
"Hey buddy," he says under his breath. Buddy? Where did that come from? "How are you keeping up?"
Rick stood there for a little while more. He felt a little stupid expecting a reply from a coma patient. But miracles do happen, right?
"I err…" Rick fumbles.
Richard Castle lost for words, twice. Now that's a record.
"It's me." he continues. How is someone going to make out who's "me" from just a voice? And to make things worse, they haven't met and they've definitely have not spoken. As idiotic as it may sound, he guess he has to make himself known to his son. So why not now? "I'm your dad. Richard Castle."
Kate begins to wonder what's taking him so long. She walks out of the waiting room and back to her son's room. Just before she could step in she hears Rick's voice. He was talking to his son.
"I think we've kept mommy waiting a little too long," she overhears. "I'll come back soon, buddy."
She steps away from the door.
"And next time I want to see you awake, sleepyhead," Rick continued. "We really need to talk. Man to man."
He walks out and sees her sitting on a bench. Silently, they head towards the elevator. The drive home was no different than the elevator ride. It was too quiet. Finally, they arrive at her home.
"You did a great job, Beckett," Rick stated. "He's amazing."
Kate lets out a little chuckle. He's joking, right?
"Bye, Rick," she said as she steps out of the car.
"Until tomorrow, Kate." he replied.
Hey guys thanks for your wonderful reviews! I really appreciate it...