Alexis awoke during the night then looked over the other bed. It was the one which her Grams were supposed to occupy. It looked like it had not been touched. She sleepily went to the bathroom and did her duties then crawled back into bed. She was not quite awake to realize the significance of her discovery.
It the morning Kate awoke and was immediately concerned. Registration of all the Alphabet agencies was an exhausting task. Now comes the coordinating the reports filed by each. She knew she would need help. Getting into the shower she finally felt human again only to be wrapped into the strong arms of her husband.
"Hmmm Wet Kate I like it!" Rick nuzzled against her neck.
"Rick as much as I would love to nuzzle and make love to you. There is a shooter who killed Bracken I have to find and bring to justice." Kate gasped.
"Yeah I know but are you really sad he was taken out?" Rick said yawning.
"Rick I am conflicted. First he did kill my mother and that is unforgivable. Many a day I wished that monster dead. But there is a part of me which says Laws must be maintained. You can not solve problems outside the law." Kate said.
"Yet you have had those same dark impulses to kill him. I know you did in the hotel kitchen. Both Javi and Kev witnessed your demeanor after your encounter with the Senator." Rick pointed out.
"Yes I did but I controlled my impulses." Kate said. "The shooter did not."
"However, your loss was over 14 years ago. What would you have done when it was just fresh in your memory?" Rick said.
"I would have probably done what was don…" Kate trailed off
Rick then just smiled.
"Rick it had to be something Bracken did recently." Kate said having the epiphany.
"What if just suppose that plane crash was not just inexperienced pilots not knowing how to fly in rough weather?" Rick posited.
"Why Rick?" Kate started to shake. Rick held her tighter and returned to the warmth of their bed.
"You know when you were out there I never questioned why this flight." Rick said.
"Yeah go on." Kate knew when her husband was in story telling mode.
"Lately I have and I found something you know but blocked. I think a session with Dr. Burke is in order." Rick said.
"Rick are you serious? I mean I have to deal with this mess. I can not possibly take any time to see him." Kate protested.
"Consider, you are the one to hold the key in unlocking this mystery shooter's identity?" Rick pointed out.
"You think I know something? Rick?" Kate said having her shivers going away and replaced with a different sort of feeling.
"The NTSB investigators think you do." Rick said.
"Oh Yeah I met them yesterday. They sure did want to talk to me but I blew them off." Kate said.
"Interesting I did not see them but with that horde you could miss Agent Avery!" Rick said.
Kate frowned.
"What I missed Agent Avery? Oh wow!" Rick said.
Kate had to laugh it was like old home week with Agent Avery and Jordan Shaw in the mix along with Homeland Security and Agent Fallon then there was the mysterious Lyle Lovett look alike who mysteriously showed up. It was like every fed she ever had any contact was included in this taskforce. Kate thought about how a strange convergence had occurred.
Rick's next question threw her.
"Kate what was your real motivation to take that federal job?" Rick asked.
Kate looked into his bluer than blue eyes. She had not really discussed her decision with him.
"I guess Rick I would have more access to take down Bracken." Kate confessed.
"Would you have been able to do it? With having more power…?" Rick asked.
"I…" Kate faltered and thought about it. "Rick I would have succeeded."
"Do you think Bracken did not know that?" Rick asked.
"Rick I do not need to schedule an appt with Dr. Burke You did it!" Kate said kissing her husband.
"What did I do?" Rick totally confused on his manic wife's actions.
"You made me remember!" Kate again kissed him.
"Ok I will get your bowl of fruits and nuts for you and you get dressed." Rick said.
"Oh you wonderful Man I love you so much!" Kate hugged and kissed him.
Rick still not making the connection ambled into the Kitchen. Alexis was busy on her laptop and looked up.
"How is Mom?" Alexis asked her bemused looking Father.
"She is surprisingly well. I'm getting her breakfast. How about you Pumpkin? It's lots to process huh?" Rick said getting the ingredients together in her bowl.
"Yeah finding out I have a whole another set of relatives is a bit overwhelming." Alexis admitted.
"Yeah It is." Rick agreed.
"I mean most of my growing up there was just you and me against the world." Alexis said.
Rick was lost remembering all the good times playing pirates and searching in her drawers for buried treasure. The Tea parties with only him and her stuffed animals…
"I said Dad!" Alexis spoke loudly. She knew he spaced out there.
"Wha… What Pumpkin?" Rick sputtered breaking from his memories.
"I was saying it was just us and then Grams came after she lost all her money again!" Alexis said.
"My Mother was never a good judge of men." Rick said.
"Speaking of her…where is grams?" Alexis asked.
Rick did not want to even know the answer to that question.
"Anyways then came Gina and then Gina left. Then came Kate and Kate stayed which brought Javi, Kevin, and Lanie."
"Hey don't forget your Gramps!" Rick smirked.
"Oh yeah Gramps too so our family grew and then Jenny came along with cute little Katie. So our family expanded again. I got used to that. Now, I find out my other Gramps has a whole another family starting with Uncle Colin." Alexis said.
"Yeah I see your point." Rick said as his wife appeared.
"What point?" Kate asked.
"The point is how much I love you!" Rick said smooching again.
Kate sat next to the redhead.
"I was discussing the ever expanding family of the Castle Clan." Alexis said.
"Expanding… Oh I have to write that down!" Thanks Pumpkin Rick kissed the top of her head then dashed to his office to write down whatever inspiration Alexis had sparked.
"Expanding yeah I could understand that. Families do expand people get married and have children and they have children it is the order of things." Kate said wistfully.
"Kate you are not looking so good." Alexis said in alarm.
"I don't feel so good either. Alexis excuse me!" Kate ran for the bathroom next to the laundry room and all that could be heard was retching.
Rick returned to the kitchen to see a pale Alexis.
"What is wrong sweety?" Rick asked.
"It is Mom she all of a sudden got ill and ran to the bathroom." Alexis pointed
Rick made some calculations and immediately grabbed a water out of the frig and some crackers then headed where Kate was face first into the toilet.
Rick held her hair from her face then gave her the crackers and water plus a damp washcloth.
Rick was smiling as Kate feeling totally miserable looked at him.
"Rick, why are you smiling?" Kate asked as she took the items from her.
"Today is the 18th about 2 late cycles since we made love for the first time since you returned!" Rick stated.
"What?" Kate said as Rick helped her up.
"Kate you did not renew your pill prescription did you?" Rick pointed out.
"No I guess I did not." Kate said. "But we used protection…"
"I guess it was not enough. I think one of my swimmers got loose." Rick said.
"I can not be pregnant not now!" Kate protested.
"Well I guess the planning could have been better but I think we did it!" Rick said.
"I will not believe it until…" Kate said but was cutoff.
"Until what…?" Rick asked as he opened the cabinet and produced three different pregnancy tests.
Kate looked at him.
"What? You think I did not prepare for this eventuality. I have a Female Child…Don't look at me like that…It could happen I wanted to make sure if it did." Rick defended his actions.
"Be prepared? Rick really?" Kate smirked.
"Look here they are take them or not. I want to finish my breakfast with Alexis." Rick said.
"Oh Rick, don't go I will take the tests. You can stay." Kate said reading the instructions.
Kate took the tests behind the screen which this room had. Then the waiting happened.
Kate started thinking of her dreams with the little boy with floppy brown hair and green eyes or the little girl with auburn hair and blue eyes.
The timer went off startling both of them.
They held the sticks in both of their hands and looked all three were positive!