Chapter 7
The cab ride to the hospital is the longest ride Kate has ever experienced. The fact is that she has Alexis with her makes her second guess her decision to take the girl with her. Kate ignores the patrol officer's offer to transport Alexis. Kate would not even entertain such a thought. She looks at Alexis' sad face instead. The small child is almost teetering on tears once again. She would not refuse this child this small of a task. Going to the hospital is the only thought Kate has on her mind.
This is where there are now. The cab is moving fast up the FDR Drive. After getting into the cab, Kate added an additional 50 dollars incentive to the fare. This is to get the cabbie to drive as fast as he possibly could. Kate is unsure what they will both find when they arrive. She silently wishes that he would be fine. All she can think about is the look he made just before he collapsed. It was a look of love she thinks first recalling it in her mind's eye. Though, the longer she thinks about it, it appears more of relief that someone is there to care for his daughter.
The cab screeches to a halt at the emergency entrance of Bellevue. The stop is so sudden that she almost hits her head on the Plexiglas partition. Kate gives the cabbie a scowl. She seriously thinks about not giving him the extra 50. However, they are here now and arriving safely. So not paying him would be a crime. Kate gives him the extra 50 then exit with Alexis in tow.
Kate marches up to the admission desk. She flashes her badge. That gets immediate attention from the volunteer reading some patients chart.
"Detective…How may I help you?" the volunteer asks.
"Get on that computer of yours and find me a gunshot victim named Richard Castle. He has been brought in by Ambulance about 20 minutes ago." Kate orders.
"Yes, Detective" the volunteer says scanning the information as the phone rings once more.
"Carson, Cass, Case...Castle, I found him…Here we go…" The volunteer cheerfully says then becomes silent as she reads the screen.
"This is a police matter just give me the information for my report!" Kate says.
"Right away Detective…He is in surgery right now. You can wait at the OR waiting room." The volunteer says.
Kate knows the route well being a veteran of many arrests that have ended in injury to the suspect. She then leaves the desk holding firmly onto Alexis' hand. They enter the elevator then exit on the next floor. Kate walks down the hall then to the left. The OR waiting room is quiet. She brings Alexis in the room to sit down.
The chairs are somewhat comfortable. However, if they need to stay much longer than 2 hours these chairs will wreak havoc on her back. Kate looks at Alexis. She is amazed how well behaved she is. The child is watching everything around her. She is taking it all. Her face has turned a little dark.
"Alexis, are you okay?" Kate asks." Now that we are waiting why don't we get to know each other?"
Alexis shakes her head then turns to look directly at Kate.
"May I ask you something Kate?" Alexis shyly asks.
"Sure you can ask me anything." Kate replies
Alexis thinks for a moment unsure of how to ask.
"Do you come here often?" Alexis asks.
"Why do you ask, Alexis?" Kate wonders what is going on in the child's mind.
Alexis now demonstrates her powers of observation.
"Well, you were easily answered by the person at the desk as if she knows how important you are. Next you knew exactly where to go without even asking directions. Plus you are sitting differently like you know how uncomfortable these seats are." Alexis points out.
"My…Alexis, those are great observational skills. So did you see clearly the face of the man who shot your daddy?" Kate asks getting out her pen and pad to note anything she says.
"No, daddy pushed me behind him. I could only see his shoes." Alexis answers.
You only saw the shoes. Okay, I see. What types of shoes are these?
"Well, they were like my daddy's. The rest of the bad man looks like my daddy does when we go out for a run in the park. His shoes were not." Alexis answers.
"Alexis that is fine police work. What would you like to do when you grow up?" Kate asks.
Alexis thinks awhile then gives up and shrugs her shoulders.
"Daddy says I should keep my choices open." Alexis says.
"He is right. So Alexis is there anyone I should call to come get you?" Kate asks.
"Yes, I think my Grams should come here. This is her number" Alexis says showing Kate her cell phone.
"Alexis, Would you like me to call her for you?" Kate asks.
Alexis nods. She thinks she might cry again hearing her Grams voice.
Kate takes the phone then calls the number. It rings a few times before a woman's voice answers.
"Alexis what a nice surprise…" Martha says as Kate cuts her off.
Ma'am, this is not Alexis but she is here next to me. I am Detective Kate Beckett of the NYPD. We are at Belleview hospital. There has been a shooting. Alexis' father was shot and he is now in surgery. Is there anyone who can bring you here? If not, I can send a patrol unit from the precinct closest to your address." Kate says.
A shooting…my Richard…? Martha says as the line gets quiet then the sound of a body drop is heard.
There is some noise then a man picks up the phone.
"Hello, who is this? What is this about a shooting?" The man asks.
"This is Detective Kate Beckett with the NYPD has something happened to Alexis' grandmother?" Kate asks.
"She has fainted the stage doctor is attending to her. What is this all about detective?" the man asks.
"I see. What is Alexis' Grandmother's name please?" Kate asks.
"Martha Rodgers" The man replies "…So I am her stage manager, Timothy Dalton. What is going on Detective?"
"Well Timothy is Mrs. Rodgers available to speak to me? It is about her son Richard Castle." Kate says hopefully.
"Martha is coming around…I have the power to speak for her. What is going on with her son?" He says.
"Okay Mr. Dalton, would you please bring Mrs. Rodgers to Belleview Hospital? Her son is in surgery. I have Alexis here in the OR waiting room." Kate says.
"Yes of course I will get her there immediately." Mr. Dalton says. "Thank you detective on taking care of our Alexis...please."
"Not a problem sir we will await her arrival." Kate says hanging up.
"Is my Gram's alright? I heard you talking with Tim. He does everything for Grams." Alexis says.
"Yes Alexis your grandmother is okay and is coming for you. So as we wait what about I go get us a bag of chips or"...Kate was cut off by Castle's name being called by a short balding man in scrubs.
"Richard Castle's family…?" The doctor bellowed.
"We are here." Kate responds.
The doctor walks over to meet them. Once Kate and Alexis are in front of him he starts to explain the procedure he has performed earlier tonight.
"So doctor what is his long term prognosis?" Kate asked hopefully.
"Listen to me, Detective Beckett, he has just been shot. He will have a hard and long recovery road in front of him. His liver is perforated, his left lung collapsed and he lost somewhere around 4 units of blood" reports the doctor.
Kate's face drops. She immediately looks to Alexis who now has tears in her eyes and shaking lightly. Kate feels she needs to get a better handle of her emotions. She needs to show Alexis that she will be there for her. Now is not the time to fall apart, even though she is only 8 years old.
"I hardly know this man...why am I feeling like this towards him?" The damn voice in her head said again.
The doctor has turned to leave but Kate has one more question for him. Guiding Alexis to where he stood.
"Doctor…does he have permission for visitors? I would like to see him so he can see that his daughter is safe and sound." Kate asks.
The doctor is a bit hesitant but then looks at Alexis.
"Detective Beckett, I'll give you 5 minutes while he is in recovery and that's all. He will be in no condition for questions at this time. Do I make myself perfectly clear?
"Yes, doctor no questions at this time." Kate repeats.
"Good, I will assign a nurse to take you back. I mean it, 5 minutes and no more. After he gets settled into his ICU room then you can have the two hours that is allowed to family members. But that will not be for at least 24 hours." The doctor says as a nurse appears. "Nurse Seavers, take these two into the recovery room for only 5 minutes. They need to see Richard Castle."
The nurse looks at them with much understanding.
"Yes Doctor. Would you please follow me?" the nurse says.
"Thank-You doctor…" Kate says as they turn to follow the nurse down the hall corridor.
Alexis holds Kate's hand as they walk. Kate feels Alexis' hand tighten as they approached the recovery room. They turned the corner. They both approached cautiously. Alexis releases Kate's hand then gazes at her father. Kate bends over then gently brushes away the hair from Alexis' face.
"Sweetie everything will be fine, you trust me right?" Kate says.
"I do, Kate." Alexis replies.
"Well let's go see him." Kate says moving away so the youngster could see her father. Kate sees that there were so many tubes and wires attached to him. Alexis wonders if he was part robot. Kate looks at Alexis. There is a look of fascination not fear.
"Alexis, the wires and tubes…" Kate says but is interrupted by the precocious girl.
"Kate, I know what these are. They are monitoring my Dad's vital signs." Alexis says. "These indicators all say he is doing well."
Kate is impressed. Perhaps Alexis' destiny lies in medicine instead?
"You are right Alexis" Kate says.
Kate felt her relax just a little.
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Rick is hearing voices but even in his current state he could not recognize who is doing the talking. He hears the voice talking to Alexis as he started to drift back to sleep. He tries to open his eyes. His eyelids would not cooperate. He tries harder to get them open a little. He sees only a woman with a halo above her head. Or what he thinks could be a halo. The light is so bright. She is absolutely beautiful. He notices that she is holding Alexis' hand.
He thinks he is dreaming until Alexis calls his name. With all his might he tries desperately to open his uncooperative eyes. Yet with all his effort, he is drawn back into the darkness. His mind slowly shuts out everything around him and he is once again sleeping soundly.
"Excuse me…you need to go…Mr. Castle needs his rest." The nurse says.
"Bye Daddy, I will see you soon, I promise." Alexis says with a wave then follows the adults out of the recovery area to the waiting room.
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By the time they return toward the room. Alexis spies someone she knows well.
"Grams…!" Alexis says with joy upon seeing her Grandmother.
"Alexis…How are you my darling? Who is with you?" Martha says hugging her close.
She and Alexis hug as Kate and Mr. Dalton meet.
"So you must be Detective Beckett?" He asks. "Timothy Dalton Esquire at your service."
He says with a British accent as he holds out his hand.
"You are correct Mr. Dalton. I'm relieved you got here so quickly." Kate replies shaking his strong hand.
Alexis stops hugging her Grams then turns to Kate.
"Kate this is my Gram." Alexis says.
This was the first time Kate has seen the woman. As she turns toward her Kate immediately recognizes Martha Rodgers star of stage and screen. Her Dad never misses any of her performance. He even dragged her along to one. It was a very good performance.
"I am very pleased to meet the person who saved my son. Please call me Martha." She says as she hugs Kate.
Kate has not felt this way since her mother died. It was a very comforting feeling being enveloped in the older woman's arms,almost like her own mother's embrace.
"Well thank you Martha, I was just doing my civic duty." Kate says after the embrace ends.
"Pish posh" Martha utters.
Kate looks at the older woman as she continues.
"You went far and above my dear…I think I shall call Bob to have him commend you! You deserve a medal! You saved my son and kept my precious granddaughter safe." Martha says.
Kate feels a bit self-conscious. Though, what Martha says is true.
Martha now hugs Alexis again.
Kate feels it is time to leave. Alexis notices.
"Kate, where are you going?" Alexis asks.
"Alexis you here and you are safe. Your daddy is recovering. My work here is done until your daddy wakes up." Kate explains.
"Alexis, Detective Beckett has to save other people too." Martha says.
Alexis breaks away from her Grams wraps herself around Kate's waist then hugs Kate hard.
"Thank you Kate, for everything… My daddy calls me pumpkin so you can too. Will you come visit my daddy when he is awake?" Alexis asks.
"Yes pumpkin, I will visit your daddy when he awakes." Kate promises.
"Yay…!" Alexis says then leaves the embrace and holds on to her Grams' hand as they all depart. Alexis gives a very large smile and wave as they enter the elevator.