A/N: I hope everyone enjoys the update and thank you for the reviews and kind words.
Chapter 2
July 3, 1941
Naval Hospital, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii
Richard Castle returned the salute of a couple seaman who were walking out of the door to the hospital. He opened up the door and walked inside the hospital after removing his cover. He strolled on up to the duty desk. The corpsman on duty came to attention. "At ease and take a seat. Lieutenant Castle to see Captain Bryan for a promotion physical."
The corpsman on duty nodded and scrolled through the list finding the name. "Yes sir. Room 1113. Down the left corridor all the way at the end on the left hand side."
Castle nodded his thanks and walked towards the corridor that the sailor had indicated passing several nurses who smiled at him including Gina. It took a couple minutes walking and when he arrived he politely knocked, waiting several seconds before entering the room. Inside was Captain Bryan and the Brunette nurse that Castle had seen from the Arizona in the whale boat. Castle took a deep breath shocked at seeing her but quickly moved on by coming to attention. "Captain Bryan, Lieutenant Castle reporting as ordered for promotion physical."
"At ease Castle. How's the family?" Captain Bryan asked coming over and shaking Castle's hand.
"Just fine sir, how is yours doing?" Castle asked as Captain Bryan motioned him to take a seat in a chair in the room.
"Fine, Julie is getting ready to head to college, and Frankie is on his way to San Diego for basic training as a Marine. Broke his mother's and mine heart." Captain Bryan stated as he stood aside. "Let me introduce Lieutenant Kate Beckett. She arrived yesterday with the group of nurses that half the fleet catcalled at."
"Nice to meet you Lieutenant, and I would like to apologize for my crew's behavior." Castle stated coming to his feet and holding out his hand.
"It's okay Lieutenant. Pleasure is all mine." Kate replied with a smile and soft but firm hand shake after she stepped forward. She took a step back to let Captain Bryan come forward again.
Captain Bryan looked at Kate and Castle and tried to hide a smile. "Anyway Lieutenant, Lieutenant Beckett will do all the administrative stuff prior to the physical, you know blood pressure, temperature, the series of questions we have to ask. You feel uncomfortable about any of the questions, I'll ask them. She'll also draw blood as well. Are we clear on what is prior to the actual physical?"
"Yes sir." Castle replied taking a seat.
"Good, once Kate is finished she'll come get me and I'll perform the physical." Captain Bryan stated. Castle nodded his understanding, so Captain Bryan turned to face Kate. "I'll be across the hall when you are finished Lieutenant."
"Yes sir." Kate replied. As Captain Bryan left the room both of them came to attention until the door was closed. As soon as the door was closed, Kate turned to Castle. "Alright Lieutenant, please remove your shirt and roll up your sleeves please."
"Yes ma'am." Castle quipped that got him smiling, as well as Kate. She placed the blood pressure cuff on his arm and stuck the thermometer in his mouth as she began to take his blood pressure.
"120/55. That is really good Lieutenant." Kate remarked as she wrote that down, and then began to take his pulse. She waited the appropriate amount of time. "Pulse is 75. A little fast but not to man for a man who should be at 65-70."
"That's good." Castle mumbled with the thermometer in his mouth. Kate smiled and took it out. "I said that's good."
"I know what you said Lieutenant." Kate replied again with a smile. She wrote down the temperature and stood up. "Alright Lieutenant I need to get your height and weight."
Castle nodded and moved over to scale and the height stand. He stood on the scale and Kate adjusted it until it was perfectly balanced. 180 pounds is what he weighted at the moment and came in about 6'1" and ¾ in height. Kate wrote all this down. "Okay take a seat again please."
Castle nodded and took a seat. "I hear a New York accent in there. Possibly SoHo or Tribeca?"
Kate smiled as she sat back down next to Castle at the desk. "Good guess, but its Upper East Side actually. Now do you smoke, or drink?"
"I don't smoke, and only couple glass of alcohol a night." Castle replied as he saw Kate write that down. "The reason I know, I was born in New York. Near the theater district."
"That is nice." Kate stated as she looked at Castle. She felt her heart flutter, but shook it off. "Are you experiencing any pain at this moment?
Castle shook his head no. "No pain."
"Have you had any of the following…..?" Kate said listing the all of the dieases or problems on the list. Castle shook his head no on all of them. "Now the last set of questions are a little personnel and like the Captain said if you want him to ask them, I'll hold off and draw your blood and have him ask them when he comes in."
"Go ahead Lieutenant, I don't mind." Castle stated with a smile trying to put her at ease.
"Okay." Kate stated. She sighed and looked at the list. "Are you a homosexual?"
Castle shook his head no, so Kate continued. "Do you have sex with multiple partners, or have experienced any of the vernal diseases?"
Kate listed them and again Castle shook his head no. She breathed in a sigh of relief, happy that line of questioning was over. She took out a rubber tube and tied it around Castle's arm. She found the vein and stuck in the needle and withdrew the blood. She looked at Castle who again smiled at her. She felt a little at ease and again her heart fluttered along with a feeling growing in her stomach. She withdrew the final vial of blood and untied the tube from Castle's arm and handed him a gauze and applied a band aid. She stood up grabbing the paperwork as she did. "I'll go get Captain Bryan to conduct your physical now."
Kate started towards the door when his voice called out. "Lieutenant."
She turned around and saw Castle looking at her. He smiled and stood up. "Hey don't worry about the questions and being embarrassed about them. You did your duty, and for me that's all I ask of anyone."
Kate returned the smile towards him. "Thank you Lieutenant."
Castle nodded. "Rick."
Kate returned the nod. "Kate."
Kate went across the hall and knocked on the door. Captain Bryan walked out of the office. "Here is the paperwork Captain."
Captian Bryan took the papers and looked at her. "Thank you Kate. By the way you are blushing? Was he being a horse's ass?"
"Actually sir he was a gentlemen, funny a little bit. I think it's the personnel questions I have to ask." Kate answered truthfully as she could. To her it felt different though. "I'll run the blood to the lab sir."
"I told them I need the results soon. So stay there until they finish running the test." Captain Bryan instructed her.
"Yes sir." Kate replied to the order. She followed Captain Bryan back into the room to grab the blood vials.
"So Lieutenant, when is that mother of yours doing another show?" Captain Bryan asked as he washed his hands in the sink in the room.
"Probably not till the holidays." Castle remarked as he saw Kate come on back into the room right behind Captain Bryan. "Kate is a very professional nurse and officer Captain. Lucky to have her. Stayed focused on the job."
"Thank you Lieutenant." Kate remarked with her smile again to which Castle returned and got everything fluttering again. She grabbed the vials of blood and started towards the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can sir."
"Thank you Kate." Captain Bryan stated. He waited until the door was closed. "She told me she was blushing because of the questions she had to ask you."
"Trust me no cake answering them too. Castle told him. The sight of her leaving left him a little dejected, and empty. A feeling that he had not experienced in a long time. "Anyway mother sends her regards."
Captain Bryan remained standing and looked at the paperwork. "Thank you and tell her I send them around."
Castle nodded and looked towards the door wishing that Kate was the one doing this. On the other side of the hospital, Kate walked up to the lab door and knocked. A navy chief opened up the door, and Kate handed him the vials with the blood. "Captain Bryan says he needs a rush on the blood.
"Yes ma'am." The chief replied as he looked up at the clock. "45 minutes ma'am."
"Very well, here is what the Captain is looking for." Kate told them as she passed over the sheet with the test.
Yet before she sat down, Gina her friend came over to stand next to her. "Heard about a physical that you gave to tall ruggedly handsome Lieutenant."
"Don't you ever stop Gina?" Kate told her with a smirk on her face. She turned and faced her friends.
"You better move fast." Gina told her that got Kate looking at Gina. "He's one of the most sought after military bachelors on the island. Even married women want him, so he might be on someone else's arm soon"
"Not even that close Gina." Kate told her friend. She looked at Gina and shook her head. "Even if I did, I wouldn't, because it will just end up badly for me."
"Does that mean I can go after him?" Gina asked with a sly smile.
"No." Kate replied with a smile of her own and fluttering again.
Half an hour later, back in the room, Castle and Captain Bryan were finishing up the physical with Captain Bryan checking on Castle's stomach area. Castle looked at Captain Bryan. "Well how am I looking sir?"
"You look really good Castle." Captain Banyan stating as he helped Rick into a sitting position. "You look better than some of sailors I have seen lately."
Both Castle and Captain Bryan got a good laugh at the joke. Kate knocked on the door and peered in. Kate handed over the results of the blood draw to Captain Bryan. "I have the results sir."
"Thank you Kate.
Kate nodded and started to back out of the room when his voice stopped her. "Lieutenant I don't mind you staying if you don't?"
"It's ok Lieutenant, I don't mind." Kate replied as everyone starting to laugh. Only his voice turned her around. She walked in and stood near the desk. "Anything I could do to assist you sir?"
"No Kate its ok." Captain Bryan told her with a smile. He saw her out of the corner of his eye as she moved off. The last thing on the physical was checking on the patient's breath. He took the stethoscope off Castle's chest and signed off on the paperwork after checking the blood test results. He also provided a stamp in the area where it was required. "You sound really good Castle. Be back next year for your annual. You can get dressed now. Congratulations on your upcoming promotion."
"Thank you Captain." Castle stated. They both came to attention as Captain Bryan left the room. Rick sat down and looked at Kate. "Ahh Lieutenant?"
Kate blushed this time out of embarrassment. She realized that he wanted to get dressed. "Oh sorry Lieutenant."
She left the room and went out into the hallway where Captain Bryan was waiting. He saw Kate. "Here is the paperwork. Thank you for waiting on the blood results again Kate."
"You are welcome sir." Kate replied to the compliment with a smile.
Castle came out and stood in the door back to fully dress and uniform looking no worse than ware. He shook Captain Bryan's hand one last time. "Thanks again Captain."
"No problem glad to do it." Captain Bryan stated as he looked at his watch. "Lieutenant, you're up on the care ward duty at noon."
"Yes sir." Kate acknowledge the reminder and Captain Bryan moved off in the direction of another area of the hospital to her relief and fear. She turned and faced Castle. "Congratulations Lieutenant."
"Thank you Lieutenant." Castle stated with a little bit of disappointment in his voice, but understood why she did it though. "Listen, if you ever want to have dinner some time just as a friendly gesture, let me know the next time I see you."
"Thank you. I may take you up on that." Kate stated knowing that she may not see him again. She offered her hand. "See you around Rick."
"See you around Kate." Rick replied shaking her hand. After which he moved off towards the lobby and possibly out of her life to which she felt a pit grow in her stomach. She blew a exasperated breath and turned around and went about her duties till her watch.
USS Arizona
The duty boat dropped Castle off next to the gangway. He quickly jumped onto the gangway with his paperwork in his hand and moved quickly up the ladder towards the deck. Upon arriving he saluted the flag, then the OOD on the quarterdeck. "Request permission to come aboard."
"Permission granted." The OOD, who was Lieutenant, stated returning the salute. He noted the time in the log book. "Morning Rick."
"Morning Simon. Where's the skipper at?" Castle asked looking about.
The OOD looked up from the log book. "He's in the flag cabin with Admiral Kidd. Left word to see you as soon as you were back aboard."
Castle nodded and moved off in the direction of flag country, or basically the area where the admirals live and work from. In a few minutes he arrived at the battleship division commander's quarters where he announced himself to the Marine on duty, who in turned knocked and announced the arrival of Castle. Castle walked in and stood at attention.
"At ease. Morning Lieutenant Castle How did it go?" Admiral Isaac C. Kidd asked. Admiral Kidd was the flag officer of the battleship division to which the USS Arizona was the flagship.
"Good morning Admiral. It went well, they said I am in perfect health." Castle replied to the Admiral's question as he passed over the physical report to Captain Valkenburgh who sat across from the admiral.
"That is good news Rick." Captain Valkenburgh answered as he looked at the medical report and placed it in file folder. He signed the top sheet and passed it to the Admiral who also in turned signed it, then passed it back to Captain Valkenburgh. "Rick I need your signature."
Castle nodded and came closer to the desk. As he bent over to signed he noticed the top sheet. It contained signatures of everyone senior to him including Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet Admiral Kimmel. He signed it and stood up, now confused. "Sir, I thought I was getting promoted on the first."
"You are, first of August." Captain Valkenburgh replied to the question. He saw the confusion on Rick's face. "There was a directive by Secretary's office to select four men from each fleet for next rank in promotion. You have one of the best records in the fleet that is why you were selected and promoted quickly"
Admiral Kidd nodded his agreement. "Lieutenant you set an example that everyone should follow, and that is why when your name came up it was almost unanimous decision."
Castle felt proud on the inside hearing that. "Thank you gentlemen."
They nodded at him, when the door opened and the Marine in the corridor came to attention. "Ensign Samuel Tolliver Sir."
"Send him in." Admiral Kidd ordered the Marine.
A few second later a young Ensign, the same one who complain to the Chief about the nurses being let off first walked in and came to attention before the desk. "Ensign Tolliver reporting as ordered sir."
"At ease Ensign." Admiral Kidd said. He got up and shook hands with the young man. "Admiral Kidd, Ensign, I'm your division flag officer. Captain Valkenburgh I believe you met yesterday."
"Yes I did Admiral." Ensign Tolliver replied to the introduction and the inquiry. "Good morning Captain.
"Morning. Ensign Tolliver, this is Lieutenant Richard Castle, now Lieutenant Commander Select." Captain Valkenburgh stated as he got up and introduced Rick. He looked at the Ensign. "You'll be taking over for him as anti-aircraft battery number 1 since he is becoming the gunnery officer for the ship. His battery is station forward near the number 1 and 2 turrets."
Ensign Tolliver nodded his understanding. "Yes sir."
"You have some good men on that battery Tolliver. Just listen to the chiefs and senior petty officers and you'll do fine." Castle stated as he looked Tolliver over. He didn't know what to make of him yet.
"I will do that sir." Ensign Tolliver stated his understanding.
"Ensign, can you give us a moment please?" Admiral Kidd said making a request. He noticed the time on the bulkhead clock.
"Yes sir." Ensign Tolliver came to attention. "Request permission to be excused?"
"Granted." Admiral Kidd acknowledge. He waited until the door was closed before turning his attention back to Rick. "Eager beaver."
"Yes sir." Rick chuckled.
"Any way Lieutenant, we'll get this off on the courier flight and to the states today." Admiral Kidd told Rick. He looked around his cabin. "Captain Michaels."
"Sir?" The Admirals Chief of Staff walked out from a back room.
"When does that courier flight leave?" Admiral Kidd asked.
"1200 hours sir. I'm getting ready to head over now." Captain Michaels stated picking up the file folder off the desk.
"Thank you. You are dismissed." Admiral Kidd told his Chief of Staff. He then looked back at Rick. "Any questions Lieutenant?"
"None sir." Castle answered.
Admiral Kidd smiled and nodded at him and to Captain Valkenburgh. "You are dismissed Lieutenant."
"Yes sir and I'll send in the eager beaver Admiral." Castle remarked with a smile.
That got a chuckle out of the admiral and captain.
Additional Note: Captain Valkenburg was the Captain of the USS Arizona so he would not be Chief of Staff for the Admiral. Admiral Kidd would have had his own Chief of Staff, generally Lieutenant Commander or Higher rank.