A/N #1: I'm sorry that it's taken so long to post this chapter. I couldn't find a good starting and stopping point.
A/N #2: There will be a time jump in this chapter.
In My Veins
Chapter 8: A New Beginning
April
Castle unlocked the door of the loft and stepped inside, pulling his suitcase behind him. It had been a long 10 days of flying, signing books, and staying in hotels. Dorothy was right when she told Uncle Henry and Auntie Em that there was no place like home.
He stopped short when he looked over at the couch and saw Kate curled up at one end of it, fast asleep. He had wanted her to go with him on the book tour, but she hadn't been able to get any more time off from work. So, they had spent a lot of time Face Timing. He walked over and carefully sat down next to her. He smiled when he saw her eyes slowly open, and a huge smile broke out on her face. "Hi," she struggled to sit up.
"Hi yourself," their lips met in a long, slow kiss. "I seem to remember telling you not to wait up when I spoke to you earlier."
"I was going to go to bed, but I started reading. I guess I fell asleep."
"Have I ever told you that you're such a bad liar?"
"Okay, so I missed you a little."
"Just a little?"
"Maybe more than that."
"Are you working tomorrow . . . rather, later this morning?" He asked, looking at his watch.
"Yeah, but I could maybe go in a little late," she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Or you could go in after lunch," he kissed her again, his hands slipping under the oversized t-shirt that Kate was wearing.
"Or I could call in sick."
"Or you could do that."
Castle got up from the couch, easily lifting Kate into his arms, instantly feeling her long legs wrapped around his waist. "I missed you, Castle. So, so much," she hugged her arms tightly around his neck.
"I missed you, too." He managed to walk through his office to their bedroom before depositing Kate into the middle of their bed before following behind her.
"Please tell me that you won't have another book tour any time soon."
"I'm all yours until the fall, at least."
"Good," she pulled him down toward her, her hands moving to unbutton his shirt. "Do you want to shower?"
"Fuck, no," he growled into her mouth. "Unless you care to join me?"
"Not a good idea. Heat and sperm count. Remember?"
"Right," he remembered. "So, sex first and then—"
"Exactly. How fast can you get naked, Castle?"
"So, so fast," he got up from the bed and quickly stripped out of his clothes before rejoining her on the bed and tugging her t-shirt over her head before sliding her panties down her legs.
Afterwards, they lay in a tangle of arms and legs, listening to the beating of each other's heart. "Did I miss anything exciting while I was gone?" Castle asked.
"We had a guy who got murdered with a dentist's drill. Turns out that he was screwing the dental hygienist, and when he tried to end things, she ended him."
"With a dentist's drill?"
"I guess she used what was handy."
"So, a crime of passion?"
"Yep," she kissed his chest. "Tell me about your book tour? What was the highlight?"
"Coming home," he stroked Kate's back. "Everything else sucked."
"Castle, I would've gone with you, but with the time that I took after . . . after what happened, I couldn't. Maybe I can go with you in the fall."
"If I haven't knocked you up by then," he grinned.
"We missed your birthday. Your mother suggested that we have a family dinner Saturday night. Me, you, your mom, my dad and Alexis. Maybe the boys and Lanie."
"I'd like that."
"Me, too. I'm so happy that you're home, Rick."
"So am I."
***CCC***
Kate and Castle stepped off the elevator shortly after 12 that afternoon. The boys were at their desks. "Hey, Castle! Welcome back!" Ryan called out as they walked over to Kate's desk.
"Thanks. I heard that I missed a weird case."
"The chick with the dentist drill? Garden variety homicide, dude," Espo scoffed.
"Right. Like we get murder victims killed by dental drills on an everyday basis," Kate shook her head.
"It's still not the weirdest case we've ever had. What would you say our strangest case has been, Castle?" Espo wanted to know.
"The cryogenics case. Without a doubt."
Inside her office, Capt. Gates watched her three detectives and Castle. By the looks of things, Castle was weaving one of his many stories. She was still watching them when her cellphone rang. She looked at the caller id and was surprised to see her sister's name come up. "Elizabeth? Is something wrong?"
"Does something have to be wrong for me to call you?"
"No, but usually the only time that we do speak anymore is when something is wrong. What's on your mind?"
"I am calling on official business, but I also wanted to give you a heads up. I've been assigned the William Bracken case."
"I see," Gates sat back in her chair. "Why are you calling me and not Det. Beckett?"
"You know her better than I do, Victoria. I've seen the news and I saw what happened to her a couple of months ago. Will she be strong enough for this trial?"
"Elizabeth, she has been waiting a long time for justice. So has her father. As for how strong she is, Kate Beckett is one of the strongest women I've ever met. I can let her know what's going on, but the news should come from you."
"I'll talk to you soon, then."
Out in the bullpen, Kate was laughing at one of Castle's stories when her cellphone rang. Seeing that the caller id was the U.S. Attorney's Office, her heart began to pound. There could only be one reason for the U.S. Attorney to be calling her. "Beckett," she answered the phone with trepidation.
"Det. Beckett, this is Elizabeth Weston from the U.S. Attorney's Office. I'm calling to inform you that I'm going to be the person prosecuting Senator William Bracken for your mother's murder, as well as the other crimes that he's been charged with."
"Has the trial date been set?" Kate asked, causing the boys and Castle to cease their conversation and look her way.
"No, it's still in the preliminary phase still. However, I did want to let you know that his attorney is trying to prevent that cassette tape from being entered into evidence."
"Excuse me, Ms. Weston, but that tape is most of your case!"
"I realize that, Detective. I said that he's trying to have it stricken. I have no intention of letting that happen. Do you have any questions for me?"
"When do you go back to court?"
"Next week. I'll keep you and your father apprised. Trust me, Det. Beckett, that tape will be entered into evidence."
"Thank you," Kate ended the call and sat back in her chair. Inside her office, Gates was watching. "That was—"
"Gates' sister?" Castle guessed. "I heard the last name mentioned."
"Yeah."
"Det. Beckett?" Gates was in her doorway. "A word, please?"
When Kate entered the office, she saw Gates remove a bottle of Scotch from her bottom desk drawer. "Thanks," Kate said, taking the glass that Gates held out to her. "The U.S.—"
"Elizabeth called me shortly before she called you. She wanted to know if you were strong enough to sit through Bracken's trial."
"His attorney is trying to have the tape suppressed. If he wins, there goes her whole case."
"You've never seen my sister in a courtroom," Gates took a sip from her own glass. "She's quite formidable."
"I already know what his argument is going to be. That Montgomery recorded him without his consent or knowledge. That he was going to use the tape as blackmail."
"Which he kind of did," Gates reminded her. "Your mother never mentioned him?"
"No," Kate shook her head. "I was away at college, and when I was living at home, she and my father never brought their work home with them. If she was afraid of anything, she never let on."
"Now I see where you get your tenacity from."
"She used to tell me that I was more like my dad," Kate smiled. "And my dad would tell me that I was just like her. I'd like to think that I got the best of both of them. I hope that our children inherit the best of all three grandparents," she said, looking out the office window at the boys and Castle.
"You're trying to get pregnant?"
"Yeah," Kate nodded. "It hasn't happened, yet. But we're definitely trying."
"The first child is special," Gates took out a picture of her oldest. "Neither of us knew what we were doing, but our daughter turned out okay."
"At least Castle's done this before. Sometimes I forget that you're a mom, and not just a captain."
"It's not easy juggling the two. But I think you'll be okay. Like you said, Mr. Castle has done it before, and his daughter is lovely."
***CCC***
"What happens if his attorney wins the motion?" Castle asked from the ensuite where he was brushing his teeth.
"Attorney's don't 'win' motions," Kate called back. "The judge will either rule for him or against him. If the judge rules in his favor, then either the U.S. Attorney will file an appeal, drop the charges, or offer him a plea."
"The guy is a killer," Castle walked out of the bathroom and got into bed. "Would they really drop the charges?"
"I don't know. The tape is the only real proof that they have that he did anything illegal. But Gates assured me that Elizabeth Weston is very good in court."
"We can't catch a fucking break, can we? First Tyson and Nieman, and now this."
"Castle, we're going to be okay. I trust Gates, so I trust her sister. By the way, I invited Gates and her husband to your birthday dinner."
"You didn't."
"She declined."
"Good," Castle let out his breath.
"Come on, Rick. She got you reinstated. Cut her some slack."
May
"Your honor, my client was recorded without his consent."
"I've read your motion, Mr. Dempsey. Ms. Weston, do you have anything to add before I give my ruling?"
"Your honor, at the time the recording was made, Roy Montgomery was not acting as an agent of either the police or the federal government. He was acting as a concerned citizen who felt that the blackmail by Mr. Dempsey's client had gone on long enough."
"May I remind Ms. Weston that Roy Montgomery was allegedly acting in concert with two other NYPD officers?"
"I'm well aware of that fact, Mr. Dempsey."
"All right, enough!" The judge banged his gavel.
Sitting at the back of the courtroom, Castle was sitting with Kate, who had gone pale. "Are you okay?" He whispered to her. "Do you need to get some air?"
"No," she shook her head. "We'll take the tests when we get home, right?"
"You mean that you'll take the tests when we get home. You're the one who has to pee on that plastic stick, not me. Yeah, you can take the tests when we get home. Why did you buy so many?"
"Order!" The judge banged his gavel once again. "Mr. Dempsey, I have listened to that recording many times over the last several weeks. I have to admit that I'm disturbed by what I heard being discussed by a former assistant district attorney and three police officers. The tape remains in evidence. Is there anything else, Ms. Weston?"
"No, your honor."
"Mr. Dempsey?"
"Your honor—"
"Do you have any other business to discuss? Besides the tape. Because I have made my decision."
"Your honor, I plan to appeal."
"Go ahead. It's your client's right. But unless there is something else, court is adjourned!"
The second the judge banged his gavel down with an air of finality, Kate leapt to her feet and bolted for the door. "Is everything all right, Mr. Castle?" Ms. Weston asked him.
"Kate's a little under the weather today," Castle explained. "What happens next?"
"Hopefully, the next time we come to court, the judge will give us a date for trial. I hope that Kate feels better. I'll call you when I get an update."
"Thank you."
An hour later, Kate and Castle were sitting on the floor in front of the bathtub. On the edge of the sink were three pregnancy tests. Kate had bought a total of eight, but Castle had finally convinced her to just use three. "Why three?" She had asked him.
"Well, if we get one negative and one positive, the third one can be the tiebreaker."
"That makes sense."
Now they were sitting on the bathroom floor waiting. "How much longer?"
"Forty-five seconds," he glanced at his phone.
"Were you excited when you found out about Alexis?"
"At first, I was freaked out. I had published a few books, but I wasn't a success. I thought that I was going to have to get a job teaching. But the more I thought about it, the more excited I got. Are you excited?"
"I don't know," she jumped when the alarm went off on his phone. "I guess we're both about to find out."
"You sit. I'll get them," he reached up and removed the three tests from the edge of the bathroom counter. "Do you want to look, or do you want me to?"
"Let's look at them together."
Castle moved closer to Kate as they looked at each of the three tests in turn. "A pink plus means positive, right?" Kate looked at him.
"Yeah."
"But my doctor should confirm it for sure, right?"
"Yeah, but Kate, these things are 99 percent effective. You're going to be a mom, Beckett."
"Oh my God, Castle!" She suddenly burst into tears.
"Please tell me that those are happy tears," he pulled her into his arms, smiling when he felt her grip the back of his shirt.
"Don't tell anybody yet. Okay?"
"Okay. We'll tell everyone whenever you're ready."
Two weeks later
Castle and Beckett had invited everyone to the Hamptons for a Memorial Day barbecue. Kate was surprised when Capt. Gates accepted the invitation, as well. "You and Mr. Castle have a lovely home," she said, coming inside where the other women were gathered.
"It still feels strange for me to consider this my home," Kate took a sip of her iced tea. "But I love it out here."
Kate looked out back where Castle, Mr. Gates and her dad were standing around the grill. "I hope none of those men singe their eyebrows off," Capt. Gates observed.
"My dad's already done that once," Alexis chimed in.
"Grilling?" Capt. Gates looked at her.
"Deep frying a turkey."
"My husband did it grilling burgers. My daughter and her friends found it hilarious."
"My mom used to keep my dad away from the grill," Kate added.
After everyone had eaten and shared stories, Kate looked at Castle. "Uh, everybody! Could we have your attention?" Castle stood up. "First, Kate and I want to thank all of you for coming today. Memorial Day is the beginning of the summer season in the Hamptons. My mother, Alexis, and I have been coming here every summer for as long as I can remember. Now we have Kate and her father joining us, as well. Next summer, we will have a new addition joining us for our summer outings—"
"No way!" Kevin called out. "You're pregnant, Beckett?"
"Yeah," Kate beamed. "I'm due at the beginning of February."
Everybody began talking and congratulating them at once. Kate saw her dad standing with tears in his eyes when he stepped up and embraced her tightly. "I'm so happy, Katie," he whispered in her ear. "How do you feel?"
"Good. I'm so happy about this too, dad."
Later that night, Kate and Castle were lying in bed after having made love. "You know that my mother will probably start decorating the baby's room tomorrow."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Kate asked.
"Believe it or not, it's not a horrible thing. Alexis' first bedroom in our old apartment was adorable."
"Castle, did you know what you were having when Meredith was pregnant with Alexis?"
"I found out by accident, but I was thrilled when I learned that Alexis was a girl."
"I don't want to know. I want to be surprised. Can we do that?"
"Yeah. We'll do this however you want to. Do you want one of our friends to know? We can have a gender reveal—"
"I hate gender reveal parties. I don't want anyone to know but the doctor. There are so few surprises in life, Castle."
"Okay," he agreed, his face lighting up in a huge grin. "Are you still terrified?"
"Not as much as I was that first day."
"When Alexis was born, the only support system we had in place was my mother. Meredith's parents lived across the country. And then when we got divorced, it was just me and Mother. This time, we have a huge system. I love Alexis so much, but this time, I feel better prepared."
"Castle, I promise that I will never leave you to raise our children alone. If I have to go to crime scenes with the baby in a carrier, that's what I'll do."
"That's a frightening image."
"I know. I can't wait for this next chapter of our lives. I've never been so excited about anything."
"It's going to be great," he kissed her softly.
A/N #3: The next chapter will cover some of Bracken's trial. And that will probably conclude Part 1. Part 2 will be case related, if I can get it to work.
A/N #4: I also want to thank John T. from SmallScreenSmackdown for suggesting the use of Elizabeth Weston for this chapter.
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