The drive back to New York City was long and quiet, giving Kate Beckett plenty of time to process everything Aunt Theresa told her. Memories of her mother, long tucked away, felt sharper now as if illuminated by this new revelation. The revelation that her mother, Joanna, had a child before her—a sister—was overwhelming. Kate's hands tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles white, as she thought about the life this woman—her sister—might have led. She imagined birthdays they hadn't shared, milestones missed, and a bond they might never have. A sister—something she had always wanted but never thought she would have.
She did the math in her head. If her mother had given birth in 1972, her sister would be 39 years old now. What kind of person was she? Did she have a family of her own? Was she even aware of her biological mother's identity?
Questions swirled as she navigated the city streets, her chest tight with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. What would Sara be like? Would she even want to meet? Her resolve had solidified by the time she pulled into the parking garage at her apartment. She needed to reach out.
Once inside her apartment, Kate dropped her bag on the couch and immediately opened her laptop. Logging into her Ancestry account, she found the DNA match again—Sara. Taking a deep breath, she clicked the "Send Message" button and began to type.
"Hi Sara,
My name is Kate. We may be connected through my mother. I recently discovered that she had a child in 1972, and based on our DNA match, that child might be you. I would love to connect and share more information if you're open to it. Please let me know if you'd like to talk.
Best regards, Kate."
Kate read the message over twice before hitting send. She stared at the screen for a moment, her heart pounding. This was a monumental step, and now all she could do was wait.
She needed to talk to someone, so she picked up her phone and dialed Lanie.
"Hey, girl!" Lanie's cheerful voice answered. "What's up?"
"Hey, Lanie," Kate said, her tone more subdued. "Do you have a minute? I have something... big to tell you."
"Of course," Lanie said immediately. "What's going on?"
Kate sank onto her couch, running a hand through her hair, her voice tight with emotion. 'I drove up to see my Aunt Theresa today. Remember that DNA test Castle got me for my birthday? I wasn't expecting anything this life-changing.'
"Yeah, I remember. What did you find?"
Kate exhaled, her voice trembling slightly. 'More than I expected, Lanie. My mom… she had a baby before me. A daughter. She gave her up for adoption. And now I might be able to meet her.'
There was a moment of silence before Lanie responded. "Whoa. Kate, are you serious?"
"Yeah," Kate said, her voice quiet. "I found a DNA match on Ancestry. Her name is Sara. I just sent her a message."
"A sister," Lanie said, her tone softening. "That's huge. How are you feeling about all this?"
"Honestly? I don't know," Kate admitted. "I've always wondered what it would be like to have a sister, but I never thought... I just can't believe my mom went through that."
"Sounds like she made a tough decision," Lanie said gently. "But now you have a chance to connect with Sara. That's something your mom might have hoped for."
"I guess I'll just have to wait and see if she responds."
"And in the meantime," Lanie said, "you know I'm here if you need to talk."
Kate laughed softly. "Thanks, Lanie."
Lanie's voice turned mischievous. "You know, maybe you should lean on Castle for this. He's crazy about you, and I know you're sweet on him."
Kate immediately bristled. "Lanie, that's ridiculous. Castle and I are just partners."
"Mhm," Lanie said, drawing out the sound. "Kate, I know you better than that. You're not fooling me."
Kate sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Okay, fine. Maybe I do... care about him. But it's complicated."
"Complicated how?" Lanie pressed.
"Because he's Castle," Kate said, exasperated. "He's unpredictable and infuriating and..."
"And he makes you smile like no one else can," Lanie finished for her.
Kate hesitated. "Do you think he knows how I feel?"
Lanie laughed, "I doubt it since you don't exactly wear your heart on your sleeve like he does. But maybe it's time to show him, Kate. You've been through so much. You deserve some happiness."
Kate nodded to herself. "That a tall order for me, Lanie."
"What scares you the most about telling him? You know he won't reject you."
"Well, I like having Castle as my friend and partner. If we get romantic and crash and burn like all my other relationships, I will lose him."
"Girl, think about it not crashing and burning. I'm telling you, you and Castle are the real deal. That man would die for you, Kate."
"I promise, Lanie. I'll think about it," Kate said, her lips curving into a small, thoughtful smile. "But I agree—he is the real deal."
The next day, Kate busied herself with chores around her apartment. She cleaned the kitchen, reorganized her bookshelf, and dusted every surface she could find. But her eyes kept drifting to her laptop, hoping for a response from Sara. By early afternoon, the urge to connect with her past became too strong to ignore.
Kate went to her bookshelf and pulled out the earliest photo albums. The first covered her mother's childhood and her early life with Kate's father. Kate traced her fingers over the faded photos of her mother and father. The second album was filled with pictures of her family, though it ended abruptly two-thirds of the way through—around the time her mother was murdered.
She was lost in thought when a knock at the door startled her. Setting aside the album, she opened the door to find Rick Castle with takeout bags in hand.
"I come bearing gifts," he said with a grin. "And by gifts, I mean food."
Kate chuckled, stepping aside to let him in. "Castle, what are you doing here?"
"I figured you could use some company," he said, setting the bags on her kitchen counter. "And some sustenance."
As they ate, Kate shared her conversation with Aunt Theresa. "She told me my mom had a baby when she was 21 and gave her up for adoption. That baby is Sara."
Castle's expression softened. "Wow, Kate. That's... huge."
Kate nodded, her voice quieter, tinged with awe and sorrow. 'I've been looking through old photo albums. It's like seeing her life in a new light, realizing there's this entire chapter I didn't know existed.'
"Can I see?" Castle asked gently.
Kate hesitated, then thought about what Lanie said and nodded. As she flipped through the album, she lingered on a photo of her mother holding her as a baby, both of them smiling brightly. Another picture showed her parents together on a family picnic, their love evident in the way they leaned toward each other. Kate's voice was barely above a whisper. "I still miss her. After 12 years, it doesn't get easier. "
Her fingers trembled as the emotions overwhelmed her. Tears spilled over, and she broke down, sobbing quietly as the weight of the memories and the loss hit her all over again.
Castle immediately moved closer, his arms encircling her protectively. 'Hey, Kate, it's okay. I've got you. Whatever you're feeling, it's okay.'
Kate clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder. 'Thank you, Rick. For always knowing what I need.'
"Always," he said softly.
Later, as Kate was refilling their wine glasses, her laptop chimed with a new email. She froze, her hand tightening slightly around the bottle. Her heart thudded in her chest, each beat louder than the last. Setting the bottle down, she wiped her hands on her jeans, her breath catching as she approached the laptop. Her fingers hovered over the touchpad for a moment before she clicked to open the message, anticipation and nervous energy coursing through her.
"It's from Sara," she whispered, her eyes scanning the message. She quickly read it aloud to Castle. "She wants to meet. She's in Connecticut."
Castle smiled. "Looks like you have a road trip ahead of you."
Kate nodded, a mixture of nerves and excitement coursing through her. She emailed Captain Montgomery to request a rare day off and smiled when his reply came almost instantly: "Take all the time you need."
After closing her laptop, Kate turned to Castle, who was watching her intently. "Rick," she began hesitantly, "would you come with me? To meet Sara?"
Castle blinked in surprise, his face softening into a warm, reassuring smile. 'Of course, Kate. You don't even have to ask. I'll be there, every step of the way.'
The plan was set. Tomorrow, Kate would meet her sister.
As Castle stood to leave, Kate walked him to the door. Before he could step out, she reached out and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "For giving me the Ancestry test... and for always being there."
Castle was about to respond when Kate leaned in and quickly kissed his lips. When she pulled back, she saw the surprise flash in his eyes. He smiled his expression a mix of joy and curiosity. Before she could say anything, he leaned down and kissed her again, this time slower, testing the waters.
When he pulled back, their eyes met, and Kate saw the understanding in his gaze. She knew now. Rick Castle had always been bold, but she realized then that he hadn't made the first move before because, unlike her, he feared rejection.
Castle stepped back slightly, his fingers brushing hers lingeringly. 'Till tomorrow, Kate,' he said, his voice filled with quiet promise.
"Goodnight, Rick," she replied, watching him leave, her heart pounding. She closed the door with a small smile, knowing things had just shifted between them. She whispered, "Thank you, Lanie."