145. Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Having made a decision about the temporary command offer and her leave time, it was much easier for Beckett to focus on work for the rest of the week. Even though she and Castle exchanged texts like infatuated teenagers for several days, her work was getting done. She asked Lieutenant Carlson to be available on Thursday morning until she got back to the precinct.

"I have an appointment at eight, and I'll have my phone for anything desperate. If it isn't desperate, I should be back no later than eleven to address it," she promised.

On Thursday morning, Castle was up early without complaint; and Martha had someone on standby for her class at ten just in case it was needed. She did want to help her children by staying with Jamie, but she had told them that being there to hear the doctor's report about her new grandchild firsthand held its own share of importance.

After a quick breakfast, the Castles went to see Kate's OB/Gyn; and with an appointment at the beginning of the day, their wait was barely long enough to fill out the paperwork. The nurse escorted them to the examining room, left Kate with paper sheets to cover herself, and the doctor was there a few minutes later.

"Mr. and Mrs. Castle, it's good to see you again."

"Dr. Holland, it's good to see you, too," Castle answered, shaking her hand.

Holding the paper paraphernalia in front of her with one hand, Kate smiled and accepted the doctor's handshake with the other.

"Kate, I understand you had a positive home pregnancy test."

"We had three positive tests," Kate answered, "And we're here hoping you'll tell us all of them were right."

After a question and answer session, Dr. Holland seemed to have the information she needed and said, "Well, let's examine you and see if I can give you the news you want. I assume Mr. Castle will be staying during the examination?"

"Yes," he answered.

After Kate confirmed her agreement, Dr. Holland provided the internal examination and confirmed the pregnancy to a very happy patient and her husband. Then everyone's interest turned to the ultrasound screen. Gel was placed on Kate's abdomen, and the wand was moved around until the baby's image appeared on the screen, to the delight of the parents.

"Are both of them…" Castle started.

"I remember your commendable Daddy Bear tendencies, Mr. Castle. Everything looks perfectly normal. Your wife and baby are both just fine," the doctor assured him. "And I agree with your estimate of eight weeks, Kate. I'd say you should have this baby around September twenty-sixth."

The couple smiled at each other, and Castle leaned to help Kate sit up and leave a quick little kiss on his wife's head.

"Get dressed and meet me in my office, and we'll go over a few things before you leave," the doctor told Kate.

As they left the building, Castle stated as if he were the expert, "She's wrong about the date." "We can narrow Jamie down to either the storm lovemaking the night Alexis graduated or our secret anniversary a few days later."

"I've always thought it was the storm," Kate answered.

"Me, too," he agreed, turning to her with his smirky little smile. "I think we have two little Castle storm babies, and I think we should meet this one face to face on September nineteenth…nine months from our anniversary."

"Me, too," she answered with her own little smirky smile. "Regardless of when this baby arrives in the world, I'm convinced that's when it happened. But we can keep that to ourselves. That afternoon is ours, only ours…unforgettable."

"Only ours," he assured her with the hint of a leer. "Parts of me still smolder a little bit when I think about it."

"Me, too," she admitted.

"We have two storm babies. Ooo. I hope that isn't a harbinger of their teenage behavior. Those years are a little stormy even without…"

"Yes, I remember mine, and I've heard about yours. Jamie won't be three until next week, so let's not even think about teenage years yet." She produced a dramatic little shudder that Martha would have been proud to witness.

Since they were in and out of the doctor's visit so quickly, they took most of the next half hour and stopped for coffee before Kate had to go to work.

As they settled in a comfortable booth in the back corner of the coffee shop, Castle asked, "Are you going to call HR this morning?"

"As soon as I can after I get to the precinct. I don't expect this is something they have to deal with often, so we probably won't have any definitive answers today. It will probably have to be cleared by someone with more authority. But whatever the decision is, I'm looking forward to a lot of time with you and the rest of the family. The more I think about it, the better it sounds."

"To me it sounds like more of my dreams coming true."

She reached across the table to take his hand. "Mine, too." After a brief pause as she played lovingly with his fingers, she smiled. "But the thought of the last months of pregnancy in the hottest months of the year isn't quite as appealing." She took another sip of her coffee. "I'm not sure which is less appealing, being nine months pregnant in the worst of the summer heat or settling for decaf for that long."

Castle teased. "Only one cup of the good stuff per day."

"And I'm savoring every drop of it before we leave here."

"You're going to have to go through caffeine withdrawal again,"

"You poor man," she answered sympathetically, rubbing her thumb gently over his knuckles. "This is me apologizing in advance. In the thick of it, I may not realize I need to apologize."

"It's a small price to pay for not having to push the baby out of my body," he answered. He had a teasing sound when he spoke, but there was only love in the way he looked at her as he stroked his thumb over her fingers in return.

After talking for a few more minutes about the new baby, Jamie's imminent birthday, closing out her time at the fifteenth, and being ready for Captain Dohrman's return, Kate said she needed to get to the precinct. Castle hailed a taxi for her outside the coffee shop, kissed her goodbye, and hailed another one for himself. He had the cabbie wait to take Martha to her school and went to give his mother a quick, glowing report on the state of her next grandchild and her daughter-in-law and a look at the baby's first photo. Then he sent her off just in time to get her to her class.

xxxxx

As expected, Beckett's call to HR elicited a promise to explore the possibility of the leave of absence and get back to her. That communication being covered, and the doctor's visit having confirmed what they had expected, work was an easier priority.

Kate called her father that afternoon and asked if he had time for coffee before they both went home from work, and they agreed to meet at their favorite diner. Kate arrived first. She had already ordered pie, coffee for him, and hot chocolate for herself by the time he arrived.

"Am I late, or are you early?" he asked with a smile.

"I was early. I already ordered coffee and pie for you. I have something to tell you, and it might warrant ruining our appetites for dinner just this once."

"It must be good news, then. What is it that has you willing to eat pie right before dinner?" he asked as he took off his coat and put it beside him on the seat of the booth."

"Well," she said, smiling cagily, "It might be that I'm eating for two again."

"Eating for two?" He looked confused for a moment before his eyes lit with joy. "Another grandchild?" When she nodded with a big smile, he stood and said, "Come here, Katie-Bug." She stood to meet him for a hug, then they sat down again, and he reached for her hand, holding it tightly. I hope you and Rick get that mini Beckett he wants so badly."

"Is that because you'd like to re-live a young me or because you're looking forward to seeing me get my just desserts?"

Jim laughed. "You had a few choice moments, but there were a lot more of the good ones that I wouldn't trade for anything. And Rick has his heart set on it."

"We've talked about that. I think he's crazy, but I know that's still what he wants. He isn't saying too much right now, though. We both already love this baby, whatever it is."

"I know that. When do I get to meet my new grandchild?"

"The doctor said September 26."

"I'm looking forward to it. And a little girl would be nice."

"I think it's too late to try to influence that now. We won't know one way or the other for another couple of months."

"I'd be happy with a brother for Jamie, too. Whatever it is, this baby will be another part of my little girl to love." Their drinks and pies were delivered, and Jim changed the subject. "So you're moving to a new precinct next month? Which one will be yours?"

She told him about the temporary assignment and her discussion with Rick before she called HR. Jim laughed about Rick's sugar daddy status, and asked, "And what is my workaholic daughter going to do with herself for almost a year without a job?"

"We're going to do some travelling while it's still comfortable for me. Jamie and I are going with Rick on his book tour next month. It's just two weeks, but we'll probably spend some of it planning where we go from there. We just realized I 'm pregnant right after our Valentine's dinner, so it's too new to have many plans set. I talked to HR this morning, but it's probably going to be at least a day or two before I hear anything back. Hopefully they'll be agreeable and I can go back to work at the beginning of next year with my own precinct…no more moving around. And if they don't want to cooperate, Rick has promised to extend the sugar daddy offer."

Chuckling at her last remark, Jim promised, "Well, if you need an attorney to keep them in line, your children's grandfather is only a phone call away."

"Thanks, Dad. I hope it won't come to that, but it's good to know."

They talked a little longer before going home and shared a big hug outside the diner before leaving.

Regardless of having barely more than a week left at the fifteenth, Beckett spent that time conscientiously keeping track of the cases her detectives were working on and still offering praise for good work, suggestions, encouragement, etc. She was steadily making notes and arranging anything new that crossed her desk to make it an easy transition for Dohrman. Her reports were meticulously completed and turned in on time, as well as copied for the returning captain, and she gradually packed her personal items into a couple of boxes in a corner of the room.

xxxxx

On Sunday morning, Castle and Kate woke to sounds on the baby monitor…the sounds of Jamie playing with his toys in his room.

"I think it's easier in the mornings without the crib. Now that he can get out of his bed alone, he entertains himself for a little while before he opens the door," Castle said, nuzzling Kate's neck.

"The stairs still worry me though."

"We've taught him how to get down without us."

"I know. But I can't help worrying. We usually hear him and are up to know what he's doing. I just don't want him to get hurt."

"I worried about Alexis all the time, too. It comes with the territory. But she lived through the stairs and my parenting, and Jamie will live through ours to treat us to his teenage years, too." Then he blew a raspberry at the base of her neck before saying, "Shall we go and see what he's up to?"

"Yeah. We have a birthday to get started. Check the weather on your phone and see if it still looks like a good day for the zoo."

"I'm checking the weather for us. The zoo is one of his favorite places, so our boy probably wouldn't care if it were raining. He might be even happier if it were snowing." Consulting his phone, he said, "Mild winter day…still winter, but sunny and mild."

"Then let's go get the munchkin ready for his birthday."

When they almost at the top of the stairs, Jamie called out, "Daddy?"

"And Mommy," Kate answered as they reached the doorway of his room. "Are you ready for your birthday?"

"How does the zoo sound?" Castle asked.

Jamie rattled off enthusiastically, "Can we see them feed the seals…and see the lions…and the gorillas…and…"

"Kate laughed and said, "This is definitely your child."

"We'll get the zoo map when we get there, Buddy; and you can pick out whatever you want to see."

"Can we go now?"

"We should get you dressed first, don't you think?" Kate asked. "No zoo in your pajamas."

"And the zoo isn't open until later," his father said. "We'll go to the place that has the really good pancakes first and have breakfast, but I promise we'll be at the zoo as soon as it opens."

"Do I wear my suit, like Mommy's birthday?" Jamie asked his father.

"No. The zoo is a jeans and sweatshirt kind of place," Castle answered.

Kate was already at Jamie's chest of drawers pulling out a shirt. his favorite jeans, and some clean underwear and socks, and Castle took a gift box from behind him. "Here's something to wear to the zoo today. Happy Birthday."

Jamie tore into the box and found a red sweatshirt that said Bronx Zoo. There were animal footprints all over the shirt around the letters, different sized paw prints and hoof prints, and the little boy immediately started stripping off his pajama shirt. Kate quickly pulled the turtleneck over his head for an extra layer of warmth before he could put on the new sweatshirt.

"You're getting pretty good at that, Mommy." Castle was grinning at the smooth move. Turning to Jamie, he said, "Here you go, Son. Clean underwear next." It took a long moment for Jamie to admire his new sweatshirt properly, smoothing it down over his tummy and trying to identify the different footprints; then Castle helped him into his underwear and jeans, and Kate followed with his socks and shoes.

"Now can we go?" the toddler asked.

"Mommy and Daddy need to get dressed, too," Kate answered.

"Hurry."

"Okay. Hurrying," she promised her son as she made a big show of leaving the room.

"You, too, Daddy," their son demanded.

Castle laughed, picked his son up, and hurried down the stairs, bouncing as much as possible to make him laugh.

The parents were soon dressed and hustling out of the loft to one of their favorite breakfast places. When they were seated and their favorite server came to take their orders, Jamie announced, "It's my birthday. I'm three, and we're going to the zoo." And when their breakfast arrived, Jamie giggled at the three birthday candles in the middle of his pancakes.

The sea lions were their first visit at the zoo, then they wandered, stopping wherever Jamie wanted to. Before long, they met another family of three.

"Don't we know you?" the father said.

Jamie looked up and excitedly squealed, "Gabe!"

"Hey, what about me, Kid?" Esposito asked.

"Uncle Javi!" Jamie said as Esposito picked him up. "Aunt Maria."

"Surprise. Happy Birthday, Jamie," she answered.

Hugs were exchanged, Castle thanked the other couple for meeting them there, and the boys enjoyed the trip to the zoo even more for having the company of another child. The two families checked feeding times and children's areas for anything interesting and steered their children toward them. They had lunch, saw more exhibits, and ended at the gift shop late that afternoon. Castle bought both boys a souvenir of the trip and thanked Esposito's family again for making Jamie's birthday more fun.

Esposito left the group, promising to meet them outside the entrance in a few minutes, and returned with a package he had left in his car. He returned, jogging across the parking lot as the others left the entrance, and handed the package to Gabe and the parents guided the children out of the flow of foot traffic.

"Happy birthday, Jamie. It's like mine…the one you liked," Gabe told him.

Jamie started to open the gift, but Kate's hand stopped him. "What do you say first?" she asked.

"Thank you, Gabe," Jamie said obediently. "Can I open it now, Mommy?"

""Go," she answered.

"It's a truck just like Gabe's," he said excitedly. "Take it out for me, Daddy." He handed the package to Castle, who put him off until they got home.

"I think we can safely say that was a hit," Kate told Esposito. "Thank you…both of you."

"This was good. Let's try it again sometime when it's a little warmer," Esposito answered.

All of the adults agreed, the boys said goodbye, and they all went home, tired but happy.

That night, the rest of the Castle family came for cake and ice cream, sang the birthday song for their youngest member, and brought Jamie presents. When they finally settled him down, he was asleep almost immediately.

"We have a three year old," Kate sighed as they left his room. "How did that happen so fast?"

"It just does. Nothing we can do about it," Castle answered. "I still can't believe Alexis is married and graduating from college this year. She'll be taking the MCAT for Medical School this spring. I'm so proud of her. I wouldn't want to miss having JD in the family; but I still miss having her here."

"I know," she answered, taking his hand sympathetically. "I miss her, too, and she and I don't have nearly the history the two of you do."

"All we can do is enjoy what we have with them and teach them what we can about how to make a good life for themselves…and keep enough of a life of our own that we still have a good one for ourselves when they're grown."

"You know, Writer-Man, you're way smarter than I thought you were when I met you at that book launch party way back when."

He laughed and answered, "I'm glad you've come to that conclusion. Because I'm pretty sure that wasn't the best first impression I ever made."

xxxxx

Had it not been a leap year, her last day at the fifteenth would have been the Friday before Jamie's birthday; but since it was, Beckett had to be there on Monday to welcome Captain Dohrman back and work with him on whatever he might need.

At Dohrman's request, there would be no additional change of command pageantry or involvement of high officials. He said they could do what they wanted when he retired, but for now, he was just returning home for as long as he could be there. He planned on arriving at eight that morning.

Beckett arranged with Sergeant Kirsch to have his officers at parade rest outside the precinct to greet the captain at his arrival, and there were refreshments laid out in one of the conference rooms to acknowledge his return and provide an informal way for his staff to welcome him back. Other than that, she complied with his wishes.

Chief Dawson visited the informal reception, and Captain Dohrman looked between Beckett and the chief, saying "I thought we had an agreement about nothing big and official today."

"Relax. It's just me, Jared. One old friend welcoming another old friend home. Informal. And how many cops do you know who refuse free food? Besides, while I'm here, I need to see Captain Beckett, too."

"Well then, welcome to the fifteenth," Dohrman answered.

After a few minutes, of conversation with the returning captain, Chief Dawson asked to speak to Beckett privately, and they went to the captain's office.

"Captain Beckett, I'm aware of your request for an extended leave, and the reason behind it."

"It didn't seem practical for you to assign me to a precinct during someone's six months of medical leave only to have people at that precinct have to acclimate to someone else before it was over. It wouldn't be fair or reasonable for that precinct. The timing of the temporary assignment and the pregnancy doesn't work, and my family can afford for me to take unpaid leave. I don't know how that will affect the 2017 opening Deputy Chief Alvarez mentioned to me earlier, but…"

"First, let me congratulate you and Mr. Castle on the addition to your family. And then let me set your mind at ease. We are very interested in having you back as captain of your own precinct, and the position will still be available to you if you want it. You'll still have the right of first refusal. Your work at both precincts has been exemplary, and it would be like shooting ourselves in the foot not to use your abilities…if they're still available to us after you've experienced almost a year of freedom."

"Thank you, Sir. It does put my mind at ease. I've told Castle that I intend to go back to work, and he fully supports that. I appreciate knowing in advance that the leave of absence won't affect my career."

"The HR manager should already have the paperwork waiting for you to go in and sign it, today if you want. Then you would be officially on leave until January first."

"Thank you. I'll do that before I go home today."

"I'm sure you and Captain Dohrman have business to attend to. I came to speak to both of you, and I have, so I'll be going now."

After a handshake, the chief left and Beckett returned to the reception, which was beginning to wind down.

Captain Dohrman was in good spirits and seemed alert and engaged, but physically he didn't look as healthy as when he had left. He had lost weight and didn't move as easily, and there were signs of the strain of his illness on his face. The overall picture, though, was one of a man who was determined to be a useful part of society as long as he could.

As Beckett observed him mingling with the people he had worked with for so long, Captain Dorhman looked over at her, and she smiled. While welcoming their original captain back, most of the detectives also took time to express their appreciation that Beckett had worked with them so well in Captain Dohrman's absence.

Before long, the returning captain came to speak to her. "We should probably talk…get me caught up and let you go home to your family."

"I do need to stop by HR and sign some papers on my way home."

"Then let's get started." He turned to thank the people remaining in the room and followed that with. "However, it is my duty once again to tell you to get back to work." There was friendly laughter, a flurry of activity as plates were being stocked with some of the free food, and the room emptied soon afterward.

Dohrman pointed toward the elevators, saying to Beckett. "Shall we?" As they rode to their floor, he said, "I'm sorry to have slowed your career path with this temporary position."

"I'm not sorry to have worked here. I think it went well. There are good people here, and I think we benefitted each other."

When they reached the captain's office, which had belonged to each of them long enough to feel ownership, they looked awkward and seemed to mutually decide to each take one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"I've heard things that support your statement," Dohrman answered. "The detectives seem to have a lot of respect for you, and I know you've had a hand in several major accomplishments while you were here. What happens next for you? Are you moving into your own command now?"

"No. I'm taking my own extended leave of absence now."

"I'm sorry. I was certain you would…"

"It isn't a problem. This may have worked out for the best for both of us. You've had time to meet your grandchild, and Castle and I realized about two weeks ago that we're going to have our second baby. The temporary position I was offered and the pregnancy weren't timed well, so I'm taking an unpaid leave of absence for the rest of the year. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back after the end of the year. The baby will be three months old then. That's the paperwork I need to sign before I get home today."

"Then congratulations are in order."

"We're not making it public for now, and my husband's job puts things in the spotlight before we want it to be there sometimes…"

"Not a word," he promised. "But may I tell my wife? You impressed her, and she's enjoyed the texts while we were gone as much as I have. She told me to give you her regards, but I'm certain she'd want to send her congratulations, too."

"That's fine. After all the texts, I've come to trust both of you."

"Well, we should get down to business."

Beckett stood and pointed out the file boxes and explained what was in them. She had removed her personal things from the office the day before. While Dohrman looked quickly through the contents of the boxes, Beckett went into the hallway to call HR and arrange to sign her leave papers that afternoon.

Having a list of the most important things Dohrman should be aware of, they talked for a while, using Beckett's list as reference. He asked questions for which she had ready answers, and he told her the files and notes seemed self-explanatory and thanked her for being thorough.

"You did the same for me. Just returning the favor."

"I should let you start enjoying your leave. But Chen asked me earlier not to let you go before you stop to see him."

"Then I'll go and see what he wants."

Captain Dohrman shook her hand. Looking at the file boxes, he said, "And I'll see what's ahead of me. Thank you for all you've done."

"It was my pleasure, Captain. Welcome home." She walked to the homicide bullpen on the same floor and said, "Chen, I hear you wanted to see me."

"Yes, Ma'am. We weren't quite sure how to handle things with two captains in the building, but I was asked to present you with this from the precinct. All of us have appreciated the way you've worked with us. You have our respect as well as our appreciation." He handed her a card and a gift.

She read the silly card with signatures covering every surface, inside and out, some with short additional notes added, and smiled then opened the box to find a silver tray engraved "To Captain Beckett with appreciation from the Fifteenth Precinct NYPD February 29, 2016" That was when she lost the battle with the threatening tears. She thanked everyone in the bullpen, chuckled and wiped her eyes, and said, "Tell the others they made Captain Beckett cry. I'll miss all of you. Chen, if I send a thank you, would you see that it's posted in the mail room where everybody will see it?"

"Sure thing, Captain."

She waved as she headed for the elevator and stopped on each floor to say a quick goodbye, and as she left the elevator on the first floor, she encountered Patton hurrying to get in.

"Patton, I'm glad to see you before I leave. Are you in a hurry to see someone?"

"My lunch was late today, and I used it to come back here, hoping to catch you before you left."

"Well, you found me. I was hoping to see you, too. I want you to know how proud I am of your progress. Detective Garrett told me you found good evidence in a dumpster last week. She said they had several officers looking for the victim's purse, and you found that; but something else caught your eye and you brought that, too, just in case. She said it turned the entire case around. So congratulations. Good eye for detail, and maybe just good instincts. Well done."

"Thanks. I came in because I wanted to thank you for giving me a chance to turn myself around…and for taking the time to make me feel like I counted to somebody again."

"I haven't seen much of you for the last couple of months. Did you get your mother's estate worked out?"

"Yes, Ma'am. My mother's grave has a headstone now, and I have enough in the bank that I don't have to worry about every little emergency. I met my aunt and her children, and it felt like I'd always known them. She's a lot like my mom. I'll be going there for holidays now and then." There was a little pause and she added, "And I've been going out with the man who helped me at the law office. He settled the insurance policy and a few other things. When he had finished all of it, he asked me out for coffee…and then dinner, and then dinner and a movie…" A happy, self-conscious looking smile was growing.

"I get the idea. You like him a lot?"

She nodded, not looking Beckett in the eye. "He told me up front that he was the most junior of all the junior staff members at the firm. But he's really smart. He was in the foster care system, too, so we had some things in common. He got through law school with a lot of different scholarships, whatever he could find, and few student loans. He's a nice guy, and he's good to me."

"I'm happy for you, Rebecca. You've come a long way this year."

"I have to get back to work. I just wanted to see you before you left." Patton turned as if to go and then turned back and threw her arms around Beckett, giving her a big hug, "Thank you for everything, Captain. I'll miss you."

"You were well worth it."

Patton hurried off as if she were embarrassed at her outburst, leaving her former captain smiling behind her, a few new tears forming.

Beckett stopped at the front desk to say goodbye to Sergeant Wesley, and he stood to shake her hand and wish her well. "We're gonna miss you around here, Captain. You left your mark, and we're better for it."

Chappell shook her hand, too, stating his agreement with the sergeant.

"Thank you gentlemen. I'll miss you, too."

From there she took a taxi to the Human Resources office and signed her paperwork. And when she walked into the loft and Castle came to meet her, she kissed him to within a fraction of an inch of senseless and said, "Hey, Rich Man. I'm all yours. Are you ready for this?"