Days Like These 6/? by elizagoth7, R
Title: Days Like These
Characters/Pairings: Beckett/Castle
Word Count: 1,354
Rating: R
Warnings: None for this chapter
Spoiler alert: Up to 2x05
Summary: After parting ways, Beckett shows up at Castle's door.
Chapter 1 Chapter 4
Chapter 2 Chapter 5
Chapter 3
With the sirens on, they made it to the hospital in record time, despite the holiday traffic. Esposito opened the car door for them, then ran ahead to find a doctor. Castle carried Beckett through the sliding doors, and put her on the gurney that appeared. Holding her hand, he jogged alongside the bed answering the doctor’s questions until they reached a set of double doors.
“I’ll be here when you get out,” Castle said, kissing her hand. She nodded, slightly coherent.
“I love you, Rick,” stayed with him as the heavy doors swung closed.
Esposito was in the waiting room and grabbed Castle’s shoulder in a show of support. Looking down at the bloody coat in his hands, Castle set it on a chair and sat down hard in the one beside it. Esposito had the decency to look away while the writer broke down.
A nurse appeared a moment later to take them to the surgical wing, and informing them that Beckett had named Castle her temporary next of kin. It would take her father hours to get in from Philadelphia. They were shown to the waiting room and told a doctor would be with them shortly.
Castle pulled it together and called his mother and Alexis, who arrived just as Beckett’s doctor appeared.
“How is she?” Castle asked, as Alexis curled into his side and rested a supporting hand on his back. Dr. Fielding looked questioningly at the three other people present, but Castle nodded for her to continue.
“I’m sorry, but she has miscarried.”
Squaring his jaw, Castle inhaled deeply to fight the rising nausea.
“Her body isn’t ridding itself of the child on its own, so we’re going to have to remove it surgically.”
“Is she awake?” Castle managed to ask around the lump in his throat.
“No. We’ve sedated her to prep for the surgery.”
“Can I see her?” he asked, voice faltering slightly. Dr. Fielding nodded, indicating he should follow her down the hall. She led Castle to the room Beckett was in and closed the door behind him.
Beckett looked pale and fragile laying in the hospital bed. She had been put into a crisp hospital gown and an IV had been attached to her hand. Not knowing what to say, Castle placed a light hand over the slight baby bump that held the child he had barely gotten to know.
“Daddy’s going to miss you Anna Rose,” he breathed, using the name he hadn’t gotten tell Beckett he’d chosen.
Beckett didn’t stir as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I’ll be waiting for you. I love you, Kate Beckett.”
A nurse came in to take her to the operating room and directed Castle back to the waiting room.
“Oh! Mr. Castle, they said to give you these back as well,” the young woman said, handing Castle a stack of things. He looked down, feeling tears well up again as he held Beckett’s Police vest, badge and gun.
“Thank you.”
He held the vest as he walked numbly back to the waiting room. Five eager faces looked up at him, Ryan and Captain Montgomery having arrived while he was in with Beckett. They all looked to him for answers that he didn’t have. He felt like everyone wanted something from him, when all he wanted to do was hold Beckett and his baby and know everything was okay.
“I-I,” he started, looking down when he felt the tears start again. Martha stood from her chair and pulled him to her. The badge and holstered gun clattered to the floor as Castle wrapped his arms around his mother and cried into her neck.
“I know, darling. Let it out,” she soothed, putting one hand on the back of his head and the other rubbing his back.
Eventually his grief lost momentum and settled into an aching heartbreak that he knew wouldn’t be disappearing any time soon. They all sat in silence, Ryan holding Beckett’s gun and badge, while Alexis fell into a light doze on her father’s shoulder.
The hours slipped by as evening turned into night. Martha and Alexis brought everyone coffee and sandwiches from the cafeteria, but all Castle could do was grip Beckett’s vest and stare at the doorway. As the clock on the wall approached midnight, Castle finally sent everyone home, letting them know he would call when there was something to tell.
Esposito carried a sleeping Alexis out while Martha hugged her son and told him she’d bring him a change of clothes in the morning. Ryan took the Police vest and told Castle he’d lock everything up with her cell phone at the station.
“She’ll be okay, Castle,” Captain Montgomery said, patting the man’s shoulder.
“Beckett’s the toughest person I know.”
Castle nodded and watched them go, then returned to his chair, with only the tick of the wall clock to keep him company.
Dr. Fielding came in a few hours later, shaking Castle awake.
“How’s Kate?” he asked, instantly awake.
“She’s doing fine. They’re taking her up to a private room now, you’ll be able to see her in a few minutes.”
“And the baby?”
“A girl, about three months along. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
He nodded, biting his lip in an attempt not to cry.
“We had some trouble getting the bleeding stopped. It’s under control now and I’ve ordered a transfusion, but the risk of infection is significantly higher. We’re going to monitor it and if everything checks out, you should be able to take her home in a few days,” Dr. Fielding explained as she walked with Castle to Beckett’s room.
“I’ll have a cot sent up for you,” she said at the door.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Castle hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the handle. If he went inside now, it would mean it was real. It would mean that they wouldn’t be bringing their baby girl home. She would never get to meet her sister or hold Bunny or do all the things he had thought about since Beckett told him she was pregnant. Squaring his jaw, he resolved to be there for Beckett, no matter what. They were the ones left behind and she’d need all the strength he had to offer, no matter how much she fought it; and he knew she would. As soon as they left here, he wouldn’t be dealing with Kate anymore. Detective Beckett was a persona she wore like a mask, to keep people out and as soon as they left, he was enemy number one. If only because he wanted to help her.
Opening the door, Castle immediately noticed how pale Beckett looked. It made her auburn hair seem darker as it splayed across the white hospital linens. He pulled up the chair next to her bed and held her hand.
“Castle?” she rasped. Beckett turned her head slightly and regarded him with hazy eyes.
“Welcome back. You had us all worried there for awhile.”
“M’sorry,” she mumbled, fighting the anesthetic.
“It’s okay, just don’t do it again. I thought Esposito was going to have a heart attack.”
“Esposito’s a wuss.”
Castle laughed, kissing the back of her hand.
“What about the baby?” she asked, watching his face carefully.
“A little girl,” he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Go on then, say it.”
“What?”
“I told you so.”
He smiled, cupping her cheek gently.
“I think you get a free pass for this one.”
“Did you name her?” Beckett yawned.
“Anna Rose,” he whispered, the name bringing fresh tears to his eyes.
“Anna Rose Castle. I think I would have agreed to that.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” he smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she drifted off.
“Rick?”
“Yes, love?”
“Don’t let me shut you out, later when this hurts more. Promise me you won’t, even when I want to forget all about her.”
“I promise. Sleep now darling, I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Beckett nodded, letting her eyes fall closed, one hand coming up to grasp the ring around her neck.
Characters/Pairings: Beckett/Castle
Word Count: 1,354
Rating: R
Warnings: None for this chapter
Spoiler alert: Up to 2x05
Summary: After parting ways, Beckett shows up at Castle's door.
Chapter 1 Chapter 4
Chapter 2 Chapter 5
Chapter 3
With the sirens on, they made it to the hospital in record time, despite the holiday traffic. Esposito opened the car door for them, then ran ahead to find a doctor. Castle carried Beckett through the sliding doors, and put her on the gurney that appeared. Holding her hand, he jogged alongside the bed answering the doctor’s questions until they reached a set of double doors.
“I’ll be here when you get out,” Castle said, kissing her hand. She nodded, slightly coherent.
“I love you, Rick,” stayed with him as the heavy doors swung closed.
Esposito was in the waiting room and grabbed Castle’s shoulder in a show of support. Looking down at the bloody coat in his hands, Castle set it on a chair and sat down hard in the one beside it. Esposito had the decency to look away while the writer broke down.
A nurse appeared a moment later to take them to the surgical wing, and informing them that Beckett had named Castle her temporary next of kin. It would take her father hours to get in from Philadelphia. They were shown to the waiting room and told a doctor would be with them shortly.
Castle pulled it together and called his mother and Alexis, who arrived just as Beckett’s doctor appeared.
“How is she?” Castle asked, as Alexis curled into his side and rested a supporting hand on his back. Dr. Fielding looked questioningly at the three other people present, but Castle nodded for her to continue.
“I’m sorry, but she has miscarried.”
Squaring his jaw, Castle inhaled deeply to fight the rising nausea.
“Her body isn’t ridding itself of the child on its own, so we’re going to have to remove it surgically.”
“Is she awake?” Castle managed to ask around the lump in his throat.
“No. We’ve sedated her to prep for the surgery.”
“Can I see her?” he asked, voice faltering slightly. Dr. Fielding nodded, indicating he should follow her down the hall. She led Castle to the room Beckett was in and closed the door behind him.
Beckett looked pale and fragile laying in the hospital bed. She had been put into a crisp hospital gown and an IV had been attached to her hand. Not knowing what to say, Castle placed a light hand over the slight baby bump that held the child he had barely gotten to know.
“Daddy’s going to miss you Anna Rose,” he breathed, using the name he hadn’t gotten tell Beckett he’d chosen.
Beckett didn’t stir as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I’ll be waiting for you. I love you, Kate Beckett.”
A nurse came in to take her to the operating room and directed Castle back to the waiting room.
“Oh! Mr. Castle, they said to give you these back as well,” the young woman said, handing Castle a stack of things. He looked down, feeling tears well up again as he held Beckett’s Police vest, badge and gun.
“Thank you.”
He held the vest as he walked numbly back to the waiting room. Five eager faces looked up at him, Ryan and Captain Montgomery having arrived while he was in with Beckett. They all looked to him for answers that he didn’t have. He felt like everyone wanted something from him, when all he wanted to do was hold Beckett and his baby and know everything was okay.
“I-I,” he started, looking down when he felt the tears start again. Martha stood from her chair and pulled him to her. The badge and holstered gun clattered to the floor as Castle wrapped his arms around his mother and cried into her neck.
“I know, darling. Let it out,” she soothed, putting one hand on the back of his head and the other rubbing his back.
Eventually his grief lost momentum and settled into an aching heartbreak that he knew wouldn’t be disappearing any time soon. They all sat in silence, Ryan holding Beckett’s gun and badge, while Alexis fell into a light doze on her father’s shoulder.
The hours slipped by as evening turned into night. Martha and Alexis brought everyone coffee and sandwiches from the cafeteria, but all Castle could do was grip Beckett’s vest and stare at the doorway. As the clock on the wall approached midnight, Castle finally sent everyone home, letting them know he would call when there was something to tell.
Esposito carried a sleeping Alexis out while Martha hugged her son and told him she’d bring him a change of clothes in the morning. Ryan took the Police vest and told Castle he’d lock everything up with her cell phone at the station.
“She’ll be okay, Castle,” Captain Montgomery said, patting the man’s shoulder.
“Beckett’s the toughest person I know.”
Castle nodded and watched them go, then returned to his chair, with only the tick of the wall clock to keep him company.
Dr. Fielding came in a few hours later, shaking Castle awake.
“How’s Kate?” he asked, instantly awake.
“She’s doing fine. They’re taking her up to a private room now, you’ll be able to see her in a few minutes.”
“And the baby?”
“A girl, about three months along. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
He nodded, biting his lip in an attempt not to cry.
“We had some trouble getting the bleeding stopped. It’s under control now and I’ve ordered a transfusion, but the risk of infection is significantly higher. We’re going to monitor it and if everything checks out, you should be able to take her home in a few days,” Dr. Fielding explained as she walked with Castle to Beckett’s room.
“I’ll have a cot sent up for you,” she said at the door.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
Castle hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the handle. If he went inside now, it would mean it was real. It would mean that they wouldn’t be bringing their baby girl home. She would never get to meet her sister or hold Bunny or do all the things he had thought about since Beckett told him she was pregnant. Squaring his jaw, he resolved to be there for Beckett, no matter what. They were the ones left behind and she’d need all the strength he had to offer, no matter how much she fought it; and he knew she would. As soon as they left here, he wouldn’t be dealing with Kate anymore. Detective Beckett was a persona she wore like a mask, to keep people out and as soon as they left, he was enemy number one. If only because he wanted to help her.
Opening the door, Castle immediately noticed how pale Beckett looked. It made her auburn hair seem darker as it splayed across the white hospital linens. He pulled up the chair next to her bed and held her hand.
“Castle?” she rasped. Beckett turned her head slightly and regarded him with hazy eyes.
“Welcome back. You had us all worried there for awhile.”
“M’sorry,” she mumbled, fighting the anesthetic.
“It’s okay, just don’t do it again. I thought Esposito was going to have a heart attack.”
“Esposito’s a wuss.”
Castle laughed, kissing the back of her hand.
“What about the baby?” she asked, watching his face carefully.
“A little girl,” he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Go on then, say it.”
“What?”
“I told you so.”
He smiled, cupping her cheek gently.
“I think you get a free pass for this one.”
“Did you name her?” Beckett yawned.
“Anna Rose,” he whispered, the name bringing fresh tears to his eyes.
“Anna Rose Castle. I think I would have agreed to that.”
“I’m so glad you approve,” he smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she drifted off.
“Rick?”
“Yes, love?”
“Don’t let me shut you out, later when this hurts more. Promise me you won’t, even when I want to forget all about her.”
“I promise. Sleep now darling, I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Beckett nodded, letting her eyes fall closed, one hand coming up to grasp the ring around her neck.