Chapter Five

Naval Station Norfolk (Chambers Field)

Alexis Castle Roberts stood just off the side of the flight line after kissing her husband before he headed for his F/A18F Super Hornet as the newest pilot (or nugget) for VFA 25 set to deploy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. She held the small flag she had been given as high as she could as his fighter rolled past her on the tarmac and began to gather speed up the runway. She watched as it gracefully rose into the sky then slowly became a small dot and was gone. When she turned back to Kate and her father she had tears in her eyes. They both hugged her as they walked back to their waiting car.

They had only been married for a week before his deployment. The service had been a beautiful affair, even if hastily planned. As her father walked her up the aisle to her waiting groom and his groomsmen in their dress whites. Little Johanna walked in front as both flower girl and ring bearer. She strode nearly impeccably straight, unaware that she was copying the Naval officers of the honor guard who acted as ushers in the ceremony. Kate and Meredith had been seated together, and tried to be civil at least for the ceremony. Though Kate did get up and snap several pictures as Johanna marched past, smiling that beaming megawatt smile her father loved so much.

As they walked out of the chapel, the Navy ushers had assembled on the steps, and on command drew their sabers to form an arch for them to pass under. As they passed below each set of crossed sabers they were snapped blade up. It had been a beautiful service and their week-long honeymoon was fresh on her mind as his fighter disappeared in the distance. He would be gone for six months.

It already felt like an eternity, though thankfully he should be home just before Christmas.

She would merely have to bury herself in her work in the ME's office until he came back. Otherwise she doubted she could bear being alone in the apartment they shared. In her down time she only hoped that she wouldn't drive dad and Kate nuts coming over so much.

Three weeks later

Captain Kate Beckett Castle sat at her desk in the 12th Precinct captain's office with her husband sitting right in his accustomed place. When she took over the job from Victoria Gates, he had merely moved his chair from the bullpen into the office and picked up right where they left off. Though she rarely hit the streets anymore unless it was an officer involved shooting or a high profile case, she kept a hands on approach to the casework in her precinct and an open door policy, honoring Roy Montgomery's memory in her own way.

Her husband still gave his opinions and offered advice on cases he found of particular interest. Johanna was left in the very capable hands of her dad, who reveled in having a granddaughter and and was more than happy to pick her up at school and spend time with her till they came back from the office.

The person she was most worried about was Alexis, and so was Rick. She was driving herself way too hard at work it was not healthy. She knew what it was like to be so driven, what it had cost her, and what it had almost taken away from her. She didn't know what to do. When she and her Rick had tried to talk to her about it, she shut them out and refused to discuss it.

So far it had not hampered her performance. If anything her work was exemplary. It was like she was trying to exorcise a demon of her own making. The best they could do was watch and wait, and hope that they could help pick up the pieces when things went bad.

Until then she had a precinct to run.

To be continued in my next big multi-chapter tale.

Coming this summer!