Chapter 1
It was closing in on midnight in the Bulletin offices when Karen decided it was about time to call it quits. Ellison and the rest of her coworkers had left hours ago, her bearded friend giving her a look that said ‘get out of here’ before leaving- no friday night plans for her. All Karen could do these past few months was try to fill her time with something that didn't involve thinking about Frank.
It had been about three and a half months since the almost kiss in the elevator, and she hadn't heard from him since. Not that it surprised her, Karen didn't expect to hear from him. But that didn't mean she didn't know he was there- he was. When she heard about the “gang” related incident at the carousel, Karen knew it had to be him. Even though it killed her to do it, the roses he gave her were completely dead and she had to throw them out- that night she came home from work and found a new bunch in her flowerpot. They were obviously from him, and it took everything inside her not to break out crying right then and there.
Karen couldn't count how many times her finger hovered over his number, and oh how she wanted to call- but deep down Karen knew it couldn't be her that called first. It had to be Frank, he had to choose if he wanted to be there. But that didn't mean she couldn't obsess about the number- memorize it- add ‘shooting star’ for a ringtone.
Karen had packed up and was about to leave the building when she heard it. At first she thought it was a delusion- how many times had she dreamed of hearing that song coming out of her phone. And then it clicked he was calling her- HER- she rummaged through her purse moving her gun and her heart raced when she saw the number.
This is it.
She answered, “Hello? Frank?”
Silence went on for a good few seconds, but she would wait.
“Ma’am. I need you. Your apartment.” God she hadn't heard that voice in what felt like years.
“Frank?”
“I’ll be there.”
Karen had planned on walking home, but knowing the gift that awaited her in her apartment- she practically sprinted into the street hailing a cab.
In those moments waiting to get home, she could hardly remember giving her address or getting the money out of her wallet- who knows maybe she gave the driver an extra large bill in her haste. Her heartbeat was erratic and her breathing felt loud in her ears, Karen tried to act casual as she passed by her landlord and some of the few tenants that were grabbing their mail from their boxes. But she could hardly wait.
Karen’s hands shook as she unsuccessfully tried to put her keys in the door, before finally reaching her goal- she stepped in.
“Frank?” He wasn't on her couch or in her kitchen, there weren't any blood stains around that she could see, so that at least meant he wasn't bleeding out- hopefully.
Turning around she went to the only place he could be- her bedroom. God how many times had she imagined seeing Frank Castle in her bed? Too many times to count.
She pushed open the door and looked in- and what she saw made her mouth drop and her mind go wild with questions.
A beat up Frank sat on the edge of her bed, but what really shocked her were the arms of what she could only assume of a young little girl wrapped around his neck, his eyes were what stopped her in her tracks- they pleaded with her for understanding, cried in pain, simmered in anger. Then the sniffles of the toddler made her move her feet forward.