A/N: After "Den of Thieves" all I wanted to do was HUG Castle. And since I can't do that… I had someone else do it…
Title: Comfort
Summary: A short one-shot. Alexis wants to know what's bothering her father... (Caskett)
Spoilers: Episode 2x21: "Den of Thieves"
Alexis side-stepped around a group of police officers as she walked through the entrance to the 12th police precinct. She was headed towards the elevator when the doors conveniently opened and the person she had come to visit stepped out.
"Detective Beckett!" She called out. The detective stopped when she heard her name being called, and turned to see a flash of fiery red hair darting through the crowd before Alexis' smiling face finally came into view.
"Alexis, is everything okay?" She enquired, clearly surprised to see the teenager.
"I'm not keeping you from anything am I?" Alexis asked courteously, not wanting to get in the way of the detective's important work.
"No, I'm just, um … heading home." Beckett said, stumbling over her words, "Is something wrong?"
"I'm worried about Dad," Alexis admitted, "over the last week or so he's been… different. Quiet." She explained worriedly.
"Really?" Beckett responded in disbelief.
"Did something happen? Maybe the case you're working on…" Alexis suggested.
"No, the last case was pretty straight forward. Did you ask what was bothering him?" Beckett queried, clearly concerned.
"He keeps saying that he's fine but I know something's wrong." Alexis insisted.
"Hey, you ready to go? I made reservations at Giorgio's." Tom Demming suddenly appeared at Beckett's side, slinging his arm casually over her shoulders. Beckett glanced awkwardly between Tom and Alexis, embarrassed that she had just been caught out lying to the young woman about her plans for the rest of the day.
"Tom, this is Alexis. Castle's daughter. Alexis, this is Detective Tom Demming." Beckett made the introductions.
"Nice to meet you." Tom said courteously.
"You too." Alexis replied carefully, her eyes critically studying the pair during several moments of uncomfortable silence.
"Well I should go. I've got lots of study to do." Alexis finally managed, flashing Beckett and Demming polite but tight smile before turning and heading for the exit before Beckett could even utter a goodbye.
Alexis arrived home half an hour later. Closing the front door behind her, she headed straight for her father's office. She dropped her school bag just outside the doorway before peering inside to find her father in same the place he had been every night for over a week. Slumped low in the plush sofa, the idle laptop balancing precariously on his lap, his sad eyes staring off into the distance. She quietly took a few steps into the room, before a soft creaking from the polished floor boards under foot alerted him to her presence. Slowly drawing his gaze over to meet to hers, Castle could see it in his daughter's warm sky blue eyes. She knew. He watched as she slowly walked over and sat down next to him, leaning in and placing her head on his shoulder before wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry Dad." She said softly, giving him a comforting squeeze. Castle hugged her gratefully, kissing her forehead in a silent gesture of thanks.
And that's where father and daughter remained until the bright rays of the early morning awoke them to greet a new day.
Foghornclj87