[b]Title: Late Night Loyalty

Fandom: [link=/]Castle[/link] (ABC crime dramedy)

Characters: Castle, Alexis, implied Beckett

Genre: dramedy

Timeframe: Season 2

Autor Note: This is my second attempt at Castle fan fiction so be gentle and know that I love this show and want to do it justice. Reviews are welcome and encouraged. Enjoy![/b]

Late Night Loyalty

When Castle arrived home at 1:15am, he saw the red head protruding from the top of the couch across the room. He was already trying to be quiet, but no manner of stealth would be able to get by his daughter.

"About time, Daddy?" Alexis called back over her shoulder. "Where have you been?"

Castle hung his coat near the door and lumbered across spacious living area to the couch where his daughter was wrapped in a green blanket reading a newly minted galley proof of 'Heat Wave'. He picked up a pillow which had fallen to the floor and, hugging to his chest, plopped down next to her.

"Who's the parent here?" he said with mock seriousness. "I'm the one usually waiting up for you."

She snorted and placed the book on a side table. "I think the evidence is heavily stacked against you on that one."

"I know," he sighed. "Sorry to make you worry."

Leaning into him, she laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm just glad you're home. Are you working on a tough case?"

He didn't answer immediately. The case was a tough one. He was thankful Alexis hadn't turned on the news. A woman had been murdered in her home, in her bed. But, it appeared the husband had been drugged and unconscious during the entire attack. It had been a bloody, macabre scene; one Castle was glad he hadn't thought of himself.

"Daddy?" Alexis added to the silence.

"I'm sorry, dear," he replied, passively, still morbidly mulling over the crime scene. "Yeah, it was bad."

"Are you okay?" she asked, lifting her head from his shoulder and meeting his eyes.

"I'm fine, Honey," he replied, putting up a brave front for his daughter. The truth was he was disturbed; and not only that but he left the rest of the team at the station working through the night.

"You don't look fine," Alexis said, taking his chin her in hand and looking him over. "You're distracted, tired, and, Dad, a little scared."

He looked her solemnly and then let a small smile curl his lip. "Who made you so smart?"

"What's could be so bad it's got you scared?" She asked, intently.

"I really don't want to talk about it. And, it's not the kind of thing I'd want you to hear."

"Dad, I've read your books," she offered. "There's some pretty twisted stuff in them."

"Those are my imagination," he replied, evenly. "Even if there is some basis in truth, I'm really not going to tell you about this real murder. Just know it's bad."

"How is Beckett taking it?" Alexis asked, regrouping after a minor defeat.

"Worse than me," he said absently.

"Really?" Alexis was beginning to wonder whether she wanted to know if Kate Beckett was s affected as her father.

"No," he retorted. "She's hard as nails. Barely blinked. But it would be nice to see her vulnerable every now and then. You have to have a pretty thick skin to walk off that crime scene without losing your lunch."

Alexis looked her dad wearily. "You threw up?"

"Nope," he answered matter of fact. "But I almost did."

"Such hard skin," she replied, rolling her eyes.

"What do you know, Munchkin? Your old man's been around the block a few times."

"Yeah, around the block of your publisher's office."

"Ouch!" he cried, bringing both hands to his heart. "You wound me."

"Where is she now?" Alexis said through a laugh.

"Who?" he replied suddenly confused.

"Beckett?" she said as if the answer was obvious.

"Oh yeah. Back at the office with Ryan and Esposito."

"You left them at the office," she said, incredulous. "Still working?"

"Yeah, so? I have to come home sometime. Don't I?"

"I guess so," she said. "But if I were Beckett and I had a really bad case on my hands, I'd hope my partner, who happens to be dashingly handsome, and fairly cable at solving crimes as well as writing about them, would stick it out with me."

It was his turn to eye her wearily. He thought on the words and whose mouth they came from, and put the pillow behind his head before leaning backward on the couch. Alexis was right. He shouldn't have left. If the three of them were there still working the case, then so should he.

"You're absolutely right," he said, standing. He bent over and kissed her orange head. "Thank you, Honey."

He turned and headed for the door. Before closing it behind him, He pocked his head back through.

"Time for all good girls to got to bed. Don't wait up."