Laser Tagged
By Dana Keyltis
The room was dark, still, as though he weren't here, except that Kate knew he was. All of her senses were on heightened alert. A creak behind her forced her to spin around, her gun raised, eyes frantically searching for their target. Nothing. Nothing there. She took a steadying breath, attempting to calm her pounding heart. She inched around the corner of the kitchen counter, crouched low, ready to pounce at the slightest movement, a drop of sweat inching down her forehead. She absently wiped it away. Then she heard him. Somehow, inexplicably, he'd managed to get behind her. She lowered her head, trying to see him from the corner of her eye, not wanting to give him the tell that she knew he was there.
Then, trusting her cop instincts, she leaped up, spun around and fired her weapon.
But he dove behind the dining room table and she missed him. Not offering him the opportunity to return fire, she raced to the living room, vaulting herself over the couch, hiding behind it just as he took aim, missing her by mere inches. She crawled on her belly along the length of the couch, then peered around the corner.
He was gone.
She panicked, Where did he go that fast? She attempted to steady her breathing again, tempering her pulse so she could listen without the distracting noise of blood whooshing past her ears as it raced through her veins, carrying oxygen to her heart.
But, all she could hear was the deafening silence around her. Where was he? How was he so quiet? Then she realized he must have removed his shoes. She looked down at her own boot covered feet, thoughts of removing them skittering past her brain, but the noise of the zippers would echo around the expansive room and surely give her away. No, better to leave them on.
She squeezed her eyes shut, concentrating. She needed to find a better hiding spot, one where she could get a more complete view of the angles of the room. She started to crawl backwards towards the wall behind her when a flash of light caught her attention. He'd opened a door, the light spilling momentarily in the room, before closing it again.
He had either gone into the bathroom, or he wanted her to think he had. She knew better than to trust the ruse, knowing it could be a ruse either way. So she decided to set herself up behind the piano and wait for him to either come out or make his move.
She crossed the room in an awkward crouch when a telltale squeak behind her gave him away. She froze.
Her brain screamed. Move!
She spun around, ducking just in time, his shot missing her by half an inch. She raised her gun and fired.
Bullseye! She'd hit him square in the chest.
"Dad!" Alexis cried.
Castle turned to see his daughter standing in the entryway of his Manhattan loft, her hands on both hips. He looked back at Kate, who was standing proudly, her red flashing laser tag gun straddled in both hands across her chest. A satisfied, victorious look gliding across her face.
He narrowed his eyes, "You may have won this round, Detective Beckett, but you will not win the war!"
"Ha! Says you, Mister Castle! I have yet to show you the full extent of my abilities!"
He arched an eyebrow, "Oh, I've seen your," He paused, playfully, "...abilities."
"At laser tag, Castle." She side-nodded, her eyes shifting towards Alexis. "At laser tag."
"Right." Castle replied, setting his laser gun down and crossing the room to embrace his daughter.
Only, she didn't return his hug, and in fact, pushed him away. "What are you doing?" Alexis accused, a hurt look masking her normally exuberant features, her eyes alternating between her father and Kate.
"What do you mean?" Castle asked, confused.
She pointed at the laser tag equipment. "That's ours, Dad."
"What are you talking about?"
"Laser tag, it's ours. We've been doing it since I was five!" Tears sprang up in her eyes.
"Honey. We can still play laser tag! But, I bought a third set so Kate can play, too."
Her face fell, her voice lowered to a whisper. "It's not the same." She replied, marching past her father and up the stairs.
They heard a door slam.
Castle turned to Kate, who was removing her equipment, his arms outstretched, a befuddled expression blanketing his face. "What just happened?"
Kate smiled sympathetically. "She misses you, Castle."
"She's the one who left!"
"How can you be so smart, and so utterly clueless, at the same time?"
"What?"
"Go talk to her. She misses you, and she walks in here, finds us playing laser tag, which is what she used to do with you. She thinks you've moved on..."
"But, that doesn't make any sense." He said, frustrated. He took off his equipment and placed it in the bin next to Kate's. "I have to practically beg her to come visit me. She almost wasn't going to come tonight! And, it's taco night!" His eyebrows arched incredulously. "If she misses me so much, why doesn't she just come home more?"
Kate placed both hands on his shoulders, then patted his cheek. "Castle, you spent so much time in boarding school, that by the time you went to college you had already adjusted to not being at home." She side-nodded towards the staircase. "But, Alexis is still adjusting. She's trying to exert her independence, but she also needs to know she can come home at any time."
"She can!" His eyes grew wide with exasperation.
"And know that you haven't left her behind. That this is still home."
"But, Kate." His voice softening, he pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Things have changed. She can't expect me to just live in a time bubble." He leaned down and they kissed. "We're together now. She's going to have to get used to that."
"And she will, Castle. She just needs a little time." She pointed at his chest with her finger, "And reassurance from you that even though things are changing, you will always be her dry land."
Castle regarded her, losing himself in the deepness of her hazel-brown eyes. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her. "How is it that you always have the best parenting advice?"
She smiled. "Well, I may not be a parent, but I know what it is to be an only child. And, I know what it is to have a unique bond with a father." She gently nudged him towards the stairs, "Now, go. Talk to her. I've got this." She swept her hand over the laser tag equipment.
When Martha came charging through the front door, making her usual grand entrance, Kate was sautéing the meat and chopping onions for the tacos, thankful for Castle's onion goggles or her mascara would have been half way down her face by now.
"Kate! Oh, good. I haven't missed taco night!" Martha dropped a half dozen shopping bags at the foot of the staircase and shrugged her wrap from her shoulders, letting it slide dramatically down her back. "That smells heavenly."
"Thank you, Martha." Kate replied. "Would you like something to drink? I've already mixed up a batch of sangria."
"Oh, yes, please!" She sat down on one of the stools facing the kitchen counter.
Kate poured the sangria into a wine glass and handed it to Martha. She picked up her own drink and they clinked glasses, a gentle "ping" echoing in the air.
"Where is Richard? Don't tell me he has you doing all of the work."
"Oh, no." Kate giggled, "He's upstairs talking to Alexis." She glanced at her watch. "She's having a hard time, with, you know, all of the changes."
"Oh, dear." Martha worried. "Did something happen?"
"She walked in on Castle and me..."
"Oh, dear, oh dear."
"No, no. Not that." Kate blushed. "We were playing laser tag."
Martha nodded, knowingly. "Ah, yes, well I can see why that would upset her."
"I feel badly. We should have thought about it."
"Well, she's going to have to get used to sharing her father with you, eventually." Martha said, taking another long sip of her drink and glancing up the staircase. "No time like the present, I suppose."
And, as if on cue, Castle came lumbering down the stairs, Alexis in tow.
"I smell taco meat!" He robustly declared.
Kate scrutinized their faces. It seemed as though whatever Castle had said had worked. Alexis looked her usual cheerful self, even sidling up next to Kate to see if she could help with anything.
"It looks delicious, Detective Beckett."
"Alexis," Kate started, turning towards the younger woman, "I think it's about time you call me Kate, don't you think?"
"I," Alexis blushed, "I can try, it's just you've always been Detective Beckett to me, so..."
"Well, whatever you're comfortable with. I just want you to know you don't have to be so formal."
Alexis smiled, nodding. "Kate it is, then."
"Great." Kate returned the smile.
Seated at the dining room table, they proceeded to serve themselves when Castle announced he needed another beer.
"I'll get it," Alexis offered, already bouncing up from the table.
"Thank you, sweetie." He replied, piling his plate with taco's, re-fried beans, and spanish rice.
None of them noticed that Alexis had helped herself to a beer until after she'd taken a couple of swigs.
"Alexis!" Castle choked. "What are you doing?"
Alexis looked at the beer in her hand, "What?"
He reached across the table to take the bottle from her, but she pulled it away. "Oh, c'mon Dad don't be such a killjoy. I'm drinking a beer with dinner! What's the big deal?"
Kate and Martha sat silently, watching the scene unfold before them.
"Since when did you start drinking beer?"
"I don't know. This summer?" She put her lips to the bottle and took another giant swig.
Castle watched in disbelief. Alexis! Eighteen year old Alexis was drinking beer! "I don't like you drinking, Alexis."
"Oh come on, Dad! You're such a hypocrite! By the time you were my age, you'd already been arrested twice for public drunkenness!"
"She's got you there, kiddo." Martha chimed in.
"You're not helping, mother." Castle admonished. Looking at Kate, "Beckett, tell her will you? You're a cop, she could get arrested for this!"
Kate put both hands in the air as though being held at gunpoint. "I think it's better for all of our sakes that within these four walls, I'm just Kate. Not Detective Beckett."
"See?" Alexis declared, taking another swig of beer.
"However, I have to defer to your dad on this one." Kate finished.
"Dad. Don't you remember trying to give me Champagne when I was only fourteen?"
He took a bite of his taco, salsa dribbling down his cheek. "No! When did I do that?"
"At your last Derek Storm book release party? Remember? That was the night Detective Beckett," She glanced at Kate. "...er, Kate, pulled you away because of that murder?"
Castle's face lit up at the memory and his eyes found Kate's across the table. "That was the night we met," He grinned, the corners of his eyes betraying his obvious affection.
"Yeah," She whispered, blushing at the memory, her nose crinkling with her smile.
"You were so mad at me, remember?"
Kate nodded.
"But hot for me at the same time," Castle winked.
She threw her napkin at him, rolling her eyes.
"Ahem," Martha interrupted.
"Right. Well, Alexis, I don't approve of you drinking, but I'm not going to wrestle the bottle out of your hand. But, one," He held up his index finger,"...is your limit."
Alexis pouted, "How about two?"
"Don't push it." Castle warned.
"You're on your second, and I bet you have a third."
"Yeah, well I've got at least 150 pounds and a quarter of a century on you." He admonished. "One. That's it."
"Fine."
The conversation for the rest of the evening was much lighter, laughter rang around the table, echoing off the walls, filling their minds and hearts. Kate looked around at them, mother, son, father, daughter, a sense of kinship, of belonging, rising warmly within her. She loved the happy noise of it, the witty banter easily shared among them, Castle and his "women". She smiled lovingly at him, he was such an adorable father, a patient son. It's one of the things she loved so much about him. She felt her cheeks grow hot and had to look away when his eyes caught hers staring at him. When she glanced back, he had a sweet grin on his face, his eyes sparkling. He lifted his beer as if in toast, and winked at her. She winked back, raising her glass.
Martha served the flan, placing it on the table in front of them in great dramatic fashion, "Come, come, good flan is a good familiar creature, if it be well used!" Martha bowed, "William Shakespeare said that."
"Mother, Shakespeare was talking about wine," Castle corrected, cutting into the flan before dishing them up on the dessert plates stacked at his elbow.
"Potato, pahtahto." She replied with a swish of her wrist. Passing the plates to Alexis and Kate.
Alexis glanced at Kate, they smiled, knowingly, Alexis rolled her eyes. "Gran can't just say stuff. She always needs to quote Shakespeare, or Ibsen, or..."
"Oh hush," Martha interjected, a playful pout forming on her lips.
The dishes were rinsed and stacked in the dishwasher, the leftovers put away, Alexis was upstairs rummaging through her closet in search of warm clothes, Martha had already retired to her room, the sangria having proven to have a sedating effect on her. Castle and Kate were nestled on the couch together, her back to his front, his arms wrapped protectively around her.
"I wish you would stay the night."
"Castle, I have such an early shift tomorrow. I just really need to sleep tonight."
"You can sleep here, can't you?"
She turned her head to look at him, "You're kidding, right?"
"Fine." He conceded, gently sweeping her hair aside before brushing his lips along the slender expanse of her neck.
Alexis came bounding down the stairs, a duffle bag in her hand. She waived at the pair. "Goodnight."
Castle wriggled away from Kate, standing up. "Whoa, wait, honey. How are you getting back to school? It's late."
"I was just going to take the subway,"
He shook his head, reaching for his wallet. "No, no, no. I'll call you a cab."
"I can take her," Kate interjected, getting up from the couch. "I'm leaving now, anyway." She approached Alexis, "I'd be happy to give you a ride."
"Thanks, Detect-, Kate." Alexis accepted.
"Thank you." Castle echoed, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. Then he kissed Alexis, "Be safe, honey."
"Always am, Dad." Alexis responded, bounding out the door.
Kate turned and smiled, "Thanks, Castle."
He raised an eyebrow, "For what?"
She raised one arm then let it fall to her side, "For..." A sweet smile curving her lips, "Laser tag. Taco night. It was nice, I liked it."
Castle smiled, "Always."
Alexis was oddly quiet on the drive back to school. Kate asked her about her classes, her friends, the dorm, the food. But every answer was monosyllabic.
"Alexis. I want you to know that I'm really sorry about the laser tag."
"No." Alexis exhaled, "I'm the one who should be sorry. Kate. I was just being," She searched for the right word, "...childish."
"Oh, honey. No. Look, I get it. It's just been you and your dad for a very long time." She side glanced at Alexis. "I know how that is. Your dad and I should have been more sensitive."
"It's okay," Alexis took a deep breath. "It's just, he's never done that before."
"Done what?" Kate asked, confused.
"Played laser tag." Alexis shifted in her seat to face kate. "I mean, with a girlfriend. He's never played laser tag with a girlfriend, before."
Kate was trying to understand. What did that mean?
"Detective Beckett. He really loves you."
It was fortuitous that the car was idling at a stoplight, because Kate suddenly felt unsteady, her eyes unexpectedly misty, unfocused, her breathing labored. "Wha-?"
"He hasn't shared so much of himself with anyone in a very long time." Alexis continued. "If ever. I know my dad. I've seen him in other relationships. He's never been as." She searched again for the right words, "...all in before."
Kate glanced at Alexis before returning her gaze to the road. "And, is that okay with you?" The light turned green, and she hit the gas, proceeding through the intersection.
Alexis smiled. "I won't lie. It's going to take some time for me to get used to the idea. But, I'm happy for him. He's spent the last eighteen years making sure I had everything I needed - or wanted. How can I wish any less for him?"
Kate smiled, glancing in Alexis' direction. "You're a good daughter."
Alexis chuckled. "Well, he's a good dad."
They pulled up outside of Alexis' dorm, and Kate reached over and placed her hand gently on the younger girls arm. "Alexis. I know how it can be the first year away. And," She paused, considering her words carefully. "I know the kind of pressure you might get from your friends. Just know you don't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. And," She searched Alexis' face, "...you need to be careful with the parties and the alcohol."
"Thank you, Kate. But, I'm fine."
"Just the same," Kate reached into her pocket and pulled out her card case. She teased a card from the holder and handed it to Alexis. "If you ever find yourself in over your head, or you just need a friend, don't hesitate to call me, okay?"
"Kay." Alexis replied, accepting the proffered card. "Thanks for the ride."
Castle had emptied the dishwasher and turned out the lights when a soft rapping at the door interrupted his nightly routine. He crossed to the entryway and opened the door, a slow, sly, sexy grin creeping along his face.
"Kate."
"I, ah. I..."
Castle stood aside and held the door open as Kate stepped into the apartment. She squared herself in front of Castle, resting both palms flat against his chest.
"I, ah. I just wanted to tell you." She looked into his baby blues, getting lost in them. "Castle. I love you, too."
His mouth fell open, the corners of his lips curving upwards. His eyes twinkled, his heart quickened. He gathered her to him, holding her close. She slid her arms around his middle, tears prickling her eyes.
"Kate." He whispered, pressing his lips to her forehead. He'd waited for this. Longed for this. Knowing it was within her, but not wanting to force it before she was ready. And now, here she stood, in his arms, declaring her love, and it was everything he'd imagined it to be, genuine, pure, blissful. He felt his heart swell, his throat constrict, and he framed her face with his hands, searching her eyes before gently placing his lips on hers in a slow, languid kiss.
"I'd like to stay," She stated.
"What about needing to sleep?"
"Sleep Shmeep," Kate replied, taking his hand in hers and leading him to the bedroom. "We can sleep when we're dead."
Alexis dumped her stuff in her dorm and then headed to the frat house down the block. The party was still raging, and as she crossed the threshold into the old house, someone shoved an open bottle of beer in her hand. She moved her way nimbly through the crowd, searching for a familiar face, when one of the frat brothers stood in her path.
"Hey," He said, eyeing her up and down.
"Hey," Alexis replied, blushing, a rush of excitement coursing through her body.
"I'm Peter."
"Alexis." She smiled, coyly.
"You like to party, Alexis?" He asked, one brow arched.
She shrugged, "Sure."
"Awesome." He exclaimed, "Follow me."
She followed him through the house to a room in the back and when he opened the door, the smell of marijuana smoke reached out like a tentacle and tickled her nose. She coughed. "Oh. You mean, party." She clarified.
"Yeah, you into it?"
Alexis hesitated, her better angel told her to turn around and go back to her dorm. But, something inside of her prodded her to give it a try. It was an almost uncontrollable force urging her forward, and so she nodded at Peter. "Sure, I'll try anything once."
