Author's note: I don't own Castle or these characters, they all belong to ABC.
At four in the afternoon the next day Beckett walked over to the forensics lab to talk to Alexis. Beckett had spent hours calling in favors and arranging everything. All she had to do was say the right thing to the young redhead and everything would fall into place. And then that thousand dollars would be hers.
Alexis was at a computer station inputing evidence into the NYPD's digital database. It was boring grunt work, but it was a worthwhile endeavor for a young intern who had yet to be trained in the more difficult aspects of forensics. When Alexis saw Beckett walk by she waved at her. "Hi Detective how are you doing? Anything I can help you with?"
Beckett nodded her head. "Actually I have an opportunity for a fieldwork assignment that I'd like you to consider?" Beckett knew that Alexis wouldn't fall for getting set up on a traditional date, but he also knew that she couldn't pass up a chance for community service.
Alexis titled her head, extremely interested in what the detective had to say. "Yes Ma'am?"
"I have a friend in vice who's suspicious of some bad activity at an under 21 night club, Neon Jungle. Technically nothing solid has been reported yet, but there have been rumors that it's a good place to score weed."
"And you want me to go there and find out if the rumors are true." Alexis asked.
"Yeah. All you have to do is go there for a couple of hours. Have a good time, and report if anyone there is selling anything illegal. Just text us and a cop stationed outside will bust in and catch the perp. You'll be perfectly safe." Becket replied.
"OK detective I think I can do that." Beckett replied. "Am I going to be doing this alone or am I going with a cop or a group of kids?"
"I'm assigning you an escort from the Explorer post." Beckett answered. "A young man named Jim Walker? What night would be good for you to go?"
"Tomorrow night would probably be good, it's Friday so the place will be nice and busy. Perfect for dealers." Alexis replied.
Beckett smiled at the young redhead. "Already thinking like a cop. So Alex do you have any plans to become join law enforcement for real?"
Alexis shook her head. "Maybe. I'm not really sure?"
"You really should." Beckett answered. "I'll have Walker pick you up tomorrow night around eight." Beckett smiled at Alexis. "Oh and dress up a little."
Alexis nodded. "How dressed up?"
"Oh not much, just remember your there to see and be seen. I trust that you know how to dress up for a nightclub."
"Yes Ma'am." Alexis responded. "I'll do my best."
"Have a great day Alexis" Beckett said cordially and she walked away. Beckett smiled. she had this in the bag. Now what was she going to do with that extra thousand dollars?
That evening Alexis walked through the precinct to find her father and hitch a ride home. As she walked through homicide she saw her father and officer Esposito talking and laughing with a young latino guy. Alexis immediately took inventory of this young man. He was about her age. He had a slightly round face, but not so round as to appear babyish. He had his hair gelled into a handsome mat of lush textured black, and had a smile that could sell toothpaste. He was pretty tall and thinly built but not to the point of seeming stringy. He was well dressed in a red polo shirt and black jeans. He was cute, Alexis decided.
Alexis' dad waved her over. "Honey come here you have to meet this young man."
Alexis took her hair out of the ponytail she used for work and brushed it to the sides of her face. She walked over to the trio of men and smiled. "Hey dad." She said as she planted a light kiss on her father's cheek. She shook Esposito's hand and then turned around to the young man who was accompanying them. "Hi I'm Alexis. Castle's daughter?" she said with an outstretched arm,
The boy politely took her hand. "Hola. I'm Jose Esposito, Javier here is my uncle. I was just visiting him at work to tell him some good news. " he said. Alexis tried not to giggle. Oh my God he had the brightest hazel eyes.
Castle grinned. "Jose was just telling us about how his art will be on display at the met for a local young artist gallery."
"Really?" Alexis asked politely. "What kind of art do you do?"
Jose blushed a little. "portraits of people in my life." He answered. I've done one of my mother, some of my friends and teachers, and even Uncle Javier."
"He's quite talented." The older Esposito interjected. "He's already been accepted by Yale and the Art institute her in New York."
"yeah. The exhibit opens next Friday. I'm really excited." Jose said to Alexis, his eyes never disconnecting from Alexis' beautiful baby blue eyes. Alexis then broke the eye contact herself when she looked down and noticed she was still holding the handsome young man's hand. She casually removed it from his hand hoping to God that nobody noticed, especially not her father. Jose was also clearly embarrassed. "You should come." Jose said politely while brushing the back of his head with his now unoccupied hand.
"I'd like that." Alexis replied. Her smile absolutely lighting up the room.
Rick Castle looked at his watch and beamed. "Come on sweetheart, Nana's waiting for us back home. And we need to feed her."
"OK" Alexis replied. And Castle gently pulled his daughter away from the young Latino's aura of charm. Alexis turned around to see him. "I'll facebook you?"
Jose gave a thumbs up. "Yeah I'd like that."
Rick Castle was quite impressed with Javier Esposito's nephew. The detective was right; Esposito men were just filled with charm. While normally he was opposed to young men in general where it concerned Alexis, he trusted Detective Esposito and by association his nephew enough to go through with this experiment. Now it was just time to see how it was going. After Alexis and he got into silver Cadillac that functioned as the Castle family's daily driver, Castle released his opening statement, "So, Jose seemed quite taken with you." He said nonchalantly.
Alexis tried to stay composed. "He's quite impressive. I hope to see more of him soon."
"I'm sure you'll find him on Facebook. Then you'll see if you like the same types of movies or have any other interests." Castle said. "So did anything else interesting happen today?"
Alexis took a deep breath. "Detective Beckett asked me to do a new field assignment."
Castle's eyelids jumped to his forehead. "What did she ask you to do?" This was an unexpected move from castle's beautiful opponent.
"She wants me to go to an under 21 club and see if anyone is selling weed there." Alexis explained. As she noticed her father's blood pressure start to rise she explained "But there'll be a cop waiting right outside and I'll have an escort from the Explorer post."
Castle clutched the steering wheel but then took a deep breath and let go of those feelings. "Alright I trust your judgment and Beckett's. if you want to do this I'm okay with it. When's the sting?"
"Tomorrow night." Alexis answered. "Beckett's sending over my escort to pick me up around eight."
Castle nodded. "Okay then. Try to get home before two. And call me when you get there and when you leave." Castle was surprised how intelligent Beckett's gambit was. Alexis would no doubt stick close to the boy that Beckett assigned, would have to drive with him to the place and of course there was the added romance of adrenaline fuelled intrigue. Beckett had set Alexis up on a perfect first date without Alexis and presumably the boy even knowing it. He was going to have to talk to Beckett about this, but he wasn't going to stop Alexis from participating with the sting. So he just muttered under his breath. "Well played Kate. Well Played."
