A/N: Wow I was so thrilled with the response to the first chapter! So I guess it was good enough to continue huh? Well here's chapter 2.
Alexis pounded on the door to the loft as she tried to control the excited five year old beside her. When Kate didn't answer after a few minutes, Alexis dug into her purse for her key. Turning the key in the lock she noticed that the loft was almost completely dark, "Kate?" she called as she flicked on the living room light switch. Alexis scanned the room only to find her stepmother absent.
Alex however seemed to know where his mother was hiding and immediately began a full out sprint toward her father's old office. "Alexander James Castle, you know you aren't supposed to go in there!" Alexis shouted after him, since the shooting she had only entered the office when absolutely necessary, deeming it not worth the pain. But as Alex ran in at high speed she had no choice but to follow.
Kate was sprawled out on the old couch Heat Rises laying her chest and tear tracks staining her cheeks, Alexis grabbed the book before Alex could crush it as he jumped on his mother. "Mommy, mommy!" he shouted excitedly, "Lesiss pick me up from school!"
Kate rubbed her eyes and looked up at Alexis apologetically, "Oh Lex, I was supposed to…. I'm sorry."
Alexis shook her head at Kate's apology, "C'mon little man, let me turn on Nick Jr. for you to watch so I can talk to Mommy."
"Okay Lesiss," Alex grumbles his mood clearly dampened by being sent away, "I watch Wonder Pets?"
"Yeah sure buddy, Wonder Pets it is," Alexis said as she turned on the TV, before walking back into the office to talk to Kate.
Kate stood leaning against the desk thumbing through Heat Rises absentmindedly. "Why do you do that to yourself?" Alexis asked. When Kate gave her a confused look Alexis continued, "Read his words, read those words, relive him being shot through the literary version of it, and then cry yourself to sleep and forget to pick up your son from kindergarten."
Kate flicked away a tear from the edge of her eye, "How can I not Alexis? They were the words that he wrote to me, and now they are all I have left."
Alexis shook her head violently, "No, Kate. You have me and you have Alex. We are part of him."
The former detective's eyes drifted over to where her son sat staring at the TV, "He is just like him," Kate whispered gazing at Alex's blue eyes and soft brown hair, "It's like I have no influence on him. He even has Rick's spirit and heart."
Alexis' anger at the detective dissipated, "Dad loved you so much Kate, and so does Alex. Live for him. Be a mother to your son, I can't get calls at work every other day because you forgot to pick up Alex."
"I know," Kate nodded in a child-like manner, "And I'm really sorry Alexis. Are you going to stay for dinner?" Kate asked as if she had suddenly remembered that today was Thursday.
Alexis shook her head, "No. I ordered in for you though, I figured after today you and Alex could use some time. Maybe I'll go grab a drink with Tommy."
Kate's eyes brightened at the mention of Tommy's name, "Are you guys together now?"
"No," Alexis blushed, "Just friends Kate. My life is too complicated for anyone."
"Never too complicated for someone who loves you," Kate smiled, "And that boy has been in love with you for years. Why don't you bring him to dinner tomorrow night? Alex has been missing him."
Alexis sighed but nodded her agreement. She waved goodbye to Kate and Alex and began dialing her phone as she closed the door to the apartment.
Tommy picked up on the second ring, "Kent."
"Hey Tommy."
"Oh hey Doc," Tommy's tone brightened considerably, "What can I do for you?"
"Would you still be interested in getting that drink after work?" As she asked the question, Alexis had a momentary panic; she hadn't even considered that something might have come up at work leaving Tommy unable to go.
"Course Doc, just let me clear up some of this paperwork and I'll see you at the Old Haunt, 7:30?"
It seemed that everywhere she went there were memories of her father, after he was shot Tommy had taken over management of the bar given that Kate was in no condition to run it and Alexis couldn't bear to sell it. "Sounds great."
At 7:30 Alexis was sitting at the bar in the Old Haunt nursing a beer as Tommy walked in the door. "Hey Doc," he greeted her, "You okay?"
Alexis was slightly taken aback that he noticed her off mood within seconds of arriving, "Uh yeah, why do you ask?"
"Doc," Tommy shook his head, "For a really smart girl you can be pretty dense sometimes. You can't lie to me remember? I'm the human lie detector and you can bet that if my superpowers work on random criminals then they are certain to work on my best friend."
She cracked a half smile at his teasing, "Are you comparing me to criminals now Tommy?"
He laughed, "No but I might if you keep trying to change the subject. What's eating you Doc?"
"Kate forgot to pick up Alex from school again."
"I thought that was getting better," Tommy said.
"It was," Alexis sighed, "And now I just don't know. Alex needs someone. He doesn't have a dad anymore. Neither do I."
Tommy reached over and took her hand, "No you don't, and I would do anything, absolutely anything, to change that for you. But I can't. You aren't alone though Alexis," her head snaps up at the use of her real name, "Neither is Alex. You have each other, you have Kate, and you've got me." When she looked up at him he continued, "You do know that I'm always here for you don't you Lex?"
She looked up at him and she wasn't seeing Tom Kent the police officer who she worked cases with. She was seeing Tommy , her best friend. She saw the man who held her in his arms as she sobbed into his shirt when her father had died. The man who added managing a bar to his responsibilities on top of his police work because Alexis couldn't bear to sell it. The man who crashed on the couch at the loft because she needed help with Alex in the middle of the night. He was always there for her. Tears sprung to her eyes as she whispered, "I know," before her lips were on his.
A/N: There is still a lot of back story missing I know but this story is really about Alexis and Tommy. Don't worry though there will be plenty of Kate and Alex as well as flashbacks in future chapters. Please leave me a review and let me know what you thought. ~Cate
