Meeting in the Public Library
By jahoney
I do not own anything related to the characters in Castle. ABC and its affiliates own them. The story is set about two or three years before season one. Beckett had just made detective and Castle and just divorced Gina. Alexis if I remember right would have been about eleven or twelve. They meet in the New York City Public Library. Alexis had wanted to go there to get some books to read and Rick had wanted to go there to relax in a quiet place away from the paparazzi, media, and the facade. He just wanted to be Rick Rogers the dad of Alexis Rogers. Unlike A lot of people I have good memories of being in a public library. I can imagine that Castle and Alexis have had their share of fun in the library.
Reading for Research, Pleasure, and Running into Kate
Laughing as they shake themselves off Castle looks at his daughter and just points to the coffee shop that is inside the library. Alexis nods her head and they go into the coffee shop. The barista named Susan at the place greets them by name saying,
"Hello Rick, Alexis it is good to see you both again. You both look like drowned rats. What can I get you today?" Castle replies,
"Hi Susan it is good to see that you are enjoying your retirement so well. I would like my usual latte, but I would also like a Grasshopper Smoothie and a Black coffee please." Alexis then chimes in with,
"Hey, Mrs. Anderson it is good to see you also. We look like drowned rats because it is pouring outside. The tropical storm that came from the South is mixing with the jet stream from the West. I would like my usually hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, but I would like two of them please."
As Susan and her helper Julie go about making the drinks Castle and Alexis start to dry off with towels provided by Susan laughing about how soaked they got just from the hop from the town car to the door. As they calm down Alexis tells her father that she needs to get books for research on the use of DNA during criminal cases for her science class. She needed to find World War Two books for her Western Europe History class. She then asks her father a question,
"So Dad what do you need here? I see that you brought your laptop. Are you going to write or are you going to help me with my research for once?" Castle smirks at his daughter as she gets bossy. He says,
"I figured I would help you with your research and do some writing while I was here. I finished up one of my Derek Storm edits and just go it back with more edits, but I figured I could do some research on drugs that make you tell the truth or do what you are told. I can help you with your research and finding books if you need or want me to, but lets get set up in our location first with our laptops and our drinks. Thanks for the drinks Susan."
Susan just waves in acknowledgement as she was on the phone. Alexis leads her father out to their favorite spot in the whole library. They have a corner where they can see most things, but it gives them some privacy. They set up their laptop, plug them in, and connect to the wireless in the library. Alexis tells her father she is going to look for the history books first. As she wanders off Castle turns towards his laptop and starts to look up things on truth drugs and suggestible drugs. He finds several articles and several websites he could use for research. As he bookmarked pages and saved the articles Alexis returns with a stack of books she could not see over. She sets the books down, turns, and pulls her father to his feet. She pulls him towards the next two stacks of books she found. She points towards the bigger and heavier stack of books. Castle takes one look and pouts,
"Why do I have to carry the heavier stack? What if it is too heavy for me?" Alexis just shakes her head at her father and just says,
"Go."
He pouts, groans, but carries all the books towards their table. As they get to the table Rick sets the books on the table with a mock groan and shakes his arms out with an exaggerated motion. Alexis tries hard, but she cannot hide her smirk and smile as she watches her father's antics. Even though he embarrasses her from time to time she would change nothing about her relationship with her father. Rick looks at his daughter and smiles asking her what she needed to do next. She looks at the stack of books she has and decides she is going to do some research, but before she decides to start she turns to her father and says,
"You need to start working on the next Derrick Storm edits. I know you do not want to, but you need to. That way you will leave me alone while I do some research." Castle looks at his daughter with his mouth hanging open.
"Bossy there much Pumpkin? Who left you in charge?" Alexis just glares at her father and then bats her eye lashes at him saying,
"Please."
Rick looks at his daughter and groans saying,
"No fair, you have the new puppy dog eyes that are impossible to resist." Alexis replies,
"Nope, I learned from Grams early on that I will always have you wrapped around my little finger." Castle looks at his daughter and groans,
"Grams and I are going to have a little chat about keeping family secrets. OK Alexis you have a deal. I will write while you do research."
Alexis kiss her father sweetly on the cheek and they both get to work. They gradually get immersed in their work and research that a couple hours have passed before they notice. Alexis slams her book shut surprising her dad. She looks at her father and says,
"Dad, I am going to look up some information on forensic science and the development of DNA use in criminal cases." Castle just huffs at her and she goes on her way. The first set of books she carries are on the history of forensic science and the development of DNA. As she goes through this set of books she gets several pages of notes so she feels that she can write about the history and development of DNA for her science paper. As she returns the books to their rightful places and starts to look for books on how DNA is used in police investigations her phone rings. Even though she was an extremely intelligent sixth grader and student she was still a child and this was one of those times where the child shined through. She picked up the books she picked out and tried to talk to Paige at the same time. As she was wobbling her way back to her seat she was not paying attention to where she was walking. As she turned down the main isle to walk back to her table she bumped into someone and dropped everything she was carrying. As she picks up her phone she realizes the battery was knocked out of it. She stuck it into her pocket and turned to the lady she had run into.
