COMING HOME

Summary: Alexis didn't survive 'Hunt' and Castle never returned to New York. 5 years later he is back. Picks up after 5x16.

Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Just borrowing!

Chapter 4

Richard Alexander Castle was 47 years old and he felt lost.

He's been back in New York for 5 days now. When he came back, he found out that his loft has been sold and that most of his things were in storage. His mother had moved to a 2-bedroom apartment down the street and he was given her new address by his old loft's manager. Armed with nothing but the coat he was wearing and the small duffel bag he has live on for years, he knocked on his mother's door. It took him 3 knocks before he heard a voice he hasn't heard for 5 years. The door opened revealing his mother who, if it were possible, looked the same.

After the numerous questions from his mother of where he's been, what he has been doing, what happened to him all this time, all of which he evaded, she then told him, commanded even, to go see Kate. Which surprised him, his mother, he knew was a big fan of their relationship before but he didn't realize how big of a fan she was up until now. When he told her that he needed to put things in order first, she shushed him and told him that seeing Kate was the first order. He promised her that he would go see her as soon as possible.

But he's been back for 5 days and he hasn't gone to the 12th precinct to do anything, he hasn't made a move to go see Kate. His mother has been telling him every moment she can to go see Kate but each time he told her that she just needed time.

How do you just show up after 5 years of hiding?

Seeing Kevin this morning was a really big surprise for him. He didn't expect to run into someone from the 12th this early. He thought he still had time to think about how to let Kate know he was back. For sure Kevin has told Esposito and Kate that he was back now.

He let out a sigh. He had no idea what to do now. He slid down into the couch with another sigh escaping his lips. It was during these moments that he needed advice from his family, this was the moment that he needed the wisdom of the redheads of his life.

He tried to sink further into the couch but was forced to stop when something poked him in the butt. He reached behind him and pulled out the offending item.

Oh, it was only Superman.

Wait, Superman? Why did his mother have a toy in her apartment?

The woman in question suddenly entered the room.

"Mother, why do you have a Superman action figure?" he asked, placing the toy up in the air for her to see.

"Oh, Richard, you really shouldn't be going through other people's stuff," his mother shook her head.

"I wasn't going through your stuff, Mother, it poked me in the butt."

"Well, sometimes I like having company as I watch movies," she grabbed the toy from his hands.

"Superman, mother? Really?" he asked. "Shouldn't it be Alfred you should be watching movies with?"

"Oh, hush, Richard!"

Their bantering was cut short when the phone began to ring. His mother made her way to the phone and picked it up after another ring.

"Hello, Martha Rodgers speaking," she spoke into the receiver. "Oh, Detective Ryan!"

Kevin? Why was Kevin calling his mother? He drew closer to where his mother was, trying to hear their conversation. Was he calling to tell her that he saw him? He couldn't hear whatever Kevin was saying and his mother wasn't exactly saying anything.

"I-I'll be there as soon as I can," his mother replied in a worried tone.

"Detective Ryan? Why is he calling you?" he asked after his mother placed the phone down and hurriedly went to gather her bag. He followed her. "Where are you going?"

"To the 12th."

The 12th?

"The 12th? What are you going to do there?"

"Let's just go, Richard," she hurriedly said as she made her way out the door.

His mother didn't say anything on their taxi ride to the precinct and he didn't dare ask what was happening. All he knew is that something was definitely wrong. His mother who was usually chatting up taxi drivers, was eerily quiet and was nervously fiddling with her bracelet.

When they made it to the 12th, she quickly paid for the fare, not waiting for the change, and quickly made her way into the precinct.

Nostalgia.

That was the first thing he felt the moment he stepped out of the elevator and entered the homicide division of the 12th precinct. He could still remember the last time he was here and it made his heart beat fast. Really fast. His mother didn't even wait for him to step out of the elevator as she scurried off to the bullpen and headed into a room.

People were busy, busier than he remembered. Everyone was busy talking on their phones, barking orders. He could feel the tension that was filling up the place. As he took a few more steps into the bullpen, a familiar man who he never expected to see again passed by him.

"Agent Sorenson?"

Will, dressed in his usual FBI outfit, stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. Recognition sparked in Will's eyes. "Castle."

"What're the FEDs doing here?" he asked.

"You don't know," Will replied in at tone that was more of a statement than a question.

"Don't know what?"

"Umm," Will suddenly seemed like he was knocked out of his usual character as he nervously glanced from left to right.

He recalled the last case they worked with Will. "Kidnapping case again?"

"Yeah," Will nodded, still uncomfortable. "Child abduction case. Hey, I'll catch you later, Castle. I still have a debriefing to do."

And with Will walked away without another word.

"What the hell is going on around here?"

He dared take a few more steps into the bullpen. No one acknowledged his presence, everyone was too busy minding their own business. He noticed a flyer or two on the table nearest to the exit and picked one up. He looked at the flyer and saw a photo of a boy with brown hair and blue eyes, a dimpled smile. He knew the kid, he just saw this kid this morning.

"Kevin's kid?" he wondered out loudly.

"Castle?"

Esposito.

"What are you doing here?"

"I-"

What was he doing here? All he knew was that his mother got a phone call and then he was whisked away to the 12th after a few minutes without an explanation.

"Did you have anything to do with this?" Esposito asked in a low tone, a tone he only used for suspects they were interrogating.

"What?" he cried out.

"Sorry, sorry," Esposito shook his head and stepped back. "You need to leave now, Castle."

"What'd I do?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Seriously, just leave, Castle."

Esposito didn't say anything else and stalked away.

He felt helplessly out of place, he felt unwelcomed, and he felt suffocated. With another glance across the busy place, he decided he couldn't last another minute in this place and he walked back into the elevator and out of the place.

He didn't even get a glance of Kate.

Happy Easter!

I know I write short chapters but I feel that the story needs not to be hurried. But don't worry, I'll try to write as quickly as I can especially the next chapter because this one is like a filler/transition one.

Thanks for the reviews and the follows. Truly overwhelmed here, guys. Keep them coming. :)