Notes:

Okay! The reviews are amazing as usual. You guys are awesome. Thanks so much! Couple things; Beckett being so accepting? Well this is a more stable and content Beckett then the one early on in the show. And while the characters in my story remain unsure, I think we all know what the pregnancy test will read? Spoilers? Sorry! ;-) Well hormones might be in play tempering her usual suspicious nature. Also the evidence is pretty convincing don't you think? DNA tests are a complication, maybe when Lanie finds out or Ryan, Espoor even Gates? They could demand thatkind of proof. Until then I'm willing to let them trust her at her word.

Anyways, here's the next one. Enjoy!


Chapter Seven

Jim got off the elevator, pushing the end button of his phone to end the call to his sponsor. He blindly made his way out of the building and hailed a cab, directing it to an address more familiar to him then his own home.

He mindlessly stared out the window of the taxi not noticing passing by cars, buildings or people, his only focus was to not think about anything. Not about how his palms were itching to grasp around a cold glass of beer. Not about how he could almost taste the whiskey on the tip of his tongue. Not about the numbness that would descend once he had downed a few pints, shots or sips. Not about his daughter, or his son in law and definitely not the woman who he had met in their loft ten minutes ago... No! He was not thinking about that!

The cab stopped with a lurch and he swiped his card and got out.

The tall grass parted in his wake as he walked steadily through the kissing gates and into the compound beyond, he passed six tombstones before he arrived at hers. Falling on his knees in front of it he traced her name and the inscription written under it.

Vincit Omnia Veritas. Truth Conquers All Things. Truth? What was the truth now? What was he to believe? He knew one thing though; that woman in his daughters house? That was his wife. He didn't need to ask her any questions. He didn't need any DNA evidence. He didn't need his daughter to prove it to him. He knew his wife. He knew the only woman he ever loved better than he knew himself and that woman was the woman he met today. His Johanna was back. That was the Truth. And he was lost.

Jim leaned his head on top of Johanna Beckett's gravestone his body wracking with sobs as he wept like so many times before. Only this time he didn't know whether it was for grief or joy.


Vince stepped off the elevator,
still marvelling at all that had happened in the last few hours.Time travel? Really? But he was never one to discount the impossible, oh he was skeptic in some aspects of the supernatural but he was always of the opinion that just because there's no evidence for it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

His contemplation left him distracted and he didn't realise where he was going, the next second he was sprawled on the ground alongside another body who was groaning in pain. He scrambled up and scurried over to the slim red head rolling on the ground clutching her wrist.

"Miss," he groaned out as he took in the dislocated appendage and the watering eyes of the blue eyed, auburn haired girl in front of her. "Oh Miss. I am so sorry. It's completely my fault. I should have been more aware."

She didn't seem to be able to form words through the pain but there wasn't any anger in her gaze, he could tell that she wasn't one to hold accidents or mistakes against someone else.

He reached out to touch her wrist and winced at the muffled scream she let out. He nodded sympathetically. "That's a fracture, not a sprain. I need to take you to the hospital."

"H-hurts," she ground out in agony. He bit his lip and looked to reception where the attendant was just staring at them in shock.

"Can I get some ice please? And a first aid kit." The girl grateful for some direction scurried off to do his bidding. Vince looked back down at the girl who was staring at her wrist with a hopeless look in her eyes.

"Hey, Miss," he tried to reassure hurriedly. "You'll be fine, I've had these kind of fractures before, unavoidable at the Academy really. They'll put a cast on and you'll be fine in a month."

She shook her head more tears filling up her captivating eyes, god he had caused this gorgeous creature pain. "I-Its my writing hand..." she managed to say. "I...have a t-test tomorrow.." she shook her head biting her lip in serious consternation and probably no small amount of pain.

"I can't say sorry enough, Miss." What else could he do? Whatever it was it wouldn't be enough.

"A-Alexis," she stuttered out as the tears finally spilled over. She tried to get up of the floor groaning in pain and frustration as she failed. He felt like the worst moron in the world.

Vince hurried forward and helped her up. "Easy, easy," he muttered hating himself more and more with every stifled sound of pain emanating from her red lips. He sighed thankfully as the receptionist hurried over with the supplies he asked for. He absently thanked her and opened the box to pull out the gauze and the cotton strips that were in there. He doubled the gauze and put the ice in between the cloth before gently wrapping it around Alexis' hand. He made her keep the ice pack steady as he wrapped the cotton strips around her wrist and tied it off.

Her breathing had evened out and she was slowly losing the pained look in her eyes. "Better?" he asked not resisting the soft smile on his lips as he took her in.

"Much thanks," she replied her cheeks coloring a little as she took in her scattered school bag and her dismantled phone lying feet away from her.

He shook his head in horror. "I'm responsible for this," he indicated the fracture. "You are not thanking me for that."

She shook her head as she avoided his gaze. "I was texting, not looking where I was going, my fault too."

He refused to let her take blame for his stupidity but didn't argue. "Come on, I'll take you to the hospital, police escort will make them see you first."

She resisted looking to the elevator. "I came to visit my Dad," she said hesitantly.

He shook his head. "He can wait," Vince replied firmly. "That wrist needs to be set as quickly as possible, please don't fight me on this."

His earnest tone must have gotten through because she nodded but looked forlorn at the mess of her things on the lobby floor.

"I'll get those," he assured and grabbed her bag shoving her things into it, paying no mind to the various spilled toiletries on the floor, just packing it methodically. When he straightened he saw her face had become complete red with embarrassment but there was nothing he could say to dispel her shame.

The receptionist, Jessica the name tag read, moved forward to take the bag. "I'll keep it here for you, shall I Alexis?" the redhead nodded appreciatively as Vince picked up the pieces of her cell and fit the battery in the slot and put the cover back on. "I'll call your father and tell him where you are?" Jessica asked.

Alexis shook her head frantically. "No, please no. I'll tell him myself once I'm discharged. He'll panic needlessly, you know him."

Jessica frowned but nodded. "That I do," she shrugged and dragged Alexis' bag behind her desk as Vince handed her back her phone. She gratefully pocketed it and allowed him to escort her out.

"You know," she started. "I can take myself to the hospital. I'm sure you have more important things to do, Officer...?"

"Keith, Vincent Keith," he said leading her to his car. "And no, I'm not too busy. I'll take any heat I get for this but I hurt you and I need to see this through."

Alexis then smiled a small smile. "Its just that, my step-mom is a cop, Detective actually, and she had always told me that the unis have the more challenging jobs."

He shook his head at that and opened the passenger door for her. "I appreciate the sentiment but it think the detectives are the ones who make the real difference. Watch your hand," he said as he closed the door on her and jogged around to get to the driver side. For the second time this day he was escorting a woman to the emergency room and coincidentally she also happened to have an arm injury. What were the odds? Then something clicked.

"Detective?" he asked forestalling whatever rebuttal she had gotten ready for his earlier comment. "Your step-mom," he explained at her confused look. "You don't mean Detective Beckett?" she nodded pleased that he seemed to know her. "You're Richard Castle's daughter? I just broke the wrist of Richard Castle's daughter?" he was absolutely aghast, his career was over before it even began. And there he was thinking that he had just gained their favor by protecting Johanna. What were they gonna say? Would they call his Captain? Ensure that he was never promoted? He squeezed the soft leather of his steering wheel suddenly very very tense.

"Uh last I check, it was me whose nose was buried in my phone. So you're off the hook," Alexis replied moving her hand gingerly. "How do you know them anyway?"

"Which cop in New York doesn't know them? Their partnership has resulted in the highest case closure rate in the city. There's even a course at the Academy that teaches their unorthodox way of approaching a case and the importance of considering all the possibilities not just the obvious ones. Some of their successfully closed cases are reviewed and learned from by cadets. The 3XK cases, the Scott Dunn case even the very first case they worked on? The Tisdale case? Your parents are legendary. In the last seven years there had never been a more successful partnership than Richard Castle and Detective Kate Beckett."

Alexis just stared at him. "Seriously?"

Vince smiled ruefully and put the car in gear pulling swiftly out into traffic and speeding towards the Presbyterian.

She pushed her head against the head rest and stared out the at the traffic in wonder. "Dad and Kate are superstars!"


End Notes:

I'll end there. So not much of Castle and Beckett in this one but there's Alexis! I hope you enjoyed. Tell me how it was as always in the reviews! Til next time. Bye!