Sorry for the delay I literally rewrote this chapter eight times, it gave me fits. :) Thanks as always for the reviews and story alerts.
Title: Detectives and Dustbunnies
Author: Cindy Ryan
Notes and summary: See part one
Despite his best intentions Kevin missed his chance to talk to Alexis the next day. They'd had not one but two breaks in their open cases including one arrest. So when he wasn't chasing down leads he was buried in paperwork or down talking to the techs. By the time he glanced at his watch it was nearly five pm and her time at the station was long over with.
/Damn./Ryan swore silently as he got into the elevator leaving the computer tech's office and headed back to the bullpen.
The elevator was thankfully empty and he leaned back against the rear wall and closed his eyes. Despite everything including his own instincts Kevin had woken up that morning determined to talk to Alexis and try to smooth things over.
He'd called his mother last night to wish his parents a happy anniversary and to get her advice.
It'd been the same as he'd heard from others: Let it run its course. Teenage hearts are fragile but resilient. She'll bounce back.
With a sigh Kevin exited the elevator and returned to his desk. As he sat down fumbling through message memos as he did. It wasn't until after he had picked up the phone to return a call that he saw a familiar purple envelope resting on the computer keyboard. He put the phone receiver back in the cradle and picked up the envelope.
Opening it Kevin pulled out a white card with a old fashioned movie clapperboard on the front with what,where,when and RSVP printed in white letters.
"Party invitation."Kevin mused as he opened the invitation.
Inside he found Alexis's neat handwriting explaining the purpose of the party. He didn't get a chance to read the message as two tickets tumbled out into his hand. Kevin turned them over so he could see what they were.
Hockey tickets….premium seats…..to a game at the Garden that's been sold out. Expensive seats.
"Hey." Esposito greeted as he approached his partner file folder in hand. "I see you found the invite to the latest Castle party."
"Yeah."Ryan acknowledged his gaze still on the tickets in his hand. "Did everybody get an invite?"
"Yep."
Kevin held up the tickets. "Did everybody get these?"
Javier shook his head as he walked around the desks to look over Ryan's shoulder. "Nope. She's definitely into you, mi amigo."
"How'd you…."
Esposito chuckled. "Obvious. Nobody spends as much time in this place unless they have to. She could've done her school thing anywhere….and she could've worked the hours different to get it done faster."
Kevin sighed as he placed the tickets and invitation back in the envelope and grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair. "Tell Beckett I'm taking a dinner break."
"Where are you headed?"
"I've got to talk to her."
"Bad idea."Esposito argued but his partner had already stepped into the elevator and the doors closed.
"Hope you know what you're doing."Javier muttered to himself before returning to his desk.
The coffee shop in midtown was half of a used book store. Tables and comfy benches with bright colored cushions were placed where ever there weren't bookcases. Light jazz played from overhead speakers.
Nervously Kevin rolled his cell phone from one hand to the other and back again. He leaned against the wall near the door. Kevin was still wondering if this was a good idea when Alexis entered. She scanned the crowded coffee house before her gaze landed on him.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Thanks for coming."Kevin began as he motioned for them to get in line. "I realized after I called that it could've waited until the next time you came into the station."
"It's okay I needed a study break anyway and Dad's at a meeting."Alexis replied with a puzzled smile. "Have I done something wrong with the inventory?"
Kevin shook his head as they inched forward. "No, you've been a great help as always."
"Is Detective Beckett mad at my Dad?"
"No."Ryan replied with a chuckle. "No more than normal."
Alexis fell silent as they reached the counter and placed their order.
As they waited for the coffee Kevin struggled to come up with a plan. He thought he'd half of one formed but it was rapidly fading. Ryan was also certain that if this went south he'd not only have Castle on the warpath but Beckett as well.
"How's the homework going?"Kevin asked as they picked up the coffee and found a table. "I hated finals. Trying to cram everything in to a few study sessions."
"Almost done."The teen replied with a smile. "Just have one more trip to the library tomorrow and I'll have that project complete."
"Good."Kevin complimented as he twirled the paper coffee cup around in his hands trying to find the words he needed.
Alexis took a sip of her cappuccino. "So, what's up?"
Slowly Kevin took the party invitation out of the inside pocket of his jacket.
"I think the party's a great idea."Ryan began as he took the tickets out and set the invitation aside. "We certainly need some downtime. Seems like since Halloween we've had nothing but back to back cases."
Alexis's gaze was fixed on the tickets.
Gently Kevin pressed the tickets into her hand and withdrew. "I'm sorry but I can't take these."
"I-I can get tickets to something else."
"Alexis…..I appreciate it I do….but I just can't…."
"Why?"The teen asked her eyes bright with unshed tears.
It killed him to see the tears and hear the catch in her voice."I….don't want you spending money on me."
"I could've been really hurt in that fall."Alexis began softly. "I was just trying to….never mind."
Kevin watched as the teen stood and grabbed her coat and purse. The tickets remained on the table.
"Don't worry my hours are almost done at the station."Alexis began a few tears escaping. "I won't bother you again."
"Alexis, that's not…"
"You can do whatever with the tickets…sell, throw them away…doesn't matter."
Definitely not one of his best moments Kevin thought bleakly as he stood. "Alexis…"
Richard Castle's daughter had already disappeared into the crowd and out the door.
"If you wanted a late night rendezvous all you had to do was ask."
Kate Beckett glanced up from the murder victim sprawled on the floor of a warehouse to Richard Castle as he stepped under the yellow crime scene tape.
"Midnight isn't considered late night for this city."
"Depends on what circle you run with."Castle replied as he wiggled his eyebrows. He'd been just wrapping up a dinner meeting with publishing execs and headed home when Beckett's call came. "What've we got?"
Kate ignored the writer for a moment as she looked at the medical examiner. "Lanie?"
The African-American woman nodded as she finished her preliminary examination of the young Latino man. "Won't know for sure until I get him back to the office but from the shape of the wound it looks the same as the Speck case."
Castle blinked in surprise. "The reporter?"
Beckett nodded and studied the youth. She glanced up at Ryan who was standing near by. "You've been watching the video we got from the nearby jewelry store….think this is our guy?"
Kevin nodded. "Definitely a strong possibility. Won't know for sure until we run a photo recong program."
"Ride back with Lanie."Kate ordered. "I want you to be there as soon as we get prints back."
"On it."
"You thinking a little vigilante justice?"Rick asked quietly.
"Would be poetic to be killed with your own weapon."Lanie commented
"And since it appears the weapon wasn't left behind we need to canvas the neighborhood. Esposito you're with me."Kate ordered as she stood. "You too Castle."
Rick shook his head. "Dumpster diving at midnight."
Kate grinned. "If you have a hot date, Castle don't let us keep you."
"Miss all the fun? Never besides you haven't told me about your first crush yet."
"Did I promise to?"Beckett countered as she and Esposito headed toward the door of the warehouse.
"In so many words, yes."Castle replied as he watched Ryan leave with Lanie. The detective had been unusually quiet…no jokes…..no trivia….no banter. He knew Alexis had delivered the invitations earlier that day and wondered if something had happened. His daughter hadn't mentioned anything.
"Castle you with us?"Beckett prompted.
Castle met her gaze. "Yeah, but I get to hold the flashlight."
"You are such a wimp."
Ahead of them Esposito laughed as the three of them entered the alley on the left side of the warehouse.
