~ Heat Exchange: Flashpoint ~
Chapter Nine ~
'All the fear of the future, all the loneliness inside. When the moment of truth arrives, hey, you can run but you can't hide.'
XXXXX
The intercom buzzed and Alexis flew down the stairs. " 'Bye dad, I'll be home soon."
"Hey, hey, hey, where are you off to and do I get to know who you're going out with?"
"That's 'whom' dad and no. You're just going to have to trust me on this one."
Castle pouted. "I thought we didn't have any secrets between us."
The intercom buzzed again and Alexis pushed the button. "I'll be right down." She turned back to her father. "I wanted to talk with someone - a female someone," she added, forestalling the comment she saw him about to make, "so I asked Detective Beckett if she had a few minutes to talk."
A light dawned in his eyes as he realized this was the hot date Beckett had been hiding from him. "So why isn't she coming up to say hi?"
"Don't you two see enough of each other all day? Especially these last few days; this case has had you guys working all hours. Besides, she called to confirm earlier and told me she was going to kill you if she saw you so I told her I'd come down to meet her. I don't know what you did to tick her off but she seems awfully mad."
Castle bit his lip. "It's a long story. Run along; you don't want to keep her waiting or she might decide to work off some of her ire on you."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. " 'Bye dad."
" 'Bye sweetheart. Have a good talk."
He retired back to his office to the unfinished chapter he'd already been struggling with earlier but his mind was now full of Kate Beckett rather than Nikki Heat (sometimes he had to work at it to keep them separated in his mind) and concentration was nearly nil.
"Writer's block bothering you darling?" Martha said, perching on the edge of his desk and looking pointedly at the computer, a good two feet away from where he reclined in his chair.
He took a deep breath. "Beckett's angry with me."
"It's not the first time and I dare say it won't be the last. I imagine you can be rather trying on her patience at times."
"I know, but this is different. It's a matter of policy, not me just being a pain in her …. well, you know."
"What happened?"
"I talked to Montgomery about her behaviour on this case."
"You went behind her back up the chain of command and told on her? Oh Richard, that's not a good thing."
"I know, and normally I would never do such a thing, but … " He explained the situation.
"You feel she's not being objective and is letting her feelings guide her down the wrong path."
"Exactly. This case reminds her of her mother's murder and she's letting her emotions guide her to what I think is the wrong conclusion."
"Has it ever crossed your mind that you might be the one who's wrong?"
"Of course, mother. But this time she's not even willing to talk. She's got the guy and she's not willing to explore anything further. That's not like her."
"Do you feel strongly about this?"
Castle sat up. "Yes I do."
"Then you did the right thing. Stand by your actions and don't worry that she's angry with you. You two will weather this storm and come out of it just fine."
"You think so?"
"I know so." She leaned over and pecked his cheek. "Now why don't we order some supper? Neither of us has eaten yet and I'm starved."
A light went on in his brain and it was as if the fog he'd been trying to think through had been lifted. He knew what it was they'd missed.
"That's it."
"That's what?"
"I've got it!" He jumped out of his chair excitedly. "I've got to call Beckett."
"You really want to interrupt her chat with Alexis? One very important woman in your life is already upset with you, you want to upset another one?"
He deflated slightly. "You might be right. Hey, how come everyone knew about this little chat but me?"
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"So what's on your mind Alexis?" Beckett smiled.
"Are you sure you're okay with this? I mean, I know you're mad at my dad - "
"You are not your dad. Yes, I'm mad at him, but I'm putting that aside until tomorrow. Right now I'm all yours."
"Well, it's about … " Her cheeks coloured delicately. " … Shawn."
"Ah. Your boyfriend."
"Well not exactly. Not yet anyway."
"But you're thinking of going there." Alexis nodded at her words. "And you're wondering about sex."
The girl's cheeks darkened.
"It's okay Alexis. It's perfectly normal to think about those things at your age."
"Is it normal to do them?"
Beckett's mouth opened in surprise. "Have you - ?"
"No, no!" Alexis shook her head vehemently. "Of course not!" She sounded shocked at the very thought.
"Good. That's very good." Beckett let out a relieved breath, her own cheeks beginning to burn.
"Why? Is it a bad thing? I mean, I always thought … "
"No, of course it isn't bad. I just … don't think it's something you should be doing yet. You're too young."
" A lot of girls I know are. There's nothing wrong with it, as long as you use protection, is there?"
The older woman drew in a long, slow breath before answering. "No, there's nothing wrong with sex. It's normal, necessary, and can be a very wonderful experience. In its place."
"Where exactly is that place?" Alexis asked curiously.
Beckett smiled nervously. "Everyone has a different opinion about that. There is no definite time and place when it's suddenly okay. But you asked me here to tell you my thought so here they are. Sex is an amazing act two people can share that can bring them extraordinarily close to one another, regardless of whether or not they're doing it for procreation or recreation. But I don't believe it's something that should happen between two people who aren't very close already. It exists as an extension to a close emotional relationship, not in place of it."
"So what you're saying is people shouldn't do it until they've been together for a while and know each other well."
"Well, yes, that's what I believe. Many people don't agree with me, but that's how I live. But it's not even just about knowing one another. It's about trust. When you share yourself completely with someone - mind and body - you cross a line that can't be crossed back. It's a step you take that can only take you forwards and you have to be sure you're ready for it and that you can trust that the other person is ready to move forward too. Sex isn't the end goal of a relationship, merely a step along the way. You need to know the other person is going to stay committed to you and not walk away after you've done it. You know what I mean?"
"I think so."
"It's like two people who work together and are friends suddenly realizing they have feelings for one another. They have to be so careful and so sure before taking their relationship to the next step because once that line has been crossed it can't be taken back. Having to work with and spend every day with someone you've shared intimate times with after it's over can be extremely difficult and painful. It's not something you should just do on a whim, no matter how strong the pull to do so is." Beckett was breathing a little hard and there was some warmth in her cheeks by the time she was done her piece.
Alexis stared at her steadily and smiled. "Are we still talking about me and Shawn?"
Beckett's cheeks turned several shades redder. "Sort of."
The young girl's smile widened. "Well I'm glad you shared that with me. It'll help me figure out what to do about Shawn, and it helps explain what's going on between you and my dad."
"Nothing's going on," Beckett protested.
"Now I know why."
Beckett crossed her arms with a humph. "You are just like your father. Way too perceptive for your own good."
"I like you just as much as he does and I hope one day you two do decide to cross that line. I think it'll be the right thing for both of you."
"Don't tell me the thought of your father having sex doesn't embarrass you, please! You can't be that abnormal."
"I try not to think about the details," Alexis grinned.
"So do I."
XXXXX
Castle practically pounced on his daughter when he heard her enter the apartment. "You're back!"
"It's not like it was a date dad. We weren't going to be staying out late."
"Good." He whipped out his phone and hit speed dial #2. Then he swallowed hard as he heard her voice on the line.
"What is it Castle? Is Alexis okay. I just dropped her off."
"She's fine. It's fine. It's all fine."
"So what's the problem?" Her voice was cold.
"I've solved the case!" he said triumphantly. "Well I've figured out what we were missing. So we can solve it now."
"We've already got our man. I'm on my way home and I - "
"No, wait, please!" He was desperate. "When do you eat supper?"
There silence was filled with unspoken irritation. "Why?"
"When do you eat? Supper? What time?"
"Whenever I can. I work strange hours, remember?"
"But when you're not working, when do you usually eat?"
"I don't know, five-thirty? Maybe six? Why?"
"People with children have to make sure they're fed regularly. Children's stomachs are smaller and they eat more often - they can't skip meals like we do. I can't imagine a parent of an seven-year-old child not having something ready for supper by six-thirty. The child would be starving. yet when we got to Susan's apartment, the kitchen was spotless. No prepared food, no dishes, nothing cooking … if she was going to feed Abbey before going to the movie, as all good parents do, what was she going to give her?"
Her paused for dramatic effect but Beckett was right there with him. "The pizza delivery guys," she said in a low, tight voice.
"Exactly! Did she order pizza that night?"
Silence.
"I can't remember offhand. Head downstairs, I'll be back to pick you up in a few minutes and we'll go back to the station and check."
He hung up and smiled at Alexis and Martha, both hanging on his every word. "I know, I'm brilliant. She really doesn't know how lucky she is to have me."
"Well I hope your revelation solves the case because it's going to have to be awfully big to get you out of the doghouse, Richard."
He hung his head theatrically. "Woof."
Alexis hugged him. "Good luck dad. I'm sure whatever it is, she'll forgive you."
"I hope so, because I suspect the doghouse is going to be pretty chilly. I hear it's dropping down to forty tonight."
Martha picked up a throw from the couch. "Have a blanket."
* TBC *
