Chapter 10
I apologize for the delay in the this last chapter. I had some writer's block and I'm also working on two other Mentalist stories. I also worked on a story for Christmas and wanted to get that done for Christmas.
Disclaimer: Don't own either show.
Returning to the Hamptons police station, Beckett sat facing Mr. Henson. She angrily stared at him wth piercing eyes. Since being exposed to the coffee with the cashews, he had used his epineprine shot and his reaction improved.
"You realized you kidnapped my husband and a friend's baby." Beckett stated coursely. "That's not going to go well with me or the parents of that child."
"So, what of it?" Mr. Henson replied snarkily and leered. "They didn't get hurt."
"That's not the point. The parents were emotionally hurt with their child missing." Beckett stated. "Do you recognize these people?" Beckett asked placing the crime scenes of the X victims on the table. "I believe you would. Do you call them not getting hurt? They're dead!"
"I may know them." Mr. Henson said.
"These people had families!"Beckett reminded. "You hurt them. You took that away!"
"They weren't good writers." Mr. Henson replied coldly. "They didn't know anything."
"According to your profile, you were part of the Blake Association and you had your identity that true?" Beckett looked at the profile page Wylie printed out for her.
Mr. Henson chuckled, "Why of course. My boss was the great Red John. And I believe your good friend helped me out. Kelly Neiman, I believe you knew her."
Jane held his little girl tightly as he watched Beckett interrogate the person who kidnapped his daughter. Lisbon put a reassuring hand on her husband's shoulder. She noticed his angry stare at the man. "He needs to pay." Jane grimaced.
"Jane, you can't be involved with the interrogation. You're too emotionally involved, in fact neither one of us have to let Beckett and her team take charge."
"I know." Jane said.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Castle asked coming by the couple.
"We're good." Lisbon responded.. "Your wife is a great interrogator."
"That's one of the reasons I love her. She's a panther." Castle responded but continued watching his wife in the window.
"Where exactly did you get in contact with Ms. Neiman? She's dead now." Beckett asked.
Mr. Henson sat with his hands folded together. "Two years ago as soon as I escaped California. Does this really matter?"
"Yes." Beckett stared at him. "Your profile also states your name is really Charles Peckham and you worked in Sacramento as an officer."
"Fine, yes." Henson said.
"Okay, well, now you'll get to enjoy the other side of the system." Beckett said. "We'll have the state prison come get you." She got up and walked out the door. Beckett walked into the room opposite the window. "We got him. He'll be in prison for a long time." Jane and Lisbon smiled with satisfaction.
The teams took a flight out of New York back to Corpus Christi because the team didn't have all their luggage, since they left in a hurry to New York. They also needed to finish up paperwork regarding the case.
"Before all of you leave I'd like to invite everyone to a case closed dinner." Jane announced. "Cooked by me at our house." He looked at Lisbon.
"I'm up for it." Castle said.
"You don't have to, Jane." Beckett said.
"Of course, I do. You helped get Lisby Michelle back." Jane said and patted Castle on the back..
The next night before the 12th Precinct team would leave the morning, everyone gathered around the table at the Janes' house. Of course, like usual, Jane didn't do anything small. He filled the table with pasta, marinara sauce and alfredo sauce, meatballs, and chicken and breadsticks. Jane even made Italian Creme Cake and bought gelato. All sat down around the table and lifted their glasses high-"Here's to another case closed." Beckett said.
Also to the safe return of baby Lisby and my good friend Rick Castle." Jane grinned and lifted his glass.
As Jane put Lisby Michelle in her crib, he noticed Castle standing in the doorway. "Again, thanks for the delicious supper." Castle walked over to the crib and looked at the sleeping baby. "She's had a busy week, hasn't she?"
"Yes, she has." Jane said. "I never get tired of watching her sleep."
"I used to with Alexis." Castle admitted. "I miss her baby days sometimes, now she's graduating college and will fly from the nest."
"I'm going to enjoy every second, because I know it could all be gone in a second." Jane said thinking of Charlotte. He was going to really enjoy every second he had with his second child and was going to protect her.
Castle sensed the sadness in Jane's voice and knew Jane was thinking of his first child. The one he lost at such a young age.
"I know."
A Few Days Later
At New York City Hall, Beckett, Castle and the team prepared for the press conference that the mayor wanted to do with their recent catching of the X Killer. Reporters crowded the streets along with many of the victims' families. Beckett normally didn't care to be involved with public events like this.
"How do you feel about catching the elusive killer?" A reporter from the New Times asked.
"We feel very fortunate and pleased that we took him off the streets of New York and also other parts of the country." Beckett answered.
"Yes, and we are especially happy writers everywhere will not have to worry about their safety." Castle piped in.
"Mr. Castle, we are aware that you were kidnapped by the killer. How do you feel now that you're back?"
"I'm very happy to be back especially with my wonderful wife." Castle said.
"We also couldn't find the killer without the help of the FBI team in Austin, whom we worked with for a few days." Beckett said. "Thanks to two hard working agents and a little baby girl."
Meanwhile, outside of Austin in the cabin, Lisbon turned on the TV and turned it on CNN. She took a seat on the couch. Jane noticed the TV on and placed Lisby Michelle on her tummy on the activity mat on the floor right in the front of the couch. "Here you go, little girl." Jane said. She moved around excitedly look at the little hanging toys.
"The 12th Precinct in New York City finally apprehended the X Killer. They had been investigating the case for months and even traveled to Austin, TX to work with the FBI. Here they are at the most recent press conference." The reporter stated and then the footage came on of a large press conference.
"Look, there's the New York team." Lisbon said noticing the 12th precinct team.
"I'm surprised it's on nationally." Jane watched the TV and took note.
"Well, it was a big case." Lisbon said. "The Blake Association arrests were a big deal nationally also and Red John's death."
"Which I didn't see." Jane said.
"Ga, ga,ga." Lisby Michelle babbled as she saw Castle on the TV. She pointed to him shaking her legs and then squealed.
Jane laughed at Lisby's reaction. "Yes, you know him, don't you? He took care of you while you two were kidnapped by the bad man." Jane said to the baby who was still excited to see the TV screen.
"And they are talking about you." Lisbon smiled. "We probably shouldn't have her in front of the TV too long."
"Ah, she's fine." Jane reminded. "She's just excited."
On the day of Alexis' graduation, Castle, Beckett, and Martha sat in the bleachers of the graduation hall.
"Oh, this is so exciting. Alexis graduating. I never thought this day would come." Martha raved.
"My little girl is all grownup." Castle said.
Beckett smiled happily. She was here this time. "It's amazing. I'm happy I get to be a part of this."
"You've been a part of Alexis' journey through high school and college. You've helped me with some of the ups and downs of a teenage daughter." Castle said gratefully to his wife.
"Even though I've never been a parent." Beckett said. "Maybe half of my advice has been crap." She teased.
"No, it hasn't because you were once a teenage girl so your advice has been perfect. And Alexis has turned out alright. I don't know how. Especially with me as her father." Castle said.
"You did something right. You loved her and cared for her." Beckett said.
The ceremony started with an abundance of speeches from professors to the graduating students give their advice to the graduates. Finally the graduating students began lining up. The announcers called names for the students.
"Alexis Castle." Alexis walked in her gown and hat and received her diploma.
"That's my daughter." Castle called. He whistled and cheered loudly. Martha cheered and whistled. Beckett clapped quietly.
Alexis from the platform looked up and rolled her eyes and flushed with embarrassment but then smiled.
The man next to Castle. "You're Richard Castle, aren't you?" He looked at Castle. Castle nodded positively. "Can I have your autograph?" The man handed a copy of a Nikki Heat book he had with him.
"Of course, I'd be delighted to sign it." Castle eagerly said.
Beckett rolled her eyes at her husband. "Really, Castle at your daughter's graduation? We can't ever get away from you signing autographs.
Castle handed the book back to the father. "Glad you enjoy them."
Getting back to the loft, Castle, Beckett and Martha made sure everything was set up for the party. The day before Castle put the blue and white banners up, Columbia's school colors. He also set up a table of all of Alexis' accomplishments and pictures. On one part of the room the caterer set up the table with meatballs and a sandwich bar with meats and cheeses and at the end of the table a cake which said Congratulations Alexis with a cap and gown. Alexis followed behind them. "It looks fantastic." Alexis said looking around their loft.
Soon, the guests trickled in greeting Alexis and Castle congratulating them. As the people finished gathering in, Castle noticed Jane and Lisbon carrying Lisby Michelle. He rushed to see them and was surprised at their appearance.
"Hello, I'm surprised to see you." Castle said.
"We were surprised to come. This little girl influenced us to come." Jane said as he held Lisby Michelle chewing on her round teether slightly drooling. "And we wanted to see New York."
"Hello, Lisby Michelle, it's so good to see you again." Castle cooed to the baby. Lisby took the teether out of her mouth and responded. "Ga, ga, ga. Blah, blah."
"Yes, I know." Castle answered back even though he didn't know what the baby was saying. She stuck the teether back in her mouth.
Alexis immediately went over to the group. "Hi, thanks for coming." She looked at the baby. "I remember you."
"We couldn't have done the rescue without you." Lisbon said. "Congratulations."
"Yes, congratulations. It's a great achievement." Jane said grinned.
After mingling a little bit around the room, Castle took his wine glass. "I would like to do a toast to my lovely, high achieving daughter. Congratulations on your victory. I never thought when I held you in my arms, you'd be this beautiful, smart and wonderful person you grew up to be. Take that back, I did know you would do great things. You're better than me in every way. Certainly more adult. How did that happen?" Alexis smiled at her father.
"Anyway, continuing on, you're the cream in my coffee, lemon in my tea, well if I drank tea, sugar on my cereal, words on my page, and who knows what else. Again, congratulations, my wonderful girl." Castle described. "Cheers."
"I don't know how to follow that speech, here I go." Martha said raising her glass as well. "She's always my precious girl. As you can see with all the lovely pictures." She pointed to a table which included baby pictures of Alexis scattered of Castle and Martha holding Alexis as newborn, Alexis at six months, 9 months and one year old. Also there were pictures of Alexis as a little girl, middle schooler and high schooler. "Let's eat and mingle." Martha said. "Don't just stand there" In a few minutes we'll do more toasting."
A few minutes later after diving into cake and appetizers, everyone gathered around to prepare their speeches. Lanie stood up and raised her glass. "Best of luck to you, girl. You were a good helper who worked with me."
"We might as well go next," Ryan said pointing to himself and Esposito. " She's one of the women who can keep Castle in line."
"And definitely more the brains between them." Esposito said. "She's decent at investigating too."
"I know I haven't always been around, but Alexis, I'm proud of you." Meredith said raising her glass.
"And to a wonderful young woman who I heard endless amount of bragging about Alexis, I'm proud to share she has given me insight to her dad's personality." Beckett said. Castle put him arm around Beckett.
"Of all the cases I had to solve,raising my daughter has been the toughest for me to tackle from being a tiny baby" He looked at Lisby Michelle. " to little girl to teenager to young woman in her college years. I realize this is one of the toughest cases to solve and I will never solve this case completely. She is now on her adventure of her life and I toast her. Graduation is a new beginning. It's a chance of new life and oppurtunity. Raise your glass and say, go for it, Alexis." Everyone clicked their glasses happily.
I have no idea if the Castle writers are going to have Alexis graduate from college. Is she still in college? In my world, she graduates. I would love feedback.