Chapter 10: Arresting

Someone like you

Somebody

Someone like you

Somebody

Someone like you

Somebody

"Forensics just sent this over," Ryan hands her a print out.

"Only his fingerprints on the weapon. That's a good sign."

"Yes. And his alibi didn't check out. I think we've got a pretty good case against him even if Alexis can't identify him."

She nods, "I want more though, especially if she can't ID him. We have to make sure there's no way he can get off."

"You want to talk to him about his alibi or wait until after Alexis comes?"

"Wait. They should be here soon," Kate says, and as soon as the words leave her mouth, the elevator doors open, revealing Castle and his daughter.

"Good morning, Detectives," Castle smiles, handing them each a cup of coffee before turning to Esposito's desk to give him his.

"We'll get the line up ready," Ryan says, and he and his partner head down the hall.

Castle nudges Alexis, and she sits down in his chair. "So how are you feeling today?" Kate asks.

"Good. It hurts a little to move around."

"I'm sure you can lay in bed all day when you leave here. And then you can annoy your dad by making him bring you everything you want."

"Actually, I'm probably going to try to do homework. I didn't get much of it done Saturday, plus Dad won't let me go to school until Wednesday so I have to catch up on everything I miss."

"You were shot, Alexis. I think the teachers will give you time to make everything up."

"Yes… but if I get behind now, I'll be behind the rest of the quarter."

Castle looks at Beckett, "I tried to bribe her with something fun. Like a movie marathon. Or games. But she wouldn't give in."

"I'm beginning to wonder if she's actually related to you, Castle," she smirks at him.

"I don't know. That thought has crossed my mind more than once," he admits. "Meredith was a little…"

"You guys do realize that I'm still sitting here?" Alexis says.

"Of course," he smiles at her. "And she is mine. I did one of those DNA tests when she was little to make sure."

Ryan signals that they are ready, and Kate stands. Alexis also stands up and follows the detective, Castle right behind them. Outside the room, Beckett freezes. "Castle…"

"What?" he studies her.

"I… can't have you in there."

"Why not?"

"Because… you saw the guy yesterday, Castle. I can't have you in there to tell her which one it is."

"I can keep my mouth shut," he protests.

"I'm sorry, Castle."

"Dad, I'll be fine. It'll only take a second," Alexis assures him.

"Fine," he gives in, trusting that Kate would take care of his daughter.

Kate opens the door for Alexis, "Ryan?"

"Yes, Beckett?"

"Go sit with Castle and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I can handle things in here."

"Okay," he heads out the door.

Beckett goes to stand next to Alexis by the window. "Ready?"

"Yeah."

She knocks on the window, Esposito leads the suspects in. "Take your time."

The suspects no sooner reach their positions when Alexis grabs Kate's arm. "I know who it is. Number two."

"You're sure? Don't you want to look at them more closely?"

"No, I'm positive," the teenager looks at the detective.

"Okay," she knocks on the window again before leading Alexis out.

Castle is seated in her chair, talking to Ryan. She looks between the two of them, observing their guilty faces. "We weren't talking about you," he tries to assure her.

"Really?"

"Yeah, we were talking about Jenny," Ryan offers.

"And not in the way that you think," Castle quickly adds.

"Dad," Alexis scolds.

Kate is still glaring at him. "What? I'm not lying. I swear," he tries to defend himself.

"You're still sitting in my chair."

"Oh, sorry," he quickly jumps up. "So how did it go?"

"She got him."

"So now what?"

"We interrogate him again. And then he goes to booking."

"Hey, Beckett?" She turns to face Ryan. "Montgomery wanted us to tell you that you don't have to stay here today. He'd give you the day off if you wanted. Esposito and I can handle interrogating this guy again."

Kate looks towards Castle and Alexis for a moment before turning back to the detective. "We don't have any cases?"

"Nope."

"Okay," she pulls her jacket off of her chair. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Esposito walks over to them as she puts her jacket on, "You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"Wow. I didn't think you'd take the offer."

"Yeah, well… I don't think you two can mess this interrogation up too badly."

"Before I forget," Castle pulls his wallet out and hands each of the boys a gift card, "I wanted to thank you guys for finding the man that shot my daughter. So… take your girlfriends out for dinner this week on me."

"Wow, Castle. Thanks," Ryan smiles.

"You do know that that is our job?" Esposito asks.

"Yes. And thank you for being so good at it," he smiles at the two detectives before following his daughter and Kate to the elevator.

"Dad, you didn't thank Detective Beckett," Alexis points out.

"That's okay. She didn't do very much anyway." She rolls her eyes and smacks him on the shoulder.

"Dad," the teenager says in a warning tone.

He sighs, "Thank you, Kate."

"Are you going to spend the night again, Detective Beckett? 'Cause I was thinking that homework could wait if you were. We could play games or something all together."

The detective looks from Alexis to Castle, "Did you…?" He shakes his head.

"Oh, sorry. Gram told me. I guess… you probably didn't want me to know that."

"She saw us?"

"I guess we weren't as sneaky as we thought."

"Yes, I did stay last night, but nothing happened."

"It's okay. You're both adults. I understand."

Rick frowns at his daughter, "Alexis, can we please not talk about this? For your sake and mine, I think it's best we not discuss this. I still like to think of you as my little girl."

"Okay, Dad. But I'm not very little anymore."

"Yeah, Castle. She has a boyfriend now," she smirks at him.

"Please don't remind me."

"So, Detective Beckett?"

"Okay. But only if you start calling me Kate."

"Really?"

She nods, "Since your father and I are together, you should call me Kate."

"How come you won't let me call you Kate?"

"What are you talking about, Castle? You call me Kate all the time even though I never really told you that you could."

"Oh…" he frowns. "I guess I have called you Kate a lot lately."

The detective and Alexis looks at each before rolling their eyes. "Really, Dad. You're so clueless sometimes."

"Am not."

"Are too, Castle."

"If I call you Kate, you should call me Rick."

"I prefer Castle. Especially when you're being annoying."

CB

Martha is seated at the island in the kitchen when the three enter the loft. "Hello," she smiles at Alexis as she stands to hug her. "So how'd it go?"

"Good. I recognized him."

"Mother?" Castle says.

"Yes, Richard, dear?"

"Did you tell Alexis that Kate spent the night here?"

"Yes." He raises an eyebrow. "What? Doesn't she have a right to know what her father is up?"

"Mother."

"I'm sorry, Richard. I shouldn't have walked into your bedroom this morning. But it's not like you and Kate are dating, especially since you were both clothed in bed this morning."

Kate and Rick look at each other. "Actually… we kind of are."

"Oh, that's wonderful. Welcome to the family, Kate," his mother hugs her.

"Really, Martha, we haven't even gone out yet. I think it's a little soon for that," Kate says.

"Trust me, kiddo. I've never seen Richard this in love before. You're going to be part of the family."

"Mother," he warns. "Kate, I'm sorry about this."

"It's okay."

"Well, I have to get to rehearsal. I got a call this morning, and they want me to take the part after all."

"Congratulations, Mother," he hugs her.

"Yes, and since it seems that Alexis is doing alright, I told them I'd take it. Although… I'm not sure she should be alone with the two of you."

"Gram, they'll behave," Alexis says.

"I'm sure Kate will. It's your father that I'm worried about."

"Mother."

"I'm going, I'm going. Just make sure you get to the bedroom and close your door. I promise I won't intrude this time," she says as she closes the door behind her.

Now that his mother is gone, Rick looks over at Kate and notices her apprehensive expression. "Alexis, why don't you go pick out a game for us to play," he says, stepping closer to the detective. Once his daughter is gone, he rests a hand on her arm. "You okay?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm sorry about her."

"You don't have to apologize, Rick."

"I don't want you to feel pressured into anything, Kate. You don't have to stay tonight if you would rather not."

"No… I like it here. I've just… forgotten what parents can be like."

"If it would make you more comfortable, I could buy her her own apartment."

"You don't have to do that. We'll just… be spending more time at my apartment I guess when things get more serious."

"You're sure everything's okay for now?"

"Yes."

He leans forward to kiss her cheek, but she backs away the moment his lips touch her skin. As he opens his mouth to ask her what is wrong, he realizes his daughter has returned.

"Am I interrupting?" she asks.

"No, of course not," Kate smiles.

"Are you sure? 'Cause I can go up to my room and do homework and put my headphones in if you guys want some alone time."

"No, Alexis, we want to spend time with you."

"Okay. Well, I brought Clue, but I don't know whether you guys would want to try to solve another mystery. So I also grabbed Monopoly."

"If you want to play Clue, we can play Clue," Kate says, sitting down at the table across from her.

"Okay. But you and Dad can't work together even though he's not very good at this game."

"Hey, you're not supposed to tell her that," Castle says, joining them after getting some water.

"Sorry, Dad, but it's true. I guess this game is just too simple for your creativity."

A/N: So this and the last chapter were originally combined, but when it was almost at five thousand words I decided to split it up. Anyway... I've had a very busy week so I didn't have time to reply to reviews so thanks to all of you. I found out I was in the wrong stats class... or rather one that I already had credit for. The pharmacy department didn't realize that AP stats gave me credit for this class so I just got moved to the next one up, which I really don't need. But I'm now considering a stats minor since it'd only be three extra classes and I have room for two of them in my schedule for the next five years. I have to decide if I want to overload to get the last one in or take some gen eds over the summer or something. Plus my advisor must be really sick or something 'cause she hasn't been here since the end of October so I might not get that done until after break. Well... hope you enjoyed this chapter. The last one will probably be up mid next week.