A/N: I do not own Castle or anything affiliated with it. I just enjoy writing stories regarding them.

Chapter 13: Safe Haven

Within minutes we were back in the van heading towards my loft. We didn't waste any time getting out of the apartment, Kate grabbed her gun that was in a drawer near the exit, and we were out of there.

Carter drove quickly to my loft taking several detours while keeping an eye out all around us to ensure no one was tailing us. I made a call to the head of security of my building and had them open up the back entrance for us. We used the loading elevator to head up to my floor. Once I closed the door behind us, locked the deadbolt, and slid the chain into place I breathed a sigh of relief.

Carter headed immediately into my office where he had set up his 'spy' station. Cameras had been placed at all the entrances on the main floor, inside of the elevator as well as outside of it on the first and my floor, there was also a camera hidden at each end of my hallway as well as one that had a perfect view of my front door. All cameras were very tiny and were hidden in locations such as plants and portraits where they were not visible.

In my office Carter had set up a work area that consisted of a large keyboard, and two television screens. On the first screen it was divided into eight boxes which showed what each camera was seeing. The second screen alternated between each video showing then in large, it also opened the camera he chose to watch.

"Alexis, mother, are you home?" I called out as I put my arm around Kate and helped her over to the couch. "Are you okay, do you need anything?" I looked at Kate after she was seated. She was good at covering up her feelings, but I could tell it had frightened her. If she had left the hospital when she was supposed to, she could have been dead.

"Thanks, Castle, just my purse please, I need to take my medication." I headed over to the entrance and picked up her purse, luckily we had picked up her prescriptions at the hospital before we left. The doctor had ordered her to take it easy for the next few weeks, and to avoid high stress situations. Luckily a lot of the meds would make her drowsy and make it much easier to keep her stress level down.

"Alexis, mother!" I called again as I poured a glass of water which I handed over to Kate. "Richard darling, there is no need to shout, you could wake the dead like that," Martha said as she made her way down the stairs spotting Kate seated on the couch. "Kathryn dear, how are you feeling, can I get you anything?"

"Thanks Martha, I have all I need right here," Kate responded lifted her glass up and motioning to her medications that were now laying on the coffee table.

"If you need anything please don't hesitate to ask."

"Where's Alexis, I told her I didn't want her out of this house today under any circumstance," I looked at my mother waiting for a response.

"She's in the shower, she probably didn't hear you, she'll be down shortly, now what do you say for some lunch." Martha smiled towards me motioning me towards the kitchen.

"There's been another attack, things are getting worse."

"What's getting worse," Alexis asked as she rushed down the stairs and headed over to where Martha and I were standing. "I do not want either of you to leave the loft without telling me. It's for your own safety." I saw the fear creep over my mother's face as I filled them in about what had happened at the hospital. Alexis clung to my side in fear that we were all in danger.

Alexis and Martha helped make lunch, which was more of a brunch because it was only eleven am. We ate in a picnic style around the coffee table so Beckett wouldn't need to move too much. We all ate in silence, no one in the mood for small talk. Eventually my phone rang breaking the silence.

"Castle" I answered.

"Hey bro, something's happened, can you talk alone?" I recognized Esposito's voice instantly on the other end. He didn't sound himself, they must have heard about the hospital.

"Connelly! What's up dude, still crying over your poker loss?" I looked around the room to see if they were buying it, then casually made my way over to my room. "Okay, tell me what you got," I said when I was safely in the confines of my bedroom. I waited for him to tell me about the hospital.

"Twenty minutes ago we received a call from a woman claiming her husband, who's a landlord, had received a call from someone stating they had misplaced their key and needed access into an apartment. The man claimed to be a relative and was sent to pick up some urgent items. Thirty minutes later the wife went to see what was taking her husband so long and found him dead in the apartment."

"That's horrible, but I don't want to leave Kate here, I'll pass on this one."

"That's not why I'm calling,"

"Okay, why are you telling me this then?"

"It was Beckett's apartment." My phone slipped out of my hands and went crashing to the floor. I had to put my arm out to balance myself. It took me a few seconds before I was able to regain myself, I bent down and picked up my phone.

"What did they want in there?" My voice sounded shaky. That was the second time today we had narrowly dodged the killer.

"We're not sure yet, I'll keep you posted as we hear anything. We will need to talk to Beckett about this. We'll pass by later on, we'll be in touch."

"Dad are you okay? I heard a crash," I could hear Alexis's rushed voice at my door.

I went to my door and opened it, "Yes sweetheart, I'm just clumsy." She didn't look convinced but she took it anyways. I put my arm around her and we walked back into the living room to finish our meal. I couldn't bear to look at Kate. What was I to do. How was I to keep my family safe?

Few hours later

After lunch Kate wanted to rest on the couch, Alexis was upstairs on the phone with Ashley, and mother had retired to her room to rehearse for a new play she was set to audition for in the coming days. I had made my escape quickly and closed myself in my room. I spent the entire time thinking up what to do in this situation. There was so much on the line and one wrong choice could be fatal. After a few hours I had finally come up with a plan that seemed to be in the best interest for everyone.

I quietly left my room and made my way next door to confer with Carter. I told him about Kate's apartment and he told me too many people were in danger. We discussed plans and finally came up with a solution. Now was the difficult time, telling everyone.

When I emerged from the office I found Kate still on the couch, her eyes closed, the television still on, remote on the couch next to her.

I walked over to the kitchen and took out a root beer. I longed to take a shot of whisky which was sitting right next to it. It was only 1:30 in the afternoon, but it was late enough for me. It was going to be a long night. I resisted temptation, that might ease the issues now but I would still have to deal with everything when I would sober up.

"I'll take some if you're offering," I turned quickly to see Kate taking a seat on the other side of the counter. I grabbed another root beer then closed the fridge. "I meant the whisky, but that will also do." She gave me a smile as I turned back. I grabbed two glasses from the cupboard, then added some ice to each before pouring the root beer. "Tell me what's going on Castle."

"What, nothing," it was hard to know how to respond to a cop. She knows the tricks to get people out of their lies. How was I supposed to keep this from her.

"Tell me now, I know something's up. You left the room too quickly when you got a call. You haven't been the same since. You're too quiet, quiet's not you. Did they find something about my shooter?" She reached for one of the glasses and took a sip.

"Uh, no…There's something I need to tell you, Esposito called." I watched her clench up a bit wondering how much worse this could get. "Someone faked a relation to you to get into your apartment. Once your landlord arrived to let them him, he was killed." I watched as her face searched for the right emotion. She seemed surprised, mad, sad, now she looked scared. It was becoming more real to her.

"Do the guys know what they wanted yet?" She looked down at her glass trying to organize her thoughts.

"No, that was all they knew, they're going to pass by after to talk to you about what might have been taken from there."

"Oh good you're up, I need someone to help run lines with…what's wrong, what happened?" Martha started as she was walking down the stairs. She saw our faces and knew something was up.

"Mother can you go get Alexis, I need to talk to you both." She nodded worriedly and headed back upstairs. Within seconds the two of them were coming down the stairs looking at me curiously.

"What's going on dad?" Alexis looked at me with her big blue eyes.

"There's been another attack on Kate, this time at her apartment. Her landlord has been murdered." They both looked shocked and not sure what to say. "Carter advised both of you to leave. There are too many people here in danger and.."

"Dad no! That's crazy, I'm not leaving you!" Alexis interrupted me to yell at me.

"Alexis, both of you being here is just putting two more innocent lives in danger. Carter wants both of you out of here as soon as possible. He's making phone calls, a car will be here to pick you up at 3 and bring you to the Hampton's."

"It's not fair, I don't want to go, I won't go. I don't want to leave you alone!" Alexis now had tears forming in her eyes. It killed me to see her like that, but it was for the best. I had to keep her safe.

"Darling do you really think this is necessary?" My mother looked at me with worry.

"Yes, it is. Now please go pack." They started up the stairs, my mother stopped and turned to look at me. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." I tried my best to give a convincing reassuring smile. They continued on up the stairs.

"Please, let me go talk to her. Maybe I can help." Kate said, I didn't want to say yes, but I knew I was already getting my way with everything else, this is one thing I could give her. I didn't want to leave things on bad terms with Alexis. I nodded and watched her as she slowly made her way upstairs.

Alexis's room, Kate's POV

"Alexis, can I come in?" I knocked on the door as Alexis moved to place something in her suitcase. She gave me a quick glance then mumbled something as she went to pick up a few more items of clothing. "I know this is difficult for you…"

"Difficult for me?" She cut me off and turned around to face me. "I didn't grow up with a mom and dad, but my life was perfect in its own weird way. I love my dad, and he is everything to me, he's my best friend. All I ever had to worry about was him getting paper cuts each day before he started following you around. Now since you came along my father has been put in more life and death situations than I can count…"

"Alexis, please, I…"

"No, let me finish! All you care about is finding your mother's murderer. I don't mean to sound cold but she's already dead, and if you keep digging into it my dad and you will end up dead too. If dad's gone I have nothing. Grams is great and I see my mother occasionally, but they are not my dad. I'm tired of having to sit back and watch while you put his life in danger. I want you to stay away from him!"