Author's Note: So I wasn't so sure about the last chapter, but it got the most hits/visitors of any of them! You guys continue to amaze me with your support, so thank you. And also, if you have suggestions of things you would like me to include in this story, let me know! I'm open to ideas.

Chapter 14

After an emotionally stressful interrogation, the mother finally confessed to the murder. She confessed just in time too, because Kate was about thirty seconds from exploding. She was known for keeping her distance, keeping her feelings under wraps, but now that she was dating Castle and had become so close to his daughter, she was finding it difficult to restrain herself. She wanted to beat the living daylights out of the woman. She did not understand how anyone could be so heartless as to leave child without a parent. Kate knew all too well what that was like and anyone who had such a nonchalant attitude about it made her sick.

By the time she had talked to the teenager-who was going to live with her grandparents upstate-and finished her paperwork an hour later, she had calmed down slightly, but she was still shaken by how strongly this case had affected her.

She straightened up her desk before heading home to change. After slipping into something more casual, she headed across town to the loft.

She knocked on the door, expecting Castle to answer, so she was taken by surprise when she suddenly found herself wrapped in Alexis's arms. "Kate!" she exclaimed.

"Hey," Kate said, returning the hug as she stepped into the loft.

"I'm so excited you're coming with us," she said with a smile. "My dad's in his office, I'm going to go get changed really fast."

"Okay, I'll go track him down," Kate said as Alexis headed up the stairs.

Kate poked her head into Castle's and could not help but smile at the adorable sight that greeted her. He was sitting in his chair, feet up on the desk, laptop balanced on his lap, head drooping to one side as he slept. Pulling out her phone, she snapped a quick picture before walking over to him. She stepped around behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders, rubbing them gently. "Rick," she whispered.

He shifted in his chair. "Huh?" Slowly he opened his eyes and tilted his head back to look at her.

She leaned over and kissed him. "Hey there sleepyhead."

"Hey," he smiled, then slowly frowned as he realized she had stopped massaging him.

"What?" she asked.

"Don't stop." He reached up and patted her hand so she knew to what he was referring.

She gave his shoulders a couple more quick squeezes. "You're really tense," she commented. "However you have a very anxious daughter waiting for dinner. I'll rub the knots out later."

"Promise?" He sounded like a little kid.

Kate rolled her eyes but she had to admit it was pretty adorable. "Promise. Now go get ready for dinner."

"Bossy, bossy," he teased as he stood up. She rolled her eyes again. "I'll be ready in five," he said.

After Castle left the office, Kate meandered back out into the living room and found that Martha had emerged. "Hello, darling," she said dramatically, wrapping Kate up in a hug.

"Hello Martha," Kate said. She liked the woman, but at the moment she was a bit tired to deal with any of her famous overly dramatic antics.

Thankfully, Martha instead settled for simply asking how she was and such. Gradually the conversation switched to the topic of Kate and Castle's relationship. "I haven't seen him this happy in a long time," Martha was saying. "You bring out the best in him. The only other person who has ever been able to do that is Alexis. Being around you makes him want to be a better person."

Kate opened her mouth but had no idea what to say. Martha seemed to sense her hesitation because she spoke up again. "You don't have to say anything, dear," she said. "We're just all so glad you're a part of our lives."

Kate's eyes filled with tears as she still searched for something-anything-to say. "Thank you," she finally managed. What was it with this family and their ability to render her speechless?

Martha hugged her. "No, thank you." Kate returned her embrace, still fighting to keep her tears from falling.

Just as they separated, Alexis came bounding down the stairs. "Okay, I'm ready!" she exclaimed, hurrying towards her. She stopped short when she noticed the tears. "Wha….what's wrong? Is everything okay?" she asked in concern.

Kate nodded. "Yeah, it's….fine."

Alexis looked unconvinced and glanced at Martha for conformation. "It is, sweetie," Martha said. "I was just telling her how much we like having her in our lives."

Alexis nodded in agreement. "Yes we do," she affirmed, looking back at Kate again. "I love having you around and I know my dad does too. You're so good for him."

Kate chuckled past the lump in her throat. "Your grandmother was just saying the exact same thing."

"Well she was right," Alexis said. Kate smiled and reached out for the hug Alexis clearly had wanted to give her earlier. Alexis stepped into her arms easily.

This was exactly how Castle found the two when he reappeared in the living room a moment later. Kate looked up and watched as his face broke out into a huge grin. She smiled back as she released Alexis.

Castle joined the group. "How are my three favorite ladies doing?" he asked, bending down to kiss Alexis's cheek and putting an arm around Kate.

"Hungry," Alexis answered.

"Well, shall we head out then?" he asked. "Mother, you sure you don't want to join us?"

"Positive, darling, I have rehearsal in an hour," Martha replied.

"Alright, well don't burn the house down while we're gone," he teased as he, Kate, and Alexis headed for the door.

"Says the man who was burning Cheetos the other day," Martha pointed out. "I don't think it's me you have to worry about."

Kate laughed. "Don't worry, I'll keep him in line," she said, linking her arm through Castle's and walking out of the apartment.

Castle leaned down to whisper in her ear so that no one else could hear. "Promise to punish me if I'm bad?" he asked. Kate whacked him in the chest as they shut the door behind them, leaving Martha standing there wondering how the two of them managed to stay apart for so long. Anyone could tell they were perfect for each other. Kate brought out his (slightly) more mature side and Castle made her life more fun. And frankly, after two failed marriages and so many publicity stints, Martha was thrilled to see that the real Rick Castle was finding his way out into the light again.

Dinner was full of laughter, jokes, and storytelling and by the end, Kate had almost forgotten about the case that had consumed the last two days of her life. Castle had loosened up considerably as well, but she could tell that it was still eating at him. She discreetly reached over to rest a hand on his thigh and saw him visibly relax. She loved how much of a calming effect she had on him with just a simple touch. He placed his hand over hers and glanced over at her with a smile. She smiled back as Alexis watched them have another of their famous silent conversations.

Castle could have stared into her eyes all night, but his daughter was there and this was not the place, especially since they still had not taken their relationship public. He had taken them to a small, out-of-the-way Greek place near the loft, a place he and Alexis had discovered many years ago and was out of the eyes of the paparazzi.

"How do you guys do that?" Alexis asked as they tore their gazes apart and refocused on the meal.

"Do what?" Castle asked his daughter.

"Have eye conversations." Alexis stated it like it was the most obvious thing ever.

"I don't know, we just…." He trailed off and looked at Kate, who shrugged.

"We understand each other," Kate finished for him.

"We're on the same wavelength," Castle added.

"Now that's just scary," Kate and Alexis said at the same time.

Castle looked at them in shock. "So was that," he said, looking from Kate to Alexis and back to Kate. "Are you guys ganging up on me already?" he paused before realizing what they had said. "Wait, what's scary?"

Kate answered this time. "That I think on the same wavelength as you."

Castle looked affronted. "You should be flattered, detective, that your brain is as sharp and brilliant as mine." Kate and Alexis rolled their eyes. "There you go, you're doing it again!" he exclaimed.

"Doing what?" Alexis asked.

"Rolling your eyes." He looked at Kate. "You taught her the Beckett eye-roll?"

"I don't think I needed to teach her," Kate said. "After living with you for as long as she has, I'm sure she picked it up all on her own."

"She's right, Dad," Alexis said. "You inspire a lot of eye rolls."

Castle feigned hurt. "How could you ever roll your eyes at this," he gestured to himself.

"We don't have time to list all the reasons," Kate teased.

"But….." he began but was silenced when Kate stuffed food in his mouth. Alexis and Kate both laughed as Castle tried not to choke. "That's not fair," he said when he swallowed.

Alexis could see the wheels turning and knew that she had to stop him before this went any further. "Dad," she said sternly, removing his hand from where it was hovering over the basket of pita and hummus. "Not here."

"Why do I get the feeling that I should be worried?" Kate asked, looking between the two.

"Let's just say that Dad enjoys food fights a little too much," Alexis explained.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Why does that not surprise me?"

The rest of the meal passed similarly, and before they knew it, two hours had gone by. "Well, we should probably head out," Castle said, looking at Alexis. "You have more homework, right?"

"Unfortunately," she said.

"Alrighty then, let's go." He signaled the waiter and once the bill was payed, the three of them headed back to the loft.

"So how are you really doing?" Kate asked. They were back at the loft now and Alexis had headed upstairs to finish her homework. Martha had yet to return from her function so Kate and Castle were alone in the living room, relaxing on the sofa and drinking wine

"I'm hanging in there," he answered. Spending time with Alexis had helped but Kate knew him well enough to notice the pain lingering in his eyes. "That case, it just….it made me so angry," he admitted. "I can't believe anyone could do that."

Kate nodded. "I know, I felt the same. I wanted to hurt that woman." She paused, deciding whether to admit anything else. "I kept seeing you lying at the crime scene," she finally said.

"I just don't see how a parent could willingly leave their child with only one parent," he said. "I mean, I only ever had one so I never knew any different, but…." He trailed off, realizing that he was probably making things harder for Kate. "Sorry," he said. "I guess I don't need to explain that to you."

Kate shook her head sadly. "No, you don't."

"How do you do it?" Castle asked. "How do you not hurt every killer you deal with? How do you stay so strong?"

"A lot of training," Kate said. "I had to learn to compartmentalize things and not let my anger get in the way….although it's still there, especially cases like this."

Castle shook his head. "I know they say to distance yourself sometimes I can't do it."

"I know," she said softly. "That's why I sent you home. You're not a cop and you're not trained for that."

"Sometimes I forget that," he admitted.

Kate laughed. "I know." Her laughter served to lighten the mood and as Castle joined her she could see that he was already beginning to feel better. She squeezed his hand. "So what do you want to do for the rest of the night?"

He looked at the clock. "I know it's not even ten but I'm kind of ready for bed," he admitted. He returned his gaze to her. "Will you stay?"

"Of course, Rick," she said. She was too tired to even consider driving home anyways and she knew he needed her.

As they settled into bed a few minutes later, Kate reached out to stroke his cheek, drawing a smile from him. She was so used to him being the happy, energetic, optimistic one in the relationship and it broke her heart to see him in pain. "It's okay, Rick," she said soothingly. "She's behind bars, she's not going to hurt anyone else."

"I know," he said. "But that doesn't bring her father back and now she has no parents."

"No, but at least she has a place to go," Kate said. "And she has closure, and no, that doesn't bring her dad back, but trust me, it helps to know why." He nodded but she could see he was still not convinced.

"I just wish there was something I could do for her," Rick said and Kate smiled in spite of the situation. He had such a big heart and she loved him for it.

"You're sweet, Rick," she said, kissing him. "But we did what we needed to do. We caught the killer and that's our job. She has people who will be there for her now. She'll get through it, she'll be okay."

"I don't know how you did it," he said, almost to himself. "I can't even fathom…."

He trailed off and Kate wrapped her arms around him in response. "Let's catch up on some sleep," she said. "You'll feel better in the morning, I promise."

"I can't sleep," he admitted.

Remembering her promise from earlier, she sat up and he looked at her questioningly. "Roll over on your stomach," she instructed.

He obeyed without a word, and Kate realized then just how deeply this case had affected him. She shifted herself so that she had one knee on either side of him and began to slowly work the knots out of his back, feeling the tension leave his muscles. After a few minutes, she felt his breathing slow and when she was sure he was asleep, she slid back under the covers next to him.

"Thanks, Kate," he mumbled, half-asleep, as she scooted closer to him.

"You're welcome," she whispered. "Get some rest, I'll be right here when you wake up."

"Night," he said sleepily.

"Good night," she said, running her hand gently up and down his arm. "I love you."

Thoughts?