Full Disclosure by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of events as the end of Episode 4-22 played out. A discussion was held about therapy and the future between the two, then dropped. Picks up after Kyle walks away, but before the zombie ending with Rick and Alexis. Some old characters owned by both Marlowe and me will pay a visit in this story. This will have ANGST, but I think you will like the end result. I liked the TV Show, but several areas bothered me, how many times has "this will be our last case used?" This will take the conversation to the next level, but not everything will be smooth sailing.

I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 14

Previously

"Hi Mom, sorry to mess up our Thanksgiving plans,"

"Sweetie, there were no plans remember other than to get you well, then we'll celebrate when you feel up to it, besides, your Dad would probably burn his eyebrows off again he is too worried about you."

Stanford University Medical Center

07:20 AM Tuesday

Alexis had been up and walking in the halls since 6:00 AM, the nurses had to yell at her to take some rest, and not over do it or she wouldn't get to go home. That realization seemed to wake her up, so she showered, dressed and just laid on top of the covers waiting for Doctor Horvath to come and release her. Her hope were soon realized as she saw the kind man heading down the hallway.

"Good Morning Alexis, how did you rest? I know most people can't while they are in a hospital setting, that's OK, but I want to hear your story of how things went last evening."

"Good Morning Doctor, I visited with my family, and after they left I did my best to eat that awful food that your ordered," causing Doctor Horvath to bust out with a genuine laugh,

Then I turned the TV on but for the life of me I don't remember watching anything, not a commercial, show or anything, I guess I was out when I finished eating."

"Good, that's more rest than most get, so how is the pain, I see you are dressed and ready to get out of here already?"

"I took a pain pill around 5:00 AM, and it really helped, your resident, Dr. Voya was in to check the bandage, and had the nurse change it for my trip home around 6:15 AM, so I started walking the halls."

"Yes, I see the charge nurse threatened you to slow down and take it easy is noted in your chart, they were afraid you were pushing yourself too hard,"

"They even record that stuff. Tattle Tales, I was just trying to get my strength back, so I could get home soon, it's not fair to my family to have to miss a holiday for me."

"Alexis, if you over do things, they will miss more than a few days. I'd like to see you on Friday in my office, should be a light day since it's the day after Thanksgiving and if all looks well, I can release you to fly next Wednesday, how does that sound?"

"Thanks Doctor Horvath and thank you for taking such good care of me, I'm really glad that I'll be able to plan a family when I do find the right man, that means so much."

"You're very welcome Alexis," he is suddenly pulled into a hug, "Well I guess we'll see you and your Mom on Friday, be careful and obey your discharge instructions. You can call your parents now and let them know you will be ready to leave in about an hour, after breakfast and the nurse has time to review your discharge instructions, I'll see you Friday and Happy Thanksgiving."

Four Winds Hotel

Palo Alto CA

7:00 AM Tuesday

Kate has managed to keep Rick awake long enough to shower and grab a robe and make it back to their suite to get dressed. She was sore in spots she hadn't remembered she had, and from the looks of her fiancé he had not fared much better.

"Come on Rick, we have to be ready when Lexi calls to go and bring our girl home, plus you need to call housekeeping to have them do a through cleaning of her room before we get back," she smiles as he waggles his eyebrows.

They had not anticipated the voice they heard as they quietly tip toed into the suite,

"Darlings Please, if you're going to do the walk of shame, at least hold your heads high. My God, I am going to have to move in with Chet full time, I could hear you two from across the hall," she laughs.

"Really Martha?" Kate is red with embarrassment.

"No Darling, I just wanted confirmation that things on that end were going well, and you just provided it, I'm so happy for you. Now get dressed, breakfast will be up any minute, and we need to be able to go to the hospital as soon as Alexis calls." Martha is chuckling to herself,

They have just finished breakfast, when Kate's phone rang with the ring tone associated with Alexis,

"Good Morning Sweetie how are you feeling?" Kate asks,

"I'm great Mom, just saw Doctor Horvath and he said I could leave in about an hour, so you can come and get me anytime after that. I have an appointment to see him Friday, and he said if things are going well, I could fly as early as next Wednesday."

"That's great news sweetie, you're on speaker so say good morning to your Dad and Grams, then we'll be up to get you and bring you home, OK?"

"Hi Dad, Grams, I'm fine just want to get back to the hotel, then back to New York next week, we have a wedding to plan, and not much time", she laughs.

"Hi Pumpkin and Good Morning Darling, are uttered at the same time, and Rick then takes over,

"Sweetie don't do anything till we get there OK, I mean no packing, no lifting"

"Dad, Dad finally DAD Stop I'm already packed, I've been for walks, really Dad, I'm OK. I know you love me and want to help, but Dad there is a complete book of instructions for me of the Do's and Don'ts and I am not messing this up, OK? I love you Daddy, just come get me OK?"

Kate walks over and puts her arm over Ricks shoulder, "Sure pumpkin, we'll be there soon, we just finished breakfast, and I love you too."

"Baby, we'll be leaving in about 10 minutes so relax and we'll be there soon, OK?"

"OK Mom love you all and see you in just a bit."

Rick looks down as Kate disconnects the phone,

"What's the matter Babe? She's coming home, she is well, we can fly next week so why are you depressed?"

"My little girl is all grown up and she doesn't need me anymore. I knew the day would come, but I didn't think it would be this quickly."

"Newsflash Rick, Little Girls, or women NEVER stop needing their Dads, they just need them in different ways than when they were younger. Alexis will ALWAYS need you Babe, this topic is just something that she is embarrassed about, how it happened and I think she is just coming to terms with the horrible outcomes that could have happened. It's frightening, when you think of what could have happened."

"Are you sure Kate, you're not just saying that are you?"

"Rick, you will always be the first man in her life, let her get back on her feet, and don't let your feelings get hurt. For the first time in her life, she has a Mom to discuss issues that she would not feel comfortable talking with you about."

"But I'm her Dad, I've always been here for everything, and**"
"Babe, women sometimes need to talk to other women no matter how much they love their Dads, it just our nature. Please stop over thinking this, she'll be back to Lexi in no time, just watch."

"OK, and have I told you how much I love you, just for being you?"

"Well not in the last few hours, but we will need to be discrete till we get home, OR find Martha a Boyfriend," she laughs

"Ugggghhhhh" Rick makes a horrified face then replies, "Let's go get our girl and bring her home."

Four Winds Hotel

Palo Alto CA

1:00 PM Tuesday

The trip to and from the hospital went smoothly, along with the discharge papers were pamphlets for grief counseling for the loss of a child should it be needed, and as Alexis reviewed the discharge instructions, she came across the one mentioning grief.

"Mom, could I ask you a question, and again it's really personal so feel free to say no comment or just don't say anything, OK?"

"Sure Lexi, but I bet I know your question before you ask it, you want to know if I felt grief over the loss of my child, that was about the same age in development as yours right?

"How do you do that? Seriously I have lived with Dad all my life, and sometimes I need to spell things out to him, but Mom, that's exactly what I was asking."

"Sweetie, I don't know if it was grief for my child, my Dad, my Mom, I had so much hit me at once that the only way I could deal with it was to build walls around my feelings, and shut people out. That cost me a lot, especially with your Dad.

Looking back, I can't believe I let the memories of something that happened so many years ago, take precedent over your Dad. I know you have been upset with me, when your Dad hurts, so do you, and it took me a while to figure out the dynamics of a family relationship.

I never want you to look back at a single day of your life and wonder "If Only", I want you to be confident in your decisions, be empowered to fail from time to time, and also know that success is not a criteria for our love, it's given, not earned Lexi."

Alexis breaks down in tears as Kate rushes to console her,

"Sweetie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, I'd nev*"

"Mom, these are happy tears, not sad, I don't need grief counselling, because of what you just said, I am loved whether I succeed or fall flat on my face. I just want you, Dad and Grams to be proud of me, and I know how badly this hurt you all."

"Lexi, your Dad said it best, he wasn't ashamed or disappointed in you, but he was of your decision-making process, and Honey so was I. I know you know better than to leave a party with a pickup to make an old boyfriend jealous, I also know that you were served more drinks than you should have that night, and your friends were really worried once they found out your Mom was a cop.

Let's just say the name of the father that would have been has been scared so badly, I think he will be looking into a new profession, perhaps something to do with a vow of chastity. I really think he thought I was really going to shoot him in the balls."

Alexis is laughing and holding her incision site, "when did you go see him, Mom, I never knew you were investigating?"

"Oh, your Uncles Kevin and Javi had that privilege. I think it was Javi who told him I shot your last boyfriend's balls off because he cheated on you that scared him into confessing he bribed the bar tender to get you drunk.

See Sweetie, I know the games upper classmen play, but this one went way too far and if you had not told me the truth when you did, Baby you could have died,"

"Mom?"

"Yes Lexi."

"Thank You, I love you more than you will ever know" as tears fall from both Alexis and Kate's eyes.

"Hey Mom, we got a wedding to plan, we can't be sitting here all weepy for the happiest day of the Castle Family's lives. Also, I am leaving this suite tonight after dinner, and I WILL NOT be back till after breakfast tomorrow.

Grams doesn't know it but I had the Bell captain switch out her keys, they only work on her or my rooms, so Mom, you and Dad get acquainted tonight, without any fear of someone walking in, OK?"

Kate blushes, as Alexis giggles but yes it was more than OK.

A/N Next chapter we get our family back to New York, see what interesting developments are in store for each. Getting near the home stretch, we've witnessed some important full disclosure moments among the family, especially Kate Rick and Alexis, are there anymore reveals?