Yay. Castle's back tonight.

-d-d-d-d-

"I'll tell you one thing," Steve said. "You guys have got some really good looking ME's."

"Hey," Danny said. "What about my wife?"

"I think of her as a sister."

"One of those ME's is my girl," Kevin chimed in, "And the other usually gets claimed by my dimwitted partner."

"Story of my life," Steve said.

"I am so telling Catherine," Danny teased.

"Go ahead and try," Steve baited him, "See how far you get before I punch you."

"Catherine would be your wife," Javier questioned.

"Yeah," Steve dug his phone out and showed him a picture.

"Damn," Javier gave a whistle of appreciation.

"I'd take that back if I were you," Danny advised the detective, "Steve's a former Seal."

"My partner is former Special Forces," Kevin replied.

"There's a MMA fight I'd like to see," Danny snorted, "Navy versus Army."

"So, you know my pain," Kevin surmised.

"Absolutely," Danny said. "He won't let me drive my own car."

"Damn, and I thought I had it bad," Kevin replied.

"He blew up a pawn shop," Danny said.

"He told me I needed help and that he would pay for it," Steve told Javier.

"These civies just don't understand our sacrifices," Javi rolled his eyes while extending his fist to Steve.

"Absolutely, Man," Steve returned the bump.

"So, what's your wife look like?" Kevin asked Danny.

Danny took his cell phone out and showed Kevin a picture.

"She's beautiful," Kevin replied, "You know in that totally innocent way in which I'd never show any sort of interest."

"I think Alexis was plenty innocent before you got hold of her," Javier smirked.

"Red heads are never innocent," Steve commented.

"This one was," Javi responded.

"Shut up, Javi," Kevin shot him a look.

Javi snorted in amusement.

"So what's the story with you and Alexis?" Steve asked.

"You two like her, right?"

"Platonically," Steve nodded.

"Alexis and I were involved several years back when I was still married, and she was still an undergrad at Columbia."

"Oh," Danny's eyes went wide.

"You were married and you were sleeping with her? Why are you still standing?" Steve asked.

"Rick didn't find out until recently," Javi said.

"That explains that," Danny replied, "So how did things end? They had to because we met her through Chris."

"My soon to be ex-wife told her if she didn't get the hell away from me, that she'd take my daughter and disappear," Kevin said quietly, staring straight ahead.

"Wow, that's pretty harsh," Danny added, "I'm glad that me and my ex managed to be civil for our daughter's sake."

"I didn't know it at the time, but Alexis was pregnant with my son when she left," Kevin added.

"Hunter, her oldest, he's yours," Steve asked.

"Yeah," Kevin swirled his drink in the glass before taking a long drink.

Danny shot Steve a look, Subject change?

Steve nodded, "So, this is a pretty cool place. Reminds me of this bar in Japan a bunch of us ended up in one night."

"Yeah, I bet they had a karaoke machine just like the one Rick has here," Javi replied, "What do you say, Navy? Want to sing for your dinner?"

"I don't sing," Steve shook his head. "Danny does."

"Let's see what you got," Javi challenged his rival.

"Alright," Danny nodded as they got up. "Rick have any Sinatra on that thing?"

Steve laughed as the guys wandered away and looked at Kevin, "Sorry. Didn't mean to bring up a sore subject."

"It's alright," Kevin shrugged, "It's not like it's a secret."

"I don't know if it makes it better or worse, but your girl and your son were loved."

"I keep hearing what a great guy Chris was," Kevin frowned, "I don't even know how to compete with that."

"There's no competition," Steve shook his head. "The way you look at Alexis and the way she looks at you? There's no competition."

"Thanks for saying that," Kevin nodded, "I still feel like I'm competing with a ghost. I keep hearing what a great guy Chris was."

"He was," Steve nodded. "But from what I've seen and heard, so are you."

"There's an entire slew of people ready to line up and tell you that you're wrong," Kevin replied, "Starting with my soon to be ex-in-laws."

"Mad at you, are they?" Steve ventured.

"Well, let's think about this," Kevin responded sarcastically. "I had an affair. Knocked up my mistress. As soon as she returned to town, I went running straight towards her again like a dog chasing a bone. I asked their daughter for a divorce, which basically drove their daughter to hire someone to kill my lover. Now she's facing a twenty-five year prison sentence…So yeah, they're mad at me."

"You want another drink?" Steve asked after a moment. "I think you might need it."

"I'm probably going to need the bottle," Kevin responded.

"Well, if it doesn't knock you out, we'll hit you with the bottle," Steve promised as he motioned to the bartender. "So, how'd you and Alexis meet?"

"Through her father when she was fifteen," Kevin took a healthy gulp from the tumbler that the bartender had just filled.

"Okay, I have a younger sister and a daughter of my own so if you were sleeping with her back then, do not tell me or I'll have to beat the hell out of you on principle," Steve said after a moment.

"I'm so tired of people asking that question," Kevin groaned, "Nothing happened between the two of us until she was twenty-two."

"Good to know," Steve nodded. "Sorry to bring up a sore point. So, what, you and she just looked at each other one day and fell into bed?"

"It was a series of innocent run-ins that started it all," Kevin responded, "Run in at a coffee shop, attending a special event in which her father was honored and then a Fourth of July barbecue. The more I saw her, the more I kept wanting to see her and talk to her. It came to a head, and we agreed that it was best to not see each other because we could see where it was leading…Then it went there."

"And it kept going there," Steve nodded.

"I fell hard," Kevin admitted. "And then I stupidly let her walk out of my life."

"Didn't you say that she didn't give you much of a choice?" Steve took a long drink from his beer.

"She didn't," Kevin agreed. "But there were a lot of things I could've done to either stop her or get her back and I didn't do any of them."

"Knowing what you do now, what would you have done differently?" Steve asked.

"Divorced my wife eight years ago," Kevin responded without hesitation.

"She really did this?"

"Hired your pal to stab Alexis," Kevin nodded.

"He is not my pal," Steve shook his head.

"He's more your pal than mine," Kevin responded, "He did try to stab the mother of my son."

"He's a good kid," Steve smiled. "I met him at the hospital the other day when Javi took us to the cafeteria."

"Yeah, he gets that from his mother."

"Looks are from you though," Steve smirked. "I got lucky. My kids look like their mother."

"And hopefully someday I get a chance to tell him who I am."

"He doesn't know yet?"

"No. With everything that's gone on lately, we haven't gotten the chance."

"You will," Steve tapped his back.

And I did it my way…

Steve and Kevin exchanged a glance and turned around to see Danny on the stage.

"Oh, no," Steve groaned, "Here we go."

"Just pray Javi doesn't start rapping," Kevin frowned.

"Yes, let's hope," Steve nodded, "Because Danno will try to join in and that man can't rap."

"Danno?"

"It's a nickname. His daughter started it."

"We'll have to remember it," Kevin responded before letting out an appreciative whistle.

It's such a good vibration…

"Oh, god, please no," Kevin's hand immediately covered his face, "He went to Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch."

Steve laughed as Danny sat down next them again, "Hey guys."

"Nice job," Steve said. "Wish I'd filmed it."

"You still got a chance with that crazy man," Danny motioned towards Javi know was mid-rap.

"There isn't enough alcohol in the world to erase these images from my mind," Kevin groaned.

Steve laughed, "You remember last year when we took Chin out for his birthday?"

"Don't remind me," Danny felt himself beginning to blush.

"I want to hear this," Kevin said.

"No, you don't," Danny shook his head.

"What did he sing?" Kevin asked Steve.

"Single Ladies," Steve got out.

"I'm betting there was a lot of alcohol involved in that one," Kevin burst out laughing.

"I hate you," Danny shook his head.

"Love you too, Partner," Steve took another swig from his beer.

Kevin smiled, "You guys sound like me and Javi."

8-8-8—8-8-8

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Kate asked when she saw Danny and Steve come out of the elevator.

Steve held up some papers, "Signed, sealed, and delivered. Sang Min belongs to the State of Hawaii again and as part of the deal, he is never allowed back in New York."

"Thank god," Kate replied, "So you boys are headed out?"

"Transport leaves in a few hours," Steve nodded, "We have a few ends to tie up first before we take custody of Sang Min."

"Like a hug," Kate smiled.

"Absolutely," Steve hugged the brunette. "Next time you're in the neighborhood, stop by."

"We absolutely will," Kate replied.

"You owe me a poker game," Javier put his hand out to Danny.

"Next time," Danny grinned.

"Any time you're in the area, beer is on me," Javi offered.

"Same to you," Steve shook Javier's hand. "By the way, tell Lanie, her chocolates are on the way."

"I'll be sure to eat most of them," Javi laughed.

"It was great working with you both," Kevin shook each man's hand.

"Take care of Alexis," Steve smiled.

"And come visit when you get the chance," Danny reminded.

"I'd love to," Kevin replied, "I've never been to Hawaii."

"Steve will teach you to surf," Danny added.

"I'll leave that task for Kono," Steve chuckled, "She's much more qualified."

"I've seen pictures," Javier nodded with a grin.

"She better have been in a wet suit," Steve laughed, "We're gonna head to the hospital to say goodbye to Alexis before we take custody of Sang Min."

"I'll drive you to the hospital," Kevin fished in his desk for the car keys.

"Thanks," Danny nodded.

-d-d-d-

"Alright the nurse said she's in PT," Kevin said. "It's this way."

"We can wait until she gets back," Steve assured him, "The plane won't leave without us."

"She just went up," Kevin explained.

"We've got time," Steve replied.

"Steve, I think what Kevin's trying to say is that he doesn't," Danny said.

"Gates has been good about this but I can't stay around long."

"Know the way?" Steve asked.

"Follow me," Kevin nodded.

Danny and Steve followed Kevin to the elevator.

They got to the PT room and Kevin knocked lightly on the glass, making Alexis look up. She waved and smiled before beckoning them in.

"Hey, guys," Alexis greeted them with a grateful smile. She'd use any excuse to take a break from her physical therapy.

"Hey," Kevin kissed her cheek. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, the Marquis de Sad is just warming up."

"We just wanted to stop by and said goodbye," Danny said.

"Paperwork come through already?" Alexis frowned.

"Yeah," Steve nodded. "But, as part of the deal he is never allowed back in New York again."

"It's not like he's going to be allowed to roam freely anyways for quite awhile," Alexis replied, "Right?"

"For a few decades anyways," Danny confirmed.

"I doubt he'll ever breathe free air again."

"Let's hope not," Alexis replied, "Thank you both for all you did in getting the guy off the streets."

"No problem," Steve said.

"Mahalo, Brah," Alexis teased as Steve gave her a hug.

"Take care of yourself, Little Sister."

"You need anything, you let us know," Danny stepped in for his hug, "And get yourself down to Hawaii as soon as you can. We've got some shrimp with your name on it."

"I will and next time you're up this way, I owe you a sausage, pepper, and onion sandwich from the Jersey Boardwalk."

"Deal," he replied.

"I'll check in on your dad for you, if you want," Alexis said.

"I'd appreciate that," Danny stated.

"Have a good flight and make sure Kono calls me when she has the baby," Alexis reminded them.

"Absolutely," Steve replied.

"Give my best to Chin, Catherine, and Mindy," she waved.

"Take care of those kids of yours," Danny replied.

"Always," Alexis smiled. "Hey, tell Grace if she needs a letter of rec, I'll be glad to do it."

"We'd better head out," Steve glanced at the impatient looking physical therapist.

"Take me with you," Alexis begged.

"I'll stop by later," Kevin promised.

"You'd better."

"Take care, Lex," Steve stated.

"You too," Alexis said before she sighed and went back into the PT room leaving the boys to walk away.

"You'd better take care of her, Ryan," Steve warned Kevin while they made their way back to the car, "Or you are going to answer to me."

"I'll remember that," Kevin nodded. "But no worries, I plan to spend the rest of my life taking care of Alexis."

"That's good to hear," Steve replied, "She deserves happiness."

"She's got a good heart," Danny said quietly.

Kevin looked at the other detective, "I'll look in on your dad too."

"Thanks," Danny nodded.

"Sure," Kevin nodded. "I know what it is to worry about a widowed parent."

"You do?" Danny's ears perked up a bit.

"Yeah, my dad died many years ago," Kevin stated.

"I'm sorry," Danny nodded.

"So was I," Kevin said.

"Does it get easier?" Danny asked.

"Yeah," Kevin replied, "It takes time."

The elevator stopped and the boys exited.

"I can give you a lift to the airport," Kevin offered.

"No need," Steve pointed. "The Governor sent us a car."

"Wow, this must be a heck of an important prisoner," Kevin replied, "They're almost rolling out the red carpet here."

"You ever make it to Hawaii, we'll explain the whole story over beer and shrimp," Steve grinned and shook Kevin's hand one more time.

"Looking forward to it."

"Take care of yourself, Ryan," Danny shook the other man's hand.

"You too," Kevin shook each man's hand one last time.

=d=d=d=d=d=

You know the drill.