Ricki's loft…

After what was probably the calmest day they'd had in at least two weeks, Kate and Ricki were enjoying some of the best sleep they'd had in a while. Kate was sprawled out over Ricki, her head on the writer's chest, her arm wrapped around Ricki's waist. Her quiet snores broke the silence of Ricki's bedroom, moonlight streaming onto the floor to the left of the bed.

For the moment, Kate wasn't worried about being unemployed; the euphoria over having Alexis home safe and sound practically overrode every other worry Kate and Ricki had at the moment. Sure, there would be time later to worry about Kate finding another job or Ricki dealing with the fallout of finally meeting her father, but for now, they were content to just enjoy the proverbial moment.

The peace was interrupted, though, by an ear-piercing scream from upstairs – a sound so loud, so unexpected, that Ricki bolted upright with a yelp of her own, tossing the covers aside and grabbing the soft navy blue robe that hung over her chair. Her eyes locked with Kate's as she fastened her robe, and Kate fished her robe off the floor before the two women burst from the bedroom.

In no time, the duo crossed from Ricki's office, through the foyer, and they bounded up the staircase, taking two steps at a time. Ricki's heart pounded against her ribcage, another scream filling her ears. This one wasn't as loud as the one that woke them up, but there was an urgency and a panic to it that drove Ricki to burst forth even faster.

Leading with her shoulder, Ricki stumbled into Alexis' room, taking in the sight of her teenage daughter sitting upright, clutching the covers to herself, wide blue eyes darting back and forth. Without a second thought, Ricki lowered herself onto Alexis' bed, wrapping her arms around the redhead and pulling her close as Kate hung back, turning on the light.

Alexis closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of Ricki's neck, huffing a series of quiet sobs as Ricki tightened her grip.

"Shh…" Ricki stroked Alexis' hair and kissed the top of her head. "I'm here, pumpkin. "It's okay."

Ricki and Kate exchanged a worried look as Kate tentatively lowered herself onto the bed, placing a soft hand on the small of Ricki's back and rubbing it. Ricki gave her daughter another squeeze.

Alexis tightened her grip on her mother, her fingers tangling in Ricki's robe, her grip so tight that her knuckles turned white. The redhead sniffled and looked up at Ricki, her eyes red and puffy, her breathing shallow and ragged.

"Mom…"

"You're safe, Alexis." Ricki brushed an errant strand of hair out of Alexis' face. "You're home now. I'm here, and so is Beckett. They can't get you anymore."

Alexis sniffled, her eyes glancing at Kate before returning to her mother. "You promise?"

Ricki held Alexis' face in her hands, leaning in to place a soft, loving kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Always." She continued stroking her daughter's hair, pausing only to swipe away the occasional tear that trickled down the redhead's cheek. "You think you can get back to sleep?"

"Can you leave the light on?" Alexis cringed as she asked. "I mean, I know I'm a teenager now, but…"

"Hey." Ricki kisses Alexis' forehead again. "It's okay. Whatever you need."

Alexis laid back down and Ricki tucked her in, pausing to brush a strand of hair out of the teenager's forehead again. Ricki leaned down for another forehead kiss, closing her eyes to stem the tide of her own emotions. Alexis didn't need to see her mother so visibly affected by this; that was better left for the privacy of Ricki's bedroom and the comfort of her girlfriend's arms.

"I love you, pumpkin."

"Love you too, mom."

Once Ricki and Kate were back in the hallway, making their way back to the writer's bedroom, Ricki heaved a sigh and shook her head. She felt Kate's hand intertwining with hers as they came down the stairs, their fingers interlocking. By the time they reached the foyer, Kate stopped Ricki with a tug and gave her a soft kiss.

"You okay, Castle?"

Ricki wanted to say yes. She wanted to project confidence, that self-assuredness that was a cornerstone of her personality back when she and Kate first met. But the truth was, she was scared. She had no idea what to do for Alexis now; something told her all the hot chocolate in the world wouldn't make this go away.

"I just…" Ricki sighed. "I wish I could take it all away, you know?"

Kate nodded and squeezed her girlfriend's hand, and they started making the slow trek back to Ricki's bedroom. "I can give Dr. Burke a call, you know, if it keeps up or gets worse."

Once they were back in Ricki's bed, Kate rested her head on the writer's shoulder again, and Ricki kissed the top of her head while giving her shoulder a squeeze. "Thank you." Another kiss to the top of Kate's head. "For everything."

Kate looked up at Ricki, and the two women exchanged a kiss. "The things we do for those we love."

"You ready for tomorrow?"

The Twelfth…

Fortunately for everyone involved, Captain Gates wasn't in the office when Kate and Ricki stopped by to gather Kate's personal effects from her desk. That didn't make it any less awkward, though, when the elevator doors opened and practically everyone who was there gave Kate a standing ovation as she wandered toward her desk.

Kate and Ricki exchanged a confused glance, and Kate's heart tugged a little when she passed by the desks that once belonged to Ryan and Esposito. Their name plates were still on their respective desks, but the chairs were empty.

That felt wrong on so many levels. The fact that they'd quit in support of Kate…she felt a little guilty for that. Kate and Ricki having their lives thrown out of whack was one thing. She didn't want to be responsible for the upheaval for the boys as well.

Especially Ryan. Jenny was probably so pissed at him.

"Looks like you've still got quite the fan club," Ricki whispered into Kate's ear once they reached her desk.

Kate sighed and placed an empty cardboard box on the surface of the desk, shaking her head as she started placing random items into the box. A framed photograph of her father, a little woven stick figure Ricki had never seen before that had been tucked away in a drawer. Other random odds and ends whose story Ricki wanted, but decided this was neither the time nor place to pry.

If nothing else, her relationship had taught Ricki the virtue of tact.

Occasionally.

Two ceramic elephants – one large, one small – were carefully placed into the box, before Kate grabbed a ceramic grouping of elephants, four in total, lined up from largest to smallest. Kate's fingers trailed over the colorful pattern on the back of the largest elephant, a wistful smile on her face.

"My mother loved these," she whispered. "Said they were a family. Just like us."

Lifting the statue from her desk to place it in the box, Kate paused when she thought she heard something rattle. Her eyes locked with Ricki's, who was now sitting in the ragged chair beside the desk. Ricki quirked a brow as Kate shook the statue in her grasp. The rattling was louder this time.

"What the-?"

"It sounds like there's something in there." Even as she said it, Ricki couldn't believe it.

Sitting at what used to be her desk, Kate stared at the elephants clutched in her hands. She gave the statue one more shake, just to make sure the rattle was still there. It was, and her pulse quickened. Kate could feel the dull thump of her heart, even in her temple, and she locked eyes with Ricki again.

"Kate…"

Kate glanced at the ceiling. "Sorry, mom."

She smacked the statue against the edge of the desk, cringing when the ceramic broke off into large chunks. Something fell to the ground, and Kate set what was left of the statue aside to reach down. Her heart skipped a beat when she sat back up, a miniature cassette tape clutched in her fingers.

She glanced wide-eyed at Ricki. "Castle…"

Ricki gasped. It's been right in front of you for years…

"Is that…?"

"Only one way to find out." Kate sucked in a deep breath, almost overwhelmed by a combination of adrenaline and dread. "Know where we can find a tape player?"

"I've got one."

Ricki's loft…

"Why am I not surprised you have a mini tape player, Castle?"

Ricki offered a sheepish smile once they were in her office, hoping the levity succeeded in cutting the tension that had been palpable once they discovered the tape hidden in those elephants. The box of Kate's belongings had been left back on the stairwell, and both women were so nervous about what might be on the tape that they were shaking.

"Because my apartment is nothing if not a collection of completely random stuff?" Ricki stood, placing a tape player on her desk. "Come on: you're talking to a girl who has a life-size Boba Fett statue in her bathroom."

"Fair point."

Ricki opened the compartment for the tape before holding out her hand. "You ready, Kate?"

Kate sighed and pulled the tape out of her pocket, shaking her head and handing it over to Ricki. "No, but…let's just do this. Maybe this is nothing. Maybe it's a collection of showtunes my mom liked."

Kate didn't believe that, and neither did Ricki. The writer didn't say anything about it, though, choosing instead to take the tape and place it in the slot. Closing the compartment, Ricki pressed play before joining Kate's side, their hands intertwining.

Raglan, shut the door.

Kate flinched at the sound of a door closing, glancing over at Ricki. They both knew who that voice belonged to, and Ricki automatically squeezed Kate's hand.

You three got a lot of balls coming here.

Look, we just want to make sure we're all on the same page. You took a lot of money from us, Bracken. We want assurances.

Kate shook her head. "Fuck you, Roy…"

Hey, be happy I haven't busted the three of you for your little mafia extortion ring!

Whoa!

Relax…

No, no…

You want assurances? Here you go…I assure you that as easily as I pinned Bob Armen's murder on Pulgatti, I could just as easily put it on the cops who actually did the deed.

Ricki shook her head. "So Pulgatti was innocent."

"Mom wouldn't have taken his case if he wasn't, Castle."

"And Bracken just admitted to blackmail."

Pulgatti knows he's been framed. What if someone gets onto this?

Then I'll handle them.

You? How?

I know people, Roy. Dangerous people. Anyone who gets too close – like that bitch lawyer Johanna Beckett who's been poking around – I'll have them killed. I've had people killed before…

Ricki stopped the tape, swallowing back the bile rising in her throat before turning to Kate. Her mouth hung open, the sheen of tears forming in her hazel eyes. Kate held onto Ricki's hand like a vice, and though the writer was in pain from the grip, she said nothing. In fact, Ricki closed what little distance remained between then, using her free hand to caress Kate's cheek.

"Beckett…"

"Castle…" Kate turned to face her girlfriend, shaking her head. "Castle. Bracken…he…"

"I know, Kate." Ricki kissed Kate, her thumb swiping away a tear that fell. She broke the kiss and cupped Kate's cheek, sniffling and shaking her head. "Senator Bracken is a money launderer, an extortionist, and a murderer."

"He hired Coonan." Kate's voice was almost a whisper, and she leaned into Ricki's touch. "He killed my mom because she was doing her job…"

"And we'll bring him down."

"How, Castle?" Kate sniffled and shook her head. "I don't have my badge anymore."

"Then whatever my father's got planned, he better hurry." Ricki sighed.

Kate slipped her arms around Ricki's waist, resting her head on her girlfriend's shoulder. The tears burning in her eyes refused to fall, and her fingers dug into Ricki's back as the writer tightened the embrace even more. Kate shook her head with a sniffle, Bracken's unknowing confession playing in her head on repeat.

A man who was embarking on a run for president – who had somehow managed to dodge scandal when Roy Montgomery first released the file about the mafia extortion ring – was responsible for her mother's death.

That Bracken wasn't the one with the knife was inconsequential; without his order, Johanna Beckett would still be alive. Without his order, Jim Beckett wouldn't have lost five years in a bottle. Without his order, Kate Beckett would've never become a cop.

Without his order, Kate and Ricki wouldn't have scars from sniper's bullets.

"What do you wanna do, Kate?"

Kate looked at her girlfriend with a sad smile, sniffling and shaking her head. "Got a way to contact your father? Because I don't like the idea of anyone other than me slapping the cuffs on Bracken and tossing him into the back of a squad car."

Ricki gave Kate another squeeze. I'll see what I can do."