Thank you all for your continued enthusiasm for and support of this story. And I'd like to give a special shout out to guest reviewers Patti Kay, Chacha, and ndhbfan, to whom I cannot reply individually. Thanks for taking the time to read and review this story, and I hope you, and all who read it, continue to enjoy it.


When Rick returned to the living room with Lily, Kevin was packing up his laptop. "I'm gonna head out," he said. He looked at Javi. "Do you want to take a ride out to the Bronx to check out the motel, or..." He trailed off.

"No. I'm still processing," Javi replied honestly. "But you'll tell me if you find out anything." It was a statement, not a question.

"Absolutely," Kevin promised. He said goodbye to everyone else, including Lily, and then left.

After Kevin left, Javier went home to shower and change clothes, promising Alexis, when she asked, that he would call her later. He started to thank Castle and Beckett for letting him spend the night, but Castle waved his attempt at thanks away, saying simply, "It's what family does, and you're family."

After Javier had gone home, Rick handed Lily to Kate and went over to where Alexis was still standing by the front door. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he asked her, "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," she insisted. "It's Javier. His father wouldn't be here now if he didn't want something." Her tone on the word 'father' made it clear that she didn't feel Matias Esposito deserved the title, because he hadn't been any kind of father to his son, and Rick knew, because of her own experience with Meredith, that this was a hot-button issue for Alexis, as much as it was a hot-button issue for him because of his experiences with Jackson Hunt.

"We're all in agreement on that," Rick said.

Alexis looked up at Rick. "Have I ever thanked you for being the best dad in the world?" she asked seriously.

"Being a parent is serious business," Rick replied earnestly. "The moment you were born, the entire universe shifted for me. I knew Meredith wasn't going to change. But the first time I held you, the first time you looked up at me, I knew that I would do absolutely anything to keep you safe and happy, and I promised myself that you would always know how loved you are."

"That's what good parents do," Alexis replied. "And I am all those things, and I know how loved I am. I've never had to question that. Because of you, I've never had to wonder." She hugged her father then, and Rick hugged her back.

Kate watched them silently, then looked at Lily, who was watching her daddy and big sister just as intently as Kate was. "We're very blessed, Lily," Kate said softly. Lily looked up at her mommy then. Kate knew that Lily, like Alexis before her, would always know how loved she was, and that she would know that not only her daddy loved her, but that her mommy did too.

And the truth was, Lily did know that already, even at the tender age of ten weeks.

Kate, carrying Lily, walked over to Rick and Alexis then. Alexis stepped out of her father's arms, and looked at Kate and Lily with a smile. "You'll never wonder either, Lily," Alexis said. "And someday, you'll know just how important that is." She dropped a kiss on the baby's forehead before carefully hugging Kate. "I'm gonna go upstairs for a while," she said.

After Alexis had disappeared to her room, Kate kissed Rick's cheek. "What was that for?" he asked her.

"For being you," she said. "For being such an amazing husband and dad."

He smiled the smile that made his whole face light up, and those oh-so-appealing crinkles at the corners of his eyes. "Always," he said simply before kissing Lily's forehead and then Kate's lips. Then, after resting his forehead against Kate's for several seconds, he said, "I'll just stow the board in the office. We'll need it again later." Rick then moved the board into the office, where it would remain from then on, and be used for other things through the years to come after they had solved the mystery of why Javier's father had come back into his life at this specific time.


Kevin was just leaving the Howard Johnson Express Inn in the Bronx, and he pulled up short when he saw Alexis heading towards him. "Alexis?" he asked.

"Is he here or not?" Alexis asked briskly.

"Matias Esposito is staying here, yes, but I only got that information because I flashed my badge. I just tried knocking on the door to his room, but there's no answer, and I don't see his rental car, so I'm guessing he's not here," Kevin replied.

Alexis pondered this for a moment. "I suppose searching his room is out of the question?"

"Without a warrant, yeah," Kevin said.

Alexis sighed. "You and Jenny are so lucky," she said.

"In a lot of ways," Kevin agreed, "but what, specifically, are you referring to here?"

"You've always had both of your parents in your lives," she said. "Probably the biggest argument you've had with them since you got married and had kids is which holidays you're spending with which parents. Meredith was never cut out to be a mother and was barely in my life. She only showed up when it was convenient for her and she could make it about her. Dad's father got me kidnapped, could have gotten me killed, and then the second time he came around, he could have gotten Dad and Kate killed. Kate's mother was brutally murdered when Kate was only nineteen. Lanie's mother is giving her every kind of hell possible about her and Alan's wedding. Now Javier's father, who abandoned him when he was five years old, is back in his life, and we all know he's only back because he wants something."

Kevin had had the same thought, and shared it with Jenny the night before. "You're right," he said. "Jenny and I are lucky in that regard. Our parents even get along with each other pretty well. We usually end up spending time with both families on Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter. It's the best way to keep everybody as happy as possible, we've found."

Alexis huffed out an agitated breath. "I just hate that he has to go through this!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air in frustration. "I've been through it. It sucks." She sighed again as she sat down on the curb. Kevin sat down next to her. "He knew the situation," she continued. "His father wasn't part of his life. And that was the way it was, and he was okay with it. He'd lived with it for most of his life. He was used to it. He had accepted it, as much as he possibly could. And now he's back and he's messing things up. He's messing with Javier's head, with his peace of mind, with his security. He doesn't deserve that, Kevin! No one deserves that."

"I know," Kevin replied, "and I agree. It's not fair. You didn't deserve it either."

"But I had Dad and Gram, and now Mom and Lily, to make up for it," Alexis said. "And I cut Meredith out of my life, and she has stayed out. And I never mattered to her, really. When she didn't have anything else to do, that's when she showed up in my life. Javier didn't need this man showing up in his life."

"That's true, he didn't," Kevin said, "but he's not alone, Alexis. He's got you, and me, and Jenny and Sarah Grace and Nick, and Castle and Beckett. We'll get him through this, no matter how it all shakes out." He paused. "I was afraid, when I first ran the plate and found out who the rental car belonged to and who the old guy staking out the precinct for those weeks was, that Javi would try to keep you out, that he wouldn't want you to know, like he didn't want you to know when he got hurt when we went after that perp. But you're the first one he went to. That says a lot about your relationship, and about how much he loves you and trusts you."

"I love him too, and I just want to help him, Kevin. I've been through it before, but our situations are vastly different," Alexis fretted. "Meredith always served herself first. And I know in my heart that's never going to change. I'm honestly not worried about her showing up again in ten or twenty or fifty years and wanting something from me. She hasn't wanted anything I had to offer so far, so why would that change? I mean, really?

"But Matias...He wants something from Javier, Kevin. I don't know what it is, but I just have this feeling that it can't be a good thing. I truly believe that he's only back now because he has something wrong with him and he knows it. Because he's really sick, maybe even dying, and he wants an organ from Javier, or because he expects Javier to take care of him now, even though he never did anything to take care of Javier."

"I have a feeling you're right," Kevin said. "I don't know what the deal is—none of us do yet—but Jenny and I are both thinking along those same lines. And that's one hell of a burden of guilt to put on Javi. He really doesn't have an obligation to Matias. The man was never there for him, plain and simple. For him to come around now, expecting Javi to...I don't even know. Donate a kidney? Hold his hand in hospice? Whatever it is, it's definitely not fair to Javi, and not something Javi should have to do. But whoever said life was fair, right?"

"Right," Alexis said. She sighed again. "I just wish I could make this whole thing go away for him."

"I do too," Kevin said. "But we can't. Whatever this is really about, he'll find out...and we'll find out. And we'll be there for him, no matter what."

"We will," Alexis agreed. "And that's going to have to be enough."

"It will be enough," Kevin assured her. His phone rang then; Sarah Grace was calling, asking if Daddy was going to be home for dinner. Alexis stood up and dusted off her clothes while Kevin spoke to Sarah Grace, and then to Jenny. "I gotta get going," he told Alexis. "If you or Javi need anything, just call, anytime."

"Thank you, Kevin," Alexis said. "Javier is really lucky to have you for a best friend."

"He's really lucky to have you for his girlfriend," Kevin said as he got to his feet. "You okay to get home?"

"Yeah," Alexis said. "I'll see you later. Tell Jenny and the kids I said hello."

"Will do," Kevin promised. "See you later, Alexis."

After Kevin left, Alexis headed out herself. When she passed the 24-hour pharmacy that Kevin had mentioned Matias having called, she went inside. Matias wasn't there, but she went back to the prescription counter and, although lying was not and would never be a strong suit of hers, she acted as nonchalantly as possible when a boy who looked younger than herself came over and asked if he could help her, and she asked, "Is my father-in-law's prescription ready?"

"What's his name?" the boy asked as he stepped in front of the computer.

"Matias Esposito," Alexis replied. She spelled both names for him.

He tapped on the computer's keyboard, then said, "That's the Salmeterol. It's not ready yet, but it should be ready by five." He read the computer screen. "He asked to be contacted by phone."

"That's fine," Alexis said. "He'll pick it up after it's ready, then. Thank you."

"Have a nice day," he said with a smile as Alexis left.

"Yeah, you too," Alexis replied.

Once she was back outside, she Googled 'Salmeterol' on her phone, and found out that it was a long-acting bronchodilator most commonly used to treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, or COPD.

Just like that, a piece of the puzzle clicked into place.

Matias Esposito had COPD. Well, Alexis silently amended, most likely he had COPD.

Which meant that was the most likely reason for his sudden reappearance in Javier's life. He was very sick, if not dying, and he was trying to...trying to, what, exactly? Make amends to Javier for abandoning him? Make peace with his only son before he died? Try to get money out of Javier to pay for his medication, and for any treatments he might need?

Alexis headed home, determined to share this news with her parents, do more research on COPD, and see what they thought. She called Javier, but got his voicemail, so she left a message: "It's me. I found out something and you should know. Call me when you get this, okay? I love you."

As she made her way home, turning the COPD news over in her mind, she was only slightly comforted by the fact that Matias Esposito apparently wasn't seeking an organ transplant from Javier.


Javier tried to get to the cemetery to put something on his mother's and grandmother's graves at least four times a year: Mother's Day; their respective birthdays; and sometime in December before Christmas.

This unscheduled visit today, nowhere near any of those occasions, was because he was so rattled by Matias Esposito's reappearance in his life. He had remembered to bring flowers, which he placed on both their graves. His abuela had been his mother's mother. Javier was raised by his mother and his abuela after his father abandoned them. He placed the flowers on their headstones (they were buried side by side) and then hunkered down before their graves.

"I wish I knew what to do," he said quietly out loud. "I wish I knew why he was here. I wish you two had had the chance to tell him off. I wish you could have met Alexis." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'm all over the place here. I just...I don't know what to do."

"Javi?"

Even though he'd only heard it once before, Javier knew that voice.

He also knew it was very bad form to swear like a drunk sailor on leave in a Catholic cemetery, in front of the graves of your very devout mother and grandmother.

He slowly stood up and turned around to face Matias Esposito. "Stalking me now?" he challenged. "Because for that, I can get a restraining order."

"I waited outside your apartment most of the day," Matias explained. "I saw you come back late this morning, and I was trying to get up the courage to talk to you-"

"I thought I made it clear that I have nothing to say to you," Javier interrupted coldly. "In case I didn't, though, I am now: I have nothing to say to you. Not now, not ever. And how dare you come here, of all places. You left my mother. She wouldn't really talk about you, but on the rare occasion she did, I saw the sadness in her eyes, which leads me to believe that the divorce was your idea. You left her, you left me, you didn't bother to contact either one of us past one lousy phone call and a postcard."

Matias's face contorted then as more pain than usual suddenly shot through his chest. His breathing became very erratic. He couldn't get enough air, and once again, he had left his inhaler back in the Honda, and his supplemental oxygen at his motel. He hadn't wanted to hit Javier with this so soon, but now it looked like he had no choice.

"Julia...Julia raised a...loyal son," Matias managed to get out with difficulty. He splayed one hand across his chest, trying to will the pain away, trying to get control of his breathing, but it wasn't working.

"That's right, she did," Javier replied. "Her. Not you. I don't know what you want, I don't care what you want, I-"

Whatever Javier was going to say disintegrated as Matias fumbled blindly behind himself, looking for something to grab onto to keep himself upright. Javier took a long, hard look at the old man and realized he was in respiratory distress.

Matias collapsed, gasping for breath, his eyes wide and panicked. Cursing in his head, Javier pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed 911. "I need an ambulance at St. John Cemetery in Queens immediately. I have a 74-year-old Hispanic male in respiratory distress, clutching at his chest, who just collapsed in Section 15. My name is Javier Esposito, and I'm a Sergeant with the NYPD," he said when the operator answered.

After being assured the ambulance was on its way, he hung up and stuck his phone back in his pocket. He hunkered down next to Matias and said, "Just hang on. The ambulance is on its way, all right?" He had no jacket to put under Matias's head, and he was on autopilot right now, not wanting to touch him or move him in case it was a heart attack. Once again, this man had managed to stir up nearly every emotion inside him and throw them all in a high-speed blender.

Not even three minutes later, Javier heard the sirens signaling the ambulance's approach. He jumped up and flagged them down as they drove down the narrow cemetery lane, and the ambulance stopped, the paramedics jumping out with their equipment and a gurney and immediately tending to Matias.

"He's lucky you were here to call us," one of the paramedics said.

"Yeah. Lucky," Javier said as the paramedics lifted Matias onto the gurney and strapped him to it. "Which hospital are you going to?"

"St. John's Episcopal is the closest hospital to here," the second paramedic said. "Are you riding with us?"

"I have my car. I'll follow you," Javier said.

"Do you know this man's name?" the first paramedic asked after he and his partner had loaded Matias into the back of the ambulance.

"Matias," Javier said. "Matias Esposito."

"Got it," the paramedic said, scribbling something on a clipboard before he climbed into the back of the ambulance with Matias. The ambulance peeled out, lights and sirens wailing.

Javier said a silent goodbye to his mother and abuela, and when he was safely inside his car, he leaned his head back against the headrest for a long moment before pulling out his phone again and calling Alexis.

When she answered, halfway through the second ring, before she got out more than a hello, he said simply, "Alexis, I need you."

"I'm on my way," she replied. "Where?"

"St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Queens," he told her. "It's Matias."

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Alexis promised.

"I'll be in the ER," Javier said. Then, disconnecting the call, and knowing that Alexis would tell Beckett and Castle, he called Ryan. "Matias is headed to St. John's Episocopal Hospital in Queens," he said when Ryan answered. "Can you meet me there?"

"Yeah, I'll leave right now," Ryan replied.

"I'll be in the ER," Javier said. Then he disconnected the call, started the car and drove himself to the hospital to wait for his true family...and to find out exactly what was going on with Matias.