"So how's army life treating you?" Roxie asks as I pour drinks behind the bar."Besides the fact that Rick is leaving tomorrow, I have no idea what this FP-CON-ALPHA thing means." I say confused."Alpha relates to the global threat of terrorism. Buy gas masks, stock up on bottled water. Basically it's the first phase of a terrorist alert. Don't let strangers into your quarters, pay close attention to radio, television." Denise explains stirring her iced-tea."You okay?" Claudia Joy asks Roxie."Should I be? I mean, my husband's leaving me, and they won't even give me a return date." Roxie scoffs, annoyed."They never give you the exact date until a few days before his return. But they should give you a rough time table." Claudia Joy says sadly."Oh and Kate, what's with you calling Major Castle Rick? Something we need to know about?" Roxie slyly asks as I come back from delivering some beers to some locals."You mean besides that he's leaving with Frank, and LeBlanc?" I tease."There's definitely something juicy, you just deflected!" Roxie says excitedly."Well, right now he's out making sure whatever paperwork is needed to be signed for me to look over Alexis is taken care of, along with some others in case if he gets hurt they'll call me." I state pouring a couple refills."Really what about his mother? Doesn't she usually watch Alexis?" Pamela asks."Usually yes, but she's out of the state visiting relatives and he doesn't know when she will be back." I say taking a sip of my own iced-tea."Seems the two of you have been spending a lot of time together." Roland remarks."What's that supposed to mean?" I ask somewhat defensive."Nothing, nothing. It's just what happens when you two try dating and it doesn't work out? Who's going to get hurt then? Alexis." Roland points out."B-But what if it does? What if we end up getting together and making it work?" I questions scared. When all that meets that statement are blank looks, I get even more scared. "I moved my dad and me down here on nothing more than a chance, even though we don't have the best relationship, not since my mother." I defend myself before storming off.
That night as I unlock the door to the house, I see my father being helped into his bed for the night by his nurse. After talking with his nurse about his day and sending her on her way, I walk over to the side of his bed. "I heard you gave the nurse a scare today?" I state as I sit in a chair near his bedside."All I wanted was to go outside for some fresh air. Thought I told her." Dad says with a smile as he adjusts his nasal cannula."I see." I say as I mess with the edge of his blanket."Katie what's wrong?" Dad asks taking hold of my hand. With a sigh I finally look into his eyes. "I miss her, and nobody around here knows." I say sadly."I know Katie, I know; and I miss her too." Dad says squeezing my hand."If Mom was here, she would know what to do. She would be better at this then me." I say as I start to cry."Katie you're right, she would know what to do." Dad starts to say but at my hurt look amends his statement. "She would know what to do, but Katie that doesn't mean I would trade you for her. You're just as strong, beautiful, talented, smart, and you don't hover over me every minute of every day like your mother would." Dad says with a smile as he squeezed my hand again."Mom did like to hover when we were sick, but I think I kind of miss it sometimes." I say with a watery smile."So this Rick fella, anything I need to know about him? Do I need to pull out the old bag of tricks like when you were a teenager?" Dad asks as I help him get settled."No dad, were just friends. We understand each other. Although Rick is being deployed first thing tomorrow, and I volunteered to watch his daughter Alexis." I say as I clean up some empty bottles and cans."Shouldn't she be with her mother?" Dad asked."Her mother lives in L.A. and works as an actress, plus she left them for her director." I explain."So she's more like a cardboard cutout, pretty to look at but not much in the head?" Dad stated closing his eyes."Pretty much. Good night, Dad. Love you." I say as I bend down and kiss his cheek."Night, Katie." Dad whispers as I close his door. Before I go to bed that night, I take out the garbage and the recycling, made sure the laundry is in the laundry room ready for washing, and clean up the living room a little bit. Then as I lay in bed I send a good night text to Rick.
When I wake up that morning I quickly get ready in jeans, a red scoop neck tee, and a pair of tan uggs. As I walk down the final few steps I finish braiding my hair."Dad! Time to get up! I'm making some coffee, you want anything?!" I ask as I walk into the kitchen and effortlessly fill the coffee pot while pulling out the box of cheerios. As I hear Dad start getting up and around, I go and open the door to get the paper. Five minutes later Dad shuffles into the kitchen running his hands through his hair."I was promised coffee." Dad grunts as he settles on the stool next to me."In the coffee pot. I have to go, Rick asked me to come over early to help out with Alexis. Apparently she's giving him an attitude today." I say laughing."Sounds just like someone else I know." Dad jokes pouring his coffee."Come on, I wasn't that bad!" I say smiling."Just keep telling yourself that." Dad says smiling as I pull on a tan jacket to keep the morning chill away. Since Rick's house isn't to far I decide to walk."Morning Kate! How is everything?" Pamela greets as I walked by her. She is busy wrangling four kids into her van to take them to school."I'm good, just headed over to Rick's." I explain waving to Finn. The rest of the walk was fairly peaceful, if only my mind would follow."Morning Kate, come on in." Rick greets tiredly when he opens the door."That bad?" I ask curiously as I hang my jacket in the closet and toe off my uggs."She refuses to get dressed, and every time I try to dress her she starts another tantrum." Rick explains sadly."Why don't you get ready, and I'll try to get Alexis ready to go." I suggest as I start for the stairs."Alexis can I come in?" I ask, knocking on her door."I don't wanna go!" Alexis yells through the door."Alright, then I can drop you off at school, and I can say goodbye to your dad by myself." I say as I slowly start walking away."No don't go without me!" Alexis cries hurriedly pulling open her door."Are you ready to get dressed, and be good?" I ask kneeling in front of her so I can look in her eyes."Yes." Alexis says, nodding her head."Okay then, why don't you pick out some clothes while I warm up some pop-tarts for you." I say lightly pushing her back into her room. A few minutes later Alexis came bounding down the stairs with her brush in her hand."Kate can you give me an Elsa braid like yours?" She asks shyly."Who's Elsa?" I ask picking Alexis up and setting her in her chair. She starts eating and telling me in as much detail, as possible for a four year old who Elsa is, as I braid her hair."I see you were successful." Rick says walking down the stairs carrying an army bag with Castle labeled on the ends."Yeah I was, there's toast, fruit, and coffee for you." I say quietly as I point at the seat next to Alexis."Thank you." Rick says sitting down and eating.
"Alexis you want to give your daddy the card you made him?" I ask as we arrive at the airstrip. Smiling she nods her head vigorously and riffling through her monster high backpack. As we wait for her to find the card, Rick makes sure I know the emergency numbers and contacts."Rick, we'll be fine, I've got this." I say confidently."Here daddy, I made you this." Alexis says sweetly holding out the pink sparkly card."Thank you baby." Rick says as he hugs Alexis tightly. That's when Denise and Frank come over."Ready soldier?" Frank asks shaking Rick's hand. Alexis hides behind me as soon as she sees Frank, clutching my legs."It's okay Alexis." I say placing my hand on her head. She just shakes her head and holds on tighter. After Frank and Rick exchange a few more words about their team, Frank leaves to talk to more people he knows."Don't worry Major, the girls and I will help Kate take care of Alexis." Denise reassures Rick with a hand on his arm before leaving to find Frank. Sensing Alexis's shaking behind me, I turn and gently settled her on my hip."I love you pumpkin, I'll be home as soon as possible." Rick tells Alexis as she starts crying and reaching out for him. A whistle blows as Rick hugs Alexis tightly, then he passes Alexis back to me and jogs of to join his platoon. I just stand there rubbing Alex's back listening to her crying, as I watch Rick climb up into the plane."Okay Alexis, we have to go; you don't want to miss your play date do you?" I ask glancing in the rearview mirror. The poor girl just continues looking out the window, not bothering to answer as I pull up to her friend's house."Thank you for having her over." I say to the parents of Alexis's friend."No problem, we understand." the mother says with a smile. After making sure Alexis is going to be okay until I pick her up later, I go home to check on my dad, do a little grocery shopping, then change into a tan tee and tan high heel boots; then I'm off to work. So far tonight is one of the slow ones, I am busy cleaning of a table when Claudia Joy come in. I see her walk over to Betty and hand her a slip of paper, then Roxy and Denise walk in and the three of them gather round a table. As they give of hugs to each other Roland walks in and joins them, at the same time a woman backs into me."Sorry." She tosses over her shoulder as a soldier walks into the middle of the room. Everyone stops what they are doing and look over at him. The soldier rips off his vest revealing a bomb as the door opens and Amanda walks in. Glancing over to my friends I see them all hold each other's hand and take a deep breath as the man brings his hand up to set the bomb off.