"Wow. I never knew breaking and entering was so sexy. Cop badge." He thinks of something else. "Beckett, you said you got me clothes. Did you go through my underwear drawer?"
At that, Kate tilts her head, sighs in exasperation. "Really, Castle?"
Alexis had been worried, when she'd seen Kate at the gate instead of her father, but Kate had calmed the girl quickly, folded her into a hug, all the while schooling her voice the way she's been trained. It's more than that, though. More than the training. She's been on the other side, had the bad news presented to her. There's no good way, but- it makes her different. The drive she has is what will make her detective, the empathy she has- that's what's going to make her a good detective. And so she hugs Alexis, ignoring her inner voice that tells her not to get close to this nine year old, her father, any of it, and tells her plainly and simply that Castle had a minor car accident, that he's fine, and that they'll go see him after they get some things from the loft.
Alexis had been positively thrilled when Kate suggested a sleepover- "Can we watch movies?"
Kate had nodded. "But let's get stuff for your Dad, first, and maybe we can have dinner with him in the hospital, too." Alexis had bounded up to her room to choose some clothes, and when she came back Kate packed Rick's stuff into the top of the backpack, Kate had seen a stuffed toy, too. A bear? Maybe a monkey? She wasn't sure if that was something she was supposed to comment on, with a nine year old, so she left it.
Figuring out how to get in touch with Katrina was easier than Kate had anticipated. It turned out that Alexis' babysitter lived in the building next door, so they'd simply buzzed her door and let her know she had the night off, before getting into a cab to head back to the hospital. Kate had picked up the tulips in the hospital gift shop- they were overpriced, and a little wilted even before she stuffed them into the backpack, but she figured they'd do.
Kate was surprising herself by how okay she felt here. The whole day has turned out very differently to what she'd expected- she'd picked out a dress to wear tonight and suddenly she was in jeans and a leather jacket, collecting Alexis from school, and going back to Castle's apartment without him. Being in the apartment without him was oddly unpleasant. Earlier, it had been on the tip of her tongue to suggest that she could stay with Alexis at the loft, but the thought of staying in Rick's bed without him was uncomfortable, and staying in his guest room would have been worse. Sitting with the two of them in the hospital room is okay. Better than okay.
Castle is tired, but he doesn't want to suggest Kate and Alexis go. Not yet. Alexis has explored the room fully- it's a small private room with a bed, two chairs, a side table and a bathroom, so there's not much to explore. His daughter also walks up and down the hallway, peeking into other rooms, and returning with a jar that she fills with water for the flowers. The staff know that he's here, who he is- Kate told them- and so security is tight enough that he's not too concerned about letting Alexis out of his line of sight.
Kate's been pretty quiet, and he asks her about her morning in between Alexis popping in and out of the room. She tells him about the body in the Hudson, and as serious as that is, he's laughing as she tells him about her friend feeling the effects of a big night. "You went out with her last night?"
"I did. And Hunter. The officer you met," she clarifies.
"Ah," he nods. "Amanda."
"Amanda. Right." She grins. "Or Veronica, even."
"But you left last night, before you could have a big night?"
"What can I say, Castle? I was saving myself for a big night tonight. Until you went and cancelled on me." She's smiling, but she turns serious. "I really am glad you're okay."
Dinner is brought around on a plastic tray, and Alexis reappears in the doorway. "Daddy? I'm hungry too."
Castle grimaces at the food on the tray. "Well, this isn't fit for anyone. So. Pizza all round?"
Alexis cheers, and Kate nods. "Sounds good. Should I go pick something up?"
Castle shakes his head. "No, they'll deliver."
"To a hospital?"
He shrugs. "I guess so." He figures this as good a time as any to test his new (old) phone, and he pulls the crushed phone from the bed side table, extracts the SIM and places it in the green Nokia. He turns it on, and sure enough, he's got reception, and his contacts are all there. He dials for pizza by heart though, and Kate grins.
"Another number you know off by heart, Castle?"
"What can I say, Beckett? I know the important ones." Her cheeks flush with colour, and she averts her eyes. He loves that he can do that do her.
After pizza, Kate notices Castle is struggling more and more to get his eyes to stay open. "We're going to go," she tells him.
"To watch a movie at your place, right?" Alexis has gotten quiet, kind of shy, as though she's not too sure about going to Kate's anymore.
"Right. Although, I don't know what movies I have that you'll like." She turns to Castle. "What kind of things is she allowed to watch? I don't have many movies. More TV shows."
"If she's not allowed to watch it, she'll tell you, won't you sweetheart?"
"Sci-fi, maybe? Nebula 9?"
He scrunches his face up, trying to place the show. "I don't know it. Is that the one that got cancelled?"
"Uh-huh. It was awesome. It should never have been cancelled." It's a sore point with Kate- well, all the Nebula 9 fans, she supposes. Twelve episodes of awesome, and then nothing.
He raises his eyebrows. "I'll take your word for it. Anyway, it should be fine, but Alexis will tell you if it's too scary. Or C-R-A-P," he spells out.
"Dad! I can spell that!"
"I know sweetheart. Come here and give me a hug goodbye." The red head does so, her eyes wide and worried. "Don't worry, honey. I'll be out of here in the morning."
"I just wish you could come home now, Dad."
"Uh-huh. Me too." Kate's watching the scene, and she's not surprised by the meaningful look Rick gives her. Alexis disentangles herself, and he beckons at Kate, who steps forward, and presses a quick, rueful kiss to his mouth. "Not how I was hoping tonight would go, Beckett."
"Yeah. Me too." She's almost whispering. How the fuck did she get here? Just a few weeks ago she'd sworn she would throw herself into her work, that she didn't have time to focus on anything else, and suddenly it seems like she's got an entire family. And the worst part of it? It feels right.
Tucking Alexis in on the couch is an odd feeling. The girl had clung to Kate as they'd exited the hospital, and cuddled up to her on the couch while they'd watched an episode of Nebula 9. For Kate, who rarely touched anyone, that had been strange. Not necessarily unwelcome, just- unusual. Alexis had explored the small apartment while Kate made the couch up. Kate had pulled some sheets over the couch, gotten an extra comforter from her closet, and pulled a spare pillow off her own bed, and Alexis had shyly looked around, glancing back at Kate every so often for permission to look at things. Kate considered how different Little Castle was to her father, as she recalled his enthusiasm in the police car. He hasn't been here yet, but she doubts he'll show the same restraint when he does visit.
With a smile, Kate pulls the covers over Alexis and presses a kiss onto her cheek. "Can I turn the light out?"
Alexis nods. "Night, Kate."
"Sleep tight, sweetie."
Kate walks through to her own bedroom, and closes the door behind her, leaning up against it. It's ten o'clock and she's beat. She sends a quick text to Castle- she assumes he's asleep by now, but just in case- Alexis is sleeping on my couch, hope you sleep well. See you in the morning. She sighs, changes into pajamas, and settles down onto her bed, intending to read. But the only book in her room is a Castle mystery, and she needs a few minutes to herself, something that's not all about him. Just for a second. She could go back into the living room, comb through her bookshelves in the dark, but she doesn't want to disturb Alexis. Instead, she lifts a box out from under her bed. Roughly photocopied forms and photographs swim before her eyes as she fumbles around the for the picture she really wants. Kate and her Mom, standing together, in front of Rockefeller Center, ice skates over their shoulders. Kate gazes at the picture for a minute, running her index finger over her Mom's face. She bites her lip as a tear threatens to spill out, and finally squeezes her eyes shut for a second. Kate kicks the box back under the bed, and props the picture up against the lamp on her side table, before getting under the covers and turning the lamp out.
In the darkness, Kate's phone beeps, and she reaches out to check it. Castle. Until tomorrow, Kate. Thank you. x
