Title: Rock Foundation

Disclaimer: I do not own the Castle characters or their story lines. I just borrow them for fun.

Summary: A Sequel of sorts for my one-shot Rock Solid. Kate and Rick deal with the aftermath of Knockdown and move forward with their lives, learning to balance their partnership with their budding relationship.

Author's note: I'm very touched that everyone has enjoyed this story so much, especially the last chapter. This one's a bit fluffier. I'm hoping to have another chapter out within the next few days (which could mean later today, or Wednesday, depending on homework and such). Either way, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter VI:

Rick stood at the incoming gate at JFK, looking for that spark of red among the blacks, blondes and brunettes. He had checked the flight times and even so, he was still at least 15 minutes early to pick her up. He leaned on the rail of the barrier in front of him and thought about the past week.

He was very happy that his daughter had been away for this last case. Alexis would have been worried, and possibly terrified that he and Kate would both die. His daughter didn't need that. He didn't want her to have to deal with that. He'd considered the fact that he was continually putting himself in danger a year ago, after the Nikki Heat case, and wondered if it was the right thing to do.

But Alexis had hugged him later that night when he'd gotten home and told him how glad she was that he was there for Kate, and he'd understood that Alexis understood him. It was her way of giving him her blessing.

"Dad!" Alexis called, bouncing up to the gate. He'd obviously lost himself in his thoughts.

"My long lost daughter!" Rick exclaimed as she rounded the barrier and wrapped her arms around him. "How are you?" he asked as he pulled away and inspected her. "Did you come back with piercings, jewelry, a pony?"

"A new wardrobe, but that's all," Alexis laughed. "Mom was surprisingly restrained. It was a nice change."

"I'm glad," Rick told her as they made their way out of the airport and into the car he had waiting for them. Her bags would be delivered later that afternoon. "Now, tell me all about your trip!"

"We went riding a few times, saw some theatre. I spent a day with her on the set of a new indie film she's in. It was pretty good. I think she's getting better."

"That's reassuring," Rick laughed. "Did you have fun?"

"I did," Alexis nodded. "She's a bit more grown up. She's got a new boyfriend, did she tell you?"

"She mentioned someone when we were talking about your trip. Do you like him?"

"Yeah. He's a nice guy. He's a divorce attorney, which I think is apropos."

"Well played, my young one," Rick smiled at her.

"How was your week?"

Rick looked at his mature, almost grown up little girl, and sighed. "Why don't I tell you when we get back to the apartment."

"Is everything okay?" Alexis suddenly looked very worried.

"Don't worry. Everyone's fine. It was just a difficult week."

"If you're sure…"

"I am. Now, tell me about the shows you saw."

Alexis dove into an animated story about seeing the West Coast Wicked and how different she felt it was from the Broadway version. Rick smiled and listened to his daughter with rapt attention, happy to have her back.

When they arrived at the apartment Rick helped her get her bags upstairs to her room and then set them up on the couch with ice cream.

"Okay, Dad. Please tell me what happened," Alexis implored him.

"You remember the case last year where Kate ended up shooting her mother's assassin?"

"This case was about Kate's mom?" Alexis asked, putting down her ice cream to give Rick her full attention.

"Detective Raglan, the Detective assigned to Kate's mother's case, called and told her that he had information about the murder. We went and while we were having coffee with him, he was shot from an apartment across the street. He bled out."

"Oh God, Dad!"

"It wasn't pretty, I'll say that," Rick squeezed her knee. "But everyone's okay. No one was hurt."

"Okay. Continue."

"So we ended up investigating his murder, and it turns out that he and one of his cop buddies were kidnapping mobsters when Kate's mother was killed. They, along with another man, were taking Mafia hit men and trying to instill the fear of God into them and get them to stop killing people, in a misguided attempt to affect change. Johanna Beckett became the attorney for a man wrongfully convicted of killing an undercover FBI agent when one of the kidnappings went wrong. She had figured it out, or was about to, when they took the hit out on her."

"Oh my God," Alexis looked horror stricken.

"This third guy wasn't a cop. He found out that we were doing an investigation, and he captured Ryan and Esposito."

"Are they okay?" Alexis asked quickly.

"They're just fine. I had drinks with them on Thursday. Don't worry, Sweetie. Everyone comes out alright at the end of this."

"Tell me what happened next," Alexis demanded.

"Kate and I found the guy and went in after them. Kate shot the brute who was going to shoot out one of Ryan's kneecaps, and then she and Hal Lockwood, the third guy, who actually isn't Hal Lockwood…"

"Stolen identity?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"They had a shootout?"

"He almost had her and I…well, I pounced on him and beat him unconscious," Rick recounted, rubbing over his barely sore knuckles.

"You did what?"

"I…um, punched his lights out in a fit of rage?"

"Holy sh…crap Dad!" Alexis yelled. "You could have been killed!"

"He was about to shoot Kate."

They looked at each other before Alexis launched herself into his arms and hugged him tighter than she ever had done before. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Rick hugged her back. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

Alexis pulled back and looked at him. "If you hadn't been there, would Kate be dead right now?"

Rick considered her. Honesty had always been his rule with Alexis, and he didn't plan to start lying now. "If I hadn't been there, she probably wouldn't have even gotten into the building, and not only would she be dead, but Ryan and Esposito might be too."

Alexis stared at him, her mouth hanging open. He didn't sound proud or cocky, just deadly serious. She hugged him again. "I'm proud of you, Daddy."

"Proud of me?" he asked when they pulled apart.

"You do good things every day, Dad. But you saved three people's lives, and the world would be lesser if they weren't here."

"Thank you," Rick said gruffly as he wiped a tear from her cheek. "But just say the word, and I'm done. You," he cupped her cheek, "are the most important one of all. And I never want to leave you alone."

"You won't," Alexis smiled. "Kate would save you."

Rick laughed. "She very well might. It's a give and take thing."

"Can I ask you to try not to get into life-and-death situations for three more weeks? We're having midterms soon."

"I'll do my best."

"Is Kate okay? You said Hal Lockwood wasn't really who he said he was?"

"He's not. He was given the order to kill Johanna by someone even higher up. Kate's looking into it. She's okay, a bit shaken, and a bit disappointed to not be rid of this case and the unknown, but she's okay."

"Is she still dating that Doctor?" Alexis asked, her nose scrunching up.

"Hey, he seems like a decent enough guy."

Alexis just rolled her eyes. "Is she?"

"I'm not sure, Alexis. As far as I know…" His cell pinged.

"Beckett?" Alexis asked, and Rick laughed.

"The very same. She says hi, by the way," he told her as he looked down at the phone.

Did Alexis make it back all right?

"Tell her 'hi back' from me," Alexis said happily as she picked up her slightly melted ice cream and dug in.

She did, and she's says 'hi back.' Everything okay with you?

Rick put the phone on the coffee table while Alexis turned on the TV to the news and they settled down to watch. Rick looked over at his daughter and felt pride swell in his chest. She was a very special girl, and she was his daughter.

His cell phone beeped.

I hope you haven't written a motorcycle-riding boyfriend into Nikki Heat.

Rick stared at the phone, his fingers sitting stiffly over the keys.

"What's up?" Alexis asked, looking over at him.

"I think the Doctor might be toast," he said distractedly.

Alexis leaned over and read the text. "You haven't, have you?"

"No. He wouldn't fit into the story very well."

"Might want to tell her that," Alexis smirked as she went back to her seat and changed the channel to John Stewart.

Wasn't sure he was a permanent character, so I refrained. Why?

He watched John Stewart dance around on the screen, his mind far away. If she'd dumped Josh…

Then you won't need to figure out a way to get rid of him.

That meant…

Are you okay?

The reply took a few minutes and Rick watched the television absent-mindedly, ignoring Alexis' inquisitive looks.

I'm fine. Really. It just wasn't right, you know?

Rick smiled and gave a little laugh.

"What's up?" Alexis asked.

"The Doctor's gone for good."

"And you're laughing because…"

"Kate's reason is the same as mine was for breaking up with Gina."

Alexis nodded sagely. "It just wasn't right?"

"Exactly."

"She should come over for dinner," Alexis said abruptly.

"I'm sorry?" Rick asked, looking up from his phone.

"Invite her over for dinner. It's never fun to be alone after a breakup."

"Are you sure, Sweetie? You just got home."

"I like Kate, Dad," Alexis rolled her eyes.

"If you're sure…"

"Do it, or I'll take the phone from you and call her."

"Alright! Alright, I'll ask. She might not say yes, you know."

I'm glad you're okay with it. Alexis wants to know if you'd like to join us for dinner? Don't feel obligated. She'd like to see you, and I wouldn't mind either.

He sent the text and waited while Alexis cleaned up their bowls.

Sounds good. What time?

6:30?

Okay. See you then.

Rick smiled and turned to Alexis. "She said yes. She'll be here at 6:30."

"Awesome. Okay, I'm going to go study for a while then. Call me when you're making dinner, and I'll come help."

"Thanks Pumpkin. Go have fun," he told her. She smiled and flounced upstairs, leaving Rick alone on the couch.

His phone pinged again.

Thanks.

He stared at the message and went into his study.

Any time, Kate.

He set the phone down and opened his laptop. He sat in front of the keys, thinking through past few days, what he could use, what he couldn't. He settled on the final moments of the last case. Before he knew it, three hours had gone by, and it was time to make dinner.

He closed his laptop and made his way into the kitchen. "Hey Alexis!" he called up the stairs.

"Yeah?" came the muffled reply.

"Wanna help me make dinner?"

"Coming!"

Rick pulled out chicken and went about getting the ingredients ready to a stovetop fry when Alexis bounced into the kitchen. "What can I do?"

"Make a salad and cut up some potatoes for me to fry up with the chicken?"

"Sounds great. Can do."

They went about making the food, bumping each other and bickering over Star Wars trivia. Rick was just pulling the last piece of chicken out of the pan when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Alexis chirped. She ran to the door and opened it to let Kate in. "Kate! I'm so glad to see you!"

Kate was taken by surprise when she suddenly had her arms full of teenager, but she relaxed and allowed herself to enjoy the hug before they broke apart and Alexis closed the door and took Kate's jacket.

"How are you, Detective?" Rick asked as he put plates out and indicated for her to sit.

"I'm doing well, and yourself?"

"I'm great. It's nice to have my kid back," he smiled at Alexis as she sat down next to Kate.

"How was your trip?" Kate asked her as Rick sat down and they dug in.

"It was good. Mom and I went riding. Do you ride, Kate?"

"She rides a different type of horse, or should I say, horse power?" Rick chimed in.

Kate rolled her eyes. "I don't ride horses, but I do have a motorcycle."

"She has a motorcycle, and you were reluctant to get me a vespa?" Alexis looked accusingly at Rick.

"To be fair, I am getting one. It's back ordered, I told you," Rick coughed before he took a big bite of chicken.

"Dad's can be protective, Alexis. Sometimes we simply have to cut them some slack."

"Fiiiine," Alexis sighed and she and Kate laughed at the affronted look Rick gave them. "I heard about the case from Dad. Are you okay?" she asked, her voice much more serious.

Kate gave her a smile. "I'm just fine, Alexis. Your Dad here has been doing a good job of keeping me distracted since it ended."

"Has he?" Alexis looked at Rick with a 'what didn't you tell me' face.

"Yeah. We went out shopping and for a walk and had a movie night. It was very nice."

"Sounds nice," Alexis smiled at her. "Would you want to watch a movie after dinner? I'm sure there could be ice cream."

"She's learned well, Castle," Kate laughed as she looked at Rick, who was giving his daughter an approving nod.

"Ice cream is the way to almost any stomach, Detective."

"I suppose I could stay for a movie. Just one movie though. We've been falling asleep while watching multiple," she told Alexis.

"One it is. What are you in the mood for?" she asked as she cleared away their plates.

"I don't know. We've done a slew of con movies and we watched the first Pirates. Is there anything you've been dying to watch?"

Alexis bit her lip. "I mean, you don't have to… I know Dad absolutely loathes them, but I got the third Twilight movie while I was with mom…"

Kate looked over at Rick, who was pantomiming vomiting into the sink and smirked. "Eclipse sounds wonderful. Go pop it in. Your Dad and I will get the ice cream."

Alexis squealed and raced upstairs to get her new copy.

"You know the Twilight movies by name?" Rick asked, horrified, as he passed her bowls.

"I've also read all four, if that's not enough to scare you."

"You've…you've read Twilight?"

"You didn't think the only books I've ever read are Murder Mysteries, did you?" Kate laughed at his shocked expression as they sat down on the couch and went about using two scoops to put a variety of flavors into the three bowls.

"No. But I never thought you'd be a sparkly vampire kind of girl."

"I didn't think they were the greatest books on Earth, but they're fun enough. The movies are great just for the mocking factor."

"I barely made it through the first one," Rick admitted as they sat back.

Alexis came down the stairs. "Then you'll probably like this one more. It's a bit more of a movie, even if it's still not amazing cinema," Kate told him.

"Oh," Alexis laughed as she put the disk in and sat down in the armchair off to the side. "This is the best of the three, even if it's still terrible."

"Why do you want to watch it, if it's so bad?" Rick asked as he passed her a bowl and a spoon.

"Mocking movies is fun, Castle. We did it the other night."

"Well, yeah," he conceded. "But there's a threshold!"

"Just start the movie, Alexis," Kate laughed.

Rick huffed and scrunched down on his side of the couch. Kate giggled and nudged his foot with hers. He looked over at her. "Give it a chance, Castle."

He nodded and they watched the movie, Alexis and Kate mocking it mercilessly with Rick chiming in every now and then. He was more content to watch Kate and Alexis interact. There was a friendship there that he'd never seen Alexis have with any of the women he'd had in his life. She and Gina got along, but they never really palled around, and Meredith, well, she was as much an annoying Aunt as a neglectful mother. It was nice to see her have a strong, positive female role model, even if it did mean that she was rolling her eyes at him by the end of the movie.

When Eclipse was over, Alexis bid them a sleepy goodnight and made her way upstairs, stopping to give them each a hug.

"We should do this again," she told Kate.

"Definitely," Kate nodded before she gave Alexis a little push and the teen went up to her room.

"You're really good with her," Rick said as they looked at each other.

"She's a great kid, Castle. You've done a good job raising her, and she's fun to be around. It's no trouble to be nice to her."

"Yeah, she is kind of like Thumper; you can't hate her." Kate laughed. "So," Rick continued, nudging her a bit with his leg. "You really okay, with everything?"

Kate smiled at him. "I really am."

"I'm sorry if my being there was part of the reason it ended. If I'd known he'd show up…"

"Castle…Rick, it wasn't your fault. Sometimes it's just not what's meant to be. Josh is a great guy, but he's not the guy, you know?"

Rick nodded. "I do."

They just looked at each other for a few minutes before Kate sighed and stood. "I should get going. I need to be in at 9 tomorrow. When will you be coming by?"

"How about 9:30? That way you can get settled and stuff without me buzzing around."

"You know, you don't have to come in tomorrow. We don't even know if a body's going to drop," she told him as he helped her into her jacket.

"I know, but I want to. Besides, I wrote about five chapters this afternoon, so I can take a break for as long as I want."

"Inspiration really struck, huh?" Kate teased as they stood by the door.

"You could say that," Rick said evasively.

"That's good though, right?"

"Always," he smiled. "Until tomorrow, Detective."

Kate fixed him with a brilliant smile and leaned up close to his ear. "Until tomorrow, Rick." And then she was gone in a whirl of hair and cherries, leaving him staring after her. His name shouldn't sound that good coming out of anyone's mouth. It really shouldn't.