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Chapter Five

The tub that Lanie filled for them was pleasantly warm and quite large. The young woman herself was just as pleasant, leaving clothes, a large wash rag, and a razor and lather to shave with, as well as bath oils and soap to wash their filthy bodies. Castle thanked her profusely and she told him that she would be right down the hall if he needed her.

After she left, he immediately stripped Alexis of the potato sack she'd worn as a dress after her baby clothes grew too small for her, and lifted her into the tub, getting to scrubbing her clean and removing all the knots and dirt from her hair and skin until she was nearly recognizable.

"Well, look at you!" he cooed, rinsing the soap bubbles from her tiny body, before lifting her back out to dry with the wash rag. "Good as new, Pumpkin," he said, kissing her forehead as he dried her body. In the pile of clothing, he found a simple frock dress that may have been one of the women's at one time, and was just a tad big on Alexis, but it would have to do. She also found a small pair of underwear for her to wear, that he had to roll over a couple of times so that they would not fall down. "Beautiful," he said, kissing her nose, and making her giggle. Alexis reached for his face.

"Papa," she said and he smiled. Her vocabulary was very limited at her young age and he feared that it most had to do with the fact that they were always hiding from people and he made her be quiet. But at least she had learned this much.

And now that they were out of immediate danger, he may have a chance to work on it with her. He prayed that she would start speaking soon.

"Alexis," he replied, pressing her nose, before standing, he attempted to keep her at a bit of a distance, so that she would not dirty herself again and opened the door, calling for Lanie.

The young woman arrived and smiled at the child.

"How clean you are," she exclaimed, kneeling down. "And how very pretty!" She glanced up at Castle. "She has yo eyes," she informed him and he grinned, nodding.

"Can you watch her while I wash up?" he asked.

"Of course," Lanie confirmed, nodding. "Would you like to play a game, little one?" she asked Alexis. The girl looked up at her father and he nodded.

"It's alright," he promised. She nodded to Lanie and the woman smiled brightly, standing and taking her hand. "She doesn't speak very much," he informed Lanie. "I'm hoping to change that, soon, but don't be too concerned if she's silent." Lanie nodded in understanding, before pulling Alexis away with her. The girl turned and gave her father a wave as they went.

He waved back before closing the door, leaning back against it as he sighed. Lord, he hoped he'd made the right decision.

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"Lanie," Kate said, as she came out from below deck, "what are you doing with the child? Where's Mr. Castle?" Lanie smiled at her from her spot on the floor, where she was teaching Alexis an old hand game that her aunties had taught her as a child—one that she and Kate had played when they were young.

"He's still washing up, I imagine," she replied, smiling down as the little girl tapped her arm to get her attention. "Okay, baby," she said, "one more time." Her voice was soulful as she sang the words, never losing beat as her hands and the girl's much smaller ones moved in near-harmony, the redhead's face alight with joy Kate guessed she had never in her lifetime felt. Her hands fumbled a tiny bit, but Lanie never once paused, smiling easily at the child until the song—which Kate had memorized long ago—was over.

"'Gain!" Alexis exclaimed, surprising Lanie, who smiled brightly down at her. "So she has a voice," she said, sweetly. "No more, baby girl; maybe later. We can teach Papa." Alexis nodded furiously, her smile wide and toothy.

Lanie picked her up as she stood, planting the girl on her cocked hip. "Did you need me, Captain?" she asked and Kate grinned, her arms crossing over her chest.

"Growing attached to her already?" she asked and Lanie cackled.

"Might as well," she replied. "She will be with us for quite a while yet, won't she?"

Kate nodded. "If her father pulls his own weight, I suppose," she said, nonchalantly.

Suddenly, Lanie's face split in a sly grin, her eyes looking past Kate's shoulder. "Oh," she said, "I do not think that will be a problem." She nodded in the direction she was looking and Kate turned, her eyes widening at the sight of a clean-shaven and well-washed Richard Castle stepping on deck, his hair still dripping with water.

The first thing that she noticed was his bare chest, the only article of clothing above waistline being the open waist coat. A lump of yellowed cloth, which she assumed was the shirt Lanie had given him, was under his arm. The pants he wore seemed a bit tight, but they were fastened firmly; his feet were bare.

"Captain," he said, nodding. "Miss Parish," he greeted Lanie.

"Papa?" Alexis asked, her head tilting to the side and Kate could understand her confusion. The man she'd met before, the man who'd said his name was Richard Castle, could not have been this man with his ruggedly handsome features, and toned, muscular body. And that smile…

Kate ignored the fluttering in her chest and gave him a wry smile.

"Why," she said, "Mr. Castle; you clean up well."

Castle chuckled, scratching the back of his neck, causing his biceps to flex, drawing Kate's eyes right to them.

"Thank you, Captain," he replied, giving her a grin of his own. "The shirt didn't fit, I'm afraid," he said to Lanie and Kate could swear she heard her friend mumble, "Thank the Lord," before answering.

"Then we will have to get you a new one," she replied, "in the Philippines; we'll be there in a few days time, if you can wait."

Castle nodded. "That sounds alright," he said, before smiling at his little girl. "Did you have funny playing with Lanie, Pumpkin?" he asked. The girl smiled and nodded, clapping her hands. "That's good," he said. Lanie placed her on the ground and Alexis toddled to her father, giggling as he lifted her into the air, unaware that the two women in front of him were watching as his muscles rippled all over his body.

"Good Lord," Lanie whispered in Kate's ear, "I may need a drink after that."

Kate snapped out of her daze and rolled her eyes at her friend. "Go see if Antonio and Jenny are finished with supper," she requested. "I'll talk to Paulo about setting sail tonight; we want to be at Manila before the week is up."

"He and Eustace won't be happy about missing sleep tonight," Lanie pointed out. Kate sighed.

"Tell them that I will make it worth their while," Kate replied, firmly. Lanie nodded and headed off, waving goodbye to Alexis, who was comfortably nestled on her father's hip.

"What do you want us to do?" Castle asked, placing his daughter on one shoulder, barely wincing as she clutched his shaggy hair.

"As I said before, Mr. Castle," Kate replied, "all I need you to do is write for me tonight. That, and meet the rest of the crew. Supper should be served soon; I'll have Ryan and Tory show and Alexis to your rooms."

"Rooms?" Castle asked. "You mean, we won't be sharing a bunk?" Kate shook her head.

"I don't allow the males and females to mix at night," she informed him. "Tory, Lanie, and Jenny stay in one room; Paulo, Eustace, Ryan, Antonio, and Esposito in another. Now, your room will be a bit cramped but the ladies will take good care of Al—"

"No," Castle said, shaking his head. "I have to stay with my daughter or she'll have nightmares."

"I'm sure the women can handle—"

"Even I can't handle them, sometimes," Castle admitted. "Isn't there anywhere we could both stay; perhaps I could sleep in the ladies' room."

"Mr. Castle, I don't think—"

"Oh, just let him," a voice from behind her said. Kate turned to see Ryan and Tory approaching. "I'm sure he won't cause us too much trouble; and we'll leave him and his little girl alone, as well." Kate lifted her brow at the other woman, but Tory did not flinch.

"Alright," she said, looking back at Castle. "But no fraternizing," she warned, "or you'll be thrown overboard and your daughter will be left in an orphanage in Singapore; understood?"

Castle nodded, solemnly. "Yes, Captain," he said. "Thank you." Kate nodded and turned to glare at Tory. "And you," she said, "you'll be mopping the deck tonight."

Tory's eyes widened at that. "But, I—"

"You spoke out of term," Kate said, putting her hand up to stop Tory's speech. "Never undermine my authority. Is that understood?"

Tory looked like she wanted to argue but Kate's hard glare left no room for it. "Yes, Captain," she said, instead.

"Good," Kate said. "Now you two," she included the silent Ryan in this, "go on and clean off the table in the dining hall; we'll be eating soon."

"Yes, Captain," they chorused, before making their way below deck. Kate sighed.

"You really have yourself quite an obedient crew," he commented, "don't you?"

"I'd like to think so," Kate replied, her shoulder squared, untrusting. "We've all known each other a while now. They know I have only the purest intentions."

"For a pirate?" Castle said, smartly.

Kate narrowed her eyes at him. "For anybody, Mr. Castle," she corrected. "And before you start using your prejudices on us," she went on, "I implore you to remember that you, too, and your little girl are pirates now, as well. Don't forget that."

With that, she walked off, leaving Castle staring after her. But, instead of being intimidated, like most men probably would be, he was…intrigued.

Something had happened to her, he was sure, that made her who she was today.

And he was going to find out what that something was, even if it killed him.

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