Title: Dustbunnies and badges
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Alexis/Ryan friendship, Castle/Beckett
Notes: Grouping my Alexis/Ryan friendship fics into one spot. Many thanks to kuryakingirl for being a wonderful beta
Summary: With Alexis out of town Javier gets stuck with dog-sitting duty
"What friends do."
Detective Javier Esposito looked down at the black Labrador puppy as a wet nose bumped his right hand. He 'd just come home after a long shift and had settled onto the sofa to watch a baseball game.
All he wanted was to rest his sore feet and eat his mother's famous enchilada's.
"You're kidding, right?"
A bright orange chew toy held tightly in his mouth Storm whimpered.
"Definitely a Castle."Javier muttered as he reluctantly stood."You don't just want to play you want a walk too, don't you?"
Storm dropped the toy and barked his tail wagging happily.
"That's what I thought."Esposito said with a sigh as he picked up his untouched plate and walked to the kitchen.
He placed it in the fridge and headed back to the living room.
"I don't know why Alexis didn't hire somebody to watch you while she was gone."
Storm padded over to the door and picked up the red leash that was lying by the small table.
Javier shook his head wondering once more how he got suckered into dog-sitting for the weekend. Alexis and her grandmother were in Los Angeles. The teen visiting her mother and Martha going to a couple of auditions.
Castle was on a multi-city book tour promoting the sequel to Heatwave. Originally Kevin had thought he'd be able to take care of the dog while Alexis was gone. However with Jenny's allergies even having Storm briefly in the apartment was too had offered to stop by and feed and walk Storm but Castle had quickly nixed the idea stating the puppy was too young to be left alone in the apartment.
Of course when Alexis had asked him last week to do her a favor Javier couldn't turn her down.
As the detective took the leash from Storm and clipped it to his collar he knew the reason why Alexis hadn't hired anybody. She didn't want the puppy left in the hands of a stranger.
Still Javier felt this was above and beyond what he owed Ryan as a partner. Pull him out of the way of gunfire yes, dog-sit?
Storm tugged impatiently at the leash and pawed at the door.
"Alright, alright we're goin'."Javier stated as he grabbed his jacket and keys and stepped out into the hall. He locked the door and Storm practically took off like he was shot out of a cannon.
"Hey!"Javier protested having barely enough time to regain control of the leash before the over excited puppy pulled him outside.
Once outside Javier managed to get a tighter reign on the leash and slowed Storm down to a gallop. It was just before seven p.m. and it
was time of year where it was just starting to stay light was a small park in his neighborhood a few blocks away. It
wasn't anything fancy but it had a nice playground for the kids a few benches. In warm weather there were....
Crap.
Javier scanned the sidewalks near the park as it came into view. As he feared a few street vendors had set up shop.
Or in this case were starting to pack up for the day the dinner rush having winded down. There were three small wood or metal huts on
wheels lined up on the north side of the park.
One sold Mexican food, one ice cream and the other vegetarian dishes.
All with lots of new people, cords and other things of interest for an exuberant puppy.
If reading his mind Storm picked up speed as they neared the crosswalk. Checking quickly for traffic Javier crossed futively
pulling the leash back towards him.
"Storm."Esposito called as he turned left moving away from the vendors. "Let's check out what's over here, huh?"
For the most part the puppy was good as they walked away from the restaurants on wheels. Storm paused to sniff out a few thick yellow
power cords. However as they reached one of the streetlights near the
vendors something caught Storm's attention.
A blue balloon was tethered loosely to the metal post and was flapping in the wind.
The puppy started barking approaching the balloon then when the wind whipped it back Storm jumped back growling.
Javier laughed as he walked past the street light tugging Storm with
him. "Come on, killer. That balloon's not going to do anybody any harm. Move along."
Storm planted his feet still growling as the balloon drifted back.
Esposito shook his head as he pulled out his cell phone and activated the camera. he snapped a picture and saved it to send later. "Alexis
will love seeing how much of a fierce attack dog she has."
A strong burst of wind ripped the balloon loose and sent it sailing over a hedge and toward the playground. Javier barely had time to
tighten his hold on the leash and his phone before Storm took off after it at full speed.
They were halfway to the playground before Javier reigned Storm to a halt. The puppy continued to glare and bark at the wayward balloon as it floated past the slide.
"Killer is your new nickname." Esposito muttered as he wrapped the leash more securely around his left wrist and hit a familiar speed dial.
"Ryan."Kevin Ryan answered on the fourth ring.
"Your dog is crazy."Javier stated as Storm continued to stalk the balloon his barking rising in volume. "I think it's time you took your parenting duties seriously and didn't pawn him off…."
Something crackled on the other end. "What's that, partner? Can't hear you….you're breaking up."
Esposito's eyes narrowed as the call ended abruptly. "Uh huh."
"Your Dad and I are going to have a long talk tomorrow."
Storm finally lost interest in the balloon and looked back at Javier with wide eyes.
"That look won't help him. Let's go."
Once home and the reheated enchiladas finished Javier kicked off his shoes and settled back into the left side of the sofa. The game was in the sixth inning and tied. Storm was curled up asleep on the floor next to the coffee table.
Esposito smiled at the dog and shook his head. He really had been pretty good the balloon being the only real incident. Well there had been a pigeon on the way home that had almost been as big as Storm.
Not that the size difference had kept Storm from nearly getting into a fight with the pigeon.
Killer was definitely the right nickname.
Taking out his phone Javier keyed up the picture menu and sent the picture from earlier to Alexis. He also cc'd Kevin, Kate and Castle.
Almost instantly there was a response from Alexis.
'Too cute. I'll be home tomorrow night. Thanks for taking care of him.'
Javier texted back a 'No problem.' Before setting the phone on a side table.
He stretched, yawned and propped his head up with his right arm trying to concentrate on the game.
Twenty minutes later the battle was lost and Javier was asleep
"You're kidding, right?"Kate Beckett asked or rather shouted as she stood in Z2 one of the hottest nightclubs on the lower east side.
Esposito flashed a sheepish smile. "I didn't have anywhere else to leave him. It is three in the morning."
"Not apartment trained yet, huh?"
"No, but you're a good dog aren't you?"Kevin commented as he squatted down next to the puppy who immediately bounded over.
"This is an active crime scene."Kate commented gesturing to the dead woman sprawled on the elevated dance floor twenty feet away.
"Don't worry I'll put him in the car."Ryan replied as straightened scooping Storm up in his arms.
"You going to clean it?"Javier asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
"You saying there will be something to clean?"
"He's a puppy and obviously doesn't have the best supervision."
Kevin rose to his full height and squared his shoulders taking a step forward. Storm squirmed sensing the rising tension.
"If you have something to say, partner, just say it."
"Boys."Kate stated in a normal voice the techs having finally got the music switched off.
"You didn't have any pets as a kid did you?"
"Alexis has done a great job with him."
"I'm not talking about Alexis."
"Guys!"
Both men turned to face her.
"Ryan put the dog in the car. Esposito start interviewing witnesses while they're starting to sober up."
"Right."
"Sorry."
The two detectives quickly went in opposite directions leaving Kate to share an exasperated look with Lanie.
"They're men, what can I say?"The medical examiner replied with a grin before returning her attention to the dead body before her.
At nine the next night Alexis Castle was nearly knocked over by a bundle of fur.
A bundle of fur that was barking excitedly.
"Easy there, killer." Esposito ordered as he gently tugged back on the leash.
"It's okay."Alexis replied as she stood and stepped into Javier's apartment. "I missed him. Hope he wasn't too much trouble."
"No more than Kevin on a daily basis."
Alexis grinned then sobered. "I heard you two had an argument?"
"Wouldn't exactly put it in that category."
The teen took the leash and Storm instantly circled her feet getting the leash tangled.
"Storm!"Alexis admonished as she gingerly attempted to step out of the maze. "I know you want to stay with your new friend but it's time to go home."
"Oh, don't forget this."Javier commented as he plucked a brand new chew toy from a plastic bag on the coffee table. It was in the shape of a large dog bone.
Alexis smiled. "You got him a present?"
Esposito shrugged as he squatted down and Storm bounded over resting two front paws on Javier's chest.
"Thought puppies were like kids….can never have enough toys."
"True."Alexis replied as she knelt down. "Though Storm's are already overtaking the hall closet. "Dad's buying him a toy bin when he gets back."
"You be good, killer."Javier stated affectionately as he scratched the dog's ears as he stood.
"I'm not sure that's a good nickname."
"You didn't see the way he went after the pigeon."
Alexis blinked. "Pigeon?"
Javier laughed. "On the way home from the park one landed near us. Freaked him out and then he went into attack mode."
Storm barked gaining Alexis's attention. "What am I to do with you?"
A horn sounded from the street below and Alexis looked to the window. "I have a cab waiting. Grams stayed an extra day had a lead on an audition she couldn't pass up."
Esposito grabbed his coat from the back of the sofa. "I'll walk you out."
"Thanks."
Once down by the cab Javier opened the door and Storm jumped in.
Alexis turned away from the cab. "Thanks again for taking care of him."
Javier grinned. "Ryan owes me one but you…."
"Don't be too hard on Kevin he does try to spend as much time with Storm as possible."
"I know. Beckett's already ordered us to apologize to each other."
Alexis smiled. "So you two are good?"
"We're good. You better get home before Storm gets the cabbie to let him drive."
The young woman turned to find the black lab had almost gotten through the open window that lined the space between the driver and passenger.
"Storm!"Alexis chided as she climbed in and pulled the puppy onto the seat next to her. She apologized to the driver and told him they were ready.
Esposito closed the door. "See you later."
Alexis smiled. "Good night."
Storm barked and the cab pulled away.
Javier watched until the cab was out of sight before turning and heading back into his apartment.
He closed the door and sat back down on the sofa and flipped on the tv. As he sat down he was rewarded with a loud squeak.
Standing Javier found the offending orange chew toy and tossed it on the coffee table before sitting back down.
"Castles' live to drive people crazy." Esposito muttered as he reclaimed his seat and flipped on the tv.
end