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Title: Healing
author: Cindy Ryan
spoilers: Hunt and target

Detective Kevin Ryan was used to late night phone calls. It was part of being a homicide detective. You were never off duty. Now as his cell phone continued to ring Kevin opened one eye and squinted at the alarm clock on the nightstand: two fifteen. With a groan Kevin snatched the phone off the nightstand and flipped it open without looking at the caller id.

"Ryan?"

"Sorry I woke you but I didn't know who else to call."

"Alexis?"Kevin asked once his sleep fogged brain recognized the voice on the other end. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing life threatening."Richard Castle's daughter replied. "I'm not in trouble."

"Nightmares?"Kevin guessed as he kicked off the covers and swung his legs to the side of the bed.

Jenny stirred but didn't wake. His wife had gotten used to late night phone calls too.

"Can you meet me at that diner by campus?"Alexis asked.

"I'll be there in half an hour."

"Thank you."

"That's what family's for."Kevin replied as he ended the call and put the phone back on the nightstand.

As he entered the bathroom and stripped off his boxers and t-shirt Kevin realized it'd been almost a month since Alexis had been kidnapped. He was surprised he hadn't gotten more late night phone calls. But then Alexis had always been self-sufficient. Never wanting to burden anybody else with her problems. Stepping into the shower Kevin could only hope that she'd call him from now on.

Fifteen minutes later Kevin was dressed in jeans and a dark green sweater. He left a note for Jenny on the nightstand and kissed her lightly on the left cheek. He pocketed his cell phone, wallet and keys and grabbed a leather jacket out of the hall closet. After stepping into the hall and locking the apartment door Kevin sent Alexis a text letting her know he was on his way.

Alexis Castle glanced up from her plate of chocolate chip pancakes as the diner door opened. Kevin scanned the small fifties style diner before finding Alexis. Alexis tried to smile as Kevin's gaze met hers. She should've known he'd come no matter what. Even though he said he'd come Alexis had been expecting a cancel. It was three in the morning on a week day after all. But then Kevin was always reliable. Alexis had just felt guilty calling in the first place. However the nightmares were getting worse. If she didn't talk about it she'd never get past it. Alexis would rather talk to Kevin than a stranger.

"Sugar's not going to help you sleep."Kevin commented as he sat down across from Alexis.

"I don't like sleeping these days."Alexis muttered as a waitress appeared notepad at the ready.

Kevin ordered a bagel with cream cheese and a coffee.

"So how long have the nightmares been going on?"Ryan asked.

Alexis sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "When I first got home I had a couple. But they weren't like this...they weren't every night."

"Have you talked to your Dad about them?"Kevin inquired as the waitress returned with his order.

Alexis shook her head. The fear in her father's eyes was the main thing that haunted her dreams. When she had seen him on the video call he'd looked so lost and afraid. Then when she'd seen him held at gunpoint...

"Alexis?"Kevin prompted.

"No, I don't want to worry him."Alexis replied quietly. "He's been through enough because of me."

"He's stronger than you think."Kevin commented as he took a sip of coffee.

Alexis absently fiddled with her fork not meeting her friend's gaze."In my nightmares...Dad dies trying to save me. They shoot him right in front of me and there's nothing I can do to stop it."

Inwardly Kevin cringed at Alexis's confession. He'd suspected that was what the nightmares were about but hearing her tell it was hard. He hadn't been able to do anything to free her in Paris. Just sit on the sidelines and pray. Sure he'd been able to work a few leads from the NYPD end but it hadn't seemed like much. Still felt like he'd failed her. Kevin reached across the table and took Alexis's right hand in his squeezing it. He couldn't help her then but he could help her now.

"I've had my fair share of nightmares over the years...comes with being a cop."Ryan began quietly. "I know how vivid and real they can be."

Alexis let out a shuddering breath. "It was so real, Kevin...there was so much blood."

"One thing about dreams...once you talk about them they don't have the same power they did before."Kevin stated. "You're going to get through this Alexis you know how I know that?"

Alexis shook her head.

"You're one of the bravest,smartest people I know."Kevin stated with a smile as he released her hand. "And I'll be there whenever you need me."

Alexis smiled. "Thank you."

"That's what family's for."Kevin commented.

As Alexis turned her attention back to the pancakes Kevin felt some of the tension ease from his body. He'd been worried she wouldn't talk about it. That she'd keep it bottled up as to not burden anybody. This was a good start to moving past the kidnapping. Kevin would do whatever it took to get her the rest of the way.

end