Disclaimer : Castle is not mine.
Castle made them both a sandwich and the basically inhaled them as Beckett and Castle stood there shocked. Alexis and Tim both pushed their plates away and looked at Castle at the same time and he couldn't help but think how creepy it was.
"Do you guys want some more ?" He asked.
Alexis and Tim nodded enthusiastically and so Castle made them some more and this went on until they were full and smiling happily. Beckett had a small smile on her face and looked at Castle who was staring happily at Alexis who was swinging slowly on the bar stool chair and Tim was looking at her softly. When she almost fell off of her seat Tim reached out and grabbed her arm to stop her from falling and she winced, this got the attention of everyone and Castle was around the counter with Beckett within seconds. Alexis pulled her arm away and looked down avoiding eye contact from everyone.
"Lex let me see." Tim said quietly. Alexis nodded and slowly moved her arm away form her body so Tim could see it. Tim lightly cradles her arm and pulls up her sleeve where a dark blue and purple bruise has formed. Tim frowned and looked up at Alexis with slight anger in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me." Alexis shrugged "Lex why didn't you tell me you fought you could have made it worse, I could have helped." Tim had now dropped her wrist and Castle and Beckett watched stunned.
"Because you know nothing would have changed, I would have fought either way and I know if you knew you would do something stupid and get yourself hurt." Alexis said with angry tears rolling down her cheeks.
"How'd it happen ?" Castle asked quietly interrupting their fight. Alexis turned to him and so did Tim. Alexis looked away and wiped at her cheeks where her tears had spilled.
"There was a meeting in the gym with these scary looking guys and Alexis had to stand there and listen as Mann praised her on something she hated doing, her fighting, that is until one guy said she didn't look like much and lets say Alexis verbally gave him a piece of her mind, Dunn was angry and practially threw her into our room." Tim said not looking at Castle.
"'Lexis" Castle said on a breath but Alexis mistook it as disappointment or something as equally upsetting.
"What was I supposed to do !" Alexis yelled shocking everyone, Tim went to her side and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, Alexis' tears fell ast as she let go of some of her built up feelings. "They had no idea what I went through and they had NO idea what I do to people and then they had the audacity to say 'I don't look like much' to hell with them so I gave them all a piece of my mind and what do I get I literally get thrown into my room and I was told I had better win that fight." Alexis looked away breathing heavily, she wiped at her eyes and looked back at them with a scary determination. "So I did and that's when you guys came and now I'm here." And then she couldn't take it anymore she broke down in tears and Tim wrapped his arms securely and protectively around her.
Castle and Beckett both had tears in their eyes and Castle put his hands over his mouth trying to stop any noise coming out.
"Alexis." Castle said quietly and stepped forward "Alexis I want you to understand something very important do you hear me ?" Alexis looked at him from Tim's embrace and nodded her head "I'm proud of you for surviving and I understand that you never wanted to fight especially to survive but it takes a whole lot of strength both inside and out to survive all of that and be okay. Alexis your going to be okay and you'll never have to prove yourself to anyone anymore because you are an intelligent persona and a loving and caring one and the day someone doesn't believe that about you means that that person is not worth your time. Alexis I love you and there are loads of people who love you and that's all you'' ever need to know and hopefully all you'll every need to have."
Alexis smiled and slowly stepped away from Tim to lightly embrace Castle in a hug only to step back after a few seconds to whisper "thank you."
Its been an hour since lunch and the very emotional fight/talk and Castle was looking at Tim and Alexis talk in the living room until Beckett decided to give Castle quite the scare and crept up beside him and whispered in his ear "staring is creepy Castle." Castle let out a girlish scream which made Alexis and Tim look back with wide eyes and Beckett laughing at him.
Beckett walked over to Alexis after she had finally stopped laughing "hey Alexis how long have you been wearing those clothes ?" Beckett asked.
"Ummm we got given them a few days ago." Alexis said biting her lip trying to remember the day but it was difficult considering she didn't even know what day it was. "What day is it ?"
Beckett gave a small startle at the question "May 16th."
Alexis frowned at the date and nodded her thanks.
"Alexis why don't you go change and have a shower ?" Beckett asked, thinking if she were in Alexis' place she would already be in her pajamas after at least an hour long shower.
"I don't have any other clothes." Alexis said as if it were obvious. Beckett closed her eyes and the pain caused her a pain that she knew Castle was feeling but she felt the pain for Alexis.
"Alexis you live here you have a whole wardrobe of clothes upstairs." Beckett said and smiled at the shine in Alexis' eyes and the small smile that came over her face. Alexis looked to Tim and Tim almost laughed at the look on her face. "Come on I'll show you." Beckett said indicating for Alexis to follow her which she did a little nervously albeit. "Castle why don't you find something for Tim to wear." Beckett said over her shoulder as she ascended the stair with Alexis close behind her. Castle indicated for Tim to follow him and he did willingly, Castle gave Tim a pair of jogging bottoms that have always been to small for him and an old shirt. Both were too baggy on the skinny 18 year old but they would do for now.
Meanwhile, in Alexis room Alexis was walking around trying to take everything in. Beckett walked over to her dresser drawers and rummaged through them pulling out everything Alexis would need. Alexis frowned as she came and stood next to Beckett who was trying to find her pajamas but came across a draw that was filled with random things some clothes and some things like cinema tickets ect, and what looked to be like a diary which she picked up curiously and went to the bed to read it turning to her last entry.
Dear diary,
Things have changed quite a bit since I have last written in here well lets just say I'm in danger and hopefully someone will over look this well because this is my diary and no one needs to know that I've been lying to dad since I started hanging out with 'friend' because every time I say that well I either go to the library or get something to eat, hell I've even started going to the movies by myself. I'm getting distracted my point is i'm in danger and i'm scared. This is going to be a short entry and that's okay I've written enough for everyone to understand and hopefully never have to read this diary.
Beckett turned around and went to hand Alexis her pajamas when she saw she was reading something and had a single tear going down her cheek and she was biting her nail.
"What ya reading over there ?" Beckett asked coming to sit next to Alexis.
"My diary it's actually pretty sad, I'm reading my last entry." Alexis wiped her eyes and sniffled. Alexis handed it to Beckett on the page she was reading and Beckett looked at it but not taking it.
"No its your diary, your secrets and its your privacy." Beckett said pushing it back to her. Alexis smiled and took the pajamas from Beckett and started getting changed, Beckett went to leave the room until she saw the names on her stomach and said "why don't you wash those off."
Alexis looked up and looked back down at her stomach "I'm not ready yet."
Beckett nodded and went to walk out of the room only to be stopped once again.
"What was I like before I was taken ?" Alexis asked as she continued to get her pajamas on.
"You were sweet, kind, always looked out for everybody you loved and you were smart, and fierce and passionate but that's more of a question for your dad." Beckett finished and Alexis nodded and walked to Beckett and hugged her.
"Thank you for getting us out." Alexis said as she continued to hug Beckett, once the shock had worn off Beckett hugged her back.
After a few minutes Kate said "Why don't we go back downstairs I'm sure your dad has paced a whole in the floor." Beckett chuckled and true to her word when the were downstairs Rick was pacing but so was Tim so when they reached the bottom of the stairs both Beckett and Alexis frowned at them as the hadn't heard them come down. Alexis smirked and quietly tip toed to Tim and jumped on his back causing him to jump and let out an almost squeal causing Alexis to laugh and Rick to stop pacing.
"I'm gonna get you for that Lex." Tim said trying to reach her as she clung to his back.
"How do you plan to do that Timmy ol' pal when I'm on ya back." Alexis said laughing and hiding her face on the back of his neck.
Castle watched as Alexis and Tim were playing in the living room and Castle couldn't help but smile at them.
Tim had a smile on his face that he only ever had for Alexis and she couldn't see it but it was there. "That's it." Tim said walking over to the couch and falling backwards onto it causing Alexis to squeal and then laugh.
"Tim get off of me." Alexis said as Tim refused to move.
"Nope, Nu-uh not until you apologies." Tim said.
"No not happening."
"Then I guess I have no choice." Tim said as he reached down to grab Alexis' foot and began tickling the red head which earned him some very high pitched giggles and squeals until he finally gave up.
"Okay okay, gosh Tim stop I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Alexis said out of breath as Tim finally rolled off of her and looked back to her with a smile.
"Your mean and evil." Alexis said glaring at him.
"Well your sneaky and diabolical so I guess were even." Tim replied and they just sat there staring at each other that is until Castle and Beckett decided to jump on either side of them and squish them in the middle.
"So movie time." Castle said and they all sat down watching a movie.
They were a family no matter how messed up they all were.