*So, finally, new chapter. I am so sorry about the super long wait. I just got bombarded with a ton of school stuff, and I haven't had much inspiration for this fic lately. Don't fret, though. I have fresh inspiration and an entire summer's worth of free time to write. Hallelujah! Anyway, things are considerably less angsty in this chapter. I'm particularly looking forward to writing the final scene. Happy Reading loveys!

(Ryan)

Ryan stared at the Murder Board intently, willing all of the random pieces of information to put themselves together into a puzzle that made sense. Their interviews with Avery's victims' families had all yielded the same result. They all claimed not to have any knowledge of Avery, they were all shocked that their loved ones had been targeted by a professional hit man, and they were all grateful for the closure that the information provided. Oh, and they all had airtight alibis for the night of Avery's murder.

Then there was the fire escape and the mystery girl that made regular visits, presumably to Avery's apartment. So far, CSU had come up empty with the prints that they'd collected from the fire escape. However, they had found sufficient evidence to support the theory that Avery's killer had shot him from outside. CSU had recovered a torn piece of fabric from camouflage pants or a jacket, as well as a partial boot print.

"Yo, Ryan, didn't your mama ever tell you your face would stick if you left it like that for too long?"

Ryan gave Esposito a look, turning away from the board with a sigh. "Get anything off ballistics?" he asked, ignoring Espo's jibe.

Esposito handed him the file. "We officially have a double homicide," he announced. "The bullet they pulled from Castle is a perfect match to the one Lanie dug out of Avery's skull."

"Speaking of Lanie," Ryan started, perusing the file, "just how pissed is she that they wouldn't let her do Writer Boy's autopsy?"

Esposito snorted. "Pissed don't even come close to it, man," he answered. "Livid would be a more appropriate term. Hell, even Perlmutter's miffed that Gates outsourced."

"Gates know about the bullet match yet?" Ryan asked, glancing at their captain's closed door.

"Not unless she's psychic," Esposito replied, taking the file back from Ryan. "Which I'm guessing she's not, because we'd have all been fired a long time ago if she was. Just about to deliver the news."

Ryan nodded slowly. "How 'bout Beckett?" he asked, lowering his voice cautiously. His eyes flickered to her desk, which was conspicuously vacant, but not empty. Rumors had been swarming around the precinct since Castle's death; rumors stemming from Beckett's eulogy, rumors about the state of her mental health, rumors that Ryan and Esposito had stalwartly ignored.

Esposito swore under his breath. "Forgot about telling Beckett," he admitted sheepishly. "Could you handle that call, bro? You're better at that stuff than I am."

"Sure thing," Ryan agreed, searching his desk for his phone. He was about to press Beckett's number on his speed dial when Gates' office door opened violently and Beckett herself stormed out. The entire bullpen stared as she disappeared up the stairs, heading for the precinct gym.

Esposito turned to Ryan. "Did you know she was here, bro?" he asked.

Ryan tried to ignore the whispers that had started up. "No clue," he admitted. "She must've come in while I was in the break room." He hesitated for a moment before making a decision. "I'm gonna go check on her," he said.

Esposito nodded. "And I'm gonna go talk to a probably very pissed off Gates." He stared at the captain's office, swallowing hard.

"Good luck," they said simultaneously. Ryan climbed the stairs to the gym slowly, wanting to give Beckett a little time to cool off. He paused to watch Espo knock on Gates' door, wincing when he heard her snap at his partner. He started back up the stairs, preferring an angry Beckett to an angry Gates.

The precinct gym was empty except for Beckett, who was whaling on a punching bag with all the strength she could muster. Her boots and blouse lay discarded by the door with her jacket and purse, leaving her in a tank top and grey slacks. Ryan watched her quietly for a few minutes, then ventured closer, into her line of sight.

Beckett barely acknowledged him, just giving him a quick nod as he steadied the bag for her. Ryan let her pound out her frustrations for as long as she needed, losing track of time as he absorbed every punch, jab, and kick. Eventually, she lost her steam, the fire in her eyes dying down. She accepted a towel from Ryan, dabbing at her face and neck. "Thanks," she said, giving him a small smile.

He shrugged. "Least I could do," he muttered guiltily. He cleared his throat and continued. "Look, I'm sorry I haven't been around much since, ya know…" Ryan trailed off uncomfortably, noticing Beckett freeze in her tracks.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "You have nothing to apologize for," she assured him, shrugging. "I understand. You've got bigger priorities right now. I mean, you just got married for god's sake. Besides," she added after a pause, "you were closer with Castle than Javi and Lanie. They're more removed from this than you are."

Ryan sighed heavily, slumping down against the wall. Beckett sat down beside him, waiting quietly for him to speak first. He looked at her after a few minutes of silence. "I miss Dad," he admitted with a sad smile.

Beckett shook her head, a fond smile playing on her lips. "I miss him, too," she said softly.

"And I just," Ryan started, pausing to think of the right words. "I just feel so helpless, you know? I always do in these situations. It's like you're the big sister that knows exactly what to do and Javi goes into overprotective, big brother mode. And then there's me. And I'm like the little brother that can't do anything but play quietly in the corner." He frowned. "I dunno…"

Beckett nodded, smirking a little. "So wait, I'm your mom and your sister?" she asked teasingly.

"I'll admit it's not a perfect metaphor," Ryan said. "Who do you think I am? Castle?"

"Let's hope not," she replied. "Otherwise, Jenny and I are gonna have some problems."

Ryan chuckled with her, shaking his head. "How do you do it?" he asked wonderingly, earning a questioning look. "How do you not think of it all the time?" he elaborated. "How does it not drive you crazy?"

Beckett sighed, all traces of humor gone. "I don't," she confessed. "I haven't been able to get it out of my head since it happened. Even when I'm asleep, I can't escape it. It is driving me crazy."

"So, how do you deal with it?" Ryan asked.

She shrugged. "Talking helps, I guess," she said. "The boxing helps. My doctor calls it channeling. Says I'm turning all of my grief into anger." She paused for a moment. "He's not wrong." She looked Ryan in the eyes. "I want to find the guy that killed him. The grief fuels my anger, which in turn fuels my determination."

"That's why you were talking to Gates," Ryan mused. "You want back on the case."

She nodded in confirmation, looking away. "She said no," Ryan guessed.

Beckett shook her head. "She said she'd have to think about it," she corrected. "Which basically means, 'wait a few days, and I'll say no then'."

"She might not say no," Ryan offered. "You never know."

She gave him a look. "You know Gates isn't letting me back on this case. I'm honestly surprised that you and Javi are still on it."

He nodded. "You're not the only one."

"How's the case going, by the way?" Beckett asked softly, not meeting his eye.

Ryan sighed. "It's officially a double," he told her. "Ballistics just confirmed it. I was actually about to call you when we saw you come up here."

She nodded. "Thank you," she whispered, "for being honest."

Ryan shrugged. "What are friends for?"

Beckett stood after a couple minutes, pulling her shirt and boots back on. "It was good to see you," she said, giving him a hand up. "I've missed you." She surprised him by pulling him into a quick hug. "And if you tell anyone about this, I'll have to shoot you," she added.

Ryan smirked. "You got it, boss."

(Esposito)

Esposito watched Ryan climb the stairs with more than a little jealousy. He strode over to the captain's office, knocking on the doorjamb. He winced and stepped back when Gates snapped, "What do you want?"

He poked his head in the door cautiously. "Sir, I've got the ballistics reports from Castle's bullet."

Gates beckoned him in. "Close the door," she ordered, waiting for him to comply before continuing. "What do the reports say?"

Esposito swallowed, referring to the file in his hands. "According to ballistics, the round that shot and killed Richard Castle was a .223, same as the round that killed James Avery. Striations matched, confirming that both bullets were fired from the same weapon."

Gates took the file from him, scanning the results herself. "So, we have a double homicide on our hands," she commented.

"Yes, Sir," Esposito agreed.

"Has Detective Beckett been informed?" she asked, not looking away from the file.

"Ryan's taking care of it," Esposito confirmed, pausing before continuing. "She asked to come back, didn't she?"

Gates looked up at him, frowning. "Officially, I am not at liberty to discuss my conversation with Detective Beckett."

Esposito nodded. "But, unofficially, she asked to come back, and you said no."

"I told her I would think about it," Gates amended. "And I will. For now, you're the lead detective on this case."

Esposito turned to leave, hesitating when he reached the door. He turned back around to address Gates. "Sir, I know it's not my place, but I think you should let Beckett come back."

She raised her eyebrows at him. "You're right Detective Esposito; it's not your place."

"With all due respect, Sir, we need her working this case as much as she needs to work it," Esposito continued. "She's seeing a therapist, so her being fit for duty isn't a problem. Besides, she needs this. She needs closure if she's ever gonna move past this, and her working this case is gonna be the best way for her to do that."

"Last I checked, this was a police station, not a therapists' office," Gates remarked.

Esposito sighed. "It's more than that, Sir," he admitted. "I don't think we can solve this case without Beckett. You've seen for yourself how good she is. She's the best. She sees things that other detectives don't see, even me and Ryan." He nodded. "I don't want to work this case without her, and I know Ryan doesn't either. It just doesn't feel right."

Gates stared him down for a few moments. "Like I said, Detective, I'll think about it. I'll let you know in a few day's time. Until then, I expect you to do your job and work this case. Without Detective Beckett."

Esposito nodded. "Yes, Sir." He left her office feeling worse than before. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had just blown it. Big time.

(Kate)

Three days after their confrontation, Kate was back in Gates' office, waiting on her verdict. She wasn't optimistic in the slightest. She knew how much of a risk Gates would be taking by allowing her back on the case, especially before her mandated leave was up. She just couldn't think of anything else to do. She was going stir-crazy, cooped up in her apartment with her dad. Even Doctor Burke had suggested getting out and doing something, though Kate was pretty sure this wasn't what he had in mind.

Gates stepped into her office, seemingly unsurprised to see Kate there early. "Good morning, Detective," she said, settling in at her desk without a second glance at Kate.

"Good morning, Sir," Kate said impatiently, trying to keep her tone civil. A repeat of Monday's screaming match was not going to help her cause. She bit her lip, fighting an internal battle between her pride and common sense. Common sense winning out, she addressed her captain. "Sir, before we start, I'd like to apologize for my behavior the last time we spoke." Gates' eyebrows shot up, but she said nothing. "I overreacted, and some of the things I said were uncalled for. So, I'm sorry."

Gates nodded. "Apology accepted, Detective," she said, giving her a hint of a smile. "And I'd like to apologize, as well. I was unnecessarily harsh with you. I hope we can put that all behind us."

Kate nodded. "Of course, Sir," she said, trying to mask her shock.

"Well, let's not beat around the bush," Gates continued. "After careful consideration, and some feel against my better judgment, I've decided to honor your request to return to the precinct before the end of your mandated leave, specifically your request to return to the case you were working before said leave was put into effect."

Kate's jaw dropped. "You're serious?" she asked incredulously. "You're letting me come back?"

"Yes, but under a few conditions, Detective," Gates cautioned. "First, that you will attend biweekly sessions with a department approved therapist. Second, that you will only work the case that you requested, and that you will complete the remainder of your leave after the case's conclusion. And last, that you will not fight the department if we feel that you are unfit for duty. Is this clear?"

Kate hesitated, mulling over the conditions. The first two honestly didn't bother her. She was already seeing Doctor Burke, and she really only wanted to work Castle's case for now, anyway. It was the last condition that she was having trouble accepting. One wrong move and Gates would send her packing, claiming she wasn't fit for active duty. She hated having that security taken away from her, but it was the only way she'd be able to come back.

She finally nodded. "It's clear, Sir. Thank you."

Gates handed Kate her badge and gun. "What are you waiting for, Detective? I believe you have a murder to solve."

Kate left the captain's office in a daze, going through the motions of holstering her gun at her hip and clipping her badge to her waistband. Ryan and Esposito were at her side almost immediately, both breathless with anticipation.

"Well?" Ryan prompted. "How'd it go? What happened?"

"She granted my request," Kate said disbelievingly. "I'm back on the case."

The boys fist-bumped, identical grins spreading on their faces. "I know how much you hate hearing 'I told you so,' Beckett," Ryan said, smirking. "So, I told you so."

"Hey, Beckett," Esposito started, "you think if I shot my partner Gates would give me a nice, little vacation?"

Kate raised an appraising eyebrow at him. "I wouldn't test that theory, Espo," she told him. "Too much paperwork."

"Bad luck, man," Ryan said, clapping him on the shoulder. "I was hoping for some vacation time, too."

Esposito shrugged, making his way over to the Murder Board. "Guess we have to get you all caught up," he said, doing his best to sound put out. Kate suppressed a smile. This was the closest either of them would get to admitting they'd missed her. She honestly preferred it this way. No muss, no fuss, just business.

She studied the Murder Board intently, absorbing the new facts and comparing them with the old ones. "Haven't found much more to go on," she commented.

"We've been hitting dead end after dead end," Ryan grumbled. "Spent a week and a half talking with the families of Avery's victims. Learned nothing."

"Nothing?" Kate repeated incredulously.

"Zilch," Esposito confirmed. "Nada. None of 'em even knew James Avery existed."

"What about our mystery girl?" she asked.

Ryan shook his head. "Again, nothing. CSU's still running prints from the fire escape, but so far nothing's popped aside from an upstairs neighbor with a history of drunk and disorderlies."

"We looked into the neighbor," Esposito assured her. "Marco Bastelli. But get this; the guy was being arrested right around the time of Avery's murder."

Kate nodded. "Have you talked to him yet? Maybe he saw something."

Ryan and Esposito exchanged a look. "We wanted to save something exciting for you," Ryan bluffed. "How selfish do you think we are?"

"Bastelli still in lockup?" she asked.

Esposito ran a quick check on his computer. "Says here he was released yesterday. Went home to his wife and kid."

Kate grabbed her coat, pulling it on as she headed for the elevator. "C'mon, boys, we're going on a little field trip."

Kate's hand was shaking as she knocked on the door to Castle's loft. She wasn't even sure why she was there, or how she'd gotten there. She'd told the boys that she was going to get some fresh air, and half an hour later had found herself standing outside Castle's building.

She heard movement on the other side of the door followed by Alexis' voice drawing closer. "…someone's at the door, I have to go…Gram's out, remember? I'll talk to you later, okay? No, don't call back tonight…Because, it's getting late and I have school in the morning…hold on."

Alexis opened the door, her phone cradled between her ear and her shoulder. "Kate!" she said, her eyes growing wide. "No, not you," she said into the phone, beckoning Kate inside and closing the door. "Look, Detective Beckett's here, and I'm being rude, so I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" She paused, her expression softening. "I love you, too. Goodbye."

She hung up the phone, turning to Kate with a cheerful smile that seemed forced. "Sorry," she said. "My mom sometimes forgets there's a three hour time difference between us. She's trying to work it out so that she can come out here for graduation."

Kate bit her lip. "I can come back if it's a bad time," she offered.

"No, no you're fine," Alexis insisted. She ventured into the kitchen, checking to make sure Kate was following her. "Do you want something to drink?" she asked. "Are you hungry? I could make something."

"I'm fine, Alexis," she assured her. "But thank you."

The girl eyed Kate as she removed her coat, then started rummaging around the kitchen. She pulled out a griddle, bread, butter, several packages of cheese, and two plates. She flipped through the cheese selections. "What kind of cheese do you want on your sandwich?" she asked. "We've got cheddar, muenster, pepper jack, American…"

"Alexis," Kate protested. "I said I was fine."

"Yeah, but I don't believe you," Alexis said simply. "Seriously, when was the last time you ate?"

Kate thought that over for a minute and decided it was better not to answer. "Cheddar."

Alexis smirked. "That's what I thought." She returned all but one cheese package to the fridge, took out a gallon of milk, and poured two glasses, setting one in front of Kate. "Is this okay, or would you prefer coffee?"

"This is just fine, Alexis." Kate took a small drink, then a larger one, surprised at how thirsty she actually was.

Alexis had busied herself preparing the sandwiches. "So, what's up?" she asked.

Kate hesitated. "Nothing really," she admitted, shrugging. "I just had to get out of the precinct for a while. Ended up here."

Alexis nodded. "Gram mentioned you were back at work." She paused momentarily. "How's the case going?"

"Well, we keep hitting dead ends, and we just spent three days chasing down a neighbor that may or may not have seen something the night of the first murder. So, same old, same old." Kate paused, frowning. "Wait, how does Martha know I'm back at the precinct?"

"She and Lanie talk now," Alexis said, speaking up over the sizzle of the griddle. "Have you found the guy at least? The neighbor, I mean?"

Kate nodded, then realized the girl still had her back to her. "Ryan and Esposito are bringing him in right now. So, wait," she continued, "your grandmother and Lanie talk? Like, on a regular basis? About what?"

Alexis flipped the sandwiches, shrugging. "You, mostly. Sometimes me. Sometimes shopping."

"Just what I need," Kate muttered.

Alexis moved the sandwiches onto the plates, cutting them in half. "I think they're just worried about you, you know?" she said softly. There were a few moments of silence, then she changed the subject. "Um, do you have time to watch a movie with me?" she asked. "I have to watch RENT for a class project, and it's best to do it when Gram's not around. She's got this thing about musicals being made into movies. Says it takes away the magic of the experience, or something."

Kate nodded. "Sounds good to me. I haven't seen RENT in a while." She grabbed her plate from the counter, following Alexis into the living room. She sat down on the couch, watching as Alexis set up the movie. "You know, this is the only musical I've ever seen live."

"Really?" Alexis asked, sitting down beside her. "That's so cool. When did you see it?"

"My mom took me to see it for my seventeenth birthday," she said wistfully. "Most of the original cast was still performing then. That's why I love the movie so much. All but two of the original cast are in the movie, you know."

Alexis checked the credits on the dvd case. "Who's not from the original cast?"

"Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms," Kate answered without having to look. "So, Mimi and Joanne. They both would have been too young to be in the original production."

"You know a lot about RENT," Alexis observed, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"It's my favorite musical," Kate told her. She lowered her voice a little as Alexis started the movie. "I actually played Mimi when I was a junior in college."

Alexis regarded her with an awed expression. "So many layers to the Beckett onion," she commented.

Kate's heart clenched slightly, but she forced a smile. "Hush, it's starting."

They watched the movie in relative silence until Kate started singing along with "Out Tonight." Alexis looked back and forth between Kate and the screen a few times. "So, you actually did this song and dance?" she asked curiously.

Kate nodded. "Something like it," she said, adding, "Wearing next to nothing. And a pole may or may not have been involved," she confessed, her cheeks flushing crimson.

Alexis giggled. "Dad would have killed to see that," she commented, only realizing what she'd said when Kate froze next to her. "I am so sorry," she apologized, her voice muffled behind the hand she'd clamped over her mouth. "I…I wasn't thinking."

Kate took her hand, squeezing it gently. "It's okay, Lex," she said reassuringly. "It's fine." She gave her a tiny smile. "And you're not wrong. His reaction would have been priceless."

Alexis relaxed a little, and they resumed the movie in silence. They were relatively fine through most of the movie, even pausing at "intermission" to make popcorn. Kate kept up a whispered commentary per Alexis' request, filling her in on what the movie producers had changed and what they'd kept the same.

Kate tensed when the music for "Without You" started up sooner than she'd expected. It had always been her least favorite song, an agonizing reminder of the life she'd lost, and one that she'd never been able to get through without crying.

She started singing along with Mimi almost subconsciously, the words barely a whisper past the lump in her throat. She got to the part she'd always hated the most; I die without you. The words stuck in her throat and she felt tears pricking at her eyes. Panic was clawing its way into her chest, constricting her heart and lungs.

Kate closed her eyes, curling into herself as she struggled to breathe properly. The short, shallow gasps she was taking in weren't nearly enough to calm her racing heart, but the more she tried to slow her breathing, the harder it got for her to breathe at all.

"Kate?" Alexis' confused voice barely registered through her haze of panic. "Kate, are you okay?" Kate opened her mouth, tried to answer, but only managed a strangled sob. She shook her head violently, clenching her fists at her sides, fighting to regain control.

A pair of hands took hers, and Kate's eyes flew open on a gasp. Alexis was kneeling in front of Kate, her blue eyes wide with concern. "Kate?" she said gently. "It's okay. It's just me." She started rubbing soothing circles on the backs of Kate's hands with her thumbs. "What's wrong?"

Kate took in a shuddering breath, feeling the tightness in her chest loosen a little. "The song," she managed, her voice a hoarse whisper. "I just…I can't…"

Alexis immediately stopped the movie, turning back to Kate quickly. "What about the song?" she asked.

Kate closed her eyes for a moment, taking the time to compose herself. When she opened them again, Alexis was patiently waiting for her to continue, looking so much like her father that Kate almost started crying again. "It's just been a while since this song held any good memories for me," she explained.

Alexis' brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't get it," she admitted. "It's just a song."

"When I played Mimi, it had only been a couple of years since my mom died," Kate elaborated. "I had to sing this song every night for a week, and the lyrics, the meaning of the song, it just dredged up all of the pain that was already there, made it ten times worse. I could never get through it without breaking down, and that was when it was just my mom."

Alexis' eyes were brimming with tears. "And now, it's my dad, too."

Kate nodded. "The pain from losing him is still so fresh. I just-I wasn't expecting it to hit me that hard."

"I'm sorry," Alexis offered. "I shouldn't have even asked. I mean, I know it's a sad movie."

"Alexis, stop," Kate told her. "This wasn't your fault, okay? You couldn't have known. I should have realized I wouldn't be able to handle it."

Alexis nodded. "Are you okay now, though?"

Kate hesitated. "I'm…better," she replied. "I think."

"Do you want some ice cream?" Alexis asked, standing up. "Castle family motto: When in doubt, eat ice cream." She paused on her way to the kitchen. "If you have time, I mean. Do you have to go back to work soon?"

Kate shook her head. "I probably won't go back tonight unless the boys catch something big," she said, adding, "And there is always time for ice cream."

Alexis grinned. "That's another family motto." She was quiet for a moment, and Kate could hear her rummaging through the freezer. "We have chocolate chip cookie dough and butter pecan. What would you like?"

Kate considered the options. "Both," she decided. "Both is good."

"You have got to stop guessing all our family mottos," Alexis said, laughing. "We need to keep some family secrets." She returned to the living room with two large bowls of ice cream, handing one to Kate. "Here you go."

"You know, I always thought your dad was exaggerating," Kate said after a few minutes of eating in silence. "About you raising him instead of the other way around," she explained when Alexis frowned. "Now, I'm pretty sure he wasn't."

Alexis shrugged. "I like taking care of people," she said. "And I'm good at it."

"Yeah, you are," Kate agreed. "And it's awesome that you want to take care of people. That's pretty unique for someone your age. But there has to be a balance, you know? You have to let yourself be taken care of sometimes."

Alexis nodded. "I know. But most of the time, it's easier to not think about it."

Kate set her bowl on the coffee table, doing the same with Alexis'. She scooted a little closer, taking one of the girls' hands in her own. "I know it's easier," she said. "Trust me, I've been there. I did the exact same thing when my mom died. But trying to get through this alone is only going to make it harder, Lex." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I promised your dad a while ago that I would look out for you if anything happened to him. And I know I haven't exactly been keeping my promise lately, and I'm so sorry for that. I just want you to know that if you need me, I'm here."

Alexis stared at Kate for a moment before tackling her with a forceful hug. Kate just managed to not fall off the couch, wrapping her arms around Alexis. She could feel a warm wetness dripping down her collarbone, and when Alexis pulled back, there were tears streaming down her cheeks. "Thank you," she murmured, sniffling.

Kate smiled, handing the girl her ice cream and a tissue. "Anytime, Lex." They settled back on the couch, slipping back into a comfortable silence. "So," Kate finally asked, "how are things going at school?"

Alexis gave a one-shouldered shrug. "Okay, I guess," she said. "Everyone's been really nice to me. Even the kids that are usually jerks. My teachers are all letting me make up the stuff from the week I missed, so I'll be good to graduate."

Kate nodded. "That's good. Have you thought about where you're going in the fall?"

"A little," Alexis answered. "I was thinking about Columbia, because it's right here in the city, and I can stay close to Gram, but…"

"But what?"

Alexis sighed. "You know how I got wait-listed for Stanford?" she asked. Kate nodded. "Well, I got a letter from them this week. I got in."

Kate grinned. "That's great, Alexis."

"I know, but after everything that's happened, I don't know if I want to go," Alexis explained. "Plus, Ashley's been calling a lot the past couple weeks. He wants to give us another shot."

Kate nodded, noticing Alexis' reluctance. "And you don't want to?" she asked.

Alexis shrugged. "I don't know," she admitted. "I do miss him, and I'd love to try again, but I just can't help but wonder if…" she trailed off uncertainly.

"You can't help but wonder if he's only calling because of what happened to your dad," Kate finished.

"Yeah." Alexis sighed. "What do I do?"

Kate considered her question for a minute. "I honestly can't tell you," she said. "You have to follow your heart on this one."

Alexis was about to answer when the lock on the front door clicked and Martha entered. She immediately spotted Kate and Alexis, along with the empty bowls on the coffee table. "Alexis Jane," she huffed. "I cannot believe you had ice cream without me."

"Sorry, Gram," Alexis offered. "It was an emergency."

Martha waved it off. "Yes, well…" She turned to Kate. "Good evening, dear."

"Hey, Martha," Kate replied, smiling. "How are you?"

"Can't complain," Martha said, pausing. "Well, I suppose I could, but where does complaining get you, really?"

"Not a family motto, by the way," Alexis whispered, earning a laugh from Kate.

Martha swept into the living room, sitting down beside Kate. She noticed the dvd player flashing and the movie case. "Oh, what are we watching?"

"Nothing," Alexis said hastily, gathering up the bowls to take to the kitchen. "Not anymore. The movie's done."

Martha picked up the dvd case, frowning at her granddaughter. "Alexis, really. This movie is absolute rubbish compared to the Tony Award winning stage version."

"It's for a class," Alexis defended. "Besides, Kate liked it, and she's seen the stage version. She was even in the play in college."

Martha was about to continue when Alexis' phone rang. She answered without looking at the caller id. "Mom!" she said. "I thought I asked you not to call back tonight…Well, I have homework that I have to do, and it's getting late…Yeah, I guess I can talk and do my homework at the same time…Just a sec." She put her hand over the speaker, turning to Kate and Martha. "I'm gonna take this upstairs, okay? It was great seeing you, Kate."

"It was good to see you, too, Lex," Kate said. "I'll talk to you later this week, okay?"

Alexis nodded, returning to her conversation as she hurried up the stairs. When she was out of earshot, Martha turned to Kate. "So, did it hurt getting thrown under the bus like that?"

Kate laughed. "A little."

"How are you doing otherwise?" she asked. "You look tired."

Kate shrugged. "This case is running me ragged, and we're still going nowhere."

Kate's phone rang, startling them both. "Perhaps you spoke too soon," Martha commented. Kate checked the caller id; Esposito.

She bit her lip. "I should probably get back to the precinct," she said, letting the call go to voicemail. "It was really good to see you, Martha."

Martha smiled. "Likewise, darling. Don't be a stranger, you understand?"

After promising to stop by the loft at least once a week, Kate left the apartment and called Esposito back. He picked up just as she was getting on the elevator.

"Yo, Beckett," he greeted, "you gonna be back soon? We got a couple hot leads while you were out."

"On my way," she assured him. "What'd you get?"

Esposito cleared his throat. "Talked to the neighbor, Bastelli, about the night of Avery's murder. Bastelli said he remembered seeing a weird dude hanging around the building all day and night. Kept seeing him all over the place; in the lobby, on the elevator, in the stairwell, even outside when he was getting arrested. Said the guy was real suspicious lookin'; dressed all in camo, carrying around a guitar case, wouldn't look anyone in the eye. Ryan sat him down with a sketch artist. Got a pretty good picture of our guy."

Kate felt a jolt of adrenaline pulse through her veins. "What else?" she asked. "You said you had a couple of leads?"

"Yeah," Esposito confirmed, excitement tingeing his voice. "CSU got a match on a print from the fire escape; Hannah Foster, 25, last known address is in Brooklyn. We think she could be our mystery girl."

"Alright, here's the plan," Kate said, thinking fast. "You and Ryan head over to Avery's building with the sketch and Hannah Foster's DMV photo. I'll meet you there, and we'll canvass the neighbors again, see if anyone recognizes them, especially the girl. After that, Ryan and I will head out to Miss Foster's last known address."

"What about me?" Espo asked.

Kate stepped off the elevator and left the building, hailing a cab and giving him Avery's address. "I want you to check into all the security footage from the day of Avery's murder. See if you can confirm Bastelli's story."

"Got it, boss," Esposito said. She could hear him calling to Ryan to get ready. "Don't worry, Becks, we'll get 'em. I've got a good feeling about this."

"So do I, Espo," she told him, grim determination filling her. "So do I."

*So, I'm pretty sure this is the single longest chapter of this story to date. I really enjoyed writing it, but not the time it took to get it done. It's finally done though, and this story is really rolling. Get ready, boys and girls, get ready.