Trying to keep this story updated since the mistake before. Still sorry about that, you guys.
And I know it doesn't seem as Alexis centered as I said it would be, but bear with me, folks. It's coming!
I got a few questions about the case, so let me answer all of them right here: it's a new case. It's one created in my mind for this fic, so don't sweat not being able to remember it! (:
Disclaimer: If I owned Castle, I would probably be a billionaire. Since I'm not, I don't.
Enjoy!
Esposito slapped the folder on Beckett's desk, making her look up, startled. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "What the hell is this?" He asked, jabbing a finger on the file.
"I told you what it was." Beckett said, furrowing her eyebrows. "Why? What did it turn up?"
Ryan stood a few feet behind Esposito. He watched with a concerned expression, prepared to jump in.
"It led us to a familiar little loft on the other side of town." Esposito said, dripping with sarcasm. "One you know better than the rest of us."
A siren went off in Beckett's brain, and she tried to keep it off her face. "Who's would that be?" She asked, almost daring them to say it.
"It led us to Castle's place." Ryan said.
Beckett tried to muster up surprise, but couldn't. So instead she nodded and said "Thank you." grabbed the file, and went back to work.
Ryan looked from her to Esposito and back again. "That's it?" He asked, clearly shocked. "We tell you that your 'old case'," he hooked air quotes around the words, "just turned up the address of the guy you just kicked out of here and that's all you can say?" Both men stared incredulously at her.
"I'll handle it." Beckett said, not looking away from the computer screen.
Esposito leaned on her desk with his elbows and lowered his voice. "Look, whatever Castle's into, we can help. You don't have to do this alone."
Ryan nodded. "We're on your side." He reminded her in that same low voice."
"He's not in anything." Beckett said, her voice a bit too sharp and a bit too defensive. "And this isn't why I ended it."
The duo looked at her, silent and a bit startled.
"I can take care of it." Beckett said, her face back to the cool, emotionless mask she had perfected.
Ryan looked at Esposito a, who shrugged, as if to say, "There's nothing more we can do right now."
The pair had just sat down at their desks when Beckett ripped a file from her drawer, pulled out her phone, and walked briskly to the elevator, dialing a number.
"Woman on a mission." Ryan remarked.
"Yeah." Esposito agreed. "I just wish we knew what that was."
Castle closed the door, still smiling, and walked back into his house.
"Who was that?" Alexis asked from the couch.
"Esposito and Ryan." He said. "Guess they were running addresses for some case for Beckett and knocked on the wrong door." He shrugged.
"That's odd." Alexis said.
"Yeah, I guess."
"I wouldn't have pictured them as the Devil's henchman." Alexis said simply, going back to her book.
Castle tried for a smile, but failed.
"Oh, come on." Alexis said, setting her book down once more. "You're not really going to defend her, are you?"
Castle looked at her sheepishly.
Alexis laughed in disbelief. "Seriously? She broke your heart!"
"I'm a big kid, Alexis. I can handle it." He said.
"That doesn't mean you have to defend her!" She said, gaping at her father. "You're too nice, Dad."
He smirked. "That means a lot, coming from you."
"You're also depressed." When the elder Castle said nothing, she took it as a sign to continue. "You've been moping around your study drinking scotch, rereading old Nikki Heat books, and looking at pictures. Plus, I don't think you've been to sleep since it happened."
Castle looked away from his daughter's concerned face.
She stood and wrapped him in a hug. "I'm worried about you."
"Is that why you're so mad at her?" He asked, gently smoothing her hair.
She nodded. "No one does that to my dad." She echoed the very words that she had told Beckett.
"I appreciate the concern." He told her softly. "But don't let yourself get twisted by hate when it's my battle."
Alexis sighed, and then stayed silent for a while. "You know what's the worst part?" she asked finally.
"Hmm?"
"That I feel bad about being mad at her." She said.
Castle chuckled. "That's because you're a good person. Now off to bed, it's a school night."
Alexis fought back a yawn. "Alright, night Dad. I love you." She said, giving Castle a final squeeze before beginning the walk to her room.
"Love you too." He said, then, once Alexis was safely in her room, he let the smile fall from his face once more.
She was right, of course. He was depressed. He knew that. He also knew that it was far, far worse than she could have imagined.
He missed her so much it almost physically hurt. Maybe the worst part was that this wasn't something he could just fix. She had totally blindsided him, and he had no idea what he did. He couldn't even go see her to apologize.
All he knew was that Detective Katherine Beckett hated him, and there was nothing he could do.
And it was killing him.
I feel like this one is really short, and I'm sorry about that!
At any rate, review? Pretty please?