Okay, so, I know I haven't updated in a while and I'm sorry! I have the next chapter down on paper already, and it should be up tomorrow, so hopefully that makes up for it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.

Enjoy(:

The following morning, Alexis awoke from dreams of betrayal and lies. She frowned and curled deeper into her pillow and under her covers, feeling quite sick.

It had been less than 24 hours, and the guilt was killing her.

She hated doing this to her dad. There he was, trying to heal, trying to pick himself up off of the floor and march on, and she was pouring salt in the wound. Flaunting the very person that had hurt him in front of his face.

But she couldn't stay mad at Beckett. She may not have completely agreed with her methods, but her reasons for doing them were admirable. She knew Beckett cared about her dad still, and she knew Beckett knew too.

Alexis sighed heavily and rolled onto her back, spread eagle. She stared at the ceiling and let her thoughts run in circles.

If they still cared about each other, and Detective Beckett didn't really hate him, then there shouldn't be a problem, right?

Except, she needs him to think that she hates him so that she can finish the case. I don't want my dad to die either…

Then after the case is over? Then there won't be a problem. Dad can go back to shadowing Detective Beckett and everything will be okay.

But these cases take a really long time, don't they? It seems like they do in all the papers. Months, sometimes years.

What if Dad is over her by then? What happens then? What if he doesn't want to talk to her again?

Well, that would be okay, wouldn't it? It's not like I have to talk to Detective Beckett. She would just be a phase.

…but I don't want that. Do I want them to be together? Maybe. I mean, if two people love each other – and they totally do – then they should be together, right?

This carried on for about an hour until a knock at the door shook her from her thoughts.

"Come in."

The knob turned and Castle poked his head in. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Alexis fibbed. "Fine, why?"

"Well, you're usually up by now." Castle explained, coming all the way into the room. "Are you sick?"

"Nope." Alexis said simply, not trusting her mouth's ability to keep a secret.

Castle furrowed his eyebrows and stayed silent for a bit, watching his daughter avoid eye contact at all possible costs. "Can I talk to you?" he asked finally.

Alexis nodded, even though her head was screaming the exact opposite. She knew this would come up eventually, she had just kinda hoped that it was later rather than sooner.

"What were you doing with Beckett yesterday?"

"She was just giving me a ride. I was walking because I somehow let my subway card run down to zero, so she picked me up. And I was tired, so I said yes." Alexis nodded some. "She's probably trying to make up for the whole slapping thing." She added.

"And your school let out at noon yesterday?" Castle inquired.

"Yeah." Alexis said as if this was obvious, and he was an idiot for ignoring such. "We talked about it, remember? We got out early because the teachers were having some big conference."

Castle looked surprised. "We did?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah." Alexis said, eyes wide, still looking at her dad as if he were an alien.

"Seriously?"

Alexis nodded more. "Seriously."

"Huh…I could have sworn they didn't do those until October…" Castle trailed off.

"They're doing two a year now. Budgeting and meeting test standards and all that. Anyways, Dad, I really need to get ready for school…" She swung her legs off the bed and hopped up, beginning to walk into her bathroom.

"Right…yeah, sure, school…" Castle mumbled, still dazed, his brain occupied with trying to figure out how he forgot something like that. He got up, and walked from the room, shaking his head.

As soon as the door was safely shut behind him, Alexis let out all the air she was holding in her lungs in one long heavy stream. She leaned her head forward against the wall and tried to swallow her guilt. At least what she had done had taken care of her dad for the day. She knew he would spend at least 20 minutes trying to recall the imaginary moment, which would give her enough time to get out the door without him asking too many questions.

One of her friends from school had texted her in all caps (with a few dozen exclamation points) at about 5 that morning alerting her to the fact that school had been canceled for the day.

Alexis figured her friend would be less exuberant if she knew that the reason she didn't have class was on account of a homicide.

Still, she quickly dressed, grabbed her book bag, and set off downstairs. "Bye, Dad." She chirped, walking behind the couch to kiss her dad on his cheek before setting off.

Castle looked at her, confused. "What, no breakfast?"

"Can't. Running late." She explained, hand already on the doorknob. "I'll grab something at school if I have time."

"Oh, wait." Castle said, standing up. "Let me give you my card so that you can get a cab or something."

"Oh, it's fine." She said, waving a hand. "I have my subway card. Love you, bye!" she then ducked out the door, shutting it quickly behind her and setting off in her direction with determination.

"Then why…then why did Beckett have to drive you yesterday?" Castle questioned the door. "Explain that. Will someone please explain that?"

A short time later, Alexis arrived at the 12th. She strode through the lobby and to the elevators, earning a few strange looks from officers in the process. After all, it wasn't everyday that 18-year-old girls simply showed up, looking like they knew where they were going, and weren't in any immediate trouble.

When she arrived on homicide's floor, she hesitated. Maybe she was being rash. Maybe she should just leave it, and let them work it out on their own.

No. She thought firmly. You've gotta do this one.

She took a deep breath and walked up to Beckett's desk, standing in front of it, looking determined.

Beckett looked up at her. "Alexis." She sounded surprised. "Hi. What can I do for you?"

"Let me help." Alexis said quickly.

Beckett had a sinking feeling she knew where this was going. "Excuse me?"

"With the case!" She clarified. "I want to help you."

"Oh, no." Beckett put her head in her hands.

"Just think about it!" Alexis urged, pulling up a chair in front of her desk. "I know the school. I know the people there. And I can tell you anything you want! Nothing held back, no cover-ups, nothing. I'm your all access pass!" She bounced a bit to punctuate the last statement.

"You sound just like your father, you know that?" Beckett commented, rubbing small circles on her temples.

"Is that a yes?" Alexis asked hopefully.

"Absolutely not." Beckett lifted her head. "No way. I would never let you put yourself in that kind of danger."

"Come on, please?" She begged. "I'll behave, I swear."

"It's not your behavior I'm worried about." Beckett said, standing and beginning to make her way out of the room.

"It's either this or I tell my dad everything!" Alexis rushed out, a bit loud to grab Beckett's attention.

She stopped at the doorway, and turned to look in disbelief at the teen sitting in front of her desk. "Are you threatening to blackmail me?"

"I've learned a few things from my dad."

Beckett shook her head. "How do you know I didn't lie to you? How do you know that I didn't make all that up to get you out of my hair?"

"Because it was way too intricate. Only my dad can do that." Alexis fired back.

"Yeah, well, I've learned a few things from him too." Beckett molded her perfect mask back over your face. "I lied to you, Alexis. There was never any case. I just got sick of dealing with your dad, so I ended it."

"That's not true." Alexis said, smiling ever so slightly.

"Believe what you want." Beckett said, beginning to walk out again.

"Fine, I'll just stay here and observe."

Beckett froze once more.

"I'll listen in on conversations, offer up unasked for advice, read files that aren't even remotely related to this case in any way shape or form and just be a general pain."

Beckett turned slowly once more to stare at Alexis.

Then Beckett saw Alexis do something that scared her.

Alexis did the eyebrow twitch.

The exact one her father had done when he decided he was going to shadow her.

This is going to be one long case. Beckett thought.

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