Thank you again for the great reviews ! It's overwhelming, really. And I'm sorry to tell you I'm not finished torturing you. After this one, I have again one or two chapters.
One more thing : I know most people don't text full sentences. Well, I do. And so do Castle and Beckett. Because. The text messages are in italics.

In the end, their plan is once again smashed. This time with a simple phone call from Alexis' school. Beckett watches the blood drain from Castle's face.

"Alexis. She collapsed. She's at the hospital," he stutters. The panic makes him clumsy as he tries to take his jacket off the chair. He dashes to the elevator then stops, turning to her, mouth open.

"Go!" Beckett barks. "But keep us apprised!"

Three hours later, she receives a text. "Alexis' fine. Bad case of flu. Going home now. How's the case going?"

After telling Ryan and Esposito, she types back. "Not anywhere. Glad Alexis is fine. The boys and I say hello and hope she gets better soon."

"I'm so sorry for dinner."

"I'm sorry too but I understand. Would have been sad if you didn't stay with Alexis tonight."

The answer takes a little more time to come.

"Sad?" He doesn't understand.

"It wouldn't have been you. You care about your daughter. That's," she stops there, not knowing which word to use. Endearing, lovable, cute, it makes me want you more? If only she had a writer who could help, she thinks. Eventually she erases what she wrote and types something else.

"I mean : you are a very good dad."

":-)" Beckett's puzzled. A smiley face? Castle never uses smiley faces. He's a writer. Before she can reply another text comes in. "You've rendered me speechless."

"If I had known it was that easy!" She teases.

"I'm about to do something you'll probably not approve. But since I can't do it. I'll have to write it." She rereads it, puzzled and a bit worried. Then the next text arrives. "Right now, I wish I could take you in my arms and kiss you. I would start with your lips then I would attack your neck and lick upwards to your ear. My hands"

The message stops there because it's too long. She hits reply faster than she can shout "Castle!" to write exactly that. Just as it's sent, another one appear on her screen. Except it's not from Castle.

"You're not paid to text all day, Detective. Captain Gates."

Beckett looks up and her gaze meets Gates'. She puts her phone down, apologetic. It vibrates with another text. She glances at it. It's from Esposito. "Busted!"

In front of her, her two partners are laughing their asses off. She glares at them while sending a last text to Castle - "gotta go" - then focuses back on work.

At home, Castle is a bit worried he pushed too far with this. After her last text, he sent her apologies. He even tried to call, but he got no answer. It's around 8 when he finally gets a reply.

"Sorry. Gates doesn't approve of texting. Are you home?"

He's typing his reply when he hears the knock on the door. He sighs, annoyed. But Alexis is asleep upstairs and he doesn't want her to wake up. When he opens the door, he goes from annoyed to happy in two seconds flat. Kate Beckett is standing on his threshold, a bag in her hand.

"I brought chicken soup and ice cream for Alexis." He beams at her, letting her in. He takes the bag from her and she follows him to the kitchen.

"Thank you, she'll love it."

"How is she?"

"A little better, still pretty feverish. She's asleep now," he answers peeping inside the bag he put on the counter top.

"Castle, it's not for you!" she laughs from her side of the bar.

"I know." He forgets the bag and moves around the bar to stand next to her. "Thank you." His voice is soft and deep, almost sensual. He's looking at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. His hands find her waist and he turns her to face him. She lets him. Involuntarily, she licks her lips, making his eyes flicker to her mouth. They're both leaning in, ready to meet halfway when a hoarse shout startles them apart.

"Dad?"

Castle closes his eyes but bellows. "Yes, pumpkin?"

They hear the girl go down the stairs and move further apart, Castle going to meet his daughter at the bottom of the stairs. "Are you hungry? Beckett brought soup and ice cream." He hugs her as she passes next to him, pale and clammy. He strokes her back as she slowly walks to the kitchen.

"Yeah?" She smiles at the detective. "Thank you." Polite even when sick. Beckett smiles right back.

"You had us worried at the 12th. Everyone says hello." She smiles again but is visibly tired.

"Come on, Alexis. I'll set you up with some of that soup. Go sit," Castle says, pushing her gently to the couch.

"Would you stay?" Alexis asks Beckett. The detective glances at Castle who gives her a 'Like I would make you leave' look.

"Sure."

But as soon as the two women reach the couch, Beckett's phone rings. She takes the call, excusing herself. When she comes back, her face is showing all the signs of resignation.

"It was Ryan. We got a lead. I've gotta go."

Castle appears from the kitchen, towel in hand. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

The writer throws the towel on the floor. He would stamp on it too but he is afraid it'd scare Alexis.

TBC...

I feel like some villain of the caskett world. I like it! *insert mad laugh*