Authors Note: Hey fans. Sorry for the delay with the update. My beta was ill, then I was ill. Then I got caught up attending Adelaide ComicCon and then Melbourne ahhhhhhh so awesome . Then life got in the way with family, friends, Easter. Then for some unknown reason I got violently ill late Monday night. And I do mean violently but I won't go into yucky details. Finally feeling better this afternoon so I decided to check my over 300 emails and saw a nice surprise. A chapter from my beta. Here it is I hope you like it

Previously on Storm Clouds

"It just seems so silly."

Beckett nodded. Yeah it did. Jumping into the pool wasn't crazy enough but it was a start. If Alexis was going to do this then she needed a push. Not literally though.

"Yeah it does," Beckett told her as she turned her back on the water. "It has been a while since I have done something silly. I think I am long overdue." Beckett inched her way to the edge. The heels of her feet were overhanging the edge of the pool now. Beckett raised herself up on her toes. "Let's get crazy," Beckett then performed a backwards somersault and landed into cool water. Just as she breached the surface and took a gulp of air she heard Alexis yell out.

"Worms,"

And suddenly she was engulfed in a wave of water.

Castle returned to his home in the Hamptons, his arms overflowing with bags of groceries. He had probably overdone it, but he didn't know how long they were going to be there. There was also the extra guest to accommodate who would expect to eat at least three meals a day. Alexis wasn't the only one who wasn't eating much. He just didn't feel like it if his daughter wasn't eating. Cooking for one seemed pointless and a waste of time. He had been ordering in the last few nights. Dumping the food on the kitchen counter, he looked around for his daughter. She was usually sitting on the couch staring at nothing or in her room studying. Seeing that she wasn't on the couch, he headed out to the pool to see if she were still there. If not, then he would leave her to study and only call her when lunch was ready.

Walking out to the pool area, he frowned at the sight before him. His daughter was swimming in the pool with Beckett. Alexis hadn't been in the pool the whole time they had been there. He had told Beckett to bring her swimsuit in hopes that it would encourage Alexis into the water too. It had. He watched as his daughter got to the end and then pulled herself out. She turned around and dived back in and swam a fair distance underwater before breaking the surface and swimming to the other end. When she got there she pulled herself out and repeated what she had just done. Beckett was doing the same thing although she way staying under the water for almost the whole length of the pool. What was strange was that they were both still wearing their clothes, not swimsuits. His daughter emerged from the water and was plunging back into again before he could ask what was going on. When Beckett emerged from the water, he didn't hesitate to call out to her.

"Hey,"

Beckett turned to look at him. "Hey you're back. You took a while."

"What's going on? Why are you swimming in your clothes?"

Hearing the splashing of water, Beckett placed a finger over her lips.

"Hey Alexis, your dad is home. I'm going to help him make lunch. Keep swimming if you like."

Before his daughter had a chance to respond Beckett was walking over to him. "I'll explain later," she whispered to him as she wrung out her shorts and t shirt.

She walked into the kitchen and saw the bags on the counter. "Looks like you got everything."

"Why are you in your clothes? I am sure we have plenty of swimsuits in one of the spare rooms you. Surely one of them would have fit you."

Beckett shook her head. "We weren't swimming."

Castle frowned at her. "What exactly would you call it? Survival training?"

Beckett smiled and shrugged. "Something like that. I'll think I'll go and change into my swimsuit now. You should too. Having lunch out by the pool might be a nice idea."

Beckett ran up to her room and changed into her swimsuit. She pulled her white cover-up over the top before slipping her feet into a pair of flip flops. Going through her drawers, she pulled out a black octopus clip and spun her hair into a bun. She found using an elastic always left a dent in her hair, the clip didn't. As her hair dried, it would come out of the clip in nice natural curls. Not that she was worried about the way she looked. She was here to help Alexis. It didn't mean she had to look like a train wreck, though.

Beckett walked back into the empty kitchen and began to unload the groceries. She didn't know where everything went so she simply took them out of the bag and placed them on the bench. She noticed he had bought everything on her list as well as a few other things.

"Hey, you're a guest here. I don't expect you to work."

Beckett looked up to see Castle had now changed into a loose white t shirt and a pair of board shorts. She was definitely into this casual Castle.

"Unloading groceries is hardly working,"

Castle joined her at the bench and started taking items out. "No, but I'd consider having my daughter beat you up and swimming laps in your clothes, work. Want to explain that?"

Beckett looked out towards the pool area to see if Alexis was anywhere in the vicinity. She didn't want to betray the young woman's trust but she was there for a reason.

"Your daughter has a lot of anger that she just needed to get out. She also needed to vent. I had her yelling, screaming and punching. She looks like this little innocent girl, but she can sure pack a punch. I think it did her good. We talked a little, but mainly it's been a physical journey. She said she wanted to do something crazy and wanted to feel free. I know when my mother died I wanted to escape. Diving into a pool and swimming underwater always feels like I'm flying, like I'm free. I suggested it to Alexis and she seemed to like the idea."

"And you couldn't do that in a swimsuit?"

Beckett laughed. "I told you she wanted to do something crazy. Be happy I convinced her jumping into a pool fully clothed was crazy enough. I'm not sure you would have approved of pink hair, tattoo or drinking."

Castle raised his brows at her before he started laughing. Beckett was shocked. "What?" she asked.

"Just trying to think of you with pink hair. Please tell me it was an 80's style mullet."

Beckett laughed. "No, not that bad. I have photos; maybe I'll show you one day."

Castle shrugged. "Oh, I think I'd rather see your tattoo."

Beckett froze. The few men who had seen her tattoo asked about the significance of it. She usually told them she was drunk at the time. In actual fact, she had never been more sober.

"That right is reserved for only a few special people," she managed to get out.

Beckett waited for a witty retort but got none. She turned to look at him and saw his mouth gaping open. Well, well, well: she had shocked him into silence. "For a man of many words, you sure don't have much to say." Beckett took the bag from him and emptied the contents on the bench. Now that all the food was spread out, it gave her a better idea on what to make of lunch. "So you got all the ingredients I asked for?"

Castle looked at her but didn't respond, so she bumped him with her hip.

"Umm yeah. It was quite an extensive list. Popcorn I get, we eat a lot for movie night as well as chocolate. The rest was a bit all over the place. You asked for salmon but also pumpkin seeds. Red bell peppers and honey. I wasn't sure if you wanted fresh peppers or the ones in the jar so I got both. Also, bananas and apples like you requested. Fresh and frozen spinach as I wasn't sure what you wanted to use it for. Honestly, all these ingredients have me confused as to what you think you're going to make."

Beckett laughed. There were a lot of different types of ingredients. She had simply tried to remember as many as she could. "I'm not planning on making one meal from all of this. These are foods you probably want Alexis to be eating. They're all high energy foods. You say she isn't eating much, well when she does you want to make sure that she's getting enough energy. You could try and get her to drink energy drinks or give her supplements, but then she would know."

Castle nodded. "Okay, that makes sense, except she seems to have energy at the moment. Should she be doing that much exercise if she isn't eating much?"

Beckett shrugged. "Just keep an eye on her. I figured it was better than sitting around doing nothing. It's making her more relaxed and I'm hoping all that swimming will give her an appetite."

Castle looked out towards the pool then back at her. "You're incredible. You know that, right?"

Beckett put her head down and tucked an invisible strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm just doing what I can to help."

Castle took a step closer. "I know, and that's what makes you incredible. You don't have to be here and yet you are."

Beckett gulped at the close proximity of the man before her.

"Thank you for this. I can never repay you for what you are doing." He started leaning closer and Beckett took a deep breath. Castle reached past her and grabbed at something that wasn't her. "So what were we putting in these wraps?"

Beckett looked to see he had grabbed a bag of whole wheat wraps. "Everything," she told him.

She picked out the items she wanted to use and then got a few more out of the fridge. It surprised her how comfortable she was in the kitchen with this man. They worked together side by side, slicing and chopping the ingredients in preparation for the wraps. Once the prep work was done, she began throwing different ingredients in each one. She rolled them up then cut them in half and piled them all onto a large plate while Castle put everything away and tided up. Acting as the perfect gentleman, he offered to carry the heavy plate and orange juice, leaving her to carry the glasses.

They walked back outside just as Alexis dived into the again. Castle put the food down on a table and then rearranged the pool chairs.

"Alexis," Beckett called out. "Want to come and eat?"

Alexis shook her head. "No. Didn't we just eat breakfast?"

Beckett laughed. "That was hours ago. We swam for ages."

Alexis shrugged as she got out of the pool and walked over to them. She threw herself into a chair and sat down dripping wet. Castle picked up a wrap and went to offer it to his daughter but Beckett sent him a warning glare. She picked one up herself and took a bite.

"MMM I'm starving. First the running and then the swimming," she said between bites.

Castle bit into a wrap hesitantly, then took another huge bite before he had even swallowed his first. "God Beckett, you missed your calling as a cook. What did you put in these?"

Beckett laughed. "You saw me make them Castle. You cut up most of the ingredients."

"Yeh bu mmmmm." He mumbled between bites.

Beckett laughed and reached over and grabbed his hand with the almost-finished wrap in it. "That one was spinach, pickled peppers and chicken."

"Really?" he asked surprised, taking back his hand and popping the rest in his mouth. "This has spinach in it. What others did you make?"

"Ham, lettuce, cheese, mushroom and peppers I think. There is also chicken, lettuce, spinach, carrot and mayo. There's one where I just put in everything that was left over."

"Dad will like that one," Alexis told them. 'He's always mixing lots of weird combinations together."

Beckett nodded as she looked over the wraps and picked up the combination one and handed it to Castle. "Here you go. Leave the normal ones for us. Did you want one Alexis?"

The girl bit her lip. "Umm ,the one dad had sounded nice."

Beckett found the one she was after and handed it to Alexis. The young girl looked it over before taking a tentative bite just like she had with the hash brown. She looked up and saw them both looking at her. Beckett turned to Castle and tried to think of something to say. What did one talk to a person about? Like a real person, not a suspect you were interrogating. She really didn't know. Apart from Lanie, Ryan and Esposito, she didn't really have any friends either. When she did talk to the guys or Lanie, it was usually about work. Once Lanie had started dating Esposito, all sex talk was off the table. Mainly because she was the only who was getting any. Or shoes, she talked to Lanie about shoes. Beckett had dated, sorta. She could interact with people. What did one talk about on a date? The weather, politics and religion were big no nos. What else did that leave? Work!

"So Castle, when is your next book coming out?"

Beckett watched as the writer froze and suddenly looked sad. She turned to look at Alexis who was looking everywhere but at her.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Castle shook his head and put down his wrap. "No. It's just there isn't a book in the works at the moment. Hence my publisher yelling at me."

"Oh. I just assumed that was for your next book."

Castle shook his head. "No. Since I killed off Storm, I haven't been able to write much. Gina says I should never killed him off. She said it has killed my career."

"Well I don't know about your career but she is wrong about not killing him off."

Castle eyed her curiously. "Really?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well a lot of people were upset by it."

Beckett shrugged. "Well yeah, it was upsetting. He was a great character and ill miss him, but he was getting old, tired, boring."

"Boring. Yes," he announced jumping up. "Finally, someone gets it! I got bored with writing Storm and I figured people were bored with reading him. I wanted to create a new character that people would fall in love with."

"So how has that been going? Can you tell me about this character?"

Castle sighed. "Well, therein lies the problem, I haven't written them yet. I haven't been writing much."

"Yes, you have."

Beckett and Castle turned to look at Alexis. The wrap was now gone and she was reaching for another.

"What are you talking about Alexis?"

"I hear you at night when I wake up sometimes."

Castle shook his head. "I'm just typing nothing. Question marks like I sent Gina."

Alexis shook her head. "Dad, I've heard you typing since I was in the womb. I know the difference between writing and typing nothing. Plus I snuck a look at your laptop. Detective Fire Dad, really? What were you planning on calling the book? Fire Down Below?"

Beckett put her hand over her mouth to stop the food from pouring out. She then laughed into her hand. After taking a few steadying breaths, she swallowed her food.

"I hope you're referring to the Steven Seagal movie, Alexis." Castle asked her shocked.

Alexis shrugged as she stood up. "I may be, but your fans might not. Dad, just because this NYPD detective is sexy and hot doesn't mean you have to name her fire. Heat is believable but not fire. I'm going to go change and maybe sit in the spa for a bit to warm up. Thanks for the food Kate," she told them, waving with the wrap in her hand as she walked off, leaving the pair to their lunch.

"Did you hear that? She spoke and she made a joke. I mean, I'm not thrilled that she knows what fire down below means, but it's progress, right?"

Beckett nodded. "Yes it is, but don't get too excited. It's only been a few hours and a joke and some food isn't healed. Now tell me about this hot and sexy NYPD detective. Wouldn't be based on anyone I know, would it? Esposito's ego is bad enough as it is and Ryan would be impossible to work with."

"What? No! She's a female detective. Actually, she's kind of loosely based on you," he told warily.

This time Beckett did choke on her wrap. Castle offered her a glass of juice and she took it drinking almost all of it.

"Excuse me. What?" she eventually managed to get out.

"I've been looking for a new bad ass character to write about. I have travelled the world over trying to get inspiration, but it turns out I was looking in the wrong place. Maybe I should get arrested by the NYPD the next time I get blocked. It certainly worked this time."

"So you have been writing?" she asked frowning.

Castle nodded. "Yeah. Just bits here and there. Character development, back story that sort of thing."

Beckett raised her brows surprised. "So let me get this straight. This new bad ass sexy and hot detective. She is based on me?"

"Loosely."

"But that's what got you writing? Me." she asked.

Castle nodded "Well, yeah. You're daring and tenacious. You took on Slaughter when I was practically wetting my pants. I wanted to write someone who kicked ass and you certainly did that. Do you mind?"

Beckett laughed. "You wetting your pants, yeah I do."

Castle shook his head. "No. That the character is based on you. I'll change her name, it isn't right. Fire never seemed right but Heat had possibilities."

Beckett bit her lip. Richard Castle, her favorite author, was basing a character on her. Why? How? And when could she read it.

"If I said no, what would you do?"

Castle shrugged. "Stop writing her, I guess."

She should say no. Who knew what kind of character she would be? He wanted to name her Detective Fire, after all. One thing stuck in the back of her mind. He hadn't been writing at all. His last book had come out ages ago, and she had assumed his next was about to follow. It wasn't. He said he got bored writing Storm. Yet he seemed quite interested in writing this Fire character or Heat as Alexis suggested. She had helped him start writing again.

"Has writing helped?" she asked him.

"You mean dealing with Meredith and Alexis? Yeah it has. Writing has always been my escape, even when I was a kid. I've been so lost since I killed off Storm."

Beckett bit her lip. She knew exactly what that was like, to be so lost and have nowhere to escape. If he didn't write another book, then she would only be able to escape into his older work. Nothing new.

"Do you feel like you've found your way now?" she asked him.

"Well, I'm not there yet, but I feel like I am on the right path. Yeah."

Beckett bit her lip. He had found his path because of her just as he had helped her. "Write her." she told him. "Write her and find your way home."