Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys are awesome! ... Next chapter up... Enjoy!
Hotel Room:
"Yup, yup, yup, okay... thanks guys," Kate got off the phone and faced Alexis.
The two of them were alone in Kate's hotel room and it was the day before Kate had to return back to New York, and before Alexis had to return to the campus.
"That was Esposito, they've found your father, and he doesn't look too good."
"They?" Alexis wondered.
"Esposito, Ryan, and Lanie."
Alexis chuckled lightly, and for a second, her face seemed to light up and all the worries seemed to go away, but then, it was back. "Boy, Lanie is probably mad."
Kate looked at the teenager and wondered how she knew, but then, she let it slide and her face turned serious. "Talk, now."
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Hamptons:
"CASTLE? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?" The trio yelled in unison.
Upstairs, Martha heard the racket, but knew that the two detectives and medical examiner wouldn't do anything rash, and went back to her dirty martini. Then she realised how angry they would be since her Richard broke Kate's heart. Martha set her glass down and flew down the stairs.
She arrived in time, just to see Lanie slap and push Rick down and Esposito and Ryan trying to refrain the young M.E from doing it again.
"What's going on here?"
"Martha?" "Mother?"
"Let's move out of the music room and upstairs where I can keep an eye on you. Don't forget, you break anything in here and Alexis will be devastated. You know how much she likes her instruments."
The five of them trod up the stairs, and into the large family room.
"I'm going out; you'd better resolve your issues by the time I get back. And NOT ONE SPECK of mess or blood or anything like that, understood?" Martha grabbed her gear while Lanie, Esposito, Ryan and Castle nodded mutely. "Richard, please shave and get every rid of that smell which is rolling off you in waves. God, when I'm drunk, I'm pretty sure I don't stink that badly." With that, Martha Rodgers gathered her dignity and walked out of the door.
Castle heaved a big sigh and looked at his colleagues. "You want to know everything?"
The trio pointed a steely eye at him, "Everything."
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Hotel Room:
"Talk, now. I want to know what's wrong with you. You're not eating, not concentrating on your studies, you look worried and you have a dark circles under your eyes making you look like a panda. I can see walls of emotions building up around you. You may not be my daughter but you, besides Lanie, Esposito, Ryan and Castle; you are the closest thing to family. I don't want your walls to go up because I know how it feels like and you won't lead a happy life. You also won't be able to trust anyone as easy, for what it's worth." Kate Beckett sat with a serious expression, facing the teenager who was subtly trying not to flinch.
"I feel as if you are my mother," Alexis whispered, so softly, Kate didn't think she heard it.
"Sorry?"
"I said," Alexis started again, louder, "I feel as if you are my mother. Mom was never there for me. All she wanted to talk about were boys and shopping. It kinda got annoying. Dad was really the only person there for me. Then, you arrived and I guessed we clicked. As we got to know each other better, we talked more, about studies, activities, music, universities... The works. I looked up to you as an older sister, and if you'll let me, sometimes I look up to you as a mum."
Alexis took a breath without letting Kate interrupt. "Yes, my walls are going up. I'm worried. Dad has always been there for me, and I'm used to him always answering when I call. And I'm used to him always coming to my rescue when I needed it. Then, he didn't answer, he didn't show up, and I freaked. I was worried he was never going to show so I stopped doing everything I did before. I'm sorry."
"Alexis, you have to realise, your father is never going to leave you. He loves you more than anything else in the world, and he'll place you first before anyone else. I can already tell that you're his rock and vice versa. He'll come back, don't worry. It may not be now at this moment, but I know he will, and don't forget, Esposito already rang. They've found your dad."
Alexis took a moment to digest everything and moved closer to Kate and wound both arms around the detective. Kate returned the hug and the both sat there, clutching each other like a life line.
When they pulled apart, Kate asked, "Why did you 'freak'?"
Alexis looked at the detective to debate whether to tell her or not, "I told you before, I believe I have a stalker."
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A boy walks hides outside the hotel room amongst the bushes. He has a camera out and is focused on two silhouettes talking and hugging. The boy zooms in and snaps different pictures of a detective and a red-headed teen. He gets out a torch light and a notebook and scribbles something in. He's wearing his 'new shoes' and squeaks off, happy to know he can finally place his action in to plan.
I'm done! I thinking off wrapping up the story soon so something is going to happen in the next few chapters. You have been warned! I hope you like it...
Genie