Hey guys! Oh my gosh—thank you thank you thank you! Thank you for reading and reviewing and alerting and favoriting (I don't think that's even a word but I'll make it one!)—thank you for everything! And thanks for letting me know that episode was 4x08-Heartbreak Hotel! Hopefully I can finish that soon and get it up. I needed the name so I could warn of slight spoilers lol! This is kind of short…and I actually might post another chapter later today…but I wanted to separate it there. If I don't get it up tonight I'll do it tomorrow! You guys are awesome!
Rick caught up with her at the end of the hallway. She had stopped running but was giving a new meaning to the term 'power walking'. "Kate!" He called, but she just kept walking. "Kate, come on." He said, finally catching up enough to grab her arm, "Stop for a sec."
"Castle I'm fine. I'm just gonna go home and…"
"No you're not," he interrupted firmly.
"What?!"
"You aren't going home alone Kate."
"Castle I'm fine."
"You're crazy if you think I'm letting you go after that."
"Castle…"
"No Kate. You either come back to the loft with me or we'll go to your apartment. I don't care which but I'm not leaving you." He looked her in the eyes and saw she was struggling to keep it together.
"You know what…I don't even care anymore. I just want to get out of here."
"Ok, ok come on." He said softly. He took her hand and led her outside. He hailed a cab and was amazed she was able to keep it together. The cab ride was made in silence, although he kept a firm hold on her hand. On the ride up the elevator he could tell she was about to fall apart.
As soon as they walked in they heard Alexis' cheerful voice. "Kate, Dad! Awesome, you're home! I thought maybe we could…" she stopped when she saw the look on Kate's face. She looked from Kate to her father, "wha…what's wrong?"
"I'll be right back," Kate worked out, before making a hasty retreat. Rick sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Dad, what's wrong? Is Kate ok?"
"I'm not sure pumpkin."
"What? What do you mean? What's going on dad?"
"I promise I'll tell you in a minute Lex. I just need to go check on Kate okay?"
Rick turned to go up the stairs but Alexis surprised him by stopping him, "Let me dad."
He turned back around, "What?"
"I just…she helped me last night and I…I wanna be there for her too."
He pulled his daughter into a hug, "You are the best kid in the world, you know that?"
"Oh, I know," she said jokingly.
"Besides…if I go in there she'll probably just yell and say she's fine again, but you're too adorable to yell at."
Alexis smiled, "Thank you. But no eavesdropping this time!"
"What! How did…"
"Oh please dad…you're not as subtle as you think."
"Hey!" he said, faking hurt. He turned serious, "I'm sorry Lex."
"It's ok. You get a pass because I know you were worried about me."
He smiled, "Thanks pumpkin."
She nodded and made her way to the guest bedroom
When she knocked on the door she was immediately met with Kate's frustrated voice, "Castle! Go away!"
Alexis opened the door slightly and peeked her head in, "No Kate, it's me."
"Alexis? What are you…"
"Well…" Alexis began explain as she walked in and shut the door behind her. She went to sit next to Kate on the floor, leaning against the bed, "You were there for me last night and I want to be there for you too." Kate gave her a slight smile and she continued, "Aaannnd, dad figured you might yell if he came after you…but according to him I'm 'to adorable to yell at'" Alexis repeated, giving Kate her most adorable look.
That earned a small laugh from Kate, "He's right."
"Kate what happened," Alexis asked, her gaze turning serious.
"Oh, I'm just feeling like you did last night—you know? I..I really thought and hoped and—God I'm so stupid. I can't believe…"
"Hey!" Alexis stopped her and grabbed her hands, "Someone very special to me told me that having hope is never stupid. And, I know she's right because she's the smartest, strongest woman I know."
Kate was fighting to hold back the tears. She gently took Alexis' face in her hands, "You, little girl, are the sweetest most amazing kid," She said softly and then pulled her into a hung, "And I love you."
"I love you too" Alexis replied, hugging her back tightly, "And so does dad." She felt Kate stiffen as she said that and Alexis let out a quiet laugh, "Ok, too much for right now. But just…know that he does ok?" Kate nodded against Alexis' shoulder. After a few minutes Alexis broke the silence, "Are you okay?"
"I…I don't know."
Alexis pulled back from the hug to look at Kate, "What's going on Kate?"
"I…Alexis…"
Just then there was a light knock at the door and Rick slowly opened it, peeking his head in, "Lex, can I talk to Kate for a minute?"
Alexis nodded and hugged Kate, "Don't forget we love you," she whispered in Kate's ear.
"I love you too Lex," Kate said softly, choosing to ignore the 'we' part. She could not focus on that right now—she just couldn't. As soon as the door shut Kate looked at Rick, "Castle, I'm fine."
"Kate…" he started as she stood up.
"Castle…I'm fine. I'm fine and I don't…"
"No Kate," he said as he grabbed her arm when she tried to walk past him, "You're not doing this."
"Rick, just leave me alone. I'm…"
"Kate! You are not fine! Stop saying that!"
"Please…" Kate whispered, practically begging him, "I really don't want to talk about this. Please Rick, just…I…"
"Kate," he said softly, turning her to look at him, "I know you're breaking. Why won't you just let me help you?" When she finally looked him in the eye he continued, "It's ok you know? It's ok to cry."
"I can't," she replied, her voice breaking.
"Why? Why can't you?"
"Because…because if I do I…I'm afraid I'll completely break."
He wrapped his arms around her, "That's okay, break. I'm here." She shook her head 'no' against him shoulder but nevertheless, started crying. Once she started she couldn't stop. Rick led them to the bed and sat them up leaning against the headboard, holding her close. She buried her head in his neck as he whispered comforting words. When he felt her stop shaking he pulled back and gently wiped her tears away with his thumb, "Are you ok?"
She shut her eyes and tears leaked out, "No."
He pulled her tighter against him, "I'm so sorry Kate."
Her hand fisted into his shirt, "Me too." They sat there in silence for a few minutes, just holding onto each other until Kate suddenly spoke, "Don't let me run."
"What?"
"I…I need you Castle. Don't let me push you way."
"I'm not going anywhere Kate. No matter what you do, you're not getting rid of me okay?"
She pulled him into a hug, "you promise?"
"I promise Kate."
"Thank you."
Before Rick could respond they heard Alexis yelling all of the sudden. They looked at each other confused before both jumping up to see what was going on. They ran downstairs and made it to the living room just in time to hear the end of the conversation.
"You're wrong!" Alexis yelled, "Stop! That's not…that's not true. No….no it's not…I hate you!" Alexis screamed before she threw her phone on the floor, tears beginning to pool in her eyes.
"Alexis what happened?" Rick asked, his voice full of concern.
"Nothing dad. I'm going out." She said and started walking away.
"Sweetie wait! What…" Kate tried but Alexis stopped her.
"Just save it Kate! You don't have to do this anymore okay! Just stop pretending!"
"What?" Kate asked confused but before she could say more Alexis was out the door. Just as Alexis left her phone beeped indicating a text message. Kate picked it up and fumed as she saw the text on the screen from Meredith.
'Alexis I'm sorry if the truth upset you but you are old enough and need to know. Kate is just trying to get to your father through you."
Kate slammed the phone into Rick's hand, "I'm going to kill her Rick!"
"What?" Rick asked but as he read the message she saw his face turn red with anger. "She didn't!" How could she do this? She is unbelievable! I'm gonna…"
"Rick," Kate started, trying to calm him down, "Right now we need to focus on Alexis. Where would she go? I'll go talk to her and you can call Meredith."
"No Kate…I need to…"
"Rick, this was about me. I need to talk to her. I need to tell her that it's not true."
"Ok…ok your right. You go talk to her. I wanna call Meredith and give her a piece of my mind."
"Where would Alexis go?"
"The playground across the street." He answered immediately.
"Alright. I"ll go talk to her and you straighten Meredith out."
"Ok. Let me apologize in advance for the yelling."
"Rick, when I talk to her…because I will be talking to her…she will be lucky if all I do is yell."
He nodded, "Ok, just…take care of my baby ok?"
She smiled and took his hand, "I will, I promise."
When she got to the playground she saw Alexis sitting on the swings. "Alexis?"
"Go away Kate!"
"Lex, come on."
"No, Kate!" Alexis yelled, jumping off the swing. "Don't do this. Just leave me alone."
"Alexis we have to talk about this."
"No we don't! I get it, okay. You aren't the first girl to do this and you won't be the last I just…I thought you were different. I thought you really cared about me. How could you just lie straight to my face like that? You know…all that stuff you said last night? I really believed you. I really thought it was true. How could you say all that if you didn't mean it?"
Kate sighed. She didn't even know where to begin. "I do really care about you! I didn't lie, I did mean it! It was true…it is true!"
"Right," Alexis scoffed.
"Alexis, please. Just sit and talk to me. I promise…"
"No! I am not doing this again! Forget it!" she spat out before turning to walk away.
Kate grabbed her arm, "No Kate! I am not talking to you."
"Ok, will you at least come home? Your dad is worried sick." She could tell she wasn't getting Alexis to listen to her right now, but maybe if she got her home she could get her to talk to her.
"Fine," Alexis snapped, pulling her arm back and walking away as fast as she could. She turned around, "And Kate, when we get there just get your stuff and leave. I never want to see you again." She turned and started running back home.
Kate just stood there shocked. What was she supposed to do now? Her dad was drinking again, Alexis hated her, and she had no idea how to fix it—any of it.