This is my first Castle fanfiction so please be nice. Some things to keep in mind:
I am not a detective or expert in criminology
I do not live in New York or America
I am no Castle writer as I wish I was.
I know this idea is used a lot, but I wanted to do my own version of it. Hope you enjoy the first chapter.
Disclamier: I don't own Castle sadly.
Chapter 1.
He was watching her curiously and she couldn't blame him. This was the first time in a long time since her mother's death that she felt somewhat happy, like a pressure had started to be lifted from her shoulders. A part of her felt guilty, she was already forced to drop her mother's case for the sake of her and her career, but did she have the right to feel happy?
"How are you feeling, Kate?" Her therapist, Dr Henry Wellington asked.
She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans, a part of her didn't want to explain how something had changed. Wouldn't her mother want her to find herself again? All she could think about was how a little girl had provided Kate light in a dark tunnel, she was her beacon of hope. "I –" she cleared her throat. "I met someone."
"Tell me in your own time," he said, but Kate could see the small smile. She had improved, after almost half a year of therapy and now he believed they were getting somewhere.
Kate watched the clock tick for a few minutes, trying to bring herself to share this moment with her therapist. Her mother would be happy, she would be looking down on Kate with a watery smile. "I helped a little girl find her daddy yesterday."
"You were working?" She shook her head. "I thought you were promoted, training to become a detective?"
"I have, but I don't start till next week and I was given the weekend off," Kate explained. She had trailed Royce around, now after almost half a year of therapy proving that she could do this, she was now being promoted, finding evidence for the detectives.
"So, tell me what happened," he said crossing his leg.
Kate let out a small sigh and then begun her story of a red headed girl.
Kate was making her way through the mall, on her way home from lunch and shopping with her new friend Lanie. A small thread tugged at her heart, memories of her and her mom shopping here, wanted to make an appearance, but she couldn't let them, it was too painful, especially when Christmas was close.
One of the stores her mother used to take her every week full with toys, clothes and a small café. They used to get a hot chocolate there together before shopping. Now, her feet moved towards the store before she could stop herself. Her eyes scanning the isles as if in search for her mother, a sigh reminding herself that she was gone. Kate's hand reached out, running along the racks of winter coats.
She would do anything just to have one more afternoon with her mother, anything to bring her back, anything to find her mothers murderer. But, she had put that all behind her now, especially after Royce. She winced at the pain, deciding it was best to leave before unwanted memories returned.
As Kate turned to leave, a small pale hand caught her attention from under the rack. Confused, she bent down discovering a little girl asleep. She looked around in search for the girls parents, any adult in search for their missing child, but the area was deserted.
Biting her lip, she knelt down on the ground, gently shaking the little girls shoulder. "Sweetie," she whisper in a gentle quiet voice. "Wake up, sweetheart."
She hadn't been around many children before, she was an only child. The little girl started to stir, rubbing her eyes.
"Where's daddy?" she asked opening her eyes to find Kate, followed by a sleepy yawn.
"I don't know," Kate whispered, her heart breaking for the child. She remembered the times when she got lost as a child, how afraid she was, wanting her mother. It was almost like she was lost now, still in search for her mother that she knew she would never find. But she could help this little girl find her father. "I'll help you find him."
"Has he left me?" The little girl asked, her bottom lip dropping.
"I'm sure he's looking for you," Kate told her. "Come on out and we'll go find him." She offered the little girl her hand, which after a second, she took.
"My daddy told me not to talk to strangers," She said biting her lip.
"Don't worry, I'm a cop," Kate said showing the young girl her badge. "My names Kate."
"My names Alexis." She said grinning. "I've never met a women cop before."
"Really? Women cops are the best there is," Kate whispered as Alexis giggled. At least the girl wasn't going into panic yet, but Kate could see the fear building behind her eyes.
"Did you come to arrest my daddy?" She asked.
"Ha your daddy been a bad boy?" Kate asked as the two of them walked over to the till, that would be the best place to start. Her eyes still scanned around the store, searching for a frantic father.
"My Grandma had to bail him out of jail one time," Alexis told Kate. "He stole a police horse and rode it with no pants on!" Kate's eyes widened as the younger girl let out a small giggle. That was an interesting way to get arrested, Kate couldn't hide her smile.
"Your daddy sounds interesting," Kate said as they reached the front of the till. The cashier looked up, offering them a small smile.
"How can I help you?" She asked.
"Hi, have you had a parent come by in search of their child?" Kate asked.
The cashier looked down at Alexis. "Yes, he's been searching for his little girl for almost an hour. I believe he's downstairs with security at the moment. Would you like me to take her for you?"
"She's a cop," Alexis informed the girl.
Kate smiled. "Its fine, thank you."
Alexis held Kate's hand as they left the store together, she watched as it swung between them, something Kate never thought she would enjoy so much. "I told you we'd find your daddy." She told her.
"I knew you would," Alexis smiled at her. Kate's heart beat an extra skip, this girl hardly knew her and, yet, she trusted her. She could have cried and screamed, but instead she had trusted Kate to take her to her father.
"Can I ask you a question?" Alexis asked her.
"Sure," Kate said as they stepped onto the elevator, leading down to where the security post was set up.
"My daddy told me that being a cop meant you got to catch bad guys, have you caught any?" She asked.
"I have," Kate smiled. She didn't want to tell the young girl too much about her work since it could likely scare her and it didn't seem appropriate with her age. The small fiery red head only looked about five.
"I think my daddy wants to be a cop," she said.
"Is that why he stole the police horse?" Kate asked as the little girl giggled again.
"No, he was just being silly," Alexis said shaking her head.
"Are you the grown up of the house then, little miss?" Kate asked.
"Someone has to keep him behaved," She said making Kate bite her lip to hold back her laughter. It was adorable seeing this little girl act like a parent to her father.
"Alexis!" A voice shouted. Kate looked up to see a man running over towards their direction. It wasn't mistaken that this man was Alexis' father, the way he reacted and how Alexis let go of Kate's hand running towards him gave it away.
"Daddy!" Alexis hugged her father.
As Kate reached them, she sucked in a shaky breath. Standing right in front of her was Richard Castle, who happened to be her favourite author. He had a kid? Alexis was his child!
Richard Castle looked up to Kate, looking between his daughter and her. "You found my daughter?"
"She was asleep under a coat rail," Kate explained, keeping her voice normal.
"Daddy, this is Kate. She's a cop," Alexis told him as Kate gave a small wave.
"A cop?" He questioned, his eyes travelling up her body. She bit her lip, hoping to God that she wasn't blushing.
"Yes, she catches bad guys," Alexis explained.
"That's impressive," he said. "Its good to meet you, Kate. I'm Rick. Thank you for finding my daughter."
"It wasn't any trouble, she's a great kid," she said finding herself grinning at Alexis.
"A great kid who shouldn't wonder off," Rick raised his eyebrows at his daughter.
"I'm sorry, daddy," the little girl said looking down.
"Don't go of again, OK?" Alexis nodded. "Now how about we get some ice cream."
Her little face lit up at the mention of ice cream, making Kate smile again. "Yes! Can Kate join us, please?"
"I'm sure we've taken up enough of Kate's time and we have to take it to go since we have to pack, pumpkin," Rick said making Alexis frown.
"I don't want to go," Alexis moaned into her fathers neck. Kate bit her lip, not sure whether she should leave or wait for them to say goodbye, the situation was too weird.
"I know, but you'll see mommy in a few days," He told her, kissing the top of her head. Rick looked up to Kate with a small smile. "Thank you for finding my daughter again."
"No problem," Kate smiled. "I should be going anyway."
"It was nice to meet you," Rick said, giving her another dazzling smile.
"Yeah," Kate said then turned to Alexis. "It was especially nice to meet you, but I don't want to come shopping again to find you asleep under the clothes. OK?"
Alexis giggled. "I'll try."
Kate smiled, looking back behind her to the direction where her car was parked. For some reason she didn't want to go, she wanted to stay and get to know the little girl some more, but they had to go and so should she. She gave them one last smile, but Alexis jumped out of her fathers arms hugging Kate.
"Thank you, Kate," She whispered, her small arms squeezing Kate.
"Your welcome, sweetie," She whispered.
Then Alexis let go and Kate turned to leave. Rick gave her one last smile and then she walked away. She turned back to them, finding them watching and smiling at her as she left. If it was anyone else she would find it strange, but instead she shook her head smiling. She wasn't likely to see them again, but she would always remember that little girl.
"It sounds like this Alexis really liked you," Wellington said, his hands clasped pleased with her story. "Richard Castle, who would have thought."
"I know," Kate said still not quite believing it.
"You told me how his books helped you, now that you've met him, how do you feel?" He asked curiously.
"Shocked. Confused. He wasn't like the guy in the papers, the way he was with his daughter it was nothing like the playboy surrounded by girls," Kate said.
"I guess he tries to keep his daughter far from that life," Wellington said.
"She looked so scared when she couldn't see her father," Kate whispered. "Just like..."
"Just like what?" He prodded.
"When I was younger and I got lost, my mother always found me, but now..." She had never spoke like this with Wellington before, she had always struggled to explain her feelings to him, to tell him anything about her mother. He waited patiently, watching Kate carefully. "Now I'm lost and she'll never be the one to find me again."
"And you thought helping this girl find her father would help you?" He asked.
"I just didn't want her to feel like I did," Kate said, looking down to fiddle with a thread on her jumper. Her father was an alcoholic, still trying to sober up, but always failing. She had no one to come find her, she was lost with no one looking for her. Yes, she had Lanie and her friends, but she felt lost without both of her parents, especially her mother.
"This little girl made you smile, even when you told me you was smiling." He told her. Was she? She hadn't noticed when she told him.
"She made me happy," Kate said. No one had made her that happy since her mothers death and the poor girl was afraid that she had lost her father, but she still giggled and smiled.
Wellington smiled. "I can tell. Perhaps this girl could be the one to find you?" He suggested.
"But I don't know her." Kate told him.
"No, but I'm sure you can get to know her," he said.
"I don't know where to find her and it doesn't seem right. I'm an adult, she's Richard Castle's kid." Kate explained, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
"Exactly," Wellington clapped his hands. "He has a book coming out, right? Go to his signing."
"Use him to get to his kid?" Kate was shocked at what he was suggesting.
"No, his daughter will likely be there with him. Just go and see what happens," Wellington explained.
"What if she doesn't remember me?" Kate asked.
"Then you leave, but if she does then talk to her." Kate thought about it, she wasn't over stepping anything there, if the girl didn't remember her then she would leave. She had planned on going to his signing anyway, she did want her book signed. If the little girl was there then just seeing her will make Kate smile. Was it wrong though? Would Richard Castle want her to talk to his daughter? She thought about him finding out how she went to therapy not wanting her anywhere near his daughter. It wasn't right.
"I can't. It's not right."
That's the first chapter. I hope you liked it. Please do review and tell me what you think. If you have any ideas for this story then please do let me know. I have ideas to where this story is leading. If you plan on sticking with this story (I hope you do) then you should know that I enjoy writing sad tradgic scenes:) but it will be a long time till they start coming in... maybe. I've already written the next chapter so I'll post it at the weekend.