The light from his laptop danced across his face in the dark of the night. She came up behind him and folded her arms around his neck.

"Come back to sleep." She kissed him on the cheek and nibbled on his ear.

He tilted his head until it leaned against hers.

"Just a minute, I've got to get this down." He continued pounding on his keyboard.

"It's 4am." Kate tapped his chest lightly and walked in front of him.

"Is it the kind of scene that we could re-enact?" Her tone was hushed and playful.

Being a little too into it, Beckett pushed his chair back a few inched and lifted one leg over his lap.

She sat facing him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

The sound of cracking floorboards drew their attention to the set of burgundy stairs.

The two pulled apart as her face emerged from the shadowy section of the loft.

"Oh, God. I'm sorry." Alexis rubbed her eyes and ruffled her bright orange hair.

"Oh my gosh. I am so sorry, Alexis!" Beckett lifted herself up off Rick's lap, "I should really conside-"

"No, Kate, you don't have to consider anything. You practically live here now. I don't have a say. I don't even live here anymore."

"Alexis, what are you talking about? Of course you live here. Of course you have a say." Rick stood up and walked over to meet his daughter in the kitchen.

"Sure." Alexis threw over her shoulder as she pulled the fridge door open. She closed the door quickly and turned her head to Kate, "I'm sorry, that was rude." The teenager let go of the door handle and pulled her sleeves over her fingers into a fist. She stepped forward and leaned against the island in the kitchen.

"No, no, it's alright. I completely understand." Kate waved off.

"No, really, it's the whole, 'me being hungry and it being 4 o'clock in the morning' thing. Really Kate, I have no problem with you being here." She brought her hand to comfort her noisy stomach, "I could, however, do without the constant public display of affection, at least for a little while," said Alexis.

"We are sorry, Alexis," Rick apologized to his daughter.

"No, guys really, it's 4am, I-I'm just a little grumpy. I'm sorry." Alexis grabbed a box of dry cereal and headed for the stairs, "I promise I'll be myself in the morning," she smiled a heart-felt smile and said, "when I'm not hungry," and went back to her room.

The next morning was the last time Kate saw Alexis, until now.

"Miss, I'm sorry, you have to clear the room." The echoing words bounced across the room and hit her like baseballs as the room spun widely.

"Miss?" The nurse placed her hands on either side of Kate's shoulders and guided her out the door.

Kate found herself staring at the white blinds strategically placed on the other side of the door and windows.

Kate stepped off the elevator and into the precinct. The room fell silent.

"Beckett, how is she?" Detective Ryan approached her as she neared the break room.

"Um, well," Kate fought the words as they came out, "she went into cardiac arrest for about a minute." Kate looked at the floor and spoke softly to herself, "it was the longest minute of my life."

"Becke-"

"Ryan, I just need a moment alone. If you don't mind?"

"No, of course." He stepped aside and looked down as she passed him.

Ryan walked to his desk with his head down. The sound of the elevator drew his attention to the woman with black hair. He simply nodded his head in the break room's direction. The woman, having seen the look in his eye, hurried to the break room.

Kate grabbed her cup of coffee firmly. She looked at it and released her grasp.

"Kate," Lanie stepped in behind her, "how are you holding up?" Lanie pulled a chair out from beneath the table and placed her bag on it. She draped her jacket over the back.

Kate's arms became weak. She placed them on the counter top in front of her and leaned forward, letting her head drop.

"Listen, I'm on my way home, why don't you stay the night?" Lanie walked toward her and placed her hand on Kate's shoulder.

Kate let out a long breath, "thanks, Lanie." Kate turned to face the M.E, "but I think I should go over to Castle's. You know, just in case something comes up."

"You've been there almost every night since. If anything happens you'll be the first one contacted. They have your cell number, Kate."

Lanie placed both her hands on Kate's shoulders, "come on, Kate, you need this."

Kate looked at the floor for a few seconds to clear her head, "okay."

"Okay?" Lanie questioned.

"Yeah, I just need to get some clothes from Rick's place. I'll meet you at your place."

"No way. Nice try but you are not going to talk yourself out of this. I know you well enough to know that if I let you go to his place alone you'll end up staying there." Lanie let go of Kate's shoulders and turned to grab her bags, "you'll come up with an excuse like you suddenly got too tired to make it to my place."

Lanie threw her coat over her shoulder. "Let's go, we're taking my car."

Kate lingered behind a few moments. She glanced at her full cup of coffee and poured it in the sink. She caught up to the woman as she gracefully walked toward the elevator.

Walking alongside her friend as they stepped outside of the building, Kate turned her head slightly to look at her friend and stated, "My clothes are in my car. I'll be a minute."

Kate, with both hands in her pockets, looked to the floor in embarrassment and smiled as Lanie bumped her shoulder and laughed.

"Thanks, Lanie." Kate said looking straight ahead.

Lanie looked at her friend as their strides slowed down. "For what?"

Kate turned to face her and smiled brightly, "for being you, for not acting different under the circumstances."

Lanie linked her arm into the fold of Kate's elbow and rested her head on Kate's shoulder as they walked.

"I have to call Alexander."