Rocket Man Chapter IV

Since you had to wait so long for chapter 3, I decided to post chapter 4 a bit faster. Thanks for the feeback!

One of my fabulous BBB's challenged me to get the word turtle into this chapter and so I did. ;-)

And yet again I have to thank my fabulous BBB's. You know I love you!

Disclaimers:

They are not mine. I'm not keeping them, just borrowing, although I wouldn't mind to keep Castle. ;-)

Kate hung up after she had assured Martha that they would give her frequent updates on her son's condition. It turned out Martha was snowbound in Aspen and didn't know when she would get the chance to leave. The roads were closed, the blizzard had gathered strength and no one knew when it would calm down. She had spent the whole day at the spa, leaving her phone in her room and had been tremendously worried when she had seen the number of missed calls. And of course she wanted more than anything in the world to come home. Kate had to use all of her finesse, but she eventually calmed her down, assuring her that Alexis was as fine as could be expected and that she was more than happy to watch out for her until Martha could return.

Realising she had Alexis' phone in her hand she stepped into the bedroom to find her already asleep. Carefully, she placed the phone on the nightstand and for a moment just stood there, watching her partner's daughter. She had promised him once that she would take care of Alexis, should something happen to him, and she was determined to keep that promise. Kate gently pulled the covers a bit higher and turned off the light, before she retreated to the living room throwing herself down on her couch. She let her mind run through the day's events, which made her realize just how tired she was. This worry for Castle and Alexis was getting to her. She was responsible now. She had to do this right. Yawning Kate reached for the blanket and her pillow, ready to get some much needed sleep. She was about to close her eyes, when her phone rang, sighing she picked it up from the floor and glanced at the screen to see who was calling. She couldn't ignore this one.

"Hi Lanie"

Kate woke up the next morning and felt it. The scar. It pulled. She must have been lying at a strange angle and surely the couch was not the best place to spend the night anyway, scar or not. Her index finger traced the mark on her side, a constant reminder of how close she had come to losing everything. But unlike the months following the shooting, she felt it gained a new, different meaning. She had survived, even though her chances had been more than grim. She had pulled through. It was testimony to her strength, helping her to acknowledge that she was able to accomplish more that she had given herself credit for, knowing she could be more.

Finally pushing back the blanket, Kate sat up and her gaze drifted towards her bedroom door. It was still early and she had no intention of waking Alexis, thinking she could use all the sleep she could get. Kate decided to run down to the little shop around the corner and get them something for breakfast, since the household of Kate Beckett was not accustomed to catering for unexpected house guests. Pulling on sweat pants and a hoodie she quickly turned on the coffee machine and quietly left her apartment.
Alexis had a fitful night. She'd woken several times and only in the early morning hours she had finally fallen into a dreamless and somewhat peaceful sleep. When she opened her eyes three hours later she could smell coffee and something else. Bacon? Eggs? Her lips curled up in a small smile and she slowly made her way out of Kate's bedroom.

"Hi," she said so softly that Kate almost didn't hear it.

"Hey," Kate looked up and smiled.

There they stood, looking at each other; Alexis in the too long shirt that Kate had given to her the night before and Kate in her hoodie that seemed to be so un-Beckett-like to Alexis. Both shy. Both suddenly unsure what etiquette demanded in this kind of situation. Was there even an etiquette for having your partner's daughter staying at your apartment? Before their stare-off could turn into something genuinely awkward Kate found her voice, holding up a pan with scrambled-eggs she asked, "Hungry? I made breakfast." She mentally cringed. What a stupid thing to say - obviously she had made breakfast. But saying something stupid was better than saying nothing at all. At least in this case.
Alexis nodded and joined Kate in the kitchen. "Can I help you with anything?" Alexis asked and looked around for something to busy herself with.

"You could pour us some coffee," Kate suggested and smiled.

Carrying their coffee to the table, Alexis sat down opposite Kate and took a good look at the scrambled-eggs and bacon that had been placed in front of her. It was not the first time that she had the opportunity to consume a Kate Beckett breakfast. She remembered the morning almost two years ago when Kate had stayed with them, because some psycho had blown up her apartment. Kate had made breakfast for them, all of them, something no other woman who had ever stayed at the Castles' home had done. She was also the first woman to understand that Rick Castle came as a package deal and obviously didn't mind. Again Alexis wondered why the Detective and her father weren't an item. It's complicated her Dad answered every time she asked. Glancing up at Kate, she wondered what it was that made it so complicated. And she couldn't fight the small sting of anger that rose in her, because whatever was complicated was making her Dad miserable.

Noticing a pair of blue eyes on her, Kate looked up from her bacon and furrowed her eyebrows in a questioning manner.

"It looks delicious," Alexis smiled quickly and was glad that Kate seemed to buy her diversion.

"How did you sleep?" Kate asked after a few minutes of silent eating.

Alexis nodded and swallowed before she answered, "Good," her expression suddenly changed, turning slightly panicked as she searched the room, "What time is it?"

Kate glanced at her phone that was lying next to her plate, "9:30" she said and looked back at Alexis. "Why?"

"School! School started at 8:00," she was already up and starting towards the bedroom, when Kate grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Alexis, relax! I called them and told them you wouldn't be there today." Kate reassured her.

"You did?" Alexis asked surprised and sat back down.

"Yes. I didn't know when you want to go back, so I said we would call again later today," Kate went on.

"You called my school?" Alexis questioned again and Kate started to feel uneasy. Maybe she shouldn't have just assumed…

"Alexis, I didn't …," she paused. "I mean I'm sorry if I imposed!"

"No! No!" Alexis shook her head, "It's just … Thank you!" It was not more than a whisper and Kate wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Alexis?" her hand reached out and covered the smaller one on the table.

Alexis' eyes locked with Kate's and the older woman could see the tears that threatened to fall. She didn't understand why her calling the school meant so much.

"Thank you," Alexis repeated and reclaimed her hand. "I think I'll go and get dressed."

Kate nodded and watched the girl retreat to the bedroom, wondering what just had happened.

They stepped out of the elevator on the fourth floor of the hospital two hours later. On their way over they had stopped at the loft. They had decided that until Martha's return, Alexis would stay at Kate's apartment, so she had packed some clothes and things for school, all set to check-in with Kate. Normally Alexis would have been reluctant to spend more than one night at Kate's, but after the breakfast incident she had decided to give her a chance. It was almost ridiculous that a small gesture like calling her school could make such a difference, but it did. It showed that Kate cared, that unlike her own mother, her father's partner gave her a sense of safety. While at the loft Kate had a flash of thought and voiced the idea to pack some things for Castle as well, and while Alexis went to his bedroom to pack some shirts, flannel pants and underwear, Kate grabbed his IPod that she spotted on the kitchen counter. Turning around, her view fell on the book shelves. Maybe he would like to read one of his books? she thought. Her index fingers traced the line of books and lingered on the first of the Nikki Heat novels. She was tempted, but then, shaking her head, reached for two of his Derek Storm's, tucking them under her arm. Alexis returned, sports bag in hand and shooting Kate a smile when she saw the books and the IPod. She held out the bag for Kate to place the items in.

"All set," Alexis stated after one last look in the bag and walked towards the door. Kate followed, picking up Alexis' bag on the way. They were already at the elevator when Alexis suddenly spun around and headed back to the apartment shouting, "I'll be right back!" over her shoulder. Kate frowned but held the elevator.

He had been waiting for them, rather impatiently if the nurses' reactions were anything to go by. Although he was still feeling nervous and awkward in the whole situation, he was looking forward to seeing them. He was lonely, and bored, and honestly, what else did he have to look forward to… So when he heard the redeeming knock on his door, he very eagerly called out, "Come In!"

The first thing they both noted – he looked better. The colour had returned to his cheeks and there was a lightness to his eyes that hadn't been there the day before. "Hey," he greeted them and smiled from one woman to the other, happy that not only his daughter was here but that the Detective had chosen to join them again. He felt better than the day before. Better than a couple of hours ago when he had made his first trip to the bathroom since he had been admitted, staring at a stranger in the mirror. It had put him off balance, not knowing if he saw himself or someone else. But he had pulled it together, repeating his mantra: It only happened yesterday. He had to be patient and he was up for some company.

"How are you doing, Dad?" Alexis asked and pulled one of the chairs to his side. Kate stayed put at the end of his bed, smiling at father and daughter.

"Better," he said and then tapped his head, "But in here it's still blank." He shrugged apologetically as if it was his fault that he couldn't remember. For him it felt that way. He felt guilty for not remembering, especially for not remembering his daughter and, he glanced at the woman straight ahead of him, her. He sensed that getting to know her again would be much harder than reconnecting with his daughter. There was something mysterious about her, and a sadness in her green eyes he couldn't grasp. Right now, however, she was smiling the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, at him. Then again it was one of the first smiles he had seen so far as he could remember. Still, he would not forget this one, the one that made his heart do funny things. Where was a doctor when you needed one. He looked back at his daughter to memorize the other smile he did not want to forget again.

"Grams called," his daughter said suddenly, and he needed a second before he was with her and gave her look that told her to go on, "She's snowbound." she continued, sounding slightly amused, which gave her the most adorable look and made his heart pound with pride and something else. "She doesn't know when she can come back."

"Oh, that's …," Oh! He felt a stab of guilt and embarrassment. How could he have been so irresponsible? Not once had he thought about arrangements for his daughter. With him in the hospital and his mother away, his teenaged daughter was alone and he had not once thought about asking if there was someone to look out for her. "Geez, I'm sorry, Alexis!"

She gave him a puzzled look, "For what?"

He took her hand and squeezed it, "For not taking care of you, getting you a place to stay. I should have thought of it. You shouldn't be alone while your grandmother is gone."

Alexis grinned, "Dad, I have a place to stay. I'm staying with Detective Beckett."

"You do? You are?" His brows shot up and his gaze shifted to Beckett.

Kate nodded another smile on her lips, a different one, more subtle than the first.

"Still I should have asked," he sounded deeply concerned and Kate was touched by it. Here was this man that just yesterday had been struck by a car, broken his arm and lost his memory and he felt sorry for not making arrangements for his daughter.

"You did ask," she said gently, "a long time ago."

"I did?" he frowned at her, not sure if she was just saying this to reassure him.

"You did. Don't worry, it's all settled." She sounded serious and the determined look in her eyes told him she was not making this up. He was relieved that he obviously could tell a lie from the truth. He was still anxious about relying on other people's input. He didn't like it and yet he had no other choice.

"Thank you," he gave her one of those genuine smiles, the ones he reserved for her even if he didn't know that, and she couldn't help but smile in return.

Alexis chose the moment to interrupt their smiling contest to ask how long her father would have to stay at the hospital.

"A couple of days," he said and then updated them on what Dr. Bernstein had told him after his round in the morning. Once more he made sure that it was okay with Detective Beckett that Alexis stayed with her for a couple of days, before they indulged in some light chit-chat, being careful Castle did not over-do it. In the early afternoon Alexis made a trip to the cafeteria for some coffee, leaving the two adults alone. Kate was now sitting next to Castle and feeling more than a bit nervous to be left alone with him. He had been studying her and she had been pretending not to notice, avoiding his questioning eyes since they had arrived. But now she feared that he would address openly whatever had been bothering him.

"So," he said and grinned at her.

"So?" she questioned back.

"Alexis told me that we have been doing this for almost four years," he stated and gestured between the two of them.

This? What did he mean? What had Alexis told him? She felt her cheeks blushing and tried to come up with an insignificant answer to that. He must have sensed her discomfort, noticed the slight panic reflected in her eyes before he added, "What I meant is me shadowing you."

"Oh," she sounded relieved, "Yes, that would be right."

"Am I annoying?" he asked and she swore she saw that familiar twinkle in his eyes and so she went for it.

"You have no idea!" she rolled her eyes and he found himself enjoying it as much as he had the day before.

"That would be correct!" he said and she took in sharp breath, shocked that she had actually said that.

"Castle, I'm sorry! I didn't," she stopped mid-sentence, when she heard him chuckle and then wince. His hand reached up and pressed against his forehead.

"Ouch!"

"Serves you right!" Kate smirked, but it faded when she saw his crystal blues directed at her, giving her this piercing glare that made her fear she was an open book to him. She looked away, trying to busy herself with something else, starting to fumble with his covers. He studied her, her long, slender fingers, so nervous, her caramel waves dancing around her delicate features and those eyes. Those beautiful eyes. He thought it was funny that under the given circumstances at least right now, she was the nervous one.

"Kate," the soft sound of her name coming from his lips, made her look at him, "You and me…," he didn't get to finish his thought, because right then his door was pushed open and a nurse breezed in.

"Hello Mr. Castle!" the nurse greeted him with a friendly smile and then looked at Beckett, "I see you have a visitor. I won't keep you long." She nodded at Kate and handed Castle some pills which he obediently swallowed. She shortly checked the back of his head, making sure that the dressing on the wound was still good and then reached for his wrist to take his pulse. "All good!" she declared satisfied. "Anything else I can do for you?" she asked.

"No, thank you!" Castle declined and gave her a friendly smile.

"All set then. I'll check in again later!" She nodded a goodbye towards Beckett and disappeared again.

"She's nice," Kate stated, lacking a better approach to get back on track. Away from topics that hit too close to home.

"Yeah, Mrs. Turtle is a sweetheart," he confirmed, grinning from ear to ear.

"Is that her real name?" she frowned.

"No, but it should be!" she laughed along and he was right; She looked a bit like a turtle.

Kate and Alexis sat at the kitchen table, eating Chinese take-out that they had picked up on their way home from the hospital. Alexis had declared that she would like to go back to school the next day and Kate had offered to drop her off in the morning, before she went into the precinct. Alexis had smiled, but said that she would be fine taking the subway and after that they had fallen into a some what easy silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Kate was happy Alexis was obviously beginning to feel more comfortable around her and that she was opening up a bit, some of the tension she had felt during their previous encounters gone. Maybe this was their chance to leave what happened during the summer behind them. She sure hoped so.

Alexis was secretly studying her new roommate, a question nagging at her. "Detective Beckett?"

Kate met her eyes and nodded.

"Is it true? Had he really asked you?" she questioned shyly; not sure she had the right to ask. Kate frowned, needing a second to understand what Alexis was getting at when she suddenly nodded.

"Yes, he did," she answered honestly.

"When?"

"You remember the mummy case?" Kate asked and had to grin at the memory.

"Where dad was cursed?" Alexis lips curled up in a smile.

"Yeah. You're dad got a bit freaked out and he asked me to watch out for you if anything ever happened to him."

"And you said yes?" It was something between a question and a statement.

"I did," Kate confirmed quietly.

"That was almost two years ago," Alexis realized.

"Yes, I think so," Kate nodded, not understanding the significance. Alexis didn't elaborate instead she got up and cleared the dishes in silence. When everything had been stored away she stood in the kitchen and looked a bit unsure.

"I think I'll turn in early," she finally said. "I have some reading to do for school," she explained and then turned towards the bedroom, but stopped to turn around once more. "You're sure you're okay on the couch? I could …."

"I'm fine, Alexis," Kate reassured her and waved her off, "Sleep tight!"

Alexis smiled and nodded, "Good night, Kate!"