A/N: Brace yourselves, folks. It's about to get crazy

Alexis

As we drive it occurs to me that I've never seen Kate's apartment. A small piece of my mind is intrigued by the fact and I wonder what it's like, her home away from home, as dad once called it. Will it be simplistic and sparsely decorated because she's never had the time to do anything with it? Or will it be warm and inviting like she is? I don't know why it matters that much to me, but it at least takes my mind somewhat away from current events for now.

"Alexis?"

"Hmm?"

"I called the boys, they're going to start working on the flash drive and doing a few other things around the precinct. They wanted to know if you wanted to go and help them."

I can't help the glare that I shoot at her, but it only lasts a moment before I accept the fact that she's scared for my safety. This isn't a personal thing, not in this way. It's not her thinking I'm incapable, and it's not her thinking I'm holding her back. It's her worried that something bad is going to happen.

"No. If I go, then you're on your own."

"You're too much like your dad to sit on the sidelines."

"Yes, I am."

A grin creeps across her face and she giggles a little, shaking her head.

"What?"

"Did he ever tell you about the time I had to handcuff him to the car to keep him from following me?"

I can't help but snicker at the thought.

"He probably was mad but figured it was an experience he could work into one of his books."

"The Richard Castle Optimism," she muses, stopping for a light. "I try really hard not to laugh at his antics but sometimes I have to excuse myself so he doesn't see."

"You know, Gina always rolled her eyes at him and sighed and acted like he was stupid and immature. I get that he can be a little kid sometimes and I think we've all rolled our eyes at him, but you never act like he's an idiot."

She doesn't say anything but nods, her mind obviously recalling a memory that she wants to keep to herself. I don't say anything, just wait patiently until she picks the conversation up again.

"He used to drive me nuts. Now I guess I just think he's cute."

"Is that the love haze?"

She chuckles.

"I think so, but I hope I never come out of it."

"I don't think you will. Even when you're both old and gray, you'll still laugh when he shoots himself in the eye with a rubber band."

"He'll probably have an eye patch by then."

"And a parrot."

"And a peg-leg."

We're getting silly now but neither of us can help it. We need a break from the heavy thoughts. It's not as if we're giving up on dad at all, it's the same thing as needing rest to prepare yourself for what is to come. We need to laugh together or we might drive ourselves insane.

"Alexis, you know how much I love him, right?"

"I've known for a long time. We all have. I think you were the last one to find out, actually."

"That might be true."

"When he comes home I think you guys should just go to the courthouse and get this thing done."

"I think so too."

"We'll have a party later too. It'll be a huge blowout and everyone can come and we'll pretend this whole thing never happened."

"That sounds perfect," she sighs gently as we stop outside her building.

"When is your lease up?" I ask. I've been wondering for a while why she still keeps the place anyway.

"End of the month. Your gram was talking about taking over the lease so I just kept it until she decided."

"Gram moving out," I say, shaking my head. "It didn't last long last time."

"She said something about newlyweds needing their own space. Your dad said she would be over to harp on us about having babies every night anyway, so what was the point in moving heavy furniture."

"As much as he acts like she's a bother, he loves having her there."

"Such a mama's boy. I love that about him."

We get out of the car and I notice that she checks that her weapon is holstered at her side. It might be a normal cop thing but it worries me slightly as we make our way into the building. She presses the elevator button and the car takes us upward, jerking to a stop at the top.

"Alexis, if we don't find anything, don't get discouraged. We still have other avenues to explore and to be honest, the hope that there might be something pertinent in his notes isn't a really promising one anyway."

"We only went after this because there was nothing else," I agree with a nod while she fishes her keys out of her pocket. "I'm not expecting much."

"We'll head to the precinct after this, see if the boys came up with anything on the flash drive. It's probably time to regroup and talk to Captain Gates anyway."

"I thought she kicked you off the case."

"She did, but now we know for sure it wasn't your dad in the car. Maybe she won't let me look for him, but she should at least let me figure out who was in the car."

"And you'll send me home."

"I'll send you to the break room."

"Kate."

"I don't know if I'll be able to talk her into letting you help but I know I can convince her that you need to stay with me for safety reasons, okay?"

"Better than nothing."

She nods and slides the key into the lock, opening the door and ushering me inside while she fumbles for the light switch. It's so dark in here and I remember her making an offhanded comment long ago about putting up blackout curtains so she could sleep during the day if she had to.

"Where's the safe?"

"In the other room."

"Well, well," a voice comes out through the shadows. "You brought the kid."

We both freeze for just a moment before Kate whips her gun out and keeps me behind her as she surveys the darkened room. My hands are shaking as I wonder what in the world we've just walked into.

"Tyson, I know you've got Castle. Where is he?"

"He's here. Aren't you, Ricky?"

The next sound I hear is dad screaming and I push Kate out of the way to follow the sound. She grabs for me and misses as I stumble into what I presume is the coffee table.

"Oh don't get flustered now," Tyson sneers, his voice very close to me. "This story has already been written."

Before I can move he grabs me around the waist, cackling delightedly.

"Oh Kate, your ineptitude is making this so much sweeter," he laughs, holding me so tightly I feel like there will be internal damage.

"Tyson, let her go. She's not part of this."

"Oh yes she is. And do you know why Kate?"

"Because you want to destroy everything I love," she answers simply. "You want to destroy me."

"Brava, Detective. It's too bad you didn't think of that before you walked in here. Almost too good to be true. For me that is."

Silence falls and I can imagine the look on Kate's face as she tries to figure out her next move. There's a shuffling noise and a deep breath is taken; I realize that dad is mere feet from us.

"Daddy?"

"'Lexis."

His voice is soft, like he's on the cusp of sleep and tears pool in my eyes as I picture how injured he must be. Is he slipping in and out of consciousness?

"Don't worry, your daddy won't be in pain much longer."

"NO!" Kate and I scream at the same time. I struggle against Tyson but he has such a death grip on me, all it does is wear me out.

"She's going to lose her daddy just like you lost your mommy, Detective. I can destroy all three of you, all I really have to do is destroy one of you. Maybe I'll start with the girl."

"No," Kate says calmly. "Take me instead."

"Kate no!"

"Now, let me think about this," Tyson laughs. "Not something I had planned, but a worthy thought regardless."

"Stop playing games."

"Oh but don't you know by now Detective? Games are what I enjoy the most."