Castle woke up from another nightmare. He can't seem to stay awake, but sleeping is even worse. The scenes he plays out over and over again in his head are a mixture of his and Kate's shootings combined. They both have been shot in various ways and he can't shake them any longer. The dreams are starting to bleed into his thoughts while he is awake now. The only time he seemed to be able to cope with the nightmare was the time right before Alexis arrived. Apparently, Kate was working her voodoo magic that helped him sleep. It pissed him off that she still knew him so well. It pissed him off even more that he wanted her there to help him.

Alexis was still curled up into his body on the bed sleeping. Martha wasn't in the room anymore. She was probably out looking for a doctor to hit on. It has helped having his family here today. The stress of not being in the same state with his little girl had been too much for him. Had he only known that getting shot would bring her home sooner then he would've tried it sooner… Ha. Too bad no one could hear how funny he was just then, he smiled to himself.

Kate would've twisted his ear for a comment like that. Kate. Oops he is still supposed to refer to her as Beckett. Well, I guess that says a lot about what he thinks of her return. Also, what he thinks about her inability to leave again. He knows that he needs to figure out what this means to him, having her claiming her love for him, and refusing to leave his side. He hasn't really been alone much since he has been in the hospital to have time to just process everything that has happened, and certainly not enough time to think about her.

He felt his phone vibrate on the bed, so he picked it up. He found a text from Kate, apparently she needed some girl time with Lanie. Of course she had to throw in the "I love you" at the end. He has noticed she has said those three words at least once in every conversation he has had with her here. It's ironic how painstakingly long he waited to hear her say those words to him, and now that she can't seem to stop saying them he doesn't want to hear it.

Kate Beckett is using words against him. This was completely unfair. He didn't want to be affected by what she keeps saying. That she quit her job to be with him, she loves him, and wants him back. He's heard it all before from her. In fact, she seems to be pretty open with her emotions right after a life or death situation. Maybe if he waits it out she will get it out of her system and return to DC where she belongs.

Does she belong in DC? Ugh! This battle between his heart, that says hell no, and his head, that says hell ya, is frustrating. What really needs to happen is an honest, open discussion between the two of them. They owe it to each other to hash out the details of everything. He needs that closure, the why behind her decision to leave him. He had so many unanswered questions about it all and has been eating him alive. In the deep parts of his heart, he knows that she isn't the only one to blame in the failure of their relationship. However, the bigger part of his heart, the part that is filled with anger towards Kate, wants to put all of it on her.

Before he even could think twice about his decision, he pressed the reply button and sent her a quick text. "We need to talk when you get back."

His finger hovered over the send button. The mature Rick Castle needs to push it, rip the figurative band-aide off, and communicate. The hurt, egotistical Richard Castle wants to keep her in limbo, make her pay for the pain she's caused him. It really wasn't much of a decision though. No matter what, he still cared for her and Rick Castle won out. He isn't the jerk that people think he is.

The immediate reply of, "On my way back already. Need anything before I get there? "

"No, but thanks. -RC"

"See you soon. I love you. -KB"

Crap. She is going to be here soon. He suddenly feels very nervous and on edge. The heavy pain meds they have him on heighten his emotions and he is finding it difficult to navigate his true emotions from the drug-induced emotions. Perhaps this conversation with Kate shouldn't happen now. What is he kidding? He doesn't have patience; he needs this taken care of now.

"Dad?" Alexis groggily said.

"Hey, Pumpkin. Sleep well?"

"Mmm ya. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you. I guess I'm more tired from the trip than I thought. Did you sleep better this time? Do you feel ok? Should I get the nurse? I need to get off the bed. Am I hurting you?" Alexis rushed. The more scared she was the quicker she spoke.

Castle smiled into her hair as he pulled her closer to him. "I am fine, Alexis. I feel fine, I slept well, and you don't need to move. I would like for you to calm down though."

"I was so scared, Daddy. When I got the phone call from Agent Beckett I thought the worst and I…"

He could tell that she was scared. The last few years hadn't been easy for her. She has had to see and deal with more than he would've liked and it pains him that he couldn't protect her from the evilness of the world. Keeping her locked up in the loft for the rest of her life was apparently illegal. He checked.

"You aren't getting rid of me that easily. I have been working on the scary dad routine for any boys you bring home from your trip. I've even practiced on the boys and Lanie. No way am I messing that up by getting myself shot and killed." Joking was good. It worked with his mom; it'll work with his kid.

"It's not funny, Dad."

Or not.

Alexis felt out of control and like her dad just didn't have any regard for his own life anymore. He played cop for 4 years to get a girl, then the girl dumped him for a better job, and he still continued to play cop. Now, he was lying in a hospital bed from a gunshot wound after going to a crime scene alone. This had gone too far. She was tired of watching her dad continuously put his life in danger. For no reason at all.

"Are you done now?"

"With joking about this? Probably not. Think of all the material I have to work with! I hope I get a cool scar so I can show everyone I got shot."

"This is funny to you? You are acting like it is a rite of passage. You aren't a cop, Dad. You weren't trained for this, and it isn't your job to do. I get why you stayed when Beckett was there, but I don't get it now. Please, Dad. I want you to seriously think about not going back. I can't… I don't want to be like Beckett. So angry and vengeful that my dad got murdered before I was 20. This isn't about just you, and I am going to be selfish and ask you to stop. This has gone too far. I need you to be around to harass my boyfriends, to walk me down the aisle, to meet your grandchildren one day."

Castle looked at her. He knew this conversation was coming too, but hadn't had a chance to prepare himself for it. He needed a minute to process his thoughts, and figure out what he needs to say to convince her she is wrong. This job means the world to him, and it is important. However, if she truly wants him to stop… well, he would.

"No, this is not funny. I am sorry that I scared you and that you had to come home to take care of me after my stupid decision. I won't apologize for working with the NYPD. That work, it's important. If I can help make the world a better place, or at least our part of the world, then I have to do it. Think about how you feel right now, and what you felt when you heard I was shot. Think about how you felt when you were kidnapped. What I do helps the victims, and the families. I can't step away knowing that I help bring closure to families, hope to victims."

Castle continued, "I think we need to table this discussion for a time when I'm not heavily medicated and a little time has passed. I will listen to you, and I will quit the 12th if you feel strongly about it after that discussion. Fair?"

The two Castles were staring at each other. Castle's eyes pleading for Alexis to understand the importance of this job, and hoping that she will forgive him for his mistake. Alexis felt like she was giving in by agreeing to a later discussion. Eventually, she broke first and gave a slight nod.

"Fair enough. I guess playing the "I've been shot" card will work for a little longer."

He smiled. Good, she is finally going for the humor they do so well.

"Hey! I think I should be able to use that card for a month."

"A month? No way. I am not putting up with you whining for an entire month. A week after you are realeased?"

"A week? I almost died! Surely that warrants at least 3 weeks."

"Two weeks. Final offer."

"Sold!" Castle said loudly. This felt good, to be able to return to some sort of normalcy with his daughter. "I love you, Alexis. So much."

"I love you , Dad."

They fell into a conversation about Alexis' trip. Castle was trying to get her attention off of him, and on to something he knew she was excited about. Plus, it had been difficult to maintain conversation with her and he wanted to know all about her time in Costa Rica.

After about ten minutes, he looks up when he hears a knock on the door.

Kate.

He forgot momentarily that she was coming to talk to him. Ya, this wasn't going to go over well with Alexis. He heard the conversation between the two earlier. He was shocked to hear Alexis be so…. rude? honest?... to Beckett. He hadn't seen that side of his daughter before. He could feel her tensing up beside him.

"Come in, Beckett."

Alexis turns to her dad, "What is she doing here? Why are you letting her in? I thought you told her to leave."

"Alexis, I need… I am going to ask you to give me some time alone with Kate. We have some things to figure out, and I need it to be just the two of us."

Kate was standing in the doorway observing the Castles. It was clear Rick was very uncomfortable in the situation, and Alexis was pretty upset with the two of them.

"It's ok, Castle. I can wait until it is a better time. I'll be out in the hall…"

Before she could even turn he stopped her. "No, we need to do this now."

Turning to Alexis he said, "Pumpkin, go find Gram and go home for a while. Unpack, clean up, eat dinner, and then come back around 8." He rarely had to use his "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you" father voice with her. This was one of those times. Alexis knew that it didn't matter what she said, this was going to happen.

"Fine, but I'll be back at 7:30 with your dinner. Deal?"

"Deal. Now go. I love you." Castle gave her one last squeeze and then released her from his arms.

"Agent Beckett, don't hurt him while I'm gone." Alexis said as she walked by Kate.

As soon as the door shut, Kate Beckett and Rick Castle stared at each other. Neither knowing where to start…

To Be Continued- Next chapter will be finally be "the talk". :)