Audio monkeys! Brief authors note. Sorry I didn't post this yesterday, I had writer's block and I was at the library to write, but I finished chapter 3 just for you guys! It's a little longer then last chapter, but I wanted to make it up to you since I didn't post it up yesterday.

So without further ado, I give you chapter 3!

I do not own Castle!

Have fun you audio monkeys!

Chapter 3: Wondering Thoughts

Alexis took a nice long shower after a long days of traveling; she still hasn't seen her dad yet and knows he would be home late since he was helping solve a murder. She didn't know what the murders were about, but to what she heard in Detective Ryan's voice and expression, it was not a pleasant case. She sighs tiredly as she shuts off the water and dried herself off with a white fluffy towel. She wipes the mirror with her hand and takes a good look at herself of her reflection. She notices that she has ages in the past few years, she still does have that youthful look on her face, her eyes have become bluer, her plump lips have gotten a little redder instead of pink, and she notices her body has changed as well. Her curves have become a danger of attracting brainless guys and her breasts have become fuller. Yes, she knows she has aged into a young adult, to a young woman and to be a part of a young adult's life. She sighs, shook her head, walked out of her bathroom and into her bedroom. 'Still looks the same.' She thought to herself, walked towards her dresser and grabbed a set of black pajamas. They were silk tank top and shorts; they feel soft against her milky skin and made her feel comfortable. She walked over towards her bed and flopped onto it. She sighs and grabbed her phone and texted Detective Ryan.

'Thank you for coming to dinner with me. I had fun tonight. –Alexis.' She typed into her phone and sent the text and sighed. She was bored and nothing exciting to do. She got off her bed and went over to her book self on the other side of her bed. She looked through each book and title, but nothing interests her. She sighed and was about to turn away until something caught her eye. On the far corner of the fourth shelf of and saw a paperback book of Terminator Salvation. She grabbed the book and looked at the cover. It was the machines face and its red eyes starting at her and she looked at the top of the title of the book. It was the official movie novelization. She remembered her father talking about the movies and the graphic novels. Said something about machines rising and taking over humanity and something about Skynet. It took her interests and opened the book and started reading chapter 1. Her phone binged and she quickly turned around and saw her phone on her bed. The screen was lit up and the icon message showed up. One new message. Her heart started to beat fast and swallowed the lump in her throat. She walked over to her bed with the book in her right hand and grabbed her phone. She slides to unlock her phone and tapped the message icon. She gasped at who the message was from. Detective Ryan.

'It was great to see you again Lex. I had fun too. Wanna grab a coffee tomorrow? –Kevin.' She was shocked at his invitation of getting coffee tomorrow and she squealed like she was a school girl. She laughed to herself and shook her head.

'That'd be great! Say eight o'clock?' She sent the text and put her phone down on her bedside table and continued to read. As she started reading chapter 2, her phone goes off and looks at her phone screen thinking it was Detective Ryan, but it wasn't. It was Ashley. She sighs in frustration and deciding at the last minute, she tapped the accept call and put the phone to her ear.

"What do you want Ashley?" Her voice was calm, but stern.

"I heard you were back in town."

"Yeah, I just got back today, but that's beside the point. What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to you Alexis."

"You don't get the privilege anymore Ash."

"Please Alexis, I just want to talk that's all. I know I made a mistake for not being there for you when you're dad and gram were at the bank and I apologize if you would just give me another chance-"

"You don't get it do you? It's not about that situation, it's about everything. I shouldn't have to wait to get a text from you or get excited when I get a phone call from you that last five minutes and have to fit me into your schedule. I'm not gonna wait for you for the rest of my life Ashley."

"Please Alexis, I'll try harder, I'll pay attention more, I'll be there for you. Please give me another chance."

"I'm sorry Ashley, there is no second chance. You blew it the first time. Goodbye." With that she hung up on him and put her phone on the bedside table and sighed. She knows she was being harsh to him, but she knows he needed to hear the truth and stop calling her. She moved on. It's time for him to move on too. She went back to reading her book; it wasn't long until she heard a knock at the door. "Who could be knocking at this late hour?" She muttered to herself. She got up from her bed and grabbed her black sweater and a pair of sweatpants and put them on. She walked downstairs and sighed. "Who is it?" She asked through the door and she froze at the voice on the other side.

"Alexis can we talk?"

Back at the precinct, the gang solved the case, but they all got stuck with paperwork to fill out and Castle decided to help out with paperwork which surprised everyone. As they all bunkered down the paperwork, Ryan's phone went off and dug out his phone from his pocket. He received a text from Alexis. He frowned at her text and glanced over at Castle.

"Castle." The writing looked up from his work and looked over at Ryan.

"What's up?"

"Remember I told you Alexis have been getting phone calls from Ashley." Castle raised his eyebrows at Ryan.

"You mean ex-boyfriend Ashley?" Ryan nodded. "What about him?"

"Ashley is at you're apartment." Beckett looked up from her paperwork and a worried expression crossed her face.

"Should we be worried?" She glanced at Castle who glanced at Beckett.

"Ashley is not an aggressive guy, but I didn't know he was back at home. Did she tell her anything about this at dinner?" Ryan shrugged his shoulders.

"She's been denying his phone calls all night. Saying she wants nothing to do with him. Ever since the bank incident, she hasn't spoken to him in years."

"So why would he be calling now?"

"She said he heard she was back in town and I guess he decided to call her up." Before Castle and Beckett could comment, Ryan's phone went off. He looked at the caller ID and it was Alexis. He answered her call and put his phone to his ear. "Ryan."

"He's here." Ryan froze when he heard yelling in the background. He looked over at Castle and Beckett and they both saw his worried expression. He heard his yelped and heard banging in the background. "What should I do?" Ryan sprung up from his chair and grabbed his jacket. Castle and Beckett got up quickly and they grabbed their jackets as well and followed Ryan.

"Lex go up to your room, into the bathroom, lock the door and turn off the lights. Don't come out unless you either hear me, Beckett or your dad, understand? You do not let anyone in." They all quickly walk towards the elevator, Ryan pressed the down button and the elevator doors open.

"Yes."

"Go now Lex." He heard shuffling and feet patter like she was quickly running up the stairs. He heard her pants, heard her close the door and a lot of static.

"I'm in my bathroom, the lights are turned off." He heard her whispered voice and sighed in relief for now.

"We're on our way. Stay where you are, we're coming."

"Kevin I'm scared."

"It's going to be okay Lex, I promise." She was still panting on the phone; they all got out of the elevator and walked out of the precinct. Castle walked over to Beckett's car and got into the passenger seat. Ryan walked towards his car quickly and he looked over at Beckett.

"Stay on the phone with her! If either one of us gets there first, don't hesitate!" He nodded and got into the driver's seat. He closed his door, put his key in the ignition and started his car.

"Lex you still there?" He put his car in drive and started to zoom down the streets to Castles apartment.

"Yes I'm still here."

"Can you still hear Ashley banging on the door?"

"Yes he's still here." He could hear the fear in her voice.

"Everything it's going to be fine Lex. Beckett and you're father are on their way now."

"What about Detective Esposito?"

"He's on a date with Lanie.

"They finally got back together huh?"

"Yeah, finally." He heard her softly giggled which made his heart beat faster. God he loved her giggle, made her sound so innocent. He looked at the road and turned on a familiar street and made a left turn. "I'm almost there Lex; just hang on for a few more minutes."

"Okay, but Kevin I don't hear him banging anymore."

"Don't come out. Stay where you are."

"I'm really scared Kevin. Please hurry." She whispered softly into the phone and Kevin finally saw the view of Castle's apartment building. He parked near the sidewalk across the street from Castle's apartment. He turned off his car, grabbed his keys and got out of his car. He ran across the street, he heard a car screeched to a halt and saw Beckett and Castle get out of the car.

"Espo is on his way with Lanie!" I quickly nodded.

"I still have Alexis on the phone!" All three of them ran towards the apartment building, Ryan glanced at Castle and spoke to Alexis. "Lex I'm gonna give the phone to your dad okay?"

"Okay." I handed my phone to Castle as we got into the elevator and he took it.

"Alexis are you okay?" I glanced at Beckett as she took out her gun and ejected the magazine to see how many bullets she has. She glanced over at me and nodded. I nodded back and took out my gun and cocked it. "Everything is going to be fine Alexis. We're in the elevator and Detective Esposito is on his way with back up." Ryan could hear her frantic whisper voice in his phone. "I don't know Alexis, but we'll find out. Do you know why Ashley was contacting you?" Ryan wished the elevator would move faster. He wanted to make sure Alexis is okay and unharmed. He always knew something was sketchy about that kid, but he couldn't put his finger on it until now. "What?" Both Beckett and Ryan snapped their heads towards Castle who's eyes were wide in fear. The elevator dinged at the thirty second floor and the doors opened. Beckett and Ryan were first out then Castle. They steadily walked down the halls towards Castle's apartment. They around the corner and saw Castle's door. Once they got closer, Ryan noticed the door was wide opened. Ryan held his hand opened, Beckett pushed Castle behind her and motioned Ryan to move forward quietly. "Baby, he's in the apartment. Stay on the phone, but don't make a sound." Castle whispered into Ryan's phone. Beckett signaled for Ryan to move forward and he nodded. Ryan quietly into the apartment, to him it looks like everything is still in its place, but he knew something was wrong.

"Ryan." He heard Beckett whisper and motioned him towards the corner of the living room on the left side. He glanced back and nodded, he quietly walk until he heard a noise from Castle's writing room. He quickly spun around and pointed his gun towards the door. Beckett did the same and glanced at Ryan. She nodded and motioned him to move forward. He did quietly though, he glanced back at Castle who nodded knowing he would want to know Alexis is okay. Ryan quickly, but quietly walks toward the door of the writer's room and Beckett stood right next to him. He glanced at Beckett behind him and she nodded the okay sign. She walked on the other side of him and readied her service gun. Ryan put his hand on the door knob and looked up at Beckett. She then glanced back at Castle who nodded knowing it was okay and looked back at Ryan. He nodded and quickly opened the door. "NYPD!"

"NYPD!" He yelled and saw a shadow figure coming towards him, the shadow figure grabbed for his gun, but Ryan caught him by the wrists of the figure and aimlessly pointed his gun towards the window of the room. The shadow figure shot the gun, the bullet hit the glass and it shattered into a million of pieces. Ryan elbowed him in the face and kneed the shadow figure in the stomach and doubled over. The figure groaned in pain and tried to get up; Ryan put his gun in his holster, grabbed the figure's hands behind his back and cuffed him. He hoisted up the figure and pulled the black hoodie off. Beckett walked in front of him and glared at Alexis's ex-boyfriend Ashley.

"Ashley Baker, you are under arrest for breaking and entering." They heard more footsteps coming towards them; Ryan looked over towards the door and saw Javi with two police officers. He came over towards them and grabbed Ashley by the arm. Ashley struggled, but couldn't do much. Beckett grabbed his other arm and led him out of Castle's writing room. Ryan walked behind them and looked towards Castle.

"We got him, you can come out Alexis." Castle glanced at Ryan and then hung up and gave Ryan's phone back. He took it and gave a confused expression. "She won't come out until Ashley's gone. He nodded, turned around and looked at Beckett and Javi.

"Get him out of here." Beckett and Javi nodded.

"Let's go." They both led Ashley out of the Castles apartment while CSU was working at the scene of the break in. He looked back at Castle and nodded. They both head upstairs to Alexis' room, but the door was locked. Castle reached up onto the door frame and grabbed the key. He unlocked the door and opened. Ryan was first to enter. He looked around to see everything was still in place; he walked over to the window to make sure they were locked and they were. He nodded and Castle walked towards the bathroom door. Castle gently knocked on the door and called out for Alexis. All Ryan could hear were utter silence and his heart pounding his chest. Then they both heard the door unlock, the door flew open and a pair of arms wrapped around Castle. Alexis was crying softly and buried her face into her dad's chest. Castle wrapped his arms around his frightening daughter and gave her comfort. Ryan sighed in relief knowing she was safe and leaned against the wall. The adrenaline started to fade away and he closed his eyes. 'She's safe, that's all that matter.' He thought to himself and sighed. He opened his eyes and made eye contact with Alexis. Her blue eyes were breath taking and couldn't break eye contact. She let go of Castle and quickly walked towards Ryan. He pushed himself away from the wall and opened his arms. Alexis wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He let out a shaky breath that he didn't realize he was holding and gently rubbed her back.

"It's okay Lex, its okay." He whispered in her ear and she nodded into his shoulder. "He's gone." She squeezed her eyes closed and let the tears fall. "He's gone." His thoughts wonder to the dark side. Wondering if they didn't make it in time who knows what Ashley would have done to her. He couldn't help, but think of the worse. He mentally shook his thoughts and put his attention to the present. The point is, she's safe. That's all he could ask for.