Hello you audio monkeys! I'm so sorry it took so long to get this chapter updated! I had writer's block and didn't know how I wanted this chapter to go, but I feel like this is a good chapter. It maybe a little short like the last one, but I promise the next chapter is going to be a little longer. You guys deserve that and I promise I will make the next chapter longer because I owe you guys for being so patient while I get rid of my writer's block.

So let's get down to business, we know in the last chapter it was about Kevin Ryan and his emotions taking him over and having to battle his thoughts of doubt. It made him think he wouldn't be able to get to Alexis in time, what if he hurts her, how can I live like this, all that other stuff we have in our lives and I wanted Kevin to have those thoughts. It what makes him human, yes he's gonna have some failures and his weakness will show, but that's what being human is about. So that's how I saw it with Kevin and Alexis was there to comfort him not to judge him. She gives him comfort when he needs it and he needed comfort and she lets him cry on her shoulder.

So that's how I summed up the last chapter, in this chapter its more about Alexis, Beckett and Castle. All three of them have seen a new side of Kevin and they see he finally gets the sleep that he really needs. But I'll let you guys read it. I don't want to give anything away now that's just cruel.

I do not own Castle! I wish, but I don't and I'll keep wishing!

Enjoy you audio monkeys! Haha ya nice!

Chapter 6: Peaceful Slumber

It must have been hours for Alexis and Kevin since his breakdown. Alexis was now lying on the couch with a pillow propped up behind her head, Kevin was lying next to her on the couch and his head was rested on her stomach. Her fingers were still gently running through his hair and she could hear his soft snores. Alexis looked at the window. The sunset was already over the horizon as nightfall makes its way to the sky and the stars gleam in the night sky. A few moments went by until she heard the door being unlocked. She side glances to the door and saw Beckett coming in. Beckett stopped in her tracks and saw Alexis lying on the couch and wasn't alone. She stopped Kevin's lying on her stomach and his arms wrapped around her waist and sleeping. Alexis gave her a sad smile.

"Good morning." Beckett raises her eyebrows, closes the door and locks.

"More like good afternoon." Alexis nodded and gives her a sad smile. "Did Javi come by?" Alexis nodded.

"I didn't have the heart to wake him up. He looked peaceful and he hasn't been getting any sleep." Beckett put her hand up to silence Alexis and gave her a soft smile.

"It's okay I kind of figured it out when he didn't come in to work this morning. Javi already interrogated Ashley. He is being charged with breaking and entering and a restraining order. He can't come here or near you at least a hundred yards. If he tries to come near you, he'll be booked." Alexis nodded.

"I'm guessing dad ordered the restraining order. " Beckett nodded.

"Can you blame him?" Alexis shook her head and sighed.

"What made Ashley do all this?"

"He said he hasn't been the same since you broke up with him. He was devastated and was determined to make it right which meant going at great lengths to do so."

"I don't remember Ashley being so aggressive." Beckett nodded in agreement.

"Everyone has a darkside. You didn't know he had one." Alexis shook her head.

"But I should have known. I was his girlfriend at the time; he never gave me that suspicion."

"You can't blame yourself Alexis. You had no idea." Alexis sighed.

"I wish I did." Beckett gave her a sadden expression and sighed.

"Blaming yourself is not good for you Lex." She walked over to Alexis, crouched down to her level and put a comforting hand on Alexis' shoulder. "You can't keep blaming yourself, you didn't know because he didn't tell you or he didn't know himself. There are logical explanations and that's how we find out the truth." Alexis nodded and gave her a tired smile.

"Thank you Kate." Beckett gently padded her shoulder and smiled.

"You're welcome Lex." She looked at her co-worker Ryan who was sleeping peacefully and snoring softly in his sleep. She noticed the dried up tear stains on his face and furrowed her eyebrows together. "What happened?"

"He finally let his walls down." Beckett gently wipes away the dried up tears and sighed.

"Was this last night?" Alexis shook her head.

"This morning."

"Explains why he didn't come into work this morning." Alexis nodded.

"I've been waiting for Detective Esposito to come by and drop off his clothes, but he never showed up. Plus I probably fell asleep for a good three hours before you came in." Beckett nodded.

"I'm surprised Kevin didn't wake up when I came in." Alexis nodded and they both just watched Kevin's chest rise up slowly in his sleep. The look on his face is so peaceful, so calm, so relaxed.

"You know he doesn't want you to know." Beckett looked at Alexis with a confused expression. "He doesn't want you to know that he feels weak."

"I would never give him that impression. I know Kevin is not weak, but being weak is being human."

"That's what I told him, but he doesn't want anyone to know." Beckett nodded.

"I understand. I won't tell anyone what I saw." Alexis smiled and Beckett smiled back. "Now, where's your dad?" Alexis pointed towards to the door across from the living room.

"He's in his office writing. Last night events gave him a new idea for his new book." Beckett raised her eyebrows.

"Really?" Alexis nodded and smiled.

"Yup, he asked permission if he could."

"And you told him yes." Alexis nodded.

"I kind of what to see what he does with it. I mean I know he doesn't like to use me as the subject of his books, but he thought it would be a good experiment." Beckett gave a soft chuckle and nodded.

"That is a good experiment for him. He's always challenging himself."

"Doesn't he do that every day with you?" Beckett thought about it for a moment and nodded.

"Pretty much." They both laughed softly making sure they don't wake up Kevin from his peaceful sleep. Before she could say anything else, the door opens to Castle's office and walks out to see his two lovely girls softly laughing.

"What's with the soft laughing and chatter about?" Beckett and Alexis look at Castle and smiled. Alexis spoke first.

"Nothing dad I was just telling Beckett about your new idea for your next book." Castle nodded.

"I'm guessing you disagree with this idea Beckett." Beckett shook her head.

"I kind of want to read what you have and see how Nikki Heat is involved." Castle smiled and nodded.

"Trust me; Nikki Heat will be wondering the same thing." They both softly laughed and Castle glanced at Kevin. "How long has he been asleep?" Alexis looked down at Kevin and gave him a sadden smile.

"Yeah, he hasn't move since the last time you asked me."

"Which was five hours ago." Alexis nodded. "I hope you got some sleep in as well." Alexis nodded once again.

"I slept for three hours."

"How is that comfortable?" Alexis shrugged her shoulders.

"To be honest, I have no idea." Beckett got up from the crouched position knowing her knees started to get sore. She heard Alexis' stomach making noises and she blushed at the noise. "I guess I'm a little hungry."

"Did you eat breakfast this morning?" Alexis shook her head.

"I came down and I saw Kevin was awake. That's when he had a well you know." Castle nodded knowing he understands what he witnessed. The entire day Alexis and Kevin have been in that position since early this morning maybe around seven or eight this morning. Then Castle thought of any idea for everybody.

"I have an idea." Beckett and Alexis looked they both raised their eyebrows at him and he just smiled. "How about we have breakfast for dinner, I do make the best pancakes if I do say so myself." He smiled to himself, Alexis rolled her eyes and Beckett let out a soft chuckle. "What?" Beckett walked over to him, gave him a kiss on the cheek, took his hand and led him to the kitchen.

"How about we get started on those pancakes." Castle was about to protest, but Alexis put her hand up to silence him.

"I'll wake him up when dinner or breakfast is ready." Castle smiled at his daughter and nodded. Beckett and Castle headed towards the kitchen and started getting ingredients from the pantry and the fridge. Alexis looked down at a peaceful sleeping Kevin Ryan. She continued to run her fingers through his hair, gently scratching his scalp and smiled. He looked a few years younger when he's sleeping. You don't see this side of Kevin Ryan. The only side you see him is the Detective Ryan side that's solving murders on hours of the day. This side of him was the caring, loving side of Kevin. Alexis' heart swelled up of all that's happen in the last few years. Maybe it was for the better. All she knows, Kevin Ryan finally got some peaceful sleep. That's all that matter to her and it made her smile.