CH30

It was one week later now:

Kate and Lanie were coming over this weekend to help Rick and Alexis decorate the loft for Christmas, which was next week. This time Lanie was going to stay upstairs in the guest room, Rick was going to make sure of it. Lanie and Kate could go back to their apartment on Monday.

It was 4:00 am Saturday morning and Rick was wide awake lying on his bed. He was excited for this weekend. It was time to turn the loft into a winter wonderland. Though if he was honest with himself it was also because he hadn't made love to Kate in a week. One whole damn week!

Sure they talked on the phone some when Kate was out of classes, but it wasn't the same as having her here, in his arms where he could kiss her senseless. And he was pretty sure he was making Kate weak in the knees. However Kate with her vampire strength was hiding it pretty well.

Not that it mattered; she had managed to make him weak in the knees too.

Rick had spent the entire day getting Christmas boxes out of storage and piling them up in his study. It was a good thing they were all marked since they had countless items inside them. Plus they had to go get a tree to put the three boxes of ornaments onto.

Lanie walked out of her bedroom annoyed that a certain someone was restless and making too much noise. "What are you doing up girlfriend?" Lanie plopped down on the other end of the sofa.

"I can't sleep." Kate moans, sounding a lot like Rick.

"So you thought I should be awake with you, while you suffered. So why are you awake at this ungodly hour?" Lanie asks, hoping she can fix Kate's problem so she can go back to bed.

Kate however remains silent; however a slow blush starts to work its way up from her neck to her face.

"Oh you've got it bad girl." Lanie is pretty sure she knows what the problem is.

"I can't help it." Kate moans. "My bed is lonely without Rick in it. I just want him to make love to me, is that too much to ask?" Kate draws her knees up until they are under her chin and wraps her arms around her legs to hold them there.

"So go put on some clothes and go over there and jump him. … You've got a key girl. You can ambush him." Lanie points out the obvious.

Kate thinks about it but doesn't move. So Lanie gets up and drags Kate off the sofa and shoves her into her room. "Now get some clothes on, so he can take them right back off of you and get your skinny butt over there and ravish him. Show that human what a vampire can do when she's horny." Lanie retreats to the sofa to wait.

It only takes Kate a few minutes to put on a t-shirt, blue jeans, socks, shoes and a heavy coat and is back out in the living room.

Lanie jumps up and pushes Kate over to the front door. "I'll be over in a few hours, AFTER I have gotten some sleep." Lanie opens the door and shoves Kate out into the hall. "You can thank me later." And Lanie closes and locks the door on Kate and goes back to bed.

"Merry Christmas MS. Beckett." The doorman greets her as she approaches the door.

"Merry Christmas. " Kate answers back. Kate however stops just as she opens the door. "Aren't you cold?" Kate knew it was freezing outside and he was just standing there.

"No Miss, I've got heated socks, heated mittens and long johns on under all this. Compliments of Mr. Castle. Likely get heated ear muffs this year for Christmas, along with the usual Christmas bonus. I'm fine Miss, I've even got a thermos of hot chocolate compliments of Mr. Castle just inside the door." Is Kate's answer.

Kate smiled and went inside. One more reason to love this man.

Kate used her keys to get into the loft, since it was more complicated now. Kate knew she was the reason for the added security. Rick had even taken her to a gun range to teach her how to shoot a pistol.

Kate had used simple target rounds at the range, Rick however had experimental rounds for the hand guns in the loft. Just like the rounds he had for the big FN. Rick had also told her that he had, had a film attached to the inside of all the exterior windows.

Something about making it harder for a sniper to hit the target he wants to hit. A round meant for the heart would likely hit the arm instead.

Kate stepped inside and closed and locked the door, finding the loft dark and quiet. Kate made her way to the master bedroom and started shedding clothes as soon as she reached the doorway.

"KATE!?" It was now that Kate found out that Rick was awake lying in bed. It got Kate to peel off her clothes faster and jump into bed.

It wasn't until the sun started peeking in through the windows when Rick and Kate woke up again. "Hi." Rick smiled down on Kate who was lying on his chest still just as naked as he was.

Kate started doodling a finger on his chest. "Hi." Kate started smiling and blushing.

Kate had attacked him as soon as she jumped onto his bed. Kate had used her strength to pin his hands down while she ravaged him. Kate had kept his hands pinned to the bed while she got on top and stayed there for most of the night.

"I am going to find a way to tie you to the bed and have my way with you, mark my words." Rick warns her while stroking her hair.

It got Kate to widen her smile and feel her blush deepen. "I look forward to it." If he could do to her what he already did, what would it be like when she couldn't stop him or even touch him? Just thinking it started to get her wet again, ready for round ?.

Kate stepped out of the bathroom after taking a shower that included Rick being inside her again, as she searched for some clothes to wear. Kate was grinning as she searched noticing for the first time that it looked like half her clothes were already over here.

Kate was the first one into the kitchen as she pulled out a blood bag from the refrigerator and popped it into the microwave to warm it up. Just as the microwave went "Ding" Kate smelled Alexis coming down the stairs. So she left her bag in the microwave for now as she waited for Alexis to spot her.

Didn't take long before Alexis was wrapped around her legs smiling up at Kate. "Hi mom!"

Kate leaned down to pick her up. "Hi honey." Kate gave her a kiss. "What do you want for breakfast?"

"Pancakes?" Alexis answers.

"In that case you need to wait for your father." Kate knew how to make sandwiches and put cereal into a bowl and then pour the milk. Cooking was not her forte.

Alexis was debating if she should change her mind when someone knocked on the front door. Kate spun to look at one of the monitors in the kitchen. "SERIOUSLY!?"

Alexis saw who it was too and wrapped her arms around Kate's neck tight. "RICK!" Kate yelled out.

Rick came out of the bedroom dressed. "I see who it is." And Rick headed for the front door.

"I'll be in Alexis's room with Alexis. If she's still here when I come back down, …. I'll drain her dry this time Rick, I swear. I'll apologize to my parents later." And Kate with Alexis sill in her arms, pulled her blood bag out of the microwave and walked upstairs.

Rick stood at the door and took in a couple of breathes and let them out slowly. It didn't help. What the hell does she want now?

Rick stood there waiting for another knock, praying she would stop at one and go away. It was a cowardly way to think, but it beat having another fight.

It didn't work, there was a knock on the door again. It got Rick to unlock it and open the door.

"KITTEN!" And Meredith stepped in and kissed him, soundly, shoving her tongue straight down his throat.

Rick shoved her off him and pushed her back out into the hallway. "What the hell are you doing here Meredith?" Compared to Kate's kisses, hers felt more like poison and almost physically hurt.

"I came to see you kitten, before that bitch of a babysitter showed up." Meredith moved in to kiss Rick again. Except she was met with one of Rick's open hands keeping her away.

"Kitten." Meredith tried purring, except to Rick it sounded more like some kind of irritating rattle.

"You should have called ahead Meredith, we have plans. But then you don't call at all do you, or care about anyone but yourself. So last time, what do you want Meredith?" It wasn't in Rick's nature to be mean, but Meredith was sorely testing him.

"What did that babysitter tell you? Where is she anyway, I have something for her." Meredith was going to give her something alright, and put her in her place.

"Kate, who isn't the babysitter, is upstairs with HER daughter, probably trying to keep Alexis calm since Alexis hates and is afraid of you." Rick points out.

"WHAT? What has that bitch done to my daughter?" Meredith was momentarily shocked and then mad.

"Kate loves Alexis, unlike you. Kate is here for her birthdays, she's here to go to the park with her, she's here to play with her, she's here to kiss her and prove to Alexis that she is loved and worth being loved. Kate is here to make her happy when she's sad, she calls to talk to her when she's not here. Kate is interested in what makes Alexis happy, and Kate is here to protect her." Rick starts his list of all the things Kate does for his, their daughter.

"I love my daughter!" Meredith is insulted that Rick would thing she doesn't love Alexis.

"And that's why you refused any and all rights to Alexis at our divorce. All you wanted was money. That's why you call promising to come only to cancel long after you were supposed to show up, ..." Rick gets interrupted.

"It takes a lot of work to be a successful actress. I have no control over when casting calls happen or when I get an opportunity to read for a part. I'm busy, unlike you I don't just sit around doing nothing all day." Meredith defends herself.

Rick ignores the insult. "To busy to take one whole minute out of your life to call Alexis, just to talk to her. Too busy to send one single birthday card, or buy her one single birthday present, that I've been doing for you for the last 5 years and putting your name on it.

Too busy to care if she is healthy or sick. Too busy to find out if she is happy or sad.

Alexis has a mother now. One who cares about her and would do anything for her, and it isn't you.

Go home Meredith. …. Or I'll find someone to tattoo all that paint on you next time. And I know people, lots of people who are only too willing to do me favors or me them." Rick closes the door and locks it.

Rick heads for the kitchen and pulls down a bottle of scotch and pulls out a glass and sloppily pours out some into his glass and onto the countertop. "DAMN IT!" Rick pounds the bottle down onto the countertop only to spill still more.

Rick is pissed! Pissed that he spilled some, pissed that he's thinking about drinking before he's even had breakfast. and pissed at Meredith. Just plain pissed.

Kate had been holding onto Alexis who was sitting in her lap while Kate sucked on her blood bag before it got cool. Warm blood was best.

Alexis was staring at her bedroom door, fearing that her old mom would show up at it and take her away. "MOM?" Alexis asked with tears in her eyes.

Kate could smell Alexis's fear and feel her shaking ever so slightly. "Nothing is going to happen to you honey. … I won't let it. Good mothers don't let anything happen to their daughters." Kate knew her mother would never let anything happen to her if she could help it. It's partly why they were still alive after all the Hunter attacks.

That got Alexis to spin her head to look at Kate. Kate called me her daughter!

Alexis did her best to wrap her arms around Kate. "I love you." Alexis whispers out. A real mom, I have a real mom.

Now Kate could tell Alexis was crying and incorrectly assumed it was because Alexis was scared.

Kate kept a hold of Alexis, kissed her head and went back to drinking from her bag.

Rick placed his hands against the edge of the counter and bent over like he was going to throw up on the floor. Rick was actually trying to calm down.

Rick put the bottle of Scotch back, poured the contents of the glass down the drain, cursing as he did. It was a waste of good scotch. And then cleaned up his mess.

Looking at the panels in the kitchen he didn't see Meredith on any of the screens. Note to self: make sure the doormen never lets Meredith back up here again.

Alexis stiffened when there was a knock on her door. "You two can come out again." Rick's voice came through the door.

It was almost lunch when Lanie showed up with a suitcase knowing Rick and Kate had asked her to spend the weekend with them.

With three adults and one 6 year old the Christmas decorations were going up fast. Rick was starting to think about going to get the Christmas tree after lunch.

Kate had, had breakfast and didn't need another bag till tomorrow, and Lanie didn't need one for another couple of days, so they both sat and watched Rick and Alexis eat lunch.

A small shuttle landed at an old abandoned coal planet behind a chain link fence. Their scans showed there was no one near to see them land. "This planet is so backwards. Did you see all that space junk they have in orbit?" Josh comments.

It got Tom to nod his head, not that Josh could see his head. Just the helmet that was on his head, along with his suit that encased his body. Just like the one he was wearing.

"It's going to make finding fuel for the ship difficult, but at least they have food we can use to fill our galley with." Tom commented on the obvious.

"At least two of them are around here somewhere. There was a shuttle missing from the ship we found on the dark side of this planets natural satellite." Josh comments.

"We'll find them. … They're in this city somewhere. …. we're likely going to encounter obstacles on this planet. They don't know us since this planet is not likely part of the system." Tom points out.

The chain link fence was cut and pulled away to allow them exit and started walking. It didn't take long before they started walking across people walking and driving on the streets.

Tom and Josh were soon J-walking across streets getting people in cars honking at them. They never really came close to getting run over so they held their fire; however they could easily have shot the car to pieces along with whoever was in it. It simply wasn't necessary, yet.

"I'm picking up signs that there was vampire activity in that warehouse looking building over there." Tom points.

"I'm only picking up humans in the building at the present time." Josh adds.

Tom walked over to a door and pushed, breaking the lock on it and causing the door to crash into the room and slide across the floor. This got the occupants to jump up and open fire on Tom who stepped inside followed by Josh.

They both opened up on the four occupants watching each round hit their target. The rounds shot at them simply bounced off of their armor.

As Tom and Josh stepped in the started taking fire from two men up on a railing where there was a row of offices. Their rounds simply bounced off of Tom and Josh's armor as well, while their rounds all but cut them to pieces.

Tom and Josh looked around. The walls were filled with crates stacked on the outside walls with a set of tables in the middle.

"The white powder is a drug of some kind. Analysis indicates that it is addictive to humans. Our filtration systems should keep any traces from entering our systems." Tom calls out.

"They seem to be transferring it from these big bags into much smaller bags." Josh adds.

"There is a transport approaching the large door on the side of the building." Tom cautions and they both watch as the door starts to retract up into the ceiling area. As soon as the door is fully open Tom fires a plasma ball into the car blowing it and its occupants into tiny pieces.

Tom kicks open the rear door and goes outside, away from the fire at the front of the building. "They went this way." And Tom jumps up onto the roof, followed by Josh.

From here they start jumping from roof to roof as they trace the trail left behind by Kate and Lanie, several months earlier.

Tom stopped and jumped down and started walking, with Josh right behind him always checking behind him.

There were kids everywhere it seemed, all about the age of the younger two Beckett's. "Their trail is all over the place here. They seem to have been in every building around here." Tom mentions as he re-scans the area.

"We seem to be attracting attention." Josh comments as all the kids who see them look their way, however most just keep on walking. A pair of them however stop and have gathered a small crowd around those same two.

Josh turns up his surveillance mike so he could listen in. "I've never seen anything like what they are wearing. Kinda reminds me of those Storm Troopers from Star Wars."

"Except those were white and these are gray, except for the visor on their helmet."

"Yeah, it's kinda a reflective goldish color."

"They must be shooting a movie around here somewhere. You know another Sci-Fi movie with Storm Troopers of some kind. I mean look at the weapons they are carrying."

"There aren't any classes on a weekend, but why would they need a college campus to do the shooting?"

"And where are the camera crews dude? I mean like, don't they need camera guys, microphone guys, a director and other people?"

"Maybe they are lost?"

"More likely going from one shooting location to another. Bet those things are hard to walk in. They just fell behind the others is all."

"If it's a movie, that means there are trailers, lights, set cameras and other things around here somewhere."

"Let's find them dude, like maybe they need extras and we can sign up. Get our 15 minutes of fame."

That group split up and started jogging various directions.

Josh forgets them, they weren't a threat. "Anything?" Asking Tom.

"I've got two trails, one goes that way and another goes that way. Map indicates that this way leads deeper into the city and over a bridge, while that way leads to a dead end at a tip of a peninsula with water all around." Tom offers.

"They wouldn't trap themselves on a peninsula, so we go that way across the bridge." Josh offers.