Internal Struggles Chapter 2

The car still remained silent and unmoving and there was an eerie silence. Alexis resisted the urge to call Beckett and ask what was taking so long.

"How you doing, Dad?" Alexis asked. He had been quiet for too long. Any length of time her dad was quiet was cause for concern.

"Cold," Castle answered.

"Wait," Alexis said as she climbed halfway through the back seat.

"What are you doing?" Castle tried to turn but his stomach protested strongly. He thought that it must be something more than just a bad chili dog.

"I still have my jacket in here from the other night," she brought her jacket to the front and placed it over his upper half. "Better?" She asked hopefully.

"God's sake, Lexie. Sit still," Castle cursed under his breath.

"Sorry, Dad," Alexis was earnest as she faced out the window onto the street and checked the side mirror there was still no sign of Beckett or help. She faced the window and felt tears flowing again.

"Lexie, sweetheart. If Kate says she'll be here, she'll be here." Castle's mind began to drift into a surreal state. "You know what this reminds me of?"

"No Dad," Alexis said and was glad that her Dad seemed to be doing okay at least.

"Just about every stakeout movie ever made," Castle said. He could hear two sets of sirens approaching. The police and paramedics were on their way.

"They're here," Alexis opened the door.

Castle closed his eyes as the world began to spin once more. This time with a blur of red, blue and a mixture of people. He gathered that people were morbidly curious about the chaos unfolding.

"I'm sorry, Detective Beckett," Alexis said with relief. "Dad didn't want me to call but I didn't know who to call."

"I gave your dad my number to use in emergency… And this qualifies as an emergency. You did the right thing," Kate assured her.

Kate briskly walked to the driver's side of the car and opened the door. She shook Castle's shoulders. "Kate?" He opened his eyes but quickly closed them again. The blurriness was making him feel ill.

"Can you walk to the gurney?" Kate asked.

Castle looked around and his face turned even paler. She adjusted the seat so was sitting straight. He felt like he was going to embarrass himself in front of the detective.

"Bring stretcher here!" Kate called out.

"Is Lexie alright?" Castle asked.

"You've frightened her. And Castle… If it's an emergency it's always okay to call," Beckett told him.

Castle nodded as they lowered the stretcher which made it easier for him to climb on. They raised it back up and raised the head up to make him more comfortable, Castle was secured in with a strap.

Alexis and Kate followed the paramedics, taking Castle to the back of the van. "I'll take Alexis with me," Kate told Castle who just nodded.

Castle showed his acknowledgment with a wave of his hand.

Alexis followed Beckett into the squad car and waited for the go-ahead from the paramedic van. There was a sigh of relief when the engines started. People were ushered out of the way.

"Watch this, Alexis," Kate said with a somewhat playful smile. "Switch on the siren."

Alexis flicked the switch. As if by magic, the cars in front of them parted, creating an opening for the squad car and paramedic van to pass through. Alexis smiled as the speed picked up just making the ride a tad dangerous but exhilarating. A simple thing as turning on the siren took her mind off the issue even if it was just for a moment.

"Fun isn't it?" Kate asked.

Alexis nodded, mentally kicking herself for allowing something as ridiculous as turning on the siren to distract her from worrying about her dad.

Xxxxxxx

The three once again were reunited. This time in an emergency room. Castle watched the bustling going on around him with an author's curiosity and what seemed fascination. He suddenly realized that Kate and Alexis were there with him.

"How you doing, kiddo?" Castle asked.

"How about you, Dad?" Alexis asked as she approached him, being careful not to be in the way.

"Good… Good, good. How many red lights did you go through?" He asked.

"What?" Alexis was confused by the sudden question.

"How many red lights did you go through, Castle?" Beckett hid a smile. She knew that Castle was given a dose of painkillers and wasn't feeling anything now.

"Lost count after a few," Castle responded. "Did you get to play with the siren?"

"Uhm, yes," Alexis looked at Kate.

"Kate never let me touch the siren. Sometimes she'll even tell me off…" Castle's attention was distracted by the goings on. "She'll even tell me off for even just thinking about it. Beckett has the fastest slap," Castle said as his attention span went back to normal.

"Dad are you okay? You're acting kinda weird even for you," Alexis observed.

Kate chimed in to alleviate Alexis' concern. "Someone's been given a good dose of painkillers, haven't they?"

Castle had a bemused look on his face as he watched the dripping drop into his IV. "You two should get some of this… It's some good shit."

Kate laughed and set out to put her mind at ease. "Don't worry, Alexis, Hon. People who are on a hefty dose of painkillers. They take a detour into the land of whimsy. This, believe it or not is normal," Kate assured her.

"I better call, Gran," Alexis said reaching for her phone. She was shocked when her dad reached out and grabbed her wrist. The suddenness of the movement made her jump.

"Don't tell mom I swore… She'll ground me for life," Castle pleaded with his daughter.

"Dad, given the circumstances I don't think she'll understand," Alexis said as her dad released his grip.

"You underestimate her, my dear. Just keep it on the down low please." Castle said with hazy seriousness. That caused Kate to snort with laughter that sounded pig-like.

A female doctor walked in and checked the notes. "Can you tell me how you're feeling, Mister Castle? And can you tell me what brings you here today?"

Alexis waited for her gran to answer the phone and fill in some holes in her Dad's recount.

Hi Alexis. Lucky you caught me.

Oh so sick," Alexis chuckled as her Dad began emphatically talking about the boat race.

Not even funny my dear. If you going to go along with a joke like that it's best to not laugh.

"Miss Castle. This is Kate. We're trying to find what's wrong with him. A doctor is with him now."

Okay. I will be there as soon as I can.

Kate closed the call.

"Mister Castle. I am sure it's not the chili dog." The doctor said. She was used to patients' altered states caused by painkillers.

"If it was from you overindulging in a Chili Dog, I'd kill you myself," Kate said. Being in the police force she had often seen colleagues struck down with bad food.

The Doctor made some notes. "To rule things out I want to send you for an ultrasound," she said.

Castle raised an eyebrow. "I want another doctor. She thinks I'm pregnant," he said.

"Dad!" Alexis was shocked, her dad sounded serious. She gave the Doctor an apologetic glance.

Xxxxxxxx

A/N: Thank you for the reviews. This is my first time writing Castle. I really loved writing Castle being high on painkillers.