Kate stabbed

"You aren't going anywhere," said Ryan. "She already hurt you once, I won't let her do it again."

"Don't you understand, Ryan? She was trying to hurt him." She held Alexis closer.

"Yes, but she won't try again. Javier will keep him safe, he'll shoot if he has too."

Lanie sat down beside Kate, trying to calm both Kate and Alexis down. All Jenny could do was get Martha away from the window and sit with her, not feeling like she was making much progress at all. Ryan waited until the ladies were seated and then headed down the stairs to help his partner.
********
Castle's approach was simple, direct, wanting to go right to the problem: ie the mysterious woman who had hurt his partner.

"Castle, stay behind me," said Espo, his gun in his hand in case he needed it.

"I want to know what she wants. I want to know why she's trying to destroy my family."

"I understand, and we will find out, but not until she's in an interrogation room."

The girl saw Castle and tried to run. Espo was right behind her. He tackled her to the ground.

"You're hurting me...."

"Serves you right for stabbing my boss."

"I didn't want to stab her. I wanted to stab him!"

"Doesn't matter what you were trying to do. You stabbed a cop and that means prison."

"Besides the fact that he's our partner. So it was really stupid, lady, anyway you want to look at it," Ryan said, coming and helping Esposito.

"Exactly."

Ryan looked at Castle as the three stood up. "Go back upstairs. Tell the girls everything's all right. And can you see that Jenny and Lanie get home after dinner?"

"Yes, of course."

"We'll figure it out. We'll let you know. But the girls need you."

"Thanks guys."

Ryan nodded, getting the girl in his car. Jenny had been babyproofing everything and the child lock had been set on the doors for weeks.

"We'll call when we get to the station."

"Thanks, guys." Castle wished he could be going too, but knew Kate and Alexis needed him upstairs.

Alexis looked up when her dad came in. Jenny and Lanie busied themselves with other things so that the family could have some form of privacy.

"The guys are taking her in."

"Are you okay?" Kate asked softly.

"Yeah."

She made room for him beside her.

"Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah. We're okay if you're okay," Kate said, still rubbing Alexis' back, holding her.

"Good." He hugged her tightly.

"Why did she come back?" Alexis asked softly.

"I don't know sweetheart."

"Is she going to hurt Kate again? Or you?"

"Ryan and Esposito would never let that happen, Alexis. It's over. We're safe. Martha and you are safe. It's over," Kate tried to tell her again.

"Kate's right. She won't hurt anyone again."

"Do you feel like eating? We could save some for the boys." Kate asked her gently.

"No. And the boys aren't coming back tonight. I have to take the girls home."

"Your dad's right. Why don't you go find a movie? We'll clean this up down here while your dad takes the girls home."

"Okay."

"You should go too." Martha told Kate, worried about her getting too tired. "I'll clean up down here. Go rest for a little while."

"Come with me, Mom," Alexis told her, reaching her hand out for Kate again.

"Kate," Jenny spoke softly. "Lanie and I will help Castle's mom before we leave. You and Alexis get some rest, okay?" Her voice was quiet but just as authorative as the one she'd used to stay at a crime scene the night Sarah was born.

"Of course we're sure, honey. Now you and Alexis just go on. We've got this," Lanie 'fussed' at her best friend.

Kate and Alexis went upstairs and Castle, Lanie, and Jenny helped Martha clean up.

"I can drive Jenny and the baby home if you want to go check on the boys," Lanie told him.