All good things belong to ABC Disney and Marlow
They own Castle/Beckett and everyone else
I only own my brain. The brain that writes this junk.
I am willing to trade it for a future draft pick.
I wish to make it clear from the beginning. I write AU. NO CANON
This story does not follow the TV show.
Because I cannot figure out how to follow "Watershead" without getting ill
Katherine Beckett has entered the ballroom from the main corridor and has attempted to make her way up to the head table without much success. She is stopped by every person she comes into contact with. Most people are known to her personally, some she does not remember ever seeing before but everyone gives their congratulations
Each table in this large ballroom is filled with representatives from the most important government and even non government groups that reside inside the Beltway These DC. Dignitaries include Senators, Congressmen, Judges and senior staff from every Federal Law Enforcement organization. The Attorney General's office. The NSA, CIA Homeland Security, and naturally the FBI is well represented
As she slowly manages to get closer to the table located across the front of the assembly hall, she looks up to the display screens located in every corner of the room. Each one of the video walls contains a different image that changes every few seconds. One slide is of her being presented a commendation by the then FBI Director, then another commendation award being handed to her by the President. Some are images of the actual documents awarded to her over the last thirty years. The number is citations is impressive.
Intermixed are location photographs taken at the scene of an investigation where she was an agent involved in the case. It is evident that her appearance has not changed much since she began her current career path. She is still today as radiantly beautiful as she was those many years ago
The central video screen has one still image displaying the invitation to this event.
The President of the United States, The Members Congress and the Justices of the Supreme Court
Invite you to The Celebration of
The Retirement of The Director of the FBI
Katherine Houghton Beckett
On June 16, 2043
7:00 O'clock PM In the
The Regency Ballroom
Four Seasons Beltway Hotel
R.S.V.P.
She stares at the screen. This night represents the closure of her life in law enforcement. Forty-five years fighting crime ends tonight. She will officially no longer be a cop. Her time fighting crime is over. She will be able to go home and not think about criminals ever again
As Kate finally arrives at the table and to the seat reserved for her, she is greeted by the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Dennis Ryan the son of Jenny and Kevin Ryan
"Dennis" She exclaims with joy in her voice and she gives him a hug "how are you?"
"I am doing very well Director Beckett"
"Dennis Ryan! I have been Aunt Kate since the day you were born. That will not ever change. So how are your mom and dad? I haven't talked to them in about two weeks. Getting ready for my retirement has taken almost every moment of my time"
"They are doing fantastic. Dad has his hands full at One Police Plaza and mom has all of her social duties as the commissioner's wife. But you know how it works. Being involved in government takes all your time and leaves very little left over for anything else"
"Oh I do understand. Were they able to come tonight?"
"They wouldn't miss it for the world. You know my Dad has always told his officers that if they don't fall in line he will call his personal friend the FBI Director to come up and take care of them. He said after tonight he will have to find a new threat to use on them"
"Very funny, Dennis"
"Aunt Kate, I need to talk to the convention coordinator. Let me get back to you later"
"I will see you then"
As Dennis walks away, Kate begins looking around the large ballroom. She is somewhat embarrassed at how much is being done in her honor. She believes that all she ever did was her job. That job that has meant so much to her over the years. The job that at one point she put up on the very top shelf in her life. That very dangerous top shelf. That place if something about the job fell off, it would hit you in the head and cause permanante damage
She scans the room looking for any familiar faces and quickly finds them. At the table closest to the stage she sees Kevin and Jenny Ryan. Dennis was right. They did make it. Along with them are Javier and Lanie Esposito joining them is their oldest son, Roy, named after their former captain. Seated with the two former detectives and partners is the now retired Victoria Gates. Before her retirement she had achieved the rank of Deputy Chief with the department
Kate smiles and when she sees that she has acquired the attention of the table and she waves to the group. They all return the acknowledgement
Kate sits down at her assigned location at the head table as the dignitaries have begun arriving to the stage. Across from the MC is a seat reserved for the President. Beckett can't imagine the President of The United States being present and speaking on her behalf. Next to him is the Chief Justice of The Supreme Court.
On her side of the table is seated the President of the Senate and then The Speaker of the House
During the past thirty years, Kate has been present for several of these events from memorial services and retirement to awards, but never has she been the center of attention like this and it is not making her feel very comfortable.
At preciously 7:00 PM the dinner service begins with the delivery of the salad. The rooms is a buzz with the activity of the servers and conversations at each table
During the dinner service Kate is having a light conversation with the two leaders of congress. Fortunately this night is not about politics or criminals, but it is about her and no one else.
Her attention is also drawn out to the room filled with dignitaries not just from every branch of Federal Law Enforcement but local New York as well. She sees several tables filled with her old friends from the 12th
These friends from back home in New York remind Kate about what she left behind there when she came to DC all those many years ago. This memory brings a tear to her eyes. She has missed them all very much. But at the same time she is proud of them and their individual accomplishments.
Detective Roslyn Karpowski is now Chief of Detectives, Officer Ann Hastings is now Captain at the 54th precinct.
Javier Esposito is The Police Chief and his wife Lanie is the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of New York
And of course Kevin Ryan is now the Police Commissioner. What would the NYPD be without an Irish Catholic Police Commissioner?
There are two people that she wishes could have been here but they are both gone. She knows they would have been proud of what she has done with her life Her Mother and her Father. Her dad passed away about fifteen years ago. She buried him with his beloved Johanna. "Together Forever"
All of the dignitaries have arrived including the President. The servers have delivered the main course.
Beckett's mind drifts again to the assembled friends in the room. The fellow New Yorkers that she has fortunately been able to see or at least talk to on a fairly regular basis. Having the flexibility to set her own schedule and travel arrangements she has kept up with her old work companions. She was able to be at ceremonies for Kevin's appointment as commissioner and Esposito's swearing in as Police Chief
After the desserts are delivered, the room settles to the attendees only and then the Master of Ceremonies stands up before the assembled group.
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Dennis Ryan, your host for the evening. It is my pleasure to be able to honor a wonderful woman and to describe some of her achievements. Now I have a little confession to make. For those of you who know Kate Beckett, FBI Director, you know the business side of her. Well I know the other side of her. To me she is Aunt Kate so I have known her all my life. I have seen a different side than most of you have Just so you know, she does have the not business side where she can let her hair down
She once told her partner in the 12th that there was this one wild kinky thing she does like doing. And tonight we will attempt to show you that side of her"
His comments bring laughs from the audience and a hard eye roll from her
"For our first speaker. I want to present my favorite dad and New York Police Commissioner, Kevin Ryan"
Applause resounds from the room but an extra volume from the tables containing the fellow New Yorkers
She did not know that Ryan was a speaker tonight. Kate is watching as Kevin steps up to the rostrum and as he nears her, he leans down and whispers into her ear. "I promised I would not tell everything I know about you, only the juicy parts"
Beckett pokes his arm as he steps away from her. "Be nice Kev"
"Just the truth, nothing but the truth" He responds to Beckett
"Good evening. My name is Kevin Ryan and a little over thirty-five years ago, I was partnered up with a sassy female lead detective named Katherine Beckett. And I want to tell you a little about her. She had recently been transferred to homicide from vice where she had been checking out sex clubs in an area of New York called Dungeon Ally. Imagine that!"
He looks over to Kate and grins. A few laughs are returned in response for that comment
"We spent the next several years chasing murders as a trio of detectives Beckett, Esposito and myself. One of the more interesting cases involved the Russian mob. We had a civilian writer who had wormed his way into our group and he was attending a poker game with a group of killers. If you can picture Detective Beckett and the team listening in on this poker game hearing one of the players telling another in Russian that they were going to take out our poker buddy."
"Beckett steps out of the van and on the side of the street changed clothes and put on a micro mini dress and sashayed her way into the game and in perfect Russian rescued our buddy."
For Kate memories are sometimes difficult to deal with. This story has reminded her of their beginning. Her and Him
As Ryan continues his story of the early days of the partnership that now included Richard Castle, Kate's mind drifts to that night. When she heard the threat to kill Castle she had to do something. She was not going to let him die. Not on her watch. At the time it happened, she only concerned herself with someone getting hurt. Not that it mattered that it was Castle. She just didn't want anyone to have to deal with the extra paperwork.
But it didn't take long for all that to change for her
I Don't plan for this to be a very long story. Just a few chapters