Phoenix: Hey everybody! I'm back with a new story, and it happens to be my first crossover.

Max: It's also her first real story with me!

Phoenix: So true! One thing you guys should know about me is that I have these - sometimes long - Author's notes. Please don't flame me about them!

Jeb: Max, please, I'm not evil anymore! I'm sorry!

Max: Oh yeah, and I'm Darth Sidious.

Poopitine: Did someone call my name? And don't call me Poopitine!

Max and Phoenix: *Look at each other and take out lightsabers to kill Poopitine.*

Poopitine: How did you even get that anyways Max?

Max: Phoenix gave me it and started to train me two months ago. *Proceeds to cut Poopitine in half*

Phoenix: That's my Padawan!

Poopitine's Ghost: Dang... Your worse than your twin brother was!

Phoenix: Oops, long A/N. Sorry. Well, hope you like it! Also, here's the disclaimer. I will only say this once, so listen closely. I DO NOt own Maximum Ride OR Castle. I never have and sadly never will. Oh, and Poopitine? Don't mention him again or I will personally kill you. *Gets comforted by Max who understands what its like to lose someone you love*

Poopitine's Ghost: *Gulps*

Chapter 1

My temper is like a fuse. It gets smaller and smaller until BOOM, I punch someone in the face. I'm tired, hungry, have Party in the CIA by Weird Al stuck in my head, and feel a headache coming on. Of course, to make matters worse, we are flying above NYC, the noisiest place you can think of. Car horns, police sirens, tires screeching against the pavement. Yep, most definitely is helping my now horrible headache.

Now, most of you are probably thinking What? Flying? and yes you heard me right. Flying in the sky, minus the plane.

Ya see, me and my friends are what some people call special. Others, weird. Because we can do what everyone else dreams of: flying. It all started when we were just babies. Small and unable to defend ourselves, we were tested on by these scientists at what we call The School. They decided to try to make a hybrid: 98% human, 2% bird. The result? Me, otherwise known as 16-year-old Maximum Ride. Luckily, I'm not alone.

I have five other friends, just like me. First is my right-wing man, Fang. Fang is quiet, but deadly. He's just as old as I am, along with Iggy. He can sneak up behind you like your own shadow. Next is the guy I was talking about earlier, Iggy.

Iggy is a bit different from the rest of us. When he was young they experimented on his eyes, to try to improve his night vision. If it worked, they'd do it to the rest of us too. Only it didn't, and now Iggy's blind. Sometimes, you totally forget about it. He can fight as good as anybody else, and is the best cook. He also is great at making bombs of any kind.

Nudge is 12 years old. She loves shopping (Ugh!) and fashion (Double ugh!). She also talks so much, I think she'll explode if she doesn't speak her thoughts. I call it the Nudge channel. All Nudge, all the time.

The Gasman and Angel are the only two blood siblings, even though we all treat each other like family. Gazzy, as we sometimes call him, is 9, and definitely doesn't take his name lightly. The boy's a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off. Just make sure to stay out of the room when he does.

Angel is my little girl. Being only 7, she's the youngest, but don't judge a person by their size. My girl has a strong soul. And she can do something none of us can. She can read minds.

Truthfully, she isn't the only one with special powers. I can fly just under 250 miles per hour highest and breath underwater. Fang can also breath underwater and make himself blend in to his surroundings. Iggy can see if something is just white, can feel colors, and has great other senses. Nudge can find any password and is a magnet. Gazzy can let one rip so bad, you get knocked unconscious. And then there is Angel, who sorta hit the jackpot with these thing. She can breath underwater, control and read people's minds, send thoughts to other minds, and can change her appearance.

Now, we are on the run from anyone who dares to hunt us down. Since I promised Nudge we could come back, we're here in the Big Apple once again.

"Hey Max, can we get makeovers again? It would change our appearance so people can't find us easily." Nudge asked.

"Uh, Nudge? We no money. If you know how to get some, then yes. I think."

She frowned. "Phooey!"

I looked at the night sky. "Guys, let's land and call it a night. A certain tree is calling my name in Central Park."

They all looked at me happily, even the usually emotionless Fang. After hours upon hours of flying, we were all ready to hit the sack. Er, tree.

I sighed as I landed near a cluster of comfortable looking trees, the others following suit. We put our knuckles together and tapped them in our nightly ritual.

"Night everyone!" I said softly. They echoed the good night wishes and climbed the trees quickly. I climbed to a tall branch, lazily swung a leg over, and drifted into a fitful sleep.

The next morning I woke up to a commotion, as did the rest of my Flock. After looking around and finding yellow tape a few meters away, I motioned for the others to be as silent as possible. There was a women and men on their way to a body.

I shuddered. A girl my age was lying there with her eyes open.

I assumed the women was a detective, since she dressed and acted like one. She had long brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. The other man was the person that caught my curiosity. He had brown hair, blue eyes. One might even describe him as ruggedly handsome. He didn't act anything like a cop, and with my luck it would be a new experiment. Great. At least they haven't noticed us yet.

Me being me, I decided to listen in on their conversation.

"Beckett, why do most murders have to be in the morning? I mean really, why can't they do it later in the afternoon?"

Hmmmm, Beckett must be the woman.

"I don't know Castle, maybe because they won't be seen at night and by the time someone notices it, its morning. I can't help that" Beckett replied. She smirked at his frown.

Castle, sounds familiar. Where did I hear his name? Was it at The School?

They were at the scene now, and were conversing with who I assumed to be the Medical Examiner.

"Hey Lanie. What do we got." the detective asked.

The M.E. frowned. "Bullet to the back of her head. Poor girl was running away from someone and didn't get to far."

"ID?"

"Yep, an Elizabeth Coswell. Only 17 years old. Ironically, she just got back from prom, was taking a shortcut home." she answered.

For the first time I looked at the real body. True to her word, the girl was in a prom dress. But that wasn't what scared me. She looked a lot like me. I felt sick to my stomach and leaned forward to see her face. The branch creaked and I froze.

Oh, not good.

Beckett and Castle must have heard me because Beckett took out her service weapon and ducked under the crime scene tape. She slowly creeped toward all of us.

I knew we shouldn't have came! Finally they were under us and looked up. Her eyes widened in surprise, as did Castle's.

"What the..." she whispered.

She seemed to find her voice. "All of you come down. Now."

The Flock all glanced at me and I nodded. Slowly, we slipped down our tree.

"Hello there." I said with a fake smile. "How are you ma'am."

"Good, thank you." she said cautiously, holstering her gun.

"Why were you six up in that tree? Especially that high?" Castle inquired.

I decided to tell the truth. "We were sleeping up there until we heard a commotion and woke to see a dead person surrounded by yellow tape. Not the best wake up call ever."

They looked shocked when I said we were sleeping up there. "Don't you have parents you need to get home to at night? And isn't it uncomfortable up there?" Beckett asked.

I shook my head as Fang snorted. "No on both counts. Our parents died when we were young; we're so used to sleeping in trees that it might as well be a mattress. Castle... that name sounds familiar. Do I know you?"

"I never told you my name. Were you eavesdropping?"

I grinned. "Sorry, couldn't help it."

"Well, my full name is Richard Castle. The mystery writer?" He said, answering my earlier question.

I nodded, now knowing why I recognized him earlier.

"Shouldn't you be in Foster Care?" Beckett asked.

Uh-oh. How was I supposed to explain this one? "Umm, no." Wow, great comeback Max. Just great.

She brushed it off for now, but I knew she'd be asking later. "Did you hear anything last night? Like a gunshot?"

"That's the funny thing. We're super light sleepers and yet we didn't hear anything. Heck, even if he used a silencer and she wasn't screaming we'd still be up and ready..." I trailed off.

"Ready for what?" Castle murmured.

Ugh, me and my big mouth.

"What scares me is what she looks like. She looks like me." I said, brushing off his unsaid question.

"You think that somebody's after you?" Beckett asked.

I nodded when the stupidest thing ever decided to drop in. The Voice. Oh, joy.

Max, you can trust them. I promise.

So? Why should I listen to you?

Have I ever let you down yet?

I mentally sighed. No... Fine. Whatever.

I looked at them. They seemed harmless enough.

"Alright," Beckett started, "I believe you. But since you don't have a place to stay, I want you six to stay with one of us so that we can question you and you won't run off. And for your own protection as well of course. Because you're right. She does look like you. It may not be the why the killer is murdering people, but better safe than sorry."

Castle looked at her like she had grown a second head, while the others just shifted uncomfortably.

"Fine. We pick Castle." I decided. He grinned widely and looked like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning. Umm, maybe that was the wrong choice. Too late now.

"Okay. Castle, you take them to your house okay?" at his nod she continued. "Good. You guys get cleaned up then Castle will bring you to the Precinct. Only for statements of course." Beckett added at my nervous expression. I just nodded and she slowly walked away.

"You're the leader, aren't you."

I jumped at the sudden question. "How..."

"I noticed how they always look to you for the decisions." I must have looked shocked and confused, so he changed the subject. "Anyways, let's start with introductions." He drawled in a Manhattan accent. "My name is Richard Castle, writing extraordinaire as I said before. I don't believe I caught your name though."

Well, I'm already in too deep the way it is, so why not. "Maximum Ride." I nodded to the others.

"Fang."

"Iggy."

"The wonderful Nudge!"

"General Skywalker. Ow!" I elbowed him in the side. "Fine, Gazzy."

"And I'm Angel, Gazzy's sister."

He smiled. "It's nice to meet you all. My apartment is fairly big and has two guest rooms with two small beds each upstairs, and there's a couch and very comfy chair in the living room, or just sleeping bags if you want to stick together."

We reached his car and piled inside, the tight space constricting me just a bit.

"I have a 17-year-old daughter named Alexis who lives with me and my mother Martha." At my questioning look, he explained why she was living there. The rest of the ride was quiet, something I needed. After about ten minutes in the New York traffic, we reached a large apartment building.

"Everybody out. Hope you're not afraid of heights. My apartment is the penthouse and has a huge window on one side." he warned.

We all snorted at the irony of the question. "Nope, we'll be fine."

The ride up was quick and soon we were inside.

"Make yourselves at home. Bathroom is upstairs, third door on the right, with the rooms on either side of it. My daughter is at school since it's Friday and will be home at 3:15. Her room is straight across the hall. Martha, I have no idea where she is, will be back sometime tonight. Her room is on the far left end. Any questions?"

"Umm, yeah, is there a bathroom down here too?" I asked.

"Yep, first door on the left." He also pointed in the direction of the bathroom.

I nodded and took Iggy's arm, guiding him and telling him where everything is. Castle gave me a puzzled look than one of understanding. Every body else went upstairs to pick rooms and get cleaned up. I told Iggy where the stairs were and he ran to catch up to them.

"How does he do that? Run up stairs he's never been around before."

I stopped climbing after them and grinned. "He's filled with tons of surprises. Most the time we forget he's even blind. He's the best cook, can always tell where you are, and always gets high fives perfect."

Rick looked at me, and I could tell he was impressed.

"That's amazing! I couldn't even tell he was blind until you explained his surroundings to him just now. That is once again, amazing." then his face went serious. "What's your secret." I looked at him, thoroughly surprised. "Please tell me. I want to help. I know you're in pain; the way you showed how uncomfortable you are in the car and the elevator. Please, just tell me."

Max, he's trustworthy. Do it.

Stupid, idiotic Voice.

I sighed. "I don't know if I can trust you. After you've earned our trust then maybe. You're also not allowed to write about it in any of your books when we do tell you. If we tell you. Got it?"

He agreed and smiled. "Okay, I got it."

I turned on my heel to see where my Flock was staying, feeling a little bit nervous.

Phoenix: And there's the first chapter! Hope you guys liked it! I promise, other chapters will be better, it's just 12:03 AM now. *Goes off with her twin brother Anakin Skywalker to send flowers to Beckett claiming they are from a certain someone that says he's in love with her.*

Castle:Whose closing it up then! *Runs away quickly*

Beckett: *Runs away with him*

Detective Ryan: *Goes home to his wife*

Max: *Flies away with the rest of the Flock*

Lanie: *Claims she has a body and leaves*

Alexis: *Currently watching a murder mystery with her boyfriend*

Martha: *Is somewhere, doing something unknown.*

Esposito: Dang! Why is it always me? Well, Phoenix says she hopes she will update soon. Also, please review! Bye!