There was only one thing she wanted to know about the job. One thing that could make her even consider saying "Yes." It was the one thing that put her on a plane early in the morning without telling anyone, just because she had to find out for herself.

She knew she was good enough to get hired. She knew that she could convince Castle to join her in DC. She knew she could nail the interview. She just didn't know if they would really want her on this task force.

She walked into the interview, knowing from the first words - that the boss's family was a hindrance to the job - that the world these people live in doesn't smile upon employees wanting to do the job from 9-5 then go home to their wonderful boyfriends/husbands/ families. She knew that even if she tried that, she'd be like Jordan Shaw - missing birthdays and anniversaries and recitals and homework and bedtime stories. She didn't want to be that kind of wife and mom... if she and Castle ever made it that far... and if this job opportunity ever made it that far.

When the abrupt interviewer said either she believed she could do the job or she could go ahead and leave, Beckett answered honestly, "I know why I'm here."

He asked his questions, though he didn't have many since he had a full file on her. He asked questions more like a shrink would, trying to find out if she really could handle the job. He didn't sugarcoat anything. He asked tough questions, and she answered like Superwoman, nearly invincible.

Then he mellowed, smiled, acted friendly, got her to relax and think the interview was over, and then he asked her the hardest question: "We're about done here... but there is just one thing. You seem to have an amazing team, especially since it is so unconventional with a son-of-a-super-spy-mystery-writer-boyfriend on the team. What kind of agent will you be without them?"

The question made her flinch. First, at the thorough knowledge of Castle's life; second, at then sudden uncertainty she hadn't felt during the whole interview. She took a deep breath, gathered her thoughts, and -with a crinkle between her eyebrows - gave the best answer she could. "Well, my team is amazing. Castle brings to the table a unique perspective that is an unequivocal help in solving homicides. However, I don't believe that this particular task force will need his style of thinking. This isn't so much unearthing mysteries and deducing motives; it's more fact analyzing and getting hard-ass liars to confess the truth. So I think I can be an outstanding agent on this task force."

He noticed that she didn't really say that the task force could fit as her new team. Interesting. He nodded, his lips pursing in consideration. "Thank you, Detective. I think I have all I need."

He shifted to stand up, but Beckett interrupted, making no move to stand. "Actually, I have one thing I need to know as well. This task force is focused on taking down corrupt politicians. Does Senator Bracken happen to be on the list?"

He flashed a brief hint of a smile like he'd just drawn a winning hand (actually it was $100 bet), glad that she was straight-forward enough to say the man's name. Yet, he feigned as though he didn't know their history. "Bracken? The senator you saved from an explosion not so long ago? Why would he be on the list?"

But Beckett had seen his tiny look of near-joy and decided he was bluffing. So she cocked an eyebrow, closed her mouth, and waited - letting the silence dare him to answer her question.

He watched her for about ten seconds, then nodded again, this time letting his smile show. "Yes."

Even he knew that that one word was the one thing she needed to know.


A/N: So? What do you think? Please review!