X Marks the Spot

Chapter 1

This is my first crossover and I am excited and nervous. This is a story with using Castle and Mentalist characters. I just started watching Castle last season after seeing a couple of the episodes including the season finale and seeing some of 7. So, recently I have been catching up on the show by watching the DVD sets. This is my first time writing the Castle characters as I have been writing the Mentalist characters. This story is taking place several months later after the Mentalist finale, White Orchids. The story's going by the Mentalist timeline with the two year time jump that happened early in their season 6. This is also a continuation of my Mentalist story Our Life From Now On which I'm still working on.

Disclaimer: Don't own Anything.

Kate Beckett dressed in a suit coat and button up shirt ready for work was sitting on the couch in Castle's loft when her phone rang and waiting for Castle to make breakfast. There had been no calls lately for a murder at least for a couple of days. The most recent case the team had been working on was the X killer, where the killer sliced a X across the victim's body leaving them unclothed. He was doing it to both men and women. The only similar thing about the people in this case was they all frequented the same restaurant. It seemed unusual for a killer to do both genders because most of the time the victims were women regarding serial killers and it was different than the 3XK killings they investigated years ago. Beckett answered and the person on the other line was Captain Gates and then she rose up and paced around the area while talking on the phone. "Hello, Gates, what can I do for you."

"There's been another X murder and this time it's in Austin, Texas. It seems unusual for him to just change his location all of a sudden." Gates explained.

"Yes, sir. It does seem strange because his location has been in New York the past few months. Is his MO the same?"

"It appears it is except for the location and I'm sending you and your team to go investigate it. Castle included." Gates stated.

"Really, we don't have to travel, do we? The police there can take care of it." Beckett annoyingly said. She wasn't in the mood to travel faraway, though she knew Castle would be excited about it. Their team was needed in New York, not Austin, Texas. It seemed odd why somebody would want them to come over there.

"The murder is being investigated by the FBI there in Austin and the police there won't take it. Apparently, the FBI team there is known for quick case closures though I didn't get all the details about it. I was informed by an Agent Cho; he wants to work with the police that are familiar with this case. He's seen the news about the previous victims." Gates then gave Beckett the phone number of Agent Cho.

"Sir, the FBI there has the case for that specific person. Why do we need to go? Texas isn't in our jurisdiction." Beckett wondered. She wasn't legally a cop in another state and they would have to get permission to investigate in another state.

"I've gained permission for your team to work in Austin, so it's fine. They really want to work with the cops involved in this case. We are the team of detectives that know about this case. I already booked the flight for this afternoon. Thank you, Beckett."

"Fine. We'll start packing. Thank you, sir." Beckett hung up the phone.

She came into the kitchen and saw Castle in his black pants and burgandy button down shirt bringing two plates with omelets on the table. "What's going on, Kate?"

"Apparently, Castle, the X killer has struck in Austin, Texas." Beckett admitted sitting down and took the fork and took a bite into the omelet.

"And?" Castle asked sitting down taking a bite of omelet.

"Gates wants us and the team to work with the FBI in Austin." Beckett admitted.

"Ooh, a road trip. That should be exciting." Castle raised his eyebrow up excitedly.

"We're not going on a road trip. Gates has the plane tickets for us and Esposito and Ryan. We leave this afternoon." Beckett admitted seriously.

"We can get in our western gear again like our honeymoon." Castle said excitedly. "Though I'll have to tell mother and Alexis I'm leaving. I don't have anything scheduled."

"No, we're not getting dressed-up. I have to call an Agent Cho and tell him we'll be there to explain the killings."

Castle and Beckett quickly packed their suitcases for the Austin trip and Castle also quickly let his mother and Alexis know he would be leaving for an investigation. Gates called back and said that Ryan and Esposito would have the tickets at the airport, so they wouldn't have to go into the precinct. Castle and Beckett met Ryan and Esposito at the JFK International Airport. The two guys handed them their tickets. " Hey, guys. I take it Gates called you." Esposito said.

"Yes, she did. I'm not looking forward to traveling." Beckett said.

"It might be interesting to go somewhere else than New York to investigate." Ryan stated.

At 2:00, they boarded the flight to Austin and Castle and Beckett found their seats across from Esposito and Ryan. Right away, after getting settled in his seat, Castle grabbed out of his carry-on bag a guide to the city of Austin. He wanted to learn more about the city and hopefully they would be able to catch some sights there in between the investigation and so he started leafing through the book for information.

"Castle, is that a guidebook?" Beckett eyed Castle's book he was reading that was labeled Austin.

"Yes, I need to stake out what's there to do." Castle stated excitedly. "We'll be in a whole new city we've never been to before."

"We're doing a murder investigation. This isn't a vacation." Beckett reminded seriously.

"Oh, come on, we need to enjoy some time alone. Right? Right, Kate?" Castle raised his brows up in a sexy manner.

"I don't want to advertise that we're married. I want to look serious and professional." Beckett said warily and seriously.

"Being married doesn't make you serious?" Castle questioned a little disappointed.

"Let's just lay low about us being married until we get to know the agents. I just don't know how people would react to the lead detective married to her consultant."

"I promise I won't say anything. Did you call Agent Cho?" Castle asked.

"Yes. He seems serious and he's not a talker, but he must get the job done." Beckett admitted.

After the four hour flight, the team finally arrived at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. They went straight to the baggage claim and waited for the bags to go around until Beckett finally noticed Castle's black suitcase. He had looked away, so she decided to get it herself. She picked it up from the carousel. Castle noticed and helped and then noticed her bag and grabbed it. "Castle, what do you have in here? Rocks?"

"My books. Nikki Heat to be specific-signed copies. For the agents and anybody that wants one." Castle confessed.

"Really, Castle?" Beckett questioned and shook her head and rolled her eyes. Esposito and Ryan laughed at the thought too as they took their luggage off the carousel as well.

"Yes. Don't you just love me? Can I tell them you're my muse? That is one of the reasons I started working with you in the first place." Castle asked expectantly.

Before Beckett could answer, she noticed two men in suits, one stern faced Asian and a short curly haired robust man. She guessed them to be the FBI agents that would meet them. Soon, the agents came up to Castle, Esposito, Ryan and herself.

"Are you Detective Beckett?" The Asian man questioned.

"Yes. I am, sir." Beckett answered.

"Agent Kimball Cho, FBI. Good to meet you." Cho responded putting out his hand. Beckett shook his hand.

"Agent Rick Tork." Tork said. Beckett shook his hand too.

"Richard Castle." Castle introduced himself and shook the agents' hands. "I'm the writer." He grinned. Cho didn't respond. Tork smiled.

"Detective Kevin Ryan." Ryan introduced himself and shook the two agents hands.

"Detective Javier Esposito" Esposito introduced himself and shook the two agents hands.

After getting introduced to the agents, they were taken to the Hyatt hotel, which the FBI was paying for during their stay. They would tell about the investigation at the FBI office the next day, so they did end up having some time for the detectives themselves.

Lisbon came back to work a few months after her and Jane's daughter, Lisby was born. At first it was difficult for her to leave the baby behind, but she knew Jane was delighted to be alone with their little princess, he called her. Lisby was born with a mix of both her and Jane-dark hair like her with natural curls like her father. She was looking forward to see if she would gain the same keen skills as Jane too in the future.

It was still an adjustment for her being responsible for a baby considering for years she took care of herself and getting lost in her job but she loved being a mother too. For Jane, he instantly fell into being father. He was willing to do everything including diaper changes, late night feedings. She, of course,was involved sharing in her part of the responsibility. He was the perfect father and she loved him for that. Already Lisby was becoming a daddy's girl. Every time she saw him, she would smile and giggle.

She entered the office and saw Cho preparing for a briefing. She had gotten used to Cho being the boss and he was a good one. She hadn't quite gotten back in the field yet, because it had been so long. She knew now she needed to be the safest she could be considering she had not only Jane but her daughter to think about and she didn't want to have Lisby to grow up without a mother, like she herself had to do for many years. She saw everyone gathered and she quickly sat by Wylie.

"29 year old Samantha Jenson was found murdered two nights ago in her home sliced with an X all the way cross her body. New York City recently had a string of murders in a similar style."

"Do you think it's a serial killer?" Lisbon questioned.

"The NYPD believe it is. That is why we have Precinct 12 with us today to give us the information. Detective Beckett." Cho said.

A group of four people, three men and a woman sat up and then turned to the front. The reddish brown haired woman took charge and came up front. It seemed strange that Cho would want to share a case with another team considering their hostility towards the FBI during the CBI years of working together and them trying to take the Red John case. She specifically remembered the time when Rigsby and Cho fought with Reede Smith and Gabe Mancini. It seemed unusual to work with an out of state team on a case. They normally didn't except for special circumstances such as when they did the Scheidnerman case, Greta DeJorio case and Beiruit with Erica Flynn. Greta DeJorio was a special case in her heart considering that was when Jane stopped her plane to D.C. to confess his love for her even though he dug out the case and fabricated a letter for her to solve.

"My name is Detective Kate Beckett. My team has been investigating for a few months the murders of 15 people who all bear a cross shaped cuts over the body." Cho then clicked the remote revealing several crime scene photos of men and women. "One thing we've noticed is that all the victims visited the same restaurant, so it seems unusual for us the killer would come to a different city."

After the briefing the detectives, went over to introduce themselves to the FBI agents. Lisbon right away came up to introduce herself. She came up to Kate Beckett. "Hello, I'm Agent Teresa Lisbon, well actually Jane. You can still call me Lisbon."

"It's good to meet you, Agent Lisbon. I'm the head of the team here at the 12th Precinct." Detective Beckett admitted. Lisbon was glad for another strong woman leader. "This is my consultant, Richard Castle." She was hoping they would get along during the case, but she didn't know. In the past, she wasn't sure if she could let someone share her authority and leadership with a leader of another team so Cho must not mind the idea of shared leadership.

"It's great to meet you, Agent Lisbon." Castle put out his hand. "I'm the writer." Castle grinned. Lisbon was confused. Why was a writer working with the police? Of course, many people asked the same about Jane working with the CBI and FBI. "You help solve murders? What kind of writer are you?"

"I'm a mystery writer. Beckett has been my muse for years. Right, Kate?" Castle grinned. She shook her head. "She's also my wife."

"You don't have to tell her that. I told you I want to be looked as a serious professional woman." Beckett answered annoyed. Lisbon held in a laugh. So, this Beckett had the same experience with her consultant as she did with Jane and apparently she had married hers as well.

"Beckett, it's fine. I've had experience with unruly consultants." Lisbon admitted quietly while Castle wasn't paying attention.

Cho immediately came up to Lisbon. "Lisbon, we may need Jane's help with this."

"He's home with the baby now." Lisbon said. "I'll tell him but we'll need to get a sitter or take her to daycare during the time we work on this case. It might be a challenge to get him here."

"Right now, we're just going over the case. If he can just come in quickly and we'll explain the case."Cho stated. "Try to get him here and tell him we need him."

"I'll tell him to come in."Lisbon said reaching in her pocket for her phone but before she could push the button, Castle was grinning at her though Beckett busy skimming through a file, she assumed brought over from New York, labeled X Killer.

"So, you have a baby, Agent Lisbon?" Castle asked expectantly. Lisbon slid her phone back in her pocket as soon as the writer asked his question.

"Yes, a six month old girl." Lisbon smiled thinking of her daughter. "My husband is our consultant though he's been part time lately." Lisbon explained to the writer. "He stays home with the baby."

Beckett was quite surprised Agent Lisbon could handle having a baby with being an FBI agent. Finding time for herself that took up most of her days and nights with hardly any sleep and early morning calls. Of course, that was the case with babies too, she supposed. During the years, Beckett hadn't done too much thinking of having a family and settling down, not until she met Castle. Yes, she had flings and boyfriends throughout the years, but none worked out. Her job kept her busy and she had always been been all work and practically no play. Her constant thoughts of her mother's murder lingering in her mind. Castle and her hadn't discussed the idea of a family and Castle already had a grown daughter, so she wasn't sure if that would happen.

"Ah, little girls are precious. I myself have a daughter, though she's 22 but she'll always be my baby girl." Castle said proudly. Beckett smiled at the thought of him talking about Alexis. That was one of the reasons she was drawn to Castle, she realized how much he loved his daughter. It was funny how Castle always asked her advice about raising his teenage daughter over the years and she had never been a parent. She knew he generally asked her because she had been a teenage girl once and might relate to experiencing the same things as Alexis.

"Beckett, we can talk in my office about the case." Cho stated. Beckett followed Cho into his office. She was nervous about sharing the leadership position with the FBI. It wasn't that she didn't think they could work together. It was hard to share a case that they had been so familiar with for months now. She would have to explain everything they learned over again to someone else. She followed Agent Cho until he came to a door with his name posted. He went behind the desk and she sat in the chair provided.

"I appreciate you and your team coming to work with us, detective, if I haven't told you that." Agent Cho stated.

"I look forward to working with your team as well. Agent Lisbon mentioned you have a consultant working with you?" Beckett questioned.

"Yes, Patrick Jane. I've worked with Agent Lisbon and him for years in California. He's helped us close many cases with his observation skills and well, unorthodox plans." Cho admitted.

"Castle is like that as well. Jane's coming to work on this case as well?" Beckett questioned. She wondered what it would be like having two consultants having their own ideas.

"I'm having her call him. He hasn't been working quite as much the last few months. We will need him some on this case." Cho admitted.

Lisbon immediately went to her desk after the introductions and started on the paperwork for the previous case. Paperwork became the norm for her during her pregnancy. She missed being out in the field, she wondered if she could back into it in this case. She noticed Richard Castle taking a seat on Jane's couch. "I need to convince Beckett to get a couch at the precinct." Castle said moving around the couch.

"Um, that's my husband's couch." Lisbon stated. Jane hadn't moved his couch to the house at all from the FBI office. He decided to just leave it there for now, as they had a couch at the cabin. He still used it when he did decide to work which was months ago before they welcomed their daughter.

"Oh, the unruly consultant." Castle answered laughing.

"I apologize." Lisbon said embarrassed knowing Castle heard her.

"It's alright, Kate has called me that for years. And I am unruly. I kind of inserted myself in following her with the mayor's help." Castle said grinning. "He doesn't like anybody sitting on his couch?" Castle asked.

"Typically no except for me." Lisbon admitted. "Or if someone has permission."

"Oh, sorry. What does your husband do for being a consultant?" Castle asked.

"He reads people and very observant." Lisbon admitted. There was so much more to describe Jane than that. She didn't think she could put all the words to describe him in one sentence.

"Like a psychic." Castle guessed.

"At one point in his life he pretended to be one. A mentalist is what he's actually called. Speaking of which, I need to call him about this case." Lisbon stated.

"Don't mind me. I'm going to find the restroom." Castle said getting up and heading towards the restrooms. Lisbon grabbed her phone and dialed Jane's number. Hopefully he wasn't too busy at the time with the baby. If he was, she knew he would call her back. She wanted him to take attention their daughter rather answering the phone.

"Hello, my dear, miss us already?" Lisbon heard Jane answer.

"Is this a good time?"

"It's no problem,she's asleep. What can I do for you?"

"We have an important case. There's a serial killer."

"I'm done with serial killers." Jane refused.

"I know but Cho wants you on it. The killer is the X killer and there's been several murders in New York City but he struck in Austin."

"Why does Cho want me?"

"Cho invited one of 12th Precinct teams in New York to help us. They've been investigating the case and know about it."

"Then you don't need me. You have the New York police." Jane stated.

"Cho wants you there and I suggest you do what he says." Lisbon said seriously. "You can bring Lisby here, right now we're just talking to the detectives. They have a consultant that you can converse with."

"Another psychic." Jane guessed sarcastically.

"No, a mystery author, Richard Castle."

"Intriguing, name sounds familiar. We'll be there soon."

"Maybe you can have a consultant club." Lisbon teased. "I think you'd get along with him. He already sat on your couch."

"What! You let him sit on my couch!" Jane exclaimed. "We're coming." Bye, love you."

"Love you, too,Jane." Lisbon said as she looked around making sure nobody heard her. Even though everyone knew they were married, she felt uncomfortable with taking her personal life into work.

Jane put his phone back in his pocket. Why did they have to call him about a serial killer? They just couldn't handle cases without him. He was trying to cut back on investigations and now they just had to have him. Oh, well. It sounded exciting to have a new team working with them and he was excited to read them and push their buttons. He wondered what this other consultant was like with the New York team especially a writer. He was glad he was not another psychic because he had enough of those through the years. It would be fascinating to learn how a writer helped the police.

Looking at his home he was in now, he was very proud of the house he built along with help from Tommy Lisbon and other builders. They just finished it a month before their little girl was born and it had become a real home and not just a home he bought with dishonest money, like he did with the Malibu home in his psychic days married to Angela Ruskin. Jane got up from the couch at home and instantly grabbed the diaper bag and set it in the car. He came back in and grabbed the carrier and went in the nursery and over to the crib and carefully picked up his daughter, "Hey, little girl, you get to see where mommy works and daddy sometimes works." She woke up happily. They were very lucky with her, she was happy most of the time other than when she was hungry or needed something. She didn't seem to mind being woken up. He placed her in the carrier and carried it to the car and placed her in the car seat. He even was surprised when she was born how he remembered how to care for an infant. Of course, he had that part of his life tucked away in his memory palace from when Charlotte was a baby. He arrived at the parking lot and grabbed the carrier to set his daughter down. He grabbed the diaper bag and he picked up the carrier again and headed to the entrance of the building. He went to the elevator and luckily someone else pushed the up button. Jane went in and was followed in the elevator by a bulky Hispanic man with curly hair.

"Thank you. Hello. I haven't see you around." Jane observed the man.

"I'm from New York." The man stated.

"You're one of the police Lisbon told me about." Jane looked at him again.

"Yes, I am. Javier Esposito. I just came back from lunch and they're expecting me."

"Patrick Jane. I would shake your hand but my hands are full."

"I see that." Esposito noticed the baby in the carrier.

The elevator arrived at the bullpen and Esposito exited the elevator towards Cho's office. He didn't see anybody around except Wylie busy at his desk working on the computer looking up names. "Hey, Jane. You brought Lisby. Hi, little girl."

"I guess I'm needed." Jane said looking at Wylie.

"The New York police are here." Wylie stated. "It's exciting, really to have them here. They seem pretty cool."

"Lisbon told me." Jane answered.

"They have a consultant too." Wylie explained and pointed towards Jane's couch. "Sorry, he's on your couch."

Then Jane took off towards his couch and immediately saw sitting in his spot on the couch a brown haired broad shouldered man relaxing in the cushion. He knew right away this man was not a police officer with his button up shirt and black pants and expensive leather shoes. His posture was different than a cop's which was usually straight and on attention. He made his observation, and decided to speak.

"Excuse me, you're on my place and my couch." Jane reminded and he stared at the man annoyingly.

"Oh, sorry." The man moved to the end of the couch. "You're the FBI consultant."

Jane carefully set the carrier down on the middle of the couch. "Yes, I am. Patrick Jane."

"You're the psychic." Castle noted.

"No, not psychic. No such thing. So, you're the mystery writer." Jane noticed the man still on his couch. "Full of words, aren't you?"

"Yes, indeed. Richard Castle. Author of the Derek Storm series and Nikki Heat series. " Castle held out his hand and Jane shook it. Then Castle looked at baby Lisby, who was waking up from her nap in the car. She stared at him and looked not sure of Castle. "Who is this little girl?" Castle leaned down his head and talked in baby talk. Jane smiled. He loved Lisby instantly gained attention from people.

"Lisby Michelle."

"I remember when my daughter, Alexis was a baby. It seems like yesterday and now she's 22." Castle remembered still looking at the baby, who was smiling at him. He continued with his baby talk. "Hello, little girl. You're a happy little girl."

It still pained Jane hearing about and seeing girls close to the age Charlotte would have been if she lived. Hearing this man talking about his grown daughter reminded him what Red John took away from years ago. Charlotte never had the chance to be a grown woman like Castle's daughter. He tried to get the thought away from his mind and looked at his new baby daughter, who was his second chance at being a dad. It still didn't mean he would forget Charlotte.

"Is your daughter in college?" Jane looked at Castle, who looked back up at Jane wanting to be interested in the man's pride and joy.

"Yes, in fact she's graduating soon from Columbia." Castle said proudly smiling. "It's so great."

"You are proud."Jane observed Castle.

"Yes, I am. Is she your first?" Castle asked referring to Lisby, who was sucking on a baby toy which Jane had given her.

"Um,..., yeah." Jane hesitated and lied. He knew this question would come up and he didn't want to get into his story. He was focusing on the future, which was part of the reason he didn't really want to deal with another serial killer. Serial killers were monsters, destroying people's lives for no reason at all, just for the enjoyment of seeing people in pain. Most of the regular murders he had investigated with Lisbon and her team as well with Abbott in the FBI killed for a reason, but not serial killers.

Castle wondered why Patrick Jane hesitated in answering about his daughter being his first child. There must be more to his story than meets the eye. He wouldn't press on about it. He could see a pain behind his answer, an unspoken pain, but he also seemed proud and happy of his current baby girl. Observing Patrick Jane, Castle guessed him to be in his early-mid forties and Lisbon close to the same age and considered late comers into parenthood. He and Meredith were in their early 20s when finding about Alexis. Meredith decided she wasn't ready to be a mother then, so she decided she wanted to live her life in L.A. And so he took the responsible route of raising Alexis along with help from his mother. He decided even though he wasn't always responsible for other aspects of his life, he made sure Alexis had opportunities and a roof over her head and being the best and present father for her. He loved his daughter with all his heart and looking at Jane he knew he was the same way with his child.

Jane searched around the room and noticed again the near empty bullpen with the exception of Wylie, himself and Castle. The Hispanic man named Esposito had gone towards Cho's office. "Where is everybody? Lisbon called me and said they desperately needed me." Jane rolled his eyes.

"In the conference room." Castle admitted.

"Why aren't you there? You work with the police too." Jane wondered.

"My wife kicked me out. I was being unruly,she said." Castle grinned.

"Sounds like a familiar occurrence for a me too." Jane admitted.

Soon, a skinny light brown haired man wearing a suit coat and vest came out. "Castle, you come back in. Beckett says it's okay." The man noticed Jane there. "Hi. Detective Kevin Ryan. You must be the FBI's consultant."

"Patrick Jane." Yes, indeed I am. Detective Ryan, you have a very good sense of style." Jane eyed the detective up and down noticing his attire. Detective Ryan looked at Jane's vest and jacket as well.

"Thanks."

Castle got up from the couch and headed towards the room with Ryan. Jane carefully picked up the carrier and went to Wylie.

"Wylie, would it be a problem to watch her?" Jane set the carrier with Lisby down.

"No. I'd love to, Jane." Wylie answered excitedly.

"You be good for Wylie now, Lisby."Jane told the baby, and then looked up at Wylie. "Thank you. I'll be in the conference room. You just watch her 'll take her to daycare when working on the case."

Jane immediately walked to the conference where he saw on the long table seated at front Cho and another woman, who he figured was head of the NYPD team and Castle's wife, he assumed. She appeared tough as nails like Lisbon as a leader and still was as an FBI agent. Along the side was Tork, Sanders, Lisbon, and an empty chair. The other side of the table was Esposito, whom he met in the elevator, Ryan, he just met and Castle. He took the empty chair besides Lisbon. She noticed him and whispered. "Where's the baby?"

"Wylie's watching her." Jane answered. Lisbon looked relieve and looked towards Beckett.

"So, you must be the FBI's consultant. Cho mentioned you. Patrick Jane right?" The woman announced noticing Jane coming in and taking a seat.

"The one and only." Jane responded grinning.

"I'm Detective Kate Beckett. I am the leader of this team here. Right now, I will get you up to date about the case." Beckett pointed to the team across the table from the FBI team. Castle grinned.

"Pleasure to meet you, detective." Jane answered.

"As I said in the bullpen, we have been investigating the X murders for a few months now. He has always struck the victims frequenting the same restaurant. It seems unusual he would strike another city and especially another state." Beckett described. "We wonder if there's more to the same restaurant that relates these victims." She pulled out a folder and took out the crime scene photos from the previous murders in New York and placed them on the table to pass around.

"Why would anybody want to do something like this? This is horrible." Lisbon looked closely at one of the pictures.

"They're just left there, like they don't mean anything." Jane looked at one of the photos of a woman. "All for the pleasure of killing." Seeing these photos reminded him too much of Red John and how he carefully cut open his victims and the image of Charlotte and Angela's bodies came to mind. He wasn't sure if he could handle this case, but he'd try.

"We've been asking that for months, Agent Lisbon. Serial killers tend to stick to the same MO and this person seems to carefully plan his kills. He's obviously very meticulous about it." Agent Beckett explained. "I'm sure the team here has dealt with serial killers." Beckett guessed. She knew that a big organization like this would have to deal with serial killers.

"Yes, 15 months ago we dealt with one by the name of Lazarus. He killed the victims and took their fingernails as souvenirs." Cho admitted explained plainly.

"And he had a weird obsession for blood and psychics, therefore he kidnapped me." Jane confessed. "Luckily, Lisbon came to the rescue." Jane said and grinned at Lisbon. It was a memorable time for him afterwards considering he proposed to Lisbon and arrested the man before they married. He would keep the memory forever seeing his Lisbon put the man at gunpoint along with the rest of the team in her wedding dress. Lazarus obviously wasn't the only serial killer, Cho, Lisbon and himself dealt with through the years, but he wasn't going to say anything about Red John. He was now a distant memory.

"So, yes, you are familiar with serial killers." Beckett stated seriously. "We will have to decide on assignments for everyone for the next few days, while we're here."

Jane observed Beckett. She seemed rather tense he could tell and he knew there was something in her past that made her determined to solve a case even perhaps another case. "You're scared, unsure of yourself on this case. I don't blame you. It's scary with serial killers." Jane read. He could feel Lisbon nudge him and kick him under the table.

Beckett and the rest of her team reacted in surprise. Beckett frowned at him. "I'm not, Mr. Jane. We can handle this."

"I apologize, Detective Beckett. He does this to people without notice all the time."Lisbon stated. "He really needs to control his impulsiveness." Lisbon growled and glared at Jane.

Then unfazed, Beckett decided to continue with the assignments for the case. She couldn't believe that Jane person would just cold read her like that when she was trying to lead a briefing. Did the FBI have no control over their consultant? She asked the same question about Castle when he first started following her. In the beginning, he started following her around like a puppy without realizing the danger he could get himself in. In the beginning she just thought of him as a cocky and self-centered author who had to be in the limelight. But over the years he became her friend, a useful asset to the team when solving cases and eventually they fell in love. Their partnership worked and he brought the fun side out of her. All her life she had been stuck married to her job. Even though she at first hated when he started investigating into her mother's case without her permission, it ended up helping her go further than she ever had before.

Beckett was going to get through this case and work with the FBI team here in Austin. It wasn't that she didn't like the team here; they all seemed like good agents. It was just hard to work and share authority with another team. She'd probably have to get used to having another consultant. They seemed to be used to him, as they didn't react to him reading her except Agent Lisbon apologizing for him. To her, it was surprising the FBI would have a consultant considering when she worked with the FBI in D.C. ,they were strict on rules and regulations and this Jane, she had a feeling didn't go by the rules. She started listing assignments to her team and the FBI team for the case. Cho had decided to combine the teams together with a agent and a detective working together. She finally dismissed the meeting along with Agent Cho.

Feedback is appreciated. I apologize if I don't get all the details from Castle exactly right, because I've watched The Mentalist longer and just started watching Castle recently. Hopefully I'm in character with the Castle characters as well. I've had this story started for quite a while and have been working on it alongside my story Our Life From Now On and I already have a few chapters to this one. I wanted to see how far I could go on it as I've noticed a lot of unfinished Mentalist/Castle stories.