This one came to me when I was watching the second season episode When The Bough Breaks. I wondered what Castle would write if a magazine asked him to write a short piece about the NYPD. This is what I came up with. This takes place at the end, or just after, season 3. I hope you enjoy it. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Detective Kate Beckett walked into the precinct and saw everyone at their desks reading. She raised a brow I curiosity and walked over to Ryan and Esposito. They seemed to be engrossed in the same magazine everyone else was reading through. Castle, of course, was not in as he was on a trip to visit colleges with Alexis as the young teenager was graduating at 16 and would be off to college soon, much to Castle's consternation. She wouldn't be surprised if the man was sabotaging all the colleges they would be visiting in order to convince her to go to City College, or possibly Columbia.
"What's up guys?" she asked, hitching herself on the edge of Esposito's desk.
"You mean you don't know?" Ryan asked, dumbstruck that Beckett didn't know about this.
"Know what?" she demanded.
"Castle wrote a short piece for The New Yorker," Esposito explained. He shrugged. "I would have thought you knew all about it."
"Hand it over," Beckett ordered. "This is the first I've heard about this."
She took the magazine from Esposito and walked over to her desk, noting that the magazine was open to the page of the short article. There on the top and to the left of the page was a very good picture of Castle in a casual seated pose, a smile on his face. It was a casual, genuine smile, not his smart ass Playboy smile he used for publicity. This smile lent some credibility to the article before she'd even read it. Then she noted the title: A Few Thoughts On New York's Finest. Sitting down, she began reading the short piece.
Hey! Rick Castle here. I know you'd rather be reading a new Nikki Heat novel, or one of my other brilliant works from days gone by, but I needed to take a quick break from working hard to keep you entertained to pen some words on some people I feel deserve to be noticed and recognized. When this fine publication agreed to my request I leaped into action and began tapping away on my trusty laptop to get this little literary gem ready for you to read, digest, and take to heart.
Hardly a day goes by anymore when we don't hear the phrase New York's Finest bandied about, whether on a news report, a movie, or a television show. Maybe even in casual conversation with someone in line at the grocery store. But do we really know what it means? How much that simple phrase captures what we don't even notice every day around us? I for one am ashamed to say that while my admiration for the police in any city, county, or state is second to none, I never really understood what New York's Finest really meant. That is until I got the chance to begin working with a small group of them a couple of years ago as I began to work on a new series of novels with a new character, Nikki Heat.
Now you may wonder if I really work with these people, or just provide the comic relief. I often wondered that myself, and sometimes still do. But on several occasions they've told me, maybe in not so many words, that I contribute something to their endeavors. Pretty amazing considering the image that is commonly given me in the popular media, but it's true.
The people in the department that I spend time with helping are a special bunch. There are five of them that I wish to pay special tribute to, but first a comment. Just because I work with five of them the most doesn't mean that I haven't taken the time to observe a great many more on the force. All of them have exhibited the qualities that make the five I speak of the best there is.
The leader of this intrepid bunch is a long time police officer, Captain Roy Montgomery. He is the commander of the 12th Precinct. He is what a leader is supposed to be. Someone who knows when to let his subordinates do their jobs, and when to interject with some guidance. He understands that you don't command your subordinates, you lead them. I'm not sure I ever really understood the distinction until I met him, but believe me, it's a crucial distinction. He is what every officer and detective should aspire to in their careers.
There are two detectives that I find difficult to think of in any other context than as a pair. Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan. My buds, my bros, my good friends. They work hard and make coming in to the precinct a delight as I know that no matter what is going on, good or bad, it will work out right just because they are on the case. I don't think I've ever been prouder than when an injured Esposito told an officer on the scene that I was his partner. Ryan has echoed that comment as well.
One person who you wouldn't think part of the group, but is integral to the success of this bunch, is Dr. Lanie Parrish. She is a dedicated, extremely knowledgeable, and very professional Medical Examiner. Without her input, giving the detectives the detailed pieces of the puzzle, the solve rate of the precinct wouldn't be nearly so exceptional. She is also a dear friend who cares about those around her and is always ready with a witty comment, or a shoulder to lean on.
Finally we come to the person who has had the most profound influence on me. Detective Kate Beckett. I will be perfectly candid and say that when I first met this no nonsense detective I was taken by her ability, as well as her beauty. Almost instantly I was captivated and knew I had found my new lead character since I killed off Derrick Storm. But what started out as shadowing her in order to gain some genuine insight into my new character, Nikki Heat (which, despite her protests to the contrary, is not a stripper name), gradually became a desire to work with this amazing woman. Before I know it she became my best friend, and a person who I rely on to keep me grounded in reality. She is also an extremely dedicated professional who wants to make sure that the people who commit such horrid crimes face justice, and the families of the victims get some measure of closure.
The five people I just commented on are what to me epitomizes the phrase New York's Finest. They give the city their all, and ask nothing in return outside of their paycheck. I have yet to meet an average cop on the beat who doesn't have all of the same qualities, some hidden for the moment, that are just waiting to be utilized. I can honestly say that the police force of the city which brings out these qualities through the training, leadership, and opportunities for advancement, deserves, and has earned the right, to have their officers known as New York's Finest. It is my humble privilege to be associated with these fine people, and I hope to continue to be associated with them for a long time to come. At the very least, I know I have made some life long friends. I can say this with certainty, though. New York's Finest will always have a friend in Rick Castle. I sincerely hope that the same can be said by you with respect to these wonderful people.
Kate put down the magazine and looked up at Esposito and Ryan. She was about to cry, but held in the tears, barely. Not many glowing reviews made the press when it came to the police, but Rick Castle had done it again and proved that anything was possible. She noticed Montgomery and Lanie coming over.
"Girlfriend, if I wasn't already involved with Javier, here, I'd jump that mans bones the second he gets back from his trip," Lanie said, the magazine in her hands.
"I just got off the phone with the Commissioner and the Mayor," Montgomery said, a grin on his face. "They had no clue Castle was going to be doing this."
"We're going to give the man a party when he gets back," Ryan declared. Esposito nodded in full agreement, like everyone else.
"The question is, are you going to do anything about him?" Lanie asked, knowing that everyone would know she was talking about the personal situation between Castle and Beckett.
Kate smiled, and pulled her hand out of her pocket where she had retrieved something a bit awkwardly. She held up her hand which had a diamond engagement ring on her left ring finger. "Who says I haven't already?" she asked, a smile on her face at the dumbstruck expressions on their faces. She and Castle had been secretly dating for four months since she broke it off with Josh, and just before he'd left on his trip with Alexis he'd proposed. Naturally she'd said yes, as she'd come to realize he was truly her one and done. As everyone rushed to see the ring, and keep Lanie from screaming her head off from excitement, she began planning a special welcome home to the man who had written such a beautiful article. She honestly hadn't known he'd written it. That's what made it all the more special for her and, she knew, for everyone else. With a wide smile she walked away from everyone to go and work on her plans. The last thing she heard was Lanie's loud shout "We are going to talk about this, Girlfriend!"
A/N: Not too long, but a chance to look a little bit at Castle's feelings about the NYPD, and his five friends in particular. I hope you enjoyed this one. Gregg.