Edited: May 4, 2012.

Thank you, LittleLizzieZentara. She helped me with all the edits for this chapter. It's quite shocking the differences between my writing style then, a year ago, and now.


Those Meddling Newbies

Chapter 1

"Beckett!" The new captain yelled from his office. Beckett hopped up and walked over to his office.

"Yes, Sir?"

"You don't have a case?"

"No sir." Beckett liked the new captain. He was friendly, a good boss. And he let Castle stay. Beckett knew that was the main reason for liking him, but she would never admit that.

"You're still on restricted field work," He said not looking up from his paper work. "and I don't plan on changing that for a while."

Beckett's face fell, almost comically. "But sir…"

"No, Beckett. You were shot in the stomach. You can't do field work." His tone stern, yet caring, still grated Beckett's nerves.

He almost reminded her of Montgomery. Mentally shaking herself, she hurriedly thought about what her former captain had done.

"Can I go then?" Beckett asked snippily.

"No, not why I call you in." He looked up. "You have the best record in the 12th."

"Yes, sir." Beckett responded automatically. She had become accustomed to people discussing her record and they often were curious less about her team, but more about the famous novelist that worked along side them.

"I want you to train a newbie."

Waves of shock and annoyance rushed through Beckett. Training newbies? That was for cops that were almost retired. Not her, definitely not her. "Really sir?"

"Yes really." He looked at her annoyed expression. "They can be like your assistants. If one doesn't work out, we'll just get a different one," Beckett held back a scoffing cough. He said it as if it would make it all better. "Now go finish your paperwork." He did the shooing hand motion.

Beckett walked out, stalking away exasperatedly, forcing herself not to use one of her usual retorts. She pulled the door roughly behind her and it gave a satisfying slam behind her.

"Beckett, what's up?" Esposito asked, looking up from his paperwork at the slam of the door.

"Captain is having me train people." Beckett said with obvious distaste.

"Oh! Suck's for you!" Ryan received a glare from Esposito. "Right. Doesn't suck for you…" Watching Beckett's deadly glare carefully, Ryan, wisely, chose not to finish his sentence.

"Bro, shut up while you're up." He glared at Ryan again. "Why?"

"Cause I'm not supposed to be doing field work. Probably punishment from last week." Beckett sighed and ran a long fingered hand through her hair.

Esposito nodded slowly. Beckett had gone out in the field last week, shot the suspect and almost got shot her self.

"Ah, it's only a week right?"

"No Ryan it's for however long he chooses."

"Hmm." Esposito thought long and hard looking for a loophole.

"Uggh! When did I become the babysitter? First Castle, now this…." Beckett threw her arms up.

"Well, Detective, if that's how you think of me…" Castle's presence was announced by his mockingly hurt voice, and when Beckett turned, the equally fake hurt expression on his face. "I'll give your coffee to one of these lucky gentlemen." Castle, tauntingly, moved his hand and the coffee cup to the two male detectives. Beckett's eyes narrowed as her usual caffeine fix moved away.

Grabbing her coffee from Castle, a wicked glint in her eyes, she brushed past Castle and whispered in his ear, "Careful now. Don't feed the animals." She continued on her way to the break room. Halfway there, she turned over her shoulder and added, "By the way, Castle, I have to help train newbies."

"Bad?" Castle mouthed.

"Oh yes bro, oh yes." Esposito responded. Castle scurried off to the break room.

Castle appeared at Beckett's elbow, like always. "When does your 2nd shadow get here?"

"I think 10 minutes." Castle raised an eyebrow at her irritation, a look of pure glee scrawled across her face, "This sucks!"

"Could be worse." The previous look of glee was wiped off his face by a sharp glare from the woman standing next to him.

"Really, Castle, Really, how?"

"It could be my evil twin." He smiled evilly.

"Really? I thought you were the evil twin."

"Ouch! Detective! That hurt!" She rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Castle. I have paper work." They walked out of the break room.

"Beckett!" The captain yelled from the elevator. "Over here!" She walked over quickly. Castle tried to slink away, but Beckett grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him over.

"Oh no, writer boy. You're coming with me."

Castle mouthed 'help!' to the boys but they were both cracking up at the look on his face. It was one of utter terror.

"Come on Castle. Man up." Beckett hissed as they approached the Captain.

"Beckett, Castle. Meet your new team member. Becca Madison." He said, indicating the tall red head by his side.

The first words out of her mouth were 'This is boring'. Beckett suppressed an eyeroll and a sigh. This was going to work out great, Beckett thought.

"Hello to you too." Beckett smiled grudgingly. "Detective Kate Beckett." She stuck out her hand, but Becca just stared at the hand in disgust.

"Hey, I'm Richard Castle." He waved, trying to break the awkward silence. She stared blankly at him. Castle's face fell absurdly fast; Beckett pressed her lips together to prevent a smile from escaping.

"Okay, I have paperwork… to do… over there." The captain scurried away. As an after thought he yelled over his shoulder, "Have fun!"

"Why don't we go meet the rest of my team," Beckett somewhat ordered through gritted teeth. Becca nodded and stalked off after Beckett who had stormed off. "Ryan! Esposito!"

They snapped up quickly, both yelling. "Yes, Beckett?"

"This is Becca Madison." Beckett introduced sarcastically with a flourish of her arm. "Detective Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito." Becca nodded at Ryan, but smiled wickedly at Esposito. He smiled uncertainly back.

"Hey handsome." Becca purred at Esposito.

"Um—hi?"

"Madison, you'll be here." Beckett pointed to the small desk that had been set up. Becca sat down still staring at Esposito.

The day dragged on, never seeming to end. The bullpen was filled with the scraping of pens against paper, reports for Beckett, Madison and the boys, and Nikki Heat for Castle. Beckett was becoming extremely frustrated with the newbie, who had to have every little thing explain, re explained, and then explained again.

Finally, Beckett said, "Well, time to go." With a groan, she stood up and piled her reports together.

"Beckett, Ryan, Esposito, Old Haunt?" Castle suggested with the ever-familiar waggle of his eyebrows.

"See ya there, bro!" Ryan said. "I'm gonna pick up Jenny." He walked to the elevator and bumped into Lanie who had just arrived, probably to see Esposito, "Hey Lanie."

Back at the bullpen, Becca was moving in on Esposito. Moving in like an extremely clumsy tiger or cheetah. "Hey, hot stuff. Where's this old haunt place?"

"Um no." He scooted away from her. Then she grabbed him around neck and kissed him ferociously. Esposito's eyes widened and he tried to push her away.

Then Lanie yelled, breaking the two apart. "Javi! What the hell is going on?"

Esposito finally broke free, scrambling to get away from Becca.

"Lanie. I didn't I don't…" He trailed off seeing the tears in her eyes. "Chica. Babe, I love you."

"Castle take Esposito to the Old Haunt, we are going to have a little chat.," Beckett whispered to Castle.

"Aw, but I wanna see a chick fight," He moaned like a 9-year old.

"No."

"Video tape."

"No." She raised an eyebrow.

"Come on."

"Castle, I said no."

"But…"

"No." Castle opened his mouth to retort but Beckett cut him off. "You. Take. Esposito. Away. Now." Every time she said a word she poked his shoulder.

"I'm going." He moaned massaging his shoulder. "Esposito, let's go." Castle grabbed his shoulder. "Man, come on. Beckett and Lanie are dealing with it."

"I don't know…"

"Bro, we're gonna watch, then run like hell out of here." Castle grinned devilishly.

"Fine bro. But I'm not gonna arrest Beckett when she kills ya." Writer and cop both took off, not wanting to be in the line of fire when the Lanie-Beckett explosion hit.

"Lanie. I might have to arrest you if you kill her." Beckett mumbled to Lanie.

"I don't want to kill her, just maim or seriously injure her." Then both women turned to the ditsy girl in front of them.

Beckett switched into interrogation mode. "Sit down." Becca sat. "What's your problem?"

"Hmm, what's yours?" She snapped back.

"I'm gonna kill ya." Lanie had lost it. Beckett put a restraining hand on her. "That was my boy."

"So…?" Becca asked dazedly.

"Kate. Can I hit her, now?" Lanie whined.

Meanwhile, Castle and Esposito had decided to tell the captain. "Um, sir. That newbie is having some problems." Esposito said as quickly as possible as he heard Lanie asking to hit her.

"What sort of problems?"

"You might want to see for yourself." Esposito pointed to the girls.

"Ah, I see. Come on time to save her butt." The captain walked out with Castle and Esposito trailing nervously behind. They knew Beckett and Lanie separately were forces to be reckoned with when they were pissed, but together would likely result in very bad things for them.

"I don't know what I did." The red head said blankly. "But I think you two are completely nuts."

"Did she just say what I thought she said?" Castle wondered out loud. Esposito sniggered.

"Ladies! Can we settle this civilly?"

"Well, captain, I was just trying to teach Miss. Madison here about some things that are less then optimal here. She just…"

"Whatever Beckett. I'll get you a new one tomorrow. You four leave. I'll have a quick word with Becca." He shooed them away. Beckett grabbed her coat and they quickly got out of there and into the elevator.

"Castle…." Beckett growled. He gulped.

"Esposito!" He squealed.

"Sorry bro."

"Please, just make sure my mother and Alexis know that I love them." He whimpered. Then Beckett pulled his finger back, hard, until he cried uncle or apples in his case.

"Ok, I'm done."

"Really?" He waved a hand in front of his face. "Oh my god!" He squealed like a 12 year old.

"Don't push it, writer boy…" Lanie warned. The doors dinged open.

"Saved by the ding!" Castle sang happily. Beckett rolled her eyes to the ceiling. Castle booked out of there at record speed. "See you at the Old Haunt!"

"Chica, I'll get the car." Esposito walked out.

"Can I ride with you?" Beckett asked the couple.

"Sure, why?" Esposito nodded as they walked to the parking lot.

"My car broke."

"Hmmm. Girl, what is your problem?"

Beckett cocked her head to one side. "What?"

"Writer boy! Or course."

"Still confused."

"Girl, you are so in love with him!"

"No." Beckett denied quickly.

"See! Ha! You totally like him."

"No, I don't…"

"Hey. We going?" Esposito had pulled up.

"Yeah babe. Kate's coming with us." The drive to the Old Haunt was quick and quiet. They got out quickly and walked into the virtually empty bar. Ryan and Jenny were seated at the bar, while Castle stood behind the bar making drinks.

"Where were you guys?" Ryan asked.

"Just clearing some stuff up." Beckett said, elbowing Esposito who was about to say something. Ryan looked at Esposito imploringly. He mouthed later. "Castle?" He quickly handed her a drink. They all joked around for about an hour then people started to trickle out, until only Castle and Beckett were left.

"So… you have a ride?" Castle asked.

"Nah, I'll just call a cab." She said averting her eyes.

"Hey. I'll take you home."

"NO."

"Sheesh. Fine, still taking you home." He walked around the bar and came up behind her and began tickling her.

"CASTLE!" She kept giggling. "If you don't stop, I will shoot you!" He backed off.

"Well, you're still coming in my car."

"Fine! Just to make you shut up!" Beckett rolled her eyes at the slaphappy grin on her partner's face.

"Yay!" She pinched his arm. "Ow!"

"Are we gonna go? Cause I can think of a million things I would rather be doing right now.

"Alright. Let me just lock up." Castle scurried off to turn off everything. He came back quickly. "Okidokee. Let's go." Beckett walked out as Castle locked the door. "Right this way milady." Castle opened the passenger side door for Beckett. She raised an eyebrow. Beckett got in the car. Castle sprinted around to the other side.

"Just drop me off at my place."

"Kay." Castle started the engine and started to drive. They had been driving for about a minute. "Oh my god! I'm driving! Ha! You never let me drive!" Beckett rolled her eyes again at his childish behavior.

"Whatever, Castle."

"So what do think your next newbie will be like? A vampire? Wizard?"

"Really? How about a normal person?"

"Aw… Beckett. How uncreative!" They continued to argue about who/what would be the newbie. "Oh, it's your place."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow." She hopped out, quickly. Castle drove away and was at his place in 5 minutes. He spent the whole time thinking about one NYPD detective.

When he came home he found Alexis lying on the couch with a physics book. Castle walked over to his little girl and lifted the book off her face. Her eyes were closed and a small smile plastered across her face. "Alexis. Lexs. Sweetie." Her eyes opened slowly.

"Hey dad." She said slowly.

"It's midnight. Why are you still studying?"

"I dunno." Castle smiled at his overly studious daughter and her need to constantly study.

"Hmmm. You work too much." He tapped her nose as he said you.

"Sure."

"Hey. You want to watch something on TV?"

"Dad…."

"No. You have break starting tomorrow so… you can stay up."

Alexis pouted slightly, then smiled. "So what are we watching?"

"Well, you see your most wonderful father got something this morning." He picked up a target bag. He pulled a DVD case out. "I got…. Drum roll, please." Alexis tapped the table. "Phineas and Ferb Season 2."

"Cool. I'll put it in." Alexis stuck the DVD into the player, then ran back and jumped right next to her dad. They both settled in as the credits started.


I hope you liked it. Please leave a review, it would be greatly appreciated.

E