Summary: "CIA's a popular theory with you." "Yes, well, law of averages demands that I'll eventually be right." - Beckett and Castle, from Castle, "A Deadly Affair", 3.01.

The story starts as a mystery, adds some action and drama, evolves into a comedy, and mixes in a little angst and romance. All of the principals are featured, including nine regular cast members from the two shows. Alas, Big Mike, Jeffster, the Dr. Woodcombs, Clara, Alex, and Beckman from Chuck as well as Montgomery, Alexis, and Martha from Castle get left out. Some get shout outs, though.

This story is set about a week after Castle's "Countdown", 3.17, and between "Chuck vs. the Masquerade", 4.16, and "Chuck vs. the First Bank of Evil", 4.17.

This story won a Third Annual Awesome Award! The Agent Bryce Larkin Memorial Award for Best Crossover Story. Thanks to everyone who nominated and voted for it.

Disclaimer: Nobody else owns anything here, so why would I?

Disclaimer 2: No beta. Why would I sucker/obligate/subject anyone into reading this when they didn't want to?

23 Feb 2011

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Chapter 1 - Ninjas

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Detective Kate Beckett calmly stepped out of her car spying her... partner... Rick Castle in front of the three-story walk-up residence in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She tried to contain a small smile as he saw him rocking on his toes, about to come out of his skin.

Sometimes she wondered why she put up with this guy.

No.

She didn't wonder. She knew the many reasons she 'put up' with him. He made her smile. He was helpful as a partner—more helpful than she was willing to admit. He was always supportive—well maybe not always, but he was supportive when she needed it most. He might not be her best friend, but somehow he had become her most trusted friend. And of course, he was the man she was in...

No.

She wasn't going there.

"What's this about, Castle?" Beckett asked with her usual slight hint of irritation mixed with amusement.

"Hello to you, too, Detective. How are you this evening?" Castle teased, waiting for a response. When all he got was a glare, he continued, "This place was just robbed...by ninjas!"

The amusement was gone, leaving only irritation. Beckett started to turn back to her car, so she could return home where she would now have to refill the hot water in the bath tub she had abandoned.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hear me out."

Beckett stopped. She wasn't really going to leave, but she would have to put up a front so maybe Castle would think twice before pulling a stunt like this again. Holding the bridge of her nose she sighed, "Ok, you have one minute."

Castle inhaled deeply and quickly expounded his story. "I got a call from Paula. Since she's in charge of my publicity, she also oversees the Richard Castle website. One of the moderators for the forum sent her an alert about one of the posts. You see, ever since we've had some cases with stalkers and with copy-cats of my books, we've asked the forum moderators to keep an eye out for troubling and suspicious posts."

"You pay people to sit around and watch your fan site?"

"Pay, no. They're just really dedicated fans. I did send them an autographed copy of Naked Heat the same time it went to reviewers."

"That's more than I got."

"Hey! I dedicated the book to you again. I would have you know, Alexis is the only other person to get more than one book dedication from me."

Beckett subtly lowered her hand from her forehead to cover the smile she was having a hard time holding in. Despite his antics, Castle really did make her job more fun, and he was frequently really sweet. "What was the message?"

"Right. Someone was walking down the sidewalk on the other side of the street and saw two shadows jump from that building to this one."

"So of course you conclude ninjas," Beckett smirked.

"No, that's what the fan posted on my forum. Don't worry. We'll get you the fan's contact information as soon as our computer guy can look it up."

"Sounds like an overactive imagination to me. Besides, I'm a homicide detective. I no longer do patrols or investigate home invasions. Your fan should have called 9-1-1, or Paula should have called them. Speaking of which, why did you call me?"

"Well, some people think 9-1-1 is so 1968, so they use text messaging instead. Misguided, I know. But what can we do? I called you because the last several times I showed up at a crime scene without calling you first, you either arrested me and or kicked me off the case. But wait. I haven't gotten to the best part." Castle paused for dramatic effect, grinning at his increasingly annoyed partner. "After posting with her cell phone about the ninja's, the fan hung around to see what would happen. A couple minutes later, she heard several machine gun shots. At that point, she ran off."

Beckett's humored expression suddenly became very serious as she drew her gun. Castle eyes widened. "I think the place is clear. All of these posts were over a half hour ago."

"Better to play it safe. Castle, please get in my car. I'm calling for back-up."

"I already called Ryan and Esposito."

Almost on cue, another car pulled up. Detectives Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito exited the driver side doors. Esposito looked a little irritated. "You realize we were on a date, Castle." A quick glance in the car revealed Ryan's fiancée, Jenny O'Malley, and Javier's girlfriend, medical examiner Dr. Lanie Parrish, in the passenger side seats. The detectives froze when they saw Beckett's drawn weapon.

Beckett took charge. "We have a possible 10-31 with reports of automatic weapons fire. It's been quiet for the last few minutes, maybe half hour." The three detectives quickly retrieved handguns and vests from their respective vehicle trunks. Esposito grabbed a shotgun, and Ryan called for additional back-up. Locked and loaded, they ascended the porch and entered the house.

Castle decided to join the ladies in Esposito's car to keep his mind off the assault that was about to happen. That was a mistake. Lanie was annoyed her date had been interrupted and was taking it out on Castle with a ferocious glare. Meanwhile, Jenny was shaking slightly. It was one thing knowing you're engaged to a cop. It was another seeing him armed for battle. Castle realized that in his current position, he seemed like one of the womenfolk, waiting for the husbands to return from the battle. It was times like this that he wished Beckett let him wear his 'writer' bullet proof vest more often. At least she didn't handcuff him to the steering wheel this time.

From the car, the bystanders heard one bang from an interior door being bashed in, but no gunfire followed. After a couple of tense moments, Beckett called on the radio. "It's all clear. Ryan's coming out to take Jenny home. Lanie and Castle, could you please come in? I'm calling dispatch. We're going to need CSU and a whole lot of ambulances."