This story takes place at the beginning of season 3. Everything up to that point remains the same. Kate broke up with Demming in order to express her feeling for Castle but before she does, she is interrupted by his ex-wife Gina. It is then revealed that they have started a relationship together again. They then part for the summer.

"In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule." – Friedrich Nietzsche

-Sometime in early July-

A mysterious figure appears in front of a large group of people. The room in which they are all located in very dark and dusty. It is an abandoned building in the Bronx. The crowd is deathly silent as the mysterious figure centers himself in front of them. His cold presence falls over the room causing goosebumps to appear on many of his guests.

"My… my… my…" He begins to walk around his home made stage. His shoes cause loud footsteps in the quiet room, sending chills up the spines of his crowd. "It saddens me to see so many of you here today." he pauses. "For whatever reason, you are all here because you have been hurt. Hurt by the very city in which you live."

Many of the guests begin to shift their eyes from one another, from the accountant to the teacher.

"Those who claim to have your best interests at heart have come and they have taken your families…., ruined your careers…., corrupted your friends against you…., crushed your very hopes and dreams…."

Many of the crowd began feel more at ease. Some shed a tear while other clenched their fists.

"I say, no longer. I say, we show these people that they cannot treat us this way. I say, that we show them that there is a price to be paid for the lives they have destroyed!" His voice grew louder and more ferocious.

The crowd began to get a little louder as members began to shout things like "Damn right!" or "Make them pay", a couple members clapped a couple times before he continued.

"You've all been following my letters. You've listened to my teachings. You have cheered and cried and now you will come together as a community…. We will have our revenge. We will turn this city against itself. We will show the people of New York City that when an abused puppy grows up, it bears the teeth and the hate that allows it to tear apart is abuser."

The crowd was on its' feet now. Some were cheering others stood in complete admiration the mysterious figure. One thing is for sure. There wasn't a single person in that abandoned building that disagreed with him. They knew his promises rang true.

"In two months' time, we will set our plan into action, and we will have our revenge!"

-September 2nd - 12th Precinct—

Kate Beckett stared at her phone just waiting for it to ring. When Castle had left in May, he said that he would return in the Fall. They knew that he had come back four days ago, but no one had heard from him. After the way that she had left things with him, her summer took a turn for the worse. The first month, she was train wreck. She envisioned Castle with Gina and it tore her apart. She was eventually able to move on. She had been on dates that turned into short relationships that were mostly physical. None of them lasted.

Esposito and Ryan were up to some shenanigans in the office again. It was a sight that made her giggle as Ryan had accidentally dropped an egg off his desk and it had landed on Esposito's Italian shoes (which he wore to the office in order to show off). Esposito chased after Ryan between desks, through rooms, and behind the investigation board. Kate had missed their goofing off. It wasn't as common an occurrence as it was when Castle was around.

After Esposito caught and punished Ryan to the appropriate extent he came over to Beckett's desk.

"Hey, I'm sure he'll call. You know Castle, he never does things exactly how you expect he would" Esposito said in a reassuring tone.

"That's just it Esposito." Beckett replied. "I do know Castle and you were right. There wasn't a reason for him to stay anymore."

"Kate…"

"Look, I don't want to talk about this, especially at work. Can we just focus on our latest case?"

"Yeah. Sure." Esposito paused for a second and then picked up a case file. "Caucasian. Female. Age 26. She was found with her neck crushed by a window. No prints on the window but we did find some interesting substances in her apartment."

"Alright, let's head down to the crime scene to investigate and have Ryan look up the usual suspects. A boyfriend, coworker, and let's see if we can find a drug connection here."

"Sounds good" Esposito ran over to his desk and grabbed his coat. He tapped Ryan on the shoulder and told him what Beckett had said.

Beckett pulled her gun out of her desk and holstered it. She grabbed her light leather jacket and strapped her badge onto her belt before grabbing the car keys. Suddenly, there was an enormous blasting sound coming from outside and the 12th Precinct shook throwing Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan to the floor.

-September 2nd – Richard Castle's Apartment-

Alexis and her father struck their replica lightsabers together and attempted to get an upper hand in the struggle.

"I sense great fear and hatred in you" Castle said in a goofy high pitched voice. "Search your feelings you know it to be true"

Alexis broke away from the struggle and jumped off of a chair to deal a high strike to her father's arm. In the spirit of the game they were playing he fell to the floor and his lightsaber rolled slightly away from him. Alexis held her lightsaber at Castle's throat as he froze for this would surely be his demise.

" You cannot defeat me," Alexis said dramatically. "for there is something that you do not know."

"I know it all!" Castle responded in a goofy, yet dramatic fashion. "You kidnapped my long lost daughter!"

"No… I am your daughter!"

"That's not true that's IMPOSSIBLE!"

Suddenly Martha walked down their stairs. "Will you two grow up already?"

Castle jumped up to meet her in the kitchen. "I'd like to see you make me."

"What are you? Five?"

Castle giggled "Try twenty-five"

"Try forty-two" Alexis chimed in. "Dad, are you sure you aren't going to call into the precinct? You really seemed to enjoy it there and after spending most of the summer alone in the Hamptons, it could be good for you to go back"

"Now Alexis" Castle said matter-of-factly, "Just because Gina left after the first couple of weeks doesn't mean I didn't have a good time. In fact, I think you are confusing my state of mind with how it would be if she had stayed."

Alexis laughed. "Seriously Dad…"

Castle sighed. "I just think that period of my life is done, pumpkin. I may call to see if I can catch up with some of them over a beer but I don't see myself going back."

"But…"

"No buts!" Castle turned his daughter toward the stairs. "Now go get your things ready for school."

Alexis ran up the stairs a little bit pouty but Castle knew she wasn't really serious about it. He walked over to his office and sat down at his desk. He flipped open his laptop to see if there was any news about his upcoming book "Naked Heat." He felt himself feeling a new kind of stress unknown to him before as he continued to write about the character he based on Beckett. He just had to accept the fact that he was moving on. There was nothing in his email about the book so he closed his laptop and picked up his coffee mug. He sighed as he looked into his expresso and remembered when he brought in the expresso machine for the Precinct. He was going to miss it. He stared out of his window, out to see the New York skyline when it happened. He dropped his expresso and the cup shattered into several pieces at his feet. The coffee went everywhere and began to burn his feet. He didn't notice at first but he wasn't standing there very long.

A loud blast sound happened and then shook the building slightly. He slipped as he ran to the kitchen. Alexis ran down the stairs clumsily screaming in terror.

"Alexis!" Castle shouted "Alexis! Are you alright?"

Alexis finally got to the bottom of the stairs and ran into her father's arms.

"What's happening Dad?" Alexis shouted as she began to hyperventilate.

Castle held his daughter close and her breathing began to slow down. His heartbeat, however, was beating extremely fast and it wasn't going down. It wouldn't slow down for a very long time after what he had seen…. He had just seen the top of the Chrysler building explode…

Hey. If you are reading this then thank you! I would love to hear what you think of the story thus far. I'm planning on diving more into the vulnerabilities of each of the characters. I'm also planning on going into a more linear storyline rather than a case by case type of deal.

If you would like to favorite or follow, I would greatly appreciate it and please drop me a review!