A Charmed Murder

By ChrisPerryRyan11 co-written with

A Charmed/Castle Crossover

Set 16 years after Charmed finale and mid season 5 of Castle, AU between Disciple and Under Fire

Chapter 1: Murder, he wrote... again.

"Beckett!" Castle's startled holler comes from the front of his apartment.

"Castle! Castle what is it?" Beckett's voice responds from the bathroom.

"Uh, dead lady on our doorstep," replies Castle.

"What? Again? Castle, are you serious?" Beckett's voice is disbelieving.

"Yep, and what do you mean again?" Castle replies as he hears Beckett dial the phone.

"Remember, The Hamptons?"

"Oh, yeah, that was a dude and he fell in the pool," says Castle.

Moments pass before Beckett replies, coming out of the bathroom with her work clothes on. "Okay. Well, dead guys aside I called Espo and he called Ryan. They're on their way over."

"Right, you have actual clothes on so you get to babysit the body. I'll go start the coffee," says Castle sliding back into his apartment, hugging his robe tight to his body with a shiver.

"Fine," relents Beckett, stepping into the hall. "Oh, and Castle, don't start breakfast. You know what Esposito can be like," Castle smiles knowing all too well about the Hispanic detective's eating habits.

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Lanie Parish shuffles into her kitchen to find an empty coffee pot and a ringing phone.

"Call from Javier Esposito," intones the ringing device.

"Javier, you need to get a life and let the rest of us enjoy our weekends," grumbles Lanie picking up the phone. "Javi, you do know what time it is, correct?"

"Yes, but-"

"Then why are you callin' me?"

"Beckett and Castle called."

Lanie sighs. "Let me guess, there's been a murder, right?"

"Yeah."

"What's the address?"

"It's Castle's apartment."

"Seriously?" A confirming grunt. "Alright, I'll be right over," Lanie hangs up and starts getting ready. "All I can say is: there better be coffee."

"Got it. Pick me up in five minutes."

"No problem, bro."

"Thanks Javi," says Ryan and hangs up his phone.

Besides him Jenny roles over to face him. "Hey beautiful, sorry I woke you. Go Back to sleep."

"Kevin, what's going on? Why are you up?" Jenny murmurs, her voice slurred with sleep.

"Sweetie, I gotta go. Javier called, it's Castle and Beckett," whispers Ryan, kissing Jenny's forehead.

"For their sakes I hope they have plenty of coffee," murmurs Jenny, already half asleep.

A few minutes later Espo pulls up and the Irishman casts a longing glance at his warm, dark home.

"Morning, Javi!" Ryan says, somewhat tiredly but still upbeat.

Espo sends him a glare that could melt ice. "You are Way too perky. Get in," Ryan gets in the passenger seat and Espo pulls away. "Remind me to kill Castle and Beckett when we get there."

"Castle! They're here! Oh, hi, Lanie."

"Don't you, 'Hi, Lanie' me. Where's the coffee?"

"Coming right up," says Castle, carrying four steaming mugs of coffee.

"Thank you Lord," says Lanie, accepting the mug.

"Lord is a little formal; you can call me Castle," responds Castle. Lanie glares at him over the top of her mug and he shrinks away.

"Yo, Castle, when's breakfast around here?" Espo asks after receiving his coffee.

"Nice try, Esposito," says Beckett with a sly smile at Castle while accepting her mug.

"So how's life, Castle? Mine's good, thanks for asking. I mean, other than the fact that people think they can call you in at 6am on a Saturday," mutters Ryan into his mug.

"What was that, Ryan?" Beckett asks.

"Nothin'. Hey so, that the body outside?"

"Yeah, we should probably go have a look," replies Beckett. "Ryan, Espo do a canvas of the building. Start with this floor, ask around, then check let's say two floors down, then continue with people near the elevators and stairs on the rest of the floors. Lanie, I'll take you to the body, Castle try to control traffic on this floor, not that there will be much."

"That's because it's 6am on a Saturday," mutters Ryan again, draining his coffee.

"Mmm," grunts Espo in agreement. He also drains his mug.

Several slammed doors, two rather unpleasant responses, a few dozen curses and two floors later. "Yo, tell me you got somethin' better than I did, bro," says Espo joining Ryan on the couch located on the first floor.

Ryan shakes his head. "For The City that Never Sleeps, the New Yorkers in this building are Not morning people."

Espo chuckles. "You got that right, bro. And I thought Lanie was bad without coffee."

"Did you find out anything useful from the canvas?" Beckett asks coming up behind them.

"No, not really," replies Espo. "Nobody on your floor or two floors below heard or saw anything."

"Ryan, did you do any better by the stairs and elevators?"

"Not exactly, but several people didn't wake up so I left a note," replies Ryan. "I figured Uni's could recanvas later after we have an ID."

"Espo, what did you do if people didn't answer?"

"Well you see, I can be very persuasive...," he starts.

"Meaning he just banged and yelled until someone answered," finishes Ryan.

"Well, that aside Lanie's done with the body, she's called in two of her interns to help get her back to the morgue. So, after that's done we'll need to work on an ID," explains Beckett.

"You mean she didn't have any ID on her?"

"That's what I'm saying; no ID in her wallet and no noticeable dental work. Lanie's going to try for DNA. She had this necklace in her pocket, three interlocking arcs with a circle," Beckett displays an evidence bag. "She also had that same symbol tattooed on her shoulder. Do either of you recognize it?"

"Wait, you mean Castle didn't?" Espo says exchanging a surprised glance with Ryan, who is staring at the necklace. "Bro, you're staring. What's up?"

"Huh? Oh, well, Castle may not recognize that symbol but I sure do," replies Ryan, his face a few shades paler than usual.

-/Opening Credits (see youtube)\-