I published this before but cleaned up some errors and broke it into chapters. I'm anxious to see how this compares to the real episode with Slaughter! Don't forget to review.


Beckett grabbed her vibrating phone. She was only on it a few seconds before she called out, "Hey guys, we got a body." Esposito, Ryan, and Castle were all huddled around Esposito's desk presumably working on a case. All 3 looked up simultaneously. "Come on, let's go!" she prodded. They all broke into a light jog to get to the elevator before she left without them.

It'd been weird between her and Castle for more than a week and she didn't understand it. He still cracked jokes but there wasn't the usual twinkle in his eyes. She didn't know how many times she had asked him if everything was all right or if anything was wrong. According to him things were 'never better'. She'd wracked her brain for what she might have done to upset him, but she couldn't figure it out. The Takeover bombing case really got to him, but it was something more than that. Now she was getting annoyed by all of it. It was making the whole dynamic of the team a little weird too.

In the car, Castle rambled on about something he had read in the paper that morning. He used to talk about things that Alexis was doing or some crazy thing that his mother had planned, but he rarely spoke about them anymore.

They finally arrived at the crime scene. Lanie was already there. "Hey Lanie, what do we have?" Kate said.

"You know I just got here don't you?" Lanie glanced up at Kate with mild annoyance, but she continued. "We have a young black male with multiple GSW to the chest. I don't know a lot more right now." Lanie continued with her preliminary exam.

After a few minutes, Ryan walked up and said that he found a witness that said it was a drive by shooting. The car description was pretty sketchy and they didn't see the shooters at all.

Then a black car drove up. Esposito's eyes narrowed and he said, "Look what the cat dragged in…."

"What?" Castle said recognizing the distaste in Espo's voice.

"Gang unit," Esposito replied. "They're trouble." Castle thinks this could get interesting.

Beckett steps forward, "What are you doing here, Slaughter?"

"Got a tip," Slaughter replied with a slight shrug. He glanced around, "Who we got here?"

"This is Detectives Esposito and Ryan," Beckett said with a wave of her hand. Slaughter threw them a dismissive nod. "And this is Richard Castle," she continued, nodding in Castle's direction. A spark of recognition flashed in Slaughter's eyes. "Hey, aren't you that writer guy?" he asked.

"Yes," Castle replied, obviously pleased to be recognized. Castle stepped forward to shake his hand and Slaughter stepped forward to meet him. Castle realized then just what a big man Slaughter was. Castle was tall. It was rare for him to have to look up to meet someone's eyes, but he found himself looking up at Slaughter. He was intimidating to say the least. He was well built with at least a couple of day's worth of scruff on his face. He was wearing jeans, a rust colored T-shirt, and black leather jacket. There was a hardness to him that matched his gruff voice. He looked tougher than a lot of the criminals they took down.

"So do you like the Nikki Heat books?" Castle asked.

"No, I haven't read any of your books." Slaughter answered.

Castle looked puzzled, "Well, then…,"

"Oh, some of us at the precinct have been following your activities." Slaughter said with a sly smile. "Matter of fact, we got a pool going as to how you are going to die." Castle's shocked expression was priceless. "Yeah, we heard that you were nearly frozen to death, and almost died in an explosion, and almost drowned." Beckett could feel her cheeks heating up. She hadn't really thought about how many times Castle had almost died on her watch. "But my favorite," Slaughter continued almost gleefully, "was when you were nearly eaten by a tiger! Did I miss any?" Slaughter didn't wait for an answer. He strode over to the body.

"Hey, Parish" he said squatting down next to the M.E.

"Hey yourself, Ethan. This could be one of your boys. Looks like gang tattoos." She pointed to the tattoo on the boy's neck. "He took several to the chest. Driver's license says his name is Treshaen Martin, 18 years old." Lanie shook her head slightly never understanding why kids had to cross her autopsy table just when their lives should be starting.

Slaughter's jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. He looked at Lanie. "I know him. He wasn't really a bad kid. Just in bad circumstances."

Ethan straightened up and faced Beckett. "Looks like this is my case." It wasn't a suggestion. He almost seemed to be daring Beckett to argue with him.

Beckett's lips parted as she was about to protest, but she remembered the 2 murders they were already working on and this certainly seemed to be gang related, "For once I think I agree with you." Beckett conceded. "We're done here." She motioned for her crew to follow her. They all turned to leave.

"Hey, Castle!" Slaughter yelled. "Wanna see how real cops operate?"

Castle turned around, eyes wide with excitement, "Really?"

"Hell yeah. Meet me tomorrow morning at the precinct." Slaughter smiled.

"Yeah, right. See you…tomorrow." Castle could barely contain his excitement.

He turned back around to Beckett and the boys. "Isn't that awesome!"

"I don't think it's a good idea, bro" Esposito responded. "I'm telling you he's trouble."

"What?" Castle couldn't believe they weren't happy for him.

Beckett stepped in front of Castle. He could see the concern in her eyes. "Castle, really you don't want to mess with this guy. He's not like the cops you've been around."

"You mean he's dirty?" Castle asked.

Beckett shook her head. "No, I'm not saying that, but he makes his own rules. And you don't exactly fit into the seamier side of town," she said looking him over. Castle glanced down at his clothes. "You may have a point there but I can dress down and be a little more streetwise."

"Castle, I really don't want you to do this. I don't think it's safe." Castle could see the sincerity in her eyes, but he couldn't help giving her a jab. "Well, apparently I'm not that safe on your team." Beckett looked like he had stabbed her and she quickly averted her eyes. Castle instantly regretted saying it. He softened his voice, "Don't worry. I'll be OK." She glanced up at his softened tone and saw the spark in his eyes that she hadn't seen for quite a while. Maybe she was over-reacting. Maybe this is what he needed to get him out of the funk he's been in. Maybe, maybe, it seemed like she was constantly playing the maybe game. She sighed, "Have it your way, Castle."

Castle went home that night feeling better than he had in a while. He had something to look forward to. He hated to admit that his mother was right, but he was discovering that he really couldn't work with Beckett any more. He felt like he was dying a little every day. Most of his jokes were zingers devoid of humor. He knew he was making Beckett miserable. Part of him felt like she deserved it but mostly he felt bad about what a jerk he'd been. He just hurt so much he couldn't stop himself. He knew in his heart that for whatever reason she had lied to him, it certainly wasn't meant to hurt him.

Most nights he couldn't face Alexis and his mother. He was too transparent to them. It was too exhausting to try to put on a happy face for them. He'd been hitting the bars every night, drinking and picking up women. The drinking was to dull the pain and the women were to distract his mind. A few times he got really lucky and met a woman that had a good sense of humor and was interesting. He never took any of them home. He just wanted a few hours of distracting conversation that would take his thoughts away from Beckett. He would get home after Alexis and Martha were in bed and just crash, catching a few hours of ragged sleep before he dragged himself back to the precinct. He knew he was often bleary eyed and unshaven. He just didn't care much any more.

Tonight he was home in time for supper. "Richard, I must say you seem to be in a good mood tonight," Martha observed approvingly. Castle knew she wanted to ask questions but was showing remarkable restraint so far.

"Well Mother, we're starting a new case tomorrow and I think it will be very interesting. I don't have many details yet, but I'm really looking forward to it." Castle managed a slight smile. He didn't want to tell her he was going off with the gang unit. He was afraid that would worry her so the fewer the details the better. That night was the most normal night they had had as a family in a while.

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