A/N: I suppose this is my way of coping with the spoiler bomb I got unwittingly and involuntarily doused with earlier this week. It was either that or drown my sorrows of a ruined season six premiere in too much tequila. Can I please ask that should you read and review this story you will refrain from posting any further spoilers in your comments? I really don't want to know more than I already do (I'm really curious to see how Andrew Marlowe writes himself out of the corner he's written himself into with the last three eps, but I want to see it unfold chronologically in the fall episodes, not some butchered snippets here and there taken out of context).

"That was Freedman," Rachel McCord hung up her phone and looked at her team, "he's just sent up the newbie."

"Down boy!" Matt Hendricks laughed when he saw his partner perk up behind his desk across the cubicle.

"She's here?!" Richmond's voice was laced with awe.

"Try not to drool on her, when Granger introduces her. We don't want her to think we're freaks." McCord perched herself on top of her desk, watching her boys banter with amusement.

"But it's…" Richmond looked from Rachel to Matt in disbelief that they could stay so calm, "Nikki Heat."

"You do realize Nikki Heat is a fictional character," Matt rolled his eyes.

"But she's based on a real NYPD detective whose name just happens to be Kate Beckett. Seriously how many detectives named Kate Beckett can there be working for the NYPD homicide squad? And her file says she used to work at the 12th and that her unofficial partner was Richard Castle."

"Her file also says she didn't really have a partner until he came along, so what does that say about her personality?" Rachel interrupted Richmond's fanboy gushing. "She's probably not really a team player and doesn't play nice with the other kids."

"Nah, have you read the novels? Roach and Heat are like friends, and they're based on other people at her precinct."

"Can we lock him up in the closet for the rest of the day because I'm not sure I can take any more of his fangirling?" Matt looked at Rachel for permission.

"Hey!" Richmond protested.

"Don't tempt me," McCord rolled her eyes, when she spotted their section chief striding past the rows of office cubicles with a blonde woman in tow. She did a quick visual once over of their new colleague. She was tall and dressed professionally in a business suit that looked like it cost her monthly salary. Granger was talking animatedly, as he showed her around the floor, gesticulating wildly. She had her hair tied back in a strict ponytail, exposing the concentrated frown on her face, as if she tried to memorize everything Granger told her. McCord rolled her eyes. Great. An over-achiever.

"Ahh, Agent McCord!" Granger exclaimed when he spotted the team crowding around their team leader's desk with curious stares. "This is the newest member of your team. Agent Beckett, this is Special Supervisory Agent Rachel McCord."

"Hi, Kate Beckett," Kate held out her hand and gave the other woman a firm handshake. Just like McCord had done earlier, Kate did a quick mental assessment of the other woman. Her new team leader looked about as straight-laced as they come. She wore a dark casual business suit, little make up and her hair in a tight bun. Her broad shouldered stance spoke for itself. A woman who'd learned to run with the boys. Rachel McCord was every bit the no nonsense and driven investigator she used to be before Castle walked into her life. Kate wondered what her back-story was. Rick would have no doubt already spun a tale of espionage and wronged injustice by now. A smile hushed over her lips but she quickly caught herself and straightened up again.

"Well, Agent Beckett, I'll leave you to familiarize yourself with your new team. If you have any questions, I'm sure Agent McCord will be able to help you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Nice to meet you. These are Agents Hendricks and Richmond." McCord nodded her head sideways in the direction of the two men who jumped up from their chairs.

"Hi, nice to meet you, Agent Hendricks." She shook addressed the older man first. He looked to be in his late thirties.

"Matt, nice to meet you."

"Kate." They shook hands and Beckett turned to the younger agent who looked to be about ten years her junior. They must have recruited him straight out of college.

"Hi," Richmond squealed and Kate quirked her eyebrows amused at her new colleague's shy reaction.

"You must excuse our boy Richmond here. He's been fangirling ever since we found out you'll be joining our team." Matt explained and Kate's eyebrows shot up.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, Detective Beckett," McCord stressed her old title, "your reputation precedes you. Rookie boy here has read every Nikki Heat novel forwards and backwards at least three times."

Richmond blushed and smiled shyly at Kate.

"I see." Kate nodded at the other woman and then turned her attention back to the younger agent who still stared at her slack jawed and in awe.

"You gonna faint when I shake your hands?" Kate squared him with her eyes. "Cause I ain't pickin' you up. That wasn't listed under duties and responsibilities in the contract I just signed."

Matt's jaw hit the floor as he turned to Rachel and raised his hand for a high-five, "I like you already, Nikki Heat."

Kate whirled around and fixated her new colleague sharply with a glare.

"You're gonna haze me until I earn my spurs, aren't you?"

"Pretty much." McCord grinned and Kate groaned.

"Don't worry, it's not too bad." Richmond finally said the first complete sentence. "I still live and eventually it stops."

"Oh, when did it stop for you?" Kate looked at him curiously.

"Oh," Richmond glanced down at his watch, "About twelve minutes ago when you stepped off the elevator."

"Alright, folks, let's get Agent Beckett settled in." Rachel pointed to a particular desk, "That one is yours. You'll partner with me at first to complete your training, then we'll rotate for a couple of weeks to find out how our new team works best. Any questions?"

"Yes, where can I get my credentials?" Kate tipped her finger against her visitor's badge.

"I'll take you!" Richmond immediately offered.

McCord rolled her eyes and looked at Kate questioningly. Beckett's only response was a shrug, after all she'd put up with Castle for five years.

"Alright Rookie, but don't scare her off." McCord nodded and watched the young man grab Beckett by her arm and literally drag her after him.

"Five bucks says fanboy asks her out on a date before they get into the elevator." Matt snuck up next to McCord and startled her a little bit.

"Geeze!" Rachel put her hand over her heart. "Five bucks says she breaks his and your heart before the day ends."

Matt raised his eyebrows.

"Don't tell me you didn't see that rock on her finger?"

"What rock?" Hendricks craned his neck trying to catch another glimpse of their new colleague.

"Some investigator you are. She's only wearing a diamond ring that rivals the Hope Diamond."

"What? You mean she's?" Matt's face fell.

"Engaged? Oh yeah and from the looks of it to a man who can afford it." McCord shook her head at her partner, "Seriously?"

Matt pulled a face, "What? No, I mean, it's a pity because it would have been kinda fun watching Richmond wooing her."

Rachel shot him an incredulous look, "Yeah right."

"Hey, can't blame a guy for trying. Did you see those legs?! She's like super hot."

"Well, don't let her hear you and Rookie discussing her assets, she looks like she can take you down blindfolded."

Matt huffed indignantly. "She's a lightweight. I can take her with one arm tied behind my back."

"Care to put your money where your mouth is?"

"You're on, McCord."

"Fine, I'll book the gym for a team sparring session tomorrow."

Meanwhile at the elevator, Kate felt Richmond's eyes staring at her transfixed. Realizing he wasn't going to press the call button anytime soon, she reached out and did so herself.

"So, it's really you?" He finally blurted out.

"Yep. I'm me." Kate tried to suppress a smile.

"Wow, I can't believe I get to work with Nikki Heat."

"Okay, Richmond, let's get this straight right away. I am not Nikki Heat. Nikki Heat is a fictional character made up by the writer Richard Castle. Go it?"

Richmond nodded but continued enthusiastically, "But it's you, right? I mean, you're the Kate Beckett, the inspiration for Nikki Heat, aren't you? You know Richard Castle."

Kate rolled her eyes, "I suppose so." She stepped into the elevator that had just arrived.

"Awesome!" Richmond squealed and followed her quickly inside. He pushed the correct floor for HR. "So what's it like working with Roach? You know I've always thought I myself am a lot like Raley. I'm kind of the media czar here."

Kate suppressed a timid smile. Oh that explained so much – the age, the fanboy – Richmond was their tech whiz kid. Probably graduated from MIT or CalTech and recruited off the campus nerd squad during the commencement speeches.

"So any audiovisual evidence you got – I'm your man." Kate tuned back into the rambling of her younger colleague who never seemed to stop talking. "Do you think Richard Castle will make Nikki Heat an FBI agent or something now that you're with us? Cause that would be so cool, if he wrote a book about our team. Even if he doesn't, do you still keep in touch with him? Cause I'd love to meet him and show him a few of my tricks that Raley could use in the next novel to track down a killer."

Kate took a deep breath as the elevator doors closed. This was going to be one long first day at work.