Four Winds: Contagion
A Castle Fantasy AU
By Laura Picken

A/N: I mean really, is anyone actually *surprised* that I posted this quickly? I will confess, though, that usually by the time I'm gearing up for the climactic battle scene in any Four Winds story (in this case, Moonrise Kingdom), I've already written 90% of the first chapter or two of the next story in my head. :D So if you're wondering how I'm moving on so fast (or if the action scenes feel at all rushed to you), well now ya know. ;) As for chapter 1, readers of my Sentinel fan fiction may find the name of a familiar O/C in this chapter. Yes, it's the *same* woman. That's all I'm going to say about that. :D

This story is in the continuing series of Castle fan fiction based on my fantasy alternate universe story "Four Winds". If you want to read the story, click on my author page, otherwise, here's a quick summary: Castle, Beckett, Lanie, Esposito and Ryan are struck by ball lighting in the loft on a dark and stormy poker night and wind up with superpowers: Ryan's a powerful telepath, Esposito can get your entire life story by shaking your hand, Beckett has five super-heightened senses and can speak to the dead, Lanie can heal the living by touch, and Castle's a wizard. There's other scattered abilities here and there, but that's the basic gist of it. Not freaked out by the concept yet? Then read on and enjoy :-).

For very loose timeline purposes, Castle fans can place this somewhere in the post-"Always" future: Castle and Beckett are a firmly established couple, Beckett's back on the force and Ryan has fought his way out of the doghouse. Season five might make it into the canon of this series if I'm still writing it in September, but right now I make no promises.

DISCLAIMER: Castle, Beckett, et al. are property of Andrew W. Marlowe and ABC. The legends described herein are inventions of my own twisted imagination and should not be taken to reflect the traditions of any particular group. All non-English language phrases are courtesy of Google Translate, so please forgive me if I get anything unintentionally wrong.

Okay, enough business, let the adventure begin!

Lanie Parrish walked out of the elevator and headed toward the doors of the unassuming 'research company'. She looked around the lobby, wanting to ensure that there wasn't some doctor in a tiny private practice down the hall that was the address she was looking for. No such luck. The research company was the only company on the floor. Lanie passed through the double doors and stopped at the front desk. "Medical Examiner's office," she told the receptionist at the front desk. "I'm here about a Dr. Thomas Atwater?"

The receptionist nodded numbly. It was obvious she was having trouble processing the events of the day. "Follow me, please," she replied weakly to Lanie's request as she opened the security door behind them.

As they walked slowly through the eerily quiet cubicle setup, Lanie tried to ignore the feeling of dozens of eyes watching her. It was part of the job...a part of which she was well aware after having done it for so long. Most people, she knew, didn't have to deal with the death of someone they knew on an everyday basis. So her job was going to be one that was watched with a mix of fear and fascination by most people...and almost always at arm's length.

The receptionist stood by the open door to the lab, allowing Lanie to see where the late Dr. Atwater had collapsed. A yellow liquid puddled by his left hand, spilling out from a beaker the doctor clutched, even in death. Lanie noticed that the receptionist had not moved from her post. "Is it possible to prop this door open, somehow?" Lanie asked the woman. "My people may have to come in and out of this lab for a while, I'd hate to have to tear you away from your..."

"They've found someone to cover for me," the receptionist replied quietly.

"Ooookaay..." Lanie commented, quickly becoming oddly suspicious of her surroundings. "Ma'am, is there something in this lab that I need to be *worried* about? Are there hazardous materials my team needs to prepare for?"

The receptionist shook her head. "Not to my knowledge, ma'am."

"Not to your knowledge," Lanie mumbled, "now why don't I find that comforting?" She snapped on a pair of evidence gloves and bent down to start her initial examination of the body while the members of her team filed past the quiet receptionist.

It was the last thing about the death of Dr. Thomas Atwater that Lanie Parish was going to be able to remember that day.

The bullpen was eerily quiet. The writer/consultant and three detectives were sitting at their desks, slowly working through page after page of the paperwork that, to them, felt like it was never ending. Someone walking into the 12th precinct might have thought that perhaps the four people in that room didn't know each other, or they didn't like each other, or they were simply so focused on their jobs that they had no interest in passing the time in conversation.

Those outside observers would have no idea what was going on inside those four people's heads.

Seriously? Ryan had to resist the urge to shake his head in disbelief. *That* was bones? That...thing you drew? Those were bones?

It's hard to draw something like that on a phone...replied Beckett defensively. That screen is so small...

Hey, if I could draw Tim Tebow on one knee in the end zone...

Esposito *did* shake his head in disbelief at the conversation he was hearing in his mind. I can't believe you guys are arguing about Draw Something in the middle of a police station...

Ryan's smile was completely unapologetic. And aren't you glad no one else can hear us?

Bro, I'm starting to wish *I* didn't have to hear you...The buzz of Esposito's personal cell phone distracted him from the telepathic banter between Beckett and his partner. He answered the phone, "Hello..."

Esposito's face paled within seconds of answering the phone. He motioned for his four friends to join him as he quickly got the needed information from the other end of the line. "Thank you. I'll be right there." As soon as he hung up the phone, Esposito announced to the group, "That was the hospital. Lanie collapsed at a crime scene."

Ryan's eyes widened. "Collapsed?" They all knew that could pretty much mean only one thing where the medical examiner is concerned. "Did she...?"

"Can't tell, bro...but it would be my first guess," replied Esposito. "Let's go."

Esposito barreled into the hospital like a man on a mission. The nurses seemed to be expecting them, though, and handed each of the Guardians passes without a word. The four Guardians ran through the halls until they found Lanie, who, to their surprise, had already been admitted and moved to a private room. But it was a complete shock to them, though, when they realized *who* had taken care of their friend in their absence. "Perlmutter?" exclaimed Esposito. "*You're* treating Lanie?"

Dr. Sidney Perlmutter nodded. "I got the call when Lanie...collapsed on the scene. She named me as her personal physician a few months back for some reason, so when I found out they admitted her, I had her transferred to a private room and gave the front desk your names as her family."

Esposito was genuinely touched by Perlmutter's gestures on their behalf. "Thanks, Perlmutter."

Perlmutter waved off the gratitude. "Lanie would do the same for me."

"How is she, Perlmutter?" asked Ryan.

The doctor scratched the back of his head and looked up as if he was cursing the sky itself. "I wish I knew, detective. I really do. From what the techs told me, she just knelt down, touched the body and froze. She's been unresponsive ever since. I've had them run some tests on her, but so far I'm at a complete loss as to what's going on here."

A knowing look passed between Ryan and Esposito. "Can we...can we see her?" asked Esposito.

"Of course," Perlmutter replied sympathetically.

The two men ran in immediately, pulling up chairs and taking positions at Lanie's side with a speed that left Perlmutter confused. Ryan quickly connected with his partner's mind before diving into the mind of the lost healer.

Lanie...Lanie, it's Ryan. Javi's here, too. Lanie, say something, let us know you're all right...

Ugh, groaned Lanie into the mind-link, I would...if you'd let me...dang, boy, why do your thoughts have to be so...chatty...

Ryan and Esposito's voices both chuckled through the mind-link at Lanie's response. That's my girl, thought Esposito.

And why all the concern? thought Lanie.

Uh, baby, replied Esposito, what's the last thing you remember?

I was at a crime scene, I knelt down to start examining the body...Lanie's mind voice became tinged with disbelief. No way...

Sorry, chica, replied Esposito.

We're at the hospital with you now, added Ryan.

Ryan and Esposito listened as Lanie thought through what had happened to her. But...that shouldn't be possible...I can't examine the dead...unless...Lanie's mind voice suddenly took on a note of panic. Oh, God...

Lanie regained consciousness with a rush, taking deep breaths of air as she sat up in the hospital bed with a start. The first name she yelled out was not a name anybody sitting next to her was expecting. "Sid!"

Perlmutter jumped to action from his post outside the door. "Lanie!" he exclaimed in surprise, "You're awake! But how...?"

Lanie cut him off quickly. "No time for that now, Sid. The crime scene I was at when I collapsed, that was Dr. Thomas Atwater?" When Perlmutter nodded, Lanie started quickly spitting out orders. "That body needs to be quarantined *immediately*. You also need to run full blood work ups on me and anyone who was at the crime scene. Probably should order the tests for these guys and for you and anyone who treated me, too, just to be on the safe side."

Perlmutter's eyes widened as the scope of the tests Lanie was asking for hit him full force. "Lanie...?"

"I think that body's infected with something, Sid," Lanie replied with somber urgency. "That's why I collapsed at the scene."

It was less than twenty minutes later when Dr. Sidney Perlmutter knocked on the hospital room door of his co-worker and friend. Five heads looked up at him as he spoke. "Lanie, I made the calls you asked for. The body's quarantined and the team are all here getting their workups. We should know pretty quickly if there's anything dangerous going on."

Lanie let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Sid. I knew I could count on you."

"Actually, about that..."

Lanie found her relief somewhat short-lived. "What is it?"

Perlmutter closed the door to Lanie's room before continuing. "Lanie, I ordered a full blood workup for you when you were first brought in. So because your tests were ordered first, I've gotten your results back already."

With no seats left in the room, Perlmutter sat at the foot of Lanie's bed. "The good news is you're clean. Which means your friends should be negative, so unless one of them gets sick in the next couple of days, I'm inclined not to worry just yet."

Four people in the room sighed with relief, but the fifth one in the hospital bed knew her friend better than that. "What's the *bad* news?" asked Lanie.

Perlmutter looked down at the test results he was holding in disbelief. "To be honest, Lanie, I'm surprised you're not already *dead*. These results I've got here...I had the tech put a rush on them, then I made the poor guy verify his findings three times. Your white blood cell count is off the charts, your red blood cells have a composition I've only seen in the charts of Olympic athletes caught doing some serious doping, and there's this...electron response..."

He thought he was going to see panic in the eyes of his friend. Or at least some level of fear. He *thought* she would have at least demanded to see the test results herself. So the peace and acceptance Perlmutter saw on the face of his patient threw him for a *complete* loop. "Lanie, you can't tell me you already *knew* about this?!"

"I had my suspicions," Lanie replied simply.

Perlmutter studied his friend's face in disbelief. "That's why you named me your doctor a couple of months ago, isn't it? And why you made *me*, of all people, your primary emergency contact?"

Lanie nodded. "I needed to know my medical file would be in the hands of someone I trusted with my life, if it ever came to...well, this."

Perlmutter took a long look at the other faces around the room. It's like they *all* know something I don't...The doctor thought carefully about his dealings with the 12th precinct and whether or not he really *wanted* to know what was going on between them. Then he looked back at his friend in the hospital bed and sighed. Because she was entrusting him with her *life*, he had to know. Whether he wanted to or not. "Okay, Lanie. Let's start from the beginning..."

The next day...

"Director McPherson?"

Homeland Security Director Diane McPherson didn't bother to look up from the photographs she was examining, engrossed as she was in the task. "Yes, Maria?" she asked her executive assistant. "What is it?"

"Agent Fallon is here to see you as requested, ma'am."

The mention of the man she had scheduled her next appointment with was the only thing that tore Diane's eyes away from the photographs. She looked directly into Maria's eyes as she told her, "send him in."

Maria nodded curtly. "Yes, ma'am." A minute later, Maria opened the door and stood by it as a tall, dark-haired man entered the room and stood at attention in front of the desk. "You asked to see me, Director?" asked Agent Fallon.

Diane nodded. "Yes, I did." She then remembered there was a third person in the room waiting for instructions. Looking out to the door, Diane quietly said, "thank you, Maria," and returned her attention immediately to the agent whose assistance she had requested. She returned to her seat behind the desk as the door closed in front of her with a soft click. Diane then pulled a case file out of the top drawer of her desk and spread out the contents in front of her. "Agent Fallon? I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before now, have we?"

Fallon shook his head. "No ma'am."

"Please," Diane requested of the man still standing before her, "have a seat." As Fallon sat down, Diane asked him, "the last time you were in New York was approximately three years ago, correct? When you helped stop that dirty bomb?"

"Yes ma'am," Fallon nodded.

Diane shuffled the papers in the file around until she found the report she was looking for. "You worked...with the 12th precinct during that investigation, is that correct?"

"I did..." Fallon agreed.

No sense beating around the bush any further, thought Diane. She took a case file off her desk and handed it to the agent seated in front of her. "I need you to go to New York. A defense department contractor, Dr. Thomas Atwater, has died, and the Medical Examiner's office is in New York has ruled the case a homicide. I want you to go up there and assist the investigation, get them whatever help they might need on a federal level."

Fallon raised a suspicious eyebrow. I wouldn't be getting this case straight out of the director's office if it were that simple..."That's not the *only* reason I'm going up there, though, is it?"

Diane shook her head. "No. There are three other forces at play here: one, Dr. Atwater may have died from what looks to be a biological weapon. I want boots on the ground the second that a terrorist threat is ascertained."

"Understood, ma'am," Fallon acknowledged the direct order, "but why *me*?"

"The case is being handled by the same team that you worked with during the dirty bomb case: NYPD 12th precinct homicide. Given your past history with them, I'm hoping that we won't have to deal with the initial round of territorial animosity that usually happens in these cases."

Fallon nodded in agreement. "Sounds wise. So what's the third thing?"

Diane reached underneath the dirty bomb case folder for the three photographs she had been studying most of the morning. She drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly in an attempt to focus her thoughts. "Agent Fallon, what I'm going to tell you will be extremely hard to believe. If I didn't have the photographs in front of me I wouldn't have believed it myself. These are three images taken by a Canadian satellite on the same day several months ago. The first shows midtown Manhattan on a typical Friday, about mid-morning." She handed Fallon the first photograph as she prepared him for the next one. "This photo was taken roughly four hours later."

Fallon stared at the second photograph in open-mouthed shock. The satellite clearly showed massive quantities of smoke billowing from what looked to be a third of the Manhattan skyline. That would have been catastrophic enough on its own, but when you added..."Are those *dragons*, Director?"

Diane nodded. "That's what I believe them to be, anyway. But Agent Fallon, here's the kicker. This photograph was verified to have been taken just two hours after the second one."

Fallon found himself blinking repeatedly, not believing the evidence before his eyes as he examined the third photograph. "It looks exactly like the first photograph. Not a speck of visible damage." He looked at the three photographs again in sequence. "Director, you're *sure* these haven't been altered in any way?"

"Yes," Diane nodded again, "I've had it confirmed by at least a dozen experts. And agents on the ground that day remember seeing smoke coming from midtown at that time, but not being able to pinpoint *any* source when they went to investigate. A few witnesses did testify to seeing...something resembling the dragons, believe it or not...but as far as I can tell, these three photographs are the *only* evidence of what happened that day. Agent Fallon, the department is not *officially* investigating this incident. I simply cannot allocate department resources to chase down what might simply be a really good Photoshop job. But since you're going to be in the neighborhood anyway, I'm *asking* you to...keep your eyes and ears open, shall we say? If you can find out what really happened that day, I'd like to know about it."

Fallon flipped absentmindedly through the three photos, stunned every time he stopped at the second one. If the photo was doctored, someone did a damn good job of it. But if it was real..."If I find *anything*, ma'am, I promise I will let you know."