A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews everyone and I hope everyone enjoys this latest update. If you have any questions please feel free to DM me. Now the latest update. Please feel free to leave reviews. Thank you.

Chapter 1

February 7th, 1944

New York Point of Embarkation

Brooklyn, New York

The sounds of patriotic melodies and jazz drifted across the area only to be drowned out sometimes by the roar of Army Trucks, sedans, jeeps, buses and the squealing of tanks pulling into the area. Men in uniform either walked or disembarked from the vehicles. They then formed up into columns before marching off towards the ships that lined the pier. Some men tossed glances to the men standing off to the sides with their families, wives, or girlfriends. For one tall stocky officer, he was standing with two red-headed women, one a teenager, and the other one an elderly lady. Both of the ladies were fighting off the tears, even though both knew this day was coming.

For Richard Castle, 38, he was the only son of the Jackson and Martha Rodgers. His father served in the US Army in World War 1. He survived the fighting of the battlefields of Europe only to die in the 1919 Flu Pandemic. His mother, Martha was a Broadway actress who had success despite being a single mother, and a widow. Though Martha was shocked by the loss of her beloved husband, she vowed to keep his memory alive for their son. She kept her husband's picture in a locket which she wore in every performance. She told him the stories and showed him pictures of his father's military service; yet Rick was surprised that his father never really shared any of his experiences with his mother nor did he write anything down. So for Rick his father's military service remained an elusive mystery while he attended secondary school and Columbia University. While at school, Rick discovered he had a flair for writing, which led to short stories and recognition while attending Columbia. By the time he had graduated from Columbia he had his first novel published, and married an actress by the name of Meredith from the drama program at Columbia. After school he was teaching in a school near Midtown, and Meredith had given birth to their daughter Alexis. Yet a couple years after Alexis was born, they were divorced when Meredith's career took off and she left for Hollywood to take part in the movies. Martha stepped up and took on part time roles to help Rick raise Alexis.

Then when the depression hit the country, Rick needed to find a way to supplement their income to avoid starving and losing their home, despite Martha's smart savings plan. That is when he joined the New York National Guard to help with the money. By the time he completed Officer Candidate School, he was the oldest second Lieutenant for his company. In November 1941, Richard Castle was sent to the First Division to help bring the division up to wartime strength. He led an infantry platoon in the initial stages of the Invasion of North Africa called Operation Torch. Then in February of 1943 during the Battle of Kasserine Pass, he was wounded by German machine gun fire. He was award the Silver Star for valor while having his platoon hold a key defensive position while covering the withdrawal of his company. During his recovery, he was sent stateside to take part in a War Bonds tour, and had expected to remain in the US for the remainder of the war until he received orders to the Fourth Infantry Division's 12 Regiment. Now here he was again saying good-bye to his family.

"Come on pumpkin, it will be ok." Rick said to his 17 year old daughter who was fighting tears. "I'll be back."

"You don't know that Dad, it's war. Jessica father said the same thing before he was killed in the Pacific." Alexis said crying into her father's chest.

Martha was also fighting tears herself. "It's true Richard, your father said the same thing to meet on this pier when he left."

"Mother please, you are not helping the matters." Rick scolded his mother more harshly than he meant too. He whispered a sorry and picked up his daughter's chin. "Listen, I know its war, but I promised myself I wouldn't leave you alone in the world, and I will do my damnedest to keep that promise ok?"

"Okay dad." Alexis replied crying but with a weak smile attached to it. She hugged her father tighter.

"Pumpkin I need to talk to grandma, but you promise me you'll listen to her." Rick told her. She looked up and nodded. Rick smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead before turning to his mother. "Well mother, here we are again."

"Oh Richard, we knew it was a possibility but I couldn't believe the Army would send you back over there." Martha said with the tears now flowing. She dabbed her eyes. "You know I will look out for her."

"I know you will mother." Rick replied as he was now fighting tears himself. He took a deep breath. "Do me a favor?"

"What is that dear?" Martha said now curious.

"Head home after I leave you. Don't watch the ships depart." Rick stated to her.

Martha opened her mouth but closed it quickly. She nodded her head in agreement.

While the three of them were saying good bye, a little ways up the dock from them, a brunette in Service Uniform of the Army Nursing Corp was having her own emotional farewell with an older gentlemen in front of her. Kate Beckett was 33 years old, and a second lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corps. Born to parents who were lawyers, her entire future was laid out for her. She would attend the finest girl's schools, go to the best university on the East Coast, and attend law school like her parents. Then while in her second year of college, her mother was shot and killed while walking home one night just walking home from the store with a few groceries. Her father descended into the bottle and Kate herself dropped out of college to battle the depression that hit her as well. Then one morning while waking up in a dive bar on the lower east side with a unknown male next to her, Kate made a determination. She would save herself and her father from sliding down the slippery slope further. She walked to the nearest church and asked for forgiveness and strength to recover. Then she confronted her father that they were dishonoring her mother's memory by doing the things they were doing. James Beckett surprised at the strength of his daughter, agreed and both went on the wagon with the help of their local church.

Then one night, a man stumbled into the church bleeding from a stab wound. Another lady who turned out to be a nurse rushed to his aid, and so did Kate. The nurse, who reminded Kate of her mother, saved the man and afterwards provided that insight she had been missing since her mother was murdered. The nurse shared she too lost someone close, her husband had been killed in an industrial accident, and their daughter had died of TB when she was real young. It took the nurses sister to snap her out of it and get her the help she needed. Now the nurse attends these meetings to share her stories and help those that need it. The next day she joined the nursing program at the local university. She graduated early in 1940 and was in her third year at a local hospital when the US Army desperate for more nurses overseas recruited her to which she accepted the position after taking a day to think it over. She spent the next six months at Fort Dix before joining the 442th Field Medical Battalion. Like the thousands of others members of the US military, they were now embarking for the dangerous trip overseas. Kate looked at her father who was fighting tears.

"Dad are you ok with me leaving?" Kate asked as she placed her hands on her father's shoulders. Prior to her receiving the orders, her commanding officer Major Braxton Henderson had to ask every member of the hospital if they had any problems that would prevent them from shipping out. 98 percent of the hospital was boarding the ships today.

"No Katie, I'm not fine, but I do understand you have to go." James Beckett told his daughter. He took her hands off his shoulders and gave them a squeeze. "It's what she would want, and it's what I want. Go and be there to save our boys like you saved us."

Kate nodded and leaned over the railing to give her father a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'm coming back."

"I know you will Kate. Just write when you can, and stay safe." Jim answered his daughter's statement with a smile.

Before Kate could reply a friend of hers called out. "Kate, we got to go."

Kate turned and nodded. She gave her father another kiss on the cheek. "Bye dad."

Jim smiled weakly with more tears now. "Bye Katie."

Kate ran and fell into last in line with her unit as they formed up and marched towards their transport. Kate scrummaged around her pockets looking for a particular photo, when she lifted up her cover and it fell out. The wind blew it towards Richard Castle and his family. Rick saw Kate chasing after the photo and reached down and snagged. He held it up for her. "Here you go Lieutenant."

"Thank you so much Lieutenant. I didn't want to lose it." Kate said smiling as she put the picture in her pocket.

Rick laughed a little bit. "You might want to run and catch up to your unit before they leave without you."

Kate turned and saw where they were. Kate ran after them. "Oh shoot. Thanks again Lieutenant."

"No problem." Rick replied smiling. He turned back to his two ladies in his life.

Yet before he could say anything, a MP came over directing everyone away from the railing. "Sorry sir, times up they need to close the port for security. You need to get to you embarkation area."

"Right Sergeant." Rick said to the MP who nodded. Rick reached down and grabbed his sea bag and faced his mother and daughter. "I'll miss you both dearly, so write often and stay out of trouble."

Alexis nodded and gave her father one last hug before Martha did the same and a kiss to the cheek. Rick started up the pier falling in line with the rest of the men who were also forced off the fence line. A little further down the pier, he and the rest of the men who he had followed entered a warehouse, where he saw the Lieutenant whose picture he saved. They were aboard the same transport, but he found it to be coincidence. The doors were closed and the lights dimmed. An officer strolled to the front. "This is your pre-embarkation briefing. Failure to be on board, will count as missing a movement and subject to court-marital."

The briefing went over everything that was expected. Meal times on board ship and since there were females aboard, they had separate facilities and meal times to accommodate them. They went over what to do in the event the ship was torpedoed, which essentially the convoy would not stop to pick up survivors. Smoking was not permitted after sunset on the decks, and life jackets must be available at all times. Afterwards the doors were opened and the units began to leave the warehouse. Kate looked around and saw the Lieutenant who snagged her mom's photo. She smiled waved at him mouthing a thank you again, to which Rick replied with same gesture and a welcome. A half an hour later, Richard Castle gave his name to the officer at the gangplank and proceeded aboard the transport. Two hours later, the transport along with ten other ships raised steam and left the dock. 45 minutes after departing, the ships met up with their escorts and they began to form a convoy which linked up with a convoy that had arrived from Norfolk. Ships seemed to stretch from horizon to horizon as American was sending its young men and women to prepare to take part in the largest invasion in history on the continent of Europe.

February 10th, 1944

North Atlantic

The convoy for the first couple days made it's away long the continental shelf and under the protection of air cover from shore base aircraft and good weather. Yet by the third day, the infamous waves, and storms of the North Atlantic were lashing at the convoy. For many of the soldiers and those seamen who were experiencing their first time out were horribly struck with seasickness. Rick though while a little bit queasy was not as bad as the others, so he could still get up and move around the transport. But by the afternoon of the 10th, he had to get out from below decks and into the fresh air. The bathrooms or heads as the Navy called them were jammed pack and overflowing with vomit from sea sick soldiers.

"Thank god." Rick stated as he walked out onto the deck where it was crowded but not as bad as it could have been. The smell of the salt air and the relief of being freed from the smell below deck helped him a little bit. He walked down the covered passageway as the ship continued to plow on. He stopped a passing sailor. "How much longer do we anticipate this weather being like this?"

"A couple more days at least sir." The sailor told him. Rick nodded his thanks and the sailor continued on with his task.

Rick moved a little further down the covered passageway till he found an open spot along the railing. He looked out and saw the convoy dancing on the waves as it churned towards the East. He spotted a destroyer racing in between some of the transports as it made its way towards the front of the convoy. He knew though that the Germans in the first part of the war used weather like this to launch attacks on convoys, but the threat while still present was a small one. Still he had his life jacket with him. Waves reached the level where the ice cold water lapped at the bottom of his boondockers. He thank god that they were on a larger transport than a liberty ship or a small transport.

Just 30 feet from where Rick was looking out across the convoy, Kate Beckett dressed in her field uniform was helping a friend out on to the deck to get her some air. "Come on Carol. Fresh air should do you some good."

"Oh Kate I don't know about that." The poor women replied as they gingerly made their way long the passageway. "I should be in the bathroom."

"You run the risk of getting sick, plus its backup both by vomit and people." Kate told her. She helped her friend along, but most spots along the railing were occupied. She then noticed her friend going green again. She looked up and saw Rick. "Excuse me Lieutenant, my friend is about to throw up again."

Rick turned around and saw a familiar face, but noticed the person holding her mouth. He smiled and motioned them over "Bring her over."

Kate nodded and with the help of Rick, got Kate's friend to the railing in time to empty what little she had in her stomach out. Kate looked at Rick. "You're the one that caught my picture."

"Yes I am. How are you doing Lieutenant?" Rick asked as they continued to hold up her friend.

"Not as bad as my friend." Kate replied with a smile on her face. "I'm Lieutenant Kate Beckett."

"Lieutenant Richard Castle." Rick replied with a soft smile that made her feel at ease. He looked down at Kate's friend. "I think she is done for now."

Kate looked at her friend and nodded. "I think you are right."

They lifted up Kate's friend who nodded her thanks. But before they could get any further, another nurse appear. "Kate, Captain Snyder needs to see you."

"Ok Marge. Take Carol for me." Kate said to her friend who nodded. She turned to Rick. "Pleasure to formally meet you Lieutenant Castle."

"Pleasure is all mine, but call me Rick." Rick stated with a smile. He then noticed something and grabbed Kate by the arms and turned her so she was inboard and his back facing the sea.

"What the…." Kate started to say but cringed as a larger wave of crashed into the side of the ship and splashed over them. Since Rick towered over Kate, he took the brunt of the wave. A second later, Kate felt him release her. "Thanks."

"No problem." A very wet Rick replied as he started to shiver. Yet he still smiled at her. "Didn't want you getting soaked and sick."

"You should go below and change before you get sick." Kate answered with a smile on her face. She gave his arm a squeeze. "Thanks for the save Rick. Hopefully see you around again before we reach our destination."

"No problem, it was my pleasure." He told her. She smiled at him before turning on her heel. As Rick watched her walk away he thought to himself. "Hopefully won't be the last time either."

February 14th, 1944

Dartmouth, England

After battling winter storms for three days, the convoy emerged into decent weather near the Irish coast where the British coastal patrols and air cover provided convoy security for the rest of the trips to the ports. For Richard Castle, and men and women of the transport he was on, along with half of dozen others that meant an extra half day sailing to the British port of Portsmouth.

After the ship had docked, and the gangway secured, units were offloaded first to be marshalled and sent to their camps, while individual persons were sent down a different gangway to be directed to the personnel office down the quay from the ships. This is where Rick was heading when he noticed Kate's unit walking and towards a line of trucks at the end of the quay. Rick took a step to the side and watched as they passed hoping to catch a glimpse of Kate. Ever since seeing her in New York and again onboard the transport, she was on his mind.

"Sorry sir, you can't stand here. You got to keep moving." A MP said to Rick breaking his concentration.

"Right sorry Corporal." Rick answered. He picked up and his bag and moved towards the personnel center. He found himself walking into the office a couple minutes later. He walked on up to the corporal at the desk. "Was told to report here?"

The corporal looked up. "Yes sir, do you have your orders?"

Rick nodded and passed over his orders to the young man who looked them over. He then got up and went to a sergeant who was sitting at the back of the office. The young sergeant looked over the orders before getting up and coming to the front. "Lieutenant Castle, we do have a convoy heading to the 12th Regiment, of the 4th Division today if you don't mind riding in the back of a half-track."

"Rode one in North Africa for a couple days, don't mind." Rick replied with a smile on his face. That got the corporal and the sergeant smiling.

They nodded and got the travel order typed up and signed by the Officer on Duty. Rick then walked down the quay and found the convoy heading to his new regiment. As he climbed aboard the half-track he noticed Kate standing by a truck as she and her unit were waiting for their gear to be unload. But for Rick the convoy he was part off took off before he had a chance to call her name. Luckily Kate saw him and wave at him to which he returned the wave as the convoy moved off.

February 14th, 1944

12th Regiment Encampment

Plymouth, England

The convoy stopped and let the individual personnel off before the vehicles headed towards the motor pool to be inspected before turned over to the regiment. Rick looked around and saw the personnel tent and walked over to it. Inside the young clerk noticed him and came to his feet. "Checking in sir?"

"Yes I am." Rick replied with a neutral tone in his voice. He passed over his orders to the young clerk who looked them over. He then went to his sergeant who was sipping coffee while typing away.

The sergeant scanned the orders and got up and came towards Rick. "Welcome to the 12th Lieutenant Castle."

"Thank you sergeant. Everything in order?" Rick asked as he was now kind of curious.

The sergeant nodded. "Yes sir. My young private is calling for 1st Battalion's duty jeep to come and get you. So it should only be a few minutes."

"Okay sergeant." Rick answered with a nod of his head.

"Go ahead and have a seat sir. Just have to have the duty officer sign off on this." The sergeant told Rick who nodded.

Ten minutes later, Rick was in the front seat of the jeep after being picked up by the duty driver and heading towards 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment. His orders clasped firmly in his hands while his gear bounced around in the back, with his weapon laying down in front of him. The jeep came to a stop in front of a two story brick building that housed the 1st Battalion and its companies headquarters. Rick thanked the driver and proceeded to grab his gear, weapon and walked inside. He followed the signs towards the personnel office of the battalion.

Another teenage clerk saw Rick walking in. "Checking in sir?"

"Yes I am." Rick said for the third time that day. He was tired, sore and hoping for a chance to at least change and get into proper uniform. Right now he was wearing his service uniform, but he hoped that the uniform of the day was the field uniform. The clerk gave Rick's orders to the officer who looked them over, signed them, handed them back and picked up the phone.

The young clerk motioned Rick to a chair. "One second Lieutenant, Colonel Bracken would like a word with you."

Rick nodded, trying to understand what he could have done already, but he never got the chance to ask. Colonel William Bracken walked in. Rick got up and came to attention. "At ease Mr. Castle and follow me."

Rick followed his new commanding officer still wondering what was going on. Inside the Colonel's office, a first sergeant was sitting down comfortably drinking a cup of coffee. Colonel Bracken made the introductions. "Lieutenant Castle, meet First Sergeant Will Sorensen. He's your company first sergeant. I know the first sergeant from my time as a prosecutor in New York, and Mr. Sorensen was a detective in the New York City Police Department."

Rick didn't like that but he remained locked in. "First Sergeant Sorensen."

"Lieutenant." 1st Sgt. Sorensen replied coldly to Castle.

Rick ignored it and turned his attention back to the colonel. Colonel Bracken looked over the file. "You missed out on Captain because you didn't have 6 months of guard duty. Why?"

"I was given an opportunity to be part of a class at Oxford here in English for a semester sir." Rick answered as he looked over the Colonel's head and focused on a single point. "My job at the Fellows Prepatory School was very understanding."

"Well I am not Mr. Castle. I want this battalion sharpen to a point where Jerry can feel us even from over there. I want the men trained to a sharpen point as well and not doing things like foolishly getting drunk and killing a British civilian." Colonel Bracken said leafing through the file. He smirked at the next page." Awarded for bravery under fire at Kasserine, Silver Star."

"I just did my job sir, what my commander ordered me to do." Castle replied showing no emotion.

"You did what the army expected you to do Lieutenant and probably enough to survive and earn that." 1st Sgt. Sorensen said as he got up and move to refill his coffee. He then stood next to Colonel Bracken. "We expect more from our officers and not waste their foolish lives trying to be heroes."

Before Castle could reply, a Captain walked in and looked at the ensemble officers. He address the 1st Sgt first. "1st Sgt. Sorensen, get back to the company office. You may know the colonel but you are assigned to me. I need you to check on the supply request we issued."

"Yes sir." 1st Sgt. Sorensen replied with no emotion.

"Sir, I'll take Lieutenant Castle off your hands now." The captain said coming into the office. Rick saw Colonel Bracken study the captain for a moment before nodding and motioning for them to leave. The captain motioned for Rick to follow. After a moment he held out his hand. "Lieutenant Castle, Captain Joshua Davis. Sorry about that. We have a battalion Sergeant Major, but he doesn't do much, since Sorensen cuddles up to the old man."

Rick all he could do was nod his head in understand. "So where am I being assigned sir?"

"You're taking over second platoon. Good men, but their Lieutenant killed a British girl while driving drunk in a jeep." Captain Davis said in reply. He motioned Rick to follow him. They went upstairs in the building. "Good men in the platoon. Right now Sergeant Joseph runs the platoon, but they need guidance from a officer. One man recommended you for the post. Says he knows you, but we'll get to that when they get back from the range. As for now….."

Rick was half-listening as the Captain's speech drone on. Rick wondered what the hell had he gotten himself into.

Additionalnote: At this stage in the war, the submarine threat from the Germans was reduced to a annoyance. Sinking's still happen but not at the pace early in the war. For those wondering what will happen to the dread Bracken, Sorensen and somewhat different than Show Captain Davis. Just hold out. We'll have at least two chapters building up to the big day, then the landings it self. This will be longer than Day which live in Infamy. So relax and enjoy. Thank you.