So here's the third Chapter. I really hope you enjoy it.

Review responses:

Theresa471 - I actually have a lot of them posted here on Fanfiction, though there are a couple that I am currently working on elsewhere. I actually haven't seen much of Season 7 so far (since only the first 8 episodes have actually aired here so far, with the 9th airing in a few days from now).

mattaweber - Thanks!

TORONTOSUN - I completely agree. I don't really like to write angsty scenes where they stay angry with each other for ages (although I don't mind reading them though, which is strange). And yes, I do plan for them too. Not in the next couple of Chapters though.

Disclaimer - No matter how hard I wish, it ain't going to change the fact I don't own Castle.


"So, what do you know about LeafOnTheWind and the others, Rick? I'm usually too busy to talk unless it's the weekend or I'm not on call, so there's not much I know about them apart from their genders." Kate asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

Rick closed his eyes momentarily, remembering what he had learnt about the other people who he'd seen on the chat site before opening them again. "Let's see… AFScience's real name is Adrianna Fields. She's in her mid to late twenties, teaches high school chemistry here in New York, and her students love her. SeaBorne's real name is Ryan Cosgrove; he's a 30-something marine biologist temporarily working at a local aquarium while waiting for the papers he needs to launch one of his projects. He and Adrianna have been dating for three years and got engaged just under a month ago, on their third anniversary as a couple".

Kate nodded, pausing for a second to think over what her boyfriend had just told her before speaking again. "And what about LeafOnTheWind?"

"His name is Phillip Stevens, though he prefers Phil. He never did mention his current age, but he's currently a science fiction actor living in San Francisco. He was the captain in that Joss Whedon show a few years ago".

"The one that got cancelled after three months?"

Her boyfriend nodded. "That's the one, yes. It also happens to be where his display name comes from. Apparently it was the catchphrase of one of his fellow cast members whose character was rather brutally killed off in the final episode, and he decided to use it himself once the series was over".

"Fascinating".

The detective drained the last of her coffee before setting the cup down and getting to her feet. "C'mon, Story. I want to see what you've found on my mother's case. You did promise to show me, after all…"

The writer sighed, remembering he had indeed promised to show the detective, his girlfriend, what he had found on the case. "Indeed I did. Alright then, N1, let's go".

~About half an hour later~

Rick tapped the screen of the smart board in his office with one hand, causing the screen to instantly spring to life. Gesturing to the only thing on the screen, which was labelled with the words 'Beckett Conspiracy', he waited for a few seconds to allow his girlfriend to register what she was seeing. "Open it?"

Giving a slight nod, he quickly tapped the folder twice, causing it to open, displaying all of the information that he'd managed to find on the case. "There's a digital copy of everything that we've found on the case, as well as several questions about the case that I've been pondering over myself" he said gently.

"Do you really think it could be a conspiracy, Rick?"

Kate's voice was soft and unusually quiet as she spoke, and her lips barely even moved. She leaned slightly into her boyfriend's embrace, barely even registering as his hand slipped down to grasp hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze, barely even noting the fact that she had called him Rick instead of Castle. Given the situation, and their new-found relationship, it seemed rather fitting. "I don't really know what to think, Kate. As far as I can tell, though, it does look as if there is some sort of conspiracy surrounding the case. We have three dirty cops, a dead FBI agent who just so happened to be undercover in the mob at the time of his death, a mobster, currently in prison, who we're pretty sure was framed for the death of said FBI agent and whose case your mother and her colleagues were looking into at the time of their deaths. We also know that there's at least three hitmen/contract killers, including both Hal Lockwood and Dick Coonan, plus whoever shot you at Montgomery's funeral".

The brunette detective nodded, staring thoughtfully at the screen in front of them. "Plus whoever ordered the murders in the first place is still out there, we can't forget that".

Her boyfriend gave her hand a comforting squeeze, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. She smiled up at him, relieved that after everything that they'd been through over the past four years, she was still lucky enough to have him by her side. "And we won't forget. We will find the bastard that had your mother killed, Kate. I promise".

"I know. But like you said, Rick, we need to put the case aside for the time being. I've allowed myself to become buried in her case for far too long. We'll get justice for her when the time is right, I know it. But until then, I do believe that we have other, more pressing, issues to take care of" Kate responded quietly, lifting her head and pressing her lips softly to his.

After a few seconds, she pulled away, sighing softly. "I should go. On the other hand, I don't really want to be away for you any longer than absolutely necessary, so… Since it's Saturday, and we've got the weekend off, do you feel like going to the park together?"

"Why, N1Detective, are you asking me to spend the day with you?"

Rick's tone was light as he spoke, and she felt herself grinning at the use of the name she had chosen when she had first signed up to the chat site. "I do believe I am, StoryWeaver. So, what do you say? You feel like spending the day with me?"

Rick smiled back at her. "I'd love to".


Also, I've kinda decided to do something after every update I do for one of my stories (this started a couple of weeks ago) where I recommend a song or two (they won't be from any specific decade/genre, just ones that I find worth sharing. I've been trying it on another site for a while, and it seemed to work out there, so might as well do the same here.

This update's recommendations

Take On Me - a-ha

Losing My Religion - R.E.M