Chapter Three
Setting the Stage

Detective Alexis Castle knew the current state of affairs would only last for a short time, she only needed a little more time in rank and she would be making Detective First Class, and that Ann Hastings was on the short list to make Lieutenant soon. She would likely be relocating (possibly to Major Crimes since their lieutenant was thinking about retiring when she left) not long after that, as Lt. Ryan was not going anywhere. He and Uncle Javi had caught Grams' case when Kate had been barred from investigating it but they had failed to solve it as there was simply no evidence.

Guilt over not being able to give her family the closure they deserved had eaten Javi alive. He could no longer look Kate in the eye so he had accepted a promotion to squad leader and returned to ESU where he had subsequently made lieutenant and then eventually captain in his own right.

Nobody held his need to get away from the 12th, or his success against him. She knew she didn't, nobody could have predicted how completely the guy had disappeared, it was like the earth had simply opened and swallowed up her grandmother's killer. No one thought any less of him, it was only he who thought less of himself.

It was common knowledge at the precinct that Javier Esposito had been unable to let the Martha Rodgers case go. He couldn't accept that they could find closure for so many others in all of the years that her father had been here and they couldn't find that same closure for one of their own. If ESU hadn't wanted him back in the fold so badly he would likely have self destructed, crushed by the weight of his own guilt.

Since most of the case files were now digital in nature, Alexis had put an electronic marker on the case file. She would get a message if anything that fit the profile came up, or a match to the anomalous DNA sample was discovered. Barring that, she had to get on with the business of living. She knew deep down it was what her grandmother would have wanted for her, whatever she chose to do.

She would go home and check on her father later tonight. She knew that coming to the precinct had likely set off her dad's nervous disorder. She was touched that he would risk a full blown anxiety attack just to welcome her to the precinct she had worked so hard all of these years to become a part of. Though she was a little worried for him, he knew she loved him with all her heart, and she hadn't needed such a grand gesture on his part to prove it.

His gesture was sweet, but made her just a little bit sad too. Her dad had been scarred so deeply the night he had seen Gram's body at the crime scene that she was amazed he had recovered as well as he had. She had much to be thankful for, most especially Kate, who had given up a lot to stick by her wounded father's side. She would do everything she could to make sure the brass at 1PP never regretted allowing her to be here.

Her first official case had been a pop and drop, nothing terribly difficult, she had certainly seen more challenging cases in her time in Major Crimes. Though the less challenging case did give her a chance to prove to Kate and Lt. Ryan that she wasn't Rick Castle's wayward, skittish little girl anymore.

When she took down the murderer almost single handed and slapped the cuffs on she could see the approving looks from not only Hastings, but several of the other officers on the scene as well. She was sure she had 'made her bones' with the precinct. Her performance in the box, however had cinched it, she had the man cowed and filed his confession in under an hour. She noticed the change almost immediately after she walked out of interrogation room two.

Nobody called her 'Little Castle' anymore, from that day one she was, 'Castle'

She had also found an admirer, a young crime scene analyst working working for Dr. Parrish at OCME named Jeremy Christian. They had gone out for coffee a couple of times during the case, she thought he was funny and really sweet.

There was something about him that was different from all of the other boys, and later men, she had dated in the past. He had an old soul and his eyes had a haunted quality she couldn't quite fathom. He reminded her a little of her dad, which is likely why she was so fascinated by him. She could tell he was attracted to her, too, had been since they met. She liked him.

She was ambitious and driven to be the best detective she could be, and had worked really hard over the years to prove herself to the NYPD and build her professional reputation, but she wasn't so much like her stepmother that she could do that at the expense of her personal life. She had reached the goal she had set for herself, and could afford to stop and smell the roses.

Later that Evening
The Old Haunt

As was their usual practice at the end of the day, Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito were having a beer at "The Old Haunt." They may not be working in the same precinct together anymore, but they were still partners where it counted. When Ryan had said "till the wheels fall off" he had meant it, and so had Javi. Over the years, they always made time to spend together. Even in the dark times right after the Rodgers homicide investigation hit the skids and Captain Gates had assigned them other cases.

Most nights it was so Kevin could show off photos of his three children, or brag about the exploits of his oldest, but tonight it was Richard Castle's daughter he was crowing about. Javi puffed out with pride at the mention of her name or her accomplishments, though the reason for them still haunted him to this day. It was bittersweet that tragedy had once again given rise to another fine cop in the Kate Beckett mold.

"You should have seen her, Javi," Ryan gushed, (yes he was gushing) "'little Castle' isn't quite so little anymore. She took down the suspect bold as brass and she's a natural in the box, man almost as good as Beckett was, if not better. She's like Beckett and her dad all rolled into one."

"I'd heard there was a new sheriff in town from the squad I had assigned to break down the door." Javi replied, "I told em to take special care of her, but I guess she really is on this"

He knew when he said it, and Kevin understood it too, that he would still give the same orders to any team he assigned to kick in a door for her. To him, nor matter how good she was, she would always be 'little Castle' Rick's baby girl, his pride and joy. He might not have been able to catch the bastard who killed his mother, but he would, by God, make sure Alexis Castle was properly looked after, if he had to put on body armor and lead the team himself.

He owed Richard Castle that much, if not more. So did Kevin.

"To Detective Alexis Castle." Kevin said, raising his glass.

Javi raised his own in salute before they downed their shots, "Amen, brother."

Upstate, NY
The following day

Jerry Tyson had just come back from the physical therapist when he got the message from New York City letting him know that everything was going according to plan.

Though Richard Castle's fresh faced little girl changing gears from medicine to law enforcement had been something of a shock, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise, requiring only a minor adjustment to his plans. Now that he had learned that she was back in New York in his old stomping grounds, and as a detective in the 12th Precinct no less. All of the pawns in his new chess game were falling into place, though they were not entirely in the positions he had originally accounted for he could adapt. The last time he'd played this game had taught him the need for greater flexibility in his planning. A learning curve he had paid a steep price for.

Between the doctor's prognosis that he might get enough mobility to stand and walk on his own eventually and that his plans were beginning to reach fruition, he was extremely happy.

Happy enough to permit Caroline to take him out for one of her rare excursions out of her small, spartan room in the basement. If she behaved, he might even permit her access to the rest of the house for a time. She had long since learned that she and her son lived or died by his whims, but today he was feeling quite magnanimous.

He would give Alexis Castle time to become acclimated time to become comfortable in her job, and then the games would begin. He wanted to be back on his feet in time to fully enjoy the endgame.