A/N: Hi guys, so this is a prelude to Rick and Kate second encounter!

I'm posting this today because I won't have much time later. Maybe by the weekend I'll have another chapter ready.

I've had problems with the site so I hope there are no more inconveniences with posting this chapter. Love to hear your comments.

Disclaimer: I don't own much in this life, and definitely do not own Castle.


Chapter 3. Principal's office

Rick Castle arrived not long after to the 12th precinct, still running over his curious encounter in his head. He was intrigued by the girl she met and wanted to know more about her (however something told him she wasn't as keen in getting to know him).

Sensing a disturbance in the force, he looked up and found a not so pleased agent, impatiently tapping her stiletto heels to the floor. Paula Hass was really beautiful, the kind of person that always gets what they want, and on top of all she was one of the best, if his public persona was anything to go by. Always dressed formally, with impeccable taste, his agent awaited his arrival not so patently.

"It was about time you showed up!" Paula all but barked at his direction the moment she set eyes on him. Her face morphed and he wondered if she had a second job in providing inspiration for cartoon villains.

"Hello to you to Paula. How nice it is to see you this lovely morning" He bit back bitterly. Having angry Paula before noon was not definitely something he enjoyed.

"Oh no Ricky, you can't expect me to be little miss sunshine if you arrive late as always, without coffee, and on top of all give attitude" She talked as if she were scolding a little boy.

That really got to his nerves, but he knew she was partially correct. Not wanting to explain himself as to why he was late or what happened with their breakfast, he said as plainly as possible. "Of course... Sorry" He gave her a tight lip smile

"So? How does this really work huh?" He asked

"For one, we have to meet the captain. He will tell us what the conditions you have to fulfill here are. Then we'll get on some sort of agreement that leaves both the NYPD and you good PR" she explained.

"Ok, that seems logical...So you have absolutely no idea what I am going to do here, right?" He tried again, sensing she wasn't letting on everything she was informed. As if she told him everything he might run for his life. Hell, it was still one of his current options.

"How about we enter and find out?" She gave him a false smile, which he didn't return. She stopped him from entering the precinct.

"Before I forget… please try to act like an adult, at least until I'm gone" She warned, her tone letting him know there was no room to discussion in that aspect.

"Spoilsport" He said under his breath, slumping his shoulders and following her with a strange feeling of dismay, but they were short-lived as soon as he set foot in the building.

After being cleared by security and given proper identification, Rick felt the jitters again He was almost jumping in his feet at the elevator. He was about to enter a real police station, not only that, he was going to be working with them, helping them catch killers in real life, not like one of his books. He could feel the energy irradiate from his being, nothing, not even an irritating looking Paula and a scared looking rookie could deflate him.

"Stop fidgeting, you're making me anxious" Paula hissed, breaking the uncomfortable silence elevators always provided with.

The elevator sound indicated them that they had arrived to the Homicide floor, Paula wasting no time walked-rather sprinted - towards the first person she saw.

A Latino looking guy did a once over her, only to find her scowl directed dangerously towards him.

He visibly gulped and asked "Is there anything I could do to help you Miss...?" He recovered rapidly and gave her a charming smile, the one that surely made woman swoon. Oh Boy, Rick thought, this poor guy doesn't know what he's getting himself into.

"Cute." She smiled at him sarcastically " Actually could you direct us to captain..." she looked in her purse for something, finally retrieving some paper and reading it very quickly "mmm, Montgomery, Captain Montgomery. We had an appointment at 8" She said glancing at Rick, who apparently found the floor rather interesting.

"That won't be necessary detective Esposito" a deep voice belonging to a sharp looking man, well in his sixties interrupted them from the right

"Good morning, I'm Captain Roy Montgomery, you must be Miss Paula Hass, I believe we talked on the phone…"

"Yes, sorry we're late. Nonetheless could we continue this meeting elsewhere?" She wasted no time in saying.

"Sure" the captain answered. Then he looked straight at Rick offering his hand for a friendly shake.

"I was wondering if you were going to show up at all Mr. Castle" he lifted an eyebrow and, Rick could feel his hand beginning to sweat "I hope we are not keeping you from something important" he finished, giving Rick an unsettling look.

"No, of course not." Rick Said nervously

"Ok then... Please follow me to my office" he said andlead the way to the door not that far away from where they were standing.

I'm not even two minutes here and I'm already being sent to the principal's office... was the thought that invaded Ricks mind as he moved to the captains' office. He could tell he was going to both like the man and fear him. Hopefully more of the first than of the latter.


The meeting was short and not really informative, but what he was told about his role here was enough to raise some alarm bells in his head. They exited the office; the captain said something about going to look for the detective in charge of keeping an eye on him. He wasn't really hearing him, still going everything he was told not so long ago

"This sucks!" He whined. He wasn't there to play cops and robbers. Hell not even shadow them a bit. No, he was there as something entirely different.

"I'm going to be a cop's secretary! Might as well put on and apron and start making donuts and coffee for everyone!" he yelled earning a few amused looks from nearby cops.

"What a drama queen." Paula said exasperated "you're not going to be a secretary. You'll just be helping them with paperwork, filling and filing it and such, it's really not that bad."

Rick just lifted and eyebrow

"Ok, that didn't make my point across. However, this is much better that jail time. And you'll still get some experience about how things work here" she tried to convince him by saying.

Although he knew she was right about going to jail, he still wasn't finished throwing his tantrum "but is the boring stuff! Nobody wants to read about that in my books, I don't see how this 'experience' is going to help me!"

"Well just suck it up Richard. This will be over before you know it" She was done hearing him complain.

"This is going to be the longest eight weeks of my life" he stated dramatically, earning a well-deserved eye roll from Paula.

His little pity party prevented them from hearing the elevator ding, nor did they notice the nameless woman entering their level. And they definitely did not hear the woman stop in her tracks, curse loudly and hide behind a rookie walking by her.