A/N : Back again with a chapter from a certain feisty Medical Examiner. A warning for some mild language and description of dead bodies and assorted parts in this chapter. We are with Lanie after all. Thanks yet again to all enjoying this fic.

Disclaimer : Castle is the property of ABC and not me. This is just me getting through the hiatus.


Ch. 7 LANIE

She looks at her friend in the position she has seen her in so many times before. Sitting on the stainless steel autopsy slab, with slumped shoulders and a curved spine as her body tries to fold in on itself as a physical demonstration of her mood. This is counterpointed by the childlike swinging of her legs in the air as even her impossibly long legs can't reach the floor.

Lanie Parish has lost count of the number of times that she and Kate have sat opposite each other like this as one of them unburdens themselves to the other. She looks now at the expression of frustration on her friend's face as she recounts the latest antics of her husband.

"It's like he's not even trying to come back to the precinct, Lanie. Ever since he passed that course, set up his website and got involved with that first case with us he's thrown himself into being a PI. Don't get me wrong, in a way I'm glad he's found something to do so he's not just moping around the loft in his PJs all day because he's depressed at being kicked out. It's just that I think he's trying too hard, like he's trying to overcompensate for not being my partner anymore," said Kate as she combs her fingers through her hair.

Lanie has heard a similar refrain from Kate ever since that day a week ago when Alexis called her and told her of the news of Castle's expulsion from the 12th. She'd known the moment her former intern had told her the news that she'd be receiving many visits like this one. Many a morning, except when a body dropped, she would find Kate like this waiting for her. Stopping here to vent and getting some reassurance from her before going into work. Time for more of that reassurance.

"Come on, Honey. You know he wants nothing more than be by your side. It's like you said he's just trying to fill the hole left by not being able to solve murders with you anymore. The second he's allowed back into the precinct he'll be in that ratty chair with your vanilla latte in his hand faster than you can say Castle," she says in a sympathetic tone.

"Yeah, I know. I just worry about him. You know what he's like Lane. He sticks his nose into everything and while that might be a good trait for a PI it can also get him into a lot of trouble. If the guys and I aren't there to watch out for him I'm afraid he could get hurt while he's out there thinking he's Sam Spade," a grimace crosses Kate's face obviously distressed at the thought of harm coming to her husband.

"Well he does have the same ability to get into scrapes as your average nine year old but he would never do anything to deliberately put himself in harm's way. He wouldn't do that to you and he wouldn't do that to Martha or Alexis. Those videos he made for you all when he was gone proved that. Anyway what about all this talk of the DA being linked to Bracken and that being the real reason that Castle got the boot? I saw those articles about the DA and Castle in The Ledger. If it can be shown that Castle's dismissal is less than kosher surely they have to let him come back and you won't have to worry about him being a PI anymore?" she asks her friend trying to get her to focus on possible positive future and not the worst.

Kate huffs at that, "It's true that the DA is starting to be asked some questions about his past associations in the press but it's still going to take some time. Unfortunately he's not just going to admit to it all and crawl away. I hate to say this but we'll have to rely on the media to keep the pressure up," Lanie watches a familiar look of anger cloud Kate's face. "I can't believe this comes back to that bastard Bracken. I thought I was done with him once he was convicted but it looks like I'll never be rid of that man's evil."

Lanie says nothing as she watches Kate running through her thoughts. She notices a look of curiosity poke through the anger.

"I wonder how the press got that information about the DA and Bracken? As well as who was behind those positive articles about Castle's time shadowing me? Castle knows nothing about it. While the guys showed me that DOJ file, which they still won't tell me how they got, they swear to me that while they'd thought about going to the press but hadn't yet and I believe them," ponders Kate.

"Well there you go, sweetie. It just goes to show that you and Castle aren't alone and that you've got more people than you know in your corner. Look at all those names that Ryan's collected for the protest letter he's sending to the Commissioner. With all the questions in the media about the DA's motives and the pressure from the rank and file and other concerned citizens those fools at 1PP are going to have to reinstate Castle. You just have to be patient and know that there are others out there who've got both your backs," she reassures her. Kate gives her a grateful smile at her words and then looks down at her father's watch.

"I better go. We're still trying to get a clear timeline of our victim's movements before the murder. Their phone and financial records should be in by now. Thanks for hearing me out Lanie. It helps," and with a further grateful smile Kate hops down from the slab and makes her way to the door of the examination room.

"Don't mention it girlfriend, anytime. Now you get out of here and do your detective thing and find the guy who killed the guest in drawer six. Rest assured that there are people out there that are doing whatever they can to get writer boy back as your partner. Now scoot!" she waves off her friend out the door.

"Thanks, see you later Lane!" Kate calls to her over her shoulder on her way out the door.

"Bye Kate!" she likewise calls to the receding back of the tall brunette.

Phew, she thinks, how much stuff do those pair have to go through before they can have some peace? She hops down from the slab she's sitting on and walks over to her desk to look at the paperwork waiting for her there. She sits down but rather than start her working day she keeps thinking on the situation that her friends find themselves in.

It pisses her off that after all the effort it took to get those two together that they still just can't enjoy their marriage like a normal couple. That, as Castle would say, the universe can't seem to let them be happy but keeps throwing up obstacles in their way. But maybe that's the point. That couple are anything but normal. Hell, if you Googled 'abnormal relationships' there would be a picture of her strikingly beautiful best friend and her ruggedly handsome husband.

Frustration joins her anger when she thinks of all the pushing she did to get them, Kate in particular, to act on the feelings they had for one another. She knew Kate was stubborn and closed off and had good reasons from her past to be so. It had taken those admittedly not so subtle pushes from her and the charisma, wit, honesty and reliability of the man combined with the connection Kate has with the charming writer for them to admit what everyone already knew. That they were meant to be together. Jeeze, even tribesmen in the Amazon that have never encountered modern civilisation knew Beckett and Castle belonged together. Now they are married, living their happy ever after and getting ready to give her some little Casketts to spoil only for this shake-up of their relationship to occur. A relationship that has had more than enough shaking up as far as she is concerned.

She'd felt so helpless earlier this year after Castle disappeared. She could only watch as Kate went into full lock down of her emotions. Trying to keep them bottled up so that she could be the strong one for Alexis and Martha while spending every waking moment searching for her missing love. She hadn't known Kate when her mother died but she imagined that what she saw then was pretty close to how she was back then as she tried to deal with the death of someone so close. All the while changing the course of her life from becoming a lawyer to being a cop. Then having to be stronger than her years while her father succumbed to his grief by trying to loose himself at the bottom of the bottle.

The number of times she tried to get Kate to take a break, to let off steam, even just to come around to vent over a bottle of wine only for her to insist that she didn't have the time. That she couldn't stop looking, not for a moment. Those walls around Kate's heart that Castle had reduced to dust had sprung back up and she'd feared that her friend would go back to that careful, serious and less than fun loving personality she'd had before a certain Rick Castle came along.

Sure there had been a couple of talks like this morning's here in the morgue during that time but as it had worn on Kate had become more and more focused on the search. One encouraging thing then was how much Kate had been there for Alexis and Martha but she saw that even that took a toll on her friend. While the women shared their sorrow over the missing father, son and fiancé and became closer she was sure that Kate had felt she was letting the pair down. All because she thought she was supposed to have the answers and she didn't have any. Lanie had made sure that Javi and Kevin were keeping an eye on Kate but when she heard of some of the things they did to try and keep her spirits up she despaired. Seriously, handing her a cup of coffee just like Castle. What was Javi thinking?

She shakes her head as she thinks of her former boyfriend. She's lucky that their breakup this time was so mutual, so without drama. It still hurt deep down but they have been honest with each other and themselves. They were friends, more than friends but they weren't the ones for each other that are that special someone to spend forever with. The freedom of it all has allowed her to be here for Kate as much as possible and to stay in contact with Javi as he keeps an eye on things for her at the precinct without any awkwardness between them.

During Castle's disappearance she'd felt so useless. Useless that she'd been unable to contribute in a tangible way to the search for him and, with Kate building walls back up taller than the Empire State Building, been unable to comfort her friend as much as she knew she needed. But this time is different. This time she's had enough. After all that her friends have been through, after all the work she's put in getting them together she was dammed if she was going to let this important part of their relationship get taken away.

That's why she's glad Kate only stays for an hour at most for her visits. She looks at the calendar on her computer monitor and at the notification highlighted on today's date. There's to be a visitor to the OCME today who she doesn't want Kate to run into before she's had a chance to have a run at. Late last week they'd received notification that DA Harold Harrison would be paying a visit to the OCME today.

They normally didn't see the DA here. They saw plenty of cops and the occasional ADA that was directly dealing with a case but it was rare for the DA to dirty his hands by coming down to the morgue himself. She snorts as she remembers the reason for the notification being that some press would be accompanying the DA on his visit. She had surmised that on this occasion he was visiting for a not so subtle photo opportunity to try and show he was a hands on DA that was involved in all aspects of an investigation. To promote his chances for his run for mayor. Since then the articles about Bracken and Castle had been published in The Ledger so she wonders if the press will still be with him or if the visit is still going ahead. She hopes so.

She's got a nice little plan for showing that stuck up son of a bitch that you don't mess with Dr Lanie Parish's friends. Her mouth quirks up with a smirk at what she has planned as she looks at the clock on the monitor to see that he should be here any moment now.

Right on cue she hears voices in the corridor outside her examination room and she looks up in time to see a group of people entering the room. In walks Dr Charles, the Chief Medical Examiner for New York City, who leads in that self-same son of a bitch, DA Harrison. Behind the smarmy DA is a reporter and a photographer. At least they didn't bring a TV camera with them. A morgue is not exactly appetizing viewing while you watch the evening news as you have your dinner. Lanie stands to greet the group, suppressing her grin as she thinks about what is about to happen, as she hears Dr Charles introduce her to the group.

"DA Harrison this is Dr Lanie Parish one of our most experienced and senior Medical Examiners. Dr Parish will show you the facilities we have here that enable us to supply such accurate and unimpeachable scientific evidence," introduces Dr Charles as he gives a look to Lanie that says, 'Sorry to foist this wind bag on you'.

Lanie had spoken to Dr Charles about this visit and knew the man wasn't happy about his office being used for the self-promotion of the sleazy DA. He'd reluctantly agreed after the DA made it clear that he had influence with the members of the administration responsible for the OCME's budget. Lanie didn't mind because it gave her the perfect opportunity to get a little revenge on behalf of her friends.

With the fakest of fake smiles plastered on her face she moves forward, hand outstretched, to shake the DA's hand, "Pleasure to meet you DA Harrison."

"The pleasure is all mine doctor," responds the DA with an equally fake smile and an unpleasantly damp handshake. The DA turns to the reporter, a young woman with long blond hair, "The work of professionals like Dr Parish here are the backbone of every successful prosecution that I manage. Without the evidence supplied by the members of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner many a criminal would walk free."

"If you'd all like to follow me I'll show you some of the equipment we use in our procedures," suggests Lanie in a tone that suggests that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

She takes the group past some of the benches in the room with a variety of equipment on them. On a couple of benches she makes sure to slow and point out some particular pieces of evidence on display. A dissected human brain in a jar. A section of burnt flesh that has been pinned out to display a tattoo. A set of lungs in a tray dissected just like the brain in the jar. She smiles on the inside at the green tinge starting to appear on the DA's face at these sights.

Moving quickly so that the DA can't abort the visit and so spoil what's to come she pulls back the plastic wrap over tray containing some particularly pungent stomach contents. Satisfaction peaks at the retch that the DA just manages to keep down at the sight and smell of the contents of the tray. She notes the reporter looking equally put out but the photographer, a man with long black hair in a ponytail, looks like he's been around and is not as affected. In fact he's making sure to take photos of all of the DA's reactions. Just what she wanted.

Maintaining her fast pace she leads the group over to the bank of refrigerated drawers holding the residents of the morgue talking as she goes, "All the evidence you see here has been instrumental in a number of successful prosecutions. And here is one of the victims whose killer this evidence helped find."

Before anyone can object she opens one of the doors in wall and pulls out the drawer inside. She can't restrain the smile that now breaks across her face at the reaction of the DA to the sight she has revealed by pulling out the drawer. Not only the sight but the stench has the DA retching in his mouth as he tries to hold it in but his efforts are in vain. The sight and smell of a bloated corpse of a man that had been fished out of the East River has got the exactly the reaction from the DA she is looking for. Just to make sure the corpse's face is mostly missing from the two large calibre bullet holes in its centre.

With a fair amount of glee she watches as the sorry excuse for a man that is the DA succumbs to it all. With an almost explosive heave the man leans over and vomits into the trash can that Lanie has conveniently placed there just for the expected reaction to the contents of the drawer. As the reporter barely holds in her own breakfast the photographer is happily snapping away at the sight of the previously unflappable DA face first in the trash can.

Satisfied with a job well done she makes her way over to the DA to make it look like she is showing concern for the DA's condition. As she nears the crouching man she bends down and puts her hand on his back so it looks like she is comforting him. As the man finishes emptying the contents of his stomach Lanie leans in to whisper into his ear ensuring only he hears what she says.

"Richard Castle sends his regards."


A/N : I had to borrow this last line from 'Game of Thrones'. Just couldn't resist. I realise that I've gone away from angst in this fic and it's becoming a bit more fun. Just like certain writer we know. Anyway we know Lanie would not be someone you would want to cross and while all the talk of being able to hide murders is intimidating I think this is a more likely way she would get revenge on someone.

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year. More chapters to come.