I want to thank everyone who has favorited and reviewed this and all of my stories. I know that I don't take enough time to respond to each and every one. My life and work is extremely hectic and it leaves me with little time to write let alone answer everyone.

I also want everyone to know that I am not going to abandon any of my stories, and with the holidays over maybe I can find a little more time to work. The difficult thing I have learned is to complete one before starting another.

Again I want to thank LadyAilith for her continued support and her friendship in all of my endeavors. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Pen to Paper for his encouragement. He had cheered me on when I was a little blocked.

Again I own nothing.

Chapter 10

Kate ran out of the office and into the kitchen only stopping when she grabbed her dad. "I love you so much! I know you need me and I am so sorry for the thoughts I had this morning." The tears were flowing down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry." Jim placed his hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles all the while kissing the top of her head. When he wasn't kissing her head he was telling her it was alright.

Castle and Alex were watching the proceedings from the doorway of the office. He felt horrible for the way he approached the situation earlier but she needed to see that her dad was hurting so much more that she was. And if she couldn't see that would she ever be healed enough to have a go at a family? He was sure that they both wanted it, but he wasn't convinced that she could defeat her demons, her almost unquenchable thirst for justice.

They were startled from their little bubbles, the Beckett and the Castle bubbles, by the sound of a knock on the door, but before anyone could answer, the door opened. Standing there being ushered into the loft by Alexis was Captain Gates. "I found a guest waiting at the door."

"Captain Gates, welcome to my home." The suave page six voice came out only to draw a round of eye rolls from Kate and Alexis. And at that moment he was sure that Alex was taking notes, trying to perfect her own eye roll. "Castle put away the page six voice," Beckett said as she turned to Gates. "Welcome Captain."

Feeling thoroughly chastised Castle asked the Captain if she wanted any coffee or breakfast. She politely refused the offer of food. "But I must say I have grown extremely fond of your coffee machine at the precinct, so if you would make me a coffee I would appreciate it."

"Of course." He went about the task of making her drink as she sat down at the breakfast bar beside Kate. "Detective Beckett, first of all I want to tell you how truly sorry I am for your loss. Both that of your mother and your mentor." She paused as Castle placed her coffee in front of her, looking up with a tentative smile. "And the loss of my friend. You see Roy Montgomery and I went back twenty years or so. We were in patrol together."

Beckett just looked at her new captain and nodded as Gates continued. "I want you to know that about the same time we started, a friend of my husband started with the FBI. Now some twenty years later he is the Senior Agent in Charge of the New York office." Kate didn't know what to say so she remained quiet trying to see where this conversation was going. "I have asked him to take over this investigation."

"But sir!" Kate protested only to be met by Gates' raised hand. "Detective, I didn't make this decision lightly. It pains me to say that we as the 12th Precinct's Homicide Department cannot investigate the death of one of our own let alone a death in one of our officer's family. But the fact of the matter is that there are too many people tied to this in our department. There are too many corrupt cops that could be on his payroll. I want this son of a bitch and I want it to stick. No way he walks and no way he gets wind of an investigation. We both know he is powerful enough to bury the case or he could just skip the country."

Beckett just sat there silently. Everyone in the room was giving her space, letting her come to her conclusions. Castle was holding his breath; this was the first test of her attempt to be more for them. "You're right Captain, of course you're right but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

Castle placed his hand on her shoulder. "No you don't Kate, but we all want an airtight case." She placed her hand on his, looked up and smiled at him.

The captain continued. "There is going to be a FBI agent at the precinct Monday morning. You and your team will be working with him to make sure of things on our end."

"But sir, won't that be suspicious if there are eyes and ears at the precinct?" Castle chimed in.

"We will have to chance it. It's not uncommon for the FBI to be in a precinct and with all of the cases that your team and the FBI have worked on together it won't seem too out of place. Now that we have the first order of business out of the way we come to the second. Mr. Castle can you come into the precinct on Monday afternoon, say at two o'clock?" Castle looked at her and nodded yes. "Good. Now the last thing I want to talk about is this." She moved her hand, waving it between Beckett and Castle.

Castle looked for guidance from Beckett, not willing to speak about their budding relationship, not wanting to say the wrong thing. They hadn't spoken about how to handle this. Kate cleared her throat, attempting to gather her courage. "We have decided to pursue a relationship. It's in its infancy, we're just trying to figure us out." She looked back at her new boyfriend, no that wasn't right, they were so much more than that. Her partner, that's what he was, her partner in work and if this worked out, her partner in life.

"Okay, just so you know Mr. Castle doesn't work for the NYPD and with that, the No Fraternization rules do not apply to him. But I better not catch you two in the supply closet!"

This drew the first words from Jim. "I should hope not!" Which drew a glare of epic proportions from Kate. "Doesn't work on me, remember I'm married to your mother." Everyone in the room didn't miss his statement.

Castle felt it was time that he spoke as this conversation seemed surreal to him. "Captain Gates, I just adopted a daughter and with that I intend to be a stay-at-home-dad the same way I was with my older daughter." He smiled at Alexis and she returned one to him.

Gates rose from her seat, thanked him for the coffee then excused herself, heading for the door. "Just be in my office on Monday afternoon Mr. Castle." And with that she departed.

Castle looked at Beckett and asked, "What in the hell was that?"

'Rick, I don't know, but that just cost you ten," she said smiling.

"Dammit!"

"That's twenty!" smirked Alexis.

Xx

Later that day Beckett was sitting on the couch along with Alexis who asked, "Kate are you and your dad staying again tonight? I'm going to Paige's again, we still have some work to do on our project."

Beckett could tell the young woman wasn't telling the entire truth. If she had to guess Alexis was staying away so there was enough room in the loft for her dad and herself. "Only if I can cook dinner and you are here to eat it young lady," she said smiling the entire time she spoke.

Castle came out of his office with Alex in tow. She had needed a bath since she and Castle had a spirited finger painting contest which Kate and Alexis had judged. Needless to say Castle came out on the losing end.

"Beckett did I hear correctly, you're cooking?" He was somewhat suspicious. "Do you even know how to cook?" he said with a Cheshire cat grin on his face as he stopped beside the couch.

"Rick you know I can cook, and didn't I ask you to call me Kate?" She playfully slapped his upper arm, somewhat surprised by the firmness of his biceps. "I told Alexis that we would only stay if I could cook dinner."

Before he could answer her his phone rang. "Castle."

"Mr. Castle I need to speak to you about Detective Beckett," an unknown voice on the line stated. Castle returned to his office while the rest of the adults cooed over Alex. "Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

"Not over the phone, can we meet at your bar in say one hour?" Castle looked at his watch by habit, knowing he could make it to his bar in plenty of time. "Sure, I'll be there."

"I'll be waiting in your booth. Don't be late." With that the line went dead, leaving a stunned Castle staring at his phone. Five minutes later he was out of the loft after explaining that Brian needed something out of the safe in his office. It was a lie, but he was sure no one in the loft caught onto it.

Xx

Castle entered the bar and saw a distinguished-looking man in his mid-fifties sitting in his booth drinking what looked like a scotch. He stopped by the bar and asked Brian how long he had been there, finding out that he had arrived only minutes before.

Castle took a bottle of water and made his way to his booth. "Hello Mister… Well, I'm not sure what to call you," Castle said reaching out his hand offering a handshake.

"Smith, you can call me Mr. Smith," he said taking the proffered hand.

Taking a seat across from his guest Castle said, "Sure thing Mr. Smith, now how may I help you?"

"Before Roy Montgomery died he sent me information that he was using to protect Detective Beckett. Now this information is very damaging to a certain person and he would do just about anything to get it back."

Castle was seeing red. "You had this? She was shot and you had this? You had information that could have ended this, keeping her from getting shot and you sat on it?" His voice rose with each sentence to the point where it grabbed Brian's attention at the bar.

"No, Mr. Castle, I did not have it prior to her shooting. I received it afterwards."

Castle calmed slowly, taking deep breaths in through his nose and exhaling slowly out through his mouth. When his emotions were under control he spoke again. "Okay, why are you talking to me? Why not give it to the police?"

"You see, Roy was a very dear friend of mine and I owe him a debt of honor that I can never repay. I haven't taken this to the police because I will not have his name tarnished. That's not an option that I am willing to accept."

Castle opened his bottle of water slowly taking a sip. After recapping the bottle he steepled his hands in front of him just the way Montgomery would do when he wanted to make a point. "I don't think you can protect his name any longer. You see there's an audio tape upon which a young district attorney can be heard ordering a hit on Joanna Beckett and the police have it. So the best thing that you can do is to turn over that file and let us end this once and for all."

Smith looked at Castle surprised at this turn of events. "I'll turn this file over only if you can guarantee that Evelyn and her children continue to receive Roy's benefits no matter what happens. Don't look so surprised Mr. Castle, I only care about my friend's family. I could give two shits about your pretty detective."

"Okay asshole what do you want?"

"I know that you're friends with the Mayor and the Chief of Detectives. I'm sure they could guarantee that Evelyn is taken care of."

Castle was now seething. "She already is taken care of. There's a trust fund set up for each of her children that not only covers their education but also gives them a jump start on life. And Evelyn, whether or not she receives Roy's benefits, is taken care of for life. So again I ask why do the police not have this file."

Smith rose and before heading for the door he said, "Have proof of your claims here Monday at nine in the morning and I will give you the file." And with that he left the bar.

"Boss, he left without paying for his drink," Brian called out.

"Of course he did."

Xx

Monday morning came with Castle and Beckett sharing his bathroom preparing for their day. As he brushed his teeth he thought back to the past couple of days. Saturday night Kate cooked dinner then they all played a very competitive game of scrabble. Much to his surprise Kate beat him four out of the six games played.

Later that night, when it was time for bed Kate insisted that he sleep in his bed. He, of course, refused but to no avail. But he was surprised when she curled up beside him pressing her cheek to his chest. She said that there was no need for anyone to sleep on a couch, they were adults after all, well at least most of the time. Sunday was a repeat of Saturday with both Rick and Kate cooking dinner, but Jim had left with a friend for a planned fishing trip. He and Kate agreed that he shouldn't put it on hold not knowing when the arrest would come. Jim had protested but he eventually gave up and agreed.

"Would you hand me the toothpaste please?" Kate asked reveling in the domesticity of the morning.

"Sure, here you go." He handed it to her as he grabbed his razor and shaving cream.

"So you never told me why you had to get up so early this morning. I know you have the meeting with Gates but that's not 'til two."

He began to pull the razor across his cheek while trying to talk. "I have a meeting I need to take about the Haunt, issues with the kitchen construction." He knew if she found out she might just kill him. But this was important, this might just help close this case sooner rather than later, and that was a chance he was willing to take.

After dressing he grabbed the paperwork he printed out last night from his business manager, Steve. Kate came out of the bedroom just as he placed the paperwork in his messenger bag. She went around him, opened the safe, and grabbed her badge and gun. "I'm going to call Dr. Burke this morning and set up an appointment for this week. I'll try to get one tomorrow morning. I've had the first appointment every Tuesday morning for the past three weeks." He just looked at her as if to question what she had just said. "Psych eval. And I was serious about making sure that when this is over I'm able to be what you, Alexis, and Alex need."

He was surprised at the determination that he saw in her eyes. He knew that she wanted this but was surprised at the fight he saw there. She was going to fight for this and that's when it hit him. If she was fighting so would he. "Kate, you just keep being you. That's enough for us to get there." He pulled her into a hug and kissed her lightly surprising both her and himself. "I'm never letting you go, you know that don't you?" She just nodded. "I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to make this work, too. If I need to go with you, or see someone myself, well, I'll do it.

Because I love you." He kissed her again.

"What happened to going slow?" she asked with a sly grin.

"After this weekend I saw what we could become. And let's face it, I have never been a very patient man."

Xx

Beckett walked into the precinct at eight and immediately dropped her bag into her desk drawer then headed for the break room in need of a coffee. Castle had made her one this morning but during the rush this morning she forgot it. 'I won't make that mistake again,' she thought to herself. As she made her way back to her desk she noticed that the captain's blinds were closed.

She sat at her desk and opened her email, beginning to read it when Captain Gates' door opened.

"Detective Beckett come in here, please." Kate followed her into her office and was surprised at who was already in there. "Detective I think you know Agent Sorenson." Before she could answer Will was up and closing on Beckett. "Kate, I don't think I have the words." He was inches away peering into her eyes.

"Thank you."

Gates cleared her throat. "Detective Beckett, Agent Sorenson will be running point for the FBI from here and I want your team to assist him. Make sure he has everything we have on this case." She looked over to Sorenson who hadn't left Beckett's side. He was standing even closer then he was before, way too close to be acceptable in a place of work. "Agent I want this closed soon, I don't want it to drag out. I have spoken with your boss regarding this case and he agrees it needs to be handled quickly and quietly. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Captain." He knew a dismissal when he heard one and he headed for the door. "I'll set up in one of the conference rooms."

"Kate, can I have a minute?" Gates asked. "Of course sir." She looked at Will letting him know that she would follow.

"Kate is there something I should know?" she asked nodding to the door through which the agent just exited.

"Sir, Agent Sorenson and I had a romantic relationship a number of years ago, but that ended when he chose Boston over us."

"You have got to be kidding me! He said he worked with you a few years ago on a kidnapping case," Gates said.

"Yes sir, he requested me on that case. Montgomery assigned my team as well as Castle to assist."

"Why would the FBI request a homicide team on a kid…Wait, did you say Mr. Castle?"

Kate nodded. "Yes sir, it was one of the first cases with which he assisted us." Gates did not miss the fact that Kate said "assisted" not that he followed her. "So Mr. Castle helped on a kidnapping case."

Again Kate nodded. "Yes sir, he even volunteered to deliver the ransom, against my better judgment I might add. But he was the only non-cop there and we didn't have much of a choice." Noticing Gates' raised eyebrow she didn't back down. "He did great, actually he broke the case. He noticed that the little girl had a rabbit with her in every picture in the home and we couldn't find it. So the kidnappers knew that about her. With that knowledge we determined that it was the mother and aunt who took the little girl. It was all about money."

Gates looked out at the bullpen watching Sorenson head to the breakroom. "I'm guessing that he wasn't impressed with Mr. Castle and your partnership."

"No sir, he wasn't," Kate said.

"And if I had to guess, Agent Sorenson wanted to rekindle his relationship with you."

"Yes sir."

"And I suppose he doesn't know that you and Mr. Castle are attempting a relationship."

"No sir, he doesn't."

Gates just shook her head. "Then let's get him out of here as soon as possible. And keep me apprised of any issues that might come up." As Kate left the office Gates shook her head. "What a mess."

Unbeknownst to Kate, when she closed the office door, Castle was leaving the Haunt with the file that she didn't know she needed.