Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All rights are owned by ABC and Andrew Marlowe.

***Content Disclaimer: This story contains mature themes such as violence and death. Please be warned.***

Roy Montgomery was staring at Castle after dropping a bomb that he didn't see coming. His eyes seemed to be distant as though he was here in body but not in soul. Certainly the weight of having one of your best students turning rogue would make anyone think twice about the time they had spent together.

Four minutes passed, each feeling like an eternity with just the two of them in the room, and finally Castle decided to speak up.

"Sir?" he asked firmly. "You said that you trained, Beckett?"

Roy snapped out of his haze, locking eyes with Castle again, and then sat back in his seat looking embarrassed for his sudden lapse.

"The agency wanted a female presence on the field to expand their options and she was the first one recruited. I was picked to train her as I brought tons of experience to the table. She had remarkable potential that I instantly knew I could hone. And my opinion came true when she almost beat your score in the academy."

"Kate and I were assigned some missions together when we were both relatively new."

"I have read your file," replied Montgomery.

Castle was somewhat shocked by this admittance but going by the look on Montgomery's face, Castle shouldn't have been.

"I hope you realize that we collect all the important data on our field agents. Just like sports, we keep score as well."

"By how many people we kill."

"Taking care of problems that were deemed dangerous," corrected Montgomery.

"Apologies for my interpretation," responded Castle dryly.

"Your record speaks for itself, Castle," said Castle. "Kate was the loudest advocate of calling you the very best the agency has ever seen. She tried to match you in every area but you were always ahead. And you were the only one in the agency to even come close to her."

And she was now ahead of me by miles, thought Castle. He didn't know the exact word to describe what he was feeling but being admired for killing people put a bad taste in Castle's mouth. Maybe there was something more she wanted from him and that night when he saved her life could have meant something more to her than he realized. He had been the one who had initiated the hug because at that moment she looked lost and the only thing that could have brought any sense of comfort was human contact.

And he had to admit her tears on his shoulders had been a wakeup call for him too. They were playing with human lives here.

However, it still didn't change one fact.

"She almost burned me alive," said Castle. "She should re-think her opinion of me being better than her."

"I think you are missing a key word here, Castle. She 'almost' took your life. That means you bested her attempt at your life."

"Mostly luck. And some instinct as well. But none of this helps us get to her."

"You might be wrong about that. It does give us something."

Montgomery cracked his knuckles and then sat forward crossing his arms on the table. "I have evaluated both of you in every single way. And I can say confidently that both of you are almost equals in every way. It's quite eerie but the two of you think alike and adapt to any situation they throw at you with calm. Both of you also believe that either one of you can think one step ahead. Fall behind and you change tactics faster than some military generals."

"People have already told me all of this more than enough times. It's getting tiresome and I still don't know how any of it is helpful."

"It doesn't but the reason I am telling you all this again is if the time comes you will be ready and beat her."

"We may not even meet each other. We actually need to find her first."

"Which leads me to my next hypothesis on why she's doing all this. We get to her next target beforehand and that in my book is the only way we catch up to her. That's our best chance, if not the only."

"In your mind, why did she do all of this?" asked Castle.

"I didn't believe it at first when they told me that Kate had killed her own handler."

"Do you still have any doubts?"

Montgomery then took a deep breath and straightened his hands on the table. "What I believe is not important, Mr. Castle. My only assignment is to help you find Kate."

"And kill her?" asked Castle immediately. He looked straight at Montgomery without blinking. He wanted to know where his opinion lay on whether to kill Beckett or not. Bracken wanted her dead, or at least Castle thought he did, and Gates wanted her alive.

"This mission has reached a point that you must know by now what the end result should be."

"Nothing about this mission is normal or makes sense. The final objective of the mission hasn't even been made clear by any of the higher ups. Ending her existence would not fix that. At least in my books."

Montgomery sat back in his chair and then looked up at the ceiling. After a few moments he said, "That is true. But that doesn't concern us or why we are here."

Castle nodded in agreement. "I agree as well. But that brings us back to why is she doing all this?"

"I think we should delve back into her history, Castle. Sometimes the answers we seek in the present are in the past. You have the skills to take one of those facts and use them to help guide you in the future."

Castle remained silent for a few moments. "Then let's travel back in time and examine Kate's past."

He took a deep breath and began, "This is a long one. Kate was one of the most unique recruits we have ever had in the agencies history. You and many others came through the traditional route but she came in on a route that I didn't even think was possible."

"So Kate was not in the military before she was recruited? I have never heard of a field agent that didn't have previous combat experience."

"That's correct. She doesn't have a past with the military or the intelligence field either."

"We didn't spoke about our pasts when we had worked together."

"Don't take it personally, it took about two years of training with me for her to even trust me fully. Katherine was born in New York. The parents held respectable positions in their chosen careers and the first few years were pitch perfect for them family wise. They were happy. That all changed after Kate's mother, Johanna Beckett, who was an undercover officer was given a new assignment."

"What was that assignment about?"

"Take down a white supremacist group in New York. More specifically she had to get close with an individual by the name, Jerry Tyson. I think you know of him."

"Of course. It was one of the most famous cases in NYPD history but I haven't heard or read the name 'Beckett' from the news stories on that case."

"It was undercover, Castle. The police did whatever was necessary to protect their undercover officer's identities. But, Jerry Tyson is our focus now. He's the one that changed Kate's past to what it is today."

He paused for a moment and then continued, "Johanna Beckett was given the assignment to get close to him at any cost. She did her job and got close enough to Tyson that she had enough evidence on him to prove him guilty for drugs and money laundering. Thanks to her Tyson was arrested in a shootout with the police and is now in jail somewhere in Colorado."

"What about Kate's mother?"

"A tragedy to say the least. After all the hard work she had put in, Tyson got the last punch. He killed her right in front of Kate."

"Jesus Christ. How old was Kate?"

"Seven."

Both of them paused and just looked into the distance averting each other's gaze. Human beings were sometimes the real monsters that lurked in the dark.

"You're sure it was Tyson that did it and not his goons?"

"Yes, the evidence was in the small camera Johanna had installed in various rooms in her house and Kate herself. All of these facts are verified by the NYPD and the FBI as well."

"What happened to little Kate after that?"

"The next obvious custody would have been the father but the poor man had suffered war and his wives death. He couldn't take it and lost himself in alcohol. Child services got involved and Kate was placed in foster care and from there she jumped from house to house till she ended up on the streets."

"Why the streets?"

"She had been given to a family that looked good on paper but in reality were just lunatics in disguise. They didn't treat her well and according to a report made her do things that she didn't want to do. It got to a point where she turned to the streets as a safe haven."

"All of that sounds terrible but I have to stay that the agency doesn't recruit people with that type of a past. How did she get in contact with the agency?"

"Patience, Castle. I am getting to that," said Montgomery with a frown.

"My apologies, sir. Please proceed."

Castle straightened in his chair and gave Montgomery his full attention.

"When Kate was fifteen, she did something that made her eligible for Witness Protection."

"How?" said Castle with a confused look.

"New York in the past was a safe haven for neo-Nazis around the country. Kate embedded herself into one of the Nazi groups that had serious plans to bomb a particular place."

"How is that even possible for a fifteen year old?"

"The foster parents I was taking that had been given Kate as a daughter also had a son who sympathized with the Nazi movement. He was the main organizer of the group meetings and gave them a safe place to meet and recruit new members in the Brooklyn area. Kate was a witness to all this and went to the FBI to become an inside informant for them."

"The FBI approved this?"

"It sounds unbelievable I know. But the agency has gathered all the reports regarding that case and I have read the notes the investigators took when Kate first came in to testify."

"Terrified I assume?"

"The opposite actually. The lead investigator at that time wrote in detail how Kate had been the most adult fifteen year old he had ever seen. When the investigator had interviewed her it was as though he was talking to an army vet. She was the most the well-spoken and resolute informant he had ever worked with. The FBI did test her resolve but she didn't budge an inch. She wanted to take down the Nazis."

"Because of Tyson and her mother?"

"That was my guess too but Kate is one of the hardest person to read. Whatever she does on her own there is a reason for it and most likely personal."

"So a fifteen year old took down a Nazi group?"

"She actually killed one of them. And that was after she had disarmed the person."

"Fifteen years old right?"

"She was seventeen by the time the operation had ended. It took her entire junior year in high school to completely infiltrate the group and then get information on others. She did things that many wouldn't for a group that hated others for their skin color. Cooked, cleaned, print their terrible pamphlets, and by the end she was completely a 'soldier'."

"A girl that young…"

"I know what you mean. She had become one of the smartest in the group by a mile and ended up helping them plan an attack. But, feeding the FBI at the same time."

"There are fully trained agents that wouldn't have been able to do what she did. And none of them are that young," said Castle.

Montgomery continued, "The Nazi attack went forward as planned but the FBI was waiting for them and with the full force of Uncle Sam. The Nazis didn't go without a fight though."

"What happened? Someone get in the crossfire?"

"They exchanged heavy fire and had pinned a couple of FBI agents. She saved their lives."

"Then Kate was put in Witness Protection?"

"I think we are kidding ourselves if we truly believe a racist society is behind us. The Nazis have political reach to this day and Kate had helped cut part of the monster. But the monster still lives."

"I am guessing that is a yes. How did Kate get recruited by the agency? Through Witness Protection?"

"The agency had been keeping tabs on the Nazi operation. We quickly saw one set of skills that the FBI didn't see. We could protect her as well. She would be given a new job and under our watch become one of the best. She would get a new identity, travelled whenever called upon, and personal defense skills that even the hardest killers would have a hard time with. We gave her the offer and without hesitance accepted it. She received the same education and training just like you did."

"That is one way of getting hired by the agency. Not ideal but one way."

"She didn't take a much different route then yours, Mr. Castle."

"You don't have to turn this about me. We are discussing Kate right now and I have two routes I can take with regards to her."

This time it was Montgomery that looked confused. "Explain."

"She probably received several tests and some of them psychological ones that you probably gave her to test her. Am I right?"

"Indeed. I did test her and she aced them all."

"She could have done two things on that test. Legitimately passed it or lied about everything she wrote."

"She made Nazis believe that she was qualified enough to make a terrorist attack. She could have lied on the tests too."

"Her whole history and what she has done for the agency makes the perfect impression that she's patriotic. However, she has taken the lives of two federal employees therefore putting doubt where her loyalty lies. From where I stand, or sit, she was manipulated enough to go through all of this and she had been lying about it the whole time ever since she joined the agency or we still don't know what her motives are."

"Your reasoning is logical."

"I appreciate that you have told me about her past but what I need are the last two years. Every mission she has been on for the past two or three years."

"Why the last two or three years?"

"If it were me in her place two years would be the minimum to plan the whole mission out. Assuming she was turned by someone else and the reason could be money."

"I know Kate. The last thing she cared about was money."

Castle leaned forward on the table and asked, "What if it were me? Would you believe that I would take the money?"

"I don't know you like I do her."

"With all due respect, Mr. Montgomery. You don't know anyone that you have trained in the past. That's why the agency recruited us because we are good at deception. Your childhood has to be a trip through hell itself to become us. We didn't have the picturesque childhood with our mothers making us cookies and the dog playing in the backyard."

"I understand."

"If you do, then I will operate on the basis that Kate is doing this for a personal reason rather than for someone else. I need her last two years. Every single step she took or did. Down to her bank statements."

"Do you not already have the files?"

"I have the censored ones and I need the uncensored ones."

Montgomery looked shocked by what Castle had said. "What in the world?"

"The files that the agency gave me were censored. To be more precise, they had deleted data. Things missing in the middle that didn't add up. I need the whole picture otherwise I am looking at a picture that has paint thrown on it," he paused and decided to tell it all. "The crime scenes were tampered too. There were things that were removed and not by the police. The agency is responsible for the tampered crime scenes and I need to know what was taken and why."

Montgomery looked extremely troubled by these revelations that Castle had dropped on him and stared off in the distance.

Montgomery got off his seat and then walked towards a window that overlooked a forest. "I will do whatever it takes to get you the original documentation on Kate."

Castle remained silent as he didn't trust the new number two yet.

He rose from his chair said, "So, tell me, what do you want me to do with Kate Beckett? Dead or alive?"

Montgomery turned around and locked eyes with him. "Do what you must, Mr. Castle. Find the truth."

"I should get started then."

Castle's mind was going a hundred miles per hour as he accelerated through the streets into D.C. but not towards his apartment. He had to make small detour and head towards a school.

He reached the school and parked at the curb looking around the area for any suspicious individuals. The school Alexis Rodgers attended was considered one, if not the best, schools in D.C. it was not a school, however, where all the students had a dress code and the place where only the wealthy students went. This was a school based on merit. It didn't care what background an individual had, if that person was smart then you could expect to be admitted in their school. Wealth wasn't necessary as tuition was taken care of by the school. The school wanted individuals that were not only smart but had a sense of what society needed in the future.

Castle knew that Alexis wasn't fond of rich schools as she had refused many that were recommended by her step-father. She had decided on this school and Castle knew that she would thrive in the environment that challenged every aspect of her knowledge. She was an individual that the school valued and saw immense potential in.

This was the first time he would encounter her ever since their last dinner in which she had given Castle a picture of herself. He thought about how he would talk and answer her questions that were sure to be filled with some anger.

He thought about it.

He gave up.

There was no way to approach this situation and expect what to happen.

The rain was still falling but only in chunks as it didn't want to let up on the city. Castle turned on his vipers which shoved the water off his windshield. He looked at his watch and it was almost time. Parents had already started to line up next to the curb. There was no bus service provided by the school however students were allowed to use the public bus system.

The final bell rang and the main doors opened letting a flood of students swarm out in droves. Castle got out of his car and saw Alexis make her way down the entrance stairs. He fixed his shirt as much as he could and then jogged across the street.

A group of giggling girls were walking ahead of Alexis as she had earbuds in and was typing furiously on her phone. She had come a long way, he thought. The first time he had come across her family they couldn't afford to give her a phone.

He reached the curb and let the group of girls pass before he stepped forward.

Alexis stopped, looked up from her phone, and a smile erupted on her face before it turned into anger.

"What do you want, Rick," she asked in a demanding tone.

"Made you a promise and now I am here fulfilling it."

"Oh, now you remember? It's a little too late don't you think?"

"Is it?"

The clouds grumbled above them indicating the heavens were about to open up.

"Let me give you a ride home," said Castle as he saw her try and stand tall against the cold wind.

"No thank you. The bus is just fine."

Just then a public bus pulled up next to the curb. He then remembered what her parents had told him about how Alexis hated buses for some reason. "I thought you didn't have a particular liking for buses."

Alexis gave him a frown and he took that as an opportunity to press on. "Let me give you a ride. We can talk. I'll even meet Ryan and make sure he's treating you alright."

"Ryan is fantastic. I've already told you that."

"He sounds fantastic too but I want to see for myself."

"The only reason you're here is because you feel bad about how you've treated me."

"Why are you here then?"

"The rain is not helping right now."

"It won't hurt you."

"Your headphones will probably electrocute you," said Castle.

"Oh, how thoughtful," she responded sarcastically.

But Castle had done enough for her to follow him to the car. Both of them got in and Castle ignited the engine and merged into traffic.

Alexis fastened her seat belt and asked, "So tell me, Rick. Why are you really here?"

"A promise that I had made."

"That promise means nothing to me now."

"You're making it harder than it is, Alexis. Please understand…"

"I don't care, Rick. You need to understand that you left me. And to make things worse you have met Super Agent Shaw plenty of times."

"I have only met her for professional reasons and she was the one that wanted to meet so she could ask me more questions."

"Murders?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Rick, I am not stupid. I know the world you operate in. If it's you and Shaw then it has to be someone dying."

"Guess I should have known you would have figured that out."

"You still met with Shaw."

"It's not what you're thinking."

"It's exactly what I think it is."

"Are you in a competition with Shaw?" he asked with a sigh.

"You said that day after my parents died that you kept your word. People have always lied to me and I didn't know why I expected anything different from you. But you changed my parents and made them appreciate me again. That's why I trusted your word," she paused and looked out the window. "If you didn't want to see again then a quick text would have been fine."

"You really think it's that simple?"

"It is."

"I am here, Alexis…"

The thunder boomed above their heads.

"Because I was wrong."

"About what?" she asked still not looking at him.

"All I could think about after that bust was how I could protect you. In the heat of the moment I really thought that I could protect you myself by being there for you but I should have known better."

"What does that mean?"

"The work I do makes enemies that don't forget you. Those people would have come after you. I heard that you had gotten a new start with a good family and I didn't want to take that away. It was like you had gotten a new shot at happiness."

"You can't be serious, Rick?" she asked.

"You had a clean shot at a normal life and with me your life could have ended alongside your parents. I didn't want to face that reality again."

"You should told me all of this beforehand."

"I was a coward," said Castle. Alexis was now looking at him as he concentrated on the wet road.

"You're not a coward, Rick," she said in a soft voice.

"I just realized that you call me Rick when you're mad and Castle when you're happy or mad."

"Then don't let me call you Richard then."

The traffic signal turned red and Castle looked at her. "I wanted to let you know. Maybe I wanted to do exactly what I had promised. Maybe I wanted to be a part of your life. Maybe…"

"Maybe you wanted to feel normal."

The traffic signal green and Castle drove forward. Both of them didn't speak for a few moments.

"I guess I did."

The heavens opened above them and the rain started to fall harder.

"Wow, Rick. That might be the most honest thing that you have said to me maybe ever."

"You're fifteen right? Act your age and not so mature."

"Age is just a number. Experience is what defines us. Expect I didn't want it to."

Castle nodded. "I understand." And he looked at her and said, "We good?"

"Maybe. Almost there. Not yet…Richard."

Castle then surprised himself and actually laughed in what seemed like ages.

He looked into his rearview mirror and saw a car that looked out of place. His expression turned serious almost instantly and Alexis had noticed.

"What is it?" asked Alexis looking at the side mirror next to her.

He turned to look at Alexis who immediately recognized that expression.

She said, "That look means something bad is going to happen. Is there someone behind us that shouldn't be?"

It can't be, thought Castle. It just wasn't possible. Not here and especially not right now.

But why not? This was a perfect moment. He was trapped. And everything that has happened till now has been unpredictable.

Except there was one problem. Alexis was with him. If he let her out the car then that would put her into even more trouble. But if she remained in the car then the chances of her getting hurt increased as well. This was exactly the scenario that he had feared could happen.

He was feeling anxious and when he glanced at Alexis it was evident that she was as well.

"Castle what's going on? Whenever you get anxious I get scared okay."

"The reason I wanted to stay away from you is now a reality."

Just as he had said that Alexis turned to look back but Castle immediately stopped her. "Don't! They will know that we have spotted them."

"What do we do then?"

"We do nothing."

"What?! Why?"

"We just drive normally. That's it."

"That's it? That's your plan?"

"Yes. We drive normally until something happens that doesn't make us drive normally."

"That sounds like a terrible plan. Then what?"

"We roll the dice."

Castle eyed his rear view mirror again and tightened his grip on the steering wheel even more. The car he had spotted was still there. Just like him they were driving normally as well. He wanted to be wrong but his instincts were screaming at him that he wasn't.

The bigger question was that who was following them? Was it his agency or someone else?

Not Kate. That would be insane even on her part. Every rule they had learned would have been thrown out.

But she wasn't exactly conventional. Maybe she was doing this to become even more unpredictable.

Oh Kate, I can play that game too, he thought.

Castle slowed down to keep in pace with the traffic around him and didn't make any sudden turns either in an attempt to seem like a normal driver. But the time had come to confirm whether the person behind them was really a threat or just a figment of his imagination. His plan was simple and it will most likely reveal whether there was someone following them.

They reached an intersection and he turned on his right turn signal.

"Um, Rick. My house is the other way," said a confused Alexis.

"Play along. We are doing a little experiment."

He looked into his rearview mirror again and the car was still there but its front headlights were blocked by the car that was in front of it. He slowly let the car drive itself by taking his foot off the brake so the car behind him could go ahead and reveal the perpetrator.

Nothing. The car hadn't done anything and the car blocking Castle's view was still there. He glanced to his left and saw an opportunity.

There was a building across the street and on one of the windows he saw the third car with their right turn signal turned on.

Got you, he thought. His turn was coming up to go right as the intersection came into view.

He started to turn right but went straight ahead instead.

The car that had been blocking his view had turned right and the unmarked car was now exposed.

The car's right turn signal was no longer turned on and was now right behind Castle. However, it suddenly slowed down to let another car in between them again.

Yeah, Virginian drivers aren't that nice.

The whole plan had worked. There was someone following them right now without a doubt.

"So, we are being followed right?" asked Alexis.

He glanced at her. "Fasten your seatbelt."

She checked the belt buckle and then gave it a tug. "You are armed and ready right?"

Castle nodded and tapped his right leg. "Loaded."

"What's the plan here?"

Castle was about to answer but was interrupted when the car that had been following them sped up. It came up next to them and before Castle could hit the gas the window of the unmarked car rolled down and revealed a person that calmed Castle down.

"Shaw?" he said exasperated.

Jordan Shaw was driving next to them.

Shaw motioned Castle to pull over and he pulled over to a curb moments later. He got out of the car almost instantly before Shaw even had the chance to put her car in park.

"What the hell Shaw?" asked Castle in an angry tone.

"Why are you mad?" replied Shaw calmly.

"I spotted someone that was following us and you're damn lucky my weapon hadn't come out."

Shaw got out of her car and then saw Alexis stand outside Castle's car wondering what was happening.

"Hey, Alexis," said Shaw.

Alexis replied by nodding in her direction and then looked at Castle.

"Explain yourself, Shaw. Why are you tailing me?" he snapped.

"Why are you so paranoid? Are you always this way?"

"Yes I am always this way. Especially the past few days."

"Well, to answer your question. I wasn't following you."

"That clears up everything. You just happened to be at the school the same time I was," said Castle cynically.

"No. I had no idea and I saw you pick up Alexis."

"Why are you even here?"

Shaw looked towards Alexis with a worried look and said, "Someone might be after her."

Castle was the one concerned now and on instinct his hand reached for his gun. "What do you know, Shaw?"

"There are dangerous people on the prowl with deep pockets. They might know Alexis and even me. But I have the FBI covering me. Who does she have?" asked Shaw her eyes switching between Alexis and Castle.

"She has me," he replied softy.

"Only today did you show up. I was shocked when I saw you at her school."

"I was shocked by my own actions as well," said Castle feeling guilty as he said that.

Shaw saw Castle's face and with a soft tone said, "That's actually a good thing, Castle." she then paused. "But why were you worried about being tailed? Who did you think I was?"

Castle had been looking away from Shaw and then looked at her. "One of the requirements of my job. Always be aware of your surroundings."

"You sure about that?"

He cocked his head on one side with a slight frown. "Why is it every time we have a conversation it seems like you are interrogating me?"

"It's sad but it's the only way to get any useful information out of you," said Shaw in annoyance. "And even then I feel like I know you less than I did before. If you're feeling annoyed right now, so am I," she paused and the next words she said in a quieter tone. "I am well aware that your agency is scrambling on what happened to Coonan."

Castle didn't respond.

"And then we have Josh Davidson. The agency goes full damage control from the incoming shitstorm." She took a step towards Castle. "The DAA is just a cover in my opinion. Josh is a part of you agency. Maybe as an analyst or handler I am guessing."

"Rick," said Alexis. "I would like to head home now."

"Give me a second, Alexis," said Castle as he closed in even more on Shaw. "Word of advice. Keep away from this and the less you know the better it is for you."

"It doesn't work that way, Castle. I have a job and it requires me to keep prodding till I find something. I don't hold back and I think you know that."

She gave Alexis a smile before continuing. "If your agency is in trouble then all of its employees are as well. The people who knocked off Coonan wouldn't mind doing the same to a fifteen year old."

She gave both of them a smile and then got back into her car. Castle watched her drive off and disappear around the corner.

Alexis walked over to Castle. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Life."

"So I was right. There is a case that you guys are working on."

"Not on the same team this time."

"That's interesting. Can I help?"

Castle looked at her with a frown.

"I know. I know. Thought I would ask. So where are we heading next?"

"Taking you home just like you asked."

"Oh, okay," said Alexis in a defeated tone.

Castle looked at her and he knew he had to do something worthwhile.

"Ice-cream?

"Rick, it's raining and cold too," replied Alexis but looking hopeful now.

"Coffee?"

"Definitely," replied Alexis with a small smile.

Both of them got into the car and just as they pulled into traffic a car pulled around the corner and started following them.

This time it was Kate Beckett following them.

Kate had let several cars get in between her and Castle's car so there would be no doubt in his mind. She had picked a car that wouldn't pick any suspicion as well as picking a car with a dull color and stock body with no modifications. When she had arrived at Alexis's school she had gotten the surprise gift of Shaw in an unmarked vehicle but that had helped Kate follow Castle unmarked as his attention was fully focused on Shaw.

As she drove on her mind went back to the target list.

Josh. Dead.

Coonan. Dead.

Vulcan Simmons. Alive. And it was entirely her fault.

Apart from these people she had one more person on the list. Simmons probably would have had a conversation with that person now. The deaths of Coonan and Josh would have probably had been pitched as an attack on American intelligence. The attack on Simmons, however, would have revealed her cards to some people.

She had watched Castle use the textbook 'spot the tail' technique and bring out Shaw from hiding. Kate would have done the same thing. She wondered she could make out Castle that easily if the situation was the other way around. It was too simple for him. He would have figured it out a lot sooner and without the inclusion of Alexis he would have probably taken her out.

I would be dead.

Twenty minutes passed and Castle stopped at a small coffee shop. She wondered what was happening and it was soon answered as both Castle and Alexis entered the little shop. She parked her car across from the street and dipped a little in her seat to avoid any detection. She observed them and for a while they seemed happy in each other's presence. She knew about the drug case both of them had been a part of. It resulted in a tragedy but in some ways they had found a person in each other that could help them understand the world better.

For a few moments Kate felt happy for Alexis. Maybe she had a chance at having a normal life in the future.

She quickly shook it off.

She couldn't think that way right now.

After a while all of them left and later pulled next to a curb which led to the front entrance of Alexis's home. Kate had stopped a block earlier but she could still make out the car and its two inhabitants. The young lady got out of the car and then stood on the curb looking directly at Castle which a hopeful face. She couldn't make out what was being said between them but it didn't look pleasant as Alexis's expression had turned into disappointment. She turned around and walked up the stairs to the most impressive four-story house in the affluent neighborhood.

She turned her attention back to Castle who was still in the car. He was still looking at Alexis go up the stairs till she reached the door. Alexis turned around and gave him a small wave but still had a disappointed look on her face. She entered the house and Castle pulled away from the curb.

Kate slowly drove forward as well but stopped for a few seconds to take a picture of Alexis's house and letting Castle have a head start.

This was Richard Castle's ultimate heel. The one thing that could make him do things that he wouldn't have if it weren't for Alexis. He had broken the first rule in the agency handbook. Don't have anyone that you care about.

In their line of work you don't make friends. The agency had made them into machines that couldn't comprehend feelings and kill for them without feeling any guilt. Then move on to the next one.

But Kate understood why Castle had done it. It was for a solid reason as well.

She had done it as well. Her doctor friend came to mind.

She followed Castle all the way back to D.C. and saw him pull into a garage of an apartment complex.

She didn't follow. That would have been too obvious and someone was probably watching. She looked at the apartment complex which went up to ten stories and was probably home to all age groups. Young people who were starting off in their careers, middle aged people still confused about how life had turned out, and older people who couldn't afford the luxury of owning their own house.

It didn't stand out.

That's why it was a perfect place for people like Castle and her.

Hide in plain sight.

She observed Castle's home base for a few moments and pulled away from the curb in the opposite direction. There wasn't much she could do now and staying here longer could be dangerous. The agency probably had eyes on his place too. It was rush hour so the hordes of cars and people were out in full force and chances of her being spotted were low.

She had a new problem to deal with in the meantime.

She had worked on her list of targets strenuously but in the back of her head she felt there was someone missing.

Josh was small fish.

Coonan was a shark.

And Vulcan Simmons was in the middle as he was a judge but there was more to him than met the eye.

There was another person on the list. Fourth one on the list.

Her instincts were telling her that there was a fifth one as well. And it could be the most important on.

But what she needed now was intel and her next goal would be find the source. But she needed help.

She usually didn't like receiving help but in this case it was necessary. And she knew where to find it.

It was in the most unusual of places.

Not in the power halls of federal covert agencies.

She would find help in a shopping mall.