Author's Note #1: I'm asking that you please take the next part(s) with a grain of salt. The research wasn't out there so for the most part it's strictly the use of my imagination.

Author's Note #2: I've always liked this particular character so I thought it would be fun to utilize him/her in an interesting way.

Author's Note #3: As you can tell though I have used certain scenes, they in no means follow the timeline on the show.

Author's Note #4: I know Castle asking Beckett out was rushed, I was well aware of that when it happened but there is a point and a reason behind it. All will be revealed as the story progresses.


Chapter 10. Finding Truth


"You were going to tell her," said Beckett as she and Castle walked to their latest crime scene in a restaurant called Q3.

"I don't know what I was going to tell her. You're name just came out after she mentioned the talk you two had," Castle said not expanding over the fact that Beckett's name came up sooner than that.

"Castle, maybe we should postpone our date. We're dealing with a lot so maybe we shouldn't complicate things."

"I want to go out with you."

"So do I but Castle, you should hate me right now or at the very least be angry, anything?"

Before Castle could respond Esposito came up to them. Their personal business would have to wait.

Esposito explained about their latest victim, Balthazar Wolfe, who was the winner on Kitchen Wars season 3. He was found in the kitchen frozen to death from the use of liquid nitrogen. There were no signs of a robbery and the ME could not determine what or when the cause of death was, liquid nitro aside until the body could defrost and then later moved. Beckett gave the order to Ryan that after they could move the body, to call CSU to look for any evidence. Espo then came up to Beckett telling her that the owner had arrived.

When they were out of earshot, Castle asked, "So about our date?"

"Castle, not now."

"I was just gonna say that you're right, it is too soon. Maybe I rushed things a bit considering the bombshell you dropped on me and I'm sorry about that, it wasn't fair."

"You're right, it wasn't. And it's not that I don't want to go out with you, I do. I just think that given everything going on I'm not sure this is the best time."

"Yeah I've never been good with timing and I guess I should deal with all of this before we jump into something right away."

"This isn't going to be weird is it," Beckett asked.

"No, not weird," Castle replied.

"Good so can we now focus on the case please?"

Castle made a motion with his hand across his lips like he was zipping them.


As they walked into the main area of the restaurant, Beckett was taken a little aback.

"Madison," said Beckett.

A tall, blonde woman turned from the PR lady she was talking to. The PR lady excused herself.

"Becks," said Mattie, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm a homicide detective," said Beckett.

Madison looked at Beckett, "Shut the front door," she said sounding surprised.

"I know," Beckett said as she and Madison hugged, "I know right?"

The two women pulled back and looked at each other.

"What a messed up way for us to reconnect," said Madison.

Beckett suddenly remembered she was not a lone, having seen Castle's amusement from her peripheral vision.

"Madison Keller, this is Richard Castle."

Madison sized him up but didn't give any tells away that she remembered him.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi, please call me Rick. How do you two know each other?"

And apparently neither did Castle or Beckett for that matter.

"High school," said Madison, "Ninth grade French. I can't believe the biggest scoff-lad sty became a cop."

Beckett smiled, "Yeah."

After the greetings Beckett still had a job to do. The three of them took a seat at one of the tables and Beckett began asking about Wolfe's life, his time on the show, if he'd had any enemies, things like that. She even apologized for needing to know Madison's alibi. They discussed a little bit more about Wolfe and then Esposito came up saying they had found something in the kitchen; dirty bowls and a pot of popcorn soup.

As Mattie was getting contact information from Wolfe, Castle waited patiently beside Beckett.

"High school friend hu, I bet she knows where all your bodies are buried."

"You can dig all you want Castle; my secrets are safe with her."

"How can you be sure? I mean after all I do remember her from all those years ago."

"Maybe so but that doesn't mean she'd spill, especially to you. She hates you as far as I know. And besides, whatever she knows about me I know worse about her. We used to hang out, a big group of us; had a good time."

"I know you did," Castle said with a coy smile.

Beckett had wanted to slap Castle in the chest but couldn't as Mattie returned with the information.


The case continued to travel on various paths- talks with friends who were Wolfe's next of kin, David Nicolaides, and Domingo the line chef who had planned on leaving the country, Wolfe's rival on Kitchen Wars and various other people of interest. So far none of the leads were panning out.

Beckett and Castle later had to pay Mattie another visit to identify a woman in a sketch. Mattie was hanging on as best she could but life stopped for no one and so she was busy trying to find a new chef. To add to the stress Mattie had a charity event to attend and things might look bad if she didn't show.

She offered Beckett to go to with her but Beckett declined. She didn't say why but she had wanted to check in on her side case. During the stress of the day she had found the center where Alexis had been kept and had made plans to visit child protective services.

Castle on the other hand had other ideas as he offered to go instead so Mattie wouldn't show up stag, asking Beckett if that would be a problem and Beckett said it wasn't.


The day later as it was coming to evening the case had gotten closer but there were still some ends that needed to fit.

Mattie showed up dressed nicely and with a large basket of goodies. Beckett thanked her for them as they walked to her desk.

Mattie took a breath and then asked, "Hey Becks, do you remember when we used to like the same guy in English class?"

"Yes, Brent Edwards, he was very hot."

"Yes. Do you also remember what happened senior year?"

Beckett wanted to lie but didn't, "Uh, yeah, why?"

"This date with Rick, if you guys are at all-,"

"Castle, no no," Beckett said a little too quickly.

"Are you sure, because I really wouldn't want Brent Edwards to happen all over again."

"Trust me it's not."

"Okay great. Are you sure you can't come though? Great location, great food."

"I'm sure. I'm working on another case but um have fun tonight."

"Thanks you too."

Beckett didn't bother to watch as Mattie left. Instead she took a deep breath, glad that conversation was over.


Shortly after Beckett had left the office and then arrived at child protective services.

"You said your name was Beckett," asked the supervisor, Jaina Alva.

"That's right," said Beckett.

"And how long ago did you give up the child?"

Beckett swallowed, "Fourteen years ago."

"You do understand that you had chosen a closed adoption so I couldn't tell you the child's placement even if I wanted."

"I understand that. All I need to know is if the name of the baby's father was listed on the original birth certificate."

"Normally you'd need a court order to obtain this kind of information," said Alva, "but given that you are with the NYPD and this is your own personal case I can make an exception."

Jaina Alva pulled out Alexis' original file. "Nope," she said, "Baby Beckett's father was unlisted."

"You're sure?"

Alva turned the monitor so that Beckett could see for herself. A lot of the old paper files had been updated to computer systems.

"Is there any possible way that her father could have known, either through these services or by some of the workers that handled the case?"

"Now for that you will need a court order Detective. Often times we've had parents come in and threaten our social workers. You understand."

Beckett nodded. "Thanks for your time," she said.

Beckett felt defeated as she walked out of the building. She was still essentially nowhere but she had no time to dwell on it. Esposito had left Beckett a message on her phone, which she had turned off as she entered the building, saying that she would need to pay her best friend a visit. Beckett called back to inquire why and both Ryan and Espo explained that Wolfe wanted out of contract and that Mattie stood to lose millions on him.


"Okay," said Mattie as Beckett had her in an interrogation room, "Next time I'm hitting on a guy you like, come clean with me before I go out with him so you don't have to arrest me to break up the date."

"Madison, that's not-," Beckett started to say but was cut off.

"N, n, n, n, no I get it: you're hot for Castle. You wanna make little Castle babies but wait you've all ready done that haven't you!"

Madison and Beckett looked at each other, both realizing the words that had come out of Madison's mouth.