A/N: Here you guys go! A celebratory chapter because 3XK is finally dead! ALSO Kate Beckett is a BAMF! Cheers!


"Do you think Ziva knows her?" Tony asked Gibbs.

"Most likely, she did replace Ziva as her father's right hand man." he replied. "Why don't you go downstairs to Abby's lab, see if shes got anything new"

Tony left the squad room and bought an extra large CafPow for Abby. Heavy metal music was blasting and it took Tony a couple of yells to get her attention.
Tony cleared his throat, "Gibbs wants to know-"
"TONY!" Abby almost pushed him down. "I've missed you! When did you come back? Where's Bishop and McGee? How were the Castles? And little Elizabeth?" she asked him
"They're in New York, and everyone is good."
Abby could tell that something was wrong, she could see it in his eyes. She closed both exits of the lab and made Tony sit down.
"Spill it DiNozzo" she ordered. For the second time that day, Tony told his painful tale. When he was done, there were tears in Abby's eyes.
"Oh Tony, I am so sorry. I can't believe they would do something like that to you."

"It's okay Abs, I'll be fine. You shouldn't be worrying about me." Tony told the Goth. Abby doubted that he going to get over this anytime soon, so she let the subject drop.
She grabbed her CafPow and started drinking. "So, I'm guessing that Gibbs told you to come down here to see if I have anything new." Abby told him.
"Well, you guessed correct, milady." Tony replied.
"Okay, so our victim put up one helluva fight. On his knuckles, I found some skin cells that didn't belong to him." she explained.
"So you're telling me that they belonged to his killer? Were you able to find any DNA?"
The forensic scientist glared at him. "Of course I checked to see if there was any DNA. Luck is on our side, Agent DiNozzo. "
"Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?" he asked.
"Yup, you find me DNA to match and you've got your killer!" she exclaimed.
"Thank you Abby!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back in New York, Castle and Beckett started their day earlier than usual as well. Beckett couldn't fall asleep the night before, thinking about how Tony was feeling. She tried calling him numerous times but her calls went straight to voice mail. She stopped leaving messages after the 20th time. Castle couldn't sleep because Beckett continued tossing and turning right next to him. When heard what went down, he went straight for the liquor cabinet. Ziva and Kate were gonna need strong drinks. Alexis got the girls ready for bed. Before going to sleep, they asked her multiple questions about their favorite Uncle Tony. Once the girls fell asleep, so did their parents. Everyone was eager to leave the day behind them.

When Ryan and Esposito finally arrived, they got to work.
"Hey, Ryan, have you gotten anywhere on the search for George Spencer?"Beckett asked him.
"Not yet, but we did find an eyewitness that saw someone matching out suspects description using a payphone a couple of blocks away from Ried's apartment building," he told her.
Excited about the new lead she asked, "Where has that gotten you?"

Ryan shook his head, "Nowhere"

A couple of minutes later, Bishop walked in. "Wow, everyone's here early. Even Tony. When I woke up he was already gone."
Now Bishop had Kate attention. "Gone? What do you mean, gone?"

"Detective, what are you talking about? He got an early start to the day, he's here." Bishop thought Kate was playing games with her.
"Bishop. Tony. Is. Not. Here." Beckett enunciated her words, so Bishop could understand.
"Okay, then he probably went out to get coffee."
Castle could see that his wife was worrying. They looked at each other, silently conversing. Ziva.

"Don't worry about it, he's most likely doing some errands for Gibbs." Castle said unconvincingly "I will be right back, there are a few calls I need to make." Castle headed towards the elevator, he needed to talk to Ziva. Maybe Tony went back and hashed things out with her. Perhaps, he gave her the chance to explain herself. The elevator doors opened and Castle knew immediately that isn't what happened.
"McGee! What are you doing here?" Castle exclaimed. He turned around, checking to make sure that Kate hasn't spotted them yet.
"Hey, Mr. Castle, it's actually a long story and it's not my story to tell" McGee told him. "Tim, what did I tell you about calling me Mr. Castle, Castle is just fine. Let's go tell the others that you're here." Castle led him towards the squad room.
"Hey, everyone, look at what the cat dragged in." Castle proclaimed.
Beckett's jaw dropped, McGee being here meant only one thing. Tony's gone. Bishop hopped from the desk she was sitting on, "McGee! What are you doing here? Where did Tony go?"
McGee smiled, "Hey, Ellie, Tony went back to D.C. He decided that I would be more of use here. Apparently, so did Gibbs."

Kate forced a smile, "Well, I'm glad you're here. We needed a fresh pair of eyes."

Esposito realized something was up. Why was Kate and Castle acting so tense? Why did Tony leave suddenly, without a goodbye? "Happy to have you, Tim" he told the agent. "Ryan, can you come with me for a second? We have things to discuss."
Ryan followed Esposito into the break room. He closed the doors and said, "Bro, have you noticed something weird going between Castles and the feds?".
Ryan looked uncomfortable, "I thought it was just me, I'm pretty sure something went down between them. How else could you explain Agent DiNozzo leaving like that?".
"I'm worried about how this is gonna affect Beckett, she already looks shaken up. I should tell Lanie about this, let her talk with Beckett." Esposito said.
"Okay, just keep an eye out, make sure she doesn't do anything drastic." Ryan told him

"I highly doubt it, but let's go before anyone gets suspicious." Esposito said.

As they walked out, so did McGee. McGee spoke, "Guys, I just got off the phone with Tony, he said that Abby found DNA on Reid's knuckles. If we have DNA to match, then we caught our killer."
"Reid's killer, or attacker? Maybe they're two different people." Castle pointed out. "Either way, we need to find out who that DNA belongs to. I'll ask Lanie to send a sample of George Spencer's DNA. I'll go down to the ME's office now. Oh McGee, did Tony say anything else?" Kate asked McGee. He shook his head and Kate walked out. As soon as she did, Esposito whipped out his phone and texted Lanie, explaining the situation.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Lanie?" Kate called when she entered the morgue. The medical examiner walked out, it seemed as if she was finishing an autopsy because she in her scrubs and wearing protective gear. "Sit" she ordered. Kate complied. "I came down here for-" she started, but Lanie interuppted. "I know what you came for, the DNA was already sent to Abby it's in her hands now." Kate stood up, "Well then, I guess that's it". Lanie gave her a death stare. "Detective Beckett, sit your butt down or so help me." she said. Kate sat down, mostly out of fear that Lanie would kill her if she didn't do otherwise. "Speak," the medical examiner ordered, "and start from the beginning," And so Kate did, she explained everything. She told her about the drama between Ziva and Tony. Lanie listened intently for the hour hour Kate was speaking. When she got towards the end, Kate began to cry. Lanie was her shoulder to lean on. Kate felt awful for doing what she did, she knew that allowing Castle to ;let Ziva come in her home will have consequences. She should've expected Tony's reaction, but it still surprised her. He was even angrier than in high school, when Kate refused to go to prom with him. She didn't want to go at all. But at the end, she did go to the prom, with her best friend. "Girl, when Tony comes to his senses and realizes that he loves you and Ziva enough to overcome his feeling of betrayal." Lanie explained, and hugged her. "Thank you so much Lanie, I really needed this" Kate suddenly felt grateful that she had a level minded best friend who gives out the greatest advice and makes the best cosmos. "Well, that's what I'm here for" Lanie told her.


Hey guys, just wondering if I can ask you a question. Are my chapters too short? Please tell me if they are, I'd love to have other people's opinions. Thank you!

Happy Presidents Week! (For my Americans)