Disclaimer : same as always.


Chapter 11: When the Dog Bites

They had been trying to get a winner for over an hour but neither could out do the other. His mind had reverted back to his fight with the man that could very well be his father and even her not so gentle attempts to draw him back to the fight had succeeded for long enough to end a round; his fight had become purely reflexive and no offensive. He was acting on nothing but instinct. One thing Jess learned very quickly in this fight was that she never wanted to come face to face with a Delta Force marine when his head was fully in the game and he was at full strength. She had no doubt that, despite how well she had held her own in their match the day before, had he been trying to kill her she would have been dead before their contest had even begun.

At one point Rick had tried to let Jess win but she had made a point of lowering her performance to match his. She wanted to win fair and square or not at all. That was how she was and he loved her more for it. 'Love? Oh, great! Not again. Every time that word popped into his head when thinking about a woman it spelled Trouble with a capital T. He couldn't help but think that, despite this being how he wanted things to go, he was in over his head; and he was scared that he would fail or that she wouldn't feel the same and he'd be left broken hearted, like so many times before. Great job, Rick! Way to jump in the deep end before learning to swim!'

Jess had just exposed herself to attack when Rick's phone rang and distracted him just long enough for her to correct her mistake and catch him off guard. She had him flat on his back in a second and was about to move to a choke hold when his focused mind took over again; he needed to end the fight and get to the phone quickly. She had been sitting on his chest so he swung his legs up and over, the sudden, violent move throwing her off and onto her back. He had rolled with her so that he landed on top of her and had her in the very choke hold she had been trying for seconds before.

He looked at her and smiled at the surprise in her eyes before releasing her enough to lean down and kiss her briefly before making his way over to his bag and grabbing his phone. "Castle" He was short and all business. Jess hadn't heard him talk to anyone like that and was amazed at how much he sounded like a cop, then she realised who he was talking to and it made sense.

"Castle, it's Detective Campbell from-" He cut her off.

"I know where you work Detective. What can I do for the homicide department this fine day?"

"We have some questions we think you can help answer?"

"Questions…? What happened…?" His first thoughts were of his family, but he knew she would have had a different tone and would have asked him to identify a body rather than answer questions had something happened to his mother or daughter.

"Can you come to the station?"

"Sure. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks." They both hung up and he looked over at Jess.

"Sorry, Jess, I'll have to get a rain check on the next round, I've got to go by the 12th. It seems that they have some questions I need to answer."

"What happened? Who died?"

"I have no idea. But Campbell certainly didn't sound happy."

Jess was about to reply when Harrison came in. "Sorry to interrupt but we got a lead on the poison used on Mathew Conner. It came from an industrial strength pesticide, our particular sample matches a batch that was reported stolen from a company called 'Bibbitty Bobbitty Boo Pest Exterminators.' I'm going down to talk to the owner now, you wanna come?"

"'Bibbitty Bobbitty Boo Pest Exterminator's, seriously? That's a horrible name for an exterminator."

"Yeah, but no one ever accused exterminators of being wordsmiths…So, are you coming or am I going solo?"

Jess looked at Rick for a second before answering. "I'll meet you there. I might as well give Rick a lift to the 12th while I'm heading out. Our lunch did get cut short after all."

Rick hesitated a moment. "Are you sure? I can catch a cab if it's out of the way…"

Jess turned to Harrison then. "Is it out of the way?"

Harrison laughed, knowing full well that it wouldn't make a difference to his boss; she had already decided she was driving Castle and he would just have to give in or go with her handcuffed. "No, surprisingly I don't even have to lie this time. It's just a few blocks from the 12th." He gave her the address and, when she nodded that she would remember it, he told her he'd meet her there, said his farewell to Castle and headed for the elevator.

"You see, Rick. It's on the way. Now grab that bag of yours and follow me to the car."

They enjoyed some non work related conversation as they drove to the precinct. The time went too fast for either of their liking. Soon they were pulled up out side the station and Castle was grabbing his bag out of the back seat. He walked around to her window and thanked her for the ride. He then leaned in and kissed her. She almost pulled him through the open window but decided against it. "Give me a call when you get out. I have a feeling you're going to want to talk to someone. Homicide cops aren't exactly known for baring good new." He assured her he would and wished her luck with her interview and, giving her another parting kiss he headed off to the Precinct, watching her drive away over his shoulder.

He was smiling as he made his way to the floor that housed the homicide unit. The fear of what he might learn upon arrival was minimal compared to the comfort of knowing that Jess was there for him if he needed her when he got the inevitable news. He barely noticed his surroundings. His direction was the result of knowing this floor so well that he would navigate it in complete darkness while he was asleep. His mind was focused on the day he had had so far and the woman who had brought him up out of his pain and made him smile like an idiot for the past hour or two.

While he didn't notice anything around him two Detectives certainly noticed him. Ryan and Esposito called out to him from behind their desks. When he didn't answer they got up to follow him. They assumed he was looking for Beckett to finally have it out about the fight, if you could call it that, the previous week. What they saw was that he made his way over to Campbell's desk and followed her and Bates into an interrogation room. They shared a confused look before racing into the connected observation room to watch. When they arrived inside they noticed that a uniformed officer had started the recording and Campbell was interrogating Castle. The fact that they had gone and interrogated their partner without mentioning it to either of them was not lost on them and they each made a mental note to make sure she never forgot again, but even more foolishly, they were trying to break Beckett's shadow, who every one knew she had been miserable without, and they hadn't given her a heads up either. Neither man wanted to think of the things Beckett could do to the overly arrogant cops if, no when, she found out.


Castle sat in the uncomfortable chair. He looked across the table at the two Detectives. Bates was standing, purposefully towering over him. It was an intimidation tactic that he had seen Esposito use a number of times; he had even used it himself from time to time. Campbell was seated opposite him, looking as though she didn't have a care in the world and was almost bored with the formality of the 'interview.' Castle was no fool. He had also seen that tactic used by Beckett. He quickly worked out that the 'interview' had been a euphemism for interrogation. He was a suspect for murder and he didn't even know who he was supposed to have killed. They sat like this for a while until Campbell finally spoke.

"So…Castle…you're a celebrity. You spend a lot of time mingling in high society." Castle knew immediately that it wasn't a question. She was priming him up for something. He remained quiet. "I'll bet you've rubbed shoulders with more than a few powerful people…maybe even been invited back to their homes for a drink." Again it wasn't a question. "Important people attend many of the same events as you do. Some of them actors, some models, other writers, fancy lawyers, mayors, senators…Is that right, Castle?"

'Senators…why had she said that?' He was really starting to get a bad feeling about this. "Yes…that's right."

"Tell me, Castle, do you ever get involved in politics?"

"Where are you going with this?" Castle's mind was racing and he had a really, really bad feeling about the whole situation.

"A man in your position and of your means would have a lot at stake during an election, wouldn't you, Castle." She paused a moment to watch him as he tried to figure out what was going on. "You have shares in a certain real estate development that is awaiting a permit to start building, don't you?" Again he knew this wasn't a question she needed him to answer, so he again kept silent. "Your ride along with the police Detective Kate Beckett means a lot to your career, doesn't it?" He felt his stomach tightening, whatever this was it wasn't a regular initial interview.

This wasn't the kind of interview or interrogation for just any person of interest; the questions were too planned, too focused on keeping him in the dark for that. She was trying to throw him off and Bates was the key. As long as Bates said nothing it would keep the suspect on edge, that was the theory, and it worked, he had seen it time and time again. If they stayed to the play book it would only take a few more questions and they would reveal their hand.

Castle smiled to himself as he remembered his training. They didn't know it but he had been one of the best interrogators in his unit and even better at withstanding interrogation. He could out last them. That wasn't what had him worried. He was worried that they had enough evidence to arrest him for a crime he hadn't committed. It was a basic rule when interrogating, don't make a threat you can't or won't follow through. So either they weren't very good interrogators or they could almost put him away. His hope lay in the fact that if they already had everything needed to convict him they would have arrested him rather than asked him in for questioning.

"Your relationship with Detective Beckett means a lot to you and your daughter doesn't it?" She was trying to throw him; she was leading him in one direction to use his confusion to catch a startled confession. She wasn't very good at this part, he assessed, she was far too obvious. "I understand what that must be like. We can all see how much you love her. I would kill for a love like that. Wouldn't you Bates?"

"Yeah, I would." 'There!' They had thrown their hand. They had not only confirmed that he was a suspect for murder but they had lost the very thing that made Bates effective, his silence. Even better for Castle, they had given him the suspected motive. From there he could figure out who he was supposed to have killed, and possibly what evidence they had against him, to some extent.

He barely heard as she continued. "It's not easy trying for so long to win someone's heart and have them escape your grasp every time…" 'They think I did it to continue my ride along with Becket and, to help my real estate ventures. It was definitely political. Some one was definitely dead. It was someone he had had some level of contact with and who could have been seen as a threat to the development and my ride along- Wait a minute. Carter! He was the one standing in the way of the project's permit; he wanted to cut down on civilian ride alongs… He couldn't be dead. He had just told me he was my…no he wasn't' murdered, I haven't even made peace with him after the fight that- The fight! That's what they have on me! A public fight, my prints would have to still be on the door and I had a lot to lose if he won the election.' Campbell was still going on about how she wouldn't blame him for trying to protect the things he values. He was tired of this game. He was being forced to relive a nightmare, one that he had spent years trying to forget, but this time he really did have the upper hand. They thought they knew more about him than they actually did; they had a false sense of security. It was time to turn their little world upside down. It wasn't the same as if he had the chance to get revenge on his interrogators back in Kuwait, but it would have to do.

"Get to the point, Campbell. Who am I suspected of murdering?" He spoke calmly but with an authority he had mastered in war. He couldn't just come out and say that he knew already, that would look even more suspicious. He was very satisfied, however, at the startled expression on the faces of both Campbell and Bates. No cop was used to losing control of their interrogation to a suspect. Though he couldn't see it Ryan and Esposito had similarly unnerved expressions on their faces.

Recovering as quickly as she could she tried to take control back. "I ask the questions in here Castle. Not you. This is my interrogation and I will tell you what I want to tell you, when I want to tell you. Is that clear?" She looked smug, he was sick of smug people, Carter had been smug.

"I'll tell you what is clear, Daisy." She was thrown by his use of her first name, as he had planned. It was an added bonus that her first name also happened to be one of the few names that can take away and all semblance of power out of an interrogation by its mere use. "It is clear that you have very little natural ability at withholding information. It is also painfully obvious that I'm going to have to do all the actual work here… You suspect me for murdering a politician, the very one who stood in the way of my real estate plans, he also had to be a threat to my following Beckett, that leads me to about a half dozen in total, but he had to have been someone I have met, and it would have to be fairly recent, so that narrows it down to two or three. You wouldn't be looking at me if it was widely believed that I am on good terms with the particular politician, which leave one, Charles Carter." He watched in silent joy as Bates and Campbell exchanged uncertain, frantic glances. "I hope you see now that I don't actually need to be telling you any of this, but I will because I know how frustrating a dead end can be when you're sure you have your killer, you just can't prove it. I'll save you some trouble. I did not kill Carter. I couldn't have, I-"

He was cut of by Bates' outcry. "Don't pretend you couldn't do it! He was killed by someone who knew what he was doing! You couldn't have beaten me the way you did if you were as incapable as you claim!"

Ryan and Esposito were completely thrown.

"Detective Bates, if you will please let me finish before your next out burst it may save you further embarrassment." He gave the Detective a steady gaze until he backed down. "Now, as I was saying. I couldn't have done it because I was busy today and can, in fact, verify my whereabouts if you give me a time frame. Or I can just take you through my day." He waited but when he was met with silence he sighed and continued. "I woke up early this morning to meet with Carter at his home in upper Manhattan." He saw the triumph return to their eyes and decided it was time to truly crush their theory. "I stayed only a few moments as the news he gave me was fairly distressing on a personal level. We fought, it continued onto the street where I got in a cab and left. I went straight home. You can check the security cameras. Once at home I made a few phone calls. First to Detective Beckett," All the Detectives in the interrogation room and observation room were again caught off guard by the thought his alibi was a Detective who's word was basically law at the station. "She didn't answer her desk phone and I didn't leave a message. However, you can check my phone records." He could see their hope rising again and savoured the moment; he had drawn out the last vestiges of their hope only to crush it with the rest. "Second was to my mother to inform her I wouldn't be able to make it to my daughter's fencing competition and to ask her to look after her. We also exchanged angry words, but only briefly and it was mostly my anger. Third, I called my partner." He wanted to shout for joy at the expressions on the faces of the Detectives. It was more than shock and confusion, so much so that he couldn't even think of a word for it. "I believe you saw her yesterday, Bates."

"Her…?" Ryan and Esposito exchanged a glance that said it all on the other side of the one way mirror. "It can't be…the woman from the phone?"

"She was the woman I spent the afternoon sparring with at the gym. I'm sure you remember her. The way you were watching her leave suggests that you aren't likely to have forgotten her, not yet.

"I talked to her for a while on the phone, then I caught a cab and met her at her workplace; we spent the rest of the morning together. She even dropped me off for the 'interview.' Now that you have a full account of my morning there is something you can do for me. Carter claimed to be my father and, as he is your murder victim, you can get a paternity test done, in a very short time. Lanie has the necessary knowledge and equipment to do it in her lab. You are going to do this for me, because otherwise you will have to deal with all sorts of paper work that you won't have to if he turns out to be my father, and if he is, you have a next of kin who is willing to cooperate."

There was silence for a few minutes before Bates took out his mobile and called Lanie. He was organising the test when Campbell's question caught the attention of everyone listening. "We're going to need your 'partner's' name, Castle."

"Of course, how silly of me to have forgotten such an important detail… she is FBI Special Agent Jessica Saint-Clair." He felt a little guilty at how much pleasure he was taking from throwing them off, but they had tried to accuse him of murder, so he didn't feel too guilty.


As they were making their way down to the morgue Castle stopped and informed them that he was going to use the men's room. He walked off and left Bates at the door. While he was behind closed doors he took out his mobile phone and dialed the now familiar number. He was relieved when the phone was answered on the second ring. "Saint-Clair."

"Jess, it's me."

"Rick? How did the interview go?"

"It was an interrogation and I don't think they're planning on letting me go without a fight. What they have is circumstantial but I know their reputation. Once they get an idea in their minds they make the evidence fit their conclusion, not the other way 'round. Problem is everyone around here encourages them to do the right thing but these two are hard to actually pin anything on. You're my alibi, can you come down here and talk to them, and they aren't planning on making contact with you for at least a day to check it up. That way they can hold me-"

She cut him off before he could finish. "I know the type. Who do they think you murdered?"

"Senator Carter."

"Wow. They must think you're really good. That guy has bodyguards that would make half the men in the FBI think twice before trying anything…I'll be there as soon as I can, I might have to make a detour on the way but I'll have you out of their custody in no time."

"Thanks, Jess. You won't regret it."

She laughed and he was smiling again. "I know I won't, because you didn't do it."

"Man do I love you." He suddenly stopped, realising that that had actually come out of his mouth and he hadn't just thought it. "…I mean…um…"

She laughed again, this time louder and with more joy than he had expected. "I think this is a conversation we'd best have in person…we can talk when I get there."

"Oh…okay…well…I'll see you then…I guess…"

"See you then. I love you too." He heard her giggle briefly before she hung up. It took him a moment to realise she had been toying with him. When the realisation dawned on him he found himself smiling again. He replaced his phone in his pocket and headed out to rejoin the Detectives on their journey to find the truth of his parentage.


When he re-entered the squad room Castle found himself coming face to face with not only Bates and Campbell but Esposito and Ryan. The two newcomers appeared to be arguing with Campbell. Castle approached the group cautiously he hadn't seen any of the Detectives at the 12th fight with each other and he was unsure as to what could have caused it. "What's going on?" Castle asked tentatively.

"We were just…discussing different methodologies of crime solving." Ryan looked fairly proud of himself and Castle hated that he was going to have to rain on his parade.

"You know I know what you just said, right? You guys were arguing." Sometimes he wondered if Ryan forgot that he was an author and made his living by manipulating the English language. "What is the problem?"

"There is no problem." It was Campbell who cut Ryan off before he had even had the chance to open his mouth fully. "Detectives Ryan and Esposito were just leaving us to our trip to the morgue."

"Ah, I think I should probably clarify something here. I was asking Ryan, and I want him to answer…So, Ryan, what's the problem?"

Ryan looked a little unsure but spoke up when Esposito gave him a nod. "There's an unspoken rule that when you take a cop in for questioning you give their partner a heads up. We didn't get one and we want to know why." Ryan shot a pointed look at Campbell and Bates.

"He's not a cop!" Campbell had raised her voice now. "You don't need a heads up! He's our murder suspect!"

"He's our partner!" Both Esposito and Ryan retorted in unison. "You wouldn't like it if we took Bates in for an interrogation without letting you know!"

"Bates hasn't killed anyone!"

"And neither have I!" Castle was over the accusations. "Don't forget, Detectives, you have yet to prove anything, you're working on a theory, and need I remind you that you haven't even checked my alibi, yet?" He waited for his words to sink in before he continued. "Now, let's get this test done so I can go home." He indicated for them to lead the way.

"Actually, Castle, we will have more questions for you when the test is over. I don't think you'll be going anywhere for a few hours at least." Campbell looked too smug for his liking as Bates spoke.

"You can't do that! You don't have the evidence to arrest him! He can leave whenever he wants!" Ryan had jumped in angrier than before.

"We have enough to hold him." Bates seemed to be a little less sure of himself at the rage evident in Ryan's outburst.

"It's okay Ryan… really, it is." He leaned in closer so that no one else could hear. "I have connections." He winked at him and began to follow Campbell and Bates down the hall.

Ryan decide that he couldn't just let it go like that. He called out after them. "Beckett's going to hear about this!"


Down in the morgue Lanie was surprised to see Castle being escorted by two homicide Detectives, neither of which was Beckett. She had gotten a call to tell her to expect the Detectives and a suspect for a paternity test; they had neglected to tell her that the suspect in question was none other than Richard Castle. Something seemed very wrong when she saw them enter the room. If Beckett knew Castle was being investigated for murder not even the apocalypse would have torn her away from his side, regardless of the fight they had had. That was one thing Lanie was certain of. The fact that Beckett hadn't been informed of the situation didn't help ease Lanie's concern, especially considering everyone closely associated with the 12th Precinct knew the reputation the two Detectives had. Beckett's exclusion told the ME that Campbell and Bates had set their minds on putting Castle away and they didn't want any resistance. "Castle, it's good to see that you're up and about. I heard tell that you're coming back tomorrow."

"Yeah, that's the plan. Of course, being a murder suspect might be a little problem. Then again, it is always interesting to see things from a different perspective."

"Don't worry, Castle, we'll get this cleared up and you'll be on your way in no time." She gave him a reassuring smile. She knew the evidence wasn't there, if it was they would have arrested him already.

"I'm not worried, Dr. Parish. At least, I'm not worried about anything these two can do to me." The half statement was what got to Lanie. He wasn't worried about the two Detectives, but he left it open enough to suggest he was worried about something else. "Are you ready to do the test, Doc.?" He gave her a playful smile that inexplicably made her forget the questions nagging at the back of her mind, for the time being at least.

"Sure thing, Castle. Sit on the table and make yourself comfortable, well as comfortable as you can be on a morgue table." She indicated the stainless steel table to her side and took out her kit. He complied and she carried out the test. It took about twenty minutes for her to take the DNA samples from both Castle and Carter, who was lying on a nearby table top, then another ten for her to fill out the paper work and have it set up for the actual testing. "I'll have it ready for you tomorrow or the day after. I've set it as a high priority given the people involved…I thought it was best."

"Thanks, Dr. Parish. I appreciate it." A movement on the other side of the window in the door caught his attention. Lanie noticed his sudden smile and followed his gaze to the door as it opened to reveal Captain Montgomery and two people she had never seen before. One was a tall, well built man with dark hair who stood just behind the woman. She was just as tall and had an unmistakable air of authority. Both wore black suits and carried folders filled with papers. When they began to walk into the room Lanie noticed the badges and guns on their belts. "Jess, Harrison, excellent timing!" Castle stood from the table.

"Campbell, Bates, this is FBI Special Agent Jessica Saint-Clair and her colleague Special Agent Carl Harrison. They will be taking Castle with them and there won't be any argument. I have reviewed the interrogation tape and spoken to Agent Saint-Clair, his story checks out. Look else where." Captain Montgomery certainly didn't look happy with his Detectives as he spoke and Rick didn't want to be in their shoes. "Castle, it's good to see you again. I trust you're feeling better."

"Yes, thank you, Captain."

"Good…good." Montgomery was distracted, Rick could understand why, no one liked having the FBI down their throats, especially when one of their own was in the wrong. "You're free to go when ever you want."

Rick turned to Jess then. She looked all business and he could suddenly understand why she had such a great track record with confessions, unfortunately, he knew the fun side of her, the one that spent every possible moment giggling. He had to stop himself from chuckling as she turned her best 'no-nonsense' look on the Detectives who had begun to protest, despite their Captain's statement. The one look was enough to silence them in an instant.

"Mr. Castle is assisting with a federal investigation and by keeping him here you are interfering with said investigation. It has been made abundantly clear that you have no case against him and it has also been established that he was with me, at my office, at the time of the murder." She paused just long enough to let it sink in before continuing. "I suggest you open your eyes and find the actual culprit, before you force the FBI to press charges for obstruction of justice…understood?" She didn't wait for an answer before turning back to Rick, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "Are you coming, Ricky?" She laughed again as the M.E. raised her eyebrow questioningly and Rick chuckled lightly.

Rick stepped towards Jess, "Mr. Castle...?" He turned back to Lanie. "Dr. Parish, this is Jess, my partner." The M.E. looked between the couple, searching for any sign that he was messing with her. When none was forth coming she gave in and reached across to shake the woman's hand, figuring that there was no sense in being rude.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Dr. Lanie Parish, the M.E. here."

Jess looked her over quickly, assessing her reaction to Castle's declaration to determine whether the woman before her was going to be any kind of problem. She wasn't sure how she felt about her when she replied, so she was short at best. "You too, call me Jess."

Rick realised what was going through Jess' head and was entertained by the misplaced scrutiny but he decided to clear things up before they got out of hand, besides, he wanted Lanie to like Jess, he wanted everyone to like Jess now that she was going to be a big part of his life. "Jess, Dr. Parish is a good friend of Detective Beckett's and has been a great help in my research." He then looked at Lanie and continued. "Dr. Parish has probably saved my life a million times, when Beckett has been somewhat...irritated with me." He emphasized his attempt to reassure Jess by kissing her lightly on the cheek.

Understanding dawned on Jess' face as she realised that the only threat Lanie posed to her relationship with Rick was if she were to encourage Beckett to pursue him. Her best chance at avoiding that situation was to win the Doctor over so that she wouldn't want to have the Detective come between them. "Well, in that case, thank you Dr. Parish, for looking out for him." She smiled sincerely, now certain there was no room for misunderstanding her place with Rick. She wasn't usually possessive, but theirs was still a new relationship and she wasn't taking any chances, having already used the dreaded 'L' word.

"Please, call me Lanie."

"Thank you, Lanie." Jess got an idea. This woman was close friends with her only real rival for Rick's attention, maybe it wasn't a bad idea to get to know her, find out just how serious of a rival this Beckett was. "How would you like to meet for a drink sometime? I haven't met any of Rick's friends from the station and I would love to hear a different perspective on what he gets up to when he's 'researching'." Rick knew what she was doing, he could almost see the evil genius coming out in her, the cogs where turning, that was for sure.

"I don't know...I've been pretty busy lately..." Lanie was curious about the woman who had stolen Castle's heart from under her friend's nose and wanted to say yes, but she couldn't shake the thought that having drinks with her best friend's love interest's girlfriend would somehow be seen as a betrayal.

"Oh well," reaching into her pocket she withdrew her business card and handed it to the M.E. "If you change your mind, give me a call." She knew the woman's hesitation, but that didn't mean she was going to give in easily. "I'd love to meet up with you whenever it's convenient for you." She again smiled.

Castle gave Jess a quick kiss on the cheek and said, "Alright, time to go." Jess' smile brightened as he pulled away and she saw the unhappy glare he earned from the M.E. She was winning this little competition and Rick was unwittingly making sure of it.

She quickly looked around the room, "It was a pleasure, Captain, Lanie...Detectives." She turned back to Harrison and Rick then, "Let's head out, boys. We have a psycho to put behind bars...Where's your bag, Rick?" He looked around a moment, confused, and then he remembered.

"I left it at Bates' desk." He extended his arm to her and she looped hers with his as he led her to the door. He looked over his shoulder. "I will see you all tomorrow. Dr. Parish if you'll give me a call when the results come through, I'd appreciate it. Thanks." He then walked Jess out of the morgue, Harrison in toe. When they were out of earshot he turned to her again and laughed. She loved his laugh, it was a sound she would always associate with pure joy. The laughter increased as they walked through the doors to the homicide squad room.

"Very impressive, Jess." He then kissed her firmly on the mouth and was startled when she responded with enough passion to make him consider using the janitor's closet for more than storing cleaning products. Remembering that Harrison was with them he reluctantly broke off the kiss. "Very intimidating, Harrison. If I didn't know better I'd say the only thing keeping you from shooting a hole in the Detectives' chests was the fact that Jess was standing right there."

"How do you know it wasn't?" He managed to keep a straight face just long enough to make Rick second guess his statement, then both men began laughing. "But seriously, I think I'll pass on the congratulatory kiss, if you don't mind."

Rick was about to respond when Jess interceded. "What makes you think I'd stand for it anyway? A jealous girl like me...I might just shoot you both." Rick looked her in the eyes.

"You have no idea how hot that was." She smiled shyly, taken off guard by how proud he sounded when he said it. "Seriously, that whole scene down in the morgue was so hot I could barely keep my hands off you, but that right there...that was down right sexy." His grin widened when he noticed the red of her cheeks. He stopped by his bag and scooped it over his arm.

"Guys! Really...? You can't stop goo-goo eyeing each other for like five minutes. You're attracting a lot of attention." He indicated the many Detectives who had stopped what they were doing and were now shooting glances at the couple. Rick didn't notice that Ryan and Esposito were among those watching them and as such their horrified expressions went unnoticed.

"Sorry, Harrison." Both Jess and Rick spoke in unison. They turned to leave and Jess wanted to link her arm with his again but knew it would only make her want to hold him closer. 'Why did he have to look so damn good in his dark camo cargo pants, tank top, sweater and runners? It was hard enough to keep her hands off him when he was in a suit, but this just wasn't fair. He had the toned muscles of someone who knew their way around a gym, they were fairly visible in the outfit he was wearing, and, as if he was trying to distract her, when he carried his bag over is shoulder like that it caused his muscles to bulge in the right places and she couldn't stop her mind from wondering what he would have looked like as a young Major in Delta Force when he was at the peak of his physical condition. Then again, she found it hard to imagine that he could have ever been more desirable to her than he was right then.'

Rick had started walking towards the elevator before he turned his attention away from Jess. She looked lost in thought. He couldn't help but notice that while she bit her lip when thinking the action didn't have quite the same effect on him as when Beckett did it. He mentally kicked himself for failing to force Beckett from his mind and for again comparing Jess to Beckett. His thoughts continued along those lines as they made their way onto the street and towards the black SUVs that were parked outside the main entrance. He was only torn from his musing as Jess, who was now walking in front of him with Harrison began to give her colleague instructions regarding the security tapes she wanted him to scan through and the warrants she wanted him to get for inventory records. "Oh, and let Shaw know that we got Rick without any problem, and tell her I'll be with him for a little while, setting out the plans for our first public appearance tonight."

Harrison gave her a knowing look before he replied. "Sure, planning..."

"Ha-ha, very funny. Unless you want desk duty for the next three weeks you'll have those warrants for me when I get back, oh, and those tapes had better have been searched with a fine tooth comb or there will be hell to pay." She had that evil smile again, the one that said, 'I dare you to push this, it can go one of two ways and one you wont like very much.'

Harrison half laughed, half gulped. "On it, Boss." He hurried towards his car. "See ya, Castle." He was climbing inside before Castle even replied.

"Later, Harrison." Grinning widely Rick turned to Jess who had opened the boot for him to deposit his bag. She was barely containing her laughter at Harrison's rushed departure. "You are an evil woman, do you know that?" She just smiled wickedly at him for a moment. "Of course you know." He threw his bag in the boot. "I saw you checking me out earlier. I think the whole precinct saw." Her face paled visibly then went bright red.

"I wasn't...I didn't...you're imagining...they didn't, did they?" Rick laughed at how flustered she had become. He closed the boot and stepped closer to her, ignoring the crowd on the street that bustled around them he took her chin in between his thumb and forefinger, tilted her head so that she was looking him right in the eyes and leaned in to kiss her. She responded immediately, drawing him deeper into the kiss. Her tongue pleaded for entry and he opened his mouth and let her in. He barely noticed as his back was pressed up against the car. He was too preoccupied with the battle for dominance that was raging between their tongues and was lost in the warmth of the woman who's entire body was pressed firmly against his. When the need for air was too dire to ignore any longer they broke apart, foolish grins spreading across their faces.

"Can I drive?" His question threw her into confusion and she gave him a suspicious glare. "I know a short cut to my place and Mother usually takes Alexis out for a day of shopping after a fencing competition." he said by way of explanation. She accepted his reasoning and gave him the keys. They jumped in the car and were on their way.


Kate Beckett had given up on her attempt at patience. She had been patient for too long. For the past week she had told herself over and over again that she would leave work on time and visit the man who had occupied her thoughts for the better part of her waking hours, she was even dreaming about him. It was getting ridiculous. Every time she tried to go see him something came up and she found herself unable to tear her eyes off the murder board until she was so tired she'd barely make it into her bed before passing out. She would have called him but it was not a conversation she wanted to have over the phone. She wanted to apologise, but she needed him to see the sincerity in her eyes when she did so.

She had taken her lunch break early and told the boys she was going to a cafe a few blocks away. She felt bad for lying to them, but she didn't want to tell them where she was going in case he didn't accept her apology. There was no point in getting their hopes up only to risk dashing them. The problem was that there was no way to avoid her own heart break if he refused her. She knocked on the now familiar door to the Castle residence and awaited a reply. When none was forthcoming she knocked again and waited a little longer. Again, there was no reply. She sighed heavily and walked back to the elevator.

Beckett caught a cab back to the precinct but got out around the corner. If the boys found out she had taken a cab they would know that she had gone further than a block or two, then she would have no peace until they found out exactly where she had been. Deciding it would be a good idea to actually eat something while on her lunch break she bought a hot dog from a nearby stand and continued back towards the precinct. It was a sunny day but the air held a slight chill. It was a beautiful day, provided you didn't forget a light coat.

It was one of those days that seemed to force the mind to want to sort through things, unfortunately for Kate her mind decided to focus on the issue of one Richard Castle. She knew she had feelings for him. People thought that she couldn't see it, but she could. It was all too clear how much she wanted to throw caution to the wind and give him her heart. The problem was that Kate had tried that before, with Will, and he had proven that her fears were well founded. Worse still was that he had been the safe option. How could she be expected to trust that the long shot would work when safe choice had failed?

Castle was a known womaniser, his two previous marriages had failed and the general consensus was that his play boy attitude had been an influencing factor, he was like a child and couldn't take anything seriously. On the plus side he was a brilliant father and was dedicated to his family, he had a child-like enthusiasm for life and brought fun back into her life, and he didn't take himself too seriously. She was confused. For every positive there was a negative. She was going in circles and every time she thought she had him figured out he would go and surprise her. He challenged her and kept her on her toes, but she wasn't sure if that was a good thing in a romantic relationship or a bad thing. She wanted to be able to settle down, grow old with someone, but he seemed determined to upset everything he touched and never leave anything alone. She hated having to clean up the mess he left in her life. It drove her to the brink of insanity. That was who Richard Castle was. And yet, she loved him. She was completely and irrevocably in love with Richard Castle.

As that thought crossed her mind a woman's voice caught her attention. The voice was authoritive and seemed to demand the attention of anyone who heard it. "Oh, and let Shaw know that we got Rick without any problem, and tell her I'll be with him for a little while, setting out the plans for our first public appearance tonight." Beckett looked in the direction the voice came from and was surprised by what she saw.

A tall professional looking woman was giving orders to a well built man in a suit. Both of them had badges on their hips and she could see the guns from where she stood. Castle was also following the woman, closer than Kate liked. The woman and Castle looked like Kate had imagined they often looked together, mismatched but somehow a perfect fit. It certainly didn't help that he looked at home in a casual outfit, nothing like the suits she was used to seeing him in. He looked muscular, fit, confident and, dare she say it, sexy.

The man seemed amused by her statement and made what Kate thought was a suggestive comment. The woman seemed unhappy about the comment, but Kate was fairly certain she was also amused. "Ha-ha, very funny. Unless you want desk duty for the next three weeks you'll have those warrants for me when I get back, oh, and those tapes had better have been searched with a fine tooth comb or there will be hell to pay." the woman had an evil smile plastered on her face. Kate had used the same expression on the boys in her team, it was a very effective tool.

The man looked unsure about whether to be amused or frightened. "On it, Boss." He hurried towards his car. "See ya, Castle." He was climbing inside before Castle even replied.

"Later, Harrison." Castle was smiling when he turned to the woman who had opened the boot for him to deposit his bag. She was barely containing her laughter at Harrison's rushed departure. "You are an evil woman, do you know that?" She gave Castle a suggestive smile that made Kate want to slap the woman really hard. "Of course you know." He threw his bag in the boot. He hadn't stopped her obvious flirting, now Kate wanted to hit him really hard. "I saw you checking me out earlier. I think the whole precinct saw." Kate didn't see the woman's reaction, she was busy trying to calm herself down before she lost it and ran over there to shoot the slut and break some part of Castle. 'How dare he flirt with another woman! He was her shadow, her friend and her Writer Monkey!'

"I wasn't...I didn't...you're imagining...they didn't, did they?" Castle laughed and Kate realised just how much she had missed his laugh in the week he had been gone. He closed the boot and stepped closer to the bimbo, he tilted her head so that she was looking him right in the eyes and leaned in to kiss her. Kate wanted to scream but no sound came out. The slut responded immediately, and deepened the kiss. His back was pressed up against the car. The woman's body was pressed against his and Kate wanted to run away and save herself from whatever came next but her body refused to move. She felt the urge to be sick when she saw the foolish grins spread across their faces when they parted.

"Can I drive? I know a short cut to my place and Mother usually takes Alexis out for a day of shopping after a fencing competition." The woman gave him the keys without further delay. They jumped in the car and he drove away. Kate couldn't believe her eyes. 'Had she missed her chance with the author? Even worse, had she just become the other woman? Either way, she needed to talk to Lanie, fast.'


TBC

A/N: I made up every reference to businesses and geography; I know only what I've seen on TV and what a few people have told me about NY. Sorry but I really didn't want to lose my train of thought by looking things up.

I hope I didn't rush the characters too much, if I did let me know and I will work on slowing things down. If I didn't, I'd also like you to let me know.