Chapter 12

Kevin's News

As he nears her room, he knows the news he brings are not going to be of her liking.

It's been seven days since Montgomery was killed. Five since Beckett was shot. And it has been this morning when the higher-ups have finally chosen who is going to be the new Captain of the 12th Precinct of the New York Police Department.

He has only met Victoria Gates this morning, but he already knows she is going to be trouble for the tight knit group of detectives. The rumors surrounding her are not exactly the best presentation card. Her nickname, 'Iron Gates', pretty much describes her attitude. Cold as iron, unapproachable as a pair of closed iron gates... she's very different when compared to Montgomery. Why, why did the bosses have to put HER as their captain?

When he steps next to her door, he breathes in to calm down and knocks twice.

"Come in," Castle says. He opens the door, and sees Beckett, her father, Castle and Little Castle engrossed in a card game, apparently poker from what he can see.

"Hey, Ryan," Beckett says, putting her hand down. Everybody else does the same, but he can see that Castle is taking the chance to look at Beckett's cards. She smacks his hand.

"Stop right there, Castle, or I'll make sure you don't have any hands to use in the future," Beckett says. Castle pouts, and Little Castle laughs at his face.

"Hey, Detective," the girl says.

"Hey, everyone," he replies.

"How's things going on at the precinct? Do you guys miss us?" Castle asks.

"Yeah, a bit. We are missing a lot of entertainment given that you are not there to banter and all of that. But we are getting on with the cases."

"That's good. Do you have anything on the guy that shot me?"

"We haven't been allowed to work on that," he says, reluctantly. "The Commissioner says all of us in the 12th are too involved in that case to take care of it."

"What?" Beckett asks, angry.

"Sorry, Beckett. Esposito and I argued that you would certainly work on that, and that you were not going to like it, but the Commissioner didn't accept it and told us that we were to stop thinking about it. Also, there is more."

"More than this?"

"We've been assigned a new Captain. And you are not going to like it."

"Who is it, Ryan?"

"Gates."

Beckett groans. "Are you actually telling me that Victoria 'Iron Gates' is our new captain?"

"Afraid so, Beckett."

"Who's Gates?" Castle asks.

"She was the Captain at the 14th Precinct's Murder division. She is a competent policewoman, and very good investigator," Beckett replies.

"But?"

"But she is too involved in the politics game. She has bowed out of certain cases several times due to political pressure, and she is not afraid of telling others she wants to be the Commissioner," he says.

"And that wouldn't exactly work well for us, given the cases that sometimes get landed on us. What do you think would have happened if she had been the captain when we discovered the DA was trying to cover up the case of the poisoned juror?"

"Yup. I guess she would have possibly forced us to close the case. Can't even imagine what could have happened with the Wellesley family," Castle says.

"And there is other thing," Beckett replies. "How do you think she's going to take our partnership?"

"Gates' been asking already questions about the two of you, she didn't sound happy to hear about what you two have been up to during these three years. To be honest, I think she doesn't like Castle being part of the team."

"Well, the way I see it, either she doesn't like the fact that a civilian works there due to the potential PR nightmare that would result from anything happening to me while working, or she doesn't like that a civilian works there in constant basis because it could be seen as some kind of incompetence from the part of the policemen and women that work at the precinct, which is not, of course," Castle says. "However, on the other side, my presence there could also be good PR due to my fame, we have a very high rate of solved crimes and the Mayor is a friend of mine, so maybe that could balance everything."

"I hope so. I don't really want you to have to leave the team, Castle," Beckett says, taking Castle's hand.

"Neither do I, Beckett," Castle replies.

"Sure. Beckett, I am not sure when it is going to happen, but I've heard that Gates is going to want to talk with you about Castle and you."

"Let her come, I have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of," Beckett says. Castle smiles at her.

"That's cool, Beckett. Castle, would you mind coming out for a minute? I want to talk with you alone," he says. The writer puts on his 'what-the-hell-is-going-on' face before standing and giving Beckett a kiss. The two men come out of the room and close the door behind them.

"Don't tell me, this is going to be the 'hurt-Beckett-and-we-will-kill-you' talk, isn't it?" Castle asks.

"Something like that," he replies with a smile. "Though, I do need to remind you that we have Lanie on our side, and not only we would kill you, but we would also be able to pass it as natural death. Not only that, but I think that Beckett is more than able of doing the killing part."

"I guessed that."

"Look, Castle. Beckett is not only our boss, she is our friend, and we care a lot for her. You have been the best thing that has happened to her. She hardly smiled before you started working with us. Now, she is happier than ever. So, I am asking you, in my name, Esposito's and Lanie's, that you do not break her heart, because I doubt she will be able to take it and remain as she is."

"Don't worry, Ryan, I am not going to let her go. She has become too important for me to do that, you know?"

"That's good enough for us, Castle," he says. Castle opens the door and enters the room again, so that he can sit down next to Beckett.

"Hey, these cards are not where I put them. Who decided to have a look?" he asks, looking at the three people that have their cards in front of them. When he notices Beckett is trying to keep from smiling, he stands up and grabs her, making her laugh. "So it was you! Hypocrite!"

Laughing his ass off, he leaves the room, in higher spirits than when he came in.


A/N: Once more, I hope that you liked this chapter. Here I have added a couple of details brought from what is already known about Season 4, namely the appointment of Victoria "Iron Gates" as the new Captain. This chapter is played out from Ryan's point of view, and he sees a nearly recovered Kate, ready to leave as soon as she is allowed, but enjoying the time she spends in there.

Regarding the reviews... are much better now! I've got 11 different reviews (for some reason, Tonya95's repeats twice), and I can't complain! Now, I just want to see it go higher! :)

And now, messages for certain reviewers!

My muse: the days keep passing, and every day that passes is one less until you come back, until I can finally have you between my arms and kiss your lips. Until we can spend the night together, watching a film after having dinner together and having great fun altogether. I miss you, baby.

bones35: indeed, I've had some experience in this kind of things, but mostly the reason these scenes are like this is because my imagination is always playing overtime with many ideas.

Tonya95: I am very much like you, I love getting reviews, so I also write reviews for stories I like. There will be more fluffy chapters, so do not worry :).

JustifiedByGod: I am glad you liked the chapter (sorry for the blasphemy, but it was the only word I thought of that could be applied to the description). There will be marriage in the future, but not soon. The two of them still have to get used to being a couple.

Trisana Sarrasri: thank you. Yes, things are improving, but when they come out of the hospital it won't be completely rosy. I don't know how long it will be, but I hope that, at least, I will be able to get them to finally solve Johanna Beckett's murder.

stonegnome1: as you have seen, Kate's shooting's investigation is being handled by someone else. Kate is going to be asking the ones in charge of it about any details that may be spared for her to know, but all in all she won't be allowed to work in it. Given that only Beckett, Castle, Esposito, Lanie and Ryan know why Montgomery was actually killed, it would not be tied to his death. Might put a chapter about that in a later chapter.

angelrescue02: I hope that this chapter was good in showing how everyone is taking things so far.

timber: methinks you have misunderstood the difference between Flaming and Constructive Criticism. I welcome people to make criticism of my work, if it consists of pointing out mistakes or suggesting ways to improve the story. What I cannot abide to is reviews that are only written in the mood of rudely saying how they don't like the story or something like that without saying what they don't like about it. The former is Constructive Criticism, which I like. The latter is Flaming, which I don't like. Hopefully, this will clear out your doubts over whether I actually accept criticism or not, and will say so in a review for this chapter.