Arc of the Curve
Chapter Twelve

Kevin pulled up the car and got out, a fraction behind his partner. 'All I'm saying is we don't know anything.' he told him.

'Bro, just 'cause things are weird right now does not mean we're completely wrong.' Javi told him.

'We've got to be careful here. I mean this could be anything.'

'You really believe that? Anything?' Kevin's partner pressed. 'So I gotta believe in aliens, ghosts and all that Castle stuff?'

'You explain it then. What Beckett saw, hell what Alexis can do' He said in an urgent whisper.

'I'm not a scientist and I'm not Beckett.' Javi pointed out 'It's not my job to explain things. Just to find out what happened, then arrest the bad guy.'

'An interesting summery detective.' Gates said as she walked up behind them. 'Perhaps I should have to transferred to the academy when they close us down.'

'No thanks Captain.'

'Is that going to happen, close us down I mean?' Without a precinct building he could see the team being split up and transferred across the city. Never to work together again.

'Not if I can help it, but unless we get good results and prove we're better together to the Commissioner we might be lucky to even keep our jobs.' Captain Gates admitted. 'The vultures are circling boys and it's all I can do to keep them off our backs.' She sounded tired, Kevin would be to having to deal with city hall politics. 'Where's Beckett?'

'Urm…'

'After the last couple of days they've had a lot happen so Castle thought it was going to be a slow night and they were off the clock…'

Gates held her hand up, stopping Javi; 'That's more than enough.'

'They'd just had a few drinks and it wasn't safe for them to drive' Kevin tried to make it sound a little better.

She gave him a skeptical look. She might know they were hiding something but as long as she didn't know Beckett was there when it all went down they were good. 'Captain, Beckett's been seeing someone around these last few days.' Kevin jumped in. 'She didn't think they were following her, at first, but he she keeps catching him out of the corner of her eye.' It was the best story they could come up with.

Javi handed her the sketch. 'I didn't know she was such an artist.' Gates admitted.

'She's not, Alexis had one of her friends do it.'

'So, rather than utilising official city resources you are using a college student's friend to produce sketches of possible suspects.'

Javi shrugged 'Budget cuts?'

Gates gave him back the drawing. 'You mean friend, or like minded friend?' She asked, and watched the two of them nod. 'Okay, see what you can get on this guy after you've finished here. I'll talk to Beckett tomorrow about keeping me in the loop.' With that she stalked away.

'You think we'll get anything?' Kevin asked looking at the drawing

'Won't hurt to try.'

Richard woke up to a knock on his bedroom door. 'Dad, you in there?' It was Alexis.

Blinking the sand from his eyes he sat up to find his daughter with two steaming mugs of coffee. One for him and one for Kate. He managed an inarticulate grumble and reached for to one she was offering him.

'Morning to you too.' she said, sounding far too cheerful and far too awake. 'Dad, can I ask a favour? You see I haven't had breakfast yet, then I kinda got carried away and I offered to make some for the guys and then I remembered I really don't have anything in my apartment right now save for left over take out.'

Richard blinked as the caffeine hit his system. 'What?'

'Can I invite them over, I promise we won't eat everything and we'll be real quiet if you or Detective Beckett want to sleep.'

It took another moment or two or his addled brain to put together what she was saying to him. 'What time is it?' Kate asked, rising her head from the pillow

'Eight. Urm, quarter to.' Alexis told them

'We should be up soon anyway.' Kate grumbled. She was more of a morning person than he was, but that wasn't saying much.

After another mouthful of coffee what his daughter had asked finally made sense. 'Yeah your friends can come over. We'll be out when we've got changed.'

'Thanks dad.' Alexis grinned at them both and left. It didn't take long for the two of them to throw on something that wasn't PJ's and head into the living area.

Alexis certainly wasn't alone. There were five other kids there. The oldest looked like they were in their mid twenties, with Richard's daughter and her, formerly, imaginary friend Adrian as the youngest. The oldest was behind the kitchen counter, it looked like he was cooking something with Alexis's help. 'Dad' she waved him over. 'This is Adam. He's kind of the leader, of us. Sort of.'

'Hello Mr Castle. I know you said it was alright, but I didn't want us to eat all your food so I brought some of my own. We've only used a few spices and we'll wash up.' He sounded Australian and very laid back with an easy confidence that was friendly but not imposing.

'Thank you.' Richard didn't know what else to say.

'We've got enough for you and Detective Beckett as well.'

Alexis nodded. 'He really is a good cook. Ami told me.' She waved at an attractive young woman with dark skin and a sunny smile.

'He is.' she told them in a London accent.

'So, you're from all over the world?' Kate asked carefully, sitting down on one of the stools at the kitchen counter

'Mostly.' the red haired boy told them as he threw a grape into his mouth. ' We're not everyone. There's like what another dozen Tomorrow People?'

'Sounds about right.' Jade agreed. 'We think everyone could be. The potential is there, only a few of us seemed to have reached our level though.'

'Tomorrow people?'

'That's what we call ourselves.' Alexis explained.

'Telepathy, telekinesis and, of course, teleportation.' Adrian picked up the exposition. 'That's what we can do, all of us.'

'But some of us are better at something's than others.' Alexis shrugged. 'And of course there are other things we can do.'

'Alexis is a fantastic healer, but you already both know that.' Adrian praised her. 'It's one of the most difficult things while Megabyte is good with computers.'

The red haired boy waved a hand and Richard saw his phone fly into his hand. He waved his fingers over it and, without pressing a button, it came to life. Somehow he skipped passed the passcode and was zipping through the apps. Another wave and it turned off.

'If there's more than a dozen people like you, where are they?' Kate asked, still frowning as Richard checked his phone for damage.

'Most of us just want to get on with our lives. They're not afraid of who they are, or what they can do. They just don't want it to define who they are.' Adam told her as whatever he was frying began to sizzle.

'We sort of just ended up as the welcoming group. When someone like Alexis is first discovering their abilities we're usually the ones that have to tell them what they need to know.' Ami explained.

Richard was having a hard time keeping track. The way they kept picking up what each other was saying was either well rehearsed, or some form of instinct, but there was something more important. 'What do you need to know?' He asked his daughter

'It's the spider man thing; great power, responsibility. All that stuff.' Megabyte answered instead.

'Like not robbing a bank.' Alexis told them, 'Or using my powers when I shouldn't. So no teleporting over to Paris for lunch, or sneaking into pop concerts. Not that I'd do those things…'

'None of us would.' Jade announced. 'All of us are civic minded and honest. It's like it's hardwired into us or something.'

'Speaking of.' Adrian winced. 'We should tell them too.'

Adam looked up. 'Are you sure?'

'Alexis is.'

'They need to know.' she agreed.

'Need to know what?' both Richard and Kate asked at the same time.

At Adam's nod Alexis came around the counter. 'There's really one rule. We can't hurt anyone or anything. They… We call it the prime barrier. It's like this mental block if we try to injure or fight someone something stops us. We don't know what it is but we freeze up. We can't do anything.'

'That's good.' Richard told her, but he could see there was something more.

'Dad, being a Tomorrow Person can be… Dangerous. It's another reason a lot of us chose not to get involved. We can't fight back, not even to defend ourselves. Adam, Megabyte, the others. They've all come close to not being here.'

'There were others. Good friends that didn't make it.' Megabyte admitted. He suddenly sounded very somber and serious. 'It's part of that civic minded thing. If something's happening we usually get involved somehow and some of us don't come back.'

Richard could almost feel the dread running up his spine. There was one word they were avoiding. Dead. This could kill her. 'No, you can't.'

'Alexis, don't do this.' Kate added desperately.

She shrugged. 'I do have a choice here. I could just leave it to them. You know, not my problem. It's not like they're forcing me. I just feel like it's the right thing to do. What if something goes wrong and I could have stopped it. I could have helped.'

'Or not. You could be hurt for no reason.' Adrian spoke up. 'You think you need to help, but we might not need you. You'll be putting yourself in danger for no reason'

'If you guys don't want me…'

'We want you to make your own decisions, but it has to be an informed decision.' Adam told her. 'We'll support you on whatever it is. And so will your father.'

Richard knew they were hearing his thoughts, he was screaming them so loud he was sure they could, even if they hadn't been psychic. They were right. He didn't want her to do this. He wanted to lock her in her room, barricade the door and hire an elite team of ninja to protect her for every waking second. But it wasn't up to him. It was her life and her choice. He'd worry about her anyway and he knew his daughter, if it was something she wanted to do, something se felt she had to he'd have better luck trying to push back an ocean than changing her mind. The only thing he could do was the right thing. Let her decide and worry about her anyway. Alexis threw her hands around his neck. 'Thanks Dad. Don't worry I'll stay safe and I promise not to get hurt.'

'We'll keep her safe. As best we can.' Ami told him.

'Alexis, are you sure about this?' Kate asked her as she let go of Richard.

'Sure I am. I mean how many girls get to save the world from alien invasions!'

Both Kate and Richard were stunned. 'What?'

Joe woke up feeling his years. 'That is the single most uncomfortable bed in history.' He grumbled as he tried to shuffle around. It was just swallowing him up. Instead of springs it was made of some fancy foam that probably had along made up name that made no sense to a country boy like him. 'Adam, you awake?'

To save on money they'd ended up getting a single hotel room that wasn't big, but still had two beds. and a separate restroom. 'Did anyone tell you; you snore loud enough to wake the dead?'

'No. Anyone ever tell you even immortals need sleep?' Joe was able to crane his head around and saw his friend sat at the small table, researching something on that computer of his.

'Depends on the age.' He told him. 'I followed that Detective, good thing I did. Long, or Toni Henersley as she called herself, jumped Beckett outside of her apartment. Kidnapped her and was going to kill her in a warehouse of things. Even had a video camera set up just to record the whole thing.'

'We knew she was sociopath.'

'No, she was scared. So scared she wanted to prove to whoever it was that hired her that the job was done.'

'Was it?' Joe asked reaching for his legs.

'No, I got there in time and dealt with Long. Left the Detective with just enough questions to keep her going nowhere until we get out of town.'

'Then we should be going. Like now.'

'Not yet. Something's wrong, this whole thing stinks.'

'You've got to be, Methos you're the one that never wanted to come here, now you want to stay?' Joe half exploded. 'After you stick our neck out to the cops? We gotta be in Mexico before the sun sets or we're both looking at a very long stretch in prison. Buddy.'

'For saving a cop's life? Not going to happen, we've got some time.'

Joe didn't believe that and wanted his legs ready for a quick getaway. 'So what stinks?' he asked strapping the prosthetics to his stumps.

'Just before I took Long's head she said he'd kill me. I want to know who he is. He might be another immortal. The problem is there's nothing. After that false Gathering back in eighty four we all gave this place a wide berth. Watchers noticed that and stayed away too, there's not been a report from or even about New York in nearly two decades. The perfect place to hide.' He growled pushing the laptop away. 'should have thought of that.'

'Don't you already know? I mean you took her head, that means you know what she knew, right?'

Adam squinted at him. 'How long you been a Watcher Joe, you know it doesn't work that way. What do you guys in the field do anyway, just place bets on who's going to win?'

It was Joe's turn to look skeptical at him. 'How many Watchers you know actually talk to you guys?'

'You trying to tell me all these years and you've never even known that?' Adam shook his head. 'Sure we get the power, but we get the baggage as well. Problem is we won't know what that is. At least not consciously.'

Adam sat back, rocked the chair onto two legs and put his feet up. 'Say one of us is terrified of spiders, like it was psychological. A deep seated arachnophobia from when they were a kid. Take their head you get it, you might not know you have it and it might not be as acute, but you suddenly hate spiders to. You'll never know why just that you do. They might have a very good reason. You just get the result. That's why Dark Quickenings are so dangerous. It's not your conscious mind that gets messed with, its your subconscious.'

Joe thought about that for a moment. 'So you don't get memories so much as instinct. How do you know it's your instincts that are telling you this is wrong?' He asked, worried it wasn't his friend in the drivers seat, so to speak.

'It's probably not.' he admitted. 'She was terrified, I know that much. More afraid of them than me, and I was there with my sword. Whoever it is they are powerful, scary and for some reason want Detective Kate Beckett of the NYPD very dead.'

'And they aren't afraid doing it publicly.' Joe thought back to the explosion demolishing the Detective's precinct and the assassination attempt outside the bar.

Fastening his last straps Joe pulled himself to his feet. Lurching around for a few steps he felt what was left of his legs settle into place. Grimacing Joe lent onto his stick. 'So you're looking into this out of the goodness of your heart? Doesn't sound like you buddy. Want to take some time, get your thoughts together.'

'You think I'm not myself? It's me Joe. I'm too old and use to this sort of thing. It would take a lot more than some sociopathic aristocrat to unseat me.' He chuckled. 'No what's got me is Long was smart, damn smart at hiding. She could have run and we'd never find her, but she knew she couldn't get out of his reach. Whoever was pulling her strings has a very long arm. There's no point in running when there's nowhere to go.'

'God damn it.' Joe grunted. 'Who'd have that sort of power?'

'That's just it, I don't know. But imagine if I'm right. If it's another immortal doing this. He has to be important, connected to a lot of interesting places and have the money he needs to hire a professional. Several professionals.

'I've been looking into our research on the Detective. Mysterious shootings, murders, dead ends are just the start. There's been at least three other highly trained assassins sent after her. Some connected to the military, others to mobsters and gangs across the city and all the time still flying under the radar. Invisible to mortals and Watchers alike.'

Joe weighed up their options. 'You sure running is out of the question?'

'With your legs?' Adam smirked bringing the chair down. 'Until we know who this guy is and how long a reach he has we wouldn't know when to stop.'

'We both know there's only one person out there with the answer, don't we?' Joe sighed.

Adam smirked; 'Get out of Dodge if you want, I've got a deal to make with the sheriff.'

Captain Gates knocked on the door to Mr Castle's apartment. while outwardly she still had no time for the spoilt rich boy, playing at being a law enforcement officer she had to admit his partnership with Beckett and the rest of the team worked. Cases that would have sat unsolved for decades or more just seemed to unravel before them and their unorthodox approach.

The door was opened by Alexis Castle. Victoria didn't have a clue how to deal with this young woman. It was blatantly absurd that she could read peoples minds, on the other hand you couldn't ignore the the evidence. 'Captan Gates, hi come in.' Miss Castle. 'Dad, Kate, it's captain Gates. She want's to know why you weren't there last night.'

Victoria tried to hid the wince but knew it was pointless. Inside Castle's apartment was mostly one large room, divided into areas. It was exactly as she thought it would be; expensive designer fittings, but somehow comfortable. Like Castle himself it should have been ridiculous but ended up charming.

It was also crowded. As well as Beckett and Castle there was his mother, Alexis and a group of five other young people Victoria didn't recognise. 'Captain. I'm sorry, it's kind of difficult to explain.' Beckett came to her feet.

'Well we can start with who your friends are.'

Castle coughed uncomfortably. 'They're Alexis's friends.'

'We're like her, or she's like us.' A handsome young man said in a odd accent. 'Hi there, I'm Adam and don't worry, we're not evil, or trying to takeover the world, or anything like that, but if you're uncomfortable we can go.'

'It's not that it's…' She began before stopping. Whatever front she put up was pointless, they already seen through it. Hell they'd probably already seen through her own thoughts. Being in the same room as six mind readers would make anyone uncomfortable.

'It's okay, we can go.' A girl with dark skin and an English accent said understandingly.

'Besides you wanted to talk to Detective Beckett and Mr Castle alone.' Another English girl said easily.

Victoria tried to follow the conversation. It was like one person was talking, but through each of them. Beckett got her attention, 'You'll get used to it.' She told her.

'We'd all better get back home anyway. Thank you Mr Castle for letting us use your kitchen.' the young man next to her said with an easy smile.

Before Victoria could say anything else Adam seemed to glow before vanishing in a crack of light. As she gaped the others did the same.

'What was that?' She gaped. If it wasn't some cheap parlour trick it was obvious they could do a lot more than just hear people's thoughts.

'That's a long story and right now I need to get bed.' Miss Castle shook her head. 'I've been up all night and according to some people I need it.' She half glared at her grandmother. She did look tired, but at the same time wide awake. Victoria had been the same herself a few times. It usually meant lots of coffee and cramming for a test the next day.

'Oh Alexis, I didn't mean…'

'No it's alright. I am tired. Is it okay if I staying my old room?'

'Of course it is.' Mr Castle told her and she headed off upstairs, with a quick look his mother followed. Leaving the three of them.

'Do I want to know what just happened?'

The couple looked at each other, shrugged and then at the same time said; 'No not really.'

Then Beckett added. 'It's not got anything to do with the case. So what happened last night, do you really want to know?

Victoria took a moment, from the way Beckett asked it was a lot more than a couple of drinks when they thought they were off duty. 'Yes, yes I do. Start at the beginning.'

End Chapter Twelve