AGAIN: I have no ownership, rights, connection of any kind to Castle. I also have no ownership rights to The Human Target, Suits, Numb3rs, Bones, Blue Bloods, The District, or their characters. Before I had been killing time waiting for the season to start. Now, I'm killing time waiting for the show to start up again. I am totally ticked that there is no Christmas episode.
All reviews welcome. I only ask that you be polite and constructive. Feel free to point out grammatical, spelling, or factual errors. I do a lot of editing so sometimes cut and paste errors may slip through. Please let me know.
AN: OK, first this chapter really got away from me. It was getting on 12,000 words so I decided to find a nice place to split it so I could publish something.
First, a little trivia. At least twice in this story a character has said that Kyra Blaine reminds them of Ariel from Disney's "The Little Mermaid". In the show, Kyra was played by Alyssa Milano. Disney artists used the image of the then 17-year old Alyssa as the model for creating Ariel.
This is a very deep chapter. It's mostly my attempt at a creative rebuttal to the whole Watershed storyline with Kyra taking it for Beckett.
January 3, 2004 Saturday
RICK'S STUDY
"Wow", Kyra said after Serena told the story of Rick and Kate, "So, Rick told her he loves her and proposed after three days."
"Even I didn't see that one coming."
"Actually, it sounds like Rick. However, Kate is refusing to accept even though she's been in love with him since she was five."
"Let's face it, something like this belongs in a movie or TV Show or a Nicholas Sparks novel," the blonde replied refilling both their wine glasses from a bottle she pulled from the kitchen as they headed for the meeting.
"Well, even before the fame and success, Rick, you, and the others...you all could pretty larger than life," Kyra comments taking a sip from her glass, "Still, you seem to approve of her very much."
"If it was just Rick, I would have my doubts, but I trust Alexis' instincts," that caused them both to laugh and Serena gets a bit serious, "How're you handing it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, you two have lived in the same city for a better part of a decade and somehow you've managed to never run into each other."
"In case you haven't noticed, New York It's a pretty big city."
"Not that big considering the circles you both travel in. Statistically you two should have run into each other at some point."
"Really?"
"Have you ever known Justin, Elise, and Roland to be wrong about their math.
"No," she answered shaking her head and giving a shy smile, "What else did their math tell you?"
"That both of you had to make a conscious effort to not run into each other for so many years."
"So, did Rick do that?"
"Yes. I don't think he did it out of anger. I think he was just afraid he couldn't handle opening old wounds. Did you do it as well?"
"Yes. I guess I was afraid to see him, afraid of the feelings it would bring up."
"Which makes me curious. I mean he's not involved in this project, but there maybe a good chance you will run into him. We're sitting here talking in his study."
"Are you thinking that I may have taken this project with the idea of trying to reconnect with Rick."
"You've intentionally put yourself in a position that makes it almost certain you might run into him."
"Well, he has been married twice since we broke up. I saw both relationships played out in the media and knew about both weddings. I didn't say a thing. I didn't make a play for him either time. As you've said, we've lived in the same city for years and we haven't so much as talked on the phone."
"Listen Kyra, I need your help on this, but I need to know where your thinking is where Rick is concerned."
"Are you're afraid it might get in the way of my work?"
"It is a concern, but it's not my primary concern. My family is my primary concern. That's never changed."
"And if I possibly try getting back together with him, you want to put a stop to it before it starts?"
"You know me better than that. I'm not going to get in your way if you want to try with him again. But I will be responsible for bringing you into a position where you can. I just want to know where everything stands. There is more than just you and Rick in this story. There's no question that Rick suffered the most from what happened between you two, but it caused a lot of hurt for the rest of us too. And now, there is a little girl involved as well who has made it clear who she prefers."
"And you're afraid that my returning might cause bad feelings among the entire family, you as well?"
"Kyra, you weren't just Rick's girlfriend. We were friends. I considered you one of my best friends. We all loved you. Mary Rose was convinced you two would get married. I'd have to say I kinda looked forward to that myself, you being family, being my sister. What you did caused us all a lot of pain. So, please let me know what you're thinking. You have my word, I won't try to stop you and it won't affect your role on the Dahl collection."
"To be honest, I don't know. I won't know until I see him if I see him at all. I have imagined what'd be like to see him again so many times. I've imagined us trying again, but to be honest, I'm terrified how he'll react when he sees me, but I figured I couldn't hide forever. That's as honest as I can be right now."
"Fair enough."
"Has he ever forgiven me?"
RICK'S KITCHEN
"You know, kiddo," Martha interrupted Kate's musings, "Staring at the study door will not make them come out any sooner," Martha asked returning to the table.
Kate snapped her head back.
"I...I…" she sunk her shoulders in defeat, "I am so busted."
"It's understandable," the older redhead said.
"It is?"
"The person closest to Richard, the person in whose judgement he places the most trust, has brought Richard's former great love, the one who got away, into his home for a private talk. That can be a little unsettling especially considering Serena's home is in the same building and they could have easily gone there. I'm surprised you haven't called on you police friends for surveillance equipment."
"OK, so I'm having a hard time believing that Serena brought her here just to talk business. Maybe my curiosity is getting the better of me."
"Maybe you're just curious if Serena sought out Kyra to distract Richard, and maybe Alexis, from their fascination of you. That is what you're thinking is it?"
"That's ridiculous. Castle and I aren't even in any kind of relationship, at least one that makes any sense. So far, all we've had is a running comedy skit."
"But it sounds like you want a real relationship with Richard."
"I haven't said that."
"So you don't want a relationship."
"I didn't say that either."
"You're running out of options kiddo."
"Yeah, this is how confused your son has made me. Castle has made it abundantly clear what he wants. Unlike him, I actually need more than three days to figure things out. It's just who I am.
"What I don't like is the idea of Serena trying to sandbag me before we have a chance to figure things out. I don't like Serena judging that I'm not good enough without giving me a chance. I thought we actually made progress today."
"Maybe you did. After all, Serena likely scheduled this meeting one or more days ago."
"I suppose."
"And you're assuming Serena doesn't approve of you for Rick and Alexis."
J. EDGAR HOOVER BUILDING, FBI HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Supervisory Special Agent, Tobias Fornell walked into his office followed by one of his subordinates.
"Do we have anything new on this John Rampling character?"
"No sir."
"Did you get anything from any other agency."
"Nothing more than we have, nothing useful anyway."
"What do you mean by that?
"Just a note from NCIS Special Agent Tony DiNozzo about the origin of the alias."
"DiNozzo. OK, I'm desperate. What did DiNozzo say."
"He made a notation in the file about how we refer to John Rampling as a modern day Professor Moriarty. He states there was a 1976 made for TV movie called Sherlock Holmes in New York with Roger Moore as Holmes.
"In the movie, JOHN Huston played Processor Moriarty and Charlotte RAMPLING played Irene Adler. In the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, those are the only two characters with intellects matching Holmes."
"That's it?"
"I said it wasn't useful unless we bring in all fans of second rate Sherlock Holmes movies. We could start with DiNozzo."
"Don't tempt me. Now I know why Gibbs is always slapping him on the back of the head.
RICK'S STUDY
"Only he can answer that. It's one of the few important topics on which he keeps his true thoughts to himself."
"It's hard to believe he won't talk to you about it."
"Oh he's talked about it, but I know when he's holding things back."
"What was it like, after. When he saw me off, he seemed fine."
"He was raised by an actress after all," the blonde said swirling her wine glass, "He put up the best front he could."
"Yeah, I guess I knew but I didn't want to know. What was it really like for him?"
"He was wrecked. He was in such pain that he couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, and he couldn't work. He was slowly destroying himself and there is nothing any of us could do to help him except watch and pray that he snapped out of."
"As close as you two are, it must of been awful on you."
"Rick and I may not be biological twins, but I've known him longer than I've known anyone else. I met him before I met my own mother. Our moms like to tell the story of how our bassinets were wheeled down the hall side by side and when they were brought into their room for the first time it looked like we were trying to reach out to hold hands. Now, imagine seeing that person in such pain."
"What about you Serena?"
"What about me?"
"Have you forgiven me?"
"No."
"Well, that's honest."
RICK'S KITCHEN
"I've been involved with guys who have sisters who looked me up and down to see if I'm good enough for their brother and their family," Kate admitted.
"And I'm willing to bet that most of those girls made up their mind before hand and were more or less waiting for you to fail and prove the preconceptions correct."
"Yes."
"And you think that's what Serena is doing now?"
She waited a second, "I think so..I don't know. All through the shopping trip with Alexis and Mary Rose, it seemed like we were getting along fine. Still, it felt like she was watching me closely...like she was waiting for me to make a mistake with Alexis. I guess after Meredith and Gina, I can't really blame her for being concerned."
"Well, all I can say my dear is that, for a detective, you're very good at observing but not so much at understanding."
"Excuse me?"
"You've had an opportunity to be around Rick, Serena, and their siblings when they are together. But you haven't picked up on their behavior."
"I still don't understand."
"At the New Years Eve party, some drunken fool attacked Justin. Elise had the cretan down on the ground and twisting his arm off in seconds."
"I wasn't there for that, but I heard about from Lanie. I thought it was because Elise was the closest."
"She wasn't that close and the others present were quickly on their way. They are always watching each other for possible threats. It's how they watch over one another, protect one another. I believe that's what Serena were doing. She wanted to protect you like one of her own."
"Really, how can be so certain that's what it is?"
"When you were confronting Sheila, I saw the way Serena and Isobel were looking at you. They were ready to move on her in an instant. Granted, Sheila was hardly a physical threat to you, but
after so many years dealing with bullies and the like, it's become almost a reflex to them.
"I think it's become more intense since they lost Mary Rose. I think it's how they deal with the guilt they feel over not being able to protect their baby sister."
"Martha," Kate began cautiously, "How did Mary Rose die?"
"That, my dear, is not my story to tell."
SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL
"I don't see why I have to be here," Rick said lying back in the hospital bed as Vanessa and his brothers walked in, "The paramedics patched up my arm and said it was minor."
"Listen to me Richard Alexander Castle..." Vanessa replied
"You know my middle name is Edgar now."
"That's a stupid middle name. Edgar Allen Poe was a depressed, drunken, drug-addled madman."
"That's never been proven. That's just from a made up biography by Rufus Griswold."
"That maybe as will be, but he was also a hack. And stop trying to change the subject. You will have you arm checked out by a doctor or else…"
"Or else what?"
"Or else, I will call up Martha and Alexis to tell them what happened because you were stupid."
"You're going to tattle on me?"
"You'd better believe it."
"Fine, we should take care of some business while we wait. Colin, call Bob Weldon and try to explain what in the hell happened without explaining what the hell happened so Bob doesn't have to lie to the mayor."
Colin just nodded.
"Roland, see how everything is going down at the OCME."
"Will do."
"And Ethan, find out how far we've gotten on tracing Coonan's distribution network. OK, let's go."
"Wait," Vanessa said blocking the door, "I need to talk to you guys about something before you go off."
RICK'S STUDY
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so blunt," Serena said putting a comforting hand on Kyra's arm, "It's not like I dwell on it constantly and plot revenge...anymore. I guess I'm just worried about Rick being hurt again."
"I can understand that. And now there is his little girl to think about. I guess you have a hard time trusting me," Kyra's feelings of guilt where all over her face.
"I think if you simply broke up, it would all be in the past." Serena continued, "What hurt most was the way you blindsided him. You never told him that your professor suggested you apply for that job."
"I didn't even know if I wanted the job at that point. I was just exploring my options. What's wrong with that."
"That's what you said then, verbatim. I didn't believe you then and I believe you even less now."
"Why didn't you believe me then?"
"Two reasons. First, you were a pathological overachiever. Casually exploring options is something Rick does or I do. You were too focused for that. The only thing that would have kept you from taking that job was a better job.
"Second, why hide it from Rick? You were not a superficial couple. You discussed anything and everything. You debated. You argued. Yet, something as important as this doesn't even come up? You did not want him inputting into the process."
"And how are you even more sure now?"
"You said the same thing verbatim. You're a naturally honest and good person Kyra.
People like you have a hard time putting a false idea into words."
"Are saying I've never lied?"
"I'm not talking about the little white lies like 'no mom, you don't look like you've gained weight'. I'm talking about lies that come with a heavy dose of guilt because deep down the person lying knows they are being selfish even if they can't admit it do themselves.
"Putting a false idea like that into words is unnatural and uncomfortable for someone unaccustomed to such lying and deception. It's like a musician learning an instrument for the first time. At first, their performances are mechanical and identical. It is only after years of work that they can make each performance unique.
"So, those without extensive lying experience, tend to create a single version and repeat the lie exactly almost like reading from a script."
"No offense, but I've forgotten how spooky you guys could be."
"None taken. Anyway, you lied to Rick and the rest of us. You went after the job and interviewed for it without telling him. Then you got busted when he ran into your mother and she rubs in his face. You should make sure to tell Shelia that I haven't forgotten about that. And what was your response when Rick called you on it?"
"I said to that I didn't even know if I had the job yet so why worry about something that might not happen?"
"Very logical except you basically told him that he was your back up plan, option b, what you'd settle for."
"That's not how I meant it."
"I believe you, but should have known better. One of the things that we all share, that binds us together is that we all have abandonment issues of one form or another. So, to Rick, that is what it sounded like. It's how he felt. Even after that, he hung in there. He loved you Kyra with everything he had. He dedicated his second book to you. He wanted to marry you and was even willing to spend holidays facing down your mother's disapproving glare."
"I know I handled it badly but…"
"I'd say. You chose a job over him. You had plenty of offers in New York which is hardly the backwater of the art world. You broke him into thousand different pieces for a job. When you guys finally got into a real argument about it, after you told him you were going, remember what your justification was?"
"I said it was my life," Kyra replied, "It is. Don't I have a right to do with it as I please."
"Not according to yourself. While you and Rick were still together and disgustingly sweet, you wrote to him that no one's life totally belongs to them alone. Every person you connect with, grabs a piece of it and you grab a piece of them forming a connection. Often, it's such a tiny amount that it's inconsequential. But what you have what you and Rick had was not inconsequential. He had a big piece of your life and you had a big piece of his."
"I can't believe you remembered it."
"I have no choice. Rick kept re-reading it to all of us. We would have destroyed it, but by then it was permanently etched in our neural pathways. On the bright side, it's actually become part of our philosophy on life. The question is that did you believe what you wrote?"
"Yes."
"So, what you did was like you were saying that you never loved him at all. That the part of you he had, you didn't care about and the part of him you had, was disposable."
"I never wanted him to feel that way. I never wanted him to think that way. I thought…"
"You thought he would eventually come running after you like a character in some Rob Reiner movie?"
"Yeah, but he didn't."
"Can you blame him. You gave him a lot of sucker punches. What if he had come after you? What if you rejected him a second time. It's not exactly something someone easily risks. If you had been upfront with him from the start, he would have come after you. Hell, he might have come with you. But I have a feeling you knew that didn't you?"
"What are you saying?"
"You once called marriage a Jurassic institution. You were 22 years old. You and Rick were getting serious, happy out of your minds serious. As happy as you were, commitment scared you. You couldn't bring yourself to confront Rick about it because he might talk you out of your fears or he might even wait for you. In some ways, that would make things worse.
"So, you you ran to London. You knew Rick better than anyone outside of the family. You knew that he wouldn't let you go so you ended things in a way that would cause him to put space between you. I guess you just didn't figure it would be so much space."
"You think I had this all planned?"
"Nope, no planning. I think you were going on pure instinct. Explains your conflicted feelings about the whole thing. Love for him versus fear of commitment. Leaving you alone versus wishing he came after you."
"Is this whole Christian Dahl project just an excuse for you to finally let me have what's been on your mind all these years."
"Kyra, have I ever needed a pretext to rip into someone? I could have easily walked in your gallery and done so. I guess once we got started talking, it all just came out."
"The wine helped grease the wheels too. In vino veritas."
"In wine there is truth," Serena responded, "Opportunity plus alcohol helps…I don't know..."
"Get closure."
"I was trying to stay away from that particular cliche but it works I suppose." They both smiled.
RICK'S KITCHEN
"Don't worry," Martha said with a smile and a wave of her hand, "I won't tell Richard how jealous you got over Kyra?"
"I'm not Jealous."
"Oh kiddo, yes you are. You're so afraid that you will lose what you have to Kyra."
"And what do I have Martha?"
"Richard's heart and Alexis' heart. You have them but you don't know what to do with them, but I'm fairly certain you don't want someone else getting them while you take forever to make up your mind."
"Castle said he loved me and wants to marry me after knowing me for about three days. How can I take that seriously."
"Kate this is not some TV show where creatively challenged writers keep the two lead characters apart season after season in order to keep the sexual tension going because they don't have the brains to come up with a new formula.
"This is real life kiddo. Sometimes it takes decades and sometimes it takes an hour to know if someone is the one. And in both cases, you could be wrong. I know my son. He's not going to simply follow you around for 3 or 4 years like a puppy waiting for you to make up your mind. It's not in his nature.
"What I can also say is that I am very sure that my son never said 'I love you' to either Meredith or Gina before proposing. Frankly, I don't think they even noticed whether he did or not. Actually, I doubt he ever said it seriously to either of them.
"As far as I know, Richard has only said those words to two women before asking for their hand. Both of them are currently in this loft. The one in the study had her chance and passed. Personally, I think she blew it but I may be biased.
"Now it's your turn. Whether you accept what he's offering or you don't, know one thing. Richard would never say those words to someone and ask for their hand in marriage out of frivolity. Such a decision would affect Alexis for the rest of her life, and you've seen him with his daughter."
"He would never risk her happiness that way," Kate finished the thought.
SOUTHAMPTON HOSPITAL
"Talk about what?" Rick asked.
"Your behavior today."
"My behavior?"
She went to a chair by his bed and took Rick's right hand in her hands, and drawing little circles on his watch.
"Well, actually, all of yours, but you were the worst today Ricky. You treated me like an infant."
"You weren't supposed to be there, OK," he responded looking to the others for support, "It was not part of the plan."
"Look at me Rick," and he did, "This is not about the plan. Serena, Elise, Isobel, and I are not idiots. You four and even Justin have been getting overprotective to the point of smothering."
"I think you're imagining things," Colin responded.
"Oh, remember Serena's recovery job in St. Petersburg last year," she replied looking at the Brit, "You guys threatened to have Justin put her on the no-fly list and arrested if she didn't at least take you and Rick with her."
"The guy they had guarding that thing was nicknamed 'Butcher of Minsk'. I've been to Minsk. Even the actual butchers in Minks are not people I want to run into much less thugs with that nickname," Rick tried to defend himself and then deflated under Vanessa's quiet stare, "OK, so, maybe I overreacted a little."
"A little?" she raised an eyebrow and he says nothing, "Look, I get it. We girls get it. You boys think you failed her, you couldn't protect her. You don't think we feel the exact same way. She was our baby sister too. You don't think every one of us doesn't relive every minute of that day to think what decisions we could have made differently that would have kept her safe.
"I've measured exactly how far I was from her at that moment. I know how long it would have taken me to get to her by walking, running, subway, bus, car, bicycle, and motorcycle. If I'd only gone this way instead of that. If only I'd waited until tomorrow to do this or the other.
"We were her Round Table Knights and we let a monster get to her. But you guys aren't going to make it up to her by acting the way this way.
"Now, we're all a little teary eyed so I think you boys should go off and do what Rick said while I go see about getting him a doctor."
RICK'S STUDY
"So, do we have closure," Kyra asked.
"I don't know," Serena responded, "I guess it's helped. I was really angry at you. God, I wanted to hurt you so much."
"How can I forget, it got so bad that Colin had to pull you off of me."
"That's not completely your fault. Do remember what you said that finally set me off like that?"
"I'm not sure."
"You said you couldn't pass up on London. If you didn't go, you might regret it for the rest of your life and resent Rick for asking you to give up such wonderful career opportunity."
"Yeah I remember."
"I've heard that argument so many times in one form or another. In his upcoming book Rick even has a name for it. He calls it the Devil's Option."
"That sounds ominous."
"The name was inspired by a movie. You remember the The Devil's Advocate with Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino?"
"Yeah, Pacino plays the devil masquerading as a top New York defense attorney and Reeves plays a young, ambitious lawyer Pacino is trying to turn dark side."
"Exactly. Pacino puts Reeves on a big case defending a rich guy played by Craig T. Nelson who is likely guilty. If he wins it, it will make him a superstar. Meanwhile, Pacino and his minions slowly drive Reeves' wife, played by Charlize Theron, crazy.
"There's one scene in the movie where Reeves expresses his concern for his wife. Pacino tells him it's your wife and she needs you. She's sick. She's got to come first. Everyone will understand. Pacino practically says that there will be no consequences to his employment if he drops the case. Remember Reeves' response?"
"Yeah, he says he's afraid that if he quits the case and she gets better, he'll resent her for it. He's going to stay on the case for her, for them."
"But really, he didn't want to give up his ticket to superstardom," Serena continues, "And he was just rationalizing so he could do the wrong thing. It's simple. There is something you really want. It's something you can live without, but to have it requires doing something that you know in your heart you shouldn't, like hurting someone you love. So, you convince yourself that the hurt you might inflict now is nothing compared to the massive hurt that will come if they are the reason you don't get your hearts desire."
"You know Serena, I have the distinct feeling you're not just talking about Rick and I."
"I'm not being very subtle am I? Funny, my people don't hold to the Pacino version of Satan, but it didn't keep my parents from using the Devil's Option as logic to miss my Bat Mitzvah."
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"No reason you would. My parents worked with Doctors Without Borders. They specialized in fighting infectious disease outbreaks in underdeveloped countries. There was a huge conference or some such where they going to be recognized with some award. There would be massive press there. Picking up the award in person would make them the international face of their field.
"I was eavesdropping in on them. They said what if they didn't go they might end up resenting me for it and hurting our relationship in the long run. It was really for the greater good of everyone."
"So, they bailed on your Bat Mitzvah?"
"Yeah, Rick, Martha, and my grandparents did their best to cheer me up and get me through the whole thing. All my parents will ever know about their daughter's Bat Mitzvah is through photographs. And they were totally ok with this for a time. After all, they were the talk of the international medical community. Besides, they were never that religious.
"Then one day a couple of years later, I was showing Mary Rose the photos. She hadn't met my parents yet. She said that her favorite picture was one of my mom and me. It was actually a picture of Martha and me. My mother overheard this and you could almost hear something die in her. She cried for hours. She has not been able to bring herself to look at those photos ever since.
"It never occurred to my parents to reverse the argument. What if they did go to pick up the award and missed one of the important moment's of their child's life? Wouldn't it be possible that they would resent the choice they made. One day, it was proudly displayed. The next, my father smashed it with a hammer. One day, they had framed the covers of all the magazines they had been on as a result of that award. The next, my mother had thrown them all into the trash."
"I have a feeling you're going to ask me if I ever reversed the argument," the beautiful art dealer said with no little amount of trepidation.
"It has been on my mind. Did you ever think that what if you took this great opportunity but would resent it because it required you to give up this wonderful guy?"
"Actually, I didn't."
"So, in light of hindsight, did you make the right choice?"
"No."
"Wow"
"You didn't expect me to be so direct huh?"
"Not so much."
"From the moment I said goodbye at Grand Central, I felt like someone had hit me over every inch of my body at once. I never thought it could hurt so badly. Before I took it, I could imagine the regret of giving up the job eating at me little by little, but this was infinitely worse. It him me so hard and then it started eat away at me too.
"I was miserable in London. Every time the phone rang, I was secretly hoping it was him. Every time someone came in the gallery, for an instant I hoped it was Rick coming after me."
"Why didn't you call him?"
"What could I say. I made a mistake. I was stupid. I was selfish. Please take me back. No, I was too full pride to say that. I didn't want to admit I'd made a mistake. I was also so afraid. What if I admit all that and he he pushes me away. What if I decide not to take no for an answer. I quit and fly back to win him back, and it didn't work. Then I'd have nothing.
"Either way, I'd have to face my mother. When I got the job, my mother told me how proud she was of my accomplishment, of standing on my own two feet. Whether Rick took me back or not, I'd have to tell her I gave up that wonderful opportunity for Rick Castle. The idea of facing a lifetime of her disappointed looks scared me more than anything."
"Yeah, that would scare anyone. When you came back to New York, why didn't you look him up?"
"I don't know. The I guess I was just scared. Maybe I figured too much time had gone by. He wasn't just Rick Castle rising author anymore. He was the Rick Castle, superstar author. And then, suddenly, he was Rick Castle the policeman."
"He saw you. We all saw you in the back of of the funeral service," Serena took her hand, "We appreciated you attending. Why didn't come and talk to us."
"When I read about it, I couldn't believe it. I wanted to be there for him, but he was married to Meredith and he had a baby girl. I guess it was just too weird...too hard...too scary.
"Thank you for asking me here today?" Kyra said and she didn't mean about the job. Tears had been fighting to get out during the entire conversation, "It really helped. Did it help you?"
"Yeah, it did," Serena said with a big smile.
They hugged and it was a genuine hug of friendship. Not as good a friends as they were before, but in a better place than they were.
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
The push-prop driven drone made a final sweep over the area. It's not as fancy as the U.S. Predators or Global Hawks. The funding of the French Armed Forces is miniscule compared to that of their American allies whose military budget is larger than all the other nuclear powers combined. Sometimes it's hard to believe that France mostly underwrote the American Revolution.
However, the French do still get by. Built by SAGEM, Société d'Applications Générales de l'Électricité et de la Mécanique, the Sperwer, Dutch for Sparrowhawk, is the main reconnaissance UAV of French Military. Practically obsolete, it is more than sufficient for tonight.
The final read from the drone indicates that everything is as they expect on the ground.
The Lieutenant-Colonel at the base station signals the go ahead.
Three SA 341F light support versions of the Aérospatiale Gazelle Helicopters armed with 20mm Cannon escort four Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma transport helicopters carrying a reinforced platoon of Legionnaires.
Of all the world's elite military forces, none is shrouded in more mystery, myth, and legend than the Légion étrangère, the French Foreign Legion. From 1870 to 2001, it was the only all volunteer portion of the French Army. This was important because unlike the United States, French law gave draftees the option of not going overseas.
Even among Legion, there is one regiment that stands out, 2e REP, 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes. Since the end of World War II, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment has made more operational combat jumps than any other similarly sized parachute unit in the world. Their Israeli counterparts have seen more action, but not as much floating down into machine gun fire.
This creates an Esprit de Corps and service loyalty that borders on religious fanaticism. In recognition of this and a little fear of it, the French command is looking the other way. It's a practical matter. If the French command did not allow this, the Legionnaires might still take action in much more haphazard way with greater risk of being detected and causing an incident. The Legion wanted payback for betrayal and no one is going to argue the point so long as the operation was kept off the books.
To that end, the Legionnaires in the assault unit are carrying AK-47s rather than the French FAMAS assault rifle. They are wearing generic camouflage and gear. All indicators of rank, unit, and nationality have been taken off.
Aboard the lead Puma, the Commander of the operation had a menacing smile on his face. The vast majority of the Legion's officers are French born and the commander is no different. However, he is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the Legion. As such, he is well read in many of the legion's older traditions and techniques including including creative punishment methods using knives the Legion learned from North African tribes a century ago.
He was thankful he was able to convince the higher ups to let the Legion do this up close and personal. A stray bomb ariel run might be easier to explain, calling it an accident, but nowhere near as satisfying.
AGAIN: I have no ownership, rights, connection of any kind to Castle. I also have no ownership rights to The Human Target, Suits, Numb3rs, Bones, Blue Bloods, The District, or their characters. Before I had been killing time waiting for the season to start. Now, I'm killing time waiting for the show to start up again. I am totally ticked that there is no Christmas episode.
All reviews welcome. I only ask that you be polite and constructive. Feel free to point out grammatical, spelling, or factual errors. I do a lot of editing so sometimes cut and paste errors may slip through. Please let me know.
AN: OK, first this chapter really got away from me. It was getting on 12,000 words so I decided to find a nice place to split it so I could publish something.
First, a little trivia. At least twice in this story a character has said that Kyra Blaine reminds them of Ariel from Disney's "The Little Mermaid". In the show, Kyra was played by Alyssa Milano. Disney artists used the image of the then 17-year old Alyssa as the model for creating Ariel.
This is a very deep chapter. It's mostly my attempt at a creative rebuttal to the whole Watershed storyline with Kyra taking it for Beckett.
