Second Choice
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: From a fan prompt (Castle goes to the Hamptons alone, while there he and Alexis meet divorced Jordan Shaw and her daughter. A few dinners together lead to a hookup. What happens next? COMPLETELY AU, Some Scenes and events used to enhance the story,
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take MANY liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events from other Canon episodes to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Chapter 10
Outside New Amsterdam Bank
25 Minutes Later
/_/
Jordan arrived on the scene at the same time the hostage negotiation team did and directed their trailer to be set up inside the cordoned-off section of yellow police tape. A crowd was beginning to gather wondering as most people would do, what was going on that commanded such a police presence in their neighborhood.
Captain Peterson, a veteran of over 15 years would be conducting the negotiations, with Jordan inside the trailer directing the Federal forces that were surrounding the location in several different locations. Jordan was worried, as always when a situation like this arose, but this was Rick inside the bank with his mother. God Alexis would be devastated if something ever happened to either of them.
Inside the bank, Rick was trying to keep the patrons calm, which was working for the most part except for one particular male, who seemed to be agitated more than scared. As Rick was trying to get him calm, one of the doctors, aka bank robbers noticed his Federal ID and gun.
"OK hero, up on your feet, what do we have here, a private investigator, a detective?" he derided as he grabbed Rick's credentials, then his eyes lit up, "Trapper John, you may want to look at this" Dr. Huxtable cried out,
One glance and then Trapper John replied, "So we hit the mother lode, we got a Fed to boot. He'll be the first one we shoot," he yelled out, the phone line still open to Captain Peterson and Jordan. Just then a younger officer stepped in and said,
"Captain, we have a homicide detective and her two associates trying to get through the security line, she says she's his partner"
A look of puzzlement went over the Captain, "I thought he was a Fed, and worked for you, Director Shaw?"
"I assure you he is, the detective out there would have to be Kate Beckett and Detectives Esposito and Ryan, his former partners as a civilian consultant. I'll handle this, I'll be right back" She said with authority in her voice,
She approached the tape line to see the three detectives arguing without success with the officer manning the blockade. She strode over to him, showing her badge,
"Officer, I'm Director Jordan Shaw, of the New York office of the FBI, let these three people pass in my custody," She barked,
"But mam, Cap says"
"Do you want to obey your captain or face federal charges of refusing to comply with a lawful order from"
"OK, mam, here you go," as he lifted the tape for Kate, Kevin, and a cocky looking Esposito. Jordan immediately responded,
"Lose the attitude Esposito or you'll be back behind that tape, is that clear? Jordan barked as Esposito's face turned beet red,
"Yes mam, perfectly," he said thru clenched teeth
Kate immediately began her take-charge attitude of the situation ordering Esposito to check out the entrance, and Ryan to verify if this was the bank that their murder victim had her account only to be interrupted by an angry Jordan Shaw.
"Beckett shut your mouth, you don't give orders in this situation, right now it's being handled by the hostage negotiation team of the NYPD with the cooperation of the New York office of the FBI. I sure as hell don't need you to come running in and fucking up our game plan. You're past that tape out of pure professional courtesy, nothing more, understood?"
"Jordan, Rick's my partner, I have to do something, I can't just sit here, I"
"He WAS your partner, where the hell have you been for the last 8 months, no calls, no texts, how can he still be your partner when he hasn't even had contact with you during that time. Look I know about the history between you two, you probably know about the present so don't embarrass either of us by playing stupid.
"Sit your ass over there and wait, if there is something you or your team can help with, we'll let you know" Jordan spit out, then turned, and added, "If you or any of your team leave this area, for any reason, I'll have you marched off this site and pursue disciplinary actions, is that clear?"
Esposito who had already begun to wander snapped back next to Kate as she replied, angrily, "CRYSTAL CLEAR" and sat down on the hood of a squad car parked nearby.
The negotiations went on and on, no progress on the outside, but Alexis showed up and tried to push her way past the cops. Kate went and retrieved her, showing the cop, her badge,
"What's going on Detective Beckett, I heard on the news that there was a hostage situation here at the bank, and Grams and Dad had an appointment here, are they hostages?" Alexis cried, as Kate couldn't lie but couldn't get the words out either, so she shook her head yes.
Jordan came out of the trailer, and Alexis ran to her, hugging her and crying, "Is Daddy going to be OK, Is Grams OK?" as Jordan tried to calm the young lady down. Kate looked on as if she were a stranger, then she thought, she is a stranger.
She had filled her life full of work, and empty times with the pompous ass of a boyfriend who had a less than 50% chance of showing up for dates, she had forgotten about the people who were there for her when she needed it the most.
Jordan said something to Alexis and then went to direct the maneuvering of an EMS vehicle through the crowd to just outside Kevin and Javi's vantage point. A heavily shielded EMS Technician emerged with a gurney and headed into the bank, something was wrong, but what?
A short while later the technician reappeared with a man strapped to the gurney experiencing the final throngs of what appeared to be a seizure. Kevin got a good look, and yelled out,
"Kate, that's the son-in-law of Agnes Fields, we haven't been able to talk to him, he was supposedly out of the country." He said.
Kate ran to the trailer pounded on the door, and an angry Jordan Shaw opened the door, "What the hell do you want now Beckett? We're busy, so far no one has been murdered so unless you want your ass thrown out of here, stop bothering me and those trying to save the lives of the hostages."
Kate had just finished explaining the link between the male on the EMS gurney and her active case when a huge explosion was heard. There was smoke billowing from every opening in the bank and adjoining businesses that shared the building. Alexis ran towards the bank only to be stopped by Jordan, who yelled to Kate, "Stay with her" as she ran to the opening in the front of the bank.
Kate was left trying to console Alexis who was almost freaking out, "Detective Beckett, they're all I have, do you understand, all that I have. If something happened to them, I will never forgive you for pushing Daddy into this line of work"
Kate just held the young lady and tried to console her, without taking offense or being hurt by the words she continued to hurl at her. Finally, she saw Martha walking out next to a gurney that had Rick, with Jordan on the other side, holding his hand. Alexis broke free and ran to them. Kate returned to the sight she had been delegated to, and said,
"Let's get out of here, the Feds and the 54th have this under control now," She said with a sad, almost disgusted tone, she did stop to turn around to watch Jordan climb into the back of the ambulance that Rick had been loaded into. He appeared to be OK, nothing life-threatening. Martha was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated, and Alexis had ridden with her Grams.
"Sounds good to me," Esposito said, "Who the hell do they think they are, Castle was our friend before he met any of those feds," he added,
"Was he Javi? Really? Did we treat him like a friend, or did we just use him for his sports car, tickets to the Knicks, and other perks? You can tell he and Jordan have something real, she was almost in tears trying to do her job, knowing it could cost Rick his life, so think before you say anything else," she mumbled as she headed for her car to return to the precinct.
XxX
Two Hours Later
Kate was still trying to figure out the connection with the son-in-law to the bank heist when Roy stuck his head out of his office.
"Beckett, get your team, all the case notes and information on the Agnes Fields murder and meet me in the conference room one in ten minutes," he said,
"Yes Sir, ten minutes sir" she replied, wondering what the hell was going on. The Captain never double-checked her work, not since her third case as a detective, what was going on?
She corralled Javi and Kevin and collected the case notes, since the murder board had many details handwritten, they decided to roll the entire board into the conference room. As they entered, Kate noticed that Roy had leaned the two chairs in the very front, one on each side of him forward, meaning they were having guests.
She took the chair in the back, not knowing who was coming but not desiring to sit next to a member of the brass, no one knew what was going on until Roy returned from refreshing his coffee. She overheard him say before he entered the room, "Yes, we're in conference room one, show them up."
He entered the room and looked at the files and folders of evidence, notes, pictures, and all evidence collected since they had first discovered Mrs. Fields' body.
"Is this all of it, including the profile and notes on the son in law? Esposito, I trust you are current with your paperwork, nothing in your desk drawer that needs to be typed up and submitted to Beckett for editing is there?" as soon as the words were out of his mouth Kate knew that Javi was holding on to something,
"Sir, I have some, not much, to add to the files" Esposito begged
"Esposito, as soon as this briefing is over, you and Beckett will ensure every piece of evidence is where it belongs, in the files, and you and I will talk later. You are on thin ice, and the heat is making the ice melt, even more, each day, if you get my drift, Patrolman, Esposito" he bashed Javi, it wasn't by accident the title Patrolman was used. It was apparent to everyone in the room, which now included two new faces who had entered as Roy was dressing down Javi.
Kate turned to see who walked in the door, and she almost fainted.
"Detectives, I think you all know Director Jordan Shaw, head of the New York office of the FBI, and of course you know the man next to her, but he's now known as Special Agent Richard Rogers, FBI," Roy said as the shock spread throughout the room,
Javi, still not the brightest bulb in the chandelier spouted out perhaps what Kate and Kevin were thinking but were too professional to verbalize. "No fucking way. You're telling me that Castle is a Fed now, where did he buy his badge?" Javi said before he knew it, as Kate hung her head.
Kate expected Roy to speak but he didn't get the opportunity, Jordan jumped all over Javi.
"Excuse me? A detective, well for perhaps one more day is questioning the qualifications of a member of my team, who in fact is my partner? You never were smart Esposito, but before you were able to keep your big mouth shut, except for spreading all types of rumors.
"If you ever speak like that to or about one of my team members again, I will cut your balls off and stuff them in that big mouth, is that clear?" Jordan spat out as Rick smiled, that's when she noticed he was wearing a sling around his left arm.
"Clear, mam" a contrite, angry Esposito said, even he wasn't dumb enough to push his luck with Jordan.
Roy cleared his throat, and said, "Well, the purpose of this meeting, which I'm sure you're all wondering is Director Shaw and Agent Rogers are taking over the Agnes Fields murder investigation, some aspects play into the bombing and subsequent injury to Agent Rogers earlier today"
"Sir, you can't just hand over my case to the feds, how the hell does a little old lady's murder tie into the bombing at New Amsterdam Sir, and I've very sorry for your injuries Agent Rogers" Kate spat out,
"First Beckett, it's not YOUR case, it's the NYPD, second you haven't moved one inch on solving this crime in a week, third, Agent Rogers has discovered the link between the son-in-law, you know the one your team couldn't locate to question and the murder, and bombing, and lastly, a little boy and his mother's life is" just then his phone rang.
"Montgomery," he said,
"Great, anyone hurt? Just in time, wow that was too close, I'll let Rick know, thanks for calling chief. Yes, transport him back to my precinct, but he's to be released ONLY to my custody, or Director Jordan Shaw of the FBI,"
"Great, we'll look for him in about 5 hours, and once again Thanks, yeah, I'll be sure to pass that along to Rick, thanks again." He hung up and turned back to the room.
"As I was saying a mother and little boy's life was saved because of Agent Rogers and his ability to sort out the evidence in such a rapid manner. Now get ALL the evidence together and be sure you have it all, Esposito, any questions" Roy said,
"Sir, may I ask Rick, eh, I mean Agent Rogers a question?" Beckett asked,
Jordan stepped in," you can ask him anything you want Detective, whether or not he answers is up to him, so go for it"
"Agent Rogers, eh, Rick how did you put the murder of Mrs. Fields together with what appeared to be a terrorist attack on the bank, and how badly were you injured.? Kate asked,
"Well, I know you never believed it, but every crime has a story, your murder was the missing piece of our puzzle, why would an organized group of hired militia storm a bank, and why in the hell would they detonate the bomb early killing them all?
"They weren't stupid which meant it was a double-cross. The common thread we had was the man known to me as Sal, faking a seizure to remove himself from the bank, he knew he had double-crossed his co-conspirators and wouldn't escape if he stayed with them. That was the missing link to the puzzle, now the question remained why?
"Why go to all the trouble to fake a bank heist, and kill your hired mercenaries? It all tied back to the bug you found Detective, once it was traced the results were sent to our office, and we tracked the purchase back to Ron, the ex-husband of Mrs. Fields' daughter.
"His connections to explosive manufacturers and military made it an easy puzzle to solve. Esposito had this evidence two days after the murder, why he couldn't connect the two I have no idea. It was something Alexis could have solved." Esposito sleeks deeper into his chair, as both Beckett and Montgomery boil with anger.
"As for my injury, thank you for asking, but it was just some shrapnel, they removed it, stitched it up, one tetanus shot later and I was discharged," he said, dismissing his role.
"Not quite the story we got from the 54th who shared witness accounts, Rick, it seems as if you used your body as a human shield protecting your Mother and a very pregnant bank employee, who was so worried she called all around until she found out you were OK. She's outside and wants to thank you personally," as Roy opened the door, and a very pregnant lady was hugging Rick gently on his good side, and kissed his cheek,
She was so excited she spoke half in English, half in Spanish, to which Rick replied in her language fluently, causing Kate, Kevin, and especially Esposito to look amazed. Jordan stepped in and wrapped the young lady in a hug, once again saying something in fluent Spanish that made the young mother to be smile, she responded with something that all anyone could understand was Sir Ricardo.
"She said that if the baby is a boy, they are naming it after Richard," as Rick blushed,
The husband and wife left after a few more hugs, and then Roy asked, "Any more questions"
"Since Rick refused to answer the question completely is it true that he needed a blood transfusion, and a minor surgery to repair the damage, much more than just a few stitches," Kate asked,
"You know as well as I do Detective, we can't discuss medical conditions of our employees," then she turned to Rick, we need to get you home, you've overdone it already. Roy, I trust you have this now, and will ensure the evidence, all of it, arrives at my office by tomorrow morning.
"Also, please process the suspect under Federal regulations, meaning he isn't required or allowed to ask for a bond hearing. Call me if you have any issues," as she wrapped her arm around Rick, he returned the gesture with his good arm and they started out the door.
Once the door closed as they left, Roy let it all out. He was pissed off, embarrassed, and disappointed in leadership, that a Federal Agent solved a murder without seeing one of their clues. He was especially pissed that Esposito was behind on processing his paperwork for an active murder investigation. The ass-chewing went on long and loud, loud enough for Rick and Jordan to hear it as they waited for the elevators.
This wasn't the type of return to the 12th he had hoped for, certainly not when he had been injured. Jordan saw how he had acted in front of Kate, and relief spread through her. Not that she didn't like Beckett, she just didn't like the woman, any woman who would degrade her friend in such a way that she had.
She thought, what poetic justice, Rick solved a murder, even when she and her squad were deficient on their jobs, it was truly fitting, especially for Esposito, who had a whole flock of crow to eat. Bon Appetite she thought as she kissed Ricks cheek,
"Let's go home, I have some medicine I want to administer if you're up to it."
"Oh, let me show you how up I am, I mean, hell you know what I mean" he laughed as they stepped into his Escalade Ric mobile as he had named it."
TBC