The day begins when the sun rises over New York city. Kate Beckett is awake. She was unable to get much, if any, sleep last night. Her visitor from last night was warm and open but brought more questions to Kate that are yet to be resolved and caused her brain to shift into overdrive all night.
She sees the morning light entering into her bedroom and knows, without the clock, it is time to get up and start her day.
She gets out of the bed and immediately enters the shower letting the warm water cascade over her body. After a refreshing shower, she steps out and begins drying herself. She looks into the mirror and sees the same woman that she has seen for the last dozen years. She does not remember 3 of those 12 years, but she has decided to try and do her best to begin fresh once more.
She has not had a truly wonderful day after her mother's death, but she is resolved to try and not be so cut off.
/\/\/\/\
Two detectives and one civilian are hovering over the fancy coffee maker that Rick brought in a few years ago. Kevin Ryan likes the machine and its brew almost as much as Castle, but it is times like this that the tree can talk and not feel like they are under a microscope of the captain.
As Ryan is keeping a look out for visitors, Esposito begins "So, Castle…Who were you communicating with?" There is a note of concern in the Hispanic detective's voice.
"I am not sure in fact, not only do I not know who he…or she is, but I cannot figure out how they found me, connected to me or know who I am."
Ryan and Esposito switch places so as to not draw attention be one person looking out of the break room. "You think it might be a woman?" Ryan raises the question.
"I cannot be sure of anything right now, but this person knows way too much but promises to be a friend."
Castle looks out the door of the break room just as the elevator doors open and Kate steps off. She moves briskly toward her desk. He turns to the Expresso machine and immediately brews a fresh cup.
/\/\/\/\/\
Detective Kate Beckett exits the elevator and is walking toward her desk only for the second day since her shooting. Today she is not going to be disturbed by the presence of the writer, Richard Castle.
After spending hours talking with his mother and getting an insight into his current life and personal activities, she is planning to keep an open mind and stay neutral about him.
When she approaches her workspace, she looks down the line at the other desks, but she seems to be the first to arrive.
She sits down placing her bag into the bottom drawer and her weapon in the top drawer. She turns on the monitor and moves her mouse to wake up her computer terminal. When the log-in screen appears, she enters her username and password and is greeted by the welcome splash indicating her success in connecting to the police department system.
The first thing she goes is the e-mail system to check and see what messages she needs to deal with before digging into new cases.
As she is reading an aroma invades her senses as she hears and feels a coffee cup placed beside her arm. Unconsciously, she reaches over bringing the cup to her lips and taking a sip filling her taste buds with her favorite flavor. The words leaving her mouth are soft with real appreciation. They sound so familiar.
"Thanks Castle."
Everyone in ear shot stops cold.
She has not even moved the cup from her mouth. She is staring straight ahead at her computer screen and she can feel her face glow red. Without even looking up, she sets the cup back down on her desk, spins in her chair, stands, and quickly walks toward the lady's room.
When she disappears around the corner Ryan looks over to Rick who is still standing close to Beckett's desk. "I guess a memory just happened?"
Kate Beckett is glad that there are very few women in the precinct and the chances of her sharing the room with another member of the department is extremely slim. She stops at the counter looking at her reflection. "What just happened?" she asks herself. But no answer comes.
She closes her eyes and relieves the events of the last 60 seconds, without even conscience thought, she responded to a cup of coffee placed beside her as if this has been the most normal thing to happen.
Maybe it is. Maybe he has done this for her, and she is just reacting automatically to the event.
She is trying to make events return to her mind, but again the memories are fuzzy at best.
There is a slight knock on the door and the voice of Officer Hastings. "Beckett Are you in here?"
She snaps out of her haze. "Yes. I'm here"
You just got a message on your phone of a murder at the art museum."
"OK. I will be right out." She reaches to her pocket and she realizes that she does not have her phone. In the rush to get out, she left it on her desk.
Stepping back into the bull pen, she sees her partners, and Castle, waiting at her desk for her return. Without saying a word, she grabs her weapon, phone and bag, and begins walking to the elevator. When the doors open, she steps in and the three men join her. She looks at Ryan "What do we have?"
"A robbery evidently ended in a murder. There was an art exhibit with some massively expensive piece. The curator must have caught the thief and was murdered in the process."
"How much was the piece worth?"
"They say 50 million. It is called 'The Fist of Capitalism'
Castle chuckles "Anti Capitalism art worth more than some businesses"
"Yeah and robbery is sending Tom Deming to join us in the investigation." Esposito responds
Rick Castle cannot hide his reaction to the additional detective being included due to who he is, but is slightly relieved at Kate's reaction to the name "Who is he?"
The three men look at her. "Tom Deming. I worked with him at the 54th." Espo responds.
Beckett is still not reacting "Where is he now?"
"He is at the 12th robbery division down on the 2nd floor. We worked a case with him a few years ago."
She is non- committal in her response "I guess I don't remember meeting him before."
This also brings a calming to Castle.
Ryan finally decides to fill in some blanks. "Beckett. You and Tom dated back then."
She looks at Ryan then to the door. "I still don't remember him"
/\/\/\/\
When they get to the garage Ryan and Esposito get into one cruiser and Kate opens her door to get in her vehicle. This is when she realizes that Castle has sat in the passenger seat next to her. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Going to a crime scene "
"I thought you were working on cold cases."
"I do, but I also help with current crimes."
"Ok. Then just stay out of the way."
She thinks that this is the most conversation she has had with him since her shooting.
/\/\/\/\
The detectives arrive at the art show to find the victim impaled on another piece of so called 'Art'. Castle is looking around trying to find the definition of Art they are using because his is sufficiently different.
He is caught a little off guard when Detective Tom Deming steps up to Beckett. "Hey Kate."
She turns toward the man. "Hello. Can I help you?"
"Kate. It's me."
"I'm sorry but I don't recognize you."
"Tom…Tom Deming. We worked a case a little while back. We also dated for a little while also."
She is thinking. 'Oh yes. The robbery detective the boys told me about'. Sorry, Detective Deming but is suffered memory loss and I have no memory of ever meeting you."
She does not how much good her statement to this man meant to Castle.
She is looking around and makes a remark "We need to locate the point of access that the thief/murderer took to get in and also got out with a very large art object."
A woman's voice appears from what seems like nowhere. "They came thru the loading dock with the caterers and left in a van that looked like one."
Beckett spins around and faces a very attractive woman in an evening dress. She looks like she was probably one of the guests. Excuse me ma'am. This is a crime scene and is restricted to law enforcement."
The woman pulls out a business card from somewhere under her dress "I am Serina Kay. I am the insurance company's investigator."
Beckett has never cared for private detectives. So many wanted to be cops but can't pass the requirements. "I appreciate your offer to help, but we can take it from here."
"Very well." And the woman walks away using all of her female assets to draw the attention of the men nearby.
Kate Beckett knows this is not the last time she hears from this woman but for now, she is gone.
/\/\/\/\/\
After several hours of crime scene observation, the team return the 12th to wait for the autopsy and CSU reports to be posted.
When they walk onto the floor, Kate sees that the captain's office is closed, and she can see the shadow of someone talking to the boss.
Just as Beckett reaches her desk, the door open and Captain Gates loudly speaks out to the room "Detective Beckett, can I see you in my office, please?"
Beckett walks back around her desk and as she approaches the captain's office door, she sees who the visitor is.
'Serina Kaye'
When Beckett crosses the threshold "Sir?"
"Detective Beckett. This is Serina Kaye. She works as an investigator for the gallery's insurance company. She has convinced me that we could use her vast knowledge in art thefts and will be an asset to your investigation. "
"Sir. I met her at the gallery. I told her we will be able to handle this case and would not need her assistance. And we do not need a civilian involved in our cases."
Captain Gates looks out her window. Mr. Castle is a civilian and I understand he is considered a giant help in closing cases…so you and the team are to give her any assistance she requires,"
Beckett is obviously not happy in what she is hearing. As she turns to exit the door "Yes Sir!"
As they exit the office Beckett does not even turn toward the other woman "I have to say you have a LARGE set of gonads"
"Detective, I am paid a percentage of the value of the art to find the lost property. I have years of experience tracking stolen art from all over Europe to and I and vested in helping you."
Kates does not speak another word as Kaye and her enter the conference room. Detective Ryan and Castle are already in there.
Kate points toward the two men. "You have already unofficially met them. This is Detective Ryan and Richard Castle."
She seems to get a gleam in her eyes "The mystery writer Richard Castle?"
"On my better days."
"I thought that was you"
"In the flesh. "Castle seems to have a smile creeping into his face like he is liking what he is seeing.
Kate looks at the two men "She is going to be helping in the case. She is an insurance investigator."
Castle seems to be intrigued by this woman. "So, you are like a police officer? I bet you have a lot of cool stories you tell about cases you worked."
"Oh yes. Some more interesting than others."
"If you don't mind, I would like to meet with you and take some notes about your past. I might be able to use you in a future series of books."
Kate has sat back down at the table and is watching this interaction…In silence trying to act like she doesn't care… but her face is telling a different story.
Detective Esposito suddenly barges into the room and starts to report to Beckett what information he has when he notices the woman that has joined to group. Before he can question her Castle responds.
Espo. This is Serina Kaye…She is WITH us." Castle remarks
"UH. OK!"
Kate has still not spoken for several minutes. She is conflicted inside and does not know why…But this elegant woman trapped in Richard Castle's sightline and is making Kate Green.
/\/\/\/\/\
That afternoon, Kate Becket has her scheduled appointment with Dr. Burke, and she is unloading on him about the most recent events.
"She is an un-cooperative, cocky, stubborn, know it all."
"But she knows what she's doing?"
"Well. Castle seems to think so."
Dr. Burke has the experience to see the signs pouring out of Kate. "And this bothers you?"
She looks at the therapist "Yes!"
"And why is that?"
Kate sits silent in her answer. She honestly does noy know why she is feeling this way.