* * *Disclaimer: I don't Own any of the characters or the rights to the show (sadly) * * *

"The Case of The Carpathian Ruby"

Chapter 1 "When do we start?"

Ryan and Esposito sat in their usual booth at the Old Haunt. Castle had even commissioned a plaque that read "Reserved for my friends at the 12th". It was 8pm and although it was a relatively early finish to their day their last case had taken it out of them.

"I can't handle another case like that Javi."

"I know man, are you sure you shouldn't be at home with Jenny and the kids." Esposito asked.

"Seeing that kid in the trunk." Ryan paused and took a swig of his scotch. "Sometimes we see so much darkness I just don't want to take it home to them. When I saw the body for a second there, I imagined Sarah Grace and Nicholas." He trailed off and just stared at his glass as he loosened his tie.

"Maybe we should take a look at transferring to Burglary or Cybercrime."

"Jees Javi, it's a bad day not time to retire" Kevin smiled weakly.

"Yeah… So I have something to tell you." Javier looked Kevin in the eyes "A Sargent position came up, uh, it's in New Jersey."

"Are you serious?" Kevin looked up from his drink. "I mean, I'm happy for you man, you earned it. Just…. New Jersey?" he patted Javi on the back to show his support. No matter what happened he would always be there for Javi.

"I know, but I happen to know there's a couple vacancies in burglary over there and in the next few months another sergeants position is coming up, since you passed the exam I figured" he paused. "You know more money, more open space than in the city…"

Kevin smiled "You'd miss me."

"I never said that bro," he grinned "I was just thinking about the kids. You know they need their favourite uncle Javi."

"Javier Esposito, you softie" Kevin grinned in return. Esposito rolled his eyes and laughed softly.

"Evening boys" said an English voice behind them. They turned round to see Haley and Alexis stood behind them.

"Hey guys, mind if we join you. We don't want to intrude on a bro-mantic moment." Alexis smiled.

"Always happy to share a drink with beautiful ladies" Esposito replied looking Hayley up and down appreciatively. Alexis and Haley smiled at each other and took a seat. The two ladies had been working together full time at Castle's PI firm for a few years now and they were very good at what they did. Tonight, they were dressed to the nines.

"So, how's it going. Are you ladies celebrating or commiserating this evening?" Ryan asked. The guys shifted over in the booth to let Hayley and Alexis squeeze in. Hayley held up an elegant hand and a waiter came over to the table.

"Please can we have a bottle of Jager and four shot glasses please."

"Oh, so we're celebrating?" Javier asked.

"Oh yes, we have just recovered three million dollars in diamonds from a Parisian cat burglar." Haley replied and high fived Alexis.

"I take it business is booming?" Kevin asked.

"It's booming a little too much." Alexis answered. For the first time Kevin really looked at her there were faint purple circles around her eyes. She was pale, more so than usual.

"You ok?" Kevin asked, immediately in dad mode as Javi always called it.

"Word of mouth is a PI's best friend. We have more cases than we can handle, Hayley has some old friends she has been delegating cases to, but they aren't full time."

"So, what's new with you boys?" Haley asked as the shot glasses arrived. She had drunk the last of Javier's scotch and winked at him as she poured him a shot.

"Javi's leaving me and Jenny is pregnant again."

"Wait Jenny's pregnant again?" Javi asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, I was gonna tell you, then you told me about Jersey."

"Now you definitely have to come with me to Jersey"

"Why would you want to go to Jersey?" Alexis and Hayley asked at the same time.

"Long story. Short version more kids equal more expense." Javier answered.

"Oof" Hayley said. "Here drink up" she passed Ryan a glass and the bottle. She and Alexis shared a look. Esposito wondered what they were up to.

A few drinks later and Ryan and Esposito were feeling better. Alexis and Hayley were feeling more relaxed too. Hayley cleared her throat and said;

"Boys we have a proposition for you." Esposito looked at Hayley and Blushed furiously.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Javier" Hayley laughed. Ryan snorted into his shot.

"We were hoping you would consider working with us…. Full time" Alexis interjected before their flirting got out of hand.

"Jee, I don't know ladies. We're homicide detectives. What makes you think we'd make good PIs?" Kevin asked.

"Yo, you could get a trench coat and a fedora. I bet Jenny would love that." Javier grinned his eyes a little glazed and his face warm, the Jager was going to his head, he usually preferred beer to shots.

"I'm going to have my third kid how'd you think that happened." Kevin giggled.

"I think we should get the two of you some coffee." Alexis laughed.

"Speaking of three kids how are Castle and Beckett doing? We haven't seen them in forever."

"The twins Derek and Jackson are just starting to sleep through the night so you might get to see them more now and Joanna is starting school in the Fall" Alexis said as Hayley called the waiter back and whispered something Javier didn't catch.

A few minutes later the waiter appeared with the largest jug of coffee Javier had ever seen and a notebook and pen which he gave to Hayley. Once Ryan and Esposito had started to sober up a little Hayley started making notes and showing them to Alexis. She tucked her long red hair back behind her eyes as she read. She looked up at Hayley and nodded approvingly.

Alexis took the notebook from Hayley and flipped to the next page. She wrote something on the page and showed Hayley who nodded. Alexis ripped out the page and folded it over and slid it over to Ryan.

"This is our offer. If you aren't interested, we understand and if you can help out on occasion that would be great."

"I am flattered and we appreciate the offer" He said as he opened the paper "and… oh that's a lot of zeros, is that right?"

"Lemme see that" Javier said to Kevin taking the paper from his hands. "Woah yeah this has to be a typo." Esposito's eyebrows rose to his hairline.

"Nope that's the standard yearly salary plus health care and pension." Hayley said suddenly all business.

"Oh, and did we mention, you can pick your own company car and Dad said we can borrow the Lamborghini if we need to go undercover." Alexis added.

Hayley looked over at Alexis with pride. She had taught her well. Esposito could never turn down a fast car.

"We aren't licenced PI's. When would you need us to start?" Esposito asked looking at Ryan to try and gauge his reaction.

"That's the beauty of it in New York you can work for a PI firm as soon as you are registered as support staff. Then in a few years if you want to venture out and start your own firm together in Jersey you can, you just need twenty-four hundred hours of investigator experience from a PI firm and five hundred dollars to take the exam."

Ryan took a breath. This could be the answer to all his financial issues. No need to move to Jersey and he would never have a day like today ever again. At least he hoped not. The memory still burned behind his eyes.

"Oh, and as a sweetener I happen to know the headmaster at Brearley just in case Sarah Grace wants to go the top school in New York." Hayley said quietly from behind her coffee mug.

"Plus, you can set your own hours, so you can have more time Jenny and the kids."

As soon as she mentioned the school Javier knew Kevin was in. "Well played ladies." Esposito said admiringly. "When do we start?"

Next chapter: An Unexpected Invitation.