Thank you all for the kindness and following me along on this journey. I do have a couple other stories in the making and look forward to releasing them in a few weeks. In the meantime, be safe and enjoy this gorgeous spring. The farm is calling but I sure can't wait to be back soon.

# # #

The feeling of peace and serenity that had eluded her for so many days finally returned as Kate Beckett leaned against the back of Castle's couch, a cold beer in one hand, relishing the company of her work family as they all gathered at the writer's apartment for a much-needed celebration.

Martha had joined in, having been involved in the case far more than usual, the ambitious lady having worked all afternoon to put together trays full of appetizers.

It had taken a couple of beers for Beckett to finally be able to let her guard down and relax, letting go of the constant worry that Steward would get away with murder, and that his security detail, the Dark Shadows, would return and pledge vengeance.

As it turned out, Steward was most definitely no longer getting away with murder; the blood evidence CSU found in the bedroom combined with Pam Steward's testimony forming a strong case against the crooked politician, his lone lawyer left struggling to fight the slew of charges that had been filed.

All the local papers were having a hay day with the case, villainizing Steward relentlessly while, in a strange sort of poetic justice, remaining sympathetic to his wife under the dire circumstances.

Beckett hadn't mentioned anything about the woman's questionable character, instead, she just used her devastating testimony to their advantage when it came to indicting Steward. Karma had a way of sorting things out in the end and she was certain that Pam Steward would have her day in hell for what she'd said in that interview room a few days ago.

Esposito's hearty laughter pulled her out of her daydreams and she looked up in time to see Castle bring another round of drinks, beers for all of them, and fresh-pressed, chilled orange juice with a tiny umbrella for the detective, doctor's orders until he was off the heavy pain meds.

The atmosphere did wonders to soothe her soul and Beckett joined in on the laughter, feeling her heart fill with joy upon seeing everyone safe and accounted for again.

Getting in on the backend of a discussion about the recent hospital experience, she took another sip of beer, then cleared her throat.

"Ryan, you're forgetting the part where you were both serenading each other singing "I had the time of my life" when I walked in."

"I already told you, we weren't serenading", the smiling detective countered defensively, "It was occupational therapy. The nurse said he needs to breathe deeper and I figured what better way to do that than to sing? He was shy about it so I joined in and we sang together, call it a karaoke date."

"And of all the songs you could sing, you decided to pick Dirty Dancing and be cute? Come on!"

"Yo, he picked the song…I just…I just went along with it. I was trapped in that bed. It's not like I had a choice.", Esposito argued, throwing up his arms in defeat, careful not to touch anything with the cast on his right wrist.

"Sure, sure, next you'll claim that the drugs made you do it.", Castle added from the kitchen island, before proceeding to devour a meatball from the assortment of trays sitting there.

"Which is a legitimate, court-worthy defense. You should know all about that with your research."

"Are you boys always bickering like that at work?", Martha inquired from her bar seat by the refrigerator, shamelessly indulging in an oversized Bloody Mary, "No wonder Detective Beckett is so tired all the time. It's like herding fleas. How do you get anything done?"

"Beckett gets it done. She keeps an eye on us and orders us around and we just follow her command…"

Ryan could barely contain a cheeky grin when he said that, his expression never changing even when Esposito slapped him on the shoulder with his good hand.

"Dude, seriously? We can absolutely work unsupervised."

"I second that…most of the time.", Castle added and approached the group again, triumphantly holding one speared meatball in his left hand, "Although I will admit that we do our best work together. This…latest case has proven that."

From her corner of the couch, Beckett raised her beer in agreement.

"Hear, hear! To the best crime fighting team the City of New York has ever seen!"

The collective cheers lasted several seconds, a welcome and much appreciated reminder of the incredible bond they all shared; a bond that seemingly grew stronger with each case they solved.

When everyone fell quiet again, Esposito glanced up, his expression turning somber as he sought out Castle.

"And…ehm…thank you for what you did, man. I'll be sure to pay you back."

The detective's voice was breaking slightly when he said that, an unusual display of emotion for a man who kept his innermost thoughts to himself most of the time.

But truth be told, nobody knew exactly how much ransom money Castle had paid in order to get the Dark Shadows to release Esposito, starting a trickle-down effect in their investigation that allowed them to narrow in on Steward and indict him just in time before the elections.

Realistically, it was probably more money than any cop on the city payroll could summon in their career.

Beckett was expecting a cocky answer about Martha's illustrious love life playing a huge role in the Jessop Watkins situation, but for once, the writer's expression was serious as he sat down next to her, his gaze travelling up to the faint reminders of their capture decorating her cheek bone.

Sensing his inner turmoil, she turned around and smiled, doing everything in her power to remind him that they all survived, that everything worked out for the best, trying to soothe the terror she'd seen in his eyes back at that abandoned warehouse.

It seemed to do the trick when he returned the smile, that innocent boyish admiration showing through on the edges as he reached up to caress her cheek for a brief moment.

Then, with his voice stripped of the usual lighthearted tone, he shook his head firmly.

"I am afraid that won't be necessary. You already paid for it in full, my friend."