Kate shook as she slipped into her apartment, swelling with anger and fear. The events that had passed kept rushing through her mind at a tempered pace. She was mad at her husband-to-be; if mad were well enough of a descriptor. To be frank, she desired nothing more than to ring his neck. "Oh, god," she slid down against the leather of her couch, palm against her mouth.

Swelled anger became ignorance as she stared at the wall with a blank expression. Beckett was many things: challenging, maddening; descriptions her fiance would be proud to provide. But, one of the many lessons she'd learned were that words meant nothing. Condolences and promises for a better future were better supported by actions. Neither of which Rick could provide her now.

As the anger bubbled once more she stood from her couch. Then turning toward the door, left the apartment. There wasn't allotted time for mourning now, not with Jackson Hunt on the loose. She had to dedicate each moment she had to finding the evidence needed to put him behind bars.

If she could.

The fact remained that William Bracken was the driving force behind the murder. Jackson was nothing more than a foot soldier in a war that had started years ago. Long before her involvement and long before her mother's involvement. Yet, Kate knew she had nothing to hold onto. There was no physical proof that Bracken even hired these men to do his dirty work. Only spoken word and even she didn't hold onto that now.

She scrubbed her palm against her eye socket as she forced herself to think clear. Encased in her apartment's elevator, it was only her there. But she would not shed a tear, she couldn't allow a moment of weakness now.

The hardened casing of her wall built up around her, she was confident. Castle's help or not, she'd find closure for herself and for her mother.

Beckett saw glances from her co-workers when she came in solo but ignored them. Esposito and Ryan were wiser than she'd anticipated, stepping into the case instead. Questions would come later, she was sure, but it was enough for now. "We've got an APB put out on Jackson Hunt," Esposito said at her side, beaming with pride.

She beamed with him, his accomplishment enough to keep her grounded. She thought about telling the boys about what she'd learned. Perhaps she could give an anonymous tip of his location. Yet, as mad as she was with Castle, she couldn't do it. She couldn't pull together the courage she needed for such an act.

She was angry with herself, then, remembering that there was a time before Castle. A time when she would have turned on him without question. Six years of having him chip against the cement wall had softened her.

All this would be a lot easier if Richard Castle hadn't wormed his way into her life. But he did and she fell for him completely unconditional. It was impossible for her to not see the good. "Let me know if you get a call on that," she told them and then disappeared into the break room. The need for coffee hit her and there was no turning back.

Beckett was right. Castle knew she was and knew that he should've listened. There had been numerous occasions that entailed rough circumstances like this before. But, there was nothing quite this moment. The hold his father had on him, even without knowing whom he was, was unsettling.

Jackson had left just the way he'd came, like mist through a grate. He sat beside his mother on the couch, both worn from the experience. "Oh, Richard," she sighed and placed a palm on his leg. "I had no idea."

Of course she would not; he'd given her no indication. When rescuing Alexis from Paris just the year before, he'd run in with Jackson. His mother had known about it but she hadn't questioned any further. What she was referring to instead, though, was the news that presented itself earlier. For a moment, Castle forgot that Martha was in the bedroom at that same moment.

Her hearing cushioned by the closed door meant nothing; she was always sharp as a fox. "Mother," he tried to find the words that stuck within his throat. "I didn't know either... until just recently."

Yet, for the few moments he'd known this piece of information he had withheld it. It was completely uncharacteristic of him and even he understood that. For the past six years, everything he'd experienced had gone through Beckett. How could one moment, one person change the entirety of the dynamic they'd built?

"Oh, Mother," he whispered, his voice wavering with guilt. "I screwed up completely."

Martha placed her palm instead on his shoulder, rubbing a slow circle there. For a selfish moment, Castle wished that she had lied to him all those years before. His mother had been blunt from the first moment he had asked about his father. There was never a chance of lies.

"My boy," she began. "Katherine has just learned that her mother... that your father murdered her mother." Her throat became dry whilst speaking and her hands clenched together at her waist. "This isn't something that can fix itself with a box of chocolates or an apology."

As much as he hated to admit the reality he was stuck within, his mother was right. The direct murder of her mother wasn't done by his hand, but he had covered up information. If she could find it in her heart to one day forgive his lapse of judgment, all was well. The question still remained if he could.

"Mr. Hunt." The voice, even after all these years, still ran through his system like ice water. "It's good to see you."

"I assume you've gotten information about Katherine Beckett learning the truth?" Jackson wasn't there to play games with Bracken. This was a simple house call, more or less and he wanted it completed as prompt as possible.

William straightened in his chair, meeting Jackson's gaze. Without speaking, Jackson was aware that he had heard everything there was to hear. Bracken had told him once, long before then, that nothing slipped past him. Impressed was not an appropriate description.

"Mr. Hunt, I am aware that there was some influence of yours with this, as well." Bracken folded his palms together in front of him and stared toward Jackson. He cocked an eyebrow without another word. "It has come to my attention a connection between yourself and Richard Castle. A connection that has left me somewhat startled."

"And because Richard has a relationship with Katherine this is my issue?" Jackson became defensive in an instant.

"Well," William licked his lips. "It was your son whose loud mouth notified Ms. Beckett. How would it not be your fault, Mr. Hunt?"

Jackson stepped toward the desk and bent, pressing his palms flat against the wood. "Mr. Bracken, sir," he spoke low and dangerous. "You would be wise to second guess your words from now on."

"Or you would be wise to watch yours." William didn't flinch a moment, looking between the suits at his sides. "Gentlemen, why don't you escort Mr. Hunt back to his car?"

Outside, there were friends waiting for him. He saw a flash of a gold badge and then felt his arms pressed behind his back. "Anderson Cross, you are under arrest for the murder of Ted Rollins. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Jackson's head spun as he saw Katherine across the way, watching him from afar. Anger swelled within him once more and he opened his mouth to speak, to yell. Nothing came out.

"I'd hold off on that, if I were you." A rough voice said in his ear. He didn't have a chance to look over at the source. Instead, he met the interior of a police vehicle and the rough voiced male slid in beside him.

"Back to the 12th, LT." He ordered.

Lock up wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Much more pleasant than the area he spent time earlier in his lifetime. Footsteps interrupted his thoughts, though, and he turned his attention to the resonating sound. He was not at all surprised when he met the sorrowful gaze of his son.

"Jackson." He grunted, folding his arms across his chest. "I will not lie to you and say that I tried to persuade your release."

Jackson hadn't expected any more from his son. Richard would hold a grudge, of course and nothing would deter him. Dropping his gaze, Jackson stood from the bench and stepped toward Richard. "I suppose this is goodbye then."

"Unless you break yourself out again," Richard spat back at him. Jackson clenched his fists and held back a grimace. "I suppose that you already have a plan for that." Richard shook his head. "While you're arranging escape routes, Jackson, do me a favour and call off the troops. Call off everything that might be going my family or Kate."

Jackson looked straight behind him, shaking his head. Bracken was too aware of the effect of Kate knowing this piece of information now. "It's too late now, son." Jackson told him. "There's a war waging... even you cannot stop that."

Castle felt his heart sink in his chest.

A/N: Oops?