Title: Rock Foundation

Disclaimer: I do not own the Castle characters or their story lines. I just borrow them for fun.

Summary: A Sequel of sorts for my one-shot Rock Solid. Kate and Rick deal with the aftermath of Knockdown and move forward with their lives, learning to balance their partnership with their budding relationship.

Author's note: Things get more intense tonight, my friends. I apologize if it's angsty, instead of the fluff I know we could all use on this, the saddest of Non-Castle Mondays. If you do want fluff, check out my one-shot Bound: it's flufftastic.

Thanks for reading!

Emma

Chapter XX:

"Gina Becker," Ryan announced as he walked back into the Precinct four hours later.

Kate, Rick and Esposito turned to look at him as he walked over and wrote the name above the picture on the murder board. He leaned against the wall and they sat in silence for a moment.

"Gina Becker?" Rick asked.

"Yep."

"That's…"

"You can say it bro; that hits too close to home," Esposito said for the group.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Rick asked, looking at Ryan. "I mean, she doesn't have a twin or something…or a double?"

"I'm sure," Ryan nodded.

"What else were you able to dig up? We've gotten nothing all morning," Kate told him.

"She's a lawyer—good call, Castle— and just made partner at the firm a year ago. She lived a few blocks over in a big apartment. Family's out in California. No boyfriend that we know of yet. Uniforms are trying to track down records."

"What firm?" Esposito asked, grabbing a file.

"Franklin and Dracos."

"I think they're in here," Esposito mumbled, rifling through the papers they'd collected of every firm that had a Jonston or Ron on the payroll. "And look at that, one Ron Jonston was listed, get this, as a janitor there."

"So much for being a lawyer," Rick added. "But that means…"

"That we can go an canvass the firm for his picture, address and last known sightings," Kate finished.

"Freaky," Ryan muttered to Esposito.

"I know man. They're so together," he replied.

"We're right here, guys," Kate told them.

"We know, Boss," they replied as they moved away to begin making calls and setting up appointments so that they could go canvass.

"Any leads?" Montgomery asked, poking his head out of his office where he'd been fielding calls from the press all morning.

"Ryan found her office, and Tyson was working as a janitor there. The guys are running it down and then we're going to go over there."

"Good work," the Captain nodded. "And the victim?"

"Gina Becker," Rick replied.

Montgomery frowned. "Catch this son of a bitch."

"On it, sir," Kate replied, standing as Ryan and Esposito came back over.

"Meet you there?" she asked them.

"Meet you there."

Kate and Rick followed them out.

"Do you think he killed her because of her name or her looks?" Rick asked as they got into the car.

"I wish I knew. The name's not good either way," Kate replied. "You're sure Gina made it out?"

"Positive. She confirmed it earlier today; I got a text. She and Natalie will get along."

Kate snorted. "I'm sure."

They were silent for a minute. "Why would he be after her to begin with?" Rick wondered aloud. "Our breakup was very public."

"But you were married to her, and then in a relationship with her for another seven months or so. You obviously cared about her."

Rick reached over and wound his fingers between hers. "I did. I cared for Gina very much. But I don't know that I ever loved Gina."

Kate sucked in a breath and focused on the road in front of her, instead of the pounding of her heart and the soft circles Rick's thumb was drawing on the back of her hand. She definitely wasn't thinking about how much his words made her want to pull over and ravish him. Not at all.

"Even so," she replied, "you were with her, and I'm sure he would see her as someone to target."

"You're in there too," he said quietly.

"I am."

"I don't like that."

"Well, I don't like it either, Rick, but at least I have a gun. And, I'm not his type." Her phone rang. "Beckett."

"We've got another body," Esposito told her.

"Where?"

"A block from the firm."

"Same M.O?"

"Not…exactly," he replied. She'd never heard Esposito sound unsteady.

"Okay, we'll be there in a minute."

"What's up?" Rick asked as she hung up.

"There's another body," Kate sighed.

"Another one? Already?" Kate nodded. "Kate, I mean, I know he's a serial killer, but…is there more protocol? This is four girls in less than four days."

She gave the hand she'd had to release a squeeze. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see someone like Agent Shaw."

"Even though we know who he is?"

"We need the extra man power. He slipped away before. I'd welcome it at this point," she admitted as she parked in front of the tape that was being set up around the latest victim. They hadn't even been able to canvass the damn building.

"I think I'd welcome it too," Rick said breathlessly as they approached the body.

The woman on the ground bore a striking resemblance to Kate. Her face was already bruising and she was lying in a pool of her own blood, only this time both her thigh and neck had been slit. She was staring straight ahead, her chestnut hair matting in her own blood. Rick took a protective step toward Kate and pretended to be looking at the scene from her angle.

Kate felt Rick move closer and fought the urge to lean into him. She hated this. She hated being targeted. Hadn't they already done this? Hadn't she already been chased? Why did he have to kill this woman? What was the point? He should have just come after her; that way, she could have arrested him. He didn't need to kill this woman.

"Any ID, Esposito?" she asked, looking over at her boys. Both were a bit paler than usual.

"Katherine Blakely."

Kate nodded and looked around for Lanie, but she hadn't yet arrived. This woman couldn't have been dead for more than ten minutes.

"Why now?" Rick asked.

"Hmm?"

"Why start killing women with poignant names now?"

"Because he knows we know it's him," Kate replied. "And now he's toying with us."

"He can't have gotten very far," Rick hedged, looking around.

"He'll be long gone already," Kate sighed. "But, since it looks like this one was bit more…hands on, maybe we'll be lucky and get prints."

"Another one?" Lanie asked, stepping up beside them. "Ooh, he's escalating."

"In more ways than one," Rick added.

Lanie glanced over at them and Kate saw her notice just how close they were standing. "What's up?" she asked as she put on her gloves.

"The girl this morning is Gina Becker, and this is Katherine Blakely."

"Oh, honey," Lanie said quietly, looking between them. "You two gonna be okay?"

"Murder's murder, Lanie. And at least I don't think we have to worry about my apartment blowing up this time."

"Let's hope that's the case," a familiar voice said from behind them. They turned around and came face to face with Jordan Shaw. "Good to see the two of you again."

"Likewise," Kate replied, sticking out a hand. "The Feds send you down?"

"Mayor asked for backup. He's gotten away twice; we're not willing to see it happen again."

"We're glad for the help," Kate smiled.

"What have you done to her?" Jordan asked, turning to Rick.

"Sorry?" he asked.

"It's a warm welcome, that's all. Good to see you're still with us, Castle."

He grinned and nudged Kate. "I'm surprised myself."

"Oh can it, Castle, or you can ride back with Ryan and Esposito."

"So, what's the story with our killer?" Jordan asked, watching as Lanie went over the body.

"Jerry Tyson, the Triple Killer, resurfaced earlier this year, but managed to escape," Kate began.

"I heard about that. Castle came off as quite the hero. Even some of our boys up in the marble hall were talking about it."

"Nice to be appreciated," Rick replied. "But I could have done without that particular honor."

"I'm sure," Jordan smiled. "What's been going on this time? That's not his usual kill style."

"He's been ramping it up," Kate told her. "Before this victim, it was forced suffocation by blocking the air passages, and a stab wound to the artery in the thigh. He's obviously gone further here."

"She looks like you," Jordan commented, walking around the body.

"Her name is Katherine Blakely, and our victim this morning was Gina Beckers."

"Gina is your…publicist?" Jordan asked, looking at Castle. Kate and Rick stared at her. "What? I did some research."

"Yeah, she's my publisher."

"Well, obviously he wants the two of you to come out and play hardball."

Kate nodded. "And I'm worried that he might keep going like this until we catch him."

"Alright. Anything new to add to the pool, Dr. Parish?" Jordan asked, crouching down to talk to Lanie.

"Nothing," she sighed. "It looks exactly the same, except for the throat, obviously. It's an easy kill. It's just…well, he did this in an alley in broad daylight, and there's very little sign of struggle."

"He knew she was coming by," Kate supplied.

"And he knew exactly how tall she was, so he got her by the face, covering her mouth before she could make a sound," Rick added.

"So she worked nearby," Kate concluded. "Ryan, Esposito! Anything on where Ms. Blakely worked?"

"Another woman at the firm," Ryan told them as they approached. "She and Gina were friends."

"Imagine that," Kate muttered. Rick chuckled.

Jordan stared at them and Rick caught her smiling before she stood. "Alright. Let's go back to the Precinct. They're setting up the war room as we speak."

They filed out and got back in the cars. Kate followed the Fed mobile toward the 12th, her lip pulled between her teeth.

"I don't like this," she admitted, glancing over at Rick.

"I hate this," he replied.

"You have to follow my directions on this one, okay, Rick? No going rogue. We're going to get him, and he's not going to get you this time."

"I'll do everything in my power to follow every command you give me," he replied.

They parked and Kate turned to look at him. "What you just said and what I asked for are not the same thing."

"If he comes at you with a gun, and I can knock us clear, I'm doing it," he shrugged. "Otherwise, yeah, I'll do everything you say."

She couldn't decide whether to kiss him or punch him. "Vest. Everywhere we go, you wear a vest."

"Ditto."

"No."

"Kate."

"Rick," she said sternly. "I'm a cop. You're not. You're the target here."

"All I see are women with your names, and now your looks, getting killed. Seems like you're the target," he fired back.

"Because it'll get to you!" she said exasperatedly. They were both frowning. "We got your family and your Gina out of here, and I'm going to make sure that when they come back, you're here for them to come back to."

"And what about you? It's fine if you die, but not if I do?"

"Yes!" she said angrily. "You have a family, Rick. And yes, my father would be devastated, but not nearly the same way as Alexis would be if you didn't come home."

Rick unbuckled his seat belt and turned so that they were chest to chest. "Katherine Beckett. You are no less important to the world because you don't have a daughter."

"And what am I supposed to tell yours when you don't come home, huh?" she bit out.

They stared at each other for a second before all hell broke loose. Hands wrapped around necks and suddenly they were locked in a heated kiss, in the front of her crown vic, parked right behind Jordan at the station.

"What…the hell?" Kate gasped as they pulled apart, hearts racing.

"I think we just had our first fight," Rick replied, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I want you to stay safe, and you want me to stay safe," she said softly.

"Kind of silly to fight about," he replied.

"I doubt it's the last time we'll have this argument."

"Probably not."

"We may have it more than once today," she added.

"Do we get to solve it like this every time?" he asked, his voice forcibly lighter than it had been a mere minute earlier.

"No," she gave a small laugh. "But I think we should table this for right now. Follow my orders as much as you humanly, possibly can, and try to stay away from heroics, alright?"

"I'll do my best."

"I want more than that."

"I know," he said, pulling away to press a kiss to her forehead before they separated. "And I want you to wear a vest and helmet all the time. We'll have to find a middle ground."

Kate blew out a puff of air. "And we don't have time right now."

Rick stuck out a hand. "We both do our best not to get hurt."

She smiled and shook his hand. "This conversation is not over."

He nodded. "I know that. But right now, Jordan is watching up from the doorway, and if we want to get anything done for the rest of the day, I suggest we get out, or she'll have way too much on us."

Kate glanced over her shoulder and saw Jordan leaning against the door frame, smirking. "Fine."

They disengaged and got out of the car, trying to surreptitiously fix their hair and collars. Rick walked in before Kate and Jordan grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Complicated?" she asked with a smile.
"In new and increasingly frustrating ways," Kate replied, fighting a blush.

"I know what you mean, and I don't have to take mine into the field with me," Jordan said knowingly.

"How did you?"

"Detective, I profile for a living. And besides, you left lipstick on the corner of his mouth and that frustration is all over your face."