Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Castle.

[No Spoilers in reviews please...]

A/N: What can I say, I thought I was a better analyst than writer; in hindsight I think I'm pretty poor at both. C'est la vie. Still got to finish the story. I chopped this chapter down a bit, the remainder is going to be Chapter 9, on the plus side it's almost done too.

Beta Note: Thanks once again to my beta (elizabeth . bynog) for all the corrections & comments.

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First thing Monday morning Kate was walking towards the precinct, coffee in hand, coffee she'd had to buy for herself; cell phone in her other hand, scrolling through her recent calls list until she found the number.

Hitting connect, she waited only moments before hearing the familiar voice, "Deputy Director Freedman's office. Danielle speaking."

"Danielle, it's Katherine Beckett; I'd like to speak to him please."

"I'll put you right through."

Again, the same moment of silence greeted her, then Freedman's voice once again challenged her, "Beckett, when can I expect the signed documents?"

The moment of truth for her future, for who she wanted to be, "You can't Sir, I've changed my mind. Reconsidered. I'm going to have to decline the offer."

It was Freedman's turn to pause, but only momentarily. "You've already accepted Agent. I expect you in DC with the signed paperwork by the end of the week. Understood?"

He hung up on her. Freedman wasn't much for long goodbyes and small talk; she'd learnt that during the interview. He wasn't planning on taking no for an answer apparently; well sooner or later the reality would sink in for him too. She had no intention of heading to DC, this or any other week. She was needed here in NYC; needed by something she cared about much more than a simple job.

Putting her phone back in place she headed into the precinct, focused on her next task; though she expected this one to be substantially less stressful. Exiting the elevator on the fourth floor she saw Ryan and Esposito already at their desks, perhaps arriving earlier than normal to see if she was actually coming in today.

Beckett tried to sound cheery, but was still somewhat nervous of their reactions, "Hi guys!"

They both looked at her, nodded, and gave a collective "Beckett."

"Morning, I have to speak to Gates, okay? We can talk after."

They gave her a nod and started to turn back to the paperwork they had been working on.

One last piece of news, not having meant to save it as a surprise, but she had to tell them, "I called the Feds already, on the way in. Told them I was declining."

Both their gazes swung back up to her then, and she thought she could see a little bit of warmth in their eyes now, a little crack in the stone-faced facades they'd been wearing. Slow and steady she thought, slow and steady to rebuild what they'd had and she'd come so close to undermining.

Gesturing toward Gates' office, she murmured "Later?" Receiving more relaxed nods in response that time.

"Captain Gates? May I have a word?"

"Certainly Katherine, or should I call you Agent Beckett?"

"Detective Beckett, Sir. At least I hope. I changed my mind Captain. I'm staying with NYPD."

Gates was just staring at her, taking a moment apparently to process the sudden change in direction, "Okay Detective, well you never filed the resignation paperwork so there isn't a problem directly. Are you sure Detective? You seemed so certain on Friday."

"Honestly Sir, on Friday I was. I changed my mind."

"Well, you've only been off rotation for a few days; I'll put you back in starting Wednesday. I have to say Beckett, I'm glad to not be losing the Precinct's best team; I just hope you don't regret you decision later."

"I know I won't regret staying. Going? Almost certainly I would have eventually."

"Your decision is based on Mister Castle's injury? He'll get better you know."

"In part based on that. In part because of the kind of person that I want to be Captain."

"So long as that person is a great detective Beckett, it'll be fine on my end."

"Yes Sir. See you Wednesday."

"Dismissed, Detective."

Beckett walked back out into the bull-pen and straight to Ryan and Esposito's desks, "Guys, we're back on rotation Wednesday."

The guys shared yet another glance, they'd been doing it a lot, and she yearned for the days when she was included in those glances.

"So you're for real then? Staying?"

It really hit her then, "You doubted me?"

Ryan's voice was the most honest she'd heard, "Yeah Beckett, after the last few days we didn't know what to believe. You. Here. With us, with Castle; or gone? Not counting our chickens, you know."

There it was, they had no faith in her expressed desire to stay. Not that she could entirely blame them; not after everything that went down. But it still hurt, still left a tight feeling in her chest, "I get it guys, hopefully you'll trust me again."

Espo just slightly shrugged, "Only time will tell, time here, as a team."

"Yeah guys, I understand that. One of us is in the hospital right now, so I'm going to see Castle okay?"

Beckett walked out of the precinct a little more hopeful. The longest journey starts with but a single step.

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Unfortunately when Kate reached Rick's hospital room it was empty of him, Martha sat in a chair at the side of the room, by all appearances playing Angry Birds.

"Martha? Where's Rick?"

Glancing up from the phone, Martha appeared to be a little surprised to see her, acknowledging her and giving a sparse explanation, "Detective Beckett. They've taken him for testing, x-rays and such; a lot to finish up today."

That was a plainer, less warm response than any she'd received from Martha in a long time, but less harsh than Alexis the previous evening, "You know when he'll be back?"

"I don't. You have to rush off I assume, other places to be?"

"No. No. I have all day. I...I just want to see him again."

"Well pull up a chair, wait. It's been a long time since Friday, not that his memory is much better."

"Friday? Martha I came to see him, to talk to him, yesterday."

"Really? That's…surprising."

The hesitation shocked Kate, confused so many things, "Why Martha? Why would it be surprising?"

"So many things are unclear between you, yesterday was the first time since Friday though correct?"

"Yeah, sorry about that, there were things I had to process... Alexis was pretty upset about that too."

Martha voice took on a weary tone, "Yes, I suppose she would be; and you don't even understand why, do you?

"It was a hard few days Martha, a lot going on, he didn't remember me..."

"Yes, I suppose that must have been hard for you; you think it was easy for us? For Alexis especially? Her father remembers her as a 13 year old; he's forgotten most of her life, more of their relationship than he's forgotten of yours you realized. Richard is all she really has, all she's had since her mother walked out on them. While you are not her mother Katherine, she looked up to you, looked to all of us for support; she's an adult not a child but she still leans on others at times like these. Yet you walked out on her too, left her, us, to look after Richard, and walked away. Only two days perhaps, but two days of being dumped for other priorities by one the people she looked toward to help her family survive."

"Martha..."

"No dear, I'm not done yet, let an old diva speak her piece. I do know about the job offer, Richard told me. I have to wonder if you'd already made you decision before the accident. Told him, already walked away from the family."

Kate shook her head vigorously, "No! No! We hadn't talked. He was hurt on the way to meet me."

"Well that puts a slightly different complexion on it now doesn't it? You hadn't talked but had you made up your mind Katherine? Already decided?"

"Not then Martha, I hadn't then. I have now though, I called this morning and I'm not taking the job. I'm staying in NYC, hopefully helping Rick heal, if he'll let me."

Martha look was still a little skeptical when she responded, "I made arrangements for his care while you were busy elsewhere. My son will be well taken care of when he gets home tomorrow."

Kate felt a flush of excitement, he was being released! "He's going home tomorrow? That's great! What time?"

"Time depends on how everything goes today."

"Okay. Okay. That's great... Martha?"

Her hesitant question quickly drew an arched eyebrow from the target of her question, "Yesss?"

"Everyone's mad at me right now, the guys at work, and I get that; but even more so you and Alexis. Is it really just about me being gone most of two days? I mean I get how Alexis might feel abandoned, but Martha, I don't understand why you're so upset. Yes two days, I was wrong, hadn't thought about it before, but I get it now; I should have been here for Rick and I promise I will be in future; but is that all of it?"

"You think I owe you an explanation? You haven't explained yourself have you, just had things to think about. Well so have I Katherine. Your disappearing act is part of it, but I know my son, and apparently now know what he had planned, just how committed he was to you; and your disappearance was apparently not what I thought it was. But you still haven't told any of us what it was. Did you tell Richard why last night or is he still in the dark too?"

A gentle shake of her head communicated as much as her word could, "We have so much to talk about Martha, so much for me to tell him about us; I will tell him everything eventually, I promise you that."

"I hope you live up to that promise Katherine; he deserves the truth, just as you do from him."

Kate chuckled, "The truth he no longer remembers?"

"Maybe some truths he can relearn, rebuild; even if they don't come back on their own."

"A minute ago you said he had something planned, do you know what?"

"I wasn't sure before, if he'd already done it; but it seems not. It's his story to tell though Katherine, he knows, roughly, I'll explain the rest I think. You've explained some things I had wrong here tonight Katherine, sometimes that's an important lesson; I made assumptions and was led off on a wild goose chase as a result, about you and Richard."

"Martha? A wild goose chase? What did you think was..."

"I'm sorry Katherine, but that will have to come from Richard."

"But..."

"No. I'm sorry, but I can't share his secrets. You'll have to ask him."

"But he doesn't..."

"He knows this one, or he will as soon as I talk to him."

"I'm not sure I understand Martha."

"No you probably don't. Why don't you go home Katherine, I have no idea how long Richard will be. Come back this afternoon, he should be finished with the tests by then."

Kate stood somewhat dejectedly, it was difficult to tell if Martha was simply encouraging her to go and rest or dismissing her from the room for now. Either way, it was apparent Martha didn't want her here right now; a difficult pill to swallow given how much she'd been looking forward to seeing him.

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Martha had become thoroughly bored of the foolish Angry Birds game, read through Variety twice, and was regretting sending Alexis back to classes and leaving Meredith unsupervised at the loft; but she forgot all that when the room door opened and Richard was wheeled back in on an oversized wheel chair.

"Hello Mother, still waiting?"

"Of course, how were the tests?"

It took Richard's effort as well as the assistance of two orderlies to get him back into bed, slowly, careful of the cage on one leg and the pervasive damage to the rest of him.

"Poked and prodded mother, zapped with so many x-rays I'll be lucky if I can even have kids."

The conversation had taken a bit of a sidetrack from where Martha had intended to go, but c'est la vie, "Do you want more children Richard?"

"Not with Gina…"

"You aren't married to Gina anymore remember?"

"I remember Mother."

"Any news on tomorrow?"

"Doctor James says everything looks good. I can go home first thing, just one more night of observation for the brain."

"That's excellent news Richard. I learned something today too. Detective Beckett, Katherine, was here looking for you."

"She was? We talked last night. Didn't know she'd be coming back so soon."

"I think she might be coming back a lot Richard, she'll be back again this afternoon. That's not what's interesting though. She told me, and I believe her, that you two had not spoken before the accident. I don't think she knows about the ring."

"So she didn't..."

"No I don't think so. But don't you think you should show it to her?"

"What? Why? You want me to propose to her?"

"Don't be silly Richard, you barely know her now. No, I think perhaps you should tell her to get everything out in the open so she'll know where you stood even if you don't remember."

"And I'll know where she stood or maybe where she stands now?"

"Unfortunately not, Son. I know she was looking into a job Richard, you told me that much; one in DC, away from here. Whatever she says now, about you, the job, anything; well you won't know if it was what she would have said then. There's probably nothing in it for you Richard, other than sharing one secret you do have."

"She shared some of my secrets with me you know, last night. She knew things I'd never told anyone before; you included Mother."

"You've both had a lot of history, a lot of secrets between you in the past, perhaps it's time to lose some of the baggage Richard; even you have only remembered a little by yourself."

"What do you know of our relationship Mother?"

"Some Richard, I never pried too far; you asked my advice sometimes, we talked about your difficulties. How you held yourself back from her, in a way you never held back from most things."

"But why Mother? What was different?"

"I'm not sure, but I know she kept secrets from you before, maybe you feared to push, feared more would come out. She had boyfriends even when you were in love with her, I know that. Was she in love too? I don't know Richard."

"Her ex, Josh? Did we get along?"

Martha laughed out loud then, "I won't go so far as to say you hated each other, but it was close."

"The why would he come visit me?"

"When? I can't imagine he would frankly."

"Early Sunday, he woke me up."

"You're sure it was Josh? Doctor Motorcycle Boy you used to call him."

"Well no. I mention something to the other detectives, Ryan and Esposito, they said it must have been Josh, a doctor calling me Castle. But I thought he said his name was Jerry."

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Kate Beckett was running, the two sides of her fighting for control; Kate scared for Rick, Beckett determined to get to the bottom of what was going on.

The message had been simple, a phone call from Martha, reaching her during the middle of her yoga routine, "Jerry Tyson was in his room."

The feeling of absolute terror that hit her upon hearing those words had frozen everything but her heart which had gone from a pounding exercise strained rhythm to runaway pundit of a stampede of wild mustangs. Her breathing and everything else had stopped momentarily before she spoke, "On my way."

That's when the running began. Regardless of her state of dress or the sweat soaked into her hair, nothing mattered but the running. Arms and legs pumping as she flew out of her apartment, hurtling pell-mell down the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator. Her shoulder slammed open the front door to her apartment building as she rushed out, charging down the street to where she had parked her car.

Though off rotation, she simply didn't care; whatever this was it would be her case. Driving over from her apartment to Bellevue, she called Ryan and Esposito, instructing them to meet her there; not willing to take no for an answer, giving them no details; they could almost certainly hear the screech of the cruiser's sirens in the background and that likely did away with any hesitation they may have felt.

Ditching her car, sirens still raucously making themselves known, she ran again; received more than a few strange glances jumping out of the cruiser in yoga pants and a skin tight tank top. There was one wolf whistle which she ignored; higher priorities drove her now.

By the time she made it to Rick's room she was out of breath, panting but determined to push on; barging through the door, her sense of relief was profound. He was lying in bed, safe and sound; with Martha sitting by his side again.

She was panting, but could communicate the one thing she needed to know, "Ok?"

Rick was shocked at the sudden entrance, mouth slightly agape; he had heard his mother make a call, mentioning a Jerry Tyson and then been told Detective Beckett was on her way. He hadn't expected quite the dramatic entrance though, nor had he expected it only 10 minutes after the call ended. He was injured, he didn't remember a lot of things; he did remember though, that Detective Beckett's normal attire wasn't quite so revealing; he wasn't dead yet, and he had eyes, and they were enjoying the view.

Kate flashed him a grin, "You're staring Castle? It's creepy."

He looked away; she was here to help, not for him to make her feel uncomfortable, "Sorry Detective."

She felt her heart clench, another reminded that he didn't remember them, their banter; another bridge to rebuild. She crossed the room to put a hand on his shoulder, "Sorry Rick. Habit, it's a thing I use to say okay? I like it that you watch me. Makes me feel warm. Feast your eyes, okay?" She actually felt herself blush, that had come out in a much more forward manner than intended; almost an outright proposition, rather than a gentle flirt.

His head was still turned slightly away, but he seemed a little more relaxed as they interrupted by a cough, which brought a reminder of where she was, what was going on rushing back; this was not a casual flirting visit.

"Martha, you said Tyson was here?"

"Actually Richard told me, he was here Saturday night or Sunday morning."

Beckett turned back to Rick who was looking at her again now, "Tell me what happened Rick."

After she got the run down, she was none too pleased. He'd started to tell the guys and then things had gotten confused; nobody was on the same page.

By the time Ryan and Esposito walked in she was pacing, fuming, not just at them, but at herself too; she should have been here, should have pushed when the topic of Josh came up, knowing it made no sense.

Espo was the one who addressed her, looking her out of place outfit up and down first. "What's the deal Beckett?"

"Tyson was here."

Simultaneous exclamations, "What!?"

"The guy we thought was Josh? He was Jerry. Jerry Tyson I think. Ryan can you, pull up a mug shot of Tyson so we get a confirmed ID?"

"Sure, I do it right now." He started tapping away at his phone.

"Espo can you find any security footage, I know it's a long shot given how careful Tyson is, but it's worth a try."

Espo nodded as he started to leave, "On it."

"And guys! Let try and stay in the same page okay? This whole thing looks like it got mixed up in a mass of miscommunication. No blame here, I missed it too. This could have been avoided on all sides ok?

"Yeah, yeah." "Sure boss."

"ENOUGH!" Rick's yell startled everyone, and left him pressing a hand against his head.

Both Kate and Martha rushed to his side, hands on opposite shoulders, "Richard, calm down."

"No Mother, somebody needs to tell me what is going on. I'm the only one in the dark here! Who is Jerry Tyson?"

Ryan spoke up from across the room, where he was rapidly tapping on his phone, "One second Castle. One second. Let's keep this clean, no information unto we have an ID."

Just a moment later Ryan brought his phone over, "Okay Castle, three pictures, swipe between them; do you recognize any of these guys?"

Taking the offered phone Rick looked at each of the three pictures carefully; unfortunately nobody was surprised when he handed it back with an affirmative to the one image they didn't want confirmed: Jerry Tyson.

Ryan shook his head, " He was here and we didn't even know; likely long gone by now."

Rick spoke up, firmly, but not yelling this time, "Who is he?"

Kate tried again to put a hand on his shoulder but he shook her off, grunting in pain as he did so, "Rick...He's a serial killer. He's tried to frame you for murder, to have you killed. He's a very, very dangerous man."

"Ummm...Well I don't remember him, so he doesn't scare me, so errrr...Is it weird that I like having a nemesis?" He was actually smiling when he said it, actually amused.

Kate was horrified, "This isn't a comic book nemesis, Castle! This guy wanted to kill you, wanted to frame you for murder and destroy your reputation. He'll try again someday!" Her breathing was deeper now; an undercurrent of fear spreading through her in a way she never had to deal with while pursuing typical murderers and criminal.

"He said he didn't care so long as I didn't remember, gets some kind of visceral pleasure out of a game he plays, is that it?"

Martha wasn't going to put up with anymore nonsense apparently, "Richard, that man is a killer. You will take precautions. Hire private security."

Kate shook her head vigorously, "Martha, I'm going to have an NYPD detail assigned. In fact I have to call this in right now; to inform Gates. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Ryan accompanied her to the door, speaking quietly, "Look Beckett, call Gates, but go home, get changed; shower maybe, you stink! I'll wait here with Espo until you get back."

"Thanks Ryan."

Immediately after stepping into the hallway Beckett was scrolling through her contacts to reach Gates, hitting connect with a severe feeling of urgency.

"Gates."

"Sir, it's Beckett. Tyson was here, in Castle's room. He needs a detail and we need a squad looking into video and anything else we can dig up."

"Beckett! Slow down. When did this happen?"

"Early Sunday morning..."

"So a day and a half ago and we're only just hearing of it now? Is that why you pulled Ryan and Esposito out of here without clearing it with me? You are not on rotation Beckett, you cannot go off half-cocked, understood?"

"But Sir, he was..."

"Enough! My office, one hour."

That was that, she had to get this sorted out; make sure Tyson wasn't a threat. Kate popped her head back in the door, to tell everyone, "I have to go see Gates, I will be back in a couple of hours. Ryan, your said you'd keep an eye on him for me, I'm holding you to that okay?"

She left then, hearing a quiet, "I do not need a babysitter," from behind the door as she left.