Disclaimer: Nope. Still don't own Castle.

[No Spoilers in reviews please...]

A/N: This was originally going to be part of Chapter 8, but I felt it was getting a bit cumbersome so separated the two parts. It's short. Seriously thinking about ending the story here.

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

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As Beckett approached Gates' office she smoothed down her freshly washed hair, and straightened her blouse and jacket. She'd taken the opportunity of the one hour window provided to go home, shower, and change; she knew she absolutely needed Gates on her side, to put the resources required into the search for Tyson, and to keep everyone involved safe.

Stepping up to Gates' door she knocked and was immediately waved in, Gates greeting her for the second time that day in person, "Detective, take a seat and fill me in."

Beckett leaned forward, bracing her elbows against her knees, needing the stability and the firm image it projected, "Sir, we have a confirmed sighting of Tyson about 3AM Sunday morning; no video yet, but we wouldn't expect any."

It looked like Gates actually sat a little more upright in her chair, even though the news couldn't have come as a surprise given the earlier phone call, "So you said, confirmed how?"

Beckett pressed, something of a sense of urgency guiding her, she really didn't want to be there, she wanted to be back at the hospital, keeping an eye on things, "Sir, Castle IDed a photo of him."

Gates' tone took on a skeptical note, "So the only evidence you have is the eyewitness account of a sleepy amnesiac? The same man that shot Tyson several times before he fell off of a bridge? The incident you filed a report on stating Tyson was likely dead?"

Beckett could clearly hear the skepticism; things were slipping away, "Sir..."

Gates talked over her, voice becoming firmer; not just skepticism now, but outright doubt. "You are sure it wasn't just a nightmare?"

She shook her head. That could be right. He didn't know, but she believed him, believed in him, "Sir, he doesn't remember Tyson; how could he have a nightmare about him?"

Gates was pushing back now. Beckett could feel her trying to sow the seeds of doubt, the skepticism of an old school detective, trying to find another explanation, "Detective, don't amnesiac memories most often return as dreams?"

Beckett hesitated, Doctor Andrews had said something about memories returning during sleep, "I suppose so Sir, but I don't think that's the case..."

Gates shook her head and put both her palms down, face down, case closed down, on her desk, "Sorry Beckett, but without more to go on there is nothing to be done at our end."

"Castle needs protection Sir, if..."

"We do not have any evidence of an imminent threat, unless there's something you left out Detective."

"No Sir."

"Without such evidence I cannot, I will not, authorize a protection detail; taking valuable resources away from other initiatives."

"What about me Sir?"

"What? Assign you as a protective detail? Last time I did that, assigned you to a rich charming man, well you weren't too happy about it at the time if I recall."

It slipped out before she could stop it, the urgency of doing something carrying her away, "He wasn't my boyfriend Sir."

Gates spoke slowly, firmly, "As I understand things Detective, neither is Castle."

Beckett had to acknowledge that Gates was right, in more ways than one; for practical purposes he couldn't be, with NYPD rules seemingly prohibiting such a relationship; perhaps more personally, no matter how she felt, he certainly didn't consider them anything right now.

"Sorry Sir, yes; no he's not. He's a person who needs protection though Sir."

"Do what you want on your own time Beckett, but no, I will not assign a detail, or you, to monitor Mister Castle unless you have substantially more to go on."

Kate felt crushed, "Yes Sir."

"Last thing, I'll need an immediate report on a believed sighting of Jerry Tyson, send one copy to the Behavioral Sciences Unit at Quantico; the Feds will want to update their file even if it is believed closed."

"Yes Sir."

"Now Beckett, before you leave. Dismissed."

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Ryan and Espo were playing cards with Rick; Esposito having just returned from the security center empty handed, with no video evidence. Martha was looking on, slightly amused by how slow the game was going, when Meredith made her daily spectacle of an entrance.

Reliable as always, sky high heels click-clacked across the room, allowing her of nudge past Ryan and put a peck on Rick's cheek to accompany her greeting, "Hello Kitten! Doing well?

"Good morning Meredith."

She switched her gaze between the other two men in the room, turning on her brightest smile, moist lips parted to show bright white teeth, "And who are these two lovely young men?"

Rick almost, for a moment, felt gratitude for Tyson; he'd created an opportunity here, one to grasp with both hands, "These are my police protection Meredith, I have a serial killer after me; the loft may not be safe." He said it. Now, one, two, three...

Meredith screeched, "What!? Dangerous!? But I'm staying there!"

It was sometimes of great assistance to have an actress for a mother, one quick on her feet, adept at spontaneous scene creation, "Oh yes Meredith, he told Richard he was starting to plan something; last time he murdered a woman Richard was supposedly sleeping with, tried to frame him for the murder, tried to have him killed too."

Meredith's complexion had taken on a slight greenish tinge, her voice hesitant as she started to speak, "Perhaps..."

Martha had the bit between her teeth now; she'd never liked Meredith, and this was the perfect opportunity to get her out of the picture, one that was too complicated already by Richard, his injuries, his memories, and the prospect of getting him home to the loft tomorrow.

"Perhaps Meredith, it would be best if you returned to California, remove the temptation of targeting you from this monster; it would probably be best all round. A weight off of Richard's mind knowing you were safely out of reach."

"But what about Alexis? Should I have her come with me, away from here?"

While not shocking, it was still a little surprising for Rick, to hear Meredith actually care about her daughter in a context other than as a shopping companion.

Rick didn't like the idea of bringing Alexis into this for many reasons; not the least of which was that she might tell Meredith there was nothing to worry about, "You could ask her I suppose..."

Esposito folded his cards, and joined the conversation, "Nah! Bro, he only went after you the last time; Alexis should be fine so long as she stays away from the loft."

Ryan broke in too, "And if he's working the sex partner angle with you, I got to say Alexis is an unlikely target even for Tyson."

Rick shuddered at the thought, that Ryan could even hint at the idea was repulsive, "Errr, so it sounds like everyone's safe but you at the loft Meredith."

"I'm sorry Kitten, but I don't want you to worry; I need to go pack, will..." She was glancing back and forth between Ryan and Esposito, clearly hoping for an escort.

Maybe Esposito owed Ryan a favor, he fell on his sword, "I'll go with you."

After they had left there was a collective sigh of relief.

"Thank you Mother, I don't think I could have handled Meredith when confined to the loft; good that she doesn't know I'm going home tomorrow."

"With police protection dude; that guy scares me, just knowing he is out there still watching."

Rick started to shuffle the cards again, just as Ryan's phone pinged. He look down briefly, picked up his cards, and passed along the message, "Beckett's on her way back."

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Kate walked along the corridor towards Rick's room facing two dilemmas. Her conversation with Gates had honestly made her question whether Castle had actually seen Tyson, or had just had a fragment of memory return, though surely if it had been a memory he would not have remembered Tyson in his hospital room, but in a motel or on a bridge? If Tyson was still out there, Rick would be in danger until he was finally dealt with; and while she had assumed he was dead and gone, the prospect that perhaps he wasn't was haunting.

She stopped walking for a moment, a decision crystallizing on that issue: it didn't matter; regardless, she would support him; supporting him was why she'd stayed.

The security issue was more pressing. No support from the NYPD meant once she told Ryan and Esposito, they'd have to return to paperwork duty and she'd have to join them Wednesday. After being away for the last two hours, and nervous as a result, she had no desire to let Rick get too far out of her sight again.

Pushing into Castle's room once again she saw the guys all playing cards. A sight she missed, how they'd gather around a desk to play when there was not much going on; friends who enjoyed time together even when not required by work.

Espo glanced up first, "Hey Beckett, I just got back again. No surprise though, no sign of him on any video; but on the plus side Meredith is packed and on the way to the airport."

Kate was ignoring them, staring at Rick, who was studying his cards, glancing up occasionally; as the seconds grew, Ryan and Espo started glanced between themselves, to Beckett, and started to look uncomfortable.

"Boss?"

Kate shook herself, breaking out of her trance, "Sorry Espo. What?"

"No sign of Tyson on video, and Meredith is heading home."

"Meredith is leaving?"

"We, or rather Castle here, scared her off with the Tyson bogeyman."

Kate snapped out a response, regardless of her certainties, the issue was going to be treated as a true, deadly threat, "Tyson isn't a bogeyman, he's a real monster. One that wants Rick dead."

"Woah! Calm down Beckett. It's gonna be okay."

Her anger got the better of her; not anger at the guys, not at anything in particular, "It's not! Gates denied the protective detail. She doesn't believe Castle. Doesn't want us pursuing the case!"

Rick perked up then, "Ok, who doesn't believe me?"

Ryan filled him in. "Gates is the predict Captain, if she says no to the detail, then it's not happening."

Kate took a deep breath, "Okay guys, thanks for all your help on this, it means a lot to me. Gates expects you back at the precinct now, and we'll be back on rotation Wednesday morning. I have until then to figure out what to do."

Rick watched his two card partners leave, after accepting an invitation to play cards at the loft on their next off night; before looking over at his mother and then to Kate, "Don't you think this is all getting blown a little out of proportion?"

Martha's tone was firm, but controlled as she stood from her seat and stepped to the side of the bed where Esposito had been standing, "Richard, that man is a monster."

He was trying to be placating; the thought of this Tyson character clearly scared his mother. "I understand that Mother, but he's been out there how long? Hasn't made a move yet, and basically told me he wouldn't so long as I didn't remember him. Well I don't remember him, so why am I in danger precisely?"

Kate voice took on an almost begging tone, desperate for him to understand just how dangerous and unpredictable Tyson was, "Rick, you can't trust him to leave you alone."

"Well maybe not, but if you and my mother start hiring security and acting paranoid; well, if he is waiting and watching, the jig would definitely be up wouldn't it? Maybe you're all overreacting a little?"

Kate's voice rose, not angry, but a hint of iron, disliking her professional judgment being questioned, "You think I'm overreacting!?"

"Katherine dear, please calm down. I'm going to take a break, leave you two to talk this through. Katherine, when I get back please tell me if I need to hire private security or if this should be left alone." Martha leaned down, giving Rick kiss on the cheek and pressing something into his hand, whispering, "Do whatever you think is best with this Richard."

Kate took a moment to regroup as Martha left, let her breathing settle, "Rick, you don't know this man, do you really think I'd just overreact to something minor."

"I don't know, really, do I? I don't know; but maybe because I don't, because he doesn't scare me in that visceral way he seems to get under your skin, maybe I'm the only one being objective here."

That lit the fire in her again, he could always get under her skin, usually when he was trying, but now seemingly without intent, "I can be objective about this!"

He was really starting to doubt it. Something about this whole situation had truly hit a nerve with this Detective, whom he had only seen in a relatively calm disposition until now, "Can you? You ran in here a few hours ago, and you were scared. Anyone could see that."

Kate certainly wasn't feeling calm, there was an increasingly pronounced feeling of agitation, her heart beat elevated, mind running a little wild with doomsday scenarios, "Yes, I'm afraid! I'm scared for you. Scared of losing you. It almost happened before, to him, to a cab. I'm not letting it happen again!"

It hadn't been intended, he hadn't guided the conversation; but here she seemed so concerned, so horrified by the thought of losing him; yet what his mother had told him sat heavily, "What if you didn't lose me? What if you left me instead?"

A change of conversational direction she had not anticipated, "What?"

"My mother told me you had a job offer; that you were thinking of leaving for DC, leaving me; supposedly we were in a relationship right? You were thinking of leaving, walking away?"

"It's not that simple Rick, honestly it's not. We hadn't talked."

"Then explain it to me. Did you ask me to go with you?"

"No, but when you found out about me looking into it, you were upset I'd kept it a secret; you said it'd probably be the end of us; it didn't seem like you were interested in moving."

"You kept the whole thing a secret?"

Kate's voice carried clear signs of regret, "Yes, and I shouldn't have."

"How did I find out?"

"Does it matter Rick? An accident; a boarding pass. The how isn't important. The impact? The secret hurt you. I've kept secrets before, so have you; they've never ended well for us. I was afraid this one was the last straw, afraid that you were going to end things when we talked."

"Then why did I have this?"

When Kate saw his open hand, with diamond ring resting in his palm, she felt shaken, light- headed, as if all the air had left her lungs. All she could manage was a whisper, "A ring?"

He had noticed how still she had gotten, the look on her face approaching surprise, it was absolutely clear now, she hadn't known about the ring before this moment, hadn't known where the old Rick wanted to take the relationship, "An engagement ring. Obviously I have no idea what I was planning, don't know if I was going to make you choose, ask you to choose, the ring or the job; or offer to go with you. I don't remember. Honestly I don't even know why I'm showing it to you, if it'll help or hurt..."

Still barely a whisper, "It helps."