I want to thank you for reading and reviewing. It was suggested after the last chapter that I use a beta reader. I have chosen to do so but not your typical way. I have recruited Mrs. Kingdaddy to help. I hope that you can see her influence on this chapter.

Aftermath

"Rick." His back still to her he raises his left hand as if to say 'just 1 minute' and he begins to move towards the front of the hanger. The sound of tires screeching to a halt filled the air.

xx

At that moment 3 large dark SUV's pulled up to the hangar. Screeching to a halt the doors open and three men in dark suits pour out armed with, what appeared to Kate, as the same kind that Castle had. Kate instinctively starts to pull her service weapon, a tall, tan man in his mid 50's appears from the passenger seat of the last SUV.

"Stand down detective. I am sure you want to walk out of here, and to tell you the truth I really don't want any more paperwork than I already have."

The chuckle that was about to escape her lips died as she heard Castle whisper, as if to himself, "Wilson." Their eyes met as he said it. The act was so slight so imperceptible that it almost went unnoticed but Kate knew she caught a glimpse of something. Wilson's response seemed curt at best with just a single word "Gabriel."

Castle hurriedly continued past Wilson, Kate immediately decided to follow. Her need to check on him outweighed her need for answers, but she knew she would find out what happened here tonight no matter what. As she got to Wilson he grabbed her and said "Give him a couple of minutes. This is always hard on him."

"What are you talking about?" At that point, Wilson took her by the arm to the front of his SUV. He pointed over the side of the hangar, the sight she witnessed across the tarmac immediately took her back to where she herself had been just moments before. Castle was on his hands and knees wrenching in a seemingly endless reaction to what he had done. She couldn't help the heartache from welling inside her.

"Some things never change; he always hated when it came to things like tonight. He has always had a physical reaction at the end of an OP." The nonchalant tone in Wilson's voice sent chills down Kate's spine.

"What the hell do you mean some things never change? This has happened before?"

"Detective, I'm going to let Gabriel explain that one to you; it should really come from him."

Beckett decided to take the conversation in a different direction. The past few hours had been a whirlwind of emotion for her, what she needed now was answers. "Wilson, she barked, exactly which agency is it that you work for?"

"E.P.A."

"Really, Agent Wilson? The Environmental Protection Agency. That's what you are going with?" Kate wanted to look him in the eye and ask if he really thought her that naive, but she kept that to herself.

"Really." Wilson said with a wink as a noise from the rear of the hangar caught both of their attention.

Two agents appeared from the rear of the hanger escorting Josh. "Is this one of yours Detective?"

Roy spoke up "Yeah, he is with us." Kate could see the anger seething from him before he spoke; but his tone confirmed it for everyone. "Can you let go of me now, please?" The please in his sentence practically dripping with venom.

Kate turned back to look toward Castle or was it Gabriel as Wilson was calling him. Only to find him moved, he was now leaned against the hanger with his head in his hands between his legs.

Beckett's attention shifted, her pleading eyes caught Wilson's. He knew what she wanted and with the slightest nod saw her race toward a seated and obviously drained Castle. When she reached him she silently leaned against the hangar and slid down beside him. Once seated on the ground she reached for him, pulling him closer to her side. He rested his head on her shoulder, and the sobs came. The wave of emotion that offered him release, seemed hours but it was only a few moments.

Castle was the first to break the silence, his voice strained "Kate call Javier and Kevin, have them get Lanie and Jenny and go to the Haunt. They could be in danger."

Kate grabbed her phone and made the call. When he answered she repeated Castle's instructions. Before she could disconnect the call Castle spoke up "the code, they will need the code to enter the 'Door in the Floor' it's eleven, seventeen seventy nine. Hearing her own birthdate Kate's head spun to Castle as she relayed the final piece of the message "he said to wait for us there" and hung up trying to understand what she had just heard.

Before she could question him, Castle broke the silence "Kate you need to check on Josh. I am sure he has never been involved in something like this before tonight. He is gonna need you."

"I'm right where I need to be." Kate could not believe he wanted to send her away. But what gave her the right to be surprised, the last time they spoke she threw him not only out of her apartment but out of her life.

"No Kate I have been here before. I've calmed down and can deal with my emotions now. I want you to check and see if Josh and Roy are ok. We are going to be leaving here pretty soon, I want to make sure that they have their wits about them. Wilson will take care of cleaning this mess up. He has been cleaning up my messes for years. One more won't hurt him."

At that moment Kate heard footsteps coming their way. When she looked up she saw Roy standing over her. Castle had yet to move his head off of her shoulder. "Kate, what do you want me to do with Dr. Davidson? He is requesting to see you guys, but I am not sure that's a good idea at the moment."

"Yeah, Roy I am not sure Castle would want anyone to see him like this." With that she turns her head and places a small chaste kiss on top of Castles head. "Rick, I don't want to leave you alone right now, but I guess you are right. I need to speak with Josh. Roy do you…"

Kate could feel Castle's body immediately react. He raised his head off of her shoulder and began to rise. "I need to get with Wilson about this op." Castle looked at Roy with the same determination that he had shown when he entered the hangar the first time. "Roy, please take Beckett to Dr. Davidson, I will catch up with you in a few." Without another word or a glance backward he was moving toward the hangar entrance in search of Wilson.

xx

"Mrs. Rodgers we are here without incident. The house and grounds are being cleared now. As soon as I get the all clear we will get you, Alexis and your guests in and secure the house."

Martha opened her eyes and looked at Mike and smiled. "Thank you." She mouthed as she looked over to see Alexis asleep and leaning on Jim Beckett's shoulder. She couldn't help but think that if Richard and Katherine could see this now; she felt sure they would get a kick out of it.

'Mr. Beckett I want to apologize again for the way we entered your home. I know that we must have startled you beyond measure but time was, and to a degree still is, of the essence. We just did not have the time to convenience you of the severity of the situation. Again, I hope you can accept my apology for both my team's actions and Rick's orders. He wanted to make sure that you were safe so Detective Beckett would not worry." With that Mike turned around and began fidgeting with his ear piece.

"Mrs. Rodgers." Jim began but was cut off immediately. "Please call me Martha, Mrs. Rodgers was my mother." She hoped it came off as slightly aloof but she was afraid it didn't. "Oh I am sorry if that sounded rather snippy.

"He held up both hands to stop her just as quickly as she had him. No Martha, no offense taken. If you don't mind can you tell me what is going on?"

At that moment Mike receive the all clear from his entry team. He turned to Martha and let her know that it is safe to enter the house. He then signaled to the second SUV that contained Evelyn Montgomery and her 2 daughters. As the occupants from both SUVs entered the house, Mike's team secured the vehicles.

Martha, the eternal hostess, sprung to get everyone as comfortable as possible. "Alexis dear would you please take the girls upstairs and get them settled into their room." Herding them along like a shepherd with lost sheep, as she spoke.

"Yes Gram, come on Rebecca, Mary let's get you settled then we can see what movies we left up here after last trip."

As the girls headed up Martha turn to her adult guests. "Jim, Evelyn; please know that Richard has always had plans in place for Alexis' and my safety should there ever be a serious threat to his family. He has Mikes team tasked with our security. When Richard made the decision, Mike's team sprang into action. Richard decided to add your families into the security net, unfortunately time was of the essence, that's why they came in like a SWAT team

Evelyn, with tears in her eyes, her voice raw with emotion spoke up. "Martha do you know what happened? Is Roy ok? I am so sorry to ask I know that you and Jim are just as worried about Rick and Kate as I am about Roy. Do you know anything about their welfare?"

"Evelyn, I have no idea about their condition. But the way the plan is set; if Richard is not with us then he will contact Mike to get word to us about his condition and location. She knew she had nothing more to offer that would sooth their nerves so she tried to change the subject. Forcing her voice to sound calmer than she felt she stood asking, "Can I get anyone a drink? There is fruit and cheese in the fridge and I am going to put on a pot of coffee."

Xx

As Castle, Beckett and Montgomery approached the entrance to the hanger Castle split off and headed to Wilson. Kate, realizing that Castle is no longer by her side continues her path with Roy heading toward Josh calls over her should in Castle's direction, " We will be talking about what happened here tonight Castle and we will be having that conversation soon; as in tonight. She knew she would not rest until her questions had answers.

"Kate are you ok?" Josh asked the moment she was within hearing distance.

"Yes Josh, I'm fine."

Josh could not hide his relief any more than he could his anger. "Well then could you tell me just what in the hell is going on here tonight? Who are these guys detaining me and who in the hell are these dead guys? And while we're at it, I thought Castle was a writer. Well he damned sure isn't acting like any writer I have ever read!"

Beckett did not have time to answer Josh's questions before Roy jumped in. "Let me answer your questions Dr. Davidson. First of all who these 'agents' are providing security are we have no idea. The dead guys are a hit team after Kate. As for Castle, your guess is as good as ours about what happened here tonight."

Kate tried to help explain with what little she knew. "E.P.A. Roy, these guys work for the E.P.A. At least that is what Wilson is claiming."

Roy's smirks "E.P.A., huh… that's a new one." He turns and winks at Kate and starts to walk away sensing she is going to need a little more time alone with her 'boyfriend'.

Xx

"Castle, you really know how to leave me a mess. I really do want to apologize for outing you as Gabriel. My team is solid, no leaks will come from us. But what about those three?" Wilson nods his head toward the two cops and doctor.

"The cops are solid but the doctor I am not so sure about. I will have to have a talk with him later, make sure he understands his silence is non-negotiable. I am pretty sure he doesn't want to know the penalty for speaking the name Gabriel."

"Wilson I think we have something you need to see." A tall athletically built 'agent' said as he motioned for Wilson and Castle to come over to one of the dead merc's near the helicopter. "Do you guys recognize this tattoo? All of our dead guys have it except that one." He waived his had to indicate the one lacking ink was Lockwood.

Castle, wide eyed, answered "I have, that's a Speznats tattoo. These guys are Russian Special Forces; or at least they were at one time". He turned to Wilson just as Roy was approaching "Things are going to get real interesting the next week or so!"

Thoughts?