I am sorry about the delay in posting this chapter. My editor, Mrs. Kingdaddy, has been very busy. We visited Denver for a wedding over the holidays and she has been playing catchup. I travel Monday through Friday for work which leaves the usual vacation cleanup with her.

Please remember that I write AU. I have had a lot of 'guest' reviews who are very unhappy with this story. All I can say is if you don't care for this, feel free to read something else. I do this for enjoyment, not for a living. I am certainly not Hemmingway or Steinbeck.

As always I own nothing, and please enjoy.

The Haunt

As the SUV headed back to the city Kate stared out the window mindlessly spinning her mothers ring between the thumb and forefinger of her left hand. When she spoke it was almost a whisper "After you left my apartment I went to see Roy."

Castle glanced over at her, "You did?"

"Yeah, I did. I told him I wanted you gone. You know what he said?"

Again Castle snuck a glance seeing she was still gazing aimlessly out the window. "No what did he say?"

"He said that is his house and if I wanted you gone, you were gone. I asked about the Mayor. He said that it has always been his option and he only let you in because you were good for me."

Beckett heard. Sigh come from the driver's seat and then Rick's response. "Bob always said it was Montgomery's option. For all of my connections it still came down to your boss."

"Rick I don't want you to go anywhere. I lost my temper earlier. But I need you at my side."

"That may very well change in a few hours." Came from the Drivers seat I the same whisper Kate had used earlier. Then a little more forceful "Call the boys and let them know we are about twenty minutes out."

Xx

Esposito looked around the office and was impressed. This is the first time he as been in here. "Kevin that was Beckett. They will be here in twenty." We watched as Ryan nodded his head in acknowledgment. He then continued "Have you ever been in this office?"

"No bro, I have never been here before. It sure is nice though. I can see why he bought this place. If I owned this office I might never leave!"

No it was Lanie's turn to speak up. "Calm down their Kevin, I'm sure Castle will let you come down here. If you're really good he might even let you do paperwork at his desk."

This got a snort from Jenny, "you walked into that one babe." As she turned she saw Esposito getting four beers out of the refrigerator.

"Look what I found." Javier said as he passed out the beers.

Xx

As Castle pulled into the alley adjacent to the Haunt a sense of trepidation came over him. In the next hour or so Kate would know about his past. He knew this would end their partnership, there was no was that a person who seeks justice for victims could accept what he has done. With that he turns to her and asks "Are you ready?"

Beckett had been quietly staring out the window since her call to Esposito. She had been going over his words 'That very well may change in a few hours.' What could he mean by that? How could he ever assume that she could look at him ant differently? She turned to him, her eyes moist from the unshed tears and answered "Yeah, I'm ready". With that they exited the SUV.

Wilson's SUV had pulled up behind Castle's. Both Wilson and Montgomery exited and monied to the Kate's door. As the door opened Kate reached out and shook Wilson's hand. "I'm not sure I have thanked you yet. If I have I want to thank you again. I know that you came at a moments notice to help Castle and I appreciate that. You didn't have to come but you did."

As Kate was speaking Wilson could see the appreciation in her eyes, but he could also see something else. Something that could only be described as love. "That's where you are wrong detective. I did have to come, I'm only standing here tonight because once in the past he came. But he didn't call tonight, that was another friend of ours. The one that is currently protecting your families. The one who is also protecting your boyfriend until he leaves on his trip."

Castle had arrived at Kate's door and sighed. "Are you guys ready to…"

Wilson interrupted "let my guys clear first. Afterwards you guys go in, I'm going back to my office to oversee the plan. I'm having these guy." He waived his hand at the agents posted as guards "Escort you to The Hampton's. No argument from you Rick." With that one if the agents gave Wilson the all clear.

Xx

Castle opened the rear door to his bar and the other two cops followed. The moved quietly to the door that leads to his office. It brought a smile to Beckett's face as he entered her birthday in the touch pad. She knew that she held a special place in Castle's life even if she did not want to admit that she did. But she was catching a glimpse of just how big a place she held. As the door opened Castle motioned for Montgomery to go ahead and turned to Kate. "There is no turning back now. Are you really sure you want to know everything?"

Beckett was having a hard time with his persistence on this matter. She felt she had a right to know especially after it came to light that Castle and Lockwood knew each other. Or at least Lockwood knew Gabriel. "Rick I'm sure. I'm a little lost on why you are so reticent to let me know. Obviously you have been keeping things from me and the boys for years."

Castle motioned for her to head down the stairs. "Just remember that I'm not the man I was before I met you. You're not going to like the other one very much."

Kate smiled "I did you know. He was full of himself but I kinda liked him."

Xx

As Montgomery was led down the stairs Esposito called out before he saw who it was. "Bro, just what in the hell are we doing here tonight?"

Montgomery smiled to himself as replied. "It's been one hell of a night for us Detectives. We will explain it all as soon as Castle and Beckett come down. Oh I'm sorry Dr. Parrish, Ms. O'Malley I didn't see you there."

There was sound of heals coming down the stairs. The guys knew that could only be one person, Beckett. As she came into view they could see Castle on her heals. As the entered the office Castle moved over to his private bar and began pouring three Scotch on the rocks. He turned and almost knocked Beckett down she was so close.

Beckett was startled to be so close to Castle. "Easy Castle I want to drink it not wear it."

This brought a smirk to his his face. "If I spill it I can always help you change your shirt."

Kate smiled at his easygoing side. They had always spoken in innuendo's and after the events of tonight, and with just how nervous he was to discuss the events, it made her happy their banter was back if for only for a fleeting moment. "Some other time writer-boy."

Castle handed Beckett her drink and motioned for her to take Montgomery's to him. He turned back to the bar gulped his down and made himself another. With his back to the others in the room. "I see you boys found the beer. Will that do or would you like something else?"

This time it was Ryan who spoke up. "No Castle I think we are good." The two male detectives looked at each other with a confused look on their faces. "But we would like to know why we are here and not in our beds." It's more if a statement than s question from Ryan.

As Montgomery began to speak Castle waived him off. "Roy it will probably be easier if I tell the story. I owe Kate some explanations. Roy nodded and Castle continued. "The Captain was put in an unwinnable situation tonight. Lockwood called him and demanded that he set up Beckett or he would kill his family, after letting some of his men have their way with his girls."

Kate placed her hand over her mouth in shock. This was the first time that she had heard this. Jenny buried her head in her fiancée shoulder. Esposito stood up and began to pace.

Castle continued. "Montgomery called me to assist him. He asked me to get Kate…" He could was not able to finish his statement as Esposito rushed across the office.

"What? You think you can be her knight in shinning armor? You let them go in without backup? You son of a bitch!" With that Esposito threw a right hook catching Castle in his left jaw. Castles head snapped back and what happened next was pure instinct. In one motion Castle grabbed Esposito by his shirt collar with his left hand. While lifting his feet off the floor he spun both of them pinning Esposito against the wall. While Castle was doing this with left hand his right instinctively went to his back and pulled out his K-BAR and brought it to Espo's neck. Castle was holding the knife with the hilt extended from his body with the spine against his forearm and the blade against Esposito's neck.

To say the room was in shock would be an understatement. You could hear audible gasp's with chorus of what the hell. With all of the commotion no one noticed the hidden door that lead to the tunnels open.

"Stand down Gabriel!" A voice boomed.

Everyone except Castle turned in the direction of the voice. Castle stared into Esposito's eyes and spoke in a cold monotone voice. "What the hell are you doing here Hunt?" Castle let go of Javi and turned to Hunt to see another agent. "I see you brought Gage with you."

As Castle and Hunt stared each other down Thomas Gage moved out from behind Hunt. Every one was so focused on Castle that he moved to the base of the stairs unnoticed. When he reached his destination he was standing behind and to the left of Beckett.

Castle finally broke the silence and asked again "Just what are you doing here?"

Hunt replied "I wanted to make sure your head is in the game. And I want to make sure they are trustworthy."

Castle was staring into Hunt's blue eyes. He was focusing so intently on Hunt's eyes he could see the reflection of the room behind him. In one motion he reached into his jacket with his left had drawing his SIG and aiming it in the direction of Kate. "Gage even think about moving and Dr. Parrish will be conducting your autopsy." He did this while never turning his focus from Hunt. "Kate, would you be so kind as to freshen everyone's drinks? And I think our new guests would like one. Thomas how about you give your sig to detective Ryan."

With a smirk Gage pulled out his sig as Ryan moved over to the spot Kate had vacated. "Boss I think he's still in the game. I wouldn't worry about him."

Hunt broke eye contact with Castle. "Okay Thomas I think you are right, stand down."

Kate made a drink for Castle, Hunt, Gage and herself she then she moved to Castle's side and handed Hunt his drink. "I hope you don't mind hundred year old Scotch."

"No detective I sure don't. As a matter of fact I don't think I have ever had Scotch that old."

Castle reached for his glass, having already holstered his Sig. "Jackson Hunt let me introduce you to Detective Kate Beckett. Kate let me introduce you to Jackson Hunt, Director of Covert Operations of the CIA and my father. Come on in and have a seat dad. I was just going over tonight's events with everyone before you interrupted."

As Hunt was moving to one of the unoccupied couches he said with a smirk. "It looked to me like you were planing on 'sanctioning' Detective Esposito."

Kate was staring at Castle as her mind wandered. Where did this side of Castle come from? He comes across as an uncoordinated oaf but he moves like Jason Borne. That's the second time I have compared him to Borne. Kate was startled out of her trance as Castle cleared his throat. "I was explaining the events of the tonight before Javi decided to go all Mike Tyson on me. By the way you pack one hell of a punch. I would rather you not show it to me again."

Castle moved to sit in his chair behind the desk. He motions for Beckett to come over to the desk. "It looks like our guests have taken up all of the seats, and to tell you the truth I am to tired to stand." He patted the desk for her to sit on the corner.

Kate moved, no sashayed to the bar to make them another drink. Putting a little extra sway in her hips. For some reason this side of Castle was making her feel alive in more ways than one. After she made the drinks she strutted back to Castles chair and sat in his lap. "I think this is way more comfortable than the edge of that desk." She could feel exactly what she was doing to him. "How about you finish your story."

Lanie spit her beer across the room, some of it coming out her nose. "Kate Beckett there is no way on earth he can tell a story with you wiggling in his lap. How about you cool your jets so writer-boy can tell me why in the hell I am not asleep right now."

Castle smiled that lopsided grin that he reserves just for Kate. "I can multitask, you wiggle all you want."

This brought a blush up the back of Kate's neck. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Tell your damned story."

Castle turned back and explained everything that happened in the hanger to the room. Montgomery and Beckett chimed in with things from their perspective.

When finished Esposito cleared his throat. "Okay, now where did you learn these skills?"

Castle grinned and replied. "Would you believe the Boy Scouts?" He then let out a scream of apples as Beckett twists his ear. He looks over at Hunt who gives an ever so slight nod of affirmation. Castle continues. "I wrote my first book when I was fifteen. And by the time I was seventeen I had written everything that was published prior to the Storm series. If you go back and read those early books you can see just how bad the writing is. Truly my lessor works."

Beckett punched him in the arm. "Don't say that. I like those books." She was surprised just how muscled his arms are. This night is just full of surprises.

"Anyway." Castle continued. "I graduated high school at seventeen. I got in a little trouble with a prank I pulled at my school. Seems they did not like having a cow on the roof. And they could not, for the life of them figure out how to get it down. So after they found out it was me, and Martha not being a big donor to the school, they called the cops. I had an old school judge who gave me the option of military or jail. Since it would have destroyed Martha for me to have a record I chose the military. Marines actually. After basic training I was selected for Force Recon. About halfway through I was transferred to BUDS Training."

Esposito squirmed in his seat and finally spoke up. "A Marine can't go through BUDS. You have to be Navy."

Castle responded. "You are right, unless you have a Naval Admiral in the CIA make it happen." Castle looked over at Hunt and he nodded. "You see I had been selected during Recon training to move to the CIA. It seems they were in need of highly trained physically fit operators to join a newly formed group."

It was time for Hunt to put his two cents in. "We wanted young people that we could mold into what we needed. We had an aging covert ops team, and the world was changing. We had prepared for the Cold War for so long when the Soviet Union dissolved our team was not prepared for the new threat."

Montgomery whispered. "Extremists."

Kate was still sitting in Castles lap but the playful teasing had stopped. She was listening intently to the story being weaved by Castle and his father. "Rick, why would you think I would think badly of you? This is quite impressive. It explains so much that has happened to us in the past few years."

Castle looked to Beckett with moist eyes. Kate could tell he was upset. She reached over and squeezed his hand as he continued. "The team I was assigned to was an 'ALPHA'. We were formed for one purpose only. We were authorized to sanction enemies of the United States both foreign and domestic at home or abroad. In other words I was part of the United States government's hit squad."

This drew a wide eyed stare from everyone in the room. This went on for what seemed like an eternity before Ryan finally spoke up. "So you're an assassin?"

Rick's eyes were still trained on Kate's. He could feel her stiffen at that word. "I never wanted you to know. That is my past and I have done everything I know to distance myself from that life."

Kate's vision was beginning to blur. Not from exhaustion but from the tears that she was keeping at bay. She gripped his hand even more strongly than before. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Doesn't change a damn thing. You are still the nine year old I lo… I have grown to call my friend." She could not believe she almost poured her heart out to him. She started to pull away but stopped. This is ridiculous I love him. Have for a long time. I was suppose to die tonight. He could have. She whispered in his ear again. "I shouldn't have said friend. I should have said what I started to. The nine year old I love."

Lanie had been quiet through the whole revelation. But she could not help but notice the huge smile that crossed Castles face as her best friend whispered in his ear. She was still amazed at the sight before her. Straight arrow, by the book, show no emotion because it makes you weak Kate Beckett was sitting in Richard Castles lap whispering in his ear. She was enjoying seeing this side of Kate but she wanted to know why she was not sleeping in her bed next to Javi right now. "You know this is a lovely scene but why are we here?" With that she pointed to Javi, Kevin and Jenny.

Kate decided to speak up. "If they couldn't to get us or our families Rick thinks they would go after our friends. So we are all going to the Hampton's for a few days to get a handle on everything." She turned to look at Castle and asked. "I'm right aren't I?"

Castle just shook his head as Hunt spoke up. "Great plan son, I'm assuming Porter and his team are providing security up there." Again Castle just nodded as Hunt continued. "We will head back to Washington to provide support. Wilson has already briefed me on the plan for containment. And I do agree with you there is at least one more team out there. I am concerned about the Russian element. So I will do some digging. Do you want me to leave Gave here with you?"

Castle smirked and replied. "I want these guys and I want them bad. But I don't want him blowing up my city. Remember Kosovo?"

That got a laugh out of the other spies. "It wasn't that bad. We got the target in the end."

With that Castle asked. "Who has a bikini with them?"

That drew a laugh from Montgomery and a playful slap to Castles chest from Kate.

I know I am going to hear that this Kate is out of character but I don't think so. I think that when Kate gives in and loves someone she loves them entirely. We can see that in season 6 and 7 of the show. And her speech in the season 7 finally was exceptional. I think that shows how fierce she can love.

My intent was to show that she almost lost the most important thing to her and her walls came down. I hope that in the next chapter you will see that.

Thoughts?