Chapter 6

Kate needed to finish up her paperwork soon if she was going to have any chance of making it over to the loft. She needs to pick up Martha and Alexis for the trip out to the Hamptons. Hopefully, she would miss encountering any type of weekend traffic. She still dreaded the 5th floor, but she was coping with it. Since it was Friday she had secured all the crime scene pictures into the hardly ever used safe. Spinning the lock dial she turns and starts to gather her things.

Espo climbs the stairs to the 5th floor and caught Kate off guard. She reeled back just a little until she realized it was him.

"Javi, you scared the crap out of me." Kate says startled by his stealthy appearance.

"I'm sorry Kate, but I-we have some news." He solemnly says.

"What do you have Espo?" She asks with much curiosity.

"Brace yourself Kate maybe you want to sit down?" Javi suggests.

"No Espo I am fine please I need to get out of here Alexis and Martha are waiting on me." Kate says exasperatedly.

"Ok, Chica but please do not say I did not warn you." Javi says with a warning.

"OK, Javi I have been warned. So out with it already! I believe you are stalling. It can not be that bad of news? Can it?" Kate asks with her confidence a bit wavering.

"Ok, Chica you got me here it goes…Lanie thinks there is a very small possibility that Rick might be alive." Javi says quickly.

He hopes it would not be too devastating news as he looks at the young woman.

Kate looks at him stunned then she sits down contemplating that real possibility.

"Espo…What…? Is she sure?" Kate says with her hands covering her face.

Kate feels like the wind has been knocked out of her. She reaches for the glass of water which suddenly appears in Javi's hand.

"There there Chica sip it slowly" he admonishes. "Yeah, I felt the same thing when she told me. You need to get over to the OCME. She can explain it better than I. I'm just the messenger boy."

"Javi…How…Yes, you are right I need to leave now. Will you come with me?" Kate asks as if she is a bit lost.

"Sure I have already checked out with the Captain we are able to go as soon as you can stand." Javi says.

Kate becoming stronger is now determined to get the real truth from Lanie.

\\\\\

Lanie was not expecting her beau to accompany Kate as they strode in the autopsy.

"Oh Javi…I guess you told her? Oh, Kate I'm so sorry to do this." Lanie says suportingly.

"That's ok Lanie so tell me is it true Rick could be alive?" Kate says with much trepidation in her voice.

"Well, that depends on a number of things but the science does not lie and according to these records. Rick Castle was alive at least 24 hours after he was shot. Organ tissue is the first to deteriorate from the death of the body. So to find live cells on a few bullets that CSU missed leads me to believe that conclusion." Lanie states.

"Wait what did you say? What bullets? Did they go through ballistics?" Kate asks trying to wrap her head around this new information.

"Of course they did after I found them. I swear it looks like they were trying to bury evidence over there. CSU is inept but corrupt never crossed my mind." Lanie explains.

"Chica this is big…Someone tried to frame you…Then buries the evidence of Rick not even possibly being dead. There is a larger conspiracy afoot." Javi says.

"Lanie, who else knows of these reports?" Kate asks.

"Well, the test tech but they are anonymous. So I guess only me…Why?" Lanie asks.

"Lanie these results could be deadly to the conspirators and possibly endanger Rick's life too. Someone went to much trouble to make the world think Rick is dead. We need them to continue thinking that happened." Kate says,

"So you think Rick is alive?" Javi asks.

"Yes but we have to make everyone believe that we don't." Kate says, "We have a bigger conspiracy to consider."

"I'll say. There was proof your barrel was field stripped and reassembled." Lanie says. "We found blood and tissue under the receiver. The person was sloppy too. They got themselves bit. We are still awaiting DNA results on that one too."

"Good work Lanie, please keep these results private. We have a mole or several in the department. At this point, we do not have too many friends in the department we can trust." Kate says.

"Ok, Kate I will make the results my eyes only." Lanie says. "I hope you know what you are doing."

"Ok well, I need to get to the loft. I need to speak with Martha and Alexis." Kate says.

"Chica I will drive you." Javi volunteers. "I'll see you Lanie after the end of your shift…Perhaps we can…"

Lanie squeals when Javi whispers in her ear.

"That Javier Esposito I will be most happy to comply." Lanie says kissing him.

"Bye Chica see you soon" Espo says.

"Thanks, Lanie, I'll see you on Monday." Kate says as they both disappear out the swinging doors.

\\\\

Kate was quiet as they got in the car to drive to the loft. Javi had only been over a few times to play Halo 2 with Rick and Ryan.

As they drove Kate was thinking

"Where was place that the switch took place?"

Finally, she had to get it out of her head.

"Javi pull over we need to talk." Kate says.

Javi pulls over and looks at his partner.

"We need to figure this out…I've racked my brain until it hurt. I can not remember the last time anyone touched my weapon." Kate bitterly says.

"Yeah, I'm having a hard time with that too. I mean they had to have planned this precisely. They had to get the barrel remove it, shoot Castle then get it back on your gun stock before IA came to confiscate it."

"Yeah…It is like …" Kate says not able to form the correct words she wanted.

"Yeah, Chica I know…It is just so unbelievable." Javi says.

"Why would Rick be a target and why try to frame me? Espo all I have are questions. Plus Alexis found what looks like Tyson at the scene dressed as an EMT. What does this all mean?" Kate bitterly says.

"Wait… are you sure it is Tyson?" Javi asks.

"Well I'm pretty sure I was going to ask you but you blindsided me with the news that Rick is alive. I forgot all about it." Kate says even more bitter.

At this point Kate's phone rings.

"Beckett" she answers.

"Kate? Are you alright?" Alexis asks.

"Alexis, I'm so sorry I realize it is late…Something came up but tell your Grandmother I will be there very soon." Kate says.

"Kate it's okay. How long before you get here?" She asks.

"Alexis, I am on the road right now, I should be there in 20." Kate replies.

"Okay, Kate we will be waiting for you." She said then hangs up.

"So that was little Castle…? What are you doing?" Javi asks.

"Yeah Javi…She, her Grandmother and I are going to the Hamptons to spread Rick's ashes in the Atlantic." Kate says.

"Chica, do you think that's such a good idea? Knowing what we know now?" Javi asks as he starts up the car.

"Yes Javi remember there is a big conspiracy out there. If I did something out of the ordinary it might tip them off. We might never get the answers we seek." Kate says.

"Right the conspiracy…Well, have a good trip I will see you on Monday." Javi says pulling into the loft's private parking garage.

Javi got out.

"Thanks for the ride Javi do you want me to drop you anywhere?" Kate asks.

"Nah Ryan is following we will go back to the precinct and look over your pictures. Call us if you need anything. Drive safely." Javi says as Ryan parked in a spot pulls up.

Thanks, Javi and you too Kevin. It is good to know you have my back!" Kate says leaning into the window of the cruiser.

"You too Boss now go do your duty and we will be fine. Come on Ryan we need to get out of here." Javi says as he climbs in the car then they sped off.

Kate enters the lobby from the rear and surprises both Martha and Alexis who were looking out the front of the building for her.

"So are you ready?" Kate asks.

"Oh, Katherine there you are…We were so worried." Martha says with a hug.

Alexis waits her turn to hug the detective. Then picking up their bags they exit to the parking area. Loading the bags, Kate got behind the wheel as Martha sat in the back. Alexis sat in Rick's position, Shotgun. Kate warred with herself on the drive out. She wants to tell them that this ceremony was not needed. Though, the more she thought about it…There was no reason to think Rick would return anytime soon. So in the end Kate decided to keep the information to herself. They need closure. If this ritual can give them that peace so be it.

\\\\\

Rick was still in a medical coma when the leader got a phone call.

"This is Leader…What are you sure? That crazy bastard. Look stall him… I do not care if he is the patient zero's Father. Stall him that is an order!" the Leader yells in the phone.

Getting off the phone, he smoothes his uniform then goes out of his office. Then relieve the guard of his burden.

"Corporal stand down…He is with me." The leader says.

"You jeopardize everything coming here!" The leader says after leading his guest into his office.

The leader goes over to the liquor cabinet and pours two fingers of smooth Irish whiskey into two glasses. Then he hands one to his guest.

"Thanks" the guest says as he takes a sip.

"You are a crazy bastard. You know that?" Leader says.

"Yeah, I have been told that a time or two… So how is he?" The man with very blue eyes asks.

"He is like you holding his own…But no thanks to you this place is compromised! We will be moving him soon. We can not let those crazy bastards finish the job!" Leader says downing the rest of the drink.

"Relax they think they have won…He is off the grid. Next phase is quickly coming up." The man says.

"Easy for you to say you are not in the trenches." The leader scoffs.

"Listen I dug those trenches long before you were born! Now enough stalling I want to see my Son!" The man says with much conviction.

"Ok, I will escort you…Remember he has just came out of major surgery." The leader warned.

The leader took him into the makeshift ICU Then left the man alone with his son.

The man sat on the side of the bed holding his hand then something was happening. The indicators were going wild this was not normal for a person who was in an induced coma.

There was a strong grip on his hand then a voice says.

"Dad…? Where is Kate? She is in danger!" Rick says staring into his Father's eyes with much determination.

A/N: I will be updating this story and keep the other 6 in limbo for a while. I am having trouble keeping the stories straight in my head. I hope that not too many readers are disappointed.

Many thanks to Phnxgrl she is a godsend!