Chapter 14

Smith regains some of his sanity then closes his mouth. He was angry and it showed.

"You had intel on the target? You're telling me now AFTER the op is complete?" He says screaming at her.

He is so mad tight now and he is actually rethinking his decision as to why he included her in on the take down and rescue. Kate is almost cowering at his rant. She knows that what he said was the truth. She should never have hid this from him.

"Smith, I only put it together right before we left for the op. I was so focused on getting Ryan and Espo back. I totally forgot all about it." Kate defended herself.

Smith's face softens just a little. He too has at one time been affected with operational blindness. They are darn lucky it did not cost anything. However, it still was wrong.

"Well Kate? What is this info you forgot?" Smith asks still a bit perturbed.

"Oh, that…I'm sorry, Smith…Castle and I believe that our target is one Jerry Tyson AKA 3XK." Kate responds.

Smith thinks to himself for a while. He mulls over other intel only he was privy.

"This would explain a lot. Tyson is a homicidal murderer." Smith says.

Yes, that he is…Plus he is smart too. He almost fooled all of us except for Rick. He saw through the clever disguise. I think that is why he shot Rick. Rick bested him. Tyson wants to be known as the smartest guy in the room. He could not be that while Rick lived." Kate says.

Smith nods as they still need to locate him. He has a plan that just might do the trick. Kate turns to leave but before she is able to Smith asks her a question.

"Kate I need to know how committed you are to catching Tyson?" Smith asks.

Kate looks at him puzzled. She is just about to open her mouth to answer when Smith speaks again.

"Kate, I need to know if you would put your job on the line even if, it means you might lose it?" Smith asks since it might be necessary.

"Lose her job? What was he thinking?"

Kate thinks about an answer.

"Smith, I need to know. What exactly you are asking from me?" Kate asks.

"Kate, what I have in mind might draw out moles and catch Tyson as an added benefit." Smith replies. "However, you have to be totally committed to this plan. I will not lie there is a risk of blowback."

"How so, Smith…? What sort of blowback are you contemplating?" Kate asks.

"So are you in?" Smith asks.

"Smith, you know I want Tyson as much as the next guy. What is this price? Could I lose my job in the process?" Kate asks.

"Ok, I take it you are in…The price could be never being allowed back in the US ever again. I will make sure you and Rick will be safe. Kate Beckett will cease to exist." Smith says.

"Smith if it gets Tyson I can live with that." Kate responds.

As Smith explains his plan to Kate they go over the main body of his idea. It is a risky one and Smith was right to say that she could be in big trouble after the idea was put into motion. His idea was to see how deeply Tyson had his hooks in the NYPD. So with carefully planted evidence at Kate's place which of course he would be fabricating.

This would be all done to get the word out within the department of her working Rick's murder investigation illegally. She would be withholding crucial evidence from her superiors. This would lead Tyson and his moles on a wild goose chase. This would place them right where they needed them to be on a big platter.

Kate thought about this plan but in the back of her mind there was so much that could go wrong. She could find herself back in the same situation she was in when this whole mess started. She needed to talk to Rick and find out his feelings about this idea.

"Smith I need to talk to Rick before I can give you an answer, can you wait?" Kate asks.

"I can but if we want to draw out Tyson we need to move fast." Smith warns.

"Okay, I'll have an answer for you in under an hour." Kate replies.

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Kate leaves Smith wondering. As she walks to the med-lab she thinks about how Rick will take the plan. She knows that his first reaction will be one of fear for her safety. It might be a way he could lose her if this went sideways. Though, Smith assured her that if the worst happens they would be together. She passes his room. Instead of seeing him, she makes a detour to see the boys.

As she enters their room Javi is fast asleep. She notices his leg and blood is coating the top of the bandage. She hopes that he can make a full recovery but it looks like that might take a while. She notices that Kevin is just staring at his hand. She calls his name and he just keeps staring at his hand.

"Kate, they took two of my fingers." he said as he continued to look at where his fingers once were.

"I know Kevin but there are exercises that will get you back to 100%." Kate responds.

"No Kate, you don't get it do you?" He says quietly.

Kate is drawing a blank. She still has no idea what he is talking about.

"Boss, this was my prominent hand…My shooting hand. How am I going to draw my weapon? I won't be able to be a cop on any further cases." Kevin laments.

That's when it all made sense to her. He was right he could no longer be out in the field conducting investigations. Even though the thought of the alternative was nothing he would consider. She knew that he would never consider desk duty. She could not think of something other he would be more suited for.

"Kate, what am I going to do? I have a baby and a wife to support?" Kevin says.

"Kevin, you're not leaving the force you still have a job." Kate reassures.

Kate was so engrossed in talking to Kevin that she never noticed that Javi was awake and listening to the whole conversation. Granted his eyes were still closed giving the look that he was asleep. He heard every word. He felt bad that Kevin was in this situation.

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Kate walked slowly out of the room. Deciding to pay a visit to Rick and talk to him about his dad's plan. Walking the short distance to his room, she looked at him in the bed.

"I was wondering when you were going to come and see me." Rick says smiling.

She walked right up to him and placed the gentlest kiss on his lips. This kiss was all she had felt towards him when she went out on the op and came back in one piece. She broke the kiss and looked into his baby blues.

"Rick I love you." Kate says.

"Kate, I already know this, you told me before I went into surgery." Rick replies.

"Rick, I need to ask your opinion on an idea that your father has come up with to try flush Tyson out of hiding." Kate states.

After explaining him the plan, he went from his happy self to one of a man determined to protect the one he loves in this world.

"Kate, I won't let you go through with this crazy plan. Have you even thought this through? Do you know what could happen if you were sent to a Federal prison? I'll tell you what it would do to me. I could not survive that ordeal. I would lose it. Without you, I am incomplete. I need you more now than ever. So please think about what you are going to do. Then think about how much this would kill me if it does not work." Rick says apprehensively.

Rick calm down Smith says it will not get to that…I would be declared dead like you. We would leave the US together never to return. I know you do not want to stay dead nor do I want to be dead to my Father or Alexis or your Mother too. If it gets Tyson I say I need to do this." Kate says.

She now moves to the bed from her spot in the chair. Deciding to lay down right next to him and draw him in close just to feel his warmth. She is mindful of the leads that go to his machines as she lays her head onto his chest. She listens to his heart beat. It calms her and makes her feel grounded. Rick calms down as Kate looks up at him once again.

"Rick, if I don't do this we may never put Tyson behind bars. I need to finish this. I need to prove that he was the one who...well the person who killed you." Kate says crossly when thinking about Tyson.

"Now while I know that you are never one to leave a case unsolved. You always try to find closure for the victim's families. Kate, I am here and I am alive right now. We have each other and now I am asking that you really reconsider your choice on this matter?" Rick asks trying to place all she had gained to remind her.

"Rick I really need to catch Tyson for what he did to you, Kevin and Javi. This plan is the only way we will have any chance of drawing him out." Kate says with much conviction.

"You think this is okay using yourself as bait?" Rick asks with much incredulity.

"Rick, this will turn out in our favor, I promise you." She says staring into his eyes.

"Kate, as much as I am against this please don't make promises that you can't keep. If you're determined then what else can I say?" Rick says gazing back at her with as much love as he could without sweeping her into his arms.