Theories are thought out and sometimes incredibly consuming for hours on end by myself, and my partner in crime kimmiesjoy.

Castle Theories 2 & 3

She stirs the cup of coffee slowly, her eyes narrowed as she focuses through the small gap in the blinds. She's inherited a team, a working and cohesive unit that functions annoyingly well with her limited input, and she watches them ever so carefully behind closed doors.

But despite the actual reason for her placement in this office, she is the villain in their eyes. She can't blame them, not for what this office had once represented to them.

For whatever game is afoot here, she's been so meticulously placed in this role to be their watchmen.

It's not easy, this part she has been forced to play, protective and mistrusted all at once. She is uncertain of the bigger picture, because it is not her hands that guide the pieces. She is moved and manipulated as easily as the rest of them, Because she is merely a pawn in the eyes of the ultimate player.

Whomever that may be.

Although she is to keep them in line for their own good; her guidance goes unwanted, but railing against her brings them closer. This team she stands watch over, they work better when they work against her, so she leads them from afar. She will be the black knight that they fight against as long as it keeps them a cohesive and dedicated unit, back to back guarding each other.

They bicker like children, this self-made family and they resent her presence. They tiptoe around her orders, flouting her authority. And yet, It doesn't force her from her task, their safety is always her main concern. And as she looks upon them, that damn writer handing her lead Detective another cup of coffee.

The silent matriarch hiding away in her office knows that it's really Beckettssafety that is the mission here...

She's been tasked with a job half finished and another unknown. To save that woman from herself as her predecessor tried and failed to do, sacrificing his life in the process. With his death comes her second job, the reason she is here.

She sighs, watching the antics of the men as they rib each other, teasing and joking over the case. She's about to intervene when Beckett snaps, tapping the board and getting them back in line. She watches the young woman for a few seconds before she moves and presses at the door clicking it shut.

They were so used to an open door policy before she arrived. Now, if one of them were to walk in on her, it could be deadly, so she remains vigilant. They fear her cold stares and the icy barrier she erects, safeguarding her privacy. Not one would dare to enter without knocking, the recriminations too great, too threatening.

Just as she planned.

She has a background in suspicion. Coming from a division looked down on by the rest, the mistrust and the glares of angry Detectives slide off her with years of practiced detachment. It doesn't bother her in the slightest. In fact, the distance they keep her at allows her to work quickly and quietly without interruptions, without developing bonds that could end badly.

The phone at her desk rings, loud harsh tones, on time as usual, and she sits down heavily at her desk. Lifting the receiver to her ear she barks, "Gates." Then, as required, she grows silent and she listens.

He must think it's so easy, the voice at the other end that separates them. He doesn't know what it's like to draw the team away from avenues of investigation that will get them killed. But heisn't faced with their seemingly daily death-wish.

They hurtle like unknowing children head first into danger and it takes everything Gates learned in Internal Affairs, and every scrap of information she has secretly gathered from her time here as Captain, has put her one step ahead. And in this task she has been given she is barely able to catch their coat tails and drag them back from the traffic they run into.

Gates shakes her head as she listens to the man on the phone "Sir, with all respect." She bites out between gritted teeth, "Short of suspending Beckett I have no way to keep her from going after this guy..."

She scrunches her face against the tirade of abuse she receives "Yes I realize that, but now they have the name..."

"Of the sniper?" Mr. Smith asks calm and collected as always.

"Yes, sir." She replies curtly.

"And our dear Mr. Castle led them to him?"

She grits her teeth. " Yes... but I didn't know he was investigating..." She drums her fingers on the table. That damn interfering writing is the cause of her irritation yet again. The man is a nuisance, a hindrance and far too good at what he does... but he's going to get them all killed.

Mr. Smith clears his throat. "Keep a close eye on that one, I would hate for one of our pawns to make the wrong move. Do you understand?"

"I wasn't aware I would have to babysit a man child with a macabre yearning for danger Sir. He's an unknown entity..."

"Castle stays, Victoria." The man scolds. "I know who he is, and that is all that matters." His words are finale despite the levity in his tone.

Gates nods her head however disapproving she is of the writer. "Yes, but sir, they are getting too close. Once they link the sniper to the dragon...then it's all over. You and I both know, as well as Roy did himself, that she will run straight at him."

"Then suspend her."

"On what grounds?" Gates barks in shock, standing and making her way back to the peeping window.

"You'll find a way. She is too ruled by her emotions when it comes to her mother's case, put her in the right situation and she will dig herself a hole."

"I thought the point was to keep her out of danger?"

"It is. You're telling me she hasn't broken any rules? She hasn't crossed any lines and given you ammunition?"

"She's always crossing lines." Gates lifts her head and stares again through the blinds of her office and out into the bullpen. Beckett sits at her desk, looking down at the coffee cup she holds too tightly. She's crossed lines alright, especially when it comes to the man who sits across from her.

"Recently Victoria," He spits out, drawing her attention back. "I'm surprised I have to spell this out for you."

Gates sighs, Smith having such authority over her in her own precinct is degrading. "There was something... I just got the written report this morning." She returns to her desk, pulling a stack towards her stubbornly as she sits.

"Well, what is it?" He's growing impatient and his tone is making her feel uneasy.

She flips open the file on a the very top of the stack. A case the team had a few days ago involving a Detective Slaughter. She puts on her glasses, leering down at the page as she skims. Her heart quickens. "Seems Mr. Castle was in possession of a non certified weapon."

"Did she give it to him?" Now his voice rises subtly with hope.

Gates tips her head up, looking through the bottom of the lenses. "No."

"But she isin charge of him isn't she?"

"Yes, sir." She holds off reading him the rest of the report but something in her voice betrays her.

"Was there something else, Victoria?" He will brook no insolence and no silence. She cannot refuse to answer, because she is backed into a corner yet again.

"It seems Mr. Castle was injured during the course of the case."

There is a satisfied sound of agreement before Smith lets out a steady breath. "Then I would say that is all the incentive you need."

"But sir-"

"Make it happen, and make sure he goes with her..." There is a pause on the other line for a few moments and she is almost certain he has finalized their discussion by hanging up.

She nearly jumps from her seat when his blase voice asks the one question he always makes sure to inquire every phone session. "How is their dynamic these days? I know you had expressed the slightest concern for their partnership."

Concern. She wants to laugh except it's not funny. The disruption in their odd pairing has completely thrown off the balance of the entire department. She hates to admit it, but when they are in sync, collaborating and in tune, they are a force to be reckoned with.

"It's reached an impasse, there is a tentative reconciliation, but nothing like they were before."

"He remains distant?" He inquires further, curious and yet, somehow pleased.

She can hear the hope in the man's voice, feeding into it as she answers."Yes Sir."

"Good." He breathes out, sounding relieved before he continues. "Then see it done, I want a progress report by the end of the day and I expect them both out of the line of fire when we next speak."

There is a click, and her ear is filled with dead air as he actually does hang up on her. Gates with her hand still on the receiver now placed sharply in the cradle, stares down at the report in front of her. She sighs, mentally preparing herself for the fight she is about to encounter. She knows that woman won't go easily, the fight too deeply ingrained within her.

Standing and removing her glasses, Gates makes her way to the door, the incriminating report grasped firmly in her hand. Pulling the door open loudly, allowing it to slam against the frame and get their attention, she pokes her head out. Looking down at the lot of them, peering at them over the tops of the glasses propped at the end of her nose.

"Detective Beckett?" She asks the woman who's been staring at her coffee cup for quite some time. Gates voice does not betray her. In fact, it's slick with poise and authority, all of which she had been lacking just moments ago.

Her boys look over at Beckett, their heads snapping in her direction so quickly Gates is surprised neither of her lackeys have experienced severe whiplash. She watches, with very mild amusement as a what-did-you-two-do-now? look crosses both their faces as they tilt their heads at one another.

"Now." Gates finalizes, pushing her glasses back up. "Not you, Mr. Castle." She then says as he sinks back into his seat just as Beckett tosses him a worried look. Gates then swiftly moves back into her office and waits for the offender.

She is back behind her desk when Beckett enters. The woman's eyes burn with mistrust and barely concealed hatred as she turns and closes the door behind her.

Gates takes a steady breath before she taps the report in front of her "Care to explain this Detective?"

Beckett's face scrunches in confusion "Sir?"

"The callous disregard for safety and the sacredness of human life that was put in your charge. They no longer hold meaning with you I see Detective."

Beckett's mouth falls open before her eyes narrow and she bites out each word as it leaves her mouth "I have no idea what you are referring to...Captain." The rank leaves her lips an expletive.

It's a shame they stand at odds, the young Detective reminds Gates of herself, and if it wasn't for circumstance she could have taken over more than just the protective role of Roy Montgomery.

But they do stand on opposing sides and Kate Beckett's safety is paramount.

"Whilst under the supervision of one Katherine Beckett, Mr. Richard Castle was allowed to shadow a..." She peers low in her frames, "Detective Slaughter. During the course of his investigation Mr. Castle, an untrained civilian," She says, looking at Beckett as she says so. A point which she has made countless times. "Was given access to a weapon. He falsely declared himself a member of the NYPD and was injured chasing down a suspect." Gates looks up from the report, "Now explain to me Detective, how you let this happen?"

Beckett seethes with barely constrained anger. "How I let this happen?" Kate's voice wavers further on the edge of yelling."I hardly think the actions taken when he was not in my presence are my responsibility. I was not the one who signed off on him shadowing Slaughter. Sir."

"Excuse me?" Gates asks, appalled as she stands from her desk, whipping her glasses from her face and leaning forward with both hand on either side of the desk. "What are you implying?"

Gates can see that Beckett senses a trap. She's made a wrong move with her outbursts and now she watches as the young Detective stands frozen not sure how to proceed.

"That's what I thought." Gates replies smugly standing straight and repositioning her glasses. "As regulations follow, Detective Beckett." Gates picks up another document, reading it over and then peering at the headstrong woman before her over the rim. "You are hereby suspended from active duty."

Kate opens her mouth, body going stiff.

"Hand in your badge and gun, and leave the precinct immediately." She stares her down, waiting on the stubborn woman now with her hand possessively at her service piece. "It's that, or your shadow goes back to his book parties and his lunch dates."

Gates sees the pain flash deep in the detective's eyes before she turns her head to look through the blinds. The Captain follows her conflicted gaze to the man in question, whose attentions are anywhere but this office and it's happenings. Distracted by his phone, which he talks animatedly on.

"Which is it?"

Beckett closes her eyes, her fingers falling to the hem of her jacket. She moves it aside and pulls the badge free from her belt, holding it in her hand as she stares down, the weight too heavy in her hand and she casts her eyes out into the bullpen again, to her partner. As Gates watches in fascination, he points to the phone and mouths 'sorry, Alexis' and shrugs.

Beckett reaches behind her and unclips her service piece. Her eyes remain locked with Gates as she does, only deviating when she checks the safety and removes the clip. Laying both flat on the desk, her eyes are bright before she smiles. Turning on her heel she launches her badge over her shoulder, slamming the door on her way out.

Gates watches as the figure of a determined woman passes by her window, an ever so slight curve of her lips as Castle gets up, and follows her out of the precinct.

How many of you agree?