AN: So, I have chapter for you – joy. Unfortunately, the next update might be a couple of days away. I have some crazy plans of starting this assignment that's worth fifty percent sometime today – it is due next week after all. Let me know what you think (at this stage I'm not even sure what I think with regard to this chapter). On the bright side, I just had an idea for a major twist, so feel free to speculate/anticipate that… Thanks for reading/reviewing, you guys never fail to make my day!

Chapter Eighteen

She paused for a moment, taking stock, before she plunged in.

Despite the woman's blatant hostility, Beckett thought she was best taking advantage of her evident soft spot for Castle. She started gently. "Listen, Tessa. Castle is going to be just fine. He needed several stitches to the back of his head though. Who hit him with the gun? Was it you, because your husband is adamant that it was. I don't think you wanted to hurt Castle. If you just tell me who hit him we can get this all sorted out." She forced a slight smile, sitting across from the woman, placing herself at her level as she spoke. Tessa crossed her arms across her chest, her eyes flashed with anger.

"It's your fault he got hurt," she glared. Beckett fought the urge to roll her eyes. Ridiculous woman. She clearly had no sense of responsibility.

"When my team entered the room Castle already had trauma to the back of his head. Your husband was holding a gun with Castle's blood on it. Either he or you hit Castle. You need to tell me who," Beckett asserted, still keeping the tone of her voice friendly. Tessa merely shook her head.

X-X-X-X-X-X

The second the door to the viewing room closed behind Castle it was flung back open and Ryan and Esposito slipped into the room.

"This is going to get nasty," Esposito muttered. "I called Lanie, she's on her way up. She'd kill us all if she missed this. I already got a major talking to. That woman is crazy."

"Nope," Castle offered a brisk shake of his head, gesturing jerkily at Tessa with his thumb, "that woman is crazy. Lanie, she's just spirited," he grinned.

"Say another word, Richard Castle, I dare you," the door swung shut behind Lanie as she entered the room, placing herself between Castle and Esposito.

"Hey, I was defending your honour!" Castle exclaimed.

"Ah-huh… I'll believe that when I see it. Shush now, my girl is doing her thing," she frowned.

"My girl," Castle echoed under his breath. Lanie grinned at him, nudging him softly with her shoulder.

"Is she now?" she mouthed. Castle shrugged.

"Always has been." Lanie answered him with a grin.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Beckett was growing increasingly frustrated with Tessa's cavalier attitude. She obviously didn't care about the stitches in the back of Castle's head. It was time to change her approach. She rose from the seat, stood tall before leaning over the table, asserting her authority. The interrogation room was her domain, she could crack hardened criminals, this woman, she was nothing.

"Listen," she hissed. "We've already got you on kidnapping. You haven't got a leg to stand on there. You will face jail time. All I want to know is who to charge with assault – you, or your husband." Tessa sniffed, leant away from Beckett, her arms still folded across her chest, hostility rolling off her in waves.

"I want to talk to Mr Castle. I'll only tell him. He's my husband," she gloated. "Not Bryan," she added with a dismissive wave of her hand." Beckett groaned and turned to the glass behind her with a slight shrug. Tessa may have missed the brief rise and fall of Beckett's shoulders, but everyone behind the glass was attuned to her nuances, subtle or otherwise.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Esposito placed a hand on Castle's shoulder. "It's your choice, bro," he nodded toward the interrogation room. Castle debated it internally, he really didn't want to be in a room with the madwoman ever again, but the opportunity to help Beckett in whatever way possible was overpowering. He knew that as long as Beckett was in the room with him, he was safe. There was no way he would ever be back within Tessa's carefully controlled insanity. Besides, it would simply be multitasking; he could give his statement whilst aiding Beckett in getting Tessa's. It would probably help if he mentioned he was sure Bryan had been the one to cause his head wound – which he was reminded of by the dull ache throbbing away at the base of his head. He'd have to remember to take the pain meds the doctor had prescribed him as he checked out – and if the current pain level was any indication – soon. Stitches in his head were not shaping up to be his favourite experience. He wasn't game to complain though. It was nothing compared to what Beckett must have endured upon being shot, he suppressed a shiver at the thought. She really was the strongest person he knew – sometimes it didn't always serve to her advantage though, like when she used her personal strength to shut out the people who could love and support her. Dwelling on Beckett's strength was the prompt he needed to summon himself from the safety of the viewing room.

"I'll do it," he declared, offering a smile to Lanie that didn't quite reach his eyes as he stepped from the room.

X-X-X-X-X-X

Beckett noticed the handle to the door jerk, a warning that Castle was joining her in the interrogation. God, she didn't want to put him through this, but she was innately grateful to have him there with her. It made sense to have her partner at her side as she strove to coax a confession from the criminal she – by this point – detested. Castle plastered on a calm expression, masking the fear and dislike that trembled within him, and made his way slowly into the interrogation room, coming to rest standing tall beside Beckett. She nudged him gently with the back of her hand, without turning her eyes away from Tessa. Castle's posture relaxed slightly at the gesture, he let some of the tension drain away from his body.

"Tessa," he cleared his throat, attempted to cover the quiver in his voice. "You need to tell Detective Beckett the truth. I know it wasn't you who hit me. It was Bryan, right?" Tessa ignored his words, choosing instead to lean across the table her hand outstretched.

"Mr Castle," she crooned. "I'm glad you're okay, my darling." Before Beckett knew what she was doing, she had flung her hand across Castle's chest, pushing him out of the reach of Tessa's venturing fingers. A growl rose in her throat and she fought to suppress it. She knew Castle had noticed when the edges of his lips curved upwards unconsciously. He liked a jealous Beckett and they both knew it.

"Keep your hands to yourself," Beckett demanded, her eyes fiercely trained on Tessa's wandering appendage.

"But he's my husband, I'm allowed to touch him," Tessa purred. She regarded Beckett's arm still outstretched protectively across Castle's chest with an intense glare. Fury glinting her eyes as she added with a controlled hiss, "you need to get your hands off him."

"Tessa," Castle intervened, trying to diffuse the situation and get the interview back on track so it could be over with.

"Mrs Castle," she interjected, her eyes on Beckett now, shooting daggers. Beckett tightened her grip on Castle's chest in response. She had a feeling she wouldn't be letting go of Castle at all during this unconventional interrogation. The fact that the gun had both Tessa and Bryan's fingerprints on it the biggest stumbling block to a conviction that would stick. Now that Castle had confirmed her suspicions that Bryan was the perpetrator of the assault, a statement from Tessa attesting to that would make the case virtually airtight. All she had to do was endure the woman leering at her man for the next couple of minutes. She released a steady breath, felt Castle do the same and attempted to redirect her focus to the task at hand. It was difficult to concentrate though, with the feel of Castle's sturdy chest warming her hand – and cheesy as it sounded, her heart. She fisted her fingers tighter into his shirt, searching for the motivation to continue.

"Tessa," Castle reiterated, his tone firmer. His hand coming to rest on the small of Beckett's back as he stood beside her at the table, his fingers tapping a gentle, nervous rhythm. She wanted to chastise him, but couldn't bring herself to. The tension in the room was palpable. All kinds of tension. Least of all the erratic beat of her heart matching the rhythm of Castle's fingers, she was tempted to push him up against the wall right then and there. Simply to serve the purpose of really showing the madwoman just who Richard Castle desired – not because the urge to finally be his was almost overwhelming. Beckett was drawn back to reality as Tessa grunted in response to Castle's refusal to call her Mrs Castle.

"Mrs Lonkings," she attempted. "Mr Castle has identified Mr Lonkings as the perpetrator of his assault. Can you confirm this?" She fought to remain professional in the face of the tingles Castle's fingers were shooting up her spine.

"Oh, I might be able to confirm it. If Mr Castle can confirm that he married me. Also, I'd like a kiss," she smiled broadly at Castle. He was reminded of the feel of her lips, wet and terrifying, on his cheek and his stomach dropped.

"No deal," Beckett growled, snatching his shirt tighter still. Castle was afraid for a second it would rip, but what did he care. It wasn't even his shirt – he'd found an amiable doctor about his size and borrowed it and pants from his locker under the pretence of official police business. The doctor had been happy to oblige, especially after Castle agreed to make a substantial donation to his clinical trial. The things he did to shave a few minutes – and a trip to the loft – off the time it took him to get to the precinct. He was just lucky the doctor had good taste. Castle was fairly certain he had the same shirt at home for that matter. It probably wasn't the most opportune time to be mulling over his shared fashion taste with the anonymous doctor.

"Tisk, tisk. That's not the way it works. He's my husband!" Tessa was losing control now, her voice becoming shriller with each word.

"No," Beckett hissed, pressing herself closer into Castle's side. This was certainly shaping up to be one of the more unconventional interrogations that she'd played a part in.