AN: We are coming to a close on this episode. I hope you've been enjoying the ride so far but don't worry; there are a few more layers we have to peel before we get to the real 'Richard Edgar Alexander Rodgers Castle' as Kate called him. Thanks to those of you who have taken the time to review; while I don't write to get reviews (I write for my enjoyment) they are helpful to make me a better writer. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 6 - Keep your friends close

After dinner, Joey, Tommy, Rick and Kate went into his office. The others sat around the table and chatted. Alexis was looking at Lucy's engagement ring. "That's a beautiful ring."

Lucy giggled as she stuck her hand out and admired her ring. "Tommy has good taste. I noticed Kate's ring as well. It was lovely."

Alexis smiled. "I can't wait for them to get married. Dad has loved Kate for years and I've come to love her too."

Lucy smiled warmly. "It must be hard having your dad be so famous. You never know who likes you for you."

"Is it the same for you? Everyone trying to get close to your brother through you?"

Lucy looked surprised. "You know who my brother is?"

Alexis shrugged. "Dad told us some about their days at school and who they all were. When I was listening to him I was amazed at how he still thinks of them as his school friends, even the mayor. He said that he your brother was a great guy, so we don't care who he is. Kate even relaxed and had fun at dinner."

Martha piped in. "Listen, kiddo. Your brother was a good friend to my son when he had few friends. That's good enough for us."

Jim agreed. "I've only known Rick a few years and I know he is a good man. I trust him with my daughter so I trust him with this."

Lucy smiled. "Joey and Tommy told me to expect this, but I've put up with people thinking badly about me because of my family name for so long that I just expect it, you know? Thanks."

Alexis leaned over and gave Lucy a quick hug. "It's not a problem…I can definitely relate; being Rick Castle's daughter sets certain expectations. I learned when I was little that some people want to try to use you...you just have to be savvy enough to figure out who."

Lucy giggled. "Savvy?"

Alexis blushed. "Dad got me using that word when Pirates of the Caribbean came out. He walked around for days after quoting Jack Sparrow."

They all laughed and relaxed, chatting about various things while they waited for the ones in Rick's office to rejoin them.

TCOP2

The four sat down and Rick glanced at Kate. "Joey, you know that Kate is a detective, right?"

Joey smiled. "Yeah, I've heard of Detective Beckett." He looked at Kate. "Will there be a problem?"

Kate shook her head. "I know your reputation. Rick here has given you a glowing recommendation. As far as me, I have no issues as long as I do not witness anything questionable. If you somehow end up on the other side of an interrogation table from me I will pull no punches, though."

Rick chuckled. "She's honest about that. I can vouch for it."

Joey smiled. "Fair enough, Kate."

Tommy leaned forward in his chair. "Derek?"

Rick looked over. "Yeah, Tommy?"

"Here's what we know..."

TCOP2

He thought he heard beeping but he couldn't open his eyes. He went to lift his hand to his face but found he couldn't move. He fought until he could open his eyes but immediately shut them again.

"Well...welcome back Mr. Tyson. You look remarkably well for a dead man."

He squinted but kept his eyes closed. "Tyson? My name's Dave Kolbeck. I don't know who you are talking about."

He heard a snort. "Right. Well, Dave, your DNA is Jerry Tyson's. So we'll call you Jerry for now."

Tyson knew the gig was up but he wasn't going to quit that easily. "Look pal...you have me confused with someone else."

"Sure. Since you're dead you won't have to worry about an alibi. That also means I can't be charged with your death. You will not be leaving this room. I need information, Jerry, and the more information I get from you, the longer you live. Since I'm sure that you understand our jargon this is a black and wet operation."

Tyson knew then that it was over. "How did you find me?"

The other man chuckled. "Sally is a hell of an informant. Now, why were you stalking Kate Beckett?"

"She was not my target. I was after the writer."

"Ah, I see; well, that changes things. You know, maybe we can get this done quickly." Tyson felt excruciating pain in his foot as he heard a snap. "Let's begin, shall we?"

TCOP2

Rick thought back on the weekend. He spent a lot of time explaining to Kate, Alexis and his mother about his time at school. He had never before talked to his mother about that time as she had never seemed interested. He told them stories and answered their questions.

He was proud of Kate letting go the fact that Tommy was the head of a crime family. He knew her instinct was to arrest Joey but the fact that she hadn't done anything for him made him feel all warm inside. Joey had pulled him aside at one point and let him know that if she was uncomfortable with the situation he would just leave.

Kate just smiled and shook her head. "If Rick says you are family then that's it. I do have one question that's been bugging me for years."

Rick cringed and Joey raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

"Am I supposed to kiss your ring?"

The tension deflated as they all burst out laughing.

TCOP2

Kate looked over at Rick and realized that she had witnessed another layer of the Castle onion. He never realized the effect that he had on people. She smiled as she recalled how often he 'knew a guy' and realized that he went through life collecting friends without realizing it. For many people, though, Richard Castle was loved through his writing; after all it was how she had first come to know him. But for the few, they were the ones that were lucky; they got to meet Rick Rodgers. She thought back to the first time she had met him.

She had waited in line with her mom to have a copy of his latest book signed. She had never read one of his books but found it amusing that her forty year old mother giggled like a schoolgirl at the thought of meeting the man. As they neared the front of the line and she got her first glimpse of the man she wondered if he was conceited. She could overhear the fan girls gushing to him and he would smile and nod as he signed their books. When they finally got up to the line he smiled at them. "Sisters?"

Her mother chuckled and shook her head. "Mother and daughter."

He smiled at her. "Well, you are both beautiful ladies."

Kate rolled her eyes but he was looking at her mom. "Who should I make this out to?"

"I'm Johanna."

Rick smiled and opened the book, grabbing his pen. "Well, beautiful Johanna, It is a pleasure to meet you. Have you read anything else of mine?"

Kate snorted. "She has all of them."

Rick looked up at Kate with a grin. "Really? Even Hell Hath No Fury?" Kate nodded. He laughed and winked at her. "Well, then...she qualifies as a fan. No one read Hell Hath No Fury!"

He laughed.

He signed his name with a flourish and closed the book. He waved over some woman (that she now knew was Paula) and got another copy of the book. He looked back up at Kate, "And what is your name, daughter of Johanna?"

She looked at him. "Oh, no Mr. Castle, I'm just here with my mom."

"Rick, please."

She nodded. "I'm Kate."

He nodded and wrote in the book. He closed that one and handed them both a book. "Thanks for coming today and brightening the dreary life of a writer. Enjoy the book and maybe I will see you next time!"

They smiled and thanked him before walking away from the table. Kate glanced back and watched him take a book from the next person in line before looking towards her and smiling. She looked away quickly and blushed. She opened the book to read what he had written.

Dearest Kate -

I hope that in the future you read this and become such a fan that I meet you so often that we become friends. You have a beautiful smile and you really do look like your mother; believe me that's a compliment! This is one of my 'gift' copies and as such is numbered. This really makes you my number one fan.

Rick Castle

Stamped in the upper corner of the inside front cover was '001'.

TCOP2

Jordan Shaw had just sat down at her desk that Monday morning when she received a text. She grabbed her phone and saw it was from Jackson Hunt.

'Shaw, you can close your 3xk cases. Tyson spotted alive and breathing. Unfortunately that is no longer the case. Let Richard know.'

She quickly answered. 'I will need more details later.'

'Understood.'

She sat back and wondered what the fallout would be. Rick was so focused on Bracken but she was sure that he would be relieved. He kept telling everyone that Tyson was still around.

TCOP2

Rick and Kate pulled Rachel into a conference room and handed over the evidence that they had received Friday night. She looked at the documents and they spent the next few hours answering questions. She pinched the bridge of her nose and smiled. "Mastermind, you've outdone yourself. I think we have enough gathered to put him away for many years."

Rick looked over at Kate. "The one I mainly want to get him for is Johanna Beckett's murder. Everything else is a bonus."

Kate smiled at Rick. "Thanks, Rick. If we find anything more we'll forward it to you." He nodded and went back to his desk.

McCord looked at her. "I'll be here until Friday then back to DC. Are you heading back to the NYPD?"

Kate nodded. "Rick and I report next Monday."

"Have you considered a change?"

"A change? What do you mean?"

"The AG's office is always on the lookout for new agents. You would be an asset."

Kate shook her head. "I'm a cop. I will stay with the NYPD. And my future husband is a New Yorker."

McCord nodded. "Understood. If you change your mind let me know, okay?"

"I will, thanks." They all made their way back to their respective desks.

TCOP2

The Deputy AG smiled as he read through the email. He had gotten a call from Rick to tell him that Joey had come through on evidence. Between the bribes, coercion and other crimes he had committed over the years, Bracken would be put away for a long time. With the defections of some of his key subordinates, they had enough proof that Rick's main request (to pin Johanna's murder on him) was going to be fulfilled. He closed his email and prepared his brief for the AG. With all but a handful of people from Bracken's organization rounded up, the Grand Jury would be convened in the next week or so and the trial would be set.

He thought back to his seventeenth birthday when the gang had gotten together a party for him. He had been raised by affluent parents, but they were not a close family. He never felt like he had a family until Ricky Rodgers enrolled at Sedgewyck Academy. When Bobby, Joey, Tommy and Lily joined up with them they felt like siblings. Derek had been like a big brother and Lily the little sister but Ricky was the heart and soul of them. He always had a kind word and a quick smile. He made sure everyone had a party on their birthdays because there was a good reason for ice cream. He smiled when he thought of those days and he once again was reminded how the rogue son of an actress was more powerful than the son of a couple of corporate lawyers in all the ways that count.

TCOP2

Roy Montgomery had just gotten off the phone with the Commissioner. The Federal task force was winding down and Beckett and Castle would soon be returning. He was glad as their conviction rate had been down the past few weeks. He didn't blame Esposito or Ryan; they were doing their jobs. It just seemed that the partnership of the two missing partners was something special.

He looked up at a knock on his door to see Esposito. "Come in, Javier. Where's Ryan?"

Javier came in and took a seat. "He's finishing up a call with the DMV to get the current address for our latest vic's husband. He should be here in a minute."

"Fine. Ah, here he is. Ryan, close the door and take a seat."

Ryan nodded and sat. "What's up, sir?"

Roy grinned. "Our prodigal partners are set to return next week." At their node he grinned. "We are making some small changes this week in preparation for that and I wanted to make sure that the changes are not communicated prematurely."

The two detectives exchanged a glance before Esposito spoke up. "What changes are those, sir?"

"We are adding another desk. If Castle's going to come back to us as an official liaison, he's going to get to help with paperwork." At that they all laughed.

Ryan snorted. "Do you realize what this means? Our stack will change." They had always used the same stack when they went to apprehend a suspect. Esposito would kick open the door and Kate would enter, followed by Esposito and then Ryan. Once Castle had joined them he had become the fourth and brought up the rear. Now, though, he would go before Esposito. While he understood, Javier couldn't help but feel the sting.

Esposito's eyes widened. "All these years he knew what to do and played us, bro."

Roy chuckled. "No...You all assumed and he didn't correct you. But I imagine that he will want to follow Beckett." The boys laughed.

TCOP2

Jackson Hunt had been 'in the game' for a very long time. He had risen in the ranks of the CIA steadily to his current position. He had spent many years as a field agent and still at times preferred it.

The current situation found him reviewing the confession he had just heard. It never ceased to amaze him that people had it in their minds that he could not get them to talk. The tougher ones were usually referred to him and he excelled at it. The young man he had just met had killed over twenty people and had ruined the lives of countless others. He found joy in going after Richard and Katherine; that in itself made him work extra hard to draw out the details from Jerry Tyson.

He had found that Tyson was not even his real name and it didn't surprise him. Many serial killers created false personae in the pursuit of bettering their self-images. Rene Jones had been born in Provencal, Louisiana in the Natchitoches Parish. It was a small town of around 700. His mother, Mary Jones, was a beautician and his father was non-existent. He had grown up poor and had a moderate education. He quit school at 16 and ran away. He changed his name to Jerry Tyson and got his GED by the time he was 18. His first murder occurred just before his 19th birthday and his third three months later.

He taught himself how to program computers and took a couple years to work as a programmer before the need to kill again overcame him. By his fifth victim he had perfected his MO and through the use of guile and disguises he eventually crossed paths with the NYPD. He took great pride in outwitting Richard Castle and made it his calling to do so multiple times. Finally he crossed paths with Hunt and his trail of victims (both living and dead) came to an abrupt halt.

TCOP2

Over the next couple of days Rick continued to gather information, sift through it and forward it to McCord. Kate and Jordan helped where they could, but they concentrated on paperwork to close down the task force. Garcia headed back to the BAU and the Tech team was sent back to their respective postings. By Wednesday afternoon, the group that had taken up most of a floor in the field office was down to a handful and was relegated to a large conference room.

Rick looked up at the few left. "What do we want for lunch? It's my treat!" After discussion they settled on Chinese and Rick collected their orders and placed a call for delivery. She went down to the lobby to help him wait and to stretch her legs.

They exited the elevator and walked to wait near the guard's desk. They watched out the window as they traffic (both motorized and pedestrian) went by. They chatted about random things, just happy to be almost done and with one another. Kate watched dust motes float in the sunlight and smiled at Rick. Rick smiled back at the contented look in Kate's eyes. They were so lost in the peace of the moment that they almost missed the pinging sound just before the alarms went off and the guard jumped up and yelled.

"Everybody down!"