A/N1: Hey everyone! Welcome to the 21st Chapter of Absolution titled 'Washington' this Chapter is for my friend in writing and on Twitter KB_RC or 'Christina' who has just finished her last exam in the final year of her Business degree **Cue rapturous applause** CONGRATULATIONS I am SO proud of you kiddo! I have no doubt in no time you'll have Donald Trump licking your boots! Have fun and hope you have loads more time for reading!

It was two whole days before Rick managed to pull Gates, Ryan and Esposito aside to reveal to them the plans he had put in place after his call to his old friend in the FBI. While Kate was off having lunch with Lanie he gathered the group in Gate's office.

"Alright things are set," he announced, shutting Gates office door behind him as the bullpen emptied for the lunch hour. "We move on Friday morning."

"So what's the deal?" Esposito asked.

Rick reached into his jacket pocked and pulled out three envelopes containing airline tickets. "We fly to Washington seven thirty Friday morning," he revealed, giving his two friends and Gates an envelope each. "I've booked us in at the Park Royal. It's the hotel nearest headquarters. We'll be met at the airport by Supervisory Special Agent Frank Grasman. He works in the Critical Incidence Response department at head office and often lectures at the Academy at Quantico."

"So we're not actually going to Quantico?" Esposito asked.

"No, a class has just graduated from the academy and Frank's back in Washington so we're heading there," Rick explained. "I didn't go into detail of what I wanted to visit for but he knows it's something big and he knows you three are coming with me."

"What about your re-evaluation?" Gates asked.

"Frank's organised for me to test in Washington," Rick informed the older woman. "I'll do that by Friday lunchtime then we've got our first meeting with him during which he said he would organise to have me sworn in again."

"Do we need to bring our dress threads for official photos?" Ryan joked as he took his envelope and tucked it in his waistcoat pocket. "It's a big deal being sworn into a law enforcement agency, you know."

Rick rolled his eyes as Gates and Esposito laughed.

"Ha ha," he replied witheringly. "No you don't need your dress threads. I'm not even going to dress up. There's no point. I'll get sworn in then we get down to work. No pictures."

"So how long are we staying in Washington for?" Gates asked.

"Just the weekend, our flight leaves DC at nine thirty Sunday night," Rick informed them. "I booked early leaving and late arriving flights as to maximise our time with Frank. I haven't given him any details of the case yet but I know if it comes to it, he would fly to New York to meet with us if we can't get to Washington or Virginia."

"I think it'd be easier for him to come to us than for us to go to him bro." Esposito piped up.

"I know I told him that," Rick replied. "That's it for the time being."

"The ball's rolling dude," Ryan said as they go to their feet. "We've got this."

"Thanks."

Two days later Rick rose early before the break of dawn and began getting ready to head to Washington with Ryan, Esposito and Gates. Kate let out a little sleepy moan as the writer slipped from the bed and quietly began padding around the bedroom ready for his departure.

"This weekend is gonna suck," she murmured, watching the Writer through barely open eyes. "Great time to pick a guys weekend away with Javi and Kevin. I'm on call with Karpowski's team and Alexis is going to the Hamptons, I'm going to be so bored."

Rick chuckled and leaned down to kiss Kate on the forehead. "You'll live," he teased affectionately. "Go stay with your Dad or Mother for the weekend if you get really bored. I'm sure they wouldn't object to the company."

"Mmm, I might go see Dad," Kate replied sleepily, giggling as the Writer trailed his finger tips over her cleavage. "don't you have a plane to catch?"

"Hmm, but not right this second," Rick murmured, capturing one of her nipples in his mouth and teasing it with the tip of his tongue. "Mmmmm, I'm going to miss this."

"They'll still be there when you get back," Kate replied, running her fingers through the Writer's mussed up hair. "Go on, get ready and I'll get up to see you off."

Leaving Kate to doze on the bed Rick made his way into the bathroom to shower. He washed his hair then shaved before returning to the bedroom, towel knotted low around his hips to find Kate up and about his dressing gown, wrapped around what he could tell was her nude form.

"That thing looks better on you than me," he commented in amusement as he took the towel from around his waist and dried the last of the water droplets clinging to his body.

"Care to put on my purple satin thing and see if out wardrobes match?" Kate suggested as she watched him move effortlessly around the room. "I think purple would suit you."

"It would," Rick admitted, spraying on some deodorant and cologne before reaching for a polo shirt that showed off his bulging biceps. "But satin doesn't. You rock that look better than I do, especially when it involves a lacy bra and thong set."

"Do you ever not think about me in my smalls?" Kate asked in amused exasperation as the Writer pulled on the shirt then reached for his favourite black satin boxer shorts. "By the way, satin does suit you. You're about to put on boxers made of it."

"You're pedantic," Rick replied with a chuckle. "What time are you heading to the twelfth?"

"Hmm dunno, maybe around nine, later than usual," Kate replied. "With Kevin and Javi out of town with you til Sunday, I don't have much to do apart from paperwork and I'm on call with Jane's team so unless they get called out I stay at my desk. But I don't have to go to the precinct on the weekend so I might hit the spa with Martha or catch a movie."

"Hmm, knowing you as I do, I suspect you'll stay at the loft moping about me not being here," Rick teased as he zipped up his trousers. "At the height of your boredom I'll get a series of text messages that'll tell me what you want to do once I get home."

Kate threw back her head and laughed.

"I might especially if I go out with Lanie again," she said with a giggle. "But damn, I can't go out on a weekend when I'm on call if I turned up to a crime scene drunk, Gates would have my hide."

"Jeez, you really are going to have a boring weekend, aren't you?" Rick commented with a snort of laughter as he pulled on his socks then shoes. "I'll be sure to text you with detail of how much fun I'm having."

"Oh now you're just being an ass," Kate told him dryly, getting to her feet and following the writer out into the darkened loft. "I still love you though."

Rick chuckled. "Glad to hear that," he said, pocketing his iPhone and wallet. "Well I better head off. I have to pick up Kevin and Javier on the way to La Guardia. See you Sunday night 'kay?"

Kate wrapped her arms around the Writer's waist and got up on her toes to kiss him on the lips. "I`ll miss you," she murmured, hooking a leg around his legs and biting down on his lower lip. "Be safe."

Rick placed his hands on Kate's backside and easily lifted her up to his level. He returned her kiss enthusiastically opening his mouth slightly and allowing her to press her tongue against his.

"I-Love-You-Kate," he murmured between long, languid and moist kisses. "See you Sunday night hmm?"

Kate nibbled on his lower lip before releasing him reluctantly. "See you Sunday night," she repeated. "Travel safe."

"I will, see you soon Tulip."

"Til then, Writer Man."

Fifteen minutes later Rick arrived at the Ryan's apartment building only to find the Irish detective already waiting for him on the curb.

"Morning," the Writer replied, pulling the Prancing Horse up on front of a clapped out old bomb. "Hop in."

Ryan threw his suitcase in the backseat of the car and got in the front passenger seat an eager smile upon his face. "I love this car," he declared as Rick pulled away form the curb giving the engine a little rev. "Can I have a drive when we get back on Sunday?"

"Sure," Rick replied. "One of these days once all this shit is over and done with I'll take you and Espo upstate and both of you can open up the throttle on the highway. Or you can come with us to Indiana with Kate and I when we race it around the Indy five hundred track."

"Get-outta-town!" Ryan exclaimed incredulously. "You're going to race the Indy five hundred track in this thing? Oh I'd sign up for a month straight of on call weekends to do that!"

"Well put in for some time off in the fall before Frozen Heat comes out and you can come along," Rick said cheerfully. "Kate and I plan on leaving before dawn and hope to get to Indianapolis by nightfall. If you're willing to drive part of the way and buy us lunch at least once, you're in."

"Deal," Kevin agreed. "Tell Javier about your plans and he'll fight me to get in the driver's seat."

"Well if you two tag along with Kate and I and we drive over twelve hours, you can both have even time in the driver's seat," Rick told his friend. "There's plenty of road between here and Indy where you can get used to the car but if you want to really rip it up wait til we get to the track."

"Hey, I'm a patient man. If this is the prize at the end of it," Kevin declared as they headed toward Central Park near where Esposito lived. "Been going over the paperwork since you organised this trip?'

"No, I haven't had the opportunity," Rick replied, turning down a narrow side street. "Besides, I think it would be better to only work on it when we're all together because if any of us come up with something it's going to be awkward to get in contact with the other given out no email or texting policy."

"True."

Shortly before six in the morning Rick pulled up outside Esposito's apartment building and Ryan leapt out. "I'll go get him," the Irish detective said.

"Gotcha."

Rick kept the engine running and switched on the radio, waiting for Ryan to come back with Esposito, his mind occupied with the planned activities over the next three days. The gnawing guilt he felt for lying to Kate about his investigation was tempered by the growing excitement of the group's discoveries over the past six weeks. He was lost in his own train of thought when a set of fingers snapped him to attention.

"Yo, wake up bro," Esposito teased, clicking his fingers again. "Wakey wakey."

Rick rolled his eyes. "Shut up and get in," he said dryly, popping the trunk so the Latino detective could stow his suitcase inside. "How does Lanie put up with you?"

"Oh God, don't ask him that or we'll be regaled with the story of how she gave him the Latin Legend nickname!" Ryan exclaimed, getting into the backseat as his friend opened his mouth. "That's one night on the bourbon I don't want to recall."

"Hey, I didn't say how I got the nickname!" Esposito shot back. "You probably heard the screaming."

"DUDE!"

"Lanie would be "Javier Esposito I'mma smack you!' if she heard that," Rick told his friend in amusement, perfectly imitating the sassy M.E.

"Then she'd turn and smack you," Ryan countered.

"Yeah yeah."

At quarter to seven in the morning Rick and the two detectives arrived at La Guardia airport. The Writer parked the Prancing Horse in secure parking then followed his two friends into the departures lounge where they checked in their luggage for the flight to Washington the process taking a little longer as Rick had to sign in his Glock.

"You know once you get your badge you'll be able to take it on the plane with you," Esposito told his friend as the three men joined the queue at the security checkpoint.

"I know that but I'm not going to because I don't want anyone finding out I'm in the service," Rick confessed. "The quieter I am about this whole operation the better."

The three men made their way through the security checkpoint then walked right down to the end of the departure lounge to their gate where Victoria Gates was waiting, a rumpled copy of the New York Times in her hands. She tucked the paper away in her bag and got to her feet to greet the men.

"Good morning," she said in a low voice.

"Morning," The three men chorused.

The trio remained silent til the first boarding call came and they all handed their boarding passes, scanned and made their way into the aircraft. Rick stowed his laptop bag under the seat in front of him and sat down in the window seat with a loud and nervous sigh.

"Cheer up dude. Once we get to DC things will be alright." Ryan assure his friend as he sat down in his own chair

"Yeah I know, it's just at times like this I wish I could apparate."

The Irish detective let out an amused snort of laughter.

The plane slowly fill up and a little after half past seven and it took to the skies, then a bit over an hour later it landed in Washington DC. The bump of the tyres touching the tarmac shook Rick from his reverie, his mind totally consumed with the activities of the next three days. He remained silent as he followed the boys and Gates out of the plane and into the arrivals lounge where they were met by a man in his late fifties wearing black wrap around sunglasses, black suit, white shirt and a thin black tie.

"Hey Ricky!" he exclaimed. "Over here!"

Rick's head snapped up in the direction of the familiar voice and grinned. "Hey Frank, how you doing?" he asked, embracing the older man and slapping his shoulder. "Looking sharp old man."

"Still flying with that old man crap?" Frank said, rolling his eyes. "Could still drop your ass, smartass."

"Yeah, yeah whatever," Rick replied. "I am quite capable of returning the favour. I know a whole homicide department that will attest to that."

"How much did you pay them to say that?"

Rick laughed. "Ahh you're on a roll, aren't ya?" he countered. "Anyway, I'd like to introduce you to a few people. This is Captain Victoria Gates my boss at the twelfth."

"Captain, good to meet you, I've heard a lot about you." Frank greeted Gates politely grasping her hand.

"All good I hope."

"Oh yes all good."

"And these are my good friends Detective Kevin Ryan..."

The Irish detective took Frank's hand and shook it firmly with a short nod.

"And Detective Javier Esposito, these two have my back wherever I go."

"Good to meet you men, I've also heard a lot about you two," Frank said to Esposito as he shook the Latino Detective's hand. "Ryan you're the Hard ass and Esposito you have the shit jokes."

"Nah, the shit jokes are totally Ryan's domain. I get a laugh every time," Esposito informed the FBI agent as the group made their way through the arrivals lounge "he wouldn't know a funny joke if it jumped up and kicked him in the ass."

"Shut up asshat." Ryan muttered.

Frank laughed heartily. "Sounds like you have tons of fun at the precinct Ricky," he said to the Writer, elbowing his old friend teasingly.

"Oh yeah, laugh a minute with those two around," Rick replied as they arrived. "And they can play a decent game of basketball and once in a while catch a murderer so they're not too bad."

"Awww, we love you too bro," Esposito teased. "I'll get you a bunch of roses when we get back to Manhattan."

"Ha ha."

The Boys and Gates collected their luggage and Rick collected his gun from the secure luggage counter (holstering it before the group left the building) then they made their way outside to a short term car park where a gleaming black people mover was parked.

"So when do you start what you came for?" Frank asked activating the central locking on the wagon. "It's going to take a while to get back to Head Office."

"Give us enough time to check in and freshen up then we'll get things started," Rick told him, hoisting his suitcase into the very back seat of the car. "What time have you got me booked in at the shooting range?"

"Half past three and I've gotten someone to swear you in too."

"Who?" Rick inquired, standing aside so Gates, Ryan and Esposito could climb into their seats.

"I dunno if I should tell you, you'd pee your pants." Frank teased.

"Go on tell him!" Esposito urged the older man.

"Shut up you," Rick told his friend. "Who?"

"Meuller," Frank replied sliding into the driver's seat.

"Robert Mueller?" Rick yelped. "Are you serious?"

"Yup, think he peed his pants.' Ryan piped up with a hearty snigger. "Who's he?"

"The director of the FBI," Rick revealed. "Qualified lawyer, Vietnam veteran, Ex Marine, received the Bronze Star and he received two navy commendation medals and was awarded the Purple Heart. Never met himself but everyone likes him. He's been in the director's chair eleven years."

"And he's one of the most discreet people I know, he won't tell anyone you're joining the service again," Frank informed the writer as he started the engine.

"Does he know why I'm joining again?" Rick asked.

"No, not even I know that, you wouldn't say over the phone," Frank replied, easing the car into the flow of traffic. "And he doesn't need to know unless whatever your case is involves national security."

"Well no, it doesn't involve national security-" Rick began.

"Then it's just me, Woodson and Parnell and of course your team," Frank said.

"They're good?" Rick asked, pulling on his sunglasses.

"Best in the business pal, you won't have to worry about them," Frank assured his friend. 'They've proven their worth to me over and over again and know how to keep quiet."

"Good."

Shortly before ten AM Frank pulled up in front of the Park Royal a fancy hotel near the FBI headquarters and parked near the main entrance flashing a valet attendant his badge.

"Reserved," he said authoratively.

"Yes Sir!"

"How long are you in town for?" Frank inquired as the group made their way into the lobby.

"Only til Sunday night, our plane leaves at nine thirty," Rick replied. "Can't really stay any longer than that, Javier, Kevin and I are still working a serial Killer case and Victoria runs the entire department. Besides we have loved ones that wouldn't believe us if we said we wanted to take a tour of the White House after checking out the FBI."

"Fair enough, do you think three days is enough for what you want to achieve?"

"I don't know yet," Rick confessed. "We've been working on our own for six weeks now but I think a little push in the direction of the feds is what we need. This trip could be enough to unlock the floodgates."

Frank gave his colleague an intense look. "Ricky...is this personal?" he asked in a low voice as the group stepped up to the check in desk.

"You bet your ass it is."

After the Boys and Gates were settled into their respective rooms they made their way back downstairs and got back into the van making the short trip to the F.B.I's national headquarters.

"Ahh, haven't been here for a while," Rick announced with a small smile as Frank parked the van. "Home sweet home."

"Thought that was the precinct, bro?" Esposito asked teasingly. "You even bought that cheesy sign for the break room."

"That takes up three square foot of a perfectly good previously unobstructed window." Gates added dryly.

Frank laughed. "Hey, the precinct is home this was just my first one," Rick responded as they walked through the main entrance "and I was only here for a few weeks before I went back to New York. I've been at the twelfth for four years I've had much more time to..."

"Change the décor to your liking?" Ryan suggested with a hearty snigger.

"Smartass."

Frank took the group into the bowels of the FBI headquarters up to the sixth floor and into the Critical Incidence Response department. Like the twelfth precinct back in Manhattan the department had a bullpen but it was much quieter and refined with special agents dressed in suits working away in their booths tapping away at their computers or gathered in from of computerised smart boards.

"Just through here," Frank said, leading them through the bullpen to the back where his office was located.

Frank led them into his office, immediately flicking on the lights and drawing the blinds on the large windows.

"Alright take a seat and I'll go and get Woodson and Parnell," he said. "That ought to give you enough time to put your paperwork into order."

"Got it," Rick replied.

"Hey, are we allowed to come to the firing range with you when you go to re-qualify?" Ryan asked once Frank left and they began sorting through the paperwork of the evidence they'd accumulated during their so far six week investigation.

"You should be able to," Rick replied as he placed his copy of the case files on Frank's spacious desk. "I think you coming with me would be like me when I went with Kate when she re-qualified, you just have to get visitors passes and stay behind the glass."

"Should be interesting to see if you're actually any good or of she's just greasing your wheel in front of us." Esposito commented with a grin.

"Hey, I know I'm good," Rick replied cockily. "You saw my paper targets from my first visit to the academy firing range, you know I'm good. You yourself said that day I had a better score than you."

"Ooooh snap," Ryan said gleefully.

"Shut up bro."

A few moments later Frank returned this time with two tall slender men dressed in the same black suit, white shirt, black tie combo. Rick got to his feet and was closely followed by Ryan, Esposito and Gates who mirrored his action.

"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to my men Special Agent David Parnell," Frank began introducing the oldest of the pair. "And 'Special Agent Chris Woodson, gentlemen this is Detective Kevin Ryan, Detective Javier Esposito and Captain Victoria Gates and the soon to be re-sworn in Rick Rogers, all of the twelfth precinct homicide department in Manhattan."

Once the handshakes and introductions were over and done with Frank and his colleagues sat down.

"So what have you got for us Ricky?" Frank asked in interest.

"An unsolved murder and an unsolved shooting of a police officer," Rick began opening his file.

"Oooh juicy, I do like an unsolved murder," Woodson said eagerly. "That's out specialty."

"Well I hope you guys like an 'apparently' impossible case involving conspiracy because this one has it," Rick told the older man as he separated the Johanna Beckett files from Kate's shooting file. "The vic was Johanna Beckett, she was stabbed in an alleyway in Washington Heights on January ninth, nineteen ninety nine. Investigating detectives wrote it off as random gang violence but two of her colleagues Diane Cavanaugh, Jennifer Stewart and court document clerk Scott Murray were murdered the same way. Have a read of the synopsis inside these folders then I'll explain more."

Frank, Woodson and Parnell each took the inch thick file Rick gave them flipped them open and began reading. The three men's eyes raced over the carefully constructed file widening with every line they read.

"Holy shit, your theory is someone high up in congress ordered the hits on the victims?" Woodson exclaimed incredulously looking at Rick with amazement.

"That's our theory," Rick replied, pointing to himself, the boys and Gates. "Think about it who else would have the authority to order a convicted killer from isolation in a super max prison into general population? Hal Lockwood got out of isolation and into general population to kill Gary McAllister because someone with authority made it possible. There's only three maybe four possibilities the Commissioner, his deputy the Mayor or the Governor that would be able to do it. And I'm telling you right now it wasn't the Mayor. I've known him for twelve years and he is not involved. Whoever this higher power is screwed up his chance of ever running for Governor and he's convinced there was a conspiracy to make that happen. And I doubt very much the Commissioner had anything to do with it, he's one of the most hard ass, by the books, take no bullshit from anyone officers in the entire NYPD."

"So your theory is the Governor or the Deputy Commissioner?" Frank asked.

"Yes and if I, Kevin or Javier push to question him whether it be to them directly or through their underlings, word will get out and whoever shot Kate will come back and make sure they do it properly this time, Rick replied thickly. "We've each got a reason for wanting that not to happen."

"She's out best friend," Ryan declared.

"She's my best, detective." Gates offered.

"And she's my girlfriend," Rick revealed. "I plan to marry her one day. I want to catch the son of a bitch who shot her and killed her mother. We find Johanna Beckett's Killer or rather the one that ordered her to be killed and we solve several murders and I know that's what you guys want. That's why you're in the business of law enforcement."

"Yeah but are you certain you're going to be able to put aside your personal connection to this and be an independently thinking and acting agent, Ricky?" Frank asked. "I'm more than happy to help you to find justice for Kate and her father, but if you can't behave yourself and not go in like a bull in a china shop there's no point in us working together because you know I don't take that sort of shit from my agents."

Rick exhaled and rubbed his face. "Look I'll be honest," he said with a sigh. "I can't be certain I won't get emotional and bull in a china shop-y but I respect you enough to step back if you, Chris or David ask me to. Hell even if Victoria, Kevin or Javier asks me to. I want this to go as smoothly as possible and I know for that to happen I have to pull my head in."

"That's good enough for me," Woodson piped up after a moment of contemplative silence.

"Yeah, me too." Parnell added.

"Okay we're all in," Frank declared. "Let's find this Nic Warrington character and go from there okay?"

"Sounds good."

For three hours straight the boys and Gates worked with Frank, Woodson and Parnell, formulating a plan of attack. Then shortly after two PM Frank called a half to proceedings.

"Ricky, we've got to go and get you sworn in," he said, marking his spot in the files and closing it. "How about we leave Chris and David to work on the case while I take you, Kevin, Javier and Victoria upstairs? I assume you want them to witness your swearing in?"

"Yeah I do." Rick said distractedly marking his own spot.

"Alright let's head off then."

Leaving Woodson and Parnell behind in his office to work on the case Frank led Rick, Ryan, Esposito and Gates from the department floor down to the hallway where the elevator was located.

"So has Writer Boy told you the Commissioner of the NYPD invited him to join the force?" Esposito said to Frank as the group waited for the elevator to arrive.

"Oh Espo!" Rick exclaimed. "I wanted to keep that on the down low!"

Frank's eyebrows arched in surprise. "Really?" he said in amusement. "When was this?"

"Beginning of May when I was taken on as a consultant," Rick replied dryly, shooting Esposito a mock death glare. "He said I possessed the qualities and qualifications to be admitted to the force as an older recruit and with my experience I would be able straight to the rank of first grade Detective, which means if I did join, Honey Milk and McChucklenuts here would be my immediate superiors."

"McChucklenuts?" Esposito exclaimed. "Bro not cool!"

"So are you going to join the NYPD?" Frank asked Rick in interest.

"I don't know," Rick admitted as the elevator arrived with a ding. "I want to solve Johanna Beckett's murder and Kate's shooting before I even consider the NYPD. Until then I'm staying with the FBI. I know that's the only way those two crimes are going to be solved."

"We're trying to convince him to do it," Ryan told Frank as the group stepped into the elevator. "He'd rock a set of dress threads."

"And not that I would usually be able to choose which recruits to have in my department but I'd work to have Mr Castle in the homicide department," Gates revealed as the doors slid shut behind them.

"I told Kelley that for the time being I'm happy enough being a consultant," Rick told Frank. "It's less restrictive than being an actual sworn in officer."

"Well for what it's worth I think you'd be an excellent detective,' Frank told the Writer, sincerely. "You were an excellent special agent in the time you were on the job. Wish you could have stayed longer. I understand why you left though."

"Well I haven't ruled it out," Rick admitted. "The idea appealed to me, I mean when I was in my senior year of high school I did actually consider joining the service but college won me over in the end. I'm just not going to do it now, working Johanna and Kate's cases is my top priority now."

"I totally understand."

Five minutes later the group arrived on the top floor of the headquarters building. The elevator doors slid open to reveal a carpeted reception area decorated with soft leather and dark wood and elegant brown leather chesterfield sofas.

"Take a seat, I'll just let the desk know we're here," Frank said to Rick. "This will be over and done with soon then we can get you to the firing range for your test. `Kay?"

"Got it."

"You alright dude?" Ryan asked as Frank spoke to the receptionist behind the elaborate desk. "You look a bit tense."

"I am a little," Rick confessed. "This is one of the biggest things I will ever do in my life and I can't share it with Kate, which kills me. I really wish I could have her witness me joining the feds again."

"I think in the long run, better things will happen for you dude," Ryan assured his friend. "You know why you're doing this and think about it, she'll be there when you join the NYPD and I know in the long run that's what you want her being there for."

Rick could only manage a weak smile.

Several minutes later the phone upon the reception desk rang shrilly and the young woman answered it.

"Hello? HmMmm okay, right away Sir." She said in a low voice then putting the phone back in the cradle. "Agent Grasman the director is ready for you now. Feel free to go in."

"Alright Ricky, this is it. You ready?" Frank asked Rick who had been sitting silently since their arrival.

"Yes and no." the Writer replied.

Frank chuckled. "Don't worry, he's not going to bite you," he said, striding towards the glass door that led to the director's office. "Not unless you bit him first and I'm sure he'd prefer dinner and a movie before that happened."

Ryan and Esposito snorted gleefully.

"Ha ha," Rick replied, rolling his eyes skywards. "Very funny."

Frank opened the door to another carpeted hallway then led them might down the other end to an ornate wooden door upon which hung a 'Robert Mueller Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation' sign. He lifted a fist a knocked smartly opening the door upon hearing 'Come in!'

Frank led the way in and stood to the side as Rick, Ryan, Esposito and Gates followed close behind

Agent Grasman good to see you!" Mueller exclaimed enthusiastically, emerging from behind his desk and grasping Frank's hand. "Care to introduce your people?"

"Of course, this is my good friend Rick Rodgers. You'll be swearing him in today and his colleagues from the NYPD's twelfth precinct homicide department Detective Kevin Ryan, Detective Javier Esposito and Captain Victoria Gates. This is Robert Mueller director of the FBI."

"Good to meet you all good to meet you all," Mueller said enthusiastically. "How come you've decided to rejoin us?" He added looking at Rick in interest.

"Well my daughter is almost at college Sir and Frank said to me years ago when she was small, that if I ever decided to come back he would welcome me with open arms," Rick replied politely as they all sat down in a semi circle around Mueller's desk. "I told him I would only come back if the right case beckoned and as it happens the right case did beckon, a very sensitive one I felt could only be solved with the help of my old colleagues in the Bureau."

"Ah and that's what Agent Grasman told me," Mueller responded in interest going to a filing cabinet to retrieve some papers. "Do let me know if you require any extra resources won't you?"

Rick arched his eyebrows in surprise. "Erm...yes Sir." He replied.

"Alright, let's get down to business," Mueller said a moment later after sorting out some papers and picking up a small worn bible. "Do you remember the oath you took or would you prefer to recite after me?"

"No Sir, I can remember."

"Well place your right hand on the Bible then begin."

Rick took a deep breath then placed his right hand on the bible Mueller held out to him. Then with Ryan, Esposito, Gates and Frank watching him began reciting the oath all usually newly graduates from the FBI academy took.

"I Richard Alexander Rogers do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the Duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Mueller grinned.

"Welcome back to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Rogers," he said, holding a hand out to Rick as Ryan, Esposito, Gates and Frank applauded (Esposito let out a 'whoop') "I'm sure you'll be an asset to the organisation."

Rick grinned and shook the director's hand.

"Thank you Sir," he said his insides flooding with relief. "I hope to be."

"Now if you'd just sign these few papers and I'll organise to have a badge, firearm and bulletproof vest issued to you."

"Yes Sir."

"We should be able to get your vest and gun at the firing range and you should be able to get your badge tonight," Frank said to Rick as the latter signed some papers to make his swearing in official. "At the very least tomorrow."

"If you can head downstairs and make a stop at HR I can have your identification ready to go by the time you return from the firing range," Mueller informed Rick.

"Well congratulations bro, you can now arrest us." Esposito joked, teasing his friend as he signed the last piece of paper.

"If you can the crap jokes I won't have to, will I?" Rick chided as he got to his feet and once again shook Mueller's hand. "I'm sure grape jokes are enough to get your ass handed to you in a federal penitentiary."

"Ooooh snap." Ryan joked with a chuckle.

"Shut up Bro."

"C'mon, let's head downtown and get you armed," Frank said to Rick. "I want to see if you've lost your touch."

"Never old man!"

Late that night after successfully passing his firearms re-evaluation, Rick returned to the hotel with Ryan Gates and Esposito. After a dinner together at a local Chinese restaurant the four colleagues were sitting on the balcony of the elaborate suite Rick was paying for having a social drink watching the sun go down behind the nearby Washington Monument.

"You okay bro?" Esposito inquired as his friend popped the cap on his bottle and slumped back in his chair with a loud sigh. "You've been quiet since we got on the plane at La Guardia."

"Yeah, I just can't help but think of how big this whole mess is," Rick replied with a sigh, lifting the bottle to his lips. "And how much things could screw up if at any point Kate or this 'Dragon' find out what the hell we're up to. I mean if the Dragon finds out you all are helping me, it's not just Kate that's going to be in danger, it'll be you and Kevin even you Victoria. And I don't want any of you to get hurt."

"Hey no one's going to find out anything," Kevin assured his friend. "Not from me, not from Javi and not from Victoria. And I don't know Frank and Woodson or Parnell well but if you trust them I trust them."

"I agree," Gates added as she sipped from her own bottle of beer. "Those three men come across as very determined very trustworthy agents. They'll be able to go where we can't. It was right for you to go to them."

"You're not usually the pessimistic type, bro." Esposito observed after several long moments of silence punctuated only by the chirping of nearby crickets. "You're the life of the party at the twelfth."

"Yeah, well my mind usually isn't so occupied is it?" Rick replied. "The one thing I'm confident in doing is getting Johanna's killer and Kate's shooter. What I'm not confident in is having Kate not hate me."

"Look Cast-Rick....don't over analyse things,' Ryan said firmly. "She's not going to be happy, you know that. None of us are going to be her favourite people, and probably for a long while after she discovers what we're up to but she's not going to hate you. Eventually she would see what your motivation is. And it's not like you're going to totally keep her out of the loop. You're going to let her arrest her mother's killer or the one that ordered the hit anyway and even she would admit that's her ultimate aim."

"I know I'm being ridiculous I just don't want to lose what we have y'know?" Rick said with a sigh tears prickling at his eyes. "It took me years to find her and I don't want to do anything to lose her."

"You won't bro, you two are soul mates," Esposito told his friend. "And soul mates don't just lose their shit. They may separate for a while but they always come back to each other."

Rick couldn't help but laugh. "Sage advice from Javier Esposito," he teased.

"Nah dude, that's straight from my Abuela Marcela the Esposito Matriarca," Esposito continued. "she told me that when Lanie and I broke up last year. Never argue with old Latino women bro they know their stuff."

"I'll keep that in mind," Rick said giving his friend a smile. "I know I'm worrying over something that hasn't happened yet but I can't help it, now I know why you have rules about officers working personal cases." He added looking at Victoria who was watching the three men converse with interest. "You can get too involved, not revert back to your training and totally lose all prospective."

"It's a general rule in the NYPD, Rick. But so far you're doing a tremendous job of keeping your head," the older woman replied. "Just keep doing this and you'll reach your goal. If you do start to lose prospective you know we," Gates indicated to Ryan, Esposito and herself. "Will be the first to pull you off the case, never mind what Frank and Special Agents Woodson and Parnell will do."

"Yeah I know and I'm grateful for that," Rick replied. "I know I have the capacity to lose it but I'm trying not to, there's far too much at stake here."

"Don't worry dude, we've got your back a hundred times over," Ryan told the Writer slapping his shoulder reassuringly. "We've got this."

Rick shot his friend a grateful look. "Yeah I know."

A/N1: Well whataya think huh huh? Reviews feed the monster peoples!