Author's Note: I am seriously sorry, folks, for how long this has taken to get ready for you all. Unfortunately, my writing time is pretty much limited to a half hour, some lunch-breaks, and it's not exactly condusive to cranking out the chapters as fast as I'd like.

That being said - thank you all for your reviews, and gentle nudges for me to keep the ball rolling. I can promise you that I haven't given up (on any of my in-progress fics - they are just gonna take a bit longer to get finished, that's all.

My extreme thanks to my long-suffering bemuse, Manuxinhace, whose tireless efforts have ensured you all get this latest installment.

There is an M-rated alternate/addition scene late in this one, folks, but in order to keep this one solidyly inside the ratings, we decided to post the good bits in a subsequent, stand-alone chapter. The link is: s/9513668/1/

And now... on with the show!

(remember - reviews are like crack for us authors... keep it coming!)

Previously, in Layers:

Kate growled, her fingers, digging into the belt loops of her partner. Yanking him back towards her, she leaned into him, her lips sealing against his as her tongue parted his lips hungrily. Releasing her grip on his belt, she threaded one hand into his hair, her fist tightening as she kissed him, hard fast and brutal. Her growl swallowed by his own, Castle responded, his tongue parrying with hers as he devastated her mouth, his hands spanning her waist as he held her close. Nipping at his lips, Kate had to fight hard not to wrap one leg around his hips and draw him closer, the rising tide of lust mingling with the adrenaline coursing through them, threatening to pull them under. Breaking for much-needed air, the sound of their panting mixed together as their foreheads touched. A strange blend of want and peace suffusing the pair, they drew the brief, stolen moment into themselves.

"Now we can go..." Kate muttered, a faint blush staining her cheeks as she ineffectually tried to smooth down Rick's hair, so thoroughly mussed only moments ago.

Shaking his head briefly to clear it, Castle shifted, letting Beckett take the lead as she headed towards the plain clothes officers' last known location. Fighting to keep her pace at less than a jog, she threaded her way through the pedestrians that filled the footpaths in the crisp, late-morning air. Matching her stride for stride, Castle's gait was fluid, the air of tension around him almost palpable, his eyes constantly scanning the crowds for any hint of Marenkovic.

"He said they were just inside the school gates, under the trees..." Beckett spoke quietly, letting her words carry only as far as her partner's ears, answering his unspoken query. She altered her course slightly, heading for the trees.

"Did they say anything about where they sighted him?" Castle asked, flexing his right hand, forcing his fingers away from the holstered weapon there. He glanced across at the detective, his mission focus so intent that he simply noted the way the light caught her features, the adrenaline sparkle flashing in her eyes, and filed the image away for later, when he could afford to be distracted by it.

"Just that they got a good enough look at him to confirm his ID, and then he was gone. He's here, Castle, he won't be able to stay away, not now that he's started this." She replied, her voice tight with certainty. She tilted her head, indicating. "There."

The former marine followed the direction of her gaze, immediately spotting Jones and his partner, Bradfield. Dressed in neat, casual clothes, they had been chosen not only for their discreet natures, but the fact that both of them could easily pass as college students. They'd often been the butt of jokes in the force about their youthful demeanours, but it made going undercover a lot easier in certain circumstances. Quickening their pace a notch, Beckett and Castle made their way over, the weapons on their hips and the distinctive ballistic vests drawing the attention of the few students crossing the courtyard.

Not bothering with pleasantries, Johnson nodded in greeting as soon as Beckett was close enough.

"We caught a glimpse of him about half an hour ago over near the gym. Bradfield got a closer look, but lost him." He paused, glancing at his partner, then continued. "He came round the back not long after, and we got close enough to make a positive ID." He crossed his arms as he frowned slightly. "Gave us the slip again, but I think it was more him being cautious than us being made." Castle examined the indicated building with a critical look.

"Where were you guys when you saw him the first time?" He asked carefully. Bradfield nodded towards a group of tables, with some children still seated.

"Second table from the left..." He replied. His mouth open to explain further, he was cut off by the muttered curses of the author.

"Damnit. If the first glance didn't give you away, he knew by the second." Sighing, he cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension in them.

"Huh?" Johnson shot Castle a confused look. "I don't think he-"

"He saw." Rick replied flatly. "He didn't stay alive this long by being unobservant. If he even suspected that something was out of place, he'd have gone to ground." Johnson gulped, unsure exactly why he took the author at his word, but the expression on his face told the plain-clothes officer that the writer knew what he was talking about, and wasn't in a mood to be argued with. Beckett spoke, dragging their attention back once more.

"Any idea where he is now?" She demanded, focusing on the present.

"Amanda should be in class right now." He indicated the building closest to the gym with a short nod of his head. "We figure he's done enough recon to know where she is during the day, so he'll be somewhere he can see when she leaves the classroom... Assuming he stuck around." The last part he added grudgingly, still not really willing to admit that their cover had been blown so easily. Castle nodded, asking,

"Do we have a layout of the school?" He glanced between the officers, who shook their heads. Beckett saw the flash of an idea in her partner's eyes as he jammed his hand into his pocket and fished out his phone. Unlocking it with a quick swipe, he tapped for a few seconds, before holding it out to the rest of the group. Zooming in with his fingers, Castle let Google Maps show them a satellite view of their current location, indicating two places that he would have concealed himself had he been in Marenkovic's situation. "Here, and here. Both offer a good view of the doors, and enough visibility to watch his exit route." Looking up from the small screen, Beckett looked over towards the classroom, her eyes scanning the area again.

"Castle and I will take the left, you two head to the right." She glanced at the officers, her tone serious. "Be careful, you two. This isn't some garden-variety nutjob. He's ex-military, and on a mission". She flicked her attention to her partner, nodding as he added,

"Corner Marenkovic if you can, but don't get within arms reach. If he runs, put him down, no second chances." Johnson opened his mouth to object at the prospect of such a ruthless plan, but the former Marine plowed over the top of his words. "He's got more blood on his hands than anybody you've come across, belive me, and he won't bat an eyelid at adding yours as well. Treat him like a rabid animal, and you won't go far wrong."

Flexing his right hand, Castle straightened, his gaze locking with Beckett. Her decisive nod spurring them both into action, they moved off in the direction of the recon point. Falling automatically into a steady, matched gait, they crossed the courtyard cautiously. Her voice low, lips barely moving, the detective asked quietly,

"Think he'll still be there?" She flicked a quick glance at her partner, the tightness around his eyes the only outward sign of the maelstrom of emotion inside.

"I wish I knew..." He replied, a frustrated sigh slipping out. "I can't see him sticking around, but if he thinks he could do it and get away clean... maybe." They slowed down as they neared the corner of the nearest building, every sense on high alert as they approached the possible hiding place. Pressing their backs against the chill of the brickwork, they paused for a moment, listening hard.

The wind gusted across the expanse of the courtyard, the leaves on the trees rustling softly. From inside, they heard a door slam shut, the echo bouncing oddly down the gap between the buildings. They held themselves in place for a few seconds longer, the tension building before Castle finally raised his fist. Meeting Beckett's eyes, he lifted one finger, then a second. On the third count, he dropped his hand, slipping his pistol free of its holster. Her movements a mirror of his, Kate let him step around the corner first, following close behind.

Rick moved fluidly, the sound of his shoes on the pavement barely audible as he made his way down the gap. Halfway down, he held up his hand, freezing in place. His eyes probing the far end of the alleyway, picking out the faintest details, the former Marine felt the surge of satisfaction deep inside when his brain pieced together the traces of outlines, the broken colours of a well-made camouflage suit blending almost perfectly with the background. Tucked in tight against the corner, hidden by several trash bins, Marenkovic hunkered down, immobile and nearly invisible. If Castle hadn't been scanning for his prey so intently, he would have missed it. Using hand signals, he directed Beckett to flank to the right, keeping low as he shifted left and pressed his shoulders flat against the wall, minimising his silhouette.

Stealthily, they advanced, the adrenaline flooding their systems as the pair moved closer. Drawing a steadying breath, Rick let it out slowly, his heart hammering in his ears. Placing his foot down carefully, he edged closer, avoiding anything on the ground that might give away their approach.

At thirty meters, the details filled in somewhat, the suggestion of an arm became a clearer outline.

At twenty five, They could both clearly see the rest of their target's body, blending in extremely well to the surroundings.

At twenty meters, all hell broke loose.

Sensing their eyes on him, Marenkovic shifted suddenly, kicking one of the trash cans directly into their path. Reaching down, the former soldier picked up a small, green cylinder from next to his hip, the soft ping as the grenade pin struck the concrete seeming to echo louder than the clatter of the trash can on the ground. His attention shifting from putting a bullet into his quarry to the more immediate threat, Castle's eyes widened as his brain caught up.

"Grenade!" He shouted, turning in place and taking a step towards his partner. Not even sparing the time to curse, Beckett spun around and started running, accelerating rapidly despite her heels. The seconds stretched out, a seemingly endless expanse of time in which they ran as fast as they could, all the while feeling like they were moving in slow motion. Behind them, the grenade detonated, the harsh flare of blinding white throwing their shadows ahead of them. The wall of sound hit them like a kick to the back, leaving their ears ringing, their balance compromised as the flash bang did its job.

Staggering, Castle slapped his free hand against the wall, bracing himself as the world around him spun like crazy. Shaking his head, his ears ringing, he searched for his partner. Breathing a visible sigh of relief when he spotted her, he forced his legs to move.

"Beckett!" He called, his voice sounding muffled to his own ears. "You okay?" Reaching her side, he placed his hand on her shoulder, his fingers tightening slightly.

"I'm fine..." She replied, louder than necessary. "Where did he go?" Glancing quickly to the end of the alley way, Castle saw that their quarry had vanished. A nagging at the back of his mind jolted him forward, just around the corner enough to see the door finish closing, Marenkovic nowhere to be seen.

Cursing, Castle felt Beckett's presence at his side.

"I guess we're going in after him then..." He said, moving the instant he saw his partner's nod. Breaking into a jog, they abandoned any pretense of stealth as they crossed the open space between them and the recently-closed door. Grasping the handle, Rick met the detective's eyes for a split second, before jerking it open. Standing back, he let the door swing all the way open as Beckett took the lead through the opening, her gun raised as she scanned the hallway. Close on her heels, Castle followed, the ringing subsiding from his ears as he matched her step for step. Passing closed classroom doors, they noted the students inside, all focused on their lessons, and knew that their suspect hadn't disturbed them. Just after they peered into the third classroom, the peace was shattered as the fire alarms went off, the shrill bells setting both of their teeth on edge.

Almost immediately, the doors slammed open, and the halls filled with students. The voices of the teachers raised above the chatter, marshalling them into somewhat orderly lines and directing them towards the exits. It took only one short look exchanged between the duo to realise that their task had just gone from difficult to practically impossible. Finding Marenkovic in the chaos would be an exercise in futility, so they did the next best thing, given the circumstances. Holstering their weapons, they turned around and followed the flow of bodies out of the building, hoping that their presence wouldn't spook the children too badly. In the excitement of the evacuation, they barely got a spare glance from the students, for which they were grateful.

Outside once more, Beckett reached up and pressed the talk button on her radio.

"Johnson, fall back..." She barked, the frustration evident in her words. "He's gone to ground. Keep an eye out for Amanda in the mess, in case he uses the crowd as cover to grab her."

"Roger that." Came the immediate response over the radio. Moving away from her partner, Beckett ran her eyes over the students as they streamed past, the teachers having a hard time keeping them under control. Searching for the girl in the throng, Kate breathed a sigh of relief a few minutes later as she spotted Amanda with several of her friends, all talking animatedly as they made their way to one of the tables.

"I have eyes on Amanda..." Beckett advised, sparing a glance towards Castle who was still looking from face to face. Waving him over, she sighed in frustration. Noting the girl at the table, Castle took another scan of the crowd, before dragging his hand down his face.

"He's long gone by now..." The former Marine ground out. "He wouldn't be stupid enough to stick around after a stunt like that." Beckett nodded, knowing that their chances of catching their suspect in the short term had just dropped were interrupted by the return of the two undercover officers, jogging towards them. Slowing down, they glanced between the detective and her partner.

"What next, detective?" Bradfield asked, his tone all business. Frowning, Beckett let out a short sigh, then replied.

"One of you two keep eyes on her. I'll get some uniforms down here to canvas the area, see if anybody saw Marenkovic leave. I seriously doubt we'll get that lucky, but stranger things have happened." Her frustration evident, Beckett knew that the waiting game had begun again.

2:25pm Monday, 12th Precinct

"Yo, Beckett!" Esposito's voice carried across the bullpen clearly. "Uni's found our perp's car parked a couple of blocks from the school..." Kate sat up immediately, placing her nearly-empty coffee cup back down hurriedly. She turned to face the other detective, her face breaking out into the first smile since the brief kiss with her partner before they arrived at the school that morning.

"I'm assuming Marenkovic is still in the wind?" She asked, not really expecting that their luck would have turned that much.

"Yeah..." Esposito grumbled. "Forensics are on their way though, gonna rake over the car with a fine-toothed comb."

"Nothing more from Johnson and Bradfield?" Esposito shook his head.

"Nada." Any further conversation was cut short by the opening of the elevator doors, revealing the precinct's resident author, his arms full of food. Placing the paper bags on Beckett's desk, he handed hers over first, following it with what was obviously a shake from Remy's. Flopping into his chair, he flicked through the other bags for a moment. Handing the relevant one to Esposito, he grabbed the remaining bag and held it above his right shoulder, Ryan's deft fingers collecting it almost immediately.

"Thanks, Castle..." He said, eagerly fishing out his burger as he perched on the edge of Beckett's desk.

"Cheers, bro." Esposito chipped in, his food already unwrapped and on its way to his mouth. Beckett smiled at her partner, taking a slow swallow of her shake. Kate waited until she saw his eyes flick down to her mouth, then she flicked the tip of her tongue out, cleaning the traces of strawberry shake from her lips slowly, the spill of her hair hiding the movement from the boys. A pleased glow sparked through her as she noted the sudden dilation of Rick's pupils, his startled intake of breath only just masked by his taking a bite of his burger. His eyes fixed on hers, Castle let the heat flare between them, the electric zing intensifying with each passing second. Finishing his mouthful, he smiled, slowly and wickedly, letting her know that he was more than ready to match anything she could dish out.

Flushing, Kate met his gaze in kind, the moment dragging out as the rest of the bullpen faded into irrelevance... until the moment was cut short by the voice of her commanding officer.

"Beckett, where are we on this one?" Montgomery poked his head out of the door to his office, forcing the grin from his face when he noticed the slight start that his best detective gave. Blinking rapidly, she turned in her chair and stood smoothly. Walking briskly, Kate noted the exact moment Roy's eyes flicked over to Ryan and Esposito. Lengthening her stride a fraction, she put a little extra swing into her hips, knowing that it would drive her partner crazy. He'd made no secret of his admiration for her legs, and since their relationship had progressed, she looked forward to Rick demonstrating his appreciation in a more... tangible manner. As such, she saw no problem at all with helping him keep his eye on the ball. The current of arousal simmering through her took an effort to force back under control as she headed towards her captain's office, and she knew that if something didn't happen soon, she was going to combust. Raking her fingers through her hair, she dragged her mind back to the task at hand.

"Captain?" She said as she stepped into the doorway, ready to outline the most recent information they had.

6:50pm, 12th Precinct

"Okay, people!" Montgomery's voice carried over the background noise clearly, startling them all. "Call it a night. We're not going to get anywhere until forensics find something." Looking at the fatigued faces of his officers, the captain acknowledged their hard work with a nod. Heading back into his office briefly, he emerged a few moments later with his jacket on, briefcase in hand as he headed for the elevator and the comforts of home.

Taking their superior's advice, there was a flurry of movement across the bullpen as they saved any open documents, shut their computers down and grabbed their gear. Kate flicked her eyes over to Esposito and Ryan, her movements a fraction slower than the others. Holding back, she picked up her bag as the duo walked to the elevator doors, the fatigue evident in their steps. Turning, she met Castle's slightly puzzled glance. Shaking her head, she pursed her lips and held his gaze. Slowly, the penny dropped, and the author grinned, mischief sparkling in his eyes.

The elevator doors slid closed, taking with it the sounds of friendly banter from the other detectives. The moment they were alone, Kate spoke, her voice suggestive.

"You know what, Rick?" She practically purred, more than ready to shift things along. "It's later." The writer gulped at the sight of the naked want bleeding into the depths of his partner's eyes. Standing quickly, he reached out to her, his phone slipping into his pocket. Her hand warm in his, Kate stepped around the corner of her desk and into his personal space. Standing close, only a few inches shorter than him thanks to her power heels, she rested her free hand on his chest, the thrumming of his heartbeat sending tingles up her arm. Brushing her lips lightly across his, she melted against him as he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him. His tongue caressing the seam of her lips, Rick deepened the kiss slowly, relishing the soft sigh that escaped Kates mouth. Breaking free eventually, he let a salacious smirk make its way onto his face, his eyes dancing with all the things he wanted to do to her.

"I do believe you're right, Miss Beckett..." He whispered. Unable and unwilling to stop the answering grin that appeared on her own lips, Kate fisted his shirt, tugging him down to meet her lips again, skin a hairs' breadth from contact.

"And that means...?" She closed the last of the distance between them, teeth flashing as she bit his bottom lip. His answering growl send a bolt of need through her, turning into a purr as she soothed the tormented flesh with her tongue before plundering his mouth with it. She gasped as the back of her legs hit the edge of her desk, not realising that Rick had backed her up that far. Their lips separated, his breathing hoarse.

"Your place?" He ground out, the lust swirling through him in a maelstrom that couldn't much longer be denied. One hand dipping into his jacket pocket, Kate fished his phone out and pressed it into his hand.

Lifting her leg, she wrapped it around his waist and jerked him hard against her.

"Call your daughter, Rick." She bucked her hips into him, the hardness of his evident arousal trapped between them. Rubbing her centre against him, seeking some small measure of relief, she commanded her partner. "You're not going home tonight..."

** At this point, an alternate, very M-rated diversion occurs. For those readers of such an inclination, those scenes are contained here: s/9513668/1/ **

Drawing a slightly shaky breath, Rick unlocked his phone with a swipe of his thumb and hit the appropriate speed dial.

"Hey, Dad..." Alexis answered the call, the sound of Martha's voice in the background.

"Hi, Pumpkin," He responded, forcing himself to concentrate on the conversation and not on the detective currently wrapped around him. "I'm heading over to Beckett's place to work on some things..."

"So Grams and I will take care of dinner ourselves, and don't wait up?" His daughter asked, her tone somewhere between amused and too knowing for the author's liking.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean..." He replied, aiming for circumspect, and missing by a considerable margin.

"Tell Detective Beckett I said hi, and I'll see you when you get home dad." She quipped, ending the call before she could hear anything that might traumatise her.

In soft, warm light of the loft, Alexis placed the phone back on the smooth granite of the bench top, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She was quite happy not knowing the details about her father's love life, but after Martha's off-hand mention of the changed relationship between the writer and the detective, Alexis found herself hoping that her father might have finally found happiness.

"Grams!" Alexis raised her voice as she hung up the phone. A pleased smile teasing across her lips, she spun around on the stool at the kitchen bench. Descending the stairs in a flurry of brightly coloured material, Martha paused when she heard the redheads' voice.

"What is it, darling?" She asked, sashaying through the loft towards her granddaughter.

"Its dad..." She replied, a sparkle in her eyes. "He just called to let me know not to wait up. Said he was working through 'some stuff' with Beckett." At her words, the diva burst out laughing, unable to restrain herself. Meeting the too-knowing look from the teenager, Martha murmured sotto-voce,

"We knew it was going to happen eventually..." Diverting her path to the kitchen, she reached up and grabbed a wine glass, her other hand seeking the opened bottle she knew she left on the counter earlier. Pouring herself a generous helping, she raised the wine towards Alexis in a short toast. "Here's to finding happiness, kiddo... no matter how long it takes."

11:30pm, A dingy alley, somewhere in New York City

Hunkering his shoulders, cursing the insidious trickle of rain down the back of his neck, Goran Marenkovic curled into the chilly brick wall of an unremarkable alley, his fingers wrapped around the temporary warmth of a takeout soup bowl. Swallowing a small sip, he let out a frustrated sigh.

I was so close. He thought, bitterly. If those police hadn't interfered... He paused, something niggling at the edges of his memory. Painstakingly, he ran the details of the last encounter through his mind, step by careful step. In a blinding flash of insight, it came to him - the male officer looked... familiar. Placing his soup on the pavement next to him, Goran fished around inside his jacket. Pulling out a faded, wrinkled picture, he scanned the faces intently, skipping over the ones he'd already put large red crosses through.

There! He exulted. Flipping the picture over, he ran his eyes down the list of names scrawled across the back. Rogers, A (Cpl).

His mind whirling, Marenkovic realised that his task would be that much harder if one of the officers investigating the murders had even a clue about his identity. Already adjusting his plans based on the recent revelation, he glanced up as a bus screeched to a halt just past the mouth of his lair. Blinking rapidly, he stood, uncaring of the soup which spilled out across the cold concrete. Half certain that it was his mind playing tricks on him, the former warlord exited the alley almost jogging. Seeking the broad side of the bus, he grinned in triumph at the glossy promotional picture splashed in front of him. Holding up the wrinkled picture next to the colour version, Marenkovic noted the stylish scruff of black hair and charming grin - a far cry from the clean-cut hairstyle of the Marine in the faded photo.

Richard Castle... He gloated internally, a feral grin seeping onto his face. He'd almost given up hope of locating the squad corporal, when he'd seemingly dropped off the face of the earth - at least as far as the name he served under was concerned. Flush with renewed purpose, Goran straightened up from his hunched position, ignoring the sharp twinge in his ruined leg. Moving once more, he set out to begin the hunt afresh.

2:00am Tuesday morning, Beckett's Apartment

The rain hissed softly down the windows of Beckett's apartment, muting all the sounds from outside. In the warmth of her bedroom, the peace was only disturbed by the slow, sated breaths of the detective and her partner. The bed sheet dragged up as far as her hips, Kate lay on her side, one leg draped over the muscled length of Rick's thigh. Entwined, her cheek resting on his shoulder, she shifted in her sleep, snuggling closer into his embrace. Fingers twitching, smoothing over the graceful curve of her waist, the writer let out a deep sigh, his face peaceful in his rest as they drifted, content.

Bodies thoroughly exhausted by their efforts (round one had merged with rounds two and three, and neither of them could really spare much effort for counting after number four), neither of them had the faintest inkling that the game had shifted, and that the hunters were now the hunted...