Hey guys! I've held off posting this for a while because I am completely blocked on where to go. I've got about two more chapters written out and then after that... yeah I've got nothing. If any of you are willing to help me out I would be so grateful. Anyway, enjoy :)

"I'm Christopher Jacobs, I've known Katie since we were both 7. Her mom and my mom worked together. I'd say Katie and I were pretty close, at least until she went all wild and weird when she was 16. Um, she was like a sister to me, though. That's how we were together, you know. Sometimes we'd get along so well, have a lot of fun together, laughing and throwing noodles at each other over the dinner table. Other times we can't even say one word to the other without getting annoyed. My dad was killed when I was six by Gary McAlister, he tried to kill me, too, but I got away. So when Johanna started looking into the case that got McAlister sent away, I knew that if she found something that proved his innocence he'd be let out of jail and he'd come after me. I asked Katie to ask her mother to stop looking into it. I never expected Katie to have Johanna killed, it doesn't surprise me though. The two could never get along longer than fifteen minutes. If you ask me, Katie always had a bit of a thing for me."

Lanie set the dirty dishes into the sink, shaking her head, "Remind me again why I said it was all right with me that your mother stay with us for a few days?"

"You said she should spend some time with Roshaun." Esposito answered, reaching around his wife and putting a few wine glasses on top of the plates.

Turning towards the array of leftovers on the island with a box of plastic wrap in her hand, Lanie muttered, "Yeah, well, I lied."

"She's not that bad," He said, taking the dishes she'd already covered and putting them in the fridge. When he turned around, Lanie was standing there with her look of attitude covering her face and her hands on her hips.

"Javier," Lanie cried, "She drank half the bottle of wine in four minutes. She treats you like some kind of baby and me like I'm one of those criminals you arrest. And Cinderella at the same time. Where's your gun?"

Esposito sighed, "I've told you a million times, you can't shoot my mom. And she's not that bad." Esposito's phone beeped indicating a text, and he picked it up from the counter.

"Javier! Javier!" His mom called from the living room. "Is that your work? Do you have to go catch some bad guy now?"

He turned to look at Lanie, whispering, "Maybe you're right."

"Maybe?"Lanie hissed, quietly.

Esposito turned around, "No, mama. It's just my friend."

"Okay, well, tell your friend I say hello, Javi bear." She called back.

"Okay, mama." Javier said.

Lanie set the plastic wrap in a drawer and straightened up, muttering, "Did I mention she sounds like a dying duck?"

"Three more days." Esposito muttered, finally reading the text. At the message, Esposito smiled just a little and began typing one back.

"Who's that from?" Lanie asked, curious, turning and leaning against the side of the island.

After looking up from the screen and then back down, Esposito said, "Just Jim."

"Jim?" Lanie's eyebrows moved together, "Do you know a Jim?"

"Yeah, Beckett's dad." Esposito said as though it were no big deal.

Lanie's eyebrows moved up her forehead in shock, "Okay. Why are you talking to Beckett's father?" Esposito didn't answer, sliding his phone back into the pocket and taking the bowl of salad to the fridge. "Javi, why are you talking to Jim Beckett?"

Esposito shrugged, "I don't know. I just needed his help, that's all." Then he turned and began to walk back to the living room, muttering something about making sure his mom wasn't scarring Roshaun for life.

"Javier Esposito, get your ass back here, right now." Lanie called, crossing her arms. "Why did you need his help?"

Sighing, the detective turned around, "I just wanted to knock some sense into her. About her drinking."

Lanie shook her head, and took a few steps closer to Esposito, "I want to help her, too, but calling her dad is just going to piss her off and make everything worse."

"I had to help her, Lanie. All she's got is us and the job. If she loses the job because of drinking-"

"She doesn't lose us!" Lanie cried, holding out one hand.

"I know," Esposito snapped, "But we're friends because of work. We'd have less time to hang out with her, which would just make her drink more."

Tilting her head, Lanie said, "She's my best friend, Javier. I don't think I like you sneaking around behind her back and mine."

"I wasn't sneaking around behind anyone's back. I was just helping out a friend." Esposito said slowly, maintaining a normal volume level.

Lanie turned to the freezer and pulled out a carton of ice cream, "Which, conveniently," she slammed the carton onto the island counter, "was something you did without telling me. I think that would be sneaking around behind my back, Javier. I get you want to help Kate, so do I." Now her back was turned to get the ice cream scoop. "But pissing her off and making her feel violated is not the way to do it. You know this."

"I just wanted to help." Esposito cried. Sighing, Lanie set the ice cream scoop onto the counter and moved closer to the detective.

After she gave him a kiss, Lanie returned to the carton of ice cream, pulling off the top, "I know sweetie, I know, but you have to be careful. Next time, consult the meddling queen. So what exactly did you do?"

Esposito walked towards the cabinet to pull out a few bowls, and muttered, "I had an old friend of mine who's a uniform pull her over for drunk driving. Then he called me and I called Jim to go talk to her."

"And the student becomes the master." Lanie muttered, popping a small amount of ice cream into her mouth. Her phone rang by her side and she pulled it out of her pocket. "Parish." She answered.

"Hey, Lanie." Kate said.

"Kate." Lanie said, "How's it going, honey?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line and finally, Kate said, "I just got a call from Samara."

Lanie looked up and cast a concerned glance at Esposito, "Samara. Samara called you."

"I know it sounds bad." Kate said, quietly, "But she did."

"Kate," Lanie said, slowly and her tone sad. "Samara's been gone for 6 years. How much have you had to drink?"

"Nothing." Kate answered, excitedly. "Lanie, she and Castle are alive."

Lanie sighed, "Kate, seriously, what have you been drinking?"

"I'm not drunk!" Kate snapped, growing annoyed fast. "Samara did call me."

"Kate Beckett, as your friend," Lanie started, Kate groaned, "I am worried about you and," Lanie stopped because there was a couple gun shots on the other end. "What was that? Are you okay?"

"I was proving to you that I am not drunk." Kate exclaimed.

Lanie rolled her eyes and deadpanned, "So, you thought you'd shoot something to prove to me that you weren't because over the phone I can totally see how accurate of a shot you are."

"Yeah," Kate started under her breath, "In retrospect, that probably wasn't the best idea. I think I need a new microwave."

Pushing out all air through her mouth making her cheeks puff out, Lanie said "Okay, I'll be there in fifteen minutes, don't shoot anything else."

"Lanie," Kate started.

"No argument, I'm coming over." Lanie interrupted, walking towards the door.

"Okay," Kate answered, "but you should know I live 30 minutes away from you."

Lanie paused, thinking, "Fine, I'm taking Javier's car."

Esposito's head whipped up, "What?"

Chuckling, Kate said, "Lanie, only cops can drive cop cars."

"Then Javier's coming with me." Lanie muttered.

Okay, so how is the story going? I know I've sort of strung it out a little. Pretty much because I have absolutely no idea what to do next. Anyway leave a review and tell me what you think, I really appreciate any and all feedback. Just so ya know, I'll post again soon, but I'm going out of town to go college touring... and I don't know if I'll get internet connection. But I'll be back by next Monday for soccer tryouts (wish me luck!)

~XOXO, Becksbiggestfan