Here's the next part. It's now totally AU, and takes place a few months after "Den of Thieves."

Special thanks to Tv Centric Universe and lynneanne for reviewing!

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Castle frowned at the murder board; this was one frustrating case. They had two wealthy brothers dead, and one frantic mother who was threatening to sue the Police Department if they didn't put the killer behind bars. Needless to say, they were going to have any case cracking revelations, sooner would be better than later.

"So, Castle, any wild theories? I'm feeling like we could use one right about now." If possible, Detective Kate Beckett looked even more frustrated than the writer did. They had been on this case for nearly a week without any good leads, never mind any good suspects.

"I don't know," Castle replied, the facts bouncing around his head. "We've got two rich boys with their own packaging company that's doing well enough to keep mom living however she pleases. Lots of ladies but no real girlfriends, lots of friends but no enemies. Heck, no one even stands go benefit because they left their entire company to their 5 year old nephew."

Beckett sighed, and Castle wished he had the answers to make the frown lines on her forehead disappear. "And we're sure the sister didn't know anything?"

"Positive," Ryan piped up from his desk, where he was flipping through various files, hoping to find a connection of some kind. "She thought they were in the Hamptons for the weekend."

"Great. Okay, uh, Ryan, Esposito, go back to the Marcus brother's house, see if we didn't miss something."

"You got it, Boss," Esposito quipped, grabbing his jacket and heading for the parking garage. Ryan, who's coat got caught on his chair, was forced to jog to catch up with him.

Beckett turned back to frown at the board, while Castle watched the retreating back of the two male detectives. "What's up with them?"

"What do you mean, what's up with them?" Beckett asked, not even looking away from the whiteboard.

Castle gave her an incredulous look. "You're kidding me, right? I thought you're supposed to be a detective!"

"What I meant," Castle backtracked quickly at the murderous glare Beckett turned on him, "Ryan and Esposito have been acting really… weird lately. No more beer invites after shift, their witty banter is forced and, well, lame, and it's just been feeling a little awkward around here lately."

Beckett now nodded. She, too, had noticed the subtle shift in the relationship between her fellow detectives, and she didn't like it one bit. In fact, Beckett really hoped they would figure out whatever was going on, or she would have to take maters into her own hands. It wasn't safe for them to be going into the potentially dangerous situations with weird tension between them.

"I don't know what to tell you, Castle. Sometimes people just change."

"Yeah, I know, but overnight? Everything was fine until that case with Ike Thornton…"

"Maybe that's it, then," Beckett shrugged as she retreated into the break room for more coffee, Castle following close behind her like a lost puppy. "Sometimes cases involving old partners can shake things up a little. I'm sure things will go back to normal soon."

The writer only shrugged and headed for the cappuccino machine. Beckett watched him over the rim of her mug in amusement. Goofy and irresponsible though he was, she couldn't fault the man for his big heart.

"Hey, Castle, were you really tipped off by the fact that their banter was 'lame'?"

"I don't understand why Beckett sent us back here. We already check everywhere, CSU gave it a once over… there's nothing here!"

Esposito turned to frown at the other man. "Well, in case you haven't noticed, we're running out of leads, and fast. She's getting desperate."

Ryan shrugged in acceptance, his gaze sliding away from Esposito rather than holding eye contact. "Let's just get this over with."

Esposito struggled to suppress a sigh as he began working his way methodically through the front hallway. For some reason that he couldn't seem to put his finger on, things had been really awkward with Ryan lately. It started with a couple declined offers to get drinks after work, and a canceled Madden night, and suddenly they were strictly work friends. The smaller man had also become strange about physical contact; the boys had never been overly affectionate or touchy with each other, but a whole aspect of their friendship could be seen in the way they nudged each other, offered support, and in the various handshakes they had come up with over the years. Now Ryan practically flinched away every time they even came close to touching. Add this to the lack of eye contact, and you had one very frustrated and confused Javier Esposito.

They were both doing their best to keep up the jokes and banter at the precinct, to keep the others from realizing how far apart they were drifting. But Esposito wasn't an idiot; he knew that they were slipping, and that Beckett and Castle were probably already concerned. He really needed to talk to Ryan about this tension, even if he had to corner him in the locker room after shift. It was getting ridiculous.

"Find anything?" Ryan asked, walking out of the kitchen.

Esposito, who had worked his way through the entry hall and into the living room shook his head. "Nothing. Not that I was expecting to. You're right, we've already been through this place with a fine toothed comb."

"Yeah," Ryan nodded briefly, the frown lines on his face seeming more pronounced than normal. "Guess we should check the back, though."

The two detectives had just barely crossed through the doorway of the Marcus brother's study when they noticed that one of the closet doors was partially open. Hands straying to their guns, they advanced cautiously. To their surprise, the back wall of the closet had been moved, revealing a passage behind the closet. Exchanging a quick look with Ryan, Esposito took point and they advanced into the dark space, guns out front of them.

The passage was narrow and dark, but only lasted for about four or five feet before opening up into a large storage area. There were a couple of dim light bulbs protruding from the back wall, providing just enough light for the detectives to make out multiple black crates.

"What the heck is going on?" Esposito asked, approaching the nearest crate and lifting the lid.

Ryan sucked in his breath, looking at the different pieces enfolded in foam packaging. "These are gun parts. Looks like the Marcus boys were doing a little work on the side."

"We better call Beckett," Esposito said, holstering his gun and pulling out his cell phone.

Ryan, on the other hand, seemed tense and didn't relinquish his hold on his weapon. "Hang on a sec. This wasn't open last time we were here. That means someone's probably –"

Before the other man had a chance to finish, something cracked sharply against the back of Esposito's skull. As he crashed to the floor, he heard yelling and a sharp crack. Pain exploded behind his eyes as he smashed his already abused head against the hard concrete floor, and darkness overcame him.

Cliff hanger! Should hopefully have the next couple chapters up soon. Remember that writers live off reviews :)