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Ryan started immediately at the bar thankful he now had a purpose again. Castle was gracious enough to put him on a salary to start and had informed him they would figure out the logistics of ownership once he was comfortably settled. Esposito wasn't too happy that Ryan would be gone from the apartment so much but he knew he needed to be out in the world and at least he could go hang out with him after work. Speaking of work Esposito had had an uncomfortable and surprising conversation with the precinct psychologist earlier today.

It was just after lunch when Dr. Perot entered the break room casually and fixed himself a cappuccino. "Detective Esposito, if you're not too busy could you come to my office for a moment?" Curious, he simply nodded and followed him down a floor and into his office. "You're probably wondering what this is pertaining to and the answer is Mr. Ryan."

"Where is this coming from? What's wrong?" he questioned in concern.

Dr. Perot held out a hand indicating he should take a seat and after he was settled he leaned back and crossed his legs. "Most of the precinct has come to know Mr. Ryan one way or another recently and a few know of your personal relationship. I'm aware I'm overstepping some boundaries right now but I felt it was in everyone's best interest if I shared my thoughts and concerns."

Esposito tried not to become defensive and simply nodded. "Alright."

The doctor sucked in a lung full of air before asking, "Does Ryan often display violent tendencies?"

"Wow. Right for the throat," Esposito said in shock. "Not trying to be rude here but that's not really any of your business."

The doctor nodded knowingly, the avoidance answer enough. "Fair enough and if what I've heard about you is true you'll appreciate a more direct approach today. I'm worried about what Ryan is going to do now that he's not in such a hostile environment. I overheard someone saying he's now working at a local bar as a bartender and I'm not sure that's the best place for him."

"He's doing fine, better than fine. Great. I've never seen him so happy and relaxed."

"And I don't doubt that," he interrupted. "But I'm concerned that Ryan might not know how to handle himself outside of the bar he worked in before, that he's going to harm someone unintentionally."

Esposito sat up straighter and leaned forward, "He's not like that. He's not going to hurt anybody."

"Because Ryan could never harm someone right? Could never actually kill a person?" he countered quickly and evenly. When he saw the detective searching for an answer he wasn't going to find he flashed him a sympathetic smile. "I know you want to see the good in Ryan, and believe me I know he has a lot of it in him but you know there's more to it than that. Ryan has murdered people Detective, and yes he may have been instructed to but he still carried out the entire event, repeatedly. He was raised in a violent environment and even though you aren't sharing I know he has violent tendencies. The reason I'm speaking to you about all this is you need to communicate with Ryan and try to help him relearn how to respond in certain situations. Help him learn to use his words instead of actions, show him some calm words can be just as effective as a physical blow. Even though he might act like it, either consciously or subconsciously, Ryan is in no way an innocent victim. At the time of the murders I have no doubt that Ryan was very aware of what he was doing and was very in control, which proves that he has reached a mental state that you and I have not."

"I've been in combat and had to take lives before, even here it happens sometimes and I'm fine," he argued.

"And did you feel remorse at that fact?" he asked innocently.

"Of course."

The man met his eyes steadily. "And does Ryan feel remorse?"

"I.. I think so," he answered carefully.

Dr. Perot just nodded. "If so does he feel remorse because he took lives, or because you're aware he took those lives? I need you to take a step back and acknowledge the fact that Ryan is not so different than the people you arrest everyday."

Esposito pointed to him angrily, "He's not some psychopath."

"No, but he's not completely balanced either. Is he?"

Esposito couldn't argue with that and with a nod he left the office deep in thought.

A few weeks after Ryan started at The Old Haunt the group from the 12th entered the bar laughing but quieted down when they saw the bar was empty except for Ryan and a tall, thin man dressed completely in black. They were talking quietly and based on the expression on Ryan's face the conversation wasn't something to be taken lightly. They all slid into seats on the other side of the bar, Castle walking behind the counter to grab beers while everyone cast curious glances at the pair that were now standing. Ryan shook the man's hand, laughed quietly and walked him to the door before turning around with a contemplative spark in his blue eyes.

"Everything ok?" Castle asked as Ryan walked behind the bar past Keller who was snoring softly from his dog bed off to the side.

"Uh, yeah. Did you guys finish up your case?" he asked as he cut up a lime and passed it to Kate knowing she liked them when she drank.

Esposito nodded, "All wrapped up and nice deflection."

Ryan crossed his arms and leaned back against the back of the bar, "That was a friend. He came by to tell me Ed passed away yesterday, thought I would want to know that he didn't blame be for doing what needed to be done." He reached in his pocket and pulled out an object before gently placing it on the counter, "He left me his watch, it's the one he never took off."

Beckett looked at it carefully while Esposito frowned, "You ok Kev? I know it was a love hate relationship. I mean wasn't he kind of like your father figure?"

"In a way and yeah, I'm fine. I mean we all knew it was coming. Little sad but mostly relieved. End of an era and it kind of puts a nice bow on top of everything."

"I'm sensing there was more to the conversation," Castle said.

Ryan nodded, "He offered me Edmund's spot, said I was the only one who knew everything that happened when Edmund closed the door. Didn't even care I gave up most of them, said it was time to clean house anyway."

Everyone glanced at each other wearily before Esposito tapped his fingers on the counter in agitation, "You mean that guy just asked if you wanted to step up as the head of the Irish mob? What'd you say?"

Ryan smiled at how easy it was to work up Javier. "That I was honored but I'm happy where I am. Told him it was best if we didn't talk anymore and I told him to keep his head down."

"And he let you just walk away from something you've been a part of forever?" Esposito asked.

Ryan nodded, "I've told my story and the parts that got left out will die with me, he knows that. They all know that. I have nothing left to give them and they have nothing left to take. I'll always have enemies but they won't come after me."

"Why not?" Castle asked.

"Because when you're part of the mob your leash is held so tight you can't move without choking. If anybody moves on me, they'll know and they'll be punished for it. Seeing as how I hang out with a bunch of cops and you, they know my murder wouldn't be swept under the rug. Last thing they want is another raid. Nice little insurance policy actually."

Beckett glanced at the door, "So who's going to run the mob now?"

The smile on Ryan's face grew, "For once in my life, I have absolutely no idea what is going on."

Beckett lifted her glass with a small smile, "To new beginnings."

Ryan met her gaze and nodded. In the last couple months she and Ryan had actually bonded pretty well, all past tensions and animosity gone. He poured himself a shot and held it up before downing it. Ever since everything had gone down he had begun to pull back with his drinking and now only drank socially with the group. Esposito didn't think he could do it on his own without a program but he had proven just how much willpower he had, how serious he took the fact that he was being handed a second chance at life.

Beckett grabbed her purse and dug through it before looking at Ryan, "I'm not sure if you wanted this back but I felt I should at least offer it. Espo said you've had it quite a while." She lifted her hand and held out Ryan's silver balisong, completely cleansed of blood.

He took it and stared at it as he flipped it open and closed a few times. "Thank you. This thing is a part of me now. Ed gave it to me for my thirteenth birthday to help me defend myself since I kept getting beaten up. After the second time my wrist got broken he decided I needed something that could actually do some damage."

Castle frowned, "That's terrible. Why did so many people have it out for you?"

"In case you haven't noticed," Ryan said with a grin. "My mouth gets away from me sometimes."

Everyone looked at the door when it swung open and Lanie entered a moment later with a smile. "Hey guys."

Esposito's eyebrows rose at her low cut dress, "Looking good girl, where's your date?"

She sighed and slipped onto a bar stool and laid her magenta clutch on the counter, "At the curb where I left him. He actually made me pay for dinner after asking me out, and that's after he referred to my job as 'the creepiest thing he had ever heard'. Eyes off the girls Castle, you too Ryan."

Esposito laughed as Castle jerked and blushed at being caught, Ryan doing the same. "What can I get for you?" he asked, cheeks still burning with embarrassment.

"Something strong, none of that foo-foo crap."

Ryan tried to keep a straight face as he tapped his knuckles on the wood bar, "Right, no foo-foo crap."

"So how's the community service?" Beckett asked curiously.

He cast her a crooked grin. "Amazing. I lucked out, instead of picking up trash I get to hang out and play baseball with kids all day. They're little sarcastic asses, I love it and there's this little girl that's seven. Cutest thing ever. Seems a senior detective put in a good word for me…"

Everyone's eyebrows shot up in surprise, Beckett ignoring them and just smiling as she took a sip from her beer. "Wonder who that was."

"Yeah. I wonder," he said knowingly.

As evening rolled around the bar began to slowly fill up and Ryan had to step away from his friends to take care of everyone else. It was filling up and while he used to enjoy the noise and bustle of the crowd it seemed to cause a small level of anxiety in him lately. When there were so many people in such a tight space he felt like someone was watching him and even though he always searched he could never find anyone acting suspiciously. Maybe he was just paranoid after everything that happened. Figuring everyone was fine for a few minutes he quietly slipped away and exited to the side of the building where he sucked in a deep breath of the night air and pulled out his balisong to fiddle with. The sound of a shoe scuffing sounded from behind him and he casually turned to see who it was. As soon as he turned he wished he had never come outside.

"What the hell do you want?" he barked at Banks who was walking towards him.

The man stopped a few feet away and watched him play with the knife. "I wanted to come apologize for everything and thank you for everything you did."

"Try again," he barked. "You're lying."

"No, I really mean it." With a small sigh he stuck his hands in his pockets, "I acted unprofessionally towards you on numerous occasions and I appreciate everything you did to take down Conor."

The words were spoken open and honestly, his posture relaxed yet Ryan stayed where he was and tightened his grip on his knife. After spending years reading people he knew that every intention could be seen in the eyes, the eyes were the windows to the soul and no truths could be hidden in their depths. "How long? How long have you been in his pocket?" he asked quietly.

Banks didn't flinch or react, just smiled. "Four years, he pays a lot better than the city does. I just have one thing I need to do, something he requested a while ago in case of the event of a raid. I must say, Conor has quite the hard on for you. He's wanted you out of the picture long before I showed up. Then after I met you I realized why he hates your midget ass."

"So it was you that told him I was living with Javi. That's how he knew where to find me," Ryan whispered to himself as it all clicked and met his eyes steadily. "That day you showed up at my apartment and beat me, that was you checking up on me per Conor's instructions. If you're working with Conor what's with all the slurs?"

Banks' eyes narrowed. "I might work for him but that doesn't mean I like the mick. Irish are all the same, just violent drunken messes that breed like fucking rabbits. My job would be a hell of a lot easier if paddies like you weren't around. Not to mention you're a fucking fag too."

Both men glared hard at each other, Ryan refusing to rise to the bait the homophobic and racist cop was laying. He knew if he let anger cloud his judgment right now he was as good as dead. "Well then I guess there's only one question left. Who do you think is faster?"

"Guess we'll find out Quiet," he answered before reaching for his pistol. His hand closed around the metal and he pulled it from the already opened holster but never was able to aim before Ryan stabbed his blade into his arm. He screamed as the gun dropped from his grip and both scrambled to pick it up.

Ryan tried to grab it but when he noticed the elbow flying towards his face he kicked it away before the blow knocked him to the ground as a sticky warmth began to ooze down his face. With vision swimming he tried to get away knowing if Banks made it to the gun he would die. In his haste to save himself he didn't notice Banks forgetting about the gun and walking over to kick him in the ribs. Pain exploded through his midsection and he coughed dryly before trying to breathe. Forcing himself to his feet he was able to catch one of Banks' arms and punch him twice, satisfaction filling him when he felt his nose break underneath his knuckles. His hands tightened on the balisong still in his grip and he held it up in defense, Banks' arm slicing open as he accidentally hit it. The retaliation was brutal and a couple punches to the midsection later Ryan was back on the ground trying to pull in air again. A glint of silver caught his eye and with a final burst of adrenaline he leapt for the gun.

Esposito frowned as he looked up and down the bar for Ryan noticing that orders were piling up yet he wasn't there. Instead of ignoring the bad feeling creeping in he looked at Beckett and excused himself. "I'll be back."

After checking downstairs and the back of the bar Esposito walked to the side door and peered outside. "Jesus," Esposito whispered as the psychologist's words from a while back hit him full force. Banks was trying to crawl away from Ryan who was just walking after him with the gun pointed to his legs. Ryan looked worse for wear, this definitely hadn't been one sided, but why was he just drawing it out? Did he take some sort of sick satisfaction in seeing people suffer before going for the kill? Maybe he didn't know Ryan as well as he thought he did.

"How about I blow out your kneecaps?" Ryan sneered. "Make it so you can never walk again? You'll have to retire but hey, they'll probably throw you a fucking parade because nothing plays on people's sympathy like a fucking crippled cop. Or I could just pop one in the back of your head and send your wife a sympathy card. Maybe deliver it personally if you know what I mean, I hear she's quite the looker."

Banks finally gave up at crawling away and rolled onto his back. "You've got them all fooled but not me Quiet. You're an animal, there's no humanity left in you. You talk about Conor but you're exactly like him, just a soulless bastard that's going to burn everything and everyone around him to the ground."

Ryan was quiet for a moment before raising the gun and pointing it at his head with a twisted smirk. "You're right. Goodbye."