Castle is walking into the bull pen at the 12th and is actively looking for Ryan and Esposito. He sees Kevin Ryan walk out of the break room with his morning coffee

"Hey Kevin, where Espo?"

"He's down in evidence. Any word on Jim?"

"He is stable they tell me. They are waiting for the heart to rest a little before doing the surgery"

Castle pusses a moment "Kate came in last night"

Ryan stops walking at hearing that news. He looks at Castle

"Really? Were you there when she came in?"

"No. After they got him stable, I left but I've got eyes at the hospital. I have someone watching and giving me updates on Jim's condition and who is there to see him. That way I can stay away while she's there

"Have you heard who is operating?"

"Actually it's Dr. Joshua Davidson. He is the best CT guy around I hear?"

Kevin gets a funny look on his face "No kidding?"

"Yeah .I think that is pretty funny actually" Castle comments

"Hey bro. how are you doing? I mean in the emotions department?"

"Kev, I really have been better" Castle retorts "much better"

"I know you have had a tough. 6 months. Heck, we all have. Even Lanie has been down in the dumps all this time. Kate WAS her best friend for a lot of years. So Castle! How are you going to handle the deal with Jim?"

"What do you mean handle? What is it I am supposed to handle? His daughter is here and she is by his side thru all this. Then when he recovers, she can go back to her new life"

"Castle, stop pretending you don't care. You still love that woman as much as you ever did. In fact watching you lately, I think you are more in love today than you were the moment she left. If that's even possible"

"Ryan, she made her decision to go. I gave her an choice and she decided to leave anyway"

"Right, but we all know what Jim told you the very night she left. She wished she had been able to say yes to you instead."

"She did what she always did in the past and that was run away. Always before when confronted with a relationship that was getting close to serious what she did was to run away as fast as she could"

"Well this time she ran away all right. A long way to get away from me"

Esposito has arrived back on the floor with an evidence box from the property room "Hey Castle. What are you doing here?"

"Oh I hear Beckett's replacement is coming today and I thought I might find a new muse to work with. I mean I like you guys a lot but if I am seen hanging around a couple of guys all the time, the Ledger might get the wrong idea about me"

This brings a smirk from Ryan and a quiet laugh from Esposito. The three men turn when they hear a female voice coming from the area near the elevator "I am looking for Captain Gates"

Standing in the elevator lobby is a beautiful woman. She is probably mid 30's about the same height a Beckett. Same build except much darker hair almost black, but she has deep ocean blue eyes making a stark contrast to her hair. But all three men see a haunting similarity to Kate Beckett and it is uncanny. It's like seeing Natalie Rhodes trying to mimic Kate all over again

When this very attractive woman says these words, Esposito immediately travels the distance from his desk to the elevator in record time

"Welcome I am Javier Esposito and welcome to the 12th. You must be…?" He reacts realizing he just forgot her name when she came in

Putting her hand out to shake his "Hi I am Crystal Roberts. I am reporting for duty. I am the new homicide detective"

"Yes you are" Esposito realizes how stupid she just sounded "I am or rather we are expecting you. UH! Let me take your coat. Please sit down" He points to the now empty desk where Beckett formerly sat

Castle and Ryan are watching Esposito act like a sophomore in high school when a new girl shows up in home room. Castle comments first "Kev, do you think Lanie might just arrange for her to disappear if she saw what we are seeing?"

"I think we better rescue her before Javi asks her to bear his children"

"Excuse me Detective Roberts, I am Richard Castle. I am a civilian consultant and this is Detective Kevin Ryan "pointing out Ryan to the new member of the team "Welcome. Let me show you to Captain Gates' office"

Castle leads her to the captain's office while Ryan grabs Esposito. "Hey Bro. Lanie will have you on a slab before the day is over if you keep that up."

"Sorry. But it has been a long time since a new woman has appeared here. In fact, the last time was when Beckett arrived." Esposito seems to be remembering Kate's first day

"You know Ryan when she came to the precinct everyone did what I just did. But she shut every one of us down from that first moment."

"She shut down everyone until Castle came along" Ryan responds

"Right! She turned down everyone except Castle"

"Speaking of Beckett. What are we going to do Espo? I can't let her stay there all alone and worry over her dad. I really want to go see her and support her"

"I want to also, but I feel rejected by her also. She left all of us, not just Rick. I want to support Castle too. He's the one she dumped. Walked away from a relationship that took four years to build and then she destroyed it in four minutes"

Esposito responds "I don't think it's destroyed. It might be badly damaged, but not hopeless.

"Oh, I don't know. She has not contacted any of us in months. And not even Castle! Look at him over there" pointing toward Gate's office where he is introducing the new detective to her boss "He is one very lonesome man"

"Hey Ryan, lets take the new detective and Castle out for drinks tonight. We can get to know her and maybe cheer up the old man a bit"

Kevin .responds "Old Haunt at 6:00 and I'm buying"

Esposito laughs "You're buying? When was the last time ANYONE of us paid for drinks at the Old Haunt? Castle won't let any of us pay there"