AN: I always thought that whole Rogan O'Leary fiasco was the product of lazy writing. Come on, she had to be vetted by both the NYPD and the AG's office and they never found out that she was married, yet somehow the New York department of records knew about it?

Eight:

The wake-up call stirred Rick from his troubled sleep at precisely 7:00 am as requested. After a quick shower and shave, Castle had a light breakfast at the hotel's restaurant. After nearly an hour in traffic, he arrived at the studio a few minutes before 9:00. The same studio had purchased the rights for the second Nikki Heat novel, but had decided on a different producer and director. Rick parked his car outside Barry Watson's office and walked inside. He was greeted by Watson's personal assistant, a stunning redhead that reminded Rick too much of Meredith when they first met. She asked him if there was anything that he would like to drink and he declined. After a wait of a few minutes, Castle was escorted into Watson's office.

Barry was overweight, balding and dressed as if he was channeling the sixties. Rising up from his seat, Rick was surprised to see that the man was even shorter than what he suspected. Rick extended his hand, but Barry wrapped him in a hug as if they were long lost friends. "Richard Castle! How in the hell are you man?"

Rick backs away from the hug and replies. "Pretty well Barry. How are you?"

"Much better now that you're here to help do your book justice." He gestured for Rick to take a seat as he returned to his spot behind his desk. "The studio wasn't pleased with the numbers that the first movie made so they decided to shake things up. That's why I'm here." Barry commented with a grin.

Rick had heard of Barry Watson. He had produced three of the top ten grossing movies made last year. The studios gave him carte blanche to do as he pleased because of his success. "So what can I do to help?" Castle inquires.

The producer hands Rick a manuscript lying on his desk. "This is the first draft of the script. I think it's shit, but hey, what do I know? That's why you're here. Take a look at it and let me know what you think. We're under the gun already. I promised the studio that we would have this thing ready for a Christmas release and it's almost June."

There was something about the confidence Barry had that made Castle feel at ease. "I'll start right away. Is there anything else?"

"Shit! Where are my manners? Would you like anything to drink?" Castle shakes his head no and Barry continues. "I want you to meet the director and the new Nikki Heat, Samantha Singer." Watson pressed the button on his phone and asked his assistant to send them in.

Rick was surprised to hear that Natalie Rhodes had been replaced as Nikki Heat. Their initial meeting had been interesting to say the least, but she was able to convince Rick that she could handle the role. But come to think of it he was willing to recommend Ellie Monroe for the part too. You'd think that after being married to one and raised by one he'd be better able to tell the difference between a good actress and a bad one.

For the next hour or so he sat there and politely listened to Barry drone on and on about his goals for this movie and watched as the director and lead actress nodded at the appropriate times like two bobble head dolls. He couldn't help but grin at the thought. Rick became a writer because it was a solitary act. He created his 'art' alone, only utilizing others to distribute the finished product. Sure, he took creative input when needed and Gina had the ability to edit his work as needed, but it was still his creation.

His time with the CIA was the same way. They provided the mission or objective and he would decide how the job got done. Sometimes it required others, usually females to achieve the task. These females usually showed up in the pictures that accompanied a story on page 6. It was hiding in plain sight and it worked brilliantly for years until Bucharest. Castle was interrupted from his thoughts by Barry asking him a question that he wasn't listening to.

"I'm sorry Barry, I wasn't listening. Just thinking about the script." Rick replied with a smile.

"Good. That's what I was asking you about anyway. Do you think that you could read it tonight and come in with some suggestions tomorrow? I'd like to have you meet the screenwriters who will be working with you."

"Sure thing Barry."

Watson stands signaling that the meeting is over and the others rise to their feet. Castle shakes hands with John Wesley Harden the hot shot director that Barry had picked and Samantha. She leans forward and whispers into his ear as she presses a slip of paper into his hand. "Give me a call. I'd like to research my character from the author's point of view." She turns and walks out of the office swaying her hips a little more than necessary.

Castle could only shake his head and wonder if all actresses were willing to sleep with anyone to get a part. Granted, his sample size was small, but the evidence was damning. Ellie Monroe, Natalie Rhodes, Samantha Singer and his ex all seemed to be willing to do whatever it took to get a role. He shuddered at the thought that his own mother would be capable of such things, but quickly shook that thought from his mind.

Barry seemed amused watching the puzzled look on Castle's face as he stood there. "She's quite a looker, isn't she?"

"Who?"

"You know who. That pretty young starlet that wants to do 'research' with you." Barry laughed as he made air quotation marks as he said research. "Let's go meet your other writers and then grab lunch. I've got reservations already made for noon."

The last thing on Rick's mind right now was another woman. Things were still to raw from last week and if he was honest with himself, he'd never be over her. Rick simply smiled and replied, "Lead on boss man.."

X-X-X

Kate growled in frustration as she hung up the phone. She was tired, cranky and feeling as if the whole world was conspiring against her. She finally found a mover that could pack up her belongings and keep them in storage until she was ready to move. After her meeting with HR in Washington the day before, Kate knew that she would be at Quantico for at least six weeks so there was no hurry to move into a new apartment. Her father had agreed to come over and help pack up her personal belongings that she didn't trust with the movers.

The call to the realtor was one of the few bright spots. She assured Kate that she could move out whenever she was ready and that there would be no penalty for breaking her lease. It sounded as if there was a new tenant ready to move in. Little did Kate know that tenant was Martha Rodgers. Beckett started to look at the remaining items on her 'to do' list. She called the utility companies and setup her final dates for service giving them her father's address for where they could return her deposit money.

She spent the remainder of the afternoon sorting out clothing into two categories – the things she would take with her and the things that she would put into storage until she moved into her new apartment. Kate worked her way through her book collection until she got to Rick's novels. She let her mind wander for a brief moment as she remembered how his books had taken her mind from the dark period of her life after her mother's murder. Kate couldn't help but smile at the memory of her first meeting with Rick – It was a few weeks before her mother's murder and she had forced Kate to stand in line with her at the Barnes and Nobles. Rick was his usual charming self and was sitting beside a very young Alexis Castle who as busy coloring. Johanna Beckett complimented Rick on having a beautiful daughter. Castle blushed and told her that she had a beautiful sister while pointing at Kate. Now it was Johanna's turn to blush at the compliment as she informed him that Kate was her daughter. Rick simply smiled and said that it was obvious where Kate got her good looks from.

All the way home from the book store Johanna talked about Castle. How she didn't believe the stories printed on page 6 and how he will make some lucky woman a fine husband. Johanna Beckett was an excellent judge of character, Kate knew that. She knew that Johanna would have been thrilled to know that her daughter was in a relationship with Richard Castle. 'Was, as in past tense.' Kate thought to herself.

The knocking at her door pulled her away from her trip down memory lane. Rising to her feet she walked to the door as she glanced at her watch. She looked through the peep-hole and saw her father standing there with two bags of take-out. Unlatching the safety chain, she unlocked the door to let Jim in. "I figured that you haven't eaten today, so I brought us some dinner."

Jim was correct. Other than a couple of pieces of dry toast that she had for breakfast, she hadn't even thought about eating. She smiled and gave him a hug. "Thank you Dad. I forgot all about dinner."

"So let's eat first and then I'll help you with whatever you need. Deal?"

"Sure thing dad."

Jim sat the two bags and pulled out the contents while Kate walked to the refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water. She was always careful to not drink alcohol in front of him although she could really use a drink right now. The two sat there for nearly ten minutes eating their food without exchanging a word. Kate had called him the night before as soon as she returned to New York, giving him all of the details about her new job. Jim had tried to be as supportive as he could, but knew that she was making the biggest mistake of her life.

Kate watched him as he sat there and ate. She knew that her father was not a verbose man, choosing his words carefully before speaking. He appeared to be in deep thought as if he had something upsetting to say.

Kate decided to break the silence. "Is something wrong dad?"

"Have you spoken to Rick?" Jim inquires in a calm, measured voice.

"No. Why?"

"I don't know. Just curious I guess." He paused for a moment as he took another bite from his food and chewed. "Have you talked to anyone from the NYPD since we talked?"

"No, I haven't. Is there a reason?" Kate replies suddenly feeling as if she is being cross-examined by Jim Beckett the attorney and not her father.

Jim took a drink from his bottle of water to buy a few seconds before he spoke. "When your mother was killed, I threw everything away that was important to me and went and crawled inside of a bottle. I didn't care about anyone or anything. You saw what was happening to me and forced me to get the help I needed. I didn't ask for your intervention, but you did it because it was the right thing to do. Thanks to you I'm clean and sober and once again a lawyer doing what your mother and I both loved."

Kate reaches across the counter and gives her father's hand a gentle squeeze as she replies. "You're welcome dad."

"I know that when you've made up your mind about something, that you're as stubborn as your mother and will just dig in deeper rather than listen to an opposing view." Jim could feel Kate start to withdraw her hand away from him as he spoke. He quickly grabbed her hand returning the squeeze she had given him so that she would look at him. "Katie, I know that I told you that I will support you with whatever your decision was, and I will keep my promise. I just hope that this job that seemed materialize out of thin air is everything that you want because you're giving up everything for it. There are no do-overs Katie bug. Once you burn these bridges, there's no turning back. You're throwing away your friends and the man that loved you for a job."

Kate started to say something in her defense and Jim held up his hand to stop her. "Yes, Katie it is nothing but a job right now. A career is a series of jobs that progress to bigger and better things. You had a career with the NYPD. You started as a patrol cop and then a detective and then lead detective in homicide. You could have continued through the ranks of the NYPD if you were serious about career growth. Based upon our conversation last night, you'll be going through training like any other new hire fresh off of the street."

Jim nodded his head as Kate tried to speak again, but he continued. "I know, I know. You told me that you should test out of training quicker, possibly six weeks. Where will you start after that? Right back at the bottom of the food chain." He paused for a second to see if anything he was saying was registering with his daughter. "I have no doubt that you will do as well there as you have with the NYPD. How long did it take for you to become lead detective? Six, seven years? Let's for argument's sake say you do it in half the time it took you with the NYPD. So in three or four years from now, you'll be at the same level that you are today?"

Part of Kate was proud of her father at this moment. He had presented the facts as he knew them as if he was providing his closing arguments to a jury. Every point that he made was valid, but she couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal by him for not arbitrarily taking her side. "Dad, you don't understand. It's a chance to do more, to be more on a larger stage."

"That's where you're wrong. There's nothing more important than bringing justice to the families of murder victims. That's why you became a cop, remember? Besides, how many years will you have to work with the AG's office before you save New York from a dirty bomb? Or the world from an economic meltdown? The impact doesn't get much bigger than that Kate."

Rather than admit that her father was correct, she did exactly as he predicted. Kate sat there in silence as she dug in her heels not willing to even consider that he might be right about everything. After a minute of silence, she raked her fingers through her hair and feigned a yawn. "You know what dad. Its been a busy day and I'm really tired. I think that I'll turn in early. Don't worry, I think that I've got this under control."

Jim sat there and gave his daughter a look of disappointment. He could see that every wall that she had carefully constructed five years ago was coming back up again. It hurt him to see her do this to herself, but he had given it his best shot. That's all he could do. Sensing defeat, Jim rose up from the counter and started to walk to the door.

Kate wouldn't look at him as he walked out of the kitchen. Her eyes stayed fixed on a spot on the wall. Jim opened the door and was nearly out before he turned to face her. "Think about what I said. I'm trying to save you from yourself like you did for me all those years ago. It's not too late.. " There was a brief pause as he waited to see if she would even look at him. She didn't. Fighting back his own tears, Jim replies. "Goodbye Katie.. You know that damn fool wanted to marry you.." Were his last words as he closed the door.

Kate stood there in stunned silence as she listened to the door close. A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind at the moment as she wiped a tear from her cheek that she didn't know was there. She couldn't shake the disappointment she felt at her own father's perceived betrayal. 'They're all wrong. I'm doing all of this to protect them.' Kate muttered to herself as she walked into her bedroom suddenly feeling exhausted.

She checked her calendar on her phone and realized that she had an appointment with Dr Burke tomorrow afternoon. 'At last, someone to talk with that won't judge me.' Kate thought as she plugged the phone into the charger and set the alarm. She laid there staring up at the ceiling in the dark for what seemed like hours as she replayed her fathers final comments as he walked out of her apartment. "It's not too late.. You know that damn fool wanted to marry you.."

Kate knew the truth. She could smell the smoke from burning bridges..