Twelve:

Senator William Bracken smiled as he read the text message on his phone. Kate Beckett was on a plane on her way to Washington DC and her new 'career'. His sources within the NYPD confirmed that she had cut all ties with her friends, family, and especially one Richard Castle.

Bracken feared Richard Castle because he couldn't put him into a category. The senator knew that there was more to the writer than what anyone saw. Bracken had heard rumors that Castle had ties to one of the intelligence agencies, but could never confirm it. Castle seemed to be at home with either mobsters or cops and was able to gain their respect. Bracken hadn't survived and prospered by taking on someone he didn't know everything about.

Three years earlier:

Before Richard Castle came along, Katherine Beckett wasn't even a blip on his radar and he nearly forgot about her completely. Her captain would keep an eye on her to make sure she wasn't working on the case. Montgomery had a vested interest in making sure she didn't uncover who was behind her mother's killing. The official story was a random act of gang violence. Detectives Ragland and McCalister made sure of that.

Everything was going smoothly until Dick Coonan got greedy and tried to expand his drug trade into the Westies territory. The Irish mob provided 'protection' to the people in the neighborhood and did not tolerate drugs being sold on the streets. Coonan's little brother was one of the 'employees' of the Westies and was given the task of finding out who was responsible and 'convincing' them to look elsewhere.

Dick Coonan may have loved his little brother, but he loved his lifestyle more. Using his signature style that he had perfected with years of contract hits, he murdered his little brother. Bracken never knew that it was Castle that had hired one of the best forensic pathologists in the country to look at Johanna Beckett's medical reports. He didn't know that the medical examiner at the 12th precinct had seen these findings and was able to determine that the person that killed Johanna Beckett killed Coonan's brother using the same weapon. In fact, he never knew about any of this until after Coonan was killed in a shoot-out with the NYPD.

Bracken had a huge advantage being a former assistant district attorney as it provided him with information through all of the contacts he had made there. Most of them had no idea of what he had done to rise to power and the ones that did had a vested interest in keeping their mouth shut. Bracken was going to forget the whole incident until he heard that Richard Castle had offered up 100K in an attempt to catch her mother's killer. The senator knew very well that silence was something that you rented. You never truly 'bought' it. If Castle was willing to throw that type of money around, how long would it take before someone came along with something that could tie him to her murder?

Needing to understand just how much of a threat Castle actually was to him, he solicited the services of one of his 'special' investigators. They had access to areas that others didn't and would tell the senator if Castle was a threat or simply a man with too much money and time on his hands. Bracken hoped that it was the latter of the two as the writer could simply have an 'accident' and be gone from the NYPD.

It took almost a month before his investigator presented him with a detailed report on Richard Castle; Best selling author, Twice divorced, living in Soho with his mother and daughter. Criminal record of minor infractions with no convictions. Currently working as a civilian consultant to the NYPD's 12th precinct homicide division. Friends with the mayor, judges, and most of the female society bachelorettes. So far nothing that Bracken himself couldn't have found out by going to Castle's web site or reading page 6 of the Post.

Frustrated, he continued reading. Rumored to have ties to the CIA, the New York Irish and Italian mob. A detailed background check on Mr Castle for government ties was flagged by the DOJ and denied. There is no evidence that the subject is actively involved with any intelligence agency at this time. Suspected of being involved in a romantic relationship with Detective Katherine Beckett, NYPD 12th precinct.

Bracken couldn't help but smile as he read the last sentence. 'The cop and the writer? That explains quite a bit.' It was clear that Richard Castle's money and connections could open doors for the detective that she could not on her own. If he could get the good writer to leave on his own then everything could go back to normal. Montgomery would make sure that she made no progress with the case.

After a quick phone call to one of his contacts in 1PP, the senator was assured that the matter would be addressed and that Mr Castle would leave the NYPD on his own. Bracken smiled knowing that the matter would be taken care of. His contact owed him – a lot and it was time for him to start paying off his debt. Bracken didn't know who Tom Deming was or care. All he knew was that a month later, just before Memorial Day weekend, he received a text from his contact that Mr Richard Castle was leaving the NYPD for an indefinite period of time.

Everything was going smoothly until John Ragland was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Having no real family or friends, the corrupt cop decides to clear his conscience by confessing his sins to detective Beckett. Lucky for the senator, his NYPD contact informed him in time to secure the services of Hal Lockwood. Lockwood was able to stop Ragland from confessing everything but he still was able to renew the detective's interest in the case. Bracken called McCallister and warned him about Ragland, saying he could meet a similar fate if Beckett continued to pursue the case. Seeing no other option, Bracken orders Lockwood to take out Beckett.

Only Richard Castle screwed up his plans. Lockwood had her in his sights and was ready to take the shot when the writer jumps him and proceeds to beat him unconscious. Lockwood was ex-military special forces and could take care of himself in a fight, but the mysterious Mr. Castle took the assassin down with relative ease. Lockwood and McCallister were both arrested and the senator knew that he needed to back off for a while to re-group. He knew that neither man would ever talk as they both had something to lose.

Things were quiet for a few months as a plan was devised to break Lockwood out of prison so he could complete his assignment. Another assignment was given to Hal that he could complete while in prison and tie up the loose end that Gary McCallister had become.

Everything was going according to plan until Roy Montgomery decides to develop a conscience. He knew Bracken well enough to know that a 'clean up' was in progress and that Kate Beckett and possibly himself are part of it. Unfortunately, the captain was correct. Lockwood orders Montgomery to deliver the detective to him at a private airport outside the city. When the assassin and few of his 'helpers' arrive at the airport hangar, they find Montgomery alone, deciding to make his last stand there. Lockwood and the others were killed in the firefight, but not before Hal shot the captain.

Bracken then enlists the services of Cole Maddox to put an end to the annoying detective once and for all. Once again Richard Castle screws up his plans by alerting her of the sniper just before the shot was fired. Maddox's specialty was long range sniper hits and only a trained eye for such things would have been able to realize what was happening.

As the detective lay in the hospital recovering from her near fatal attack, the senator receives a call from a mysterious Mr. Smith warning him to leave Beckett alone or face dire consequences. The fact that Smith knew that he was involved at all was reason enough to back off. Obviously this man had proof and would use it if necessary. An uneasy truce was made by the senator to buy time. Time he would use to figure out just exactly what evidence Smith had on him and how to take it away. There was one caveat – detective Beckett had to drop anything related to her mother's murder.

Nearly a year passes in silence until the power brokers that were supporting the senator decided that it was time for him to make a serious run at the White House. Two things were required, a well funded war chest, and a closet clear of skeletons. His backers would supply the funds but it was up to him to clean out his closets..

Once again Cole Maddox was chosen with two tasks. One, find the mysterious Mr Smith and secure whatever evidence that he may have by any means necessary. And two, take care of detective Katherine Beckett once and for all. Bracken wasn't concerned with the details as to how or why and Maddox was only concerned with results.

It came as quite a surprise when the senator was confronted by the detective while at a political rally for the vice-president. Beckett provided enough proof that she could end his political career and put him in prison for the rest of his life with a single account number. Maddox and Smith were both dead. He agreed to a truce with the detective – her safety in exchange for keeping the evidence that she had hidden away forever. He would use this time to find a way to gain the upper hand.

Things were going smoothly until the senator tried to defy his backers on key platform ideas. Bracken learned quickly that these people were as ruthless in seeing their agenda followed as he was. The failed attempt on his life was proof of that. The irony wasn't wasted that it was detective Beckett who saved his life. He was now indebted to the one person that could end his life as he knew it. The scales needed to be in balance.

Losing his backers meant losing a considerable portion of the war chest they were preparing for a run at the White House. Bracken needed money and lots of it just to make it through the primaries. Past practices came to mind and that meant dealing with some unsavory characters, people like Vulcan Simmons. There was a reason why Simmons was never convicted of any crimes in New York and it had nothing to do with him being a good citizen. The two had a partnership of sorts that was mutually beneficial to both of them. Simmons got to do as he pleased as long as a percentage of all income made its way to the senator. This arrangement had help to fund two congressional and one senate campaign. For a serious run at the oval office, Vulcan would have to expand his operations.

To pull something like this off, Bracken needed to make sure that there would be no one in his way. Kate Beckett and her team posed a threat. He knew that in spite of their 'truce', she would seize any opportunity to bring him down. If they could split the team up somehow, there was less of a chance of them being able to find out anything about his plans. It was a confidant that gave him the idea of bringing her to Washington DC using the old 'keep your friends close, but your enemies closer' cliché. He could keep her far away from New York and the case while keeping a close eye on her. Getting rid of Mr Castle was the icing on the cake.

Deputy director Freedman of the AG's office became an unwitting ally in the game. After a quick call, Freedman was very interested in the detective that had saved the life of his 'friend'. Bracken explained that he felt he owed her for that. Freedman knew nothing at all about a meeting with a special agent Cochran and Kate Beckett and if things went according to plan, he never would.

X-X-X

Kate Beckett stared out the window of the plane as she took one last look at the place that she had called home nearly her entire life. A single tear escaped from her eye as she thought about everything that she was giving up. She told herself again and again how she was doing this to protect them all. It never dawned on her that by dividing the team, she made each of them an easier target, especially herself. Kate wondered if she'd ever see any of them again, and if she did, would they understand what she did and why.

Six Weeks Later:

Richard Castle may not know everything, but one thing that he knew for certain was that he hated working with anyone involved in making movies. The final script bore little resemblance to his novel. He did fight to keep at least the tone of the move the same as his book. Far too many compromises to either shrink time or money from the movie were made to suit him. His involvement was nearly over for now. Rick promised to help promote the movie at the appropriate time and attend the premier.

Alexis was coming back from Costa Rica next week and he looked forward to seeing her again. Things have been strained with his mother since their confrontation about Beckett. The fact that there had been absolutely no contact from Kate since the swings was proof that he was right. She had moved on and it was time for him to do the same. He was flying back to New York on the red-eye later this week and could hardly wait. Rick was looking forward to seeing his 'friends' again. Lanie, Kevin and Javi would forever be a part of his life and he truly liked them.

3,000 miles away Kate Beckett smiled as she looked at her newly minted badge and ID. Used to being the youngest to accomplish things with the NYPD, it was off-putting to be one of the oldest in her class of recruits in Quantico. Nearly all were fresh graduates from various colleges across the country. While she wasn't completely ostracized by the others, they kept their distance from her. It didn't matter to Kate, she wasn't there to make friends. She was able to test out of most of the training thanks to her experience, spending the majority of her time learning federal regulations and procedures. She would be assigned to a senior agent for a period of time which was fine with her.

The upside of being so busy and keeping focused was she had no time to dwell on the others she left behind. Just a few phone calls with her father during her time in training, nothing more. Even these calls were brief and never addressed anything other than 'safe' topics. One time Jim tried and was shut down immediately by his daughter, saying she had things to do and ending the call. Kate was so sure that her mission was righteous that she couldn't allow any doubts to creep into her thoughts.

She had the weekend off before Kate started her new 'job' on Monday and briefly considered returning to New York. She still had a 'husband' that needed taking care of. Attempts to send Rogan O'Leary dissolution papers had been fruitless. 'Maybe a face to face meeting was needed' she thought. 'I could fly up to New York, get my bike and ride upstate to hunt him down.'

A plan was quickly formulated and as she booked her flights on her laptop and notified her supervising agent that she would be out of town for the weekend. A quick trip to her new apartment so she could drop off her belongings that she kept with her at Quantico and she'd be on her way. It felt good to have a plan.

Rick managed to get an earlier flight than he originally planned, which was fine with him. While he loved northern California, he couldn't get away from LA fast enough to suit him. He hadn't made as much progress with his new novel as he had hoped, but was confident that the concept and outline was good enough to keep Gina off of his back. He wanted to do more research before he started in ernest.

His flight arrived at nearly midnight local time and he should have been tired. Still on LA time however, he was pleased to be 'home'. He had made arrangements with his car service before he boarded the flight so transportation was not a problem. As he nearly ran through JFK to the exit he caught a glimpse of her and froze in his tracks, sure that his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Kate's flight had been delayed twice due to thunderstorms in the DC area. Her flight finally touched down at 11:45 pm, two hours later than planned. She was tired and wanted nothing more than a good night's sleep before she made her trip upstate to track down her evasive 'husband'. Kate called her father as soon as they were allowed to turn on their phones to tell him that she would be arriving later than she planned. She was glad that she had talked him out of meeting her at the airport. She was walking as fast as the other traffic would allow her to in the crowded airport, her carry-on bag in tow, when she thought she spotted him approaching the exit from the opposite direction.

Of all the things that Katherine Beckett had prepared herself for during her trip to New York, running into Richard Castle at the airport wasn't one of them. She hoped that he didn't recognize her as she continued her brisk pace towards the exit, but seeing him stop the way he did, Kate knew that he did. Not knowing how to face him, Kate did what she did best, she ran away heading straight for the women's restroom.

A million thoughts raced through his mind as they made brief eye contact. 'Why was she in New York? Did she change her mind? Did something happen?' Rick watched as she lowered her head and walked quickly to the women's restroom pretending that she didn't see him and knew that he was the last person that she wanted to talk to right now. He stood outside the woman's restroom for what seemed like hours, but was only a couple of minutes, hoping that Kate would come out. It was when he saw her sneaking out the other entrance that he knew there was no hope for them.

Kate sat in a stall in the restroom and tried desperately to regain her composure. 'What are the odds of running into him like this? What would he think of me if he knew the real reason for my trip?' She shook off the thought of talking to him knowing that her resolve would weaken. She had a mission. She had to follow it through. Exiting the stall, she walked through the restroom and made her way to the exit farthest from where she entered. Kate quickly walked towards the exit never looking back. 'Its for the best', Kate told herself as she walked into the night.