A/N : Yet again apologies for the delay in updating.
Disclaimer : ABC owns and makes Castle. I just like coming up with a little alternative universe from what they own.
WABC-7 Eyewitness News Late Evening Bulletin
In political news New York Congressman Alex Lopez is back in his home town this week attending various fundraising events. Sources on the Hill in Washington have Congressman Lopez as a front runner for his party's nomination for the 2016 presidential race. Many pundits believe that the events the Congressman is attending this week are setting the scene for the announcement of him throwing his hat into the ring for the nomination.
Also in local legislative news the Governor signed into law this evening amendments to the New York Penal Law that recently passed both the New York State Senate and Assembly. The amendments will allow the creation of the new rank of Detective in the NYPD Auxiliary Police. A spokesman from One Police Plaza commented that details of the new rank within the NYPDA will be announced at a press conference to be given by the NYPD Commissioner tomorrow morning.
The 12th Precinct the next morning
Kevin Ryan sits at his desk pouring over the cold case file in front of him and he is so very bored. There is nothing in this file that he can see that indicates some unseen lead that will break this case. Everything that could be done had been done in the case so even with his 'fresh eyes' he can't see anything to follow up and reopen the case with.
Closing the file he leans back in his office chair, laces his hands together behind his head and stretches his body to get out the kinks in his aching muscles. Too many nights at his various moonlighting security gigs are not leaving with him with much time to rest or sleep. Well a little exhaustion is worth ensuring his Sarah Grace gets the best possible education he can afford. He just wishes they had a current case to keep him from nodding off at his desk and not these dusty cold case files.
Tomorrow's not looking any better if a body doesn't drop. Not with Gates having signed them all up to attend a presentation on crime stats. Only a fresh murder will allow them to avoid attending what is sure to be a riveting day, not. At least he and Javi had convinced Castle to attend as well. Having fun at the writer's expense will go a small way towards enlivening what is sure to be a dull exercise.
Ryan is just about to ask his partner, who just like he is hunched over his own cold case file, if he wants a refresh of his mug of coffee when a tone from his cell phone alerts him to the arrival of a text message. As he reaches for his phone, from where it is on his desk top, his curiosity is peaked by the fact that Javi's phone makes a similar sound at almost the same time causing his partner to likewise reach for his phone.
Upon picking up his phone he sees that the text is from Castle and reads, "Check NYPD On-line Newsletter for live stream from 1PP. You might find it interesting. : ) "
"Hey Javi, did you get this text from Castle?" Ryan asks his partner as he turns in his chair to face him. As he does so he instinctively looks over his partner's shoulder at Beckett's empty desk. Neither Beckett nor Castle had been at the precinct all morning. When he'd arrived Gates had told both of them that the couple were attending a meeting at 1PP and would be back just before lunch.
Javier Esposito turns in his office chair to likewise face his partner and responds as he looks with puzzlement at his own phone, "Yeah bro, I got some message from him telling me to watch a live stream from 1PP. What do you think that's all about?"
"I don't know but there's only one way to find out," replies Ryan as he turns back around and reaches for the computer mouse next to the keyboard on his desk.
After a few clicks of the mouse he has the stream in question up on his computer screen. With Esposito watching over his shoulder he sees in the video window, on the screen, the image of a brown, wooden podium with the NYPD crest on it. The podium is flanked by the United States flag on one side and the flag of the city of New York on the other, all in front of a dark blue background. As they watch NYPD Commissioner Hayward walks up to the podium. The Commissioner nods in acknowledgment to some people beyond the camera and then starts talking, looking straight down the lens.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I am here this morning with Chief Barnes, Chief of Detectives Chavez and Auxiliary Deputy Chief McGill to announce the creation of a new rank in the NYPD Auxiliary Police. The rank of Detective. Recent changes to State and City legislation now allow the Auxiliary Deputy Chief and I, in consultation with the Chief of Detectives, to appoint Auxiliary Officers, who undertake specific training, to the rank of Detective. These Auxiliary Detectives will be assigned to a variety of precincts around the five boroughs to assist regular detective squads to solve the complex crimes that detectives of the NYPD face every day. They will be performing all the same duties as regular NYPD Detectives.
Due to the dangerous nature of the work that NYPD Detectives undertake, protecting the citizens of New York, it has also been legislated that the new Auxiliary Detectives will be the first members of the NYPD Auxiliary to carry firearms. This decision was made after careful consideration and with the intention to ensure the safety of the Auxiliary Detectives themselves, their colleagues and the general public. As previously mentioned Auxiliary Detectives will only be appointed after they successfully complete training specifically designed to cover all the responsibilities and requirements of an NYPD Detective. That will include the same vigorous firearms training that all NYPD officers must complete."
Ryan glances over his shoulder at Esposito and asks still just as puzzled as when he read the text from Castle, "Why would Castle want us to see this?"
"I don't know, bro. Maybe this is some kind of joke he's pulling on us? Making us watch some boring press conference and then half way through the screen will suddenly change to some disgusting monster to make us jump," suggests an equally puzzled Esposito.
Before the two detectives can speculate further the Commissioner continues his announcement, "We will be opening up applications to both currently serving Auxiliary Officers and members of the public that volunteer, meet the requirements to join the NYPD Auxiliary and complete the requisite training. Now the idea for this expansion of the role of the NYPD Auxiliary has come about due to one man.
This man is well known to some of you. He is a man that is also familiar to the criminals of New York for the reason that he has helped to put many of them behind bars. He is a man that for over the last six years has volunteered his own time as a consultant with the homicide squad at the 12th precinct…"
At that Ryan and Esposito look at each other again and both mouth in surprise, "Castle?" They both instantly turn their attention back to the screen.
"...and some of you will also be familiar with the series of bestselling novels that this same man has published based on his time working as a consultant with the NYPD. The same novels whose main character is inspired by one of the best and highly decorated homicide detectives in the NYPD who is also his wife, by the way. This man, who has been the driving force for the creation of Auxiliary Detectives, has volunteered to undertake the training to become the very first holder of the rank. This man is willing to commit himself to the calling of the protection of the citizens and laws of New York City. The man of which I speak is the well-known author Richard Castle."
They watch as the Commissioner indicates with a sweep of his left arm and the camera pans to follow where the Commissioner is indicating. An image of their friend and consultant/partner is then shown on the screen, dressed in a smart navy blue suit and standing at the end of the line of top brass standing to one side of the podium. As the camera focuses on him Castle smiles charmingly and nods in recognition of the Commissioner's words. Next to him they see their friend and squad leader, Kate Beckett, standing next to her husband looking only slightly uncomfortable at the attention while also giving him a supportive look.
"Well now that's official might I talk to you both in my office, detectives?" asks Captain Gates suddenly from behind them, causing both men to jump in surprise.
Esposito and Ryan follow Captain Gates into her office, as ordered, and stand before her desk as she takes her seat behind it. She then looks up sternly at the partners and says, "So, detectives, as you saw Mister Castle is going to be the first NYPD Auxiliary Detective but before he becomes a sworn peace officer he must complete a mandatory training program. 1PP forwarded to me this morning the training packet that Mister Castle will be required to complete. As part of his arrangement for the creation of Auxiliary Detectives and his volunteering to be the first one, it has been agreed that the majority of his training be on the job, here, as he continues to work as a consultant and as Detective Beckett's partner."
Esposito and Ryan glance at each other at the Captain's words. Each man is curious as to how this new development in their friend's life will affect them directly.
"With him training at the precinct Mister Castle will require a Training Officer to oversee his training program while also supervising the work he does as part of your team that is relevant for his assessment. While it is usual for a Training Officer to be partnered with the trainee and Mister Castle will be remaining as Detective Beckett's partner, it has been decided that it would not be appropriate, due to their marital status, for Detective Beckett to act as Mister Castle's TO," states Captain Gates looking back and forth between the two detectives in front of her.
Again both men glance at each other. Ryan can see a look of anticipation on Espo's face and can well imagine the glee with which his partner is contemplating the hoops he will make Castle jump through if Gates assigns him as his TO. Personally Ryan wouldn't mind the job both as he's always gotten along with Castle and can see no problem in teaching him all be needs to know to be a Detective. Not that he needs much help with that in Ryan's opinion. Not after all the years Castle has worked with them and the ability he has shown at solving murders during that time.
Before either detective can express their thoughts Gates continues, "Now, taking into account Mister Castle's, let me say, exuberant personality and so not to negatively impact on your team's ability to continue to perform to its usual efficiency I have decided that no one person will be his TO. As a result I require both of you to undertake the duties of TO for Mister Castle."
Gates pushes a very large and thick ring binder across her desk towards the two men as she continues, "This is the training packet that the Auxiliary Deputy Chief and the Academy came up with for Mister Castle. I want you to work out between you which aspects of Mister Castle's training that you will each take responsibility for. I would think that it would make sense for you, Detective Esposito, to be responsible for his physical, weapons and practical training. While you, Detective Ryan perhaps would be best suited instructing Mister Castle in the academic, technical and legal aspects of his training. However, you are free to decide how to proceed between the two of you. I see this as much as an opportunity for you both to show your supervisory and mentoring skills as an opportunity for Mister Castle to learn how to act in the manner required of a member of the NYPDA. This is a further opportunity for you both as this will be a pilot for the training of all Auxiliary Detectives which would look very good in your files for your own future advancement."
"Uh, thank you, sir," responds Ryan as he reaches to pick up the training packet just a little blindsided by this news.
"Ah, yes sir. Thank you for this opportunity," adds Esposito almost taken aback as much as Ryan but still with an eagerness in his expression at the possibilities.
"Now, I want to assure you both that I do believe that either one of you is more than capable to be the TO on their own however, as I said, I wish to preserve this team's abilities and clearance rate at the same level despite the possible distraction of Mister Castle's little project," reassures Gates in a rare moment of empathy.
"We understand, sir," replies Esposito.
"Yes, no problem, sir," adds Ryan with the heavy ring binder tucked under his arm.
"All right then. I suggest you both study that packet as much as you can before Mister Castle and Detective Beckett return from 1PP. I expect you to, baring interference from an active case, have Mister Castle fully engaged in his training program by the end of the week. I also expect to be kept fully appraised of Mister Castle's progress at all stages of the program. That is all, detectives," ends Gates with a nod of her head indicating for the pair to leave her office.
Ryan and Esposito return to their desks and Ryan drops the training packet onto his desk with a very audible thump, due to its heft. They each take their respective seats and Esposito moves his to join Ryan at his desk as he opens the binder to look at its contents.
"Wow, dude. I had no idea Castle was even thinking about doing something like this. Did you?" asks Ryan as he flips through the pages in the binder.
"No way, bro. No idea. I had thought he seemed a bit distracted after he came back from suspension but I put that down to him still being put out about being given the shaft," answers Esposito as he too studies the pages that Ryan is turning through.
"Yeah, I'd noticed that too but like you I thought it was that or maybe because of what he and Beckett went through with Tyson and Nieman. But it does explain that business from the other day with that bag and his and Beckett's meeting with Gates," reasons Ryan.
"Well, besides being able to tell Castle what to do as his TOs you know what else this means?" asks Esposito again with a glint of anticipation in his eye at the situation.
Ryan grins as he gets where his partner is coming from, "Yeah, once he passes and gets his badge then he'll be the 'probie' on the team."
"That's right, bro. We'll be able to give him all the crap assignments. Dumpster diving, doing canvases in six story walk ups in the middle of summer and all the paperwork," responds a gleeful Esposito.
"Uhh, as much as Beckett will let us," cautions Ryan.
"Pfft, I'm not afraid of Beckett," dismisses Esposito but at a look from Ryan he adds. "Well, not much….Ok, she'll probably won't let us get away with too much but she won't be able to protect him all the time. It's what probies are for."
Ryan nods slightly in agreement then a thought obviously passes across his face and then smiles, "You know I've thought of something else to call Castle other than 'probie'. Just to make him stand out but also let him know his place as the junior member of the team."
"What?" asks a quizzical Esposito.
The elevator at the 12th precinctan hour later
"Castle, do you seriously think that buying their lunches will have whichever of the boys is your TO treat you with any leniency?" asks Beckett as she regards the bag of hot, fragrant Chinese take-out that Castle has gripped to his chest.
"Every little bit helps, Beckett. Anyway it's not just for that. It's also to apologize for not telling them about my plan. You know them. They'll probably be put out because I didn't include them. Those two's feelings can be more sensitive than a bat's hearing sometimes," responds Castle with a hint of irony.
The doors of the elevator ding open and the couple step out onto the homicide floor. They barely make it a couple of steps towards Beckett's desk when the two men the couple had been discussing in the elevator come striding towards them purposefully. Obviously both men had been watching the elevator for their return with eagle eyes.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here, Detective Ryan? It looks like two members of our team that have been keeping some extremely relevant information regarding the makeup of said team to themselves," asks a loud and sarcastic Esposito, folding his arms across his chest as he stands in front of the couple.
"Yeah, Detective Esposito. You'd think that a member of our team going to all the trouble of getting them to create a whole new rank in the NYPDA so that he can officially become a member of the team might be something worth mentioning to the other members of that team," adds an equally sarcastic Ryan, folding his arms across his chest, matching his partner.
"Guys, look I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I honestly wasn't allowed to tell anyone until the legislation went through," appeals Castle who then holds up the bag of Chinese. "I've bought lunch for us all. How about we have it in the conference room and I'll tell you all about it and answer any questions you have?"
Both Ryan and Esposito give him a sceptical look, look at each other and then shrug in acceptance and wave for him to proceed them into the conference room. Following behind them all Beckett rolls her eyes and shakes her head at the antics of the males of the species.
Once they are all sitting around the table and each has a take-out container and chopsticks in hand Ryan decides to open up the interrogation, with a twist.
"So Rook, when did you come up with this idea and why?"
Castle pauses, with a portion of noodles halfway to his mouth, and looks at Ryan in confusion as he responds, "Ah it's Castle not Rook. What, are you confusing me with my alter-ego in the Nikki Heat books or something?"
"No, Rook. That's what you get to be called until we decide otherwise," informs Esposito with a mouthful of pot stickers. "It stands for 'Rookie' so get used to it because if you are serious about this that's what you get called. It's not our fault it's the same as some obscure book character you may have based on yourself. So what's the why and when of it all?"
Castle narrows his eyes and opens his mouth to protest both at the 'obscure book character' comment and at being called the name in the first place. He refrains however as he glances over at Beckett and she gives a shake of her head indicating that he should to let it go for now. Sighing in frustration and muttering under his breath, "So unfair," he, more audibly, addresses the detective's queries.
"As for the original idea, I'd researched the details soon after I started following Kate but I didn't have the motivation to go through with it back then. Now, after my banishment from the precinct at Christmas and what happened with Tyson and Nieman I became more than motivated to do something to try and ensure that I can't easily be removed as Kate's partner," explains Castle as he glances again over at Beckett with a glimmer of love in his eyes.
Both the boys nod at Castle's words as he confirms some of their suspicions regarding his motivations.
"So you think that by becoming an Auxiliary Detective it will make it harder to have you kicked out in the future?" asks Ryan with some understanding.
Both he and Javi had known how badly the recent encounter with Jerry Tyson and Kelly Nieman had effected the couple. He'd seen for himself how badly Castle took those days when Beckett was missing so he more than understands where Castle is coming from.
Caste shrugs his shoulders, "It should make it harder at least. It's taken a lot of effort to get this far," he pauses and looks at Beckett again. "But I'm in this. Fully prepared to join you guys in a much more official capacity."
"So the top brass just said yes to your idea just like that? Gee bro, I need you with me next time I go for promotion," raises Esposito.
Beckett weighs in at this point, "Oh, no. It wasn't all plain sailing. Even just this morning, after all the legislation had passed, politics still had to add a bump in the road. Just before the press conference you saw we had to attend a meeting requested by the Chief and the Chief of Detectives. Seems that they weren't happy that this whole idea came about without any input from them."
Castle gives a pointed look at the two other men in the room as he continues the story, "Yes, seems they were annoyed, just like a couple of detectives I could mention, at being left out of the planning. The Chief of Detectives in particular felt that any new position involving detectives should be under his purview. We had to do some last minute negotiating which is why the Commissioner mentioned in the press conference that the Chief of D's would be consulted on any new appointments."
"Typical 1PP politics. Anyway, it's all past now and so all Castle has to do is complete the required training and then he really will be one of us. Not that we already didn't consider you one of us, babe," adds Beckett who reaches over to Castle to grip his hand reassuringly at her words.
"Speaking of training, has Gates spoken to either of you about who will be my TO?" asks Castle half eager to find out and half dreading the answer and what his immediate future might hold as a result.
Esposito and Ryan look at each other again toying with the idea of drawing it out and making Castle sweat over which one of them is going to be his TO. Just like when they were kept in the dark about which one of them was going to be his best man. That it turned out to be Alexis and that neither of their machinations and speculating at the time were for nothing is beside the point for them.
"Maybe. Javi and I did meet with the Captain before you got here and we did talk about a new training program she wanted us involved with," answers Ryan vaguely.
"Yeah, and your new status may also have been discussed. We're just not sure whether you need to know what was discussed," adds Esposito looking at his partner shaking his head. Ryan copies his partner shaking his head and both men lean back in their chairs looking at Castle smugly.
"All right guys. We get it. You didn't like not being told but enough is enough. Just tell him which one of you is going to be his TO," intercedes Beckett.
The boys pause to hold out for just a little longer but then they finally decide to put Castle out of his misery as Ryan pipes up, "Ok, it was decided that I would be Castle's TO…"
"Yes!" interrupts Castle enthusiastically pumping a fist in pleasure and relief but his glee is short lived.
"And it was decided that I also would be your TO. Both of us will jointly be your TO, Rook," informs Esposito.
Castle's eyebrows raise in surprise and his face shows he's not sure how to feel about this development, "Uhh, ok. That's still good, I guess?"
"Oh you better believe it's going to be good, Rook. It's going to be very good…..For us," says a very self-satisfied Esposito.
A/N : So it's official that Castle can become an NYPDA Detective and the boys know and they will both be his TO. Now that I've completed my other in progress story I'll try to have chapters out more frequently. Thanks again to all that are sticking with this story.