Disclaimer : Castle is the property of ABC. This chapter features some dialogue from 7x18 At Close Range
The insistent ringing of her cell phone drags Beckett from her slumber. Still barely awake she picks up the offending item from the bedside table and answers it without looking at who is calling. While most people would be concerned at an early morning phone call, countless early morning calls from dispatch have her just mildly irritated at being awoken.
"Hello?" she answers instead of her usual "Beckett" and that along with her subdued voice indicates how deeply she was under before the offending call.
"Hey, Beckett. Ryan and I have got something you really need to see. Can you join us at the crime scene?" she hears on the phone in the distinctive and unexpected voice of her husband. Unexpected because it is Castle's voice on the phone and the last time she saw him he was lying in bed beside her. This has her shooting up from where she is lying to look over her shoulder.
"What?" she almost shouts as she sees the truth of Castle's absence by the thrown back covers and very cold and empty sheets next to her. How did he get out of bed without her realising? She asks herself.
"Uh, we've figured out some things relating to Carolyn Decker's murder that will open the case right back up again. If you come down to the New Amsterdam Hotel we'll be able to show you," a now nervous sounding Castle explains down the phone.
Beckett scrubs her free hand in front of her face as she tries to wipe away the last cobwebs of sleep that are preventing her fully taking in the full implications of what Castle is saying.
"O..Ok, I'll be down there as soon as I can," she agrees finally as she knows that only by going to track down her night wandering husband will she get any answers.
"Great! See you soon," signs off Castle far too cheerily for this time of the morning in her opinion.
Beckett drops the phone onto the bed and then flops back down to stare at the ceiling briefly before getting up. This is going to be a long day, she thinks, as she huffs away the hair that has fallen in front of her eyes.
As Beckett walks through the lobby of the New Amsterdam hotel, now totally awake and alert, she ponders what she is about to find or rather what Castle and Ryan have found. She wonders about what that could be for a quite a few reasons.
Firstly, CSU had already gone over the crime scene with their usual efficiency so she finds it very unlikely that it is any physical evidence that they missed. Secondly, they have Eric Chambers in custody and everything they do have points to him being the shooter. And finally, she knows that Castle has been a bit preoccupied since the start of the case as he has started is NYPDA Detective training in earnest.
Not that he hasn't been contributing to the case as he usually does. It's just that she can see that some of his attention and concentration has been diverted by the study and various duties that the boys have assigned him in their roles as his TOs. She's keeping an eye on the two detectives and what they are assigning Castle but so far the tasks they have given him have been appropriate.
At the start of the case Espo had Castle run down the names of everyone that worked at the hotel and attended Carolyn Decker's event, to check for any obvious red flags, like criminal records. Just the type of work to give a trainee detective. That was on top of the physical training regime that Espo has started him on. She's quizzed Espo herself about it, because whenever she asked Castle he had just shrugged and given a placating comment like "Nothing he can't handle."
Espo had run though with her the cardio and weight training he has started Castle on to build up his core strength before commencing the more rigorous and specific training. It didn't sound too dissimilar to what she and Castle did together at the gym in their building in Broome Street from time to time. So she was pleasantly surprised at how genuine and professional Espo was being about it.
Not that she doubts his professionalism, she just knows that he'll see this whole situation as too good an opportunity to miss to have fun some with Castle. That's why she was going to continue to monitor every task her two subordinates give her husband. She won't let them take advantage of the situation too much. She'll allow them to enjoy themselves, within reason, but is ready to step in if anything looks like it will get out of hand.
Due to Ryan's understandable distraction with this case he had yet to give Castle anything other than some routine tasks and study from the training packet supplied by the Academy. A murder having been committed, right in front of him and of a person he was arguably supposed to be protecting had obviously diverted any significant ideas he might have of things to do with Castle's training. That is until tonight by the looks of things as she steps into the backstage area that is the crime scene.
To say she is surprised by the sight that greets her as she enters the crime scene is an understatement. Last time she was here the scene had been searched by CSU for evidence and there was the very apparent indication that a person had been shot there. The tape outline of a body, the detritus from the EMT's attempts to keep Carolyn Decker alive and a very prominent blood stain. Now the whole area is dominated by large cardboard shapes and multi-coloured beams of light. That the target silhouettes and laser pointers now positioned around the space are the work of Castle and Ryan is confirmed by the voices she hears as she enters.
"Right…How about now?" asks Ryan
"That looks good," replies Castle.
"Ok," acknowledges Ryan.
At that moment Castle notices her arrival as he appears from behind one of the silhouettes and pipes up, "Oh, good. You're here!"
"What is this? What are you guys doing?" Beckett asks incredulously.
"Ah, well, Ryan was working all night and he texted me," responds Castle gesturing towards Ryan who joins them. Ryan stands beside and a little behind Castle with three green laser beams between her and the two men.
"You texted Castle and not me?" she queries Ryan equally surprised at that fact.
Ryan looks between Beckett and Castle as he answers "Well, when you have a crazy theory you don't call the voice of reason. Plus I thought it would be a good training opportunity to show Rook here how to properly map ballistics at a crime scene."
"Dude, I thought we agreed that if I helped you with this that you would stop calling me Rook," declares a frustrated Castle as he rolls his eyes.
"Sorry, Castle," responds a slightly sheepish Ryan.
"O..O..Ok guys. So what theory?" interrupts Beckett before the two of them get distracted.
"Eric Chambers is not our shooter. We got the wrong guy," says Castle confidently as he and Ryan fist bump in triumph.
Beckett looks around in amazement at everything the two men have accomplished while she was sleeping. As she gets past her shock her detective mind starts to see what they are talking about. She makes out the figures that represent Carolyn Decker and Congressman Lopez and, from Ryan's own statement, the position of Chambers. The beams of light clearly show that, given the injuries both Carolyn and the Congressman suffered, the shots couldn't have come from Chambers.
"Yeah, I think I can see what you both are getting at," says Beckett as she looks closer at the tracks of the shots indicated by the lasers. "Anyway, that's how you're going to explain to Gates that you've blown open the closed of all closed cases. That it was all part of training Castle?"
"Ah, well that's why we called you in now. We thought that when dealing with the voice of authority then it was time for the voice of reason," suggests Ryan logically.
Beckett rolls her eyes and is tempted to voice her idea of the real reason they want her to bring this to Gates. That they are both scared of the said voice of authority.
"Uh huh. Well, we'll all go in, together, to bring this to Gates," concedes Beckett before her curiosity get the better of her. "So Ryan. How did your trainee do?"
Ryan glances at Castle who has turned towards him, eager to hear his assessment of his performance, and answers with a slightly jesting twinkle in his blue, Irish eyes, "Weellll, he did OK for a newbie at this."
"Ok? OK? And a newbie? I'll have you know that I have plotted countless crime scenes for my books not to mention all the ones I've accompanied you guys to over the years. I'm more than well versed in the methods to track ballistic trajectories. As you can plainly see here," objects Castle gesturing around the room.
"All right, Castle. You did a good job. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you. I'll be sure to give this a favourable write up in your evaluation," placates Ryan at Castle's indignation.
"Yeah, well it's good to hear that he was able to help you, Ryan, and that dragging my husband from my bed, without telling me, wasn't for nothing," she returns to Ryan with an arched eyebrow. Just to let the detective know that she won't let Castle become a slave to the whims of the boys.
"Rodger that boss," acknowledges Ryan guiltily.
Beckett nods in her own acknowledgement of Ryan's answer, turns and starts to walk out of the crime scene. As Ryan starts following her Castle looks around and gestures at all the equipment around the room.
"Uh, guys? What about all this stuff? Are we just going to leave it here?" asks Castle to their receding backs.
"Don't you know it's the trainee's detective's job to pack up, Castle," calls Beckett over her shoulder. While she's prepared to watch his back he's still got to learn that being a detective isn't just coming up with wild theories but involves a lot of basic, hands on work.
"Speaking as your TO, she's right, Castle," adds Ryan as he and Beckett leave a perturbed Castle standing in the room looking around at everything he now has to pack away.
With a sigh and a shrug of his shoulders Castle mutters to the room as he moves towards the nearest silhouette, "Yeah, Yeah! I can't believe I asked for all this. What was I thinking?"
The case is over. Megan Brooks, the assistant to Congressman Lopez, is the killer and she is in holding as Beckett starts taking down the pictures from the murder board. Unfortunately for Ryan the extent of his brother-in-law, Frank's, involvement has also been discovered.
"Backstabbing, adultery and betrayal. That is why I hate politics. Representatives of the people should be honourable. They should be trustworthy," declares Beckett passionately as she places the pictures in the evidence box that Castle is holding.
"Well, I'm sure some of them are but Washington could probably use a few more people that think the way you do," responds Castle as he carries the box over to his wife's desk. Putting the box down he notices something under an old, used envelope on her desk. Moving to one side he sees a black book titled NYPD CAPTAIN'S EXAM TUTORIAL and from the top of the text book a sheet of paper is peeking with CAPTAIN'S EXAM APPLICATION printed on it.
"What's this?" he asks curiously as he picks up the text book to look at it better.
"Oh, study materials," responds Beckett offhandedly as she carries over more items from the board and place them in the evidence box.
"For the Captain's exam. So, are you going to go for it?" he asks with interest. This, he thinks, must be one of the priorities that she thought of after encountering Chief Inspector Zhang. For him it's a natural step for her. In fact he's surprised that she hasn't taken it before now. It will also be a strange synchronicity that the both of them are studying for changes in their careers at the same times.
"Well, it's the next step. I'm not sure if it's the right one, yet, but I figured I'd take the test. See how I do," she replies easily. Totally open to him about what she is doing.
A serious look crosses his face as some of this implications of this course of action occur to him, "And if you do well?"
"Then maybe that will make my decision for me," she responds with a smile and a slight shrug of her shoulders, not picking up on the change in Castle's attitude. "You ready to go home?"
They need to talk about this, thinks Castle, but not here, at the precinct. Home is too far away, however, as he wants to talk about what is bothering him sooner rather than later.
"Yeah, but how about we stop at Remy's for dinner?" he asks easily, offering his arm. He's not wanting to make this heavy as those type of conversations never end well for them.
Beckett has finally realised that something is bothering Castle, that he wants to talk about something and that he doesn't want to wait until they get home. She takes his arm as she responds carefully, "Sure, sounds good."
The couple is quiet as they walk, still arm in arm, the few busy blocks from the precinct to Remy's. They don't break their contact until they reach the diner where Castle releases Beckett so that he can open the door for her. With a smile and nod of thanks at his usual chivalry Beckett precedes him inside. She makes her way straight to their usual booth, near the back, which is, fortunately, vacant this evening.
As Beckett slides into one bench seat, Castle slides into the one opposite her while also signalling for service. The bubbly, young, red haired waitress arrives at the table eager to serve two of her regular customers.
"Mr Castle, Detective Beckett. Great to see you here again. Did you want your usuals or can I get you something else this evening?" asks the eager young woman in her white and red uniform.
After getting a nod of assent from Beckett, Castle answers the server with his usual charm, "Yes, thank you, Penny. The usual for the both of us, please."
"Sure thing, Mr Castle. One grilled chicken burger and one cheeseburger, each with a side of fries and one chocolate and one strawberry shake coming right up," responds the woman enthusiastically as she turns away to fill the order.
With their food on the way Castle turns his attention back to his wife and as their eyes meet he decides to weigh right in with what is bothering him. Indicating to the large book that Beckett has placed on the table between them he says, "So, Kate. When and I mean when, not if, because we both know you'll ace the exam, you pass the Captain's exam what will that mean for my becoming an Auxiliary Detective so that I can stay as your partner?"
Beckett reaches across the table to take both of Castle's hands in hers as she responds, "Babe, I know that IF I pass the exam that most likely I'll be put in charge of a precinct and that as a result our working partnership will change. Running a precinct is a lot more admin work and a lot less investigating of individual cases but not always. You've seen Gates weigh in on the high profile cases and in fact she keeps across most of the cases that not only homicide but all the divisions at the 12th are investigating."
"So how will I fit into that? Don't get me wrong, Kate, I want you to go for promotion. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more I just want us to consider how we can adapt what I'm already doing into such new responsibilities for you," says Castle squeezing her hands in reassurance.
"Well, for a start, there is a chance they might keep me at the 12th if it's likely that Gates is looking to move on in the near future. They might promote me to Lieutenant, in the interim, and make me officially second in command and then when Gates gets promoted or transfers to another job then promote me to be Captain of the 12th. In that case you can still stay as my partner because as a Lieutenant they will still have me running cases."
"And what about when you do become Captain or if they promote you straight to Captain and put you in charge of some other precinct?" pushes Castle.
"If that's the case then I'll make it clear that you and I are a package deal and that where I go the first NYPDA Detective goes with me. Ok, so we won't be investigating as many cases as we did before but we'll still be able to contribute with the more meaty cases and not just homicides but robberies, narcotics, vice and all the other crimes that pass through your average precinct. I might even be able to use you as my own personal floating investigator. You could help me by keeping me updated on the progress of a variety of the more important cases in our precinct," suggests Beckett.
Castle pauses as he contemplates Beckett's idea and their food is delivered by a smiling Penny. Once their meals are laid out in front of them and the waitress has left he nods as he thinks of the possibilities, "That could work. Though I don't want to become known as the Captain's narc. I'll probably have a hard enough time being accepted at some new precinct. They might not accept or trust me because they could see me as just getting the job because of being your husband or because of my relationship with the Mayor."
"Oh, I don't know Castle. I think all you have to do is buy any new precinct a fancy espresso machine and hand out a few Knicks tickets and you'll have everyone eating out of the palm of your hand," she reassures him light-heartedly.
Castle smiles in acknowledgment at her light teasing and the couple pause their discussion to each take bites out of their respective burgers. After they have both taken a few bites of burgers and fries and sips of their shakes they continue.
"Castle, if you're really worried about this I can pass on taking the exam. I can find another way to challenge myself," proposes Beckett.
"Oh no, Kate! I said I want this for you as well. Look, I'm sure whatever happens that we'll keep our working partnership, one way or the other. Hey, it might even be fun adapting to a new situation but do you think I should keep going with becoming an NYPDA Detective?" asks Castle.
Beckett now squeezes his hand back, also in reassurance as she answers, "Yes, Rick. You should keep going. In fact as an NYPDA Detective it might make it easier for you to follow me to a new precinct. Make it a formal transfer. Anyway, after all the effort you and Bob went through to get NYPDA Detectives created it would be a waste for you to drop out now."
"Yes, you're right. It would be a waste of all that effort plus in wouldn't look good if I just quit at the first obstacle. It would reinforce the opinions of those that think I'm just a dilettante writer in it for myself."
"No one that matters thinks of you like that, Babe. Now that's all settled. I'll sit the Captain's exam and you'll continue to train to become an NYPDA Detective and no matter what we'll adjust to whatever the future holds."
"And no matter what that future holds we'll be there together, side by side, partners in crime, Always," affirms Castle and Beckett gives a misty smile at the sincerity and sentiment of his words.
"Ok, so eat up. We both have a lot of studying to do," suggests Beckett happy now that Castle is reassured that their future as work partners will continue regardless of whatever changes occur.
The next morning at the Castle loft
Alexis Castle has just fixed herself a bowl of cereal and is about to take a seat at the kitchen counter when she notices the pile of books on the nearby dining table. Normally she wouldn't dream of snooping but what with her Dad's grand scheme to become an NYPDA Detective getting off the ground there's been enough changes in her home for her not to be curious.
As she looks over the titles of the various books she sees that most obviously relate to her Dad's aforementioned new career yet one book's title leaps out at her. The one about the NYPD Captain's exam. So looks like Dad isn't the only one that is looking to change their status with the NYPD. Everyone seems to coming up with all these great ideas about their futures. She just wishes she could.
When her Dad sat her down and told her of his idea to try and cement is working partnership with Kate by becoming an Auxiliary Detective she had been surprised and apprehensive. She's always held a deep in the gut fear of the harm that could befall her Dad as he shadows Kate. Now with him formally becoming a Detective and no longer just 'playing' cop he is possibly in even more danger.
She is comforted however by the fact that he is doing this to stay close to Kate. Alexis knows, especially after her Dad's disappearance, that Kate will do anything to protect her Dad. Just like, from the look she'd seen in her Dad's eyes as he'd sent her and Grams to Paris recently, that he would do anything for Kate. Therefore it really shouldn't be such a surprise that he'd come up with this Auxiliary Detective idea as a means to stay as Kate's partner and prevent a reoccurrence of what happened after Christmas.
She'd seen for herself how badly his banishment from the precinct had affected him not only for the humiliation at having being thrown out but also because he was prevented from being at Kate's side. She'd had the same feelings on his behalf and was one of the reasons she so supported him during his time as a PI. Of course she saw through the reasons why he became a PI. Partly he did it to continue to push himself and his intellect by solving cases. Partly he did it as another means of research for his writing. However, mostly, it was an attempt for him to keep active in Kate's cases and in some small way, be her partner.
Now he is embarking on this new career and it looks like Kate is looking to start a new chapter of her own career as well by applying to become a Captain. Again, she's not surprised that Kate has started down this road either. Her Dad had told her of their encounter with the Detective from Hong Kong and how it unsettled Kate. She'd scarcely believed him because Alexis could hardly see a situation where her fierce, confident and strong step-mother could be anything but. Yet she'd seen for herself Kate pondering a list of priorities that she'd drawn up for herself after the visit if the Hong Kong Detective.
Kate had even surprised her by seeking her guidance about one of the things she'd considered, going back to college. Apparently one of the things that Kate had considered was going back to school to get her law degree. So she'd come to Alexis, as the person in the family with the most recent college experience, for her opinion on Kate's idea. Alexis had told her that she'd thought that Kate would do fine going back to college. In fact Alexis finds it hard to think of anything her step-mother couldn't do, if she puts her mind to it.
Presently it looks like Kate has decided to try her hand at a different type of study. Again, that she has chosen an option that means Kate stays a cop, is not a surprise. Like her Dad she knows how much her profession means to Kate. Also, perhaps Kate doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize the working partnership with her Dad now that he is trying to become a member of the NYPDA to work with her. Obviously she has decided that by studying for promotion she can still strive for something more while maintaining the working partnership with her Dad.
She smiles wryly to herself as she sits down at the dining table, takes a spoonful of cereal and starts leafing through the pages of one of her Dad's text books. Perhaps she should suggest a family study night as a new family activity. Then again she envies her parents and the certainty that they both seem to have developed for their lives future directions. Again she wishes she had such clarity.
All through her time at high school and even before that she had striven to get to college. And, besides the brief blip of her initial, unsuccessful attempt to go to Stamford, she had achieved just what she had striven all those years for. Now she is living her dream of studying at a college of her choice yet she seems to have lost her way slightly. The trouble with being good at so many subjects is that she's not sure what her true passion is. Where her future career lies.
Idly reading the contents of one of the books she eats another spoonful of cereal and ponders her own future. She looks at what her Dad is doing and now what Kate is starting and she wishes she could share their drive. Ultimately what both her parents are doing is to seek justice for victims and their families. She greatly admires them so much for that. She wishes she could choose a career just as admirable.
Maybe what they are doing are giving her some ideas as well.
A/N : I thought it was about time for Alexis to turn up in this and as you can see I've drawn on a line she has in Hollander's Woods to give her own little storyline in this.
I am sorry for taking so long before updating. I do have an excuse. I spent the weekend in Sydney at a con featuring one Nathan Fillion, who I also met. Everything they say about him is true. He is a utter gentleman. On top of it all work is getting busy so for the moment I will try to maintain at least a weekly update. I will try to bring out chapters sooner but I can't promise anything.
Thank you all that are sticking with this.