AN: Thanks for the reviews! As I said in the summary, I have completed the story and am posting it a chapter or two per day. There are fourteen chapters in all. Thanks for taking the time to read and I always welcome constructive criticism. Now, on with the story...

CHAPTER 4 – Peeling the Hidden Layers

Dak Thorne inwardly smiled at the gathering in his office. He looked down once again at the paperwork in front of him and sighed. This was not going to be a fun few days. He watched the people in front of him all chatting quietly in groups. The soon to be re-sworn agent was surrounded by his partner and family…they were brought in at the request of the CIA liaison to witness this. Standing at the fringe of the group was a couple of his agents, Jordan Shaw and Will Sorenson. Shaw was a roving SAC that had worked with Rogers previously and Sorenson was in Quantico in training when he had run into Detective Beckett, She had been in his file…girlfriend at one point. Hmmm…might be interesting to watch…he is sending glares at Rodgers…not sure he knows what is going on.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Thorne buzzed in his surprise guest and watched Rodgers.

TCOP

Rick heard the knock and looked towards the door as someone entered. His eyes widened when he realized who it was. "Jason?"

Jason Gideon cocked his head and smirked. "I heard some has-been agent was getting reinstated and thought it worth the trip to see which loser conned his way back in."

Rick huffed. "Loser!? You're joining us?"

The two men glared at each other before bursting out laughing. Gideon came over and hugged Rick while whispering in his ear. "Isn't writing novels about gorgeous detectives enough anymore, Ricky?"

Rick let go of the man. "Plenty for me, Jason. Oh, meet my partner, Kate Beckett."

Gideon turned toward her. "Detective Beckett! I have to say that Nikki Heat pales in comparison. It's a pleasure to meet the woman who tamed Wild Rick here."

Rick groaned and turned towards the Director. "Sir, are we ready? My reputation is getting tarnished."

Director Thorne chuckled. "Oh, I don't know Rodgers." He tapped Rick's file. "I think you did quite a number for yourself already! But yes, we should proceed."

At the clearing of his throat the chatting died down. "Thank you all for coming in today. To many of you, the man next to me is a legend. To some of you he is a loved one. To many who are now serving time his name invokes fear. To me he is a lost son returning to the fold. As those of you who are already sworn remember, you do not join the FBI. You are tested and evaluated in all that you do. To rise above the status of Agent to Special Agent is a monumental task and not all are cut out for it. To move above that to Supervisory Special Agent takes an extraordinary person. SSA Rodgers left us for a higher calling; to take care of his family." He nodded to Rick.

"He rose to join the BAU and worked with that team for two years before he left us. He was among the best profilers in the history of the FBI so he was very good at disappearing.

"But the hand of justice draws the best back just as it has today. When evil rises, so must the protectors. Today we raise our shield once again against our foe."

"SSA Rodgers, front and center please."

TCOP

As Kate listened to the Director's speech, she watched Rick stand straighter and she watched the rest of the room. Shaw's eyes glistened. Will looked murderous; looks like he finally got who Rick actually was.

Martha and Alexis dabbed at their eyes in pride. Gideon smiled serenely as if all was right with the world. The man in the corner had kept to himself but he was smiling at Rick (even though Rick's back was to him). He looked over at Kate and winked with eyes that she knew belonged to her boyfriend. She looked up as the clapping began and when she looked back to the corner the man was gone.

TCOP

"…and with that SSA Rodgers is now promoted to SAC Rodgers and is assigned to Task Force 12-38 as its Commander. Congratulations, Rodgers…and Godspeed."

Rick nodded and turned around as the clapping began and immediately looked for Kate, She winked at him as people came up to him to congratulate him. He watched as the ones in the room walked by and Alexis hugged him. Gideon shook his hand and gave him a card with a phone number before heading out the door. Shaw shook his hand and let him know she would be in the meeting in thirty minutes; she just had to take care of something first.

The Director watched Sorenson leave and Shaw followed. He noted to himself that the CIA liaison ducked out right before the swearing in but had been watching Sorenson. He was sure he would be told what happened later.

He came around his desk and shook Rodgers hand. He smiled at the three ladies surrounding the newly minted SAC and let them know that an Agent would be there shortly to get them home. The group broke up then with Alexis and Martha leaving and Kate following Rick out towards the conference room to the meeting that marked the beginning of the end for the Dragon.

TCOP

Kate followed Rick into the briefing room. Several rows of seats faced an elevated stage that had a table with five chairs. She looked at the nameplates in front of the chairs and was surprised to find her own last name at the first chair right of center. Mirroring hers was Jordan's and Rick's was in the center. She didn't recognize the other two names but followed Rick up to the table and sat down.

She watched Jordan enter and say hello to a few people before sitting in her seat. Rick was speaking to the Director off to the side of the room and more agents were entering and finding seats. She looked down in front of her and saw an envelope with her name and "Eyes Only" stamped in red. The other seats had packets as well. She felt more than saw someone take the seat next to her and she turned to look into a very familiar pair of blue eyes...the problem was they were in the wrong face. This was the man from the corner of the Director's office.

"Ah, Detective Beckett! It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Jackson Hunt."

Kate took the proffered hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Hunt. You look familiar...have we met?"

He grinned a very familiar grin. "I would remember, Detective. I have not had the pleasure."

She couldn't place him, but she knew him somehow. "So, are you FBI?"

Hunt chuckled. "No, I work for a different agency. I'm just here to consult and observe." He smiled at her and looked over her shoulder. "Looks like Rodgers is getting ready to start. I'm sure we'll get acquainted as we work through this Op."

She turned around to see Rick approaching the lectern and noticed that the last seat at the table had been filled by a female. The young woman looked a little star-struck as Rick passed her. Kate's hackles rose a bit but then she noticed Rick wink at her before schooling his features and facing the rest of the team. Rick nodded at agents near the rear and the door was closed.

"Welcome to the first tactical briefing of task force 12-38 Codename: Dragonslayer. I am SAC Rodgers formerly of the BAU and SpecOps. To my right is my second in command SSA Shaw; she will be coordinating Tech and Research teams while I run Field Ops. If she gives you an order, do it! To my left is Detective Beckett of the NYPD. She is seconded to me from that department and is a Subject Matter expert and our liaison with the NYPD. To her left is Deputy Director Hunt with the CIA; he is here to consult and observe as well as provide support if we have to extend internationally. To my far right is SA Harper and she will be our liaison with the Director.

"The command team with the exception of Harper will be working out of the New York Field Office. The rest of you will be assigned to Tech, Research or Field Ops teams. Tech and Research will mostly work from here; Field Ops will be in New York."

He looked around the room. "You have each been assigned to this Task Force because you have all been vetted to be above reproach. This Op is expected to last a few months during which time there will be a communications blackout. Only the Command team will be able to have external communications while this op runs. Any questions so far?"

Rick took a couple minutes to look around the room but there were no questions. He nodded and looked at Shaw who smiled slightly and opened her packet. Rick sat down and she stepped to the podium.

She took a moment to look around before speaking. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure you have heard of SAC Rodgers either during your Academy stint or in training. He is a highly respected agent and is a no nonsense team lead. We have a high profile suspect and we are going to be very careful in our approach and we must fully document everything. Anything you find must be reported to either me or Detective Beckett and we will make SAC Rodgers aware of it.

"You have twenty four hours to prepare and be back in this room no later than 1800 hours tomorrow evening. Dismissed."

As the attendees started to leave, Rick turned to Kate. "Not what you expected is it?"

Kate grinned and whispered to him. "You were so different than I am used to but it was a good different."

Rick chuckled. "Open your packet, Kate."

Kate opened the folder and looked at its contents. The first sheet had her name and that she was assigned to the task force. The next page was from the NYPD Commissioner seconding her to the FBI for as long as she was needed. The third sheet stated that she was assigned to the command team as a supervisory consultant. She looked up at Rick with a questioning look.

"It just means that you have the ability to make decisions if Jordan or I are not available. I am planning on you and I being together but you never know so it's a fail-safe."

Kate closed her folder and the meeting soon broke up and they headed out to find some dinner.

TCOP

Kate glanced up at Rick as he sipped his water. She thought back to when she had first met him; he had been very good at hiding his background. She realized even then that there was something about Rick Castle that drew her to him. She smiled when she thought back to taunting him with 'you have no idea' and then walking away with a little extra sway in her hips.

Rick looked up in time to see his girlfriend smile. "What are you thinking about?"

She looked up at him. "The night we met."

He laughed. "Yes, you were hot that night...ah, I remember turning to Alexis and she just grinned at me."

"Did she know about you having been in the FBI?"

"I don't think that she realized it was more than stories. She remembered bits and pieces, but I never went into any great detail. I thought that part of my life was over."

"And then you met me."

He nodded. "And then I met you. Well, officially anyway."

She looked up. "Officially?"

"After I had been around you a few months I saw a picture of your mom...and I remembered her from somewhere. After I looked back at pictures of my old book signings I found a couple of her and you at signings for 'In a Hail of Bullets' and 'Flowers for her Grave'. So yes, Kate...officially."

Kate fought down her urge to blush. "Okay, Rick, I admit that did go with my mom to a couple of signings. I do have a signed copy of those two and maybe one or two others..."

Rick grinned. "I know, Kate. And it's kind of cool." He winked at her. "And I'm glad to at least having met your mom even if it wasn't when you and I got together."

Kate looked at him with tears in her eyes. "She would have loved you, Rick."

"From what you and your dad have said about her I bet I would have loved her too. How could I not? She gave me you."

Kate reached over and squeezed his hands. "You know...at times I am reminded why you are a best-selling author. Cheesy, though."

He grinned and winked at her before he noticed a thoughtful Jordan walking over. He looked back at Kate. "Incoming. Ready?"

TCOP

Jordan was mentally reviewing her 'to-do list'. She had confirmations from all the prospective team members and had contacts ready in several other agencies. She looked over at Rick and Kate laughing and smiled wistfully. It was great that those two finally got together, but if they hadn't she would likely have asked him out.

She knew it would have been a shock to Kate to find out about Rick's background; hell, once she'd realized that Rick Rodgers was Richard Castle she been surprised. But then she thought back to the case she had worked with them and saw his extrapolations for what they were and realized how well he had downplayed his abilities.

She looked up again to realize that she'd been spotted and she made her way over to them. "Hey guys, mind if we take a walk? There are some folks who want to have a quick word with Rick."

Rick and Kate both shrugged and got up. Rick grinned. "Lead on, Macduff." Jordan chuckled and rolled her eyes.

Rick and Kate followed her outside and over to the shooting range. As they got closer, Kate heard Rick laughing softly. Looking over at her boyfriend she saw his face lighten up. She followed his line of sight and saw a group of several people including JJ who she had met earlier. Looking back at Rick, she realized that this must be his old team from the BAU.

Jordan slowed down and motioned for them to stop. She looked over her shoulder grinning at them before she turned to the front again. "Hey, Aaron...got a minute?"

One of the agents turned around at Jordan's call. His taciturn countenance softened and then a warm smile crept onto his face. "Ricky?"

Rick busted out laughing. "Really, A-Ron? You want to start something you can't finish?"

The other agent walked quickly up to Rick and gave him a hug. "I heard you were back but..." His eyes shifted to Kate. "Rick, you want to introduce me?"

Rick rolled his eyes to Kate's surprise. "Sure. Kate Beckett, meet Aaron Hotchner, my ex-partner and now head of the BAU. Aaron, meet Detective Kate Beckett of the NYPD, my girlfriend and current partner."

Kate smiled. "Nice to meet you, Agent Hotchner."

"Aaron, please."

"Kate then." Kate looked to Rick and grinned. "Who don't you know?"

Rick looked over to the others that had been with Aaron. "Let's see. I met Morgan once and you've met JJ. I can't say I know anyone else." Rick looked over at Hotch. "How have you been, Hotch? I heard about Haley...I'm sorry, Aaron. If I had known when it happened I would have been there for you. How's Jack?"

Aaron looked over. "As good as can be expected. Jack and I both had it tough for a while after Haley died...I think he did better than me. He's doing pretty good now. How's Alexis?"

After they traded stories about their kids and explained to Kate about what happened to Haley, he was briefly introduced to the rest of the current BAU team. He and Kate said their goodbyes and made their way back to the car to go to the hotel that he had reserved for the night.