AN: Thanks for the overwhelming positive response! As I already said, this is completed, I am just posting a chapter or two per day. I am also writing my next Castle adventure. Please remember, if you recognize it, it isn't mine. I own the plot and some characters. Thanks to Andrew Marlowe and the creators of Criminal Minds and Intelligence for allowing us to play in their sandboxes. And now, the story...

CHAPTER 6 – Peeling the Root

Mark had been as good as his word. He managed to find the details of the bank account and even had scanned copies of the deposit slips and items. Over the next couple of days he had tracked the deposits back to their originating accounts. Rick had thanked him and sent him a nice bottle of wine.

Kate had been holding up well; they theorized back and forth on many things and watched as the details of the case grew. There were some items that they needed more information on and Rick had sent out requests and was awaiting the replies.

The two people riding up in the elevator were nervous. As the doors opened and they stepped out, they zeroed in on their target. He turned and smiled. "JJ, thanks for coming. And you must be the amazing Penelope Garcia."

Garcia blushed. "I don't know about amazing, Agent Rodgers..."

"Call me Rick, please. And Derek Morgan told me you were amazing, so blame him."

Rick waved Jordan and Kate over. "Ladies, you both know JJ and this is Penelope. Penelope is going to run our local Tech efforts. Penelope, Jordan will show you where to go. JJ, you'll stay with Kate and I for now." Jordan led Garcia away. "JJ, you were the best liaison I ever worked with. I know you're a full BAU profiler now, but can you help us out with logistics?"

"Sure, whatever you need."

"Great! Kate will be working with you. I think we have about a week, maybe less before we move. We'll need trustworthy contacts with DC Metro, NYPD, Marshals and Secret Service. Is Riley still with them?"

"No, she got transferred to Cyber Command."

"Damn, okay. Can you see who she'd recommend?"

"Sure. I think she'll be here soon anyway. She's protection detail for your undercover asset that's playing bodyguard."

Rick grinned. "In the immortal words of Hannibal Smith 'I love it when a plan comes together.'"

JJ smirked. "Kate, how do you put up with him?"

"It takes years of practice."

"Hey!"

Jordan walked back over. "Penelope's setting up; she said she should be ready in about 20 minutes."

Rick nodded. "Let's grab a meeting room and bring Jen up to speed." He headed off towards the small conference room, never noticing JJ's blush unlike Kate and Jordan.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "You ok?"

JJ nodded as she started walking. "Yeah, just...I used to crush on him...I know he's yours now...but only he ever calls me Jen or JJ. My mom calls me Jennifer and everyone else calls me JJ."

Kate smiled. "He has a way, doesn't he? C'mon, let's go." They headed into the conference room and updated each other on where they stood.

TCOP

The 12th precinct homicide teams had become a tight-knit group that often referred themselves as family. Often after a particularly tough case, they would decide to go have a drink and unwind. For many years it was a random as to which bar to go to, but not so in the last couple of years. Inevitably they would go to the Old Haunt that was owned by one of their own, Rick Castle.

Lanie looked up and smiled at the server as she approached. "Hi, Dr. Parish! Haven't seen you in a while."

"It has been awhile, hasn't it, Lynn? How are you?"

"I'm good. Busy with work and school. What can I get you?"

Lanie gave her order and let Lynn know that the rest of the team was on their way. She looked around the place that was becoming so full of memories, like when they came during karaoke or when they all came to enjoy life. She had been swamped and hadn't gotten a chance to see her favorite detectives since the week before, so when Javi called her she quickly accepted.

She looked up to see Javi, Kevin and Jenny enter. She looked behind them, expecting to see Kate and Rick but no one was there. When Javi saw her he smiled and she looked down trying to hide her blush. The things that boy did to her!

"Hey, Chica...how's my favorite lady tonight?"

She rolled her eyes and looked up at him. "Javi, does that line ever work?"

Kevin busted out laughing. "Bro, she's definitely got your number."

Javi grinned. "She's had my number for years…and called it a few times."

Jenny giggled as she slid into the booth behind Kevin. "Be nice, love. They're flirting!"

Everyone laughed and Lanie slid further into the booth to allow Javier to sit next to her. "So where are your partners?"

Javi's eyes widened. "You haven't heard? I figured Beckett would have called you!"

"Javier Esposito! What are you talking about?"

"Day before yesterday half of One PP shows up and heads in Cap's office. We were out bringing in a suspect; we got him into booking and headed for our desks to update our notes. As we come off the elevator we watched a Fed walk into Montgomery's office and Castle froze. Beckett was asking him what was wrong and he was shaking and looking down. A minute or so later Montgomery calls Castle and Beckett into his office and they close the door. About fifteen minutes later some Feeb walks in and goes into the office. Beckett and Castle talk back and forth and Castle looks down at the floor. A few minutes later, Castle and Beckett walk out and tell us they will be back in a few days before heading out the door. The Feeb, 1PP and the Captain bust out laughing and then everyone leaves. I'm not sure what's going on but it looks to be something big."

Lanie glanced up at the picture of a younger Rick Castle while taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "I got a text from Kate that said not to worry, that she would explain things when they got back."

"Got back?"

"Yeah, that's what I wondered too. Something is going on and I have a feeling it's huge. Did you guys recognize the Fed?"

Ryan shook his head. "But I heard Castle call him Jacobs."

Lanie sighed. "Just when I think I have those two figured out...and what would the Feds want with Castle?" She grins. "I did find out something about our latest victim though." With that, the talk turned more toward their current case.

TCOP

Kate stretched as she began to wake up. She loved waking up in their bed. She giggled at the thought of their bed. Who knew she could be so girly?

She reached her hand out to find her boyfriend's but found his side empty. Looking over, she saw the door to his office ajar and she could hear the sound of keys clicking; he must be writing. Smiling at the thought, she wondered what adventure awaited Nikki and Rook...what was happening between her and Rick seemed more fictional than reality. Rick was a freaking FBI agent! And evidently not just any FBI agent but at one point was headed for the top.

She listened again and heard nothing...he must have finished for now. She looked at the clock and saw that it was almost 6 AM. She sat up and swung her feet towards the floor just as the delightful aroma of brewing coffee caught her attention. Smiling, she got up and went through her morning ablutions before heading into the kitchen and her boyfriend.

Rick smiled as he saw her come through the door of his office. He had always liked that the bedroom was behind his office and the only entrance was through there. "Morning, love. How'd you sleep?"

Kate sat down at the counter and smiled before taking a sip of her coffee. "It was good, Rick. I didn't realize how tired I was. So what's the plan for today?"

"Well, in a perfect world I would take you back to bed and have my way with you...or get you to have your way with me. Either works for me." Kate snorted and he winked at her before continuing. "But as we live in this one, I thought we would stop by the precinct before heading into the office. We have a briefing at nine and I need to follow up with our plant for the bodyguard."

"Rick, do we really have a chance to pull this off? How will we keep him from finding out what we are up to?"

Rick grinned wickedly. "The Senator is about to have a bad few days. Let's get dressed and get moving. The sooner we resolve this the sooner I can get that perfect world scenario!"

TCOP

As the two started to get ready for their busy day, a much different start of the day was happening a couple hundred miles away. Senator William Bracken was awakened by the smell of smoke and sirens. His security detail got him up and outside of the building just as the sprinklers started. Soaked and in his pajamas, robe and slippers, he stood across the street and watched his $400,000 home with flames coming out of the windows. Thankfully he had no important papers here...but more important the girl he had there had left a couple of hours earlier.

While he was waiting on some fresh clothes and his transport he groaned at a news crew that had just pulled up. It was going to be a long day.

TCOP

Kate's jaw dropped at the news report while she was waiting for Rick to finish getting ready. The Georgetown house of a US Senator was up in flames and the footage from the scene showed a highly exasperated Bracken in a robe before he was whisked away in a black SUV. Rick was right...it was not going to be a good day for a certain Senator!

Rick came over and kissed the top of her head. "Slow news day I guess. You ready?" At her nod, he grabbed her hand and headed for the door.

Thirty minutes later they pulled up in front of the precinct. They had already discussed what could and could not be said, so they got out and made their way into the building.

As they made their way to the elevator, Rick nodded to the Desk Sergeant. "Hey, Lewis. How was Melinda's party?"

"It was great! She loved the book. Thanks!"

Rick grinned. "No problem. Maybe now you can get the TV more often?"

The older man laughed. "We'll see. Have a good one, Castle." As Rick followed Kate into the elevator he waved and grinned as the doors closed.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "And who is Melinda?"

Rick frowned. "As long as you worked here you don't know these guys' families?"

She shook her head. "No, we don't get that chance to fraternize often due to our caseload. Is Melinda his wife?"

Rick grinned. "Nope. She is his nine year old daughter who is an avid reader."

Kate's eyes softened and then narrowed. "You didn't give him one of your books for her, did you? She's way too young!"

Rick rolled his eyes. "No, I just called Joanne to see if she could sign one of hers and send it over."

"Joanne?"

"Yeah. When I found out that Melinda was a Harry Potter fan how could I not? She owed me a favor anyway. She asked me to sign a copy of Storm's Fall for Neil, her husband."

The elevator door opened and Rick started to head out but noticed that he was alone. He turned and saw Kate with her mouth open. " . ! You mean Joanne Rowling, right?"

He nodded. "Yeah, so?"

She shook it off as she exited the elevator. "Never mind."