AN: Sorry for the shortness of this chapter, but it felt like a good breaking point. I am glad you all are enjoying it! Let's see what happens next as the story unfolds...

CHAPTER 9 – Wiping the tears

Gabriel Vaughn was no stranger to undercover ops...he just didn't care for them. He was a 'let's get it done' guy. But he knew how important his role was. He used his chip to tap into the phone on the senator's desk and listened as he made arrangements for a trip to New York. He created a cyber render of the office and mentally walked around, looking at items. He studied the arrogant Senator Bracken. The guy made him want to throw up...he was so fake. He looked at the desk and saw the planned itinerary for his trip. Interesting! He was scheduled to attend the benefit for Beckett's mother. That tidbit was definitely going into his report. Gabriel cancelled the render and made sure his bag was ready.

He thought back to meeting Rick Rodgers aka Castle. He seemed like a good guy. Friends with Riley. If Rick wasn't head over heels in love with Beckett, Gabriel might have gotten jealous. He and Riley were finally starting to click. He hadn't been near another woman since Amelia...and even though he now knew much of his marriage had been a hoax he had loved her. But she had faked her own death and he had been devastated. He knew that he and Riley had connected and he got her in a way that he had never felt about another woman, including Amelia. He sighed and focused back on the job. He would have to talk to Riley later...he could not go on pretending he wasn't falling in love with her.

He saw the shadow under the door just as he heard the knock. "Come in."

Jerry opened the door and looked in. "Ready, Samuels?"

"Yes sir."

"Come on then...and bring your bag. We're headed to the Big Apple. Once we get to the Senator's house we'll brief you on the procedures we use."

"Sounds good." He grabbed his bag and followed his temporary boss out while using his chip to send an email to Rodgers with the information he had gathered as well as the Senator's schedule for the next few days.

TCOP

Kate woke up and stretched, glancing at the clock. She had about ten minutes before her alarm was set to go off. Good. She moved her left hand up to her face and gazed at the ring there. Her fiancé had great taste. Not too small and not too large; simple and elegant.

"Almost as beautiful as you, Katie love."

She felt herself tearing up. "I love it, Alex. And I'm happier than I ever knew I could be. When do we tell Alexis?"

"I want to tell her first, so I am thinking this morning. We'll have to tell Mother and your Dad soon too."

"Rick?" He looked up at her. "Do we tell everyone or keep it to ourselves?"

"Katie love, I was thinking...what if we told everyone tonight at the benefit? Because I want you wearing it so everyone knows you are not available."

She grinned. "Jealous?"

"No. You are MINE, love. I just want to keep the men who want you from having broken hearts. See if they already know you are mine then they know better than to try anything."

"Hmmm...That seems logical."

"That's what I thought."

"Okay then...wearing the ring...got it." They both burst out in laughter before starting to get ready for the day.

After she got dressed, she went to join Rick in the kitchen. As she came near, she heard Rick and Alexis talking about an assignment she was turning in. She walked up and took a seat next to the girl as Rick handed her a cup of coffee.

"Morning, Lex."

"Morning Kate! Dad was saying that you guys ate at Bukhara's last night."

"Yes we did. The garlic naan was great."

Alexis' eyes widened as she looked between Kate and her dad. "Is there something that you guys want to tell me?"

Rick grinned. "Why?"

"Well, Kate usually only looks besotted when she's here, but she looks totally over the moon this morning."

Rick wiped a pretend tear from his eye. "Did you hear that Kate? My baby used the word besotted! I'm so proud!" He sighed.

Kate rolled her eyes and Alexis giggled. "Rick, you goof!"

"Yes dear?" At that Kate's threw her head back and she let out the laugh that Rick loved.

Rick looked at Kate who nodded. "Yes, Pumpkin we have something to tell you. We are..."

Alexis interrupted. "Engaged?" At Kate's nod and showing her left hand, Alexis squealed. "Finally!"

They all burst out laughing before finishing up breakfast and heading on their way.

TCOP

Gabriel Vaughn woke up in his room grinning. He had heard about the Senator's misfortune a couple of days ago when his DC house caught fire. He wondered at the time if anyone suspected arson, but heard nothing. He stretched and got out of bed heading for the shower.

Once showered and dressed, he checked his phone and finished getting ready for the day. Checking his Glock he made sure a round was chambered and the safety was on. He checked the room once again, noting the bug that had been put into place on the underside of the coffee table. He grinned in spite of himself at the amateurish way it was done. As he awaited the inevitable knock on the door, he thought back to the prior evening.

They had gotten back into JFK at 9 PM and convoyed to his estate on Long Island near Bayport. It was more a compound than estate, but it was close to the city. The "staff" had all gone to the servant's quarters and he was shown to a room. He was shown where he could grab a bite to eat and then left on his own. He went back to his room and settled in for the night after doing a sweep of his room and finding the hidden bug.

There was a knock at the door and he went to open the it. Standing there was another one of the detail, Marsden a former Navy Seal. That was all the background he had been able to pull from the man and he was the only one to respond when he had asked around the night before. Marsden motioned for him to follow and he walked away. Gabriel closed the door behind him.

TCOP

Kate and Rick walked into the office and headed to their desks to check email. Jordan looked up and smiled and then her face broke out in a grin. "Congrats, you two...it's about time!"

Kate smiled and thanked her but Rick was pretty quiet as he sat staring at his screen. "Rick?"

He looked over at her but seemed distracted. "Yeah?"

"What's up?"

Rick focused on her. "Sorry. I was just scanning my emails and I have one from Lillian Strand. The name is familiar but I have no idea who she is."

Jordan spoke up. "She's Riley's boss. She heads up CyberCom. I think she used to work for the Bureau...maybe about the time you left."

Rick leaned back in his chair. "Strand...wait! Is she a redhead?"

Kate looked up. "Why?"

Rick snorted. "Because I think I worked a case with her once...I think her name was Strand." He opened the email and started reading. Kate watched him closely as she saw him pale.

"Rick?"

He looked over and smiled slightly before getting up. "I'll be back in a minute." He walked around the corner.

Kate looked concerned. "Jordan, any idea what that was about?"

"None. The only other time I saw him look like that was right after your apartment had been blown up." She looked over at the younger woman. "Why don't you go see what your fiance is up to?" She watched Kate get up and head after Rick then walked over to see what the email was about. When she read it, she shook her head. She had never met Lillian Strand in person, but wondered what kind of person would let someone know they were related and then seemingly write about a current op in the same email. Shaking her head, she went back to the report she had received from Vaughn earlier in the morning. He was observant...she'd give him that. Nothing worth noting but she was sure Rick's profiling would most likely pick up on something useful.

She looked over to where both of them had disappeared. She thought back on what she had read in the email; she thought the world of Rick and counted him among her few real friends. She was glad to see that they had finally realized things as she wanted him to be happy. But she knew the email had thrown him for a loop and it angered her. Rick may not feel the same way about her but she would not let him get hurt without trying to do something about it. She scribbled a quick note and placed it on his keyboard before grabbing her coat. She walked over to where JJ sat and let her know that she was heading out and would be back later in the day. When she headed for the elevator, she looked over and saw Kate holding Rick while they spoke in hushed tones. Nodding to Kate who had looked in her direction she continued on her way.

TCOP

The Senator was in the midst holding court with a group of his most influential donors at the Plaza's Rose Club for lunch when one of his aides suddenly became ill. Paramedics were called and were en route when a second aide fell ill. By the time the first EMT arrived, all of the Senator's staff and the Senator himself were ill, but not one of donors was. The aides had bad stomach cramps and the Senator found himself highly embarrassed with explosive diarrhea

The Senator was rushed out towards his car, but not before he had been a victim of his ailment. As he exited the hotel he was hit with a dozen flashes of light and a bevy of reporters. Groaning in frustration, he was being whisked off to change before his next meeting.

TCOP

Rick and Kate were making their way back to his desk when Penelope Garcia popped out of the Tech Lab. "Sir, you may want to see this!" Rick and Kate got to the lab where a news crew was following Senator Bracken. After he left the crew summed up the story and Rick shook his head before heading back to his desk.

Kate followed him only to grin when under his breath he mumbled, "Mischief managed..."

He looked up at her and winked. "Well, are you up for a trip to Washington? It seems I have a family reunion to attend."

"Whither thou goest..." And then she giggled.

Rick's head snapped up. Kate had just giggled.

Kate snorted. "Too soon for wedding humor?"

Rick looked at her lovingly. "Not too soon, Mrs. Castle-to-be. Are you ready to go meet my cousin? As I remember she once flirted with me." His eyes widened. "OH, that's not right. Hope she didn't know that we were related."

Kate's eyes narrowed. "Yes, dear. Let's go meet your cousin so she knows I don't share."

Rick's smirked. "Oh…possessive! Come on, Kate! Let us away to hither and yon."

Kate giggled. "Okay Shakespeare."