A Convergence of Storms

Summary – Someone from Castle's past is murdered and that gives Kate a look into his unconventional childhood and time spent shadowing the CIA, something that hasn't really been discussed on the show (yet). AU of course, with some grounding in canon.

Author's Notes – 50 days and counting until the fall opener (and 136 until Christmas for those of you counting that too – the Halloween stuff is already out in the stores). Mar del Plata is a real town in Argentina, but all of the locations and people in it are part of my imagination.

Disclaimer – Don't own Castle – Marlowe, ABC, and Disney do. The OCs came out of my imagination.

Chapter 20 – Absolutes and Mere Coincidences

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It was well after midnight when they arrived at the hotel on the outskirts of Mar del Plata and fairly chilly since winter was just beginning in Argentina.

Considering what had happened the last time they were here, Anders had opted to drive from Buenos Aires even though it added 5 hours to the trip. He and Althea sat in the front, while Castle and Beckett sat in the back.

During the long ride, Castle kept glancing out of the window at the passing scenery, hoping that some spark would ignite his forgotten memories.

Beckett placed a hand on his knee. "You okay?" she asked softly.

He smiled back at her tentatively and shrugged. "I was just hoping that being here, the memories would come flooding back – that I'd be luckier than Jeremy." He looked outside again. "But I guess I'm not."

Beckett smiled and squeezed his knee before leaning over to kiss him. "It'll be okay," she said. "We'll figure this out."

# # # # # # # # #

"I'm assuming that you and Beckett will be sharing a room," said Anders as he stopped the car and then swiveled around to look at Beckett and Castle. "So I got the same rooms as before and a separate room for you," he directed to Althea.

Castle nodded and then opened the door and walked around to the other side of the car to open Beckett's door. He offered her his hand as a woman in a smart suit and a man in more casual clothing came out of the office.

"Ah, Señor Anders, welcome back – I've reserved your usual room," Mia Ortiz said as she walked up to the car. "Rafael, please take their bags to their rooms."

"Always a pleasure," said Anders, shaking her hand.

"And Señor Castle, it's good to have you back also," said Mia, turning to shake his hand.

Castle smiled at her as they shook hands. Nope, no spark of memory there – he was sure he'd remember meeting someone as lovely as Mia.

She turned back to Anders, smiling. "You'll find that we've made some improvements to our small chalet since you were here last year. The pool is heated and we've added a Jacuzzi. If you'll follow me…"

Castle frowned at Anders as they followed Mia. "You were here last year?" he asked curiously.

Anders shrugged. "Business as usual," he replied.

# # # # # # # # #

Beckett opened the door to their room and almost let out a sigh, glad to be on something not moving for a while. Even though the jet had come equipped with most everything they could want, the trip had been long especially after a restless night at the precinct.

She examined the room with an appraising smile. The hotel had once been the summer residence of a wealthy land owner and had been converted in the late 80's into a bed-and-breakfast like hotel. Their room was large with a bed on one side of the room and a small sitting area with two overstuffed chairs next to a glowing fire place on the other.

The bathroom was equally opulent, with a large claw-footed tub by a window, the elegant vanity containing the brands of her usual toiletries.

"Hey," said Castle, removing a robe from the back of the bathroom door. "Feel this – just like the ones in from the hotel in LA."

"Castle," Beckett said, picking up a bottle of lotion and studying the label. "Don't you think this is a little creepy? I mean, they have everything here that I use – that we use."

Castle looked at the lotion and merely shrugged. "No," he said simply. "I told Althea what you liked while we were on the plane and she arranged to have it here. I mean – they are the CIA after all. Oh, hey, I bet they could even get those macarons from Pierre Hermé." His eyes glowed at the thought. "Alexis and I had some while we were in Paris. The way they melt in your mouth – pure bliss."

"Oh," commented Beckett. She walked out of the bathroom and over to the suitcase that was set on the luggage rack. She opened it and found several appropriate outfits for their trip, in addition to a selection of lingerie and sleepwear.

She reached inside and pulled out a short sheer black lace nightie. "Uh, Castle?" she asked, holding it up to her and turning to face him. "Did you order this too?"

Castle looked at her innocently. "That might have come up in the conversation," he stammered and then paused before taking the nightie out of Beckett's hands and stuffing it back in the suitcase. "You know what – it's been a long day. Maybe we can save this for later…"

"Uh, huh," Beckett nodded, quirking her eyebrow.

"And just go to bed?" continued Castle hopefully.

"Uh, huh," said Beckett.

# # # # # # # # #

Castle stirred the next morning when the phone rang and picked it up after a few seconds. "Hmmm, Castle," he said sleepily.

"Leave town now, Mr. Castle," said the accented voice on the phone. "Otherwise it will not end well for you."

The line went dead.

Beckett rolled over to look at Castle who was staring at the phone. "Wake up call from the front desk?" she asked, wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"Uh – no," he said looking at her. "A wake up death threat," he quipped.

Beckett shot up in bed. "What?!"

Castle looked at the receiver still in his hand and then hung up the phone. "They said to leave town now – that if I stayed, it wouldn't end well."

"Then they know you're here," Beckett said suddenly in detective mode. "Did you recognize the voice?"

Castle shook his head. "No – and the accent wasn't Hispanic, more of a Scandinavian Arnold Schwarzenegger 'I'll be back'," said Castle as he mimicked the famous line.

Beckett bit her lip and nodded. If the circumstances weren't so serious, this would have been funny.

Castle reached for the phone and dialed the front desk. "Buenos dias. Listen, I just got a call on the room phone – did it come through the hotel switchboard? Uh, huh; uh, huh. Gracias."

Castle hung up the phone and looked at Beckett. "It was direct dialed, so yeah, they know I'm here."

Beckett nodded. "Then let's find Melekov and get out of here," she said, getting up to take a quick shower.

"Uh, do you want company?" Castle asked, not sure if he should breech the subject yet after the lingerie incident.

Beckett turned and smiled coyly at him. "Always."

# # # # # # # #

Anders and Althea were waiting for them in the outside dining room.

"We were just going over the agenda," Althea said as they walked up.

"I've got something else to add," said Castle as he pulled out Beckett's chair and waited for her to sit down before he did. "A death threat – and it was direct dial, so 'they' know we're here."

"So much for flying under the radar," commented Anders.

"Yeah," said Castle, nodding and then taking a sip of his coffee.

Althea nodded. "We've put out discreet inquiries as to his whereabouts, so we should hear something soon. In the meantime, it will be safer if we stay at the hotel…" she paused as Castle stared off in the distance and then got up and raced across the street. "Castle!" she yelled at him.

Beckett quickly followed as Castle skidded to a stop in front of a window in a building. "Look," he said, pointing to a large picture draped in black. "Recognize him?" he asked.

"Bogdan," said Beckett. "Melekov's cousin," she started to explain to Anders and Althea and then realized they probably knew more than she and Castle did.

Castle looked at the sign on the door. "Biblioteca – it's a library. But why would it have a picture of Bogdan?"

He tried the door, but it wouldn't open. "Maybe Mia knows…" he said and then quickly walked back to the hotel, the other three trailing after him.

"Excuse me," he asked the young man at the front desk. "Is Mia here?"

"No, Señorita Mia will be in after lunch," he said. "She had a late evening."

Castle pointed in the direction of the library. "Do you know what time the library – the biblioteca – opens?"

"Sí," said the young man. "Tomorrow or maybe the next day," he shrugged. "Depends on the fishing."

"Thanks," said Castle. "Uh, there's a picture of a man in the window—"

"Castle," hissed Althea.

"Sí," said the young man, expectantly as if Castle should know this. "The story teller, like you, Señor Castle. He built the library."

Castle nodded. "He passed away about 3 months ago…"

"Sí," nodded the young man sadly. "He will be missed."

"His cousin, Mr. Melekov, is in town seeing to his estate," Castle said.

"Sí," nodded the young man.

That got Anders and Althea's attention.

"Have you seen him?" Althea asked.

"Sí," nodded the young man. "He was at mass this morning and then I think he was going to visit with Father Benedict for a while."

"Where?" asked Beckett.

"St. Francis' church – I'm sure you heard the church bells," said the young man. He looked at Castle curiously. "Perhaps you have forgotten the way?"

"It's been a while," said Castle. "Can you draw a map?" he asked, pushing a piece of paper at him.

"Sí," nodded the young man. He quickly scribbled lines on the paper. "Go left and then take a right at the stop sign, and then another left at the curve."

"Thanks," said Castle, handing the piece of paper to Anders. "Well?" he said.

# # # # # # # #

They parked the car on the other side of the street from St. Francis', waited until traffic passed, and then walked into the church.

St. Francis' was an old church, built near the turn of the 20th century, fairly small in size. It was beautiful on the inside, the stained glass windows giving it a warm glow in the daylight.

They stopped in the narthex before entering the sanctuary and looking around, finally spotting a priest in a black robe near the altar.

They were half way to the front when the priest looked up at them, smiled broadly, and then started walking towards them.

"Señor Castle," he said, shaking Castle's hand as he reached them. "It is good to see you again, but I'm afraid you've missed Bogdan by several months. It would have pleased him that you came back."

Had he known the man? It sure seemed like it.

Beckett nodded at the priest, picking up the slack for Castle. "His death is a great loss."

Father Francisco nodded sadly. "Yes, it was for our small community. He will be missed."

"Father, this is my fiancé Katherine Beckett, and Althea Conrad and Brad Anders," Castle said.

"Very nice to meet you," said Father Francisco as he shook hands with the other three.

Castle studied him for a moment, adding another puzzle piece to the mystery – apparently the priest didn't know Anders, but he knew Castle.

"Uh, Bogdan's cousin, Melekov, came here this morning for mass and then was going to meet Father Benedict," said Castle. "Any chance he's still here?"

Father Francisco thought for a moment. "I think Melekov left shortly after that and Father Benedict is in prayer. He'll be available later this afternoon though," he said helpfully.

Castle started to say something and then thought better of it. "Do you know where Melekov went?"

"I think to the Grotto," said Father Francisco as if he expected Castle to know what that was.

"I'm a little rusty," said Castle. "Do you think you could tell me again where that is?"

"Perhaps if I have one of the initiates take you?" offered Father Francisco.

"The directions will be fine," said Anders, pulling out a map.

"Of course," said Father Francisco.

# # # # # # # #

Castle and Father Francisco shook hands again before they walked out of the door of the church with a promise to return later to meet with Father Benedict.

Castle's smile faded as soon as the door closed and he shook his head as he stared off into space.

Beckett took his hand, knowing how frustrated he was.

"Kate, these people act like they know me and I'm supposed to know them, but I don't," he said as they stood on the steps.

"Come on, Castle," said Althea, "you're a celebrity and you live your life on page 6 – everyone thinks they know you even if they've never met you. At least that's what Turner wrote in her report about your first trip here."

"And we didn't leave the hotel that last trip," added Anders. "So there is no possible way they could have met you."

Castle shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he said as he stepped into the street and then had to jump back immediately as a person on a scooter whizzed by him, almost hitting him.

Beckett grabbed him to steady him. "You okay?" she asked anxiously.

"Yeah, fine," said Castle, staring down the street. "That was too close for comfort." He looked at Althea and Anders. "A warning shot?"

# # # # # # #

They followed the directions that Father Francisco had given them to the Grotto, which turned out to be a small hut several miles from town. There was no sign that anyone else was there.

"Wow – talk about a vow of poverty," Castle quipped as he got out of the car and looked at the thatch-covered roof. "You'd think this Bogdan would be living some place more comfortable, like his cousin."

"Maybe the money wasn't on his side," Beckett offered.

Castle looked around the area and frowned. "Melekov said that he had pianos – you wouldn't keep pianos in this kind of environment. It would ruin them."

"Then he has a place in the city," countered Beckett.

"And a country hovel for the weekends," quipped Castle.

Beckett touched his arm. "There's the grotto," she said pointing to the large rock structure near the back of the hutch.

Anders nodded. "You two take the house; Castle and I'll take the grotto. Call out if you find anything."

# # # # # # #

Althea slowly opened the front door and carefully walked inside.

The hut had only 2 rooms and the floor was made of packed dirt, the windows let in a decent amount of light and breeze, but this would be a lonely place at night.

There was no electricity or running water. An old ragged card table sat in the middle of the first room, a rotting mattress and chest of drawers in the second room.

Beckett and Althea both put on gloves as they started to examine the place and pulled out flashlights.

The drawers of the chest were empty and there was nothing under the mattress.

"Anything?" asked Beckett as she dropped the corner of the mattress back down.

Althea shook her head. "Nothing."

Beckett put her finger to her lips and shushed her. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked Althea.

"It sounded like something knocking against something," said Beckett.

Althea shot her a look. "I think Castle's overactive imagination has rubbed off on you."

"No," said Beckett, shaking her head. "When I dropped the corner of the mattress, it sounded like something was knocking against something inside of it. Here, help me…"

They grabbed the edge of the mattress and flipped it over, only to find that the bottom had been shredded.

"Someone was looking for something," said Althea. "They probably broke the frame."

Beckett nodded. "You're right. Here."

They started to flip the mattress back over so that if someone came back, they wouldn't suspect that anyone had been here, when Beckett noticed the odd stitching on one side close to the top edge.

"Here, hold this," she said, motioning for Althea to hold the mattress up.

Beckett took out the pocket knife that Castle had given her at the beginning of the trip with the quip, 'Be prepared.' She opened it and carefully cut along the stitching, revealing a pocket on the side of the mattress. Reaching inside, she pulled out 2 rolls of material.

After Althea dropped the mattress back in its original position, Beckett carefully unrolled them, watching the pictures on them unfold as she did – the tapestries were old, the colors faded, but the pictures were unmistakable – 6 girls in coffins, their hairs in bows – she counted 9; 4 graves marked with crosses.

These were the pictures that Castle had seen and someone had tried to hide them.

She carefully rolled them back up. "We need to find Castle and Anders now."

# # # # # # #

The grotto was fairly large as the stone structures went, tall enough for Castle and Anders to stand in at the front and sloping down in the back to a small alcove with a stone kneeler and fountain.

Anders pulled out his flashlight and shown it at the back of the grotto. "Not much here," he said.

Castle squinted at the walls, studying them. "But there's some writing," he said as he brushed away the moss. "Abandonar toda esperanza quien entre aquí."

"Abandon all hope ye who enter here," replied Anders.

Castle frowned and looked around. "Really strange saying for a place of prayer."

He walked towards the back. "They would come and offer a prayer while kneeling," he said, kneeling down on the kneeler. He looked around at the area and shook his head. "Damn," he said, trying to get back up on his own and then placing his hand on the fountain. He had probably twisted the knee he had broken when he jumped out of the way of the scooter.

As he pushed against the fountain to gain leverage, it moved slightly and he saw the back wall raise up to reveal a tunnel and stairs.

Castle straightened and looked at Anders. "I've seen movies like this and they always end badly."

"Me too," said Anders, shining his light down into the darkness. "But that doesn't mean we're not going down there."

"Just don't read from anything," Castle said.

Anders looked at him and then started down the stairs, shining his flashlight in front of them as they went down.

"Here," said Castle, flicking on the light switch he found at the bottom of the stairs.

The lights flickered on, revealing a fairly large concrete-lined cellar, definitely man-made.

"Hmm, maybe Bogdan spent all of his money on wine," Castle commented, looking at the empty wine racks on one side of the room. "Which would explain the hovel upstairs."

Anders nodded, moving about to inspect the room. "Well, whatever someone was looking for, it's gone now."

Castle hummed in agreement as he walked toward a large tapestry on the wall opposite the stairs and reached forward to touch it. The weave was delicate, the material old, gold threads running through it. "Wow – this thing must cost a fortune," he said and lifted an edge to look at the back.

That's when he saw it – the vault door – and in that instant, he knew three things to be true.

He had a lot more of Jack Bauer in him than either he or anyone else gave himself credit for.

He had been absolutely wrong – this had nothing at all to do with his father. That had probably been a mere coincidence, not that he believed in those.

And he had been absolutely right that surreal night more than a decade ago on his second trip to Mar del Plata and he had been standing naked in the alley next to the window in his bathroom, talking to the Comisario of the town and accepting an invitation to a poker game with the town officials. Part of his mind had screamed 'NO!' at the same time his mouth said 'Yes' and he knew without a doubt that someday, this would come back to bite him on the ass. And the sharks with their multiple rows of jagged teeth were now circling, ready to rip him a new one, and leave him bleeding out.

"Out," Castle hissed at Anders, pushing the man toward the staircase. "We have to get out now."

They scrambled up the stairs and out of the hidden door, only to come to a screeching halt when confronted by several men aiming machine guns at them, Beckett and Althea kneeling to the side, their hands raised behind their heads.

"I really appreciate you finding my father's treasure, Mr. Castle," said the son from the picture as he stood off to the side, holding a gun on Beckett and Althea. "But I think you've known all along where it was. My only question is why didn't you come back for it yourself?"

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