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 – Okay, this isn't going to be an M-rated chapter for those of you who think it's going that way, but definitely at lot of innuendo.

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

Chapter 23 – A Spider in the Bathroom

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(Flashback)

Castle stood in the steamy shower, eyes closed, as he let the warm water stream down his body, washing away the grime he had felt slowly encrusting him during this very long day he thought would never end.

Their departing flight had been delayed several hours on the tarmac in New York and then had to circle the airport in Buenos Aires several times before making a rough landing. The commuter flight was then packed to the point he had to sit with his carryon on his lap.

Travel typically didn't bother him, but it had been a while since he had flown economy and tried to squeeze into one of those tiny economy seats with no leg room with the proverbial child kicking the back of his seat the entire trip. Anders had quickly put on a headset, leaned his seat back slightly, and went to sleep, a well-honed art of a frequent traveler, so he wasn't any company.

One of the major perks of being a best-selling author was first class accommodations and all of its amenities. But assets didn't have that luxury, especially if they were undercover. So much for the exciting world of spies…this definitely wasn't going in his book.

The first trip to Mar del Plata had been exciting, even though it ended badly between Sophia and him. He thought they had something real, something tangible, but she had given him the cold shoulder ever since they had gotten back and he couldn't figure out what he had done.

Tap, tap, tap…click, click, click…

He frowned as he heard the noises near the sink and had an uneasy feeling he had heard them before. A giant bug? God knows that there were some of those in the places he and his mother had lived as a child, but this noise was different. Some South American giant rat that would gnaw him to pieces?

Tap, tap, tap…click, click, click…

No, it was something else…he frowned as he finally realized what it was – it was the same sound that Meredith would make after she was finally finished getting ready and was waiting for him to finish fixing his hair. She said it always took him longer to get the perfect look than it did her.

She would stand near the sink, tapping the heel of her shoe against the floor and drumming her finely manicured nails on the counter, telegraphing her impatience.

But why would Meredith be here?

Castle snuck a peek around the side of the shower curtain and quickly pulled back, biting the knuckle of one finger. Oh, he was definitely a dead man.

She leaned against the counter, as if waiting for a bus, all 5'10" of her, causally inspecting her nails on one hand while the long fingernails on the other hand drummed rhythmically against the counter.

He quickly looked again, his eyes starting at the 4" black open-toed stilettos, and then running up the impossibly long, lean, tanned legs to the ever-so-short red dress that was probably very indecent and hugged her in all the right places, the jewel neckline dipping down to show a generous amount of cleavage. Her dark hair was swept to one side in a casual pony tail, chandelier earrings cascading down her long, exquisite neck; her ruby red lips pursing occasionally to blow on her fingernails as if drying fingernail polish…and other things his mind added.

He recognized her instantly – the mayor's younger sister Violeta, an up and coming lawyer. They had met at the dinner in the police chief's house two weeks earlier.

And now she was in his bathroom, dangling the only towel that had been in the towel rack in her hand.

"H – hello?" he finally said when he could find his voice.

"Ah, Señor Castle," Violeta responded. "I was so delighted when I had heard that you had returned to our small town."

"Violeta, I didn't know that you'd be stopping by," Castle said, his voice slightly cracking. Any other time, any other place, he would be game, but he was pretty sure that Althea would draw and quarter him, castrate him, and then lock him in the deepest, darkest cell she could find and no one would ever see or hear of Richard Castle again.

"We didn't have a chance to finish our conversation and I found it so fascinating that I just couldn't stay away," she responded.

Oh, definitely a dead man, Castle thought.

"Uh – you've got the only towel," he commented.

"Oh, this," said Violeta. "I'm afraid it fell on the floor and is dirty now – I'm sure you wouldn't want anything dirty…"

"No, no," said Castle, shaking his head. "But maybe you could call room service and get more?"

"Why? I find they just get in the way," she replied, extending her fingers and gently blowing on her nails.

Castle gulped. This wasn't going to be easy.

"Violeta – uh – why don't you call room service and order some wine – maybe champagne?" Castle suggested.

"Don't take too long," Violeta said as she walked out of the bathroom. "Wouldn't want the bubbly to get all flat."

Castle bit his knuckle again, trying to get his blood deprived mind to think.

"Traitor," he hissed at the one part that was definitely actively interested in Violeta.

His fight or flight instinct finally kicked in and he decided it was in his best interest to take flight – escape out the bathroom window next to the shower.

He quietly opened the window and climbed out, careful not to scrape anything essential in his desperate flight for survival.

But when he stepped barefoot into the alley and the cool air hit him, he quickly realized the fallacy of his plan.

Castle thought for a moment – he had 2 choices – he could climb back in and lock the bathroom door and wait to be rescued, or he could see if another window in the alley was open and sneak through that way.

He cautiously surveyed the windows in the alley, choosing one that was dark and then carefully tip-toed toward it, trying not to step on anything that would impale his bare foot.

The first window he tried was locked, much to his dismay, so he moved to the next window and was about to try it when someone cleared their throat behind him.

Castle slowly turned around and started to raise his hands to shield his eyes from the bright light shining into them when he remembered his delicate position.

"Buena noches, Señor Castle," said Costa nonchalantly, if this was an everyday occurrence. "So what brings you out on such a fine night?"

"Uh…" Castle managed to squeak out. Which answer would be the best bad decision? A late night swim?

"I hope you're enjoying our lovely town," prompted Costa.

"Uh," Castle started again and then pointed to the window he had come out of. "There was a large spider in the bathroom – between the tub and the door." Oh, damn, was that the best he could do?

"Hmmm, a large spider," said Costa as he walked to the open window.

"Yeah," said Castle. "And it looked really dangerous, so I thought…" he continued lamely.

"Hmmm," said Costa, leaning inside slightly.

At that moment, Violeta called from the other room. "Señor Castle, you know it's very impolite to keep a lady waiting."

Costa smiled slightly as he turned back to Castle. "Ah, yes, a very dangerous spider. Avoidance was a very wise choice, Señor Castle." He reached for his radio. "Julio, sí, Señor Castle tiene un invitado no deseado. Por favor cuidar de ella. Gracias. Oh, y llevar algo de ropa de repuesto."

Costa clipped his radio back on his belt and looked at Castle. "Señor Castle, perhaps you'd like to join me in a friendly poker game while your room is being exterminated."

Castle shrugged slightly. "Sure. But if it's strip poker, I'm going to be at a slight disadvantage."

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