A/N - Hi Everyone - Thanks for all the wonderful words of encouragement & your ideas on where this could go. This chapter is mostly set-up, so not a lot of action. Hope you like it!

The Commitment

Chapter 3

Jealousy, Infighting & Vultures

Beckett hung up the phone. Harold Jordan's roommate offered no more insight than his witness statement given eleven years prior. Harold was home, doing some research for work, decided to go for a walk and ended up dead. She did learn one new thing: he was indeed called Hal by his friends. She smiled. Castle would appreciate that. Castle. She looked at her father's watch. He had been gone for over an hour. Confusion followed by panic inched its way into her throat. She pursed her lips and scowled.

Ryan walked by her desk but then backed up and asked, "You okay, Beckett?" Esposito's ears perked up and he got up and walked over to Beckett's desk.

"Um, yeah, um Ryan," she clenched her jaw muscles, eyeing them both suspiciously.

"But," he prompted.

"Well, it's Castle," she began. Ryan exchanged a knowing look with Espo.

"What about writer-boy? Where did he go anyway?" Espo looked around the bullpen.

She sighed and then filled them in. "He went to stretch his legs and get some coffee."

"Have you tried…" Espo began.

"…calling him?" Ryan finished.

"Calling? Um, no, I mean I don't have anything new on the case." She made work of smoothing her hands on her pants.

Esposito shook his head. "Beckett, it's okay to let the dude know you are, um, concerned that he's not back yet."

"Well, I'm not concerned," she quickly backtracked away from that idea. "I'm just, uh; I um, just want to continue on the case and wanted to give him the opportunity of helping."

"Uh, huh," he responded, still shaking his head and now, pursing his lips.

"Javi, I'm hungry," Ryan suddenly exclaimed as he shrugged into his jacket. "Let's get out of here."

"I'm right behind you, bro." He grabbed his jacket. "Beckett, you comin'?"

"No, I'm good, thanks."

"You want us to bring something back?"

"Um, no, no I'm not hungry"

She watched them get on the elevator having an animated discussion on where to go to lunch. She smiled and shook her head. Her team kept her entertained.

The boys got outside and Esposito turned right at the end of the steps, but Ryan turned left.

"Dude, this way."

Esposito, clearly confused, said, "I thought were going for burgers."

Ryan shook his head. "Nah, look you saw her up there. She is worried about Castle, but won't admit it."

"You got that right. What's the big deal?"

"Yeah, so anyway, let's take a little walk in the direction of that new coffee place Castle likes.

"I don't think they sell burgers."

Ryan rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, I know. I meant that we should check to see if Castle is still there."

"Oh, I gotcha," he nodded, "Maybe we can figure out the mystery of where he's been going, too."

Ryan grinned a toothy grin. "Mystery, mystery writer, I see what you did there." He held his fingers up and his partner, also grinning, gladly fed his birds.

He was genuinely concerned now. Susannah Hamilton was normally a formidable woman. She fought for her kids, gave them a chance when the system seemed to forget about them. Rick looked at the woman he admired so much seated across the table from him and worried. Susannah's eye were downcast, evident unease and worry in the slump of her shoulders and the way she wrung her hands. He reached out and took her hands. It was a risk. Susannah had never been a touchy-feely kind of person. They enjoyed a great working relationship. There had never been anything except an occasional hug between them.

She lifted her eyes, brimmed with tears.

"What? Susannah, what is it?" Rick asked quietly.

She drew a shuddered breath, "The program, they're shutting us down."

"Down? How can they shut you down? Aren't you a part of the curriculum?" He shot the questions at her quickly.

"Um, yes, and no. It's complicated." He looked confused so she continued. "The program continues only if we continue to get grant money."

"Well, if money's the problem," he began.

"No," her expressed softened and she smiled, "No that's not the only thing. I know you've offered in the past and if it were the only obstacle, I'd take your money in a heartbeat."

He waited but her eyes had dropped back to the table. "Susannah, what are the other problems?"

Another big sigh, "Damn politics, infighting, jealousy and... Oh, it's a mess."

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

She continued, "why can't we just have a program that tries to help kids where everyone doesn't try to get in on it, and take credit when it starts looking like it's working?", frustration was seeping from her now in waves. "I mean, why? Why do they have to attack you personally and try to bring you down?"

Rick was thoroughly confused, "Attack," he began, but he read her face warning him not to ask. He made a mental note to follow up. "Okay, what can I do? You know I have some connections, city hall and don't scoff too quickly at the money."

She squeezed his hands. "Thank you, Rick, but I don't think throwing money at it will make the vultures go away."

"Hm, it'll just attract more vultures," he finished. He furrowed his brows. "Okay, let's work it. What were you doing at the library?"

"I was looking up legal recourses."

He cocked his eyebrow and grinned his lopsided grin. "I've got just the guy," he said and pulled out his phone.

Ryan casually walked past the front of the coffee shop. He glanced in the window. Esposito waited until Ryan was past the window to begin his own reconnaissance. He slowed his cadence as he got closer, stopped to admire the window display, and spied Castle holding hands with a woman in the back of the shop. He met Ryan on the other side of the shop.

"Yo, did you see Castle?"

"Yeah."

"So, it is a girlfriend. I told you it was something immoral." He grinned and waggled his eyebrows.

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Wow, for a seasoned homicide detective you sure did make some pretty big assumptions based on what we just saw," Ryan said as he shrugged his shoulders and pointed at the window.

"Man, I know what I saw," Esposito said as he channeled his best Lanie impersonation. "Castle, in the coffee shop, holding hands with a babe."

"It did look like a serious conversation. So what do we do?"

"Do? I don't know about you, but I'm gonna milk this for everything I can get."

"I don't know, Javi. I mean the man is entitled to a social life." He did not voice the implied 'He's not getting one with Beckett,' that they both knew the writer was interested in pursuing. The only one who didn't recognize it was Beckett.

"Entitled? Dude, you've seen his social life. It's all over page six. Nah, he doesn't get a free pass. The man said he was doing book stuff. I don't know about you, but my books don't look like that."

"Do you even own a book?"

"Not the point. Why didn't he just tell us he was, not doing book stuff, but doing fun stuff? I mean he has had other girlfriends and he hasn't hidden them."

Ryan was thoughtful. "Maybe she is involved with something, um, less than legal." They were weaving a complicated tale, trying to make sense out of the evidence they had discovered.

Esposito shook his head. "You know what? I'm just going to go and ask him," and he started back to the door.

"Thanks, Mike," he said into his phone. "Good. Yeah," he looked at his watch, "How about tomorrow afternoon, uh, two?" He shot the question, 'Okay?' to Susannah with his eyes. She nodded her consent and he continued, "Yeah, we both can meet you then. Great!" He hung up. "It's all set."

"I don't know how I'm ever going to repay you for this. I mean, I'm sure you have better things to do." She murmured as she thoughtfully studied the brightly colored tablecloth.

Frustration and affront flashed across his face followed by a long-suffering understanding. People always assumed the worst, most base things about his motives or, at the very least, that he wanted compensation of some sort. He drew in a breath and then he smiled, "This is my pleasure. You know how much I love those kids." He shrugged as they stood up. Suddenly he had an armful of Susannah.

Beckett stared at his chair. "Oh, this is ridiculous," she said to no one in particular. She picked up her cell phone and pressed his number. It went straight to voicemail. She listened to his message, "Hi, you've reached Richard Castle, lucky you." She rolled her eyes and disconnected, grabbed her coat, and headed out.

Esposito opened the door; it jangled catching the attention of John and Sharon who looked up simultaneously. Ryan, who stopped to tie his shoelace, looked up as he was standing to see Beckett not more than a couple of feet away. "Beckett," he said a little unnecessarily loudly. "I thought you weren't hungry."

She stopped with a puzzled look on her face. "I thought you were going to get burgers."

"Oh well, we decided we wanted some coffee."

She closed and opened her eyes. "You don't drink coffee." She opened the door. It jangled obligatorily.

"I, uh, I am thinking of taking it up." He floundered. He wasn't convincing anyone. She gave him one last scathing look and entered the coffee shop.

Sharon, taken aback by the number of people at this time of day, said, "Well, uh, welcome! Can I get you something?" But, all three of the partners' attention was drawn to Richard Castle in the embrace of a beautiful young woman. A woman much younger than he.

"Castle?" Kate stared. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it wasn't the scene before her.

Castle hastily untangled himself from Susannah, who was uncharacteristically exhibiting signs of bashfulness. "Beckett? Boys? What are all of you doing here?" He asked quickly.

Ryan broke the silence. "Well, Castle, you said you were going to get coffee over an hour ago…" He furrowed his brow, there really wasn't any excuse.

Esposito jumped in, "Yeah, uh, we were worried."

Castle regarded them through narrowed eyes. "Since when?" He could tell that no answer was forthcoming. He shook his head. Beckett looked like she wanted to run away or hide in a deep hole or run away and hide in a deep hole. "Actually," he continued, "I'm glad you're here. I'd like to introduce you to somebody."

"Castle, this is really none of our business," Kate said dismissively, "you don't own us an explanation or…"

"Beckett," he cut her off, "you've been so curious," he indicated Ryan and Esposito, "along with the Bobsy twins. So since we're all here, it's a good time to let you know with whom I've been spending my time."

Espo offered, "Well Castle, if this is your new girlfriend, dude, she's hot." He held out his hand for Ryan or Castle to feed the birds, but neither one complied. "What?"

Castle cocked an eyebrow and said, "Susannah, I apologize about that."

"It's okay, I've been accused of worse things," she said, her eyes twinkling and a grin playing upon her lips. She wrung her hands nervously.

Castle smiled back at her. He puckered his lips and introduced everyone. "Susannah Hamilton, may I introduce Detectives Kevin Ryan, Javier Esposito and Kate Beckett." He grinned at her, "my day job." She immediately smiled as if they were sharing an inside joke. He turned to his three associates and explained, "Susannah runs a program through PS 86 for-"

"Really Castle, you don't owe us any details," Beckett said, cutting him off.

Castle pursed his lips. "I don't mind. I told you it was book stuff." The boys were nodding. "It's just not my book stuff. Susannah runs a reading program for special needs kids. I volunteer for her and generally try to not be in her way."

Susannah slapped him playfully on the arm. Beckett raised an eyebrow. Susannah clarified, "You could never be in my way, Mr. Rodgers." She addressed the three detectives, "he's gracious enough to come and read to the kids for me and he lends a hand where ever he can. The kids really look forward to story time." Beckett kept her eyes on Castle. Did he actually look embarrassed?

Castle stopped her and held up a hand. "But, it's not about me; it's about making sure the kids have access to reading materials." His eyes and whole face lit up as he talked about the kids.

"Well, I think we've taken up enough time here," Beckett began, "we really need to get back to the precinct."

"Um, yeah, we were done here, right Susannah?" She nodded. "I'll text you my attorney's address and I'll see you tomorrow." Beckett, Espo and Ryan had started for the door. Castle stopped and gave Susannah another hug and then took her hands in his. "We'll figure it out. The program will not close. I promise." He escorted her to the door. "John, Sharon, thanks. See you soon." They waved to him as he exited.

Susannah bid them goodbye and Castle and the three detectives headed back to the precinct. Castle was quietly contemplating his conversation with Susannah when Beckett stopped abruptly and turned to Castle. "I think it's nice. What you're doing for those kids."

"Yeah, bro," Espo agreed. "Why do you need to see an attorney?"

Castle sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well that's a story. One that I might just need your help figuring out."