All In The Genes
by Castlefan6
A/N: This is the sequel to "Only Just Begun ((from a READER'S PROMPT)." Please read that first. This picks up immediately after that story ends, and it will be a casket ending revealing some family secrets and events. It is a love story between Caskett and the next generations of castles and how they deal with their grandparents' history. The story is TOTALLY AU, and PLEASE DO NOT refer to actual episodes for events. For Kenny, Thanks for the prompt.
***********************************************************************/
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only.
Chapter 6
NYPD Police, 12th Precinct
Next Day, 7:00 AM
Assistant Director Jordan Shaw arrived precisely at 0700, or seven o'clock AM, and was surprised to see the Castle Twins already hard at work at a smart board. Kyle was programming some data into a tablet, and Kevin was monitoring the results with each data point entry. They were so engrossed in their work that they didn't notice that she had arrived until she walked by and cleared her voice.
"Good Morning, Kyle and Keven. I see you are hard at work," she said and smiled as they jumped back—even that was in unison.
"Jordan, I didn't hear you arrive." Again, it was almost as if they were reading from a teleprompter; every word was in sync and unison.
"Well, you know Tony, I mean Director Curry, when he gets an idea, you better jump on it before he starts helping you with the details. The last time he "helped," I wound up on a flight with three connections to save twenty-five dollars, hell I would have paid that rather than travel to two layovers and spend an entire day traveling." She said with a smile,
"By the way, since we are alone, you can call me Jordan, but in the presence of others, just call me Shaw or Director. You know how this place gossips. It hasn't been as bad since Ravioli or whatever the hell his name was transferred to the five-four Precinct."
"Detective Esposito, Mam?" they asked in unison,
"Yeah, that was it. He had a loud mouth and was nosey, and I didn't trust him once I found out he had been washed out of Special Forces in just weeks because he couldn't keep his mouth shut." She almost spit out the vile contempt she had for the Detective.
"Mam, yes, Mam," again in unison, as she just shook her head, "Do you boys know where you got that answering in unison from? It's not a twin thing; it came from your Mamaw and Grandpa Rick when they worked together here at the 12th. It used to blow Ryan's mind. She laughed, "I bet Ryan is going nuts by now."
Kyle and Kevin just looked at each other, "If he has, he hasn't made it clear; he has made facial expressions several times," Kevin laughed,
"OK, so where are we at on the plans? I see you have Rick and Kate going on a cruise in sixteen days, and the timeline has most of the heavy lifting being conducted while they are away," Jordan commented,
"I know you know them, Jordan. My Grandparents are our everything, and well, it's our turn to take care of them. We know that Bracken has targeted them after other more significant targets, but he won't get that opportunity. I will kill him with my bare hands if I have to," Kevin said, showing his emotions, which he rarely did,
"I understand how you feel, really I do. I was a part of the original takedown of the senior Bracken, but we'll take him down, legally, Kevin. I only hope he is stupid enough to make a move so we can end the SOB's reign of terror. From all accounts, he's as bad if not worse than his Grandfather." Jordan said, observing that Kevin Ryan had just entered his office.
"Excuse me, guys, I need to do the correct protocol step, announce to Ryan that I'm here, and make sure he knows exactly what the roles are for each department. I'll be back shortly." She turned and walked toward the Captain's, office, as Kyle said, "You know Kev, I feel sorry for Ryan, he's got a female mayor, female commissioner, and now he's got a female that enjoys busting men's balls." He smiled.
"You're kidding, right? We both know he calls Esposito, his old partner and a sergeant at the 54th in Robbery, anytime he needs to make a decision that requires balls. He hates confrontation more than anyone I know. How he became a cop is a surprise. How he stayed one is an even bigger mystery." Kyle said,
"Well, Mamaw got him started as a Detective, and then I guess he just hung around long enough to be close to Roz and Anne when the big cases got closed. You know what a chauvinist the former Commissioner was, so he promoted Ryan over Hastings when Mamaw left the force." Kevin said.
"Well, if you think Jordan is going to cut him any slack, I'd think again. She wasn't keen on anyone at the 12th Precinct when she worked that case with Grandpa and Mamaw until she got herself kidnapped. " Kyle added
"She made no qualms about who saved her ass, and Grandpa had to play it down as if the shot he fired at that deranged bomber was a fluke. He didn't fool Jordan; she knew the entire story, even the parts we haven't been told about." Kevin said, thinking he knew information his twin didn't.
"Oh, you mean that his father recruited him into, well, the force and Great Grandma Martha never knew it. I really don't know if Mom knew the entire story." Kyle said, as his brother looked as if he had been sucker punched in the stomach, taking all of his breath away.
"Just because I don't talk about stuff, Kev, doesn't mean I don't know about them; you may want to try that a little bit harder." He said he noticed Jordan waving them into Ryan's office.
"Kev, Jordan is waving us into Ryan's office. Remember, she is Director Shaw while we are in front of anyone here," Kyle reminded his twin.
As they walked to Ryan's office, they passed by the array of portraits of past Captains of the Precinct. There was Mamaw, looking so young and lovely, then-Mayor Karpowski, and finally, a portrait of Ryan, who looked anything but comfortable.
They noticed the absence of the notorious Gates. Next to Beckett was that of Roy Montgomery, with a small plaque beneath the picture, marking the date he was killed in the line of duty. It simply said, "End of Watch, the date and time of death, then RIP Captain, your battles are over."
Ryan looked anything but comfortable when they entered his office after a quick knock and a verbal "Enter" from Jordan. "Good Morning, Agents; excuse me, Detectives, that is what you will be addressed as from now on," she said as Ryan nodded.
"Ryan, fill the two new detectives in on their cover stories, and believe me, this has to work, nothing else needs to be said. It's your and Hasting's responsibility to protect my assets while they are undercover. That includes keeping information HERE at the 12th regardless of how much pressure your buddy at the 5-4 puts on you. Is that clear?" she glared at him.
"Of course, Director Shaw, that goes without saying." He said, then turned his head toward the twins, anger in his eyes, but he knew better than to open his mouth.
Kyle and Kevin, you are reporting to me as Detectives First Class, part of an elite team that will solve at least twenty cold cases in three months as part of the mayor's campaign promise fulfilled. It's not a complete lie; you will have active cold case files open on your desks, cases we genuinely believe that Bracken had executed because they had outlived their use to him," He said, struggling to hold his temper in. Jordan knew the buttons to push. Whatever she had said before they entered the office surely hit home with the Irishman.
"Very well. Do you have any questions from your side, Kyle or Kevin?" Jordan asked,
"Mam, no Mam," again in unison, as Ryan just held his head. "OK, dismissed. I'll see you over at the smart board."
****************************************************************************/
Cape Liberty Cruise Port
Piers 88 and 90,
711 Twelfth Avenue,
(West 46th to West 54th Streets) New York, NY
16 Days Later
It was finally GO TIME; all the planning and simulations wouldn't mean a damn thing if this part of the plan failed. Kate and Rick had dressed the Imposter Castle Couple in identical outfits and only hoped that the twins would be so wrapped up in the details of the case that they wouldn't act upon any of their gut feelings.
Even as little boys, they had an intuition that sometimes—well, most of the time—led them to places that they weren't supposed to be. The ride to the cruise ship was pretty quiet, even when the boys tried to get the conversation started.
Kyle was driving and caught his Mamaw's eyes in the rearview mirror, "Are you worried about anything, Mamaw? Kev and I are a heck of a lot older than when you and Grandpa went to Europe for vacation; we'll be fine." He tried to assure her,
"Yeah, Mamaw, you'll have a big enough job keeping the young ladies away from Grandpa once they discover who he really is. I mean, seriously, my first girlfriend only dated me so she could meet Grandpa." Kevin laughed,
"Not Helping Kevin, I'm just worried about everything; that's my right as your Mamaw. Heck, I almost never slept when you boys were deployed. I worried about you every day. Don't tell me not to; that's a Mom and Grandmom's right. Don't call me Grandma, either, or I'll kick your ass; I'm not that old." Kate kidded as the twins chuckled.
Rick smiled and left the words to his wife. One thing he had finally learned was when to keep quiet and now was that time.
Kyle tried to pull him into the conversation, "What about you, Grandpa? Are you looking forward to the pool and girls with swimsuits barely there?"
"Kyle, I know what you're doing, but I'm not biting on that, not with your Mamaw with her elbow this close to my ribs." He chuckled. I'll be happy to get Mamaw into her bathing suit and by the pool. Who knows, I may get lucky."
The twins said in unison, "YUCK, parental sex is bad enough to think about, but Grandpa?"
Kate fired back, "What do you think because there is a little age on these bodies, we don't have the same desires as you? By the way, I want to vet your next girlfriend, Kevin, your last one made it three that's that took you for a ride." Kate turned the tables on the twin, who was the one now embarrassed.
Thankfully, they arrived at the receiving area for the cruise and said a quick goodbye to the twins, Kate, with tears in her eyes. "Mamaw, PLEASE don't worry, and try to have a good time. We'll be right here to pick you up in seventeen days."
Kyle kissed her on the cheek after a long hug, followed by Kevin. The twins shook Rick's hand, and Kyle whispered, "Please, Grandpa, no details if you do score," and Rick howled with laughter.
They entered the receiving area and, as arranged and rehearsed, made the switch with the Impostor couple, who proceeded to the deck to wave goodbye. Rick and Kate were changing into other clothes that they retrieved from a storage locker and existed with other passengers still disembarking from one of the other cruise ships.
Kate observed the boys waving. When they got the thumbs up from Rick Impostor, Kyle returned it, and they turned and walked back to the parking area. She let out a sigh and said, "Well, they bought it, Babe. Now we have our work cut out for us." They proceeded to an unmarked car and sped off.
*********************************************************************/
Two Weeks Later
Mandarin Oriental,
New York
The impostor couple hired by Rick and Kate had made great inroads with the Senator's most trusted advisors. They had teased at a large donation but had only donated twenty thousand dollars, with a promise of plenty more where that came from if there was something in the campaign for them.
Tonight's event would be the deal-maker or breaker. They demanded to speak with the candidate one-on-one or vowed to throw their support behind another candidate where, as they said, the ROI was greater. The twins had picked up the chatter, but they were going against their Grandpa, one of the best at hiding information from anyone he didn't want to know.
"The boys are good, Kate, damn good, but we're just a little better," he said to his wife as they continued to monitor the events at the 12th, as well as the cruise they were supposed to be on. They had written postcards out since the twins believed they were old-fashioned anyway, and the Fake Kate and Rick had mailed them as instructed from every port of call they visited.
The twins had asked for pictures, but Rick knew they knew how to obtain the metadata. So they agreed to have a big welcome-home party and show the pictures and sights then.
"Are WE that good, Babe, or is Fallon doing his job the way Jackson would have demanded?" Kate smiled,
"Maybe a little of both," Rick replied. "Tonight, the Donor couple is supposed to meet directly with the Senator and attempt to get him to implicate himself with an offer too good to refuse for the two hundred million dollar donation they have let it be known they are willing to give IF they get something they want."
"I really will be glad when this is over; I mean, it's one thing for us; we know each other so well, we can anticipate our next move, but the boys, well."
"Stop worrying, Kate. I have backup in place that will take care of their immediate safety, and we'll be on site when the takedown occurs, so the chance of them getting hurt has been minimized as much as possible," Rick said. He pulled his wife to his side and gently kissed the top of her head, a move that always soothed her.
"Still, Backup? What Backup Babe?" She asked,
"Jordan Shaw is the Assistant Director of the FBI; well, she's working with the boys at the 12th and has her squads preparing for the takedown as well," Rick replied.
"Jordan is on sight? That makes me feel a little better. I know she would die before letting either of the boys get hurt, and she wants Bracken almost as bad as we do." She said as she returned to her monitoring of the impostor couple.
When they arrived at the hotel for tonight's fundraiser, the impostor couple, introduced as Bill and Brenda to Bracken's inner circle, were given the red carpet treatment. They never had an empty glass and were seated just across from the Senator, who was less than discreet when he checked out Brenda and her short, tight dress.
He had inherited the need for hot women from his Grandfather; it didn't matter if they were married or not, he always got what he wanted, even if blood had to be spilled. Brenda was in his line of sight of desire, so he asked to meet with the couple privately in the room off of the main hall, the one Rick had the latest listening devices in place.
After a round of pleasant introductions, they were left alone with the Senator to discuss how they could help his campaign and what he needed to promise to get the twenty-five million dollars his campaign desperately needed. Bill was open when he addressed the Senator,
"With all due respect, Senator, I've seen how you look at Brenda, and something tells me you would like to see what's behind all of the wrapping paper. That can be arranged IF you're willing to promise me a Cabinet Position in your administration, say Secretary of State. I don't think a weekend with my wife and the money would be a bad investment, but then again, that's up to you." Bill said,
The Senator was a bit taken back by the brashness of this man; he only knew as Bill, nothing else. "Before we talk about any hypotheticals, I need to know more about you than your first name." He replied,
"Oh, give me a fucking break Bracken. You've had us investigated for the last month. You know I'm a former model who married my husband, Bill, two years ago. You also know that he owns a software development company with a huge contract with a federal technology supplier.
"You also know we are active in the alternate lifestyle, meaning yes, we have other partners in our beds, so don't flatter yourself for me being attracted to you. It's transactional and just sex.
"If you don't want the campaign contribution, we have a standing offer from your opponent for a much more lucrative position in his administration and less money out of our pocket. He's better looking than you as well," Brenda threw in the last barb.
"Well, I see you two know exactly what you want, and you're not wrong. A weekend with your wife would be the icing on the cake. Let me make some arrangements. I'm sure you know that a large donation in that amount would need to be filtered through other sources to avoid campaign contribution laws.
"Just one more thing, Senator, I'll be with my wife when you have your weekend, and the money won't be transferred until we are both safely back home; you do have a reputation for people going missing once you have gotten what you need from them," Bill added.
"As I said, let me make the arrangements; my people will be in touch when we get everything set up. So, do you like to watch your wife with other men? If that's your thing, I don't have a problem with it, but no guns, no weapons, and no listening or taping devices of any type. If you try to capitalize with a sex tape of a sitting senator, well, you won't like what happens to you or your wife." He said with a bit of a snarl.
"What I like or don't like isn't any of your concern. As Benda said, this is purely transactional, and we WILL ensure the agreement in our own way. We never tape any of our parties, Senator; you know that. You've attempted to find any of our posts on multiple sites without success." Bill added he hadn't been successful in business by accident, and knew how to keep things hidden when needed.
The Senator had gravely underestimated the potential donor, so he did what he always did when faced with a similar situation: he stalled until he could formulate a plan. Unfortunately for him, not only were Rick and Kate Castle listening to the conversation, but so were a team of federal agents, including Jordan Shaw, Kyle and Kevin Castle, and the IT Support Person, Torry Ellis. She was as close to Kevin as she dared be and still remained professional enough to stay on the task force, which, for the record, was requested by Managing Agent Kevin Castle.
The twins had no idea that their Grandparents had architected the entire event but would find out in a few days when the takedown was scheduled. Jordan, the Twins, Ryan, Curry, and Hastings were behind closed doors as they substituted the actual data acquired in place of the simulation data used by Kyle's computer model; it was about to get real.
TBC
A/N: I hope to be able to wrap this one up in the next chapter, two at the most, and then take a short break and move on to another story. A quick reminder: if you have a story prompt, just like Kenny did, please submit it, and we'll see what we can do. I also try to bring closure to abandoned stories where the writer is no longer able to be found. I don't use their work, I build a new story around their story arch and then try to give it a decent close. If you know of such a story, please let me know as well. The ONLY season I WILL NOT write about is Season EIGHT. Till next time, Thx for reading, -Tim