Castle and The Originals

Chapter 1

Beep beep beep beep

Castle heard the familiar sound of their alarm clock. In fact it was the third time he had heard it this morning. He was in the study, having gotten up early to get a little writing done before they headed to the precinct for the day. So much had happened since returning from their honeymoon six weeks prior; he had barely touched his laptop and Gina was on the verge of threatening his life if he didn't at least produce an outline for the next installment of Nikki Heat. Little did Gina know, but it would take more than the threat of life and limb to get him shift his focus from Kate to a measly book right now.

Their marriage had started out with such joy and happiness, but recent events had filled many days with fear and sadness. Only in the last week had it even seemed possible that things would return to what they had once been. He and Kate were still completely head over heels and devoted to each other and to Alexis; nothing would change that. But with the escape of Hal Lockwood and the betrayal and death of their Captain, Kate had temporarily retreated into a dark place. Castle couldn't blame her; not only had her mentor confessed to being involved in her mother's murder, but then sacrificed himself so she could live. The pain and guilt his actions caused would have consumed a lesser person but it only seemed to strengthen her resolve to get justice or revenge depending on how you looked at it. However, the failed attempt on her life while she gives Montgomery's eulogy was the last straw for Castle and Kate's father alike, but not until the package arrived in the mail could either of them convince her to back down.

On the day of his death Montgomery had gathered all the evidence he could concerning Johanna Beckett's murder and all the circumstances related to it. He had mailed it to Castle in confidence, but their marriage held no secrets and he shared it with Kate immediately. Reading each and every piece of evidence they both realized that McCalister's words were true. They had awoken the dragon. The powerful people involved could be touched by three NYPD Detectives alone even with Castle's fame and money behind them. They had no choice but to hand it over to the only person they felt they could trust. It was now in the hands of the FBI and in conjunction with the Justice Department a quiet yet thorough Federal investigation was being conducted. The Castle's would receive no more information about it and only if it resulted in a trial would they be contacted to testify. For now, life was to go on as usual. Normalcy was the only thing that could protect her now and they did their best. Yes, Castle had hired a little more security for the building and for now they held Alexis with a little tighter leash, but it was not enough to raise red flags to anyone that might be watching them. As far as anyone looking in was concerned the case was closed.

Beep beep beep beep

Okay, he knew four hits of the snooze button would make them late for work. Castle closed his laptop, he had only written a couple of lines anyway, and made his way to their bedroom. Kate was sound asleep face down on the bed. Her hair was fanned out across her pillow and her arm hung off the side; knuckles skimming the floor. She was completely naked and the sight of her caused his heart to thump in his chest. It didn't matter that they had been together for eight months and married for two; every time he saw her his heart reacted and he knew it would every time for as long as he lived. He knelt down beside the bed and rubbed the hair from her face.

"Kate, you need to get up sweetheart." She didn't budge so he moved in closer. "Come on baby it's after seven."

Kate groaned in disagreement. "Ten more minutes."

She turned her head away from him.

"Kate, you've already done ten more minutes three times. Do you want me to call Captain Gates and tell her we won't be in today?"

Rick cringed a little at having to say the name. The Twelfth had been assigned a new Captain a few days after Montgomery's death. She was an attractive woman in her early forties, but her looks were about the only positive thing about her. She had immediately kicked Castle out and only after the Mayor himself put an end to her demands did she allow him back in. That was of course enough to out her on the bad side of everyone in the precinct and she had been rowing an uphill course ever since. She made it clear to everyone that Castle's antics would not be tolerated and that no matter their closure rate, Kate and her team would not be afforded the leniency they had previously been provided. Of course, with each case solved and each murderer put behind bars. Kate and her team could tell Captain Gates appreciated their abilities if not their tactics.