Title: Brand New Eyes
Characters/Pairings: The whole team, yes, with some moments of Beckett/Castle goodness
Rating: T (I guess, just to be safe for later stuff)
Warnings: Some dark stuff and then some not so dark stuff (I am a fan of Caskett/Beckle, so expect moments of fluff.)
Spoiler alert: Generally spoilers for S1 and S2. This is about three years after the conversation in the hospital at the end of S1.
Summary: Everybody has their theory about how they'll be going about Beckett's mom's murder and how eventually Castle and Beckett will end up hooking up. This story was started from a dream I had the other night, so we'll see where it goes.
Author's Notes: Don't own anything, just lots of student loan debt. Well, I do own a car, so I do own something! LOL. This is my first Castle fic and will be ongoing, so just bear with me! Oh, and with regards to the title, I know it's not exactly original, but it will have a point, later. Feel free to comment, critique….and most of all, enjoy!

Chapter 1

10:38 PM.

10:51 PM.

Rick Castle was not a man to be rendered speechless easily, but, as he stared at the digital clock in his office, he could not speak. The pouring rain outside echoed on the windows of his office, the only light coming from the flickering screensaver of his laptop and a small lamp on his desk.

11:11 PM.

“Still awake in here, kiddo?” Martha asked, fluttering into the office, still dressed in her clothes from the evening.

He looked up at her, not knowing where to begin.

Her expression turned serious, taking in his dull eyes and long frown. “What’s going on? Did something happen to Alexis? Or Detective Beckett?” She asked, sitting down at the other side of the desk.

“Alexis is fine.” He said in a hoarse voice. “I talked to Clark.”

“Dr. Death? Is this about Detective Beckett’s mother?” She asked.

“I have to go.” He stood up and grabbed his coat. “If I’m not back, will you make sure Alexis gets off to school okay tomorrow?” He asked.

“Absolutely.” She watched him leave the apartment in silence, wondering what Dr. Death could have told him to shake him up so much.

***

Castle rounded the corner of the second floor of the 12th Precinct, and, for a moment, was taken aback by the sight of Kate Beckett at her desk. The lone detective still at her desk, she kept herself busy by filling out the last of the paperwork from the case they closed today, soft music coming from her computer. Her smile at a particular song disarmed him a bit as she moved to turn the volume up a little, tapping her pen in time to the music. It wasn’t often that he was able to see Kate from Detective Beckett, and normally, he would have enjoyed it. Not tonight, though. And probably not for some time forward.

He lost track of the moment when she looked up and saw him. “Castle?” She asked, the smile still on her face. “What are you doing here?” She moved to turn down the music as he sat himself in the chair next to her desk. “We got the right guy.”

“It’s not about that.” He said, cursing himself for the way his voice broke.

She whipped her head around at the sound of his voice, the only time she had heard his voice like that it had been at the hospital after seeing Sorenson after he had been shot. It’s about your mother… She subconsciously shook off the chill that had gone down her spine at the thought. Three years later and that conversation still made her skin crawl.

“There was a murder tonight in White Plains.”

Her hand stilled over the paper. “White Plains isn’t in my jurisdiction, Castle.” She said, hoping she had put enough edge in her voice to mask the quiver she felt in her stomach.

“I know. I got a call from that friend of mine that looked at your mother’s case, and the victim had the same kind of wounds she and the others did. I had him send a copy of the report to Lanie and she’s going over it as we speak.” He had called the Medical Examiner from the cab.

She stared hard into Castle’s blue eyes, her silence broken by Ryan, Esposito and Captain Montgomery. “Sir,” she started.

“I’ve already gotten a call from the captain up there.” He said. “He’s expecting all of you.”

Beckett jumped out of her chair and grabbed her trench coat and keys before Castle could blink. “Let’s move.” She said.

*****

The ride from the 12th to White Plains in the car that Beckett and Castle shared was quiet, up until the moment that Castle was sure the silence was doing to drive him insane. “You are not shouting at me very loudly.” He said, gazing over at her.

She sighed, shifting to one hand on the wheel. “It’s not you, Castle.” She looked over at him. “It’s really not. It’s just,” her gaze filtered back to the road, “this is the call I’ve been dreading.” She said. “I’ve been asking myself if I’d ever be ready to go back to this, and I haven’t been able to answer.”

“Personal demons aside, I think you are ready, Beckett.” He said softly. “It’s been three years since I brought it up to you at the hospital. You’re a lot different from the Detective I knew then.” He said.

She looked back at him again, her green eyes holding his own. “I hope you’re right.” She flipped open her cell phone as the ringer went off. “Beckett.” She answered. “Okay. We’re just about there. Find out what you can and I’ll see you then.” She flipped the phone closed. “That was Lanie. She just arrived at the scene.”

“She must have taken off right after I called her.” He mused.

“We’re almost there, too.” She said.

He wanted to get her back on the conversation they had been on before Lanie had called, but saw that was pretty much an impossibility. Kate had disappeared and she had been replaced by Detective Beckett, all business and no time for personal matters.

*****

Upon arriving at the crime scene, Kate surveyed what was in front of her as Esposito and Ryan spoke to the detective from the White Plains police department and waited for Lanie to finish speaking to the local Medical Examiner. Castle stood next to her, and for once she was grateful for his presence.

“Kat Harper.” Lanie said as she walked over to Beckett and Castle. “We can’t place why she was in the alley, considering where she lived.”

“Did you find an ID?” She asked.

Lanie nodded, handing her a wallet. “Upper East Side in Manhattan.”

Kate realized the victim was her age, and then gasped at the address. “This is the same building my father lives in.” She said, passing it to Castle. “What can you tell me about the body?” She asked her.

“Probably a lot of the same things you can already guess. The wallet is still full, and there’s no sign of sexual assault. I’ll run everything and I’ll let you know what I find when I get her back to the lab.”

“White Plains CSU is going to comb the alley.” Esposito said as he and Ryan walked up to the trio. “Ryan and I are going to start canvassing and see if we can find anyone who saw anything.” He told Beckett.

She nodded. “Let me know in the off chance you find something.”

“Will do, boss.” Ryan said as they headed towards the street.

“What’s our next move?” Castle asked.

Beckett sighed, shaking off a yawn. “Coffee. Then we check out Kat Harper’s apartment.” She grabbed her keys and turn back to Lanie. “Thank you.” She said.

“Let me know what you find.” Lanie said.

She nodded, gesturing to Castle to follow. “I’m okay, Castle.” She said in response to his unspoken question as they stood next to the vehicle. “At least for now.”

Seriously, I am FLOORED by everyone's awesomeness. You guys are great! And without further ado, chapter 2!

Chapter 2

As the pair looked through Kat Harper’s apartment, Castle paused at her bookshelf. “Looks a lot like yours, actually.” He said, cocking his head to the side. “Derrick Storm, and look! Nikki Heat.” He said. “History, Art, Anthropology….”

“Needless of us to say, she had some varied interests.” Beckett said, joining him.

“Do we know what she did? For a living?” He asked.

“Not sure. They’re working on notifying next of kin to come down and identify the body.” Beckett said, moving into the kitchen. “We’ll know more about her then.”

“If the desk is any indication, I’d say she was in publishing.” Castle asked, picking through some papers. “Probably an editor or an agent.”

“Rejected author?” Kate wondered, knowing already that wasn’t the answer. Why would a rejected author go after her mother? “She liked to cook.” She noted, one of her hands sliding over the smooth granite of the island in the middle of the kitchen, her mind sliding into a memory from childhood.

“I’m baking them right now.”

“Okay!” Kate called, skipping to her bedroom.

It was Castle, his voice filled with a new urgency, that broke her out of the memory. “I don’t think she’s the only person that lives here.”

Kate walked out of the kitchen, where Castle was looking at pictures on the mantle. Several of the pictures contained Kat, but nearly in all of them with her there was a little girl. Not speaking, she walked down the hall of the spacious apartment and started opening up doors until she found what she was looking for. “Here’s her room.” She said, flipping the light on but not entering. “She had a daughter.” Her mind was cycling through different scenarios, none of which at the moment made any sense. “How did she end up in an alley in White Plains?” She asked.

“And where’s her daughter?” Castle asked, breaching the threshold of the room. “She’s at least five. Or a very good reader.” He said, holding up some books. “Alexis was reading these at that age.” He explained.

“There were no signs of forced entry to the apartment.” She said. “I think we should go have a word with the doorman.” She’d been hoping to avoid having to talk to the doorman; the chances of her father finding out about their visit would increase after that happened. “I think I’ve got all I need from here.”

They left the apartment in silence, and when they stepped in the elevator, Kate’s hand hovered for a moment over the button for the seventh floor before hitting the one for the lobby. “How’s Alexis? I feel bad that I haven’t been able to see her since she’s been home.”

“She’s good; excited to be back in New York. Enjoying her summer class at Columbia. She’d like to get a hold of you while she’s home for her Sociology of Deviance class she’s got next semester.” Rick said.

She nodded. “I’d like to see her, too.”

The pair exited the elevator and walked back towards the front door. “Recognize him?” Castle asked.

Beckett shook her head. “No. But, I’m never over here at this time, so…” She let the thought trail off, gripping her badge. “I’m Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD, this is Rick Castle.” She flashed the badge. “Can you tell us about Kat Harper?” She asked, taking out a notepad.

The doorman was a male, about 35 years old, with short black hair and brown eyes. “I’m Ben Morrison.” He said. “You’re wondering about Kat?” He asked, beginning again after Kate nodded. “Always has a smile on her face. I work the late shift, so I wouldn’t see her very often, but every time I did, it didn’t look like she had a care in the world. Her little girl is adorable.”

“Tell us about her, too.” Castle said.

“Maya’s the cutest five year old I’ve ever seen. Red hair, big green eyes. Kat’s husband was killed overseas just after she was born. Norah Ralle, Kat’s sister, came by and picked her up tonight; that was just as I was getting here. Kat left not too long after. I waved at her and she waved at me, but we didn’t talk.” He said.

“How did she seem? How did Norah seem?” Beckett asked.

He shrugged. “Both of them seemed fine to me.” He looked from Beckett to Castle and back to Beckett. “What’s going on? Are they okay?” He asked.

“Do you know where we can reach Norah?” Kate asked.

He shook his head. “All I know is that she lives in a building not too far from here. When Kat’s husband died, she was over all the time helping her take care of Maya. At least, that’s what I’ve heard. I’ve only worked here for about a year.”

She made a note on the pad, extending her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Morrison. We’ll keep in touch.” She said. “Come on, Castle.”

“This is weird.” He said as they left the building.

“I know.” She took her cell phone out of the pocket of her coat. “Esposito, have you found anything?”

“Canvas was negative. Ryan and I just got back to the station.” He said.

“Run the name Norah Ralle through the system. I need an address.”

“Sure thing.” There was a moment where Kate heard his fingers run across a keyboard. “Okay. You ready for it?” He asked.

“Shoot.” Kate took down the address. “Okay. We’re going to go see her, and then we’ll be back to the station. Has Lanie called?” She asked.

“She said she’ll have a tox report in a couple of hours.”

“Okay. Well, run Kat Harper through all the databases, see what comes up. Maiden name is Ralle.” She paused and spelled it for him. “Let me know what you find when we get back.” She turned to Castle, who was waiting anxiously for her report. “The canvas was negative, but we’ve got an address for the sister.”

*****

Kate raised a hand to the door of the Manhattan apartment where Norah Ralle lived, unable to knock. I was old enough to at least understand that I was never going to see her again.

Rick stood a respectful distance away from Beckett, thinking about the turn this case was taking and his own daughter, sleeping in her bed back at his apartment. Maya Harper was somebody’s Alexis. Beckett was someone’s Alexis. He hated to think of what would happen to her if he were to, God forbid, meet an untimely end, but he hoped that she would end up as strong and as independent as Beckett. Well, I meant it. You are extraordinary. He’d replayed that scene so many times in his mind, each of them ending far differently than reality had.

“You okay, Castle?” Beckett asked, turning to face him.

He nodded, shaking out of his revelry. “Yeah. Just thinking about Alexis. She at least had me when she was growing up. I can’t help thinking about this poor girl… Dad gets killed overseas and Mom…” He let the thought slide as the door opened, revealing a blonde-haired woman in red sleeping pants and an oversized hooded sweatshirt.

“Norah Ralle?” Beckett asked. “Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD, and this is Richard Castle.”

“What’s going on?” She asked, covering her mouth when she yawned.

“Can we come in?” She gestured to the inside of the apartment.

“Sure.” Norah opened the door of the apartment, allowing them to come in. “I have my niece here, so if we could just keep it quiet….”

“It’s about your sister, Kat.” Beckett started, taking a picture given to her by the White Plains ME. “Her body was found tonight in White Plains.” She paused, letting the news sink in.

Tears welled in her eyes, taking in the picture, and her head turned, presumably to where Maya was sleeping. “Oh God… And Maya.” She whispered, her hands going over her mouth.

Kate continued, slowly and gently. “Ms. Ralle, I am so sorry for your loss, but I need to ask you a few questions about your sister.”

Castle’s eyes closed in on Beckett again. Her green eyes held the same empathy that he had seen countless times over the past four years, but behind it all was a fire he’d never seen. During their first meeting, he had complimented her sparking eyes, but now, he wasn’t quite sure what to think.
*****

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