thepicketfencecliche | new york wolves } { of headway and settling in

Derek: So that was a lot easier than I thought. I guess my time in the crime lab payed off.

Beckett: Don't get cocky. They're not all going to be that easy.

Derek: What, I can't be a little cocky?

Beckett: It's your first case. Come back to me in a few months after closing cases, and then you can be a little cocky.

Derek: Well, you're going to be there with me, so you can enjoy the benefits of being able to troll me when I'm in over my head.

Beckett: [smirks a bit as she sips her wine] Sounds fair.

Derek: So, what's been going on in the last few years? All I ever hear about you is through Castle's books.

Beckett: Well, as far as light conversation goes, that's pretty much been it.

Derek: Come on Kate, we were partners. You know you can tell me things. I won't judge. Much.

Beckett: [sighs heavily before leaning back against the booth] I found the guy who killed my mom.

Derek: Oh? [leans forward]

Beckett: He was an assassin. Someone hired him to kill her because she was getting in the way of something, but ... I had to shoot him before I could find out who.

Derek: So there's someone else out there now you have to hunt down.

Beckett: [she nods] And I'm definitely kicking up dust. [her hand wanders to the spot right over her heart where she was shot not all that long ago] I think an attempt on my life makes that pretty clear.

Derek: Well, you have me now to have your back. I'll help you.

Beckett: [glances up at him] Are you sure you want in on this? I mean, Espo, Castle and Ryan have been there since the beginning, but ... people die because of this. Montgomery died because of this.

Derek: Like you said, I had your back long before you met any of them. Still got it. You'd do the same for me.

Beckett: [sighs as she glances around] It isn't really something we should talk about here.

Derek: We can take a walk?

Beckett: [thinks for a moment before nodding] Yeah. Let's head back to my place.

Derek: Alright.

Beckett: [and she'll pay the tab and lead the way back towards her apartment - not the same one he remembers. that one sort of went boom]

Derek: [looking around. She's in a better neighborhood. Not his, but better than before] You moved.

Beckett: Yeah. A serial killer blew up my apartment.

Derek: Yeah, hate it when that happens.

Beckett: He was obsessed with Nikki Heat. Decided I was close enough.

Derek: Well, that's not good.

Beckett: It doesn't matter. He's in jail now.

Derek: It's a good place for him to be. [smirks]

Beckett: Indeed. Though I'm pretty sure Jordan and I would have both settled for "dead" too.

Derek: Jordan?

Beckett: The FBI agent who was working the case with us. The killer took her hostage at one point.

Derek: She's okay, I take it?

Beckett: Yeah. We got her back and arrested the guy.

Derek: And got a new apartment as a reward to yourself.

Beckett: Yes. It was either that, or live with Castle and getting my own place was definitely the better option.

Derek: Yeah, definitely the better option.

Beckett: [there's a sigh as she lets him in, before closing the door behind them] I miss my tub, though. They don't make a lot of apartments with cast iron tubs in New York anymore.

Derek: Oh? Well, I may know of one. [smirks]

Beckett: [glances over] Really?

Derek: Really. You'd have to sweet talk my sisters out of it though.

Beckett: Ahh. See, I need it just in case someone tries to blow up my place again. Odds are, they'd probably never get it back.

Derek: I guess then you'll just have to save your bonus and get a new one.

Beckett: Guess so. [she sheds her jacket before making her way over to the other end of the room.] Make yourself at home. I'll be right back.

Derek: [nods and goes to smell the air of the place, trying to see if there was anything out of sorts before he took a seat on the couch]

Beckett: [when she comes back in, she is pulling a whiteboard with her, not unlike the one at the precinct, but everything on it is her mom's case] This is it. This is everything I have.

Derek: [one of his eyebrows goes up as he stands, walking to the board] Wow, that's... kinda detailed. I'd be impressed if it wasn't such a sensitive topic.

Beckett: This has taken me ... years to get together. I still don't know what's real and what isn't but it's ... something.

Derek: [his eyes roam over it all, looking at the pieces and how she was fitting them together] So are these ends leads you haven't followed up on?

Beckett: Most of these have been taken as far as they can go. These two are both assassins who were taking out people involved - they're both dead. There's a bunch of dirty cops, including Montgomery - all dead. Someone was blackmailing them for kidnap confession scams that they were running and extorting the money out of them. I find the blackmailer, I find the man who ordered the hit on my mother. It's just ... finding him that's proving difficult. [she sighs, before tapping the question mark over her end of the case] And we still don't know who shot me.

Derek: [thinks, arms crossed] Did Montgomery ever keep files outside of the office? Like a lockbox at the bank, just to keep nosy cops out of sensitive matters while he was working on it?

Beckett: [nods] But all of his records were collected and searched after his death by the people investigating the case. If there was anything of merit, if he had cops on his payroll in the department it's probably long gone by now.

Derek: [nods, licking his lips] So you need a new lead.

Beckett: Yep. But I'll keep kicking until it finds me what I want.

Derek: So how can I help?

Beckett: ... I don't know. They still won't let me get a look at the evidence from my own case.

Derek: ... Where is it being kept? [crosses his arms, one eyebrow up]

Beckett: [turns and glances back to him] Same place as the other evidence. Why?

Derek: Working in the crime lab gives you contacts and a few favors shared.

Beckett: [as much as she wants it - and it's clear that she does - she doesn't want him to get tangled too much in this] Are you sure you want to burn one on this?

Derek: You'd do it for me.

Beckett: [nods once, then nods again] Yeah. Okay, then.

Derek: Give me a week and let me see what I can stir up.

Beckett: [nods] Thank you.

Derek: [he sighs for a moment, then looks at her] It's the least I can do. I know how you feel.

Beckett: [watches him for a moment, before nodding] I should ... put this away.

Derek: Yeah, before the cops show up. [smirks]

Beckett: [rolls her eyes before rolling the white board back] There's beers in the fridge if you want to grab one.

Derek: Want me to grab you one too? [heading to the kitchen]

Beckett: Please.

Derek: [and he's going to pop the tops off two of them and wander back]

Beckett: [and she'll put the thing away before sitting on the couch next to him. Time for a subject change] So are Ryan and Espo giving you any more trouble?

Derek: No. I outlasted Espo's bet so I think I'm officially a part of the team now.

Beckett: Glad to hear it. I heard your sister was in a couple weeks ago.

Derek: Yeah, she wanted to have a celebratory you are finally a detective now dinner.

Beckett: [nods as she sips her beer] She and Espo seemed to hit it off.

Derek: Yeah, I noticed. [nope, just sipping that beer of his]

Beckett: He's a nice guy. I'm sure you don't have to worry.

Derek: Yeah, well my sister has been more worried about taking care of us for the last few years and hasn't really done much for herself. So I just worry about her.

Beckett: You think she can't handle Espo?

Derek: No, I think she can slap him around very easily. I just... I don't know if she's let herself open up like that before, and how it would affect her.

Beckett: [nods] Well, the great thing about Javi is that she doesn't really have to dig very deep. If she's just looking for fun, if Lainie's experience is anything to go by he is ... very good at that.

Derek: You know, this really isn't something I want to hear about my sisters doing.

Beckett: [laughs] I'm sure they feel the same way about you. But what I mean to say is that he's not as much of a player as he makes himself out to be.

Derek: Well, that's good to know. Still doesn't mean I won't kill him if he hurts her. [smirks]

Beckett: Don't you have a little sister you can focus this destructive energy on?

Derek: Oh, I do. Two of them. One I've given up on. [because she is way too much like him when it comes to relationships] And the other just got a boyfriend and I've already been chastised once for trying to scare the daylights out of him.

Beckett: I thought that was a standard part of the big brother package.

Derek: So do I, but I'm outnumbered three to one in the sibling department.

Beckett: That sounds rough.

Derek: Yup. And I used to have my uncle to back me up, but ever since we moved here, it hasn't been the same.

Beckett: I'm sorry. That must be hard.

Derek: [just shrugs and sips his beer] It's what it is.

Beckett: [shrugs] I don't really know much about big families. Only child.

Derek: Trade you? [though he wouldn't. He loved his sisters even if they drove him crazy]

Beckett: [laughs] I don't think it works that way.

Derek: Probably not, but you can't say I didn't try. [grins]

Beckett: I'm not sure my dad would be thrilled with three more daughters either. I'm enough trouble.

Derek: How my mom handled all of us, I have no clue.

Beckett: She must have been a skilled diplomat.

Derek: Yeah, she was usually good at negotiations.

Beckett: And you all get along most of the time?

Derek: Most of the time. Laura's kinda become more like a mom to Cora and Malia, and Peter's Dad, and I'm just kinda hovering as big brother.

Beckett: That's not a bad thing. There are always those things you can't really talk to your parents about.

Derek: Yeah, but I'm pretty sure none of them want to talk to me about their sex lives.

Beckett: Good point.

Derek: Just like I don't share mine with them.

Beckett: Also fair.

Derek: So um... I guess I gotta ask - are you and Castle...?

Beckett: [her brow furrows, confused by the question] Are we ... ? [then there's a second as she blinks in surprise] Oh, God no. I ... just broke up with someone, actually.

Derek: Oh, okay. I just... you guys spend a lot of time together and seem close and... nope, shutting up.

Beckett: [laughs] We work well together, that's ... about it. I don't think I could keep up with Castle's lifestyle to be honest.

Derek: Too much jetsetting?

Beckett: Too much ... everything. It's bad enough the attention I get for being his "muse." I'm not sure I could handle being his girlfriend, or more than that.

Derek: So no next Mrs. Castle for you? [teasing]

Beckett: [she laughs] No. I don't really think that's for me.

Derek: Personally, I can't see you giving up the job. You're too good at it.

Beckett: I would never want to. I love what I do.

Derek: I knew that back when we were rookies. You're still the same way.

Beckett: So are you. We were a good match that way.

Derek: We are. It's nice having you having my back again, by the way.

Beckett: Same here. No other partners they paired me with ever really worked.

Derek: We just set too high of a standard for each other no one could match. [smirk]

Beckett: [laughs] Hey, if it's not broke, don't fix it.

Derek: [finishes his beer and looks at his phone] I should probably be heading back.

Beckett: [nods as she finishes hers as well] Right. There'll probably be a new case to work tomorrow.

Derek: There's no days off from murder in this city.