This story's going to delve into some dark places. AU / Supernatural. Set during season 5. (I'm out of my comfort zone as this is not my usual fluff, lol)

Please read my Undercover Jealousy story first (only 3 chapters) to understand Gemma Goodwin's connection to Rick. { w w w dot fan fiction dot net /s /8831805 /2 / Undercover - Jealousy }

For those of you who are interested, I found a model who greatly resembles Gemma… The main difference being that she's older at age 28, and her eyes are more cobalt blue. {w w w dot new faces dot com / fallon groh }

...

The caucasian male in his thirties with cold, dark eyes and brooding nature sat in a secluded corner of the dive bar in a weathered, old booth. His hands wrung together impatiently as he waited for his guest to arrive. His eyes narrowed in annoyance as he noticed the time. Mr. Farrow was late, and he certainly did not like to be kept waiting. He might have to – punish him for that discourtesy. His lips lifted into a grim smile.

Frank Farrow approached his client with confidence. He was used to dealing with shady characters. Being a Private Investigator, it was a natural hazard of the job, but the laidback man directly in front of him wearing a Yankees T shirt and baseball cap, emitted a dark vibe that even frightened him at times. And he was not a man easily frightened. He greeted his client with a forced smile.

"J.T.," the distinguished gentleman addressed him while sitting down in the opposite side of the booth.

Tyson glanced at his watch, obviously annoyed, and stated, "You're late."

"Sorry, I got stuck in game traffic."

"A pitiful excuse," his eyes bore into him as he scrutinized his fashionable attire. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Understood."

"So, what did you find out?"

"Rick Castle's been working an undercover case with the FBI."

Tyson laughed darkly before scoffing, "I don't believe it. Iron Gates thinks he's a joke; just a writer playing cop. She'd never agree to it."

"Well, apparently the Feds needed someone famous, attractive and middle-age to try and charm the Heiress, Gemma Goodwin. They were searching for intel on her father who's suspected of terrorist activity."

"Show me the photos."

The P.I. opened up his satchel and pulled out several photos showing Castle seated next to Ms Goodwin in a poker game.

His first impression of Gemma was that she was quite pretty in an understated way with alabaster skin and wavy, thick red hair that dipped below her shoulders.

Too bad she isn't blond.

Her eyes were a piercing shade of blue. She was very slender, almost on the verge of being too thin. Her nose was petite, narrow… Her mouth was by far her best feature. She had wide, model lips that reminded him of Liv Tyler.

"I did some research on Gemma Goodwin. She's known among her circles as the 'Unselfish Heiress'. She gives half a million dollars away yearly to help the underprivileged. Her favorite causes are battered women and the homeless. She's also said to be," he paused slightly, wondering how J.T. would take this kind of news, "umm – gifted."

"Gifted? – How so?"

"She descends from a line of Fortune Tellers. She's talented with tarot cards and can supposedly 'sense' things about people. There's a rumor that she's even clairvoyant. There are many skeptics in New York who actually believe she's a true psychic."

Tyson's grin turned into a leer. "What interesting, surprising news. She sounds promising."

A chill ran down Mr Farrow's spine at his devious tone. He could practically see the wheels turning inside J.T.s head as he plotted how to use Ms. Goodwin to his advantage.

"Tell me… How did Mr. Castle respond to her?"

"Like any true-blooded, American-male would… He seemed infatuated by her, but the case didn't go the way the Feds hoped…Ms Goodwin refused to see him again."

Tyson took in the news, absorbing it eagerly. "Why?"

"My source didn't know as he hadn't had the chance yet to listen to their conversation."

"I need that recording. Get it to me quickly. There's an additional ten grand in it for you if you can get it to me by the end of the week."

"I can't promise anything. It's going to be near impossible as my FBI contact is spooked."

Tyson obviously didn't like that answer. He leaned into Farrow, hissing menacingly, "You'll regret it if I don't have it in my possession within 5 days."

Farrows nodded his understanding, knowing perfectly well that J.T. would make good on his threat.

"I thought you'd also like these." He reached into his bag and pulled out more photographs.

Tyson gleefully sneered; his grin widening with each new photo.

Castle and Beckett were standing in front of an elevator. He was wearing an expensive, classy suit and she was dressed as a hostess in a tight, red button down with a black pencil skirt. She was obviously upset with him as her facial expression clearly screamed, 'You're-such-a-cad-Richard-Castle."

"Those were taken within minutes of the undercover operation breaking up for the night."

They were more photos, - suggestive, erotic ones in an underground parking garage where Castle had her pinned against the cement wall. They were deeply engrossed in one another, french kissing ardently. Her hands were planted firmly on his ass as he nibbled on her collar bone. Beckett's lips were parted sensuously as he bit her neck and removed the hair clip to let her hair tumble free... Subsequent shots showed Castle getting bolder as his hands shoved that indecently tight skirt up her thighs.

"She's a gorgeous woman, isn't she?" Tyson asked with a hint of envy in his tone.

Farrow got the distinct impression that he needed to answer the question correctly, or else he wouldn't like the end result. He cleared the back of his throat before saying, "Yes. She's exceptionally beautiful, and from the looks of it," he tapped the photo with Kate looking deeply into Rick's eyes, "exceptionally in love."

Tyson's eyes glazed over as he looked at the last shots of Rick throwing Kate over his shoulder and hauling her to his car. "I'm counting on that. It will make - tormenting her - so much sweeter."

He picked up a briefcase that was lying next to him and shoved it across the table to Farrow. "There's $35,000 in cash. Don't deposit the money into a bank account. Accounts are too easily traced."

"I understand. There's no need to worry. I'm very discreet when it comes to my business." He reached out his hand to shake Tyson's. "I'll have the recording to you within a few days."

Jerry ignored his proffered hand and said boldly, "If you ever mention our transaction to anyone, your wife will deeply regret it."

And by the tone of his voice and the hot blaze of his eyes, Frank Farrow knew with utter certainty that J.T. was a man of his word.

….

"Yo, Castle, you're running late." Espo greeted him with a coy smile.

"Sorry, my taxi got stuck in a massive traffic jam."

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to the striking redhead who's been waiting 30 minutes to see you."

Rick's first thought was of his daughter… "Alexis is here? Is everything alright? Did she seem okay to you?"

"It's not Alexis," and by Espo's growing smirk, he was obviously trying to put one past him.

"If it's Meredith, you can tell deep-fried-twinkie to leave the precinct immediately and I'll contact her within the hour, - via phone." He mumbled beneath his breath, "That woman drives me nuts!"

"Naw, it's not Meredith. This woman is a lady in every sense of the word." He nodded towards the bullpen. "Head over to Ryan's desk. She's probably sick and tired of entertaining Honey Milk by now."

Castle hurriedly walked past the murder board, anxious to see who came to visit him. A huge smile lit up his face as Gemma's lilting voice pierced the air.

"Your wife is going to have a girl, Kevin, and see here," she pointed to a tiny dove on the tarot card that was flying away from the mother and child. "This dove signifies purity which means she was conceived under the covenant of matrimony, within the true bonds of love… Your daughter is very special in that she was desired for quite some time before she was conceived. She will make your family whole." She placed her palm directly on top of Kevin's upturned hand before turning over another card. "Choose her name wisely as her personality will reflect the 'meaning' of her name, or," she paused slightly, pondering something, "If you name her after an ancestor, she will take on the traits of that family member."

My God, Rick thought as he perused Gemma and Ryan. She's utterly fascinating when she's using her gift.

There was a quiet strength about her, an energy of light that seemed to surround her as her palm connected with Ryan's and she read the cards in front of her. Her cobalt blue eyes seemed to shine with an inner fire as her full lips moved in a mesmerizing fashion as she continued to tell Ryan that he was one of the lucky ones, - that even though there'd be a few bumps in the road, his marriage would last.

"Gemma," he interrupted them softly, "How wonderful to see you."

Her smile was genuine, beautiful. "Rick." She held out her hand and he grasped it in familiarity.

"I'll leave you two alone." Ryan stood up from his chair and nodded to Castle. "Thank you for the reading, Ms. Goodwin. I'm going to call Jenny on my next break and tell her the good news… She'll be thrilled."

"I'm happy for you both."

Before Ryan left the area, Castle inquired, "Where's Beckett?"

"She's stuck with Perlmutter going over our latest case."

"Please tell her to find me when she comes back."

"Sure, Castle."

As he looked into Gemma's crystalline eyes, radiating innocence, his heart told him that he needed to come clean with her and confess the truth about the first time they met... He felt compelled to apologize for deceiving her and wanted her to know that both he and Beckett were working undercover with the F.B.I. that night.

"I hope it's alright that I contacted your publisher to try and reach you."

"Not a problem. Did my ex-wife give you a hard time?"

She chuckled before answering. "She's like a pitbull on steroids, but I eventually convinced her that I wasn't an insane fan or crazy stalker… She finally realized that I didn't mean you any harm." She said with a shy smile. "I guess I should've taken you up on your dinner offer… It would've been much easier to contact you then."

His answering smile was heartfelt. "Yes, it would've been… Here, let's go somewhere private where we can talk." He lightly grasped her elbow and directed her towards Observation room 3. He escorted her into the interrogation room and they sat down opposite each other.

"You must think it odd that I would suddenly show up at your place of work, unannounced like this."

"Not really. Actually, - it's something I would fully expect you to do."

"Really now? … It's pretty inconsiderate of someone to show up uninvited."

He couldn't help admiring her beauty, her frailty. Her hair was upswept with red tendrils curling around her cheeks which were highlighted with just a touch of blush. Thick mascara adorned her lashes and a glossy hue resided on her lips.

"If you felt an 'impression' to see someone, I can certainly imagine that would take precedence over contacting them first."

She fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat. Rick Castle had done this once before, - read her like an open book… It thrilled her, excited her and scared her shitless all at the same time. No man had ever before been able to see inside her and leave her feeling open, susceptible, vulnerable.

Who was this famous author who shadowed a Detective for inspiration?

God, she wished once more that her gift would give her insight into her own life, but that was one of the drawbacks... She would never receive any revelation where her own life was concerned and she also knew, without a shadow of a doubt, (she swallowed hard) that she would die young.

"Rick, I'm scared for you," and her eyes filled with fear as she began to tell him about an evil man whose sole purpose in life is to destroy him.