Disclaimer: I do not own Castle ABC does also spoilers for 3x01

A/N: This is an idea that has been stirring in my head for a bit, and I wanted to start it before the season premiere in about a month. For everyone wondering about my other BM/WW story I want to say that I have not forgotten it and it is being betaed and as soon as the next chapter is ready I will have it out as soon as possible. I'm purposely leaving you all a bit in the dark with this chapter, but I will say that this is an AU story and that the character of Castle has some alterations to his past. How much you will just have to read to find out. This story is a side project of mine so updates may or may not be frequent, I still have no idea. Considering it is the first time I am writing a story without knowing how it ends when I begin this is also somewhat of an experiment for me. Any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to send my way.

Chapter 1: Fear Manifested

Certain things in life have the ability to rattle a man so hard he can feel his bones grate under the strain, seeing the look on the faces of three detectives from the 12th as they arrested him had done it for Richard Castle. Mere hours ago he had been arrested at the murder scene of, according to the NYPD, a Jane Doe holding a gun standing over her dead body. Few things could truly shock Castle, but seeing his three former "partners" after months of absence had done it for him.

While having them stumble upon him in such an incriminating position had been a shock upon itself, it was their reaction to seeing him that was so devastating. While surprise had been the overriding emotion in his own mind it had not been what he saw in the eyes and upon the faces of the detectives. Judgment, resignation, contempt, and anger was all he had seen, and without even giving him a chance to even explain his actions they had passed the verdict of guilty through their minds, cuffed him, and brought him back to the precinct.

Upon their arrival at the 12th he had been booked and tossed into a cell without any of his "friends" offering anything besides looks of disgust and silence. Their demeanors towards him came as a bit of a shock considering he had left them on good terms. Hell he had even doing the noble thing and prevented Beckett from having to choose between him and Demming, which he knew would have caused her a great deal of emotional anguish. Castle had taken himself off the table and given her a chance at happiness, knowing that if he had stayed his jealousy would eventually become to obvious causing Beckett to begin to despise him. However, it appeared that he must have done something significant to piss off the detectives; either that or their friendship had been more under orders than he had initially thought.

Regardless of the actual dynamics of his relationship with the detectives what Castle did know is that he needed to contact Alexis as soon as possible so she wouldn't worry about where he was. Already he had been here for what had to have been four hours without being allowed to contact anyone outside of the officer guarding the cells. Beckett had not even come to question him or even ask him of his guilt in that time. Logically he knew that they were gathering as much information as possible for his impending interrogation, but that time was something he did not have at the moment.

"Richard Castle. Its time to make your call," the guard informed him coming to unlock his cell, but not before making him shove his hands through the food opening in the bars in order to recuff them. Apparently working with a precinct for almost two years granted no special privileges. Depositing Castle at the phone the guard walked a few feet away to give him the privacy that was deemed by law while turning his attention back to the TV.

Now came the most difficult part of the entire ordeal for Castle, how to tell his daughter that not only had he been arrested, again, but it was because he was a murder suspect. Raising his hand to begin dialing his daughter's cell phone number he stopped when he heard his name. Turning towards the TV his largest fear at the moment had apparently been manifested into reality.

"In tonight's breaking news acclaimed best selling author Richard Castle has been arrested by the NYPD as the primary suspect in a murder investigation regarding a still unidentified victim. Mr. Castle is being held by the NYPD after being discovered at the scene before the arrival of the NYPD detectives who were acting upon an anonymous tip. No further news has been released, and calls to Mr. Castle's lawyer and publicist have so far been unanswered," the rest of the news reports comments were lost in a blur as Castle felt his world crumbling around him.

Betrayal turned the blood in his veins to fire with the anger that he now felt. How could his "friends" who he had trusted his life with on multiple occasions so callously inform the media of his arrest without even having the courtesy to speak to him. Turning back towards the phone he knew that the limited time that he had just shrank considerably.

Picking up the phone he dialed Martha's number instead of Alexis' knowing that he had no choice but to dig up a part of himself that predated Alexis.

"Hello Martha speaking who is this?" his mother answered after a few rings.

Taking a few breaths he memorized her voice, only hoping he was in time to be able to hear it again. "Mother its Richard… The World is Burning," with that statement he set the phone back on its receiver turning back towards his cell. Beckett had unknowingly thrown away her opportunity to talk to him because now it was too late. Castle had run out of time and he had no other choice but to escape the 12th on his own.

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