Beckett looked into Errol Ross's eyes and saw a look she had seen many times. Someone who had just found out that they had lost somebody close to them. In Ross's case, it was his best friend and former cell mate, Ronald Kaminsky.

"He looked out for me." Errol said, his voice cracking. "Guys like us don't do too well in that type of environment. But he looked out for me. Taught me to be tougher. Kept telling me that we'd make it through."

"I'm sorry for your loss." She told him with forgiving eyes.

"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault." He replied. Then he laughed, "Funny. That he was an ex-con, ready to fly straight from now on, yet he gets done in by his straight laced brother."

"Somehow, our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face." She replied.

"We were both truly sorry for what we did." Errol looked at her. "So many other guys in for tax fraud were mad at the government… at the IRS. But we realized that it was our choices… our stupid choices that got us in there. Hundreds of millions of people pay their taxes correctly. We screwed up." His chubby face grinned as he remembered his friend. "I just got out two days ago. We were going to reconnect once we were on the outside and look out for each other again."

"Well, Mister Ross, I think that Ronald would want you to stay on this straight path that you and he laid out. He may not be around to look out for you, but he seemed to set you in the right direction. Keep it up." She said, grabbing his shoulder in a reassuring manner.

Castle, meanwhile, was standing off to the side. While Beckett and Ross were standing near the entrance of the apartment building, Castle was standing near the mailboxes, next to the elevator. Leaning against the wall, he watched her. He marveled at the way she could put someone at ease following devastating news. Esposito strode up, having just finished putting Jeff Kaminsky into a squad and sending him to the precinct. He joined Castle in leaning against the wall.

"So. You think Captain will let her back?"

"She'd be stupid not to."

"What about you? Are you coming back too?"

Castle paused. "I'm working on a plan."

At this point, Ryan joined them in observing Beckett and Ross. "It's like she never left."

"This time back on the force… back with you guys… has made her pretty happy." Castle said, sighing.

Esposito laughed. "Our Detective Kate Beckett. Only happy when it rains."

Castle liked the analogy. "Yeah. But most people would look at that… look at her… and think that she's got some morbid curiosity, or some need to finish the mystery…"

"No, that's you, Castle." Ryan shot back.

"Factually correct. But Beckett is only happy when it rains… so she can find that person without an umbrella, someone who needs help. Then she lends them a hand to get through a tough time. That's what makes her happy."

Ryan thought about that, then added, "But there's another thing."

"What?" Esposito and Castle said in unison.

"The same reason you write. The same reason Javy spends his off days at the shooting range. The same reason I kick his ass in fantasy football every year."

"What's that?" Castle asked.

"Because she's good at it." Esposito said, leaning his head against the wall in acknowledgement of Ryan's dominance of him in the fall.

At this point, Erroll Ross left with Lieutenant Henderson, his parole officer, and Beckett began walking back to her friends. "Well, looks like we've got things wrapped up." She said.

Esposito could sense that she didn't want to go back to the precinct quite yet. If they went back to close the case, that means that Gates would send Castle home. It would probably happen eventually anyway, but there was no use in spoiling the rest of the day. "Why don't you two head home. It's been a long few days. Ryan and I will tackle the paperwork. You can come by in the morning to… um… meet with the Captain."

Ryan got the cue. "Yeah. Nothing we can't handle. You guys should go home."

Beckett looked at both of them in the eye. "Thanks, guys." Usually she did want to finish up things herself, but she had to admit, she was tired.

"See you tomorrow." Ryan said, as he and Esposito strode out of the building. Beckett watched them go, but once they were out the door, she switched her gaze to Castle.

He was smiling at her. He could sense the pride and exhilaration she felt in closing the case, but he could sense something uncomfortable in her. "So…" he decided to start the conversation to avoid talking about…

"Gates isn't going to let you back, is she?" Beckett got right to the point.

Castle froze. Again, there was no use lying. Beckett was pretty good at reading him, and she'd find out in the morning anyway. His smile faded as he shook his head.

When they had first met, she would have done anything to stop him from following her. Now, she'd do anything to get him to stay. "I'll meet with Gates in the morning." She began, looking at the floor while her brainstorm formulated possible alternatives. "I'll tell her that I won't come back unless you come with me."

Castle grabbed her hand. "Don't do that." He said. "You need this job much more than you need me to be there with you." He could tell that Beckett was fighting back her emotions. "You've been different these past two days. Happier than you've been since you left the force."

"But… I don't think I can do this job without you." She said, her voice cracking.

"Yes you can." He replied, dipping his head to look her closer in the eyes. "You can do it. I'm not going to deny that the job is more fun with me around…"

She laughed.

"… but it's what you need to do. You've still got two close friends working with you. And I'm on speed dial. And you can tell me all about your case every night when you get home."

"Yeah…" she seemed to give up, knowing that Castle was right. She composed herself, and then looked back at him. "If you could come back, would you?"

He smiled. "Yeah."

"But you worked through your writer's block by working with me. Aren't you worried that not working a case…"

"I didn't get over the block by working the case." He said. "I only had it because I could tell that you were… off. Once you started working the case, your mood changed. Once you were happy… I could write again."

Her thoughts swirled. She was flattered that her happiness helped him go. "But maybe if I…"

"Don't…" he said, putting his finger on her lips. "Let's worry about that tomorrow."

"What about tonight?" she asked, through the finger pressed against her lips.

"Well, Alexis is visiting one of her friends, but she's done in about two hours. Then we will all go out to dinner and we can hear all about her first week of college."

"Isn't that the sort of thing you should do with just her?"

"She suggested it." Castle said, smiling. He moved his hand from her face to her back as he was leading her out the door into the cool New York City air. They could both sense their normal banter routine about to return to normal.

"Are you sure you can't call the Mayor… see what he can do?" Beckett suggested with a sly smile.

"No. She made it very clear that she will say no to the mayor." Castle replied with a grin.

"Well, Mayor Wheldon probably doesn't want you to get bigger than him in the media."

At her words, Castle stopped cold. "Bigger than the Mayor. That's it!"

"What's it?"

Castle's mind was racing. He looked at her and smiled. "Here's the plan." He said, grabbing her by the shoulders. "You go back to the loft. You've got some time before Alexis gets back. If you want, you can take a long shower, relax a bit, and get ready to go out for dinner."

"Where are you going?" she asked him.

"To find someone bigger than the Mayor."