Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or have any connection to the show. This is all just for fun.

This version was slightly modified because I realized I forgot a few minor details I wanted to include.

Roy Montgomery stared out the window of the conference room and across the Manhattan skyline and enjoying the best damn cup of coffee he's ever had from a police break room. A hansom and distinguished looking African-American man with a pencil-thin mustache, shaved head, and confident bearing looked like he had been ordered up for his job of NYPD Precinct Captain from central casting.

He heard the door open behind him and caught the reflection of the man entering but he didn't turn around.

"Enjoying the scenery Captain? I understand if you strain your neck, the 12th Precinct has a marvelous view of trash heaps from the last garbage strike. Or maybe you're happy to have coffee that doesn't taste like a monkey pissed on battery acid."

"Are you implying I'd switch jobs just because I'm jealous of your swanky offices and fancy coffee."

"Envious."

"Excuse me?"

"The correct word is envious. Jealousy is the irrational or rational fear of loosing something you already possess or think you possess. Envy, which is what you meant, is the desire for something someone else has. Colloquially, people use them as synonyms but they really aren't."

"I came here to talk to the State Police, not the grammar police," Roy said with annoyance but barely able to contain a smile.

"Consider yourself lucky. You might have gotten my famous 'irony' versus 'coincidence' lecture."

With that Roy Montgomery lost it and started laughing. He turned around walked towards his friend and gave a quick fraternal hug. Letting go, he looked over his friend.

"How is it that I keep getting older and heavier while you stay the same?" Roy wasn't completely joking. Even though a little over a decade separated the two men, Rick's thick crop of brown hair, piercing blue eyes, muscular build, and boyish features made Roy always feel like he was talking to someone who could be his teenaged son. Looks more like a grad student than a Lieutenant in the State Police. Damn, he really is ruggedly handsome

Roy's been told he 'ages gracefully'. God he hates that phrase. He jokes that he shaves his head to create a more intimidating presence as a commanding officer. Truth be told, he does it as much because he doesn't want to see how quickly time went to work on his hairline. And don't even get me stared on my waistline.

"It's a secret, but let me know if you see Sean Connery coming, wielding a Samurai Sword." Never a big sci-fi fan, Roy still got the Highlander reference if only because his friend went over the entire plot of the movie. Of course, Roy would never admit that on more than one occasion he had uttered the phrase there can only be one.

With the pleasantries aside, the sat down at the table and the expression on his friend's face changed.

"Ok Roy, what are you really doing here?"

"What? I finally decided to let your bosses make their big pitch. I told them it was a long shot, but I figured they might stop pestering me about it."

"Roy, come on, it's me. My bosses have been trying to lure you away from NYPD since the first case you worked with us as a detective. Even back then, you didn't even bother to come in. Now, you're precinct Captain, the holy grail of every rookie, with the highest clearance rate in the city. Your name is being mentioned for the top job. Now, you expect me to believe you want to make a change? What's going on?"

Roy looked around the room with a slight concern. "Don't worry Roy, the room is secure. My guys made sure of it."

"And that didn't raise any eyebrows?"

Nah, we use it all the time for strategy sessions. Considering the resources of some of the people we strategize against, they expect it to be more secure than the Oval Office. So, I'll ask again. Why are you really here?"

"Alright, I'll come clean with you. But know this. After I'm done, you're only legal recourse will be to arrest me. But I'm hoping you won't. There are a lot of lives on the line and not just mine. My family and a whole lot of innocents are in danger."

"Ok, what do you need from me. There must be people in your department you can trust."

"There are, but it's not about trust. Remember during our first stakeout, you gave me your Al Capone speech."

"Attack sideways."

"Exactly. If there was ever a man who could only be taken down that way, it's the guy at the center of this."

"Alright Roy, tell me everything. Leave nothing out because if this thing is as heavy as you say, we will likely never have a chance to talk about this again."

Roy simply nodded, "It started when I was a rookie and I met these to detectives, John Ragland and Gary McCallister..."

Roy just let out his story. His friend just listened quietly. He could tell Roy had been carrying this burden for a long time and hadn't been able to share it with anyone, at least anyone who didn't leave a trail of slime behind them.

Finally, Roy finished and said, "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to ask me any questions?"

"No."

"Why not? There must me all sorts of things you need to know more about?"

"Oh there are. I just can't get them from you." Roy shot him a confused look.

"Roy, even before you started, I knew that nothing I do to deal with this can lead back to you. The guys behind this will kill you and your family if they thing you sicked me on to them. It's got to look like coincidence I happened on to this. Any questions I have I will have to get answers for from other sources. If I know too much and right away, there will be chance I might use more than I should and lead it back to you."

"So, you're going to help me."

"Yeah, there will just be five rules you have to follow without question."

"First, this conversation never happened. All I did was relive old times and give you tough sales push for coming over to State Police. You never approach me or talk to me about it again.

"Second, whatever plan I put into place to deal with this will take time to set up and execute. It maybe weeks or months after today. You may have an idea its going on, but you will never ask. I will simply tell you when it's all done.

"Third, whatever your friends ask you to do about me, you will do. Sooner or latter, I will turn up on their radar. They will know we are friends. They will ask you to help. You will do whatever they ask. You will not warn me. It's a matter of consistency. I can't worry about you wavering between helping me and protecting yourself and your family. As long as I know how you will go, I can plan for it and that gives both of us a better chance.

"Fourth, I don't want any heroic last stands from you. You're one of the most honorable men I know. This has got to have been eating you all these years. The weight of it is crushing you. I can see it. You want redemption. But I will not do this for your redemption or to gain justice for the dead. If I'm in this, it is to prevent any future victims from these people. That is what you will focus on as well.

"Fifth," he said smiling for the first time,"You're gonna come in for a follow up interview."

"What?"

"I need some brownie points with my bosses. They hoped our friendship would get you to keep an interest. I don't want to let them down. I'll setup a meet with the Deputy Superintendent. I'll tell them that your a long shot but I traded on our friendship to get you to keep an open mind. The DS likes a challenge. After that, it's all on him if you don't go through with it."

Roy broke out with a laugh. It felt like the first genuine laugh he'd had in years. He got up and shook his friend's hand.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. As I see it, this will end in one four possible ways, we loose our badges, we loose our freedom, or we loose our lives."

"That's only three, what's the fourth?"

"That's what I have to figure out."

"Well, thanks anyway Rick," he said giving his friend a parting hug.

"Anytime, brother."