Miri walked through the door into her once again neglected apartment. It hadn’t taken long for her to be sent off on another case after returning from her yearlong assignment in New Jersey. Normally she would have been given time off to gain back who she is after spending so long as someone else, but almost immediately after taking the case with the Detective at the NYPD she been called out to San Francisco for an FBI related matter, which really meant that they needed her physiological expertise and screw her vacation. If she was going to work on a personal case during her required time off then she was going to lose it all together. Sadly this was not the first time she had ignored her mental health time and her boss knew that.

Miri looked around as she flipped the switch and light filled the dark room. Her eyes fell on a cardboard file box left out on the dining room table almost immediately. She was reminded of all the times she had checked her phone hoping that there was some long voice mail left by a water manipulating cop in New York about how he had cracked something in the case and they were now one step closer to catching this guy. She was always disappointed to find there was nothing. The only calls she had gotten while she had been gone were from her mother, older brother, and boss. Quite the boring trip really.

She plopped down her bags and walked over to it. Her hands reached out for the lid not really sure if she wanted to open it just yet.

She stared at the case number and victim name written in sharpie on the top and released the box lid deciding against diving back into work so quickly. She would take a day or two off and then come back to it. Her boss had threatened to fire her if she didn’t at least relax for that long, ‘endangering your mental health,’ he had said. So, she chose to follow his suggestion and moved into the bedroom to unpack her bags. And for at least a little while her mind was distracted from the unanswered questions. Whatever was in that box would have to wait until she was back to work.

Sadly this didn’t last very long.

After about an hour Miri walked past the box once more and it reentered her thoughts with vengeance. She tried to put it back down as she made herself some popcorn and settled down to watch a movie, but there it was continually pushing its way to the forefront.

After a half an hour of not knowing what was happening at all in the film, Miri gave up and moved the box to sit next to her on the floor in the large space between the kitchen and dining area. She once again wrapped her hands around the corners of the cardboard lid and, this time, she lifted it. She was immediately hit with the scent of a closed evidence box. After only two months it had already become musty and stagnate.

Pausing only for a moment of contemplation she began pulling out the files and evidence bags one by one and placing them on the empty floor around her.

She had to have spent hours sitting there rereading every file and restudying every picture. Before she knew it the sun was peeking out over the buildings that surrounded her apartment as dawn broke over New York City and she was brought out of her trance by the light of day.

She looked around once more at the papers, as her eyes began to feel the weight of pulling an all nighter.

She left the papers sitting there and climbed her way to bed, determining that there was not much more she could do on no sleep.

It was 11 o’clock before Miri woke up once more. She walked towards the kitchen to get food and coffee, completely forgetting the papers and files all over her floor. She tripped and started falling only to catch herself seconds before her face hit the ground.

That was when she saw it.

Miri’s eyes fell on a coroner’s report. She sat up quickly snatching the paper and reading it more closely and then checking the name. She was right. It was the same as the previous.

Miri ran into the bedroom completely forgetting about her food and coffee. She ripped through her closet, throwing her clothes about the room as she pulled out things that were easy to throw on.

She made a beeline for the door only stopping to stuff her badge and wallet in her pocket and pick up her gun and holster. She strapped it to her shoulders as she made her way out the door and to the 13th.


Miri arrived and started making her way into the office as quickly as possible. Unlucky for her she was stopped by the ever so by the book Cynthia.

“Excuse me but you need a visitor’s badge in order to go in there.”

Miri turned to the receptionist, “Then give me one.” The annoyance and frantic nature of her circumstances was obvious in her voice.

“ID please?”

Miri sighed with annoyance but pulled out her badge all the same.

“Just one moment while I check your badge num…”

“Seriously!!... You have met be before. Do you really need to run it again?”

“Sorry miss but that is procedure.”

“I don’t have time fer this,” Miri was pretty much yelling at this point and her accent was thinker then ever, “If you don’t gimme the frickin’ visiter’s badge and let me go I swear to gawd I will use awll my power as an FBI agent to have you arrested for obstruction.”

Cynthia looked at her with surprise and handed the woman back her badge and a visitor’s pass.

Miri ripped them out of her hand and marched into the precinct.

Paperwork. Paperwork sucked. Quin had already spent fifteen minutes seeing how many full revolutions she could make her desk chair do without putting her feet down, ten minutes organizing her desk drawers, and another ten minutes making sure that all of her paper clips were attached into one long strand. There was literally nothing else to do. besides the paperwork she’d been putting off.

The department had streamlined most of the work. All of the forms were electronic and simply had to be filled in, printed, then signed, before they were turned in. Captain Myers liked prompt paperwork…but it was so boring. Quin sighed, laid her forehead against the keyboard for a moment, then sat up to delete all of the random letters her face had punched. That taken care of, she looked up to make sure none of the pencils she’d stuck in the ceiling were in peril of falling, then let her hands hover over the keys. There was nothing else for it…she had to…

Suddenly, a bit of a commotion broke out from the general vicinity of Secretary Cynthia’s Desk. Quin couldn’t see what was happening, but as voices rose, so did the redhead. She couldn’t leave Cynthia to the machinations of a mad person simply to complete some paperwork!

Around her desk Quin went, intending to make her way to the front desk that Cynthia occupied, she didn’t make it that far though. Instead she found herself face to face with a harried and grumpy looking woman with a visitor’s pass.

Quin crossed her arms, glad she’d worn a business suit today. It was far more intimidating.

”Can I help you?” she said, eyebrows raised.

Brown eyes skimmed over paperwork dutifully. At Ashton's desk, he was actually working. Yet, somehow his eyes were drawn away from that work. Away, and up to the ceiling.

Pencils were embedded in the ceiling. Someone wasn't working. Brown eyes dropped back down to paperwork. It was none of his concern.

Yet, somehow...

The rookie wasn't working. That was Archer's little patch of ceiling. Her pencils, not being used.

Ashton was nobody's babysitter. Pencils being used for something other than their main purpose were none of his concern.

Yet, somehow...

Ashton set his paperwork down and stood up. Brown eyes locked on a redhead slamming her face on her keyboard. Why the hell wasn't she working?

What was he? A babysitter? Hell yes.

Outside the main desk area, someone was starting something. Archer's attention leaped at the diversion like a hobo to a hoagie.

Still not working.

Who was the woman distracting Archer from not working? She looked good. And, wait. Was Archer wearing a business suit? She didn't look half bad, herself.

Ashton was no stalker. He was a babysitter, though. Archer wasn't doing paperwork. And the woman distracting her was kind of hot. Yep, everything added up to him definitely having to go over there and bother them. Who was he to fight with math?

The detective practically skipped on over to where the two women were conversing... coolly, of course. He stopped behind Archer, crossing his arms to follow suit. "Can we help you?" He asked.

Ashton would ask Archer about her paperwork later. After the pretty distraction was gone.

>>Can I help you?

Miri looked down at the surprisingly tall red head, which she was only taller than thanks to her heels, and smirked. Miri had seen enough green agents to know a newbie when she saw one. There was this idealistic ‘I can stop anything’ look about her that Miri found cute. Sadly she didn’t have time to hold the little girls hand and explain to her who she was. She was actually about to blow the girl off when an obviously deluded gentleman practically hopped over to them.

>>Can we help you?

Miri knew she was an attractive girl and over the years she had gotten used to men doing exactly this. They would wander over in one way or another and try to sweet talk their way into getting her attention with no idea how out of her type they were.

“Actually, no. I don’ think ya can.” Miri pushed her way past the two and started her way to Jorge’s desk.

Yeah. Quin was usually pretty mild-mannered, at least for a redhead. The thing was, her horoscope had warned her that something like this might happen today. That she might have to assert herself against a negative force of energy. Obviously this was that source.

Glancing at Ashton in surprise, and letting a subtle smirk cross her features after the lady pushed through them. Quin turned on her heel and strode around the visitor, taking advantage of her knowledge of MRC to navigate the desks and get in front of her once more. To get by this time, the chick would either have to vault a desk or walk through Quin.

“I’m sorry Miss…oh right, you’ve got a Visitor badge, not a name tag. I wasn’t asking you what you were doing for my health. And I don’t care how you intimidated Cynthia, you don’t walk into my department and push people around. So let me rephrase my question.” Sure, MRC was just technically where she interned…but still, it felt like home. Either way, there was no turning back now.

Quin took a breath and made the lady wait before she spoke. ” What business do you have here? And where can I help you go to complete it as quickly as possible?”

Didn't. Think. They could. This woman was rude. And shovey. Or would one call that 'handsy'?

Ashton stood for a second, gawking. Not staring at her walking away, or doing anything pigheaded, nope. Just gawking. It was Archer that did the bold thing. She cut the woman off.

"Hrm."

Archer spoke. Ashton was mildly impressed. He let her handle the 5-letter word for 'pushy woman' by herself.

Miri raised an eyebrow at the little upstart. This was going to be harder then she thought. “It’s Agent Castle, thank you very much,” She once again reached into her back pocket to retrieve her badge and shoved it into the young officers chest, “Now I’m sorry but I really need to get to the desk of Detective Cervantes. So, if you would excuse me I will be on my way.”

Miri turned on her heels to look at the nice looking detective at the desk next to them, “Sorry but I am going to need to climb over your desk,” She gave him a smile and placed a hand on the man’s desk using the leverage to fling herself over it. She landed with a click of her heels on the other side and turned back to look at the red head, a smirk on her face, “Oh and I will need that badge back before I leave, but feel free to use it to run the number or call the FBI with my name. You will get the same results no matter what you do.”

Miri turned and sauntered happily toward Jorge’s desk.

Over time, Jorge had learned to navigate the sea of desks in the MRC office without really needing to look. The man could practically walk around each and every desk and obstacle if he were either blindfolded or asleep. It had just become a usual part of his routine and each day, since he came from Florida, there was little variation in each and every day occurrences. That was why, when the detective stepped out of the back room, engrossed with an open file in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other, he did not have to lift his eyes.

Step…Step…Nudge to the right…Step…Over the case files that Lily Thomel refused to pick up…Step…Step…Step…Right turn…Arrival at his desk…

It was almost as if the man had memorized a treasure map inside of his head; only instead of gold or jewels, there was the comfortable familiarity of his chair and his “organized” desk.

But instead of find any peace or quiet at his desk, Jorge could hear the sounds of commotion, of raised voice, of a chastising voice that tickled the back of his skull. It sounded familiar, like a horrible, irritating nightmare that refused to be remembered until the time was right; until he was least suspecting it. And by that time, it was usually too late to prepare for it.

Slapping his open file folder on the desk, Jorge gruffly sighed as he raised his mug to his lips and took a long, satisfied sip. It was only as he finished that he looked over the rim to see the saunter figure of a woman whom he had not seen in months. A woman who stormed directly towards him with all the focus and presence of a oncoming storm.

Uh-oh Jorge muttered as his eyebrow arched in confusion.

“Castle?” he asked as he addressed her, and immediately spied both detectives Drake and Archer none too far behind her. “What the hell are you doing here?”

What a stinker.

The woman had shoved her badge right into Archer's chest. Assaulting his partner. Right there. And then she'd jumped over his desk like it was hop scotch time on the playground. Any thoughts that this woman was attractive had completely been replaced by a mental connection between her and a small child with a jump rope. Maturity. The woman could learn some things from Archer about that. And him.

Why was it Cervantes always kept such annoying company?

"Do you want to arrest her...?" Ashton joked. In a completely non-joking tone.

The unmitigated gall of the MRC visitor left Quin speechless for a moment. Then she found herself with a badge shoved into her chest and a woman vaulting over desks to get around her. This was simply ridiculous!

For a moment, Quin entertained Ashton’s notion of arrest. The woman had just assaulted her. She’d shoved that badge at her in a threatening manner, and had done nothing but be rude since arriving. The lady, and Quin used the term very loosely, needed a serious lesson in manners. Not from an intern though, and if she let Aston do the arresting it’d end up coming down on his head.

Quin shot Ashton a quick grin, then scowled at the FBI badge in her hand. Truth be told, the redhead didn’t care if the visitor was on the President’s Secret Service detail, there was a way you behaved to people, and that with the jumping over desks…was not it.

There was no way after that scene, that Quincy Archer was going to chase after the woman like a damn puppy, so she took a deep breath and let it out on a long sigh.

”No. Just let her go. Cervantes can deal with her. I am tempted to do what she said and call her boss. Just to submit a complaint.”

>>Castle? What the hell are you doing here?

Miri moved to stand next to Jorge’s chair and leaned against his desk crossing her arms in front of her chest, “That is all I get for making a breakthrough in the case. We need to go down to the coroner’s office and get the full reports. I think I may have found a smoke and gun.” Miri would have asked him if he was free to go down now or she should go down by herself but for some reason her phone decided to ring at that exact moment. And not just any phone it was her work phone. It was Kellerman, what could he possibly want on her day off, “I need to take this sorry.” She gave Jorge as apologetic a look she could muster before taking a few steps away from his desk and answering the phone, “Agent Castle…Wait What?! They can’t do that… What the hell does he have that is so earth shattering? Last time I checked all he had was circumstantial and irrelevant crap… Greg, I need you to make sure that he doesn’t get the chance to sign a deal. This is still my case and there is no way I am letting go of almost 2 years of work. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Miri knew full well this stuff happened, heck it had happened to her more than once, but there is no way she was going to let them give Johnny such a soft deal. They were going to get more out of that a**hole if she had anything to say about it.

She turned back to Jorge with a worried look on her face, “I’m sorry but I have to go into the office to deal with something. It is possible that you can get the files and meet me for diner tomorrow night at my apartment. I promise I will cook.” She paused before throwing in a final thought for good measure, “Don’t let the last name deceive you, I come from a traditional Italian family where food is everything. So should I expect you tomorrow at say 7 PM?”

The woman was a cyclone, a hurricane, a natural disaster. It seemed that whenever she walked into a room she demanded the attention of nearly everyone in it. It was hard not to notice her. Nothing stood in her way, absolutely nothing (as proved by her vaulting over a desk) and on top of that she ignored every other form of authority that was around her. She, in Jorge’s mind, was an absolute terror to behold…but he thanked the heavens above that he was on her side. He was sure than any criminals who had been on the unlucky end of that straw went to prison with the name of “Miri Castle” etched into their forehead for the rest of their lives.

His brow still arched, he watched as the woman casually leaned against his desk.

>> “That is all I get for making a breakthrough in the case. We need to go down to the coroner’s office and get the full reports. I think I may have found a smoke and gun…I need to take this sorry.”

A break in the case? In his case? He had been working on it for months with absolutely no avail! How the hell did she get a break? For a moment he did not want to believe her, maybe she was pulling his leg. But just as he was about to ask her to explain….the phone rang.

She turned away and Jorge shook his head, as if trying to shake off a bad feeling. Looking past her, he took notice of Ashton Drake and Quincy Archer as the pair of them seemed to shoot daggers at the FBI agent, well, at least Quincy was. Drake was just as stoic as ever. Like that was a surprise. Jorge knew this was not a good first impression for the FBI agent, but he doubted that she really cared much.

Locking eyes with his fellow MRC officers, Jorge only shrugged and mouthed a “sorry” and sighed as he turned back to Miri. She was only now just getting off of shouting at the phone. Poor devil on the other end of that line…

>> “I’m sorry but I have to go into the office to deal with something. It is possible that you can get the files and meet me for diner tomorrow night at my apartment. I promise I will cook…Don’t let the last name deceive you, I come from a traditional Italian family where food is everything. So should I expect you tomorrow at say 7 PM?”[/color]

“Ugh, fine, fine. Tomorrow. 7 o’clock,” Jorge replied to that whirlwind in the shape of a woman. He was still unsure of whatever it was she had found, and as much as he wanted to find out now, he knew there was no way she would tell him. So, a date would have to be in order. “On your way out, can you please refrain from vaulting over any of the other detective’s desks. Considered bad form.”

>>”No. Just let her go. Cervantes can deal with her. I am tempted to do what she said and call her boss. Just to submit a complaint.”

Ashton swung his head towards Cervantes desk, eyes settling on the rude broad yakkin' the good detective's head off. A complaint might get the woman some heat, and he used the term 'woman' lightly, but the little girl (a far better term) probably wouldn't care. She seemed the sort who only let things said by people that mattered to her get to her. Her bosses probably didn't matter, when justice was on the line.

"Definitely rude." He muttered, as Jorge mouthed a silent 'sorry'.

He glanced Archer's way. "Although, there've been times where somethin' major's gone down, and I needed action and results. Damn the consequences." He let that sink.

Quin’s dark glare followed the woman all the way to Cervantes’ desk, wishing the whole time that she could read lips. What the hell was so important that a person simply disregarded all protocol and acted the way that…that…woman had acted?

Ashton made a comment and Quin snorted. ”I know.” she said tightly. ”And that’s the only reason she’s not face down on the floor in cuffs.”

It was easy to be brave when the only person you were talking to was your partner, and your redhead temper needed a place to vent itself.

>>Ugh, fine, fine. Tomorrow. 7 o’clock. On your way out, can you please refrain from vaulting over any of the other detective’s desks. Considered bad form.

Miri smiled at his comment rolling her eyes and turning to leave, “It’s a promise and you are a god send Jorge Cervantes.”

She immediately started making her way back in the direction of the duo she had just left in her dust. She had to get to the office and in order to do that she had to get her badge. Her ID card was in the pocket of the leather wallet that held the small piece of metal and it was the only way she could even get into the building let alone her office.

She smiled as she came up on the rather annoyed looking red head. She knew it was a long shot to get anything out of this woman after the way she had acted but she had to try, “Hi sorry for earlier I was in a bit of a frenzy, but now I have to go. I got a call from my office and the case I have spent the last 2 years of my life on and ruined my marriage for is about to fall apart thanks to a plea bargain so if you would be so kind as to give me back my badge I will be on my way in no time.” She tried to look as nice as possible even though the early events killed any chance she had as coming off as polite, but she had to try. If you could get the woman to realize she was sincere she could get her badge and get the hell out of this place. The less time she had to be here the better.

“If it helps I can bring you in on an FBI case that Cervantes it helping me with. I could defiantly use an extra set of eyes on it and you kind of remind me of myself when I was a new recruit. And well I’m one of the best at what I do now. If you get the info form him you can come and be read in on a patter killer case.” Miri thought back to her first case in which she almost got herself killed because she was stubborn and overly eager to please. If it weren’t for that one she would have never learned anything and would have never ended up where she is now. “Up to you but either way I still need my badge.” She held out her hand so the woman could place the item in question into it.