Reality Check

Summary – When Castle has a car wreck on the way home from a book signing, he visited by a ghost from the past, but is it a delusion or real? Happens in the future after the wedding.

Author's Notes – This has been floating around in my head for a while.

Disclaimer – Don't own Castle – Andrew Marlowe and Disney do.

Chapter 1 – Predicament

"Call Kate," Castle said as he sped up slightly now that the rain had slacked off.

He smiled when she answered on the second ring.

"Hey," she said sleepily.

"Hope I didn't wake you," Castle said. "I didn't realize it was so late."

"Just reading a book to pass the time," Beckett replied.

"Not one of mine, I hope," Castle remarked.

Beckett laughed. "Nope, your reputation's intact. It's one of Alexis' economic textbooks." She stifled a yawn. "How'd it go?"

"Killed 'em, as usual," Castle said. "Nothing like hordes of adoring fans standing in the rain to get a book signed to stroke a man's ego."

"Well, I'm glad that didn't go to your head," replied Beckett.

"I should be home in about 2 hours," Castle said, glancing at the time on the dashboard.

"Drive carefully," Beckett responded. "I love you, babe."

"I love you too," Castle replied. "Phone off," he said smiling, thinking of home and what awaited him.

Suddenly he cursed angrily and jerked the steering wheel to the right to avoid the deer that had leapt into the road in front of him, startled into stillness by the headlights.

He had a sinking feeling as the tires fought against the slick road for a moment and then lost as the back end fishtailed and the car spun around. It gained traction for a moment on the gravel on the side of the road, only to lose it again as the car careened down the embankment and rolled over several times.

The car finally came to a rest wrapped around a tree and the night noises of the forest resumed after a few minutes.

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Castle woke slowly to a throbbing head and an intense pressure that surrounded him, paralyzing him. He blinked open his eyes, only to realize that they stung and all he could see was a reddish darkness. It did no good to try to move his arms – the car seemed to envelope his body so that he couldn't move, couldn't even struggle against the metal pinning him to the seat. The only thing that he could tell was that he was right-side up, not upside down fortunately.

He coughed several times and then rasped out, "Call Kate," only to be greeted by silence. He tried several more times but with the same results.

It was then that he started to panic and struggled against the restraints. It was late at night – would anyone be on the road at this time? There was a full moon, but could they see him if they were? What if he was stuck here forever? What if he died here?

When he didn't come home at the expected time, he was sure Kate would start a search for him, but how long would that take?

He had some bumps and bruises, but didn't feel too bad otherwise – he just couldn't move. How long could he last without water? Without food?

He then attempted to yelled, but it came out almost a pathetic squeak because of the pressure on his chest.

Castle froze when he heard something thunk on the roof of the car. What if there were wild animals that might try to eat him?

"That was really amazing," came the eerily familiar voice as the man peered into the front of the car where the windshield had been. "If you give up writing, you certainly have a career as a stunt driver. Of course, I don't think you're supposed to wreck the car. Here, let me."

Castle heard a water bottle being opened and then felt a wet rag being run over his face to clear the blood out of his eyes.

"There – that's better," the man said, leaning against the bent door. "So what do you suggest we do to pass the time until they find you?"

Castle stared at the man. The hair and the face were different, but the voice and eyes were the same.

"Tyson," he whispered.

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