A/N - This is a sequel to The Castle Wall. I recommend reading that story first. I hope that I have begun another wonderful (or terrifying) adventure for you, the lovely readers. Please review and let me know if you think I'm on a good track. Thanks!

~GeekMom

Breaching the Castle

Chapter One

Panic

Somewhere between the familiar bustle and feeling of Manhattan and the winding foothills and mountain passes of Ulster County, Richard Castle's world crashed. He, Beckett, Ryan, Esposito, and Gates were enjoying the drive and each other's company while on their way to Kingston to participate in the trial of Joe and Liam Buchanan. The brothers had abducted Castle and Beckett and kept them imprisoned in a vast underground tunnel system on their family farm in Denning over a period of days, several months before. When Esposito and Ryan found Beckett, she was dehydrated and suffering cuts and contusions. Castle had been beaten and shot during an escape attempt. The brothers were arrested and charged, not only with the crimes against Castle and Beckett, but also in the cold disappearance and murder case of a local girl, Missy Young. Her remains had been found in the tunnels.

The brothers were originally arraigned in Manhattan on the kidnapping charges, but their lawyers had argued successfully to have the venue of the trial moved to Kingston on the grounds of expediency since they were being tried for unlawful imprisonment there anyway. Castle had hired a car and booked hotel rooms for the five of them for the duration of the trial.

He was feeling confident and stronger emotionally than he had in the immediate days and weeks following what he dubbed as the 'all expenses paid weekend in hell'. The mental and physical effects of Patricia Stoddard and the Buchanan's actions took him months of therapy to overcome. He denied the pain and emotional trauma at first, and then tried to deaden it with self-destructive behavior. Kate put an end to that swiftly. She knew that he had, in the past, overindulged in drinking and recklessness to dull whatever hurt he had endured; Kyra's departure, Meredith's betrayal, and they had even talked about his periods of loneliness and self-doubt. As Kate got to know him better, and as their lives intertwined more closely, she discovered that he had never been that self-absorbed and carefree playboy from page six. It was all a front to sell the books. It had been effective at selling books but also in causing him harm. No, she wouldn't allow him to go down that road again so she recommended therapy. They argued; one of their worst fights since they had been a couple. She had been to see Dr. Burke right after they had escaped the Buchanan's prison. He refused even to consider it, until, after Stoddard's conviction, he celebrated by painting on a false smile for his friends, but when he was alone, he berated himself for his lack of sound judgement, emptied a bottle of bourbon, drowned in the evidence from the trial, and ended the fun-filled night sobbing in her arms. She convinced him to start seeing Dr. Burke the next day. He was better, well getting better. He had stopped blaming himself for the actions of other people, deranged or not, stopped suspecting every person who wanted an autograph or photo and stopped punishing himself. He had relaxed more and stopped shouldering the guilt. Until that phone call.

They were riding in the back of the SUV limo. The boys were playing a game on Castle's phone, Gates was enjoying the scenery and Castle was teasing Beckett about her snoring when Gates' phone rang. "Captain Gates. Oh, hello Sheriff Callis, yes. We're on our way now, actually." She listened intently. "Thank you, yes, I understand. Is there anything we can do? Right. Please keep me informed." She hung up the phone. All four faces had her attention. "That was Sheriff Callis. Apparently, the trial's been postponed. The Buchanan brothers have escaped custody."

'The Buchanan brothers have escaped custody.' He heard it replayed in his head over and over again, 'the Buchanan brothers have escaped custody'. The next things he heard were Esposito and Ryan on their phones. Espo called in a BOLO, having Karpowski pull up all of the information on the brothers that they had. Ryan ordered protective details for Alexis and Martha. He vaguely heard the captain speaking with the state police about the manhunt. Beckett was also on the phone. She had ordered Buchanan's apartment in the city placed under surveillance. She hung her phone up and looked across the back of the SUV at him. More specifically at the loss of color in his face, his slightly sweaty forehead, the rapid rise and fall of his chest as breathed shallowly through his mouth. She reached across and touched his knee. He didn't register the touch at first, but then raised his eyes to hers. She hadn't seen the look in months. He was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack, but had just enough control, although Kate couldn't fathom from where he was drawing it, so he could keep it concealed from the captain and the boys. He shook his head imperceptibly. He bounced his right leg, an outlet for the energy threatening to explode from him. He reached behind him to the glass divider between the passenger compartment and the driver and knocked. It lowered immediately.

"Yes, Mr. Castle?"

His voice was shaky, "John, I need you to find the nearest rest stop please."

"Yes, sir. We just passed a gas station, two miles back. Should I turn around?"

"Yes, thanks, John." He ran his palm across his forehead and wiped it on his jeans.

The other passengers noticed the U-turn, but didn't comment. When the SUV pulled up to a mom and pop gas station, he practically launched himself out of the back door. He disappeared into the office and reappeared with a key. Kate took solace that at least he was still thinking rationally or at least logically.

After several minutes of silence and avoided eye contact in the back of the SUV, Captain Gates turned her head to Kate and asked, "Is Mr. Castle alright? Do you think we should check on him?"

"Uh, I'm sure he's fine, captain," she lied. She didn't think he was fine at all and it took all of her strength to remain in the vehicle, but the silent plea in his eyes was unmistakable. "But, since we're waiting, maybe I'll take advantage of the facilities as well." He couldn't be mad at her for having to pee, she rationalized. She also went to the office and came out with a key and disappeared around the side of the building.

She bypassed the women's room and knocked on the men's room door. There was no answer. She knocked harder but was only answered with more silence. She tried the doorknob to find it unlocked. She pushed the battered door open. "Rick?" She called into the green hued light of the tiny squalid room. The key was on the counter top by the sink, but Castle wasn't in the room. She spun and rushed out the door into the solid frame of Esposito.

He pursed his lips as he looked at her. "Castle?"

She shook her head. He could see the multitude of scenarios that were playing in her head.

"Beckett," he snapped to get her attention, "he's right around here. I'll start looking, you get Ryan."

"But, how…"

He shook his head, "Castle is my partner and friend too, and I know a panic attack when I see one. When they were really bad right after, you know, all this," he waved his hand in front of him, "I went and got him a couple of times. He wouldn't go in anywhere. He told me that part of how he was feeling was claustrophobic. He'll be out here somewhere. We'll find him."

Kate nodded and headed back to the SUV. She opened the back door. "Ryan, Espo needs your help. He's around back." Kevin nodded.

"Is Castle okay?" The captain's voice was soft, concerned, and womanly. It threw Kate. She was so used to Gates being strong, in charge, and no-nonsense; earning the 'sir' she preferred to be called and daring anyone not to use it.

She looked at the other woman. She was her boss and had made it abundantly clear how she felt about Castle. "No, no sir, he's not." She wasn't sure if she should elaborate.

"Kate," Gates voice was soft, soothing, and almost maternal as she touched her shoulder. Kate almost recoiled. Gates chuckled. "Look, I know I'm your boss and that I haven't been exactly forthcoming with my feelings for Mr. Castle, but I am still a woman and a perceptive woman at that. I could see the cost of this ordeal on the both of you six months ago and I can see it now. I'm tough, detective, but not unfeeling." Kate just stared at her. "I want you to know that I'm here for you. I'll do whatever I have to to get these animals back in custody and punished to the fullest extent." Her eyes were on fire with a passion she had rarely seen from Gates.

"Thank you, sir, from me and I'm sure from Castle, as well."

Victoria Gates smiled to herself. Beckett was always so guarded of her relationship with Mr. Castle. During the Stoddard investigation, Gates had screened the woman's videos of Mr. Castle's loft. She had seen the comings and goings of his family and of Beckett. She knew they were close, and good partners. She had suspicions about the nature of their partnership which had been confirmed with the stalker's video of Castle's kiss leaving Beckett incapacitated and breathless. Watching the kiss left Gates a little breathless too. She was concerned about their professionalism, but hadn't seen any indication of anything but. She decided that she could keep their secret and deny any knowledge.

"Don't you think you should help Detectives Ryan and Esposito?" She smoothed her slacks over her thighs. "I'll wait here."

Kate was incredulous. Yes! She wanted, no, needed to be helping to calm Rick down. She jumped out of the SUV saying, "Thank you," and her eyes met Gates in a moment of understanding.

She ran around to the back of the service station, but there was no sign of Castle, Ryan or Esposito. She dug her phone out of her front pocket, automatically pulled up Rick's icon, but then hesitated; she didn't want to startle him. She pressed Ryan's number.

"Ryan"

"Where are you?"

"Beckett? We're a few feet down the trail behind the station."

She didn't let him finish. "I'll be there in a minute."

Castle staggered out of the back of the SUV and into the gas station. "Restroom key," he breathlessly said to the woman behind the counter. He must have looked horrible because she hurriedly thrust the key in his direction and said it's around back, pointing out the door and to the left. "Thanks," he mumbled and ran out and around the building. He fumbled with the key and the lock. When he finally got it to cooperate with his shaking hands, he headed for the commode. He made it just in time to empty the contents his stomach into the yellowed, rust stained toilet. He stood up from his knees and went to the sink. He looked in the mirror and sighed. He ran the water and then splashed it on his face, getting his shirt wet, but he didn't care or didn't notice.

He looked back into the mirror. His reflection warped and stretched until he was looking down a long darkened tunnel progressively getting smaller. He had trouble breathing. Have. To. Get. Out. He burst through the door and looked around, not recognizing where he was. He just knew he needed to be out. He saw the trail back by the dumpster and ran to it. He ran and stumbled down the narrow footpath through thick trees and underbrush until he came to a clearing. There was a large rocky outcropping in the face of the hillside. He clambered on top of the boulder and sat, too dizzy to stand from his heart hammering a rushed staccato rhythm and his breathing trying desperately to keep up. He was out, outside, seemingly suspended over the valley laid out below him.

That's where Esposito and Ryan found him.

"Espo?" Ryan ran around the corner of the building. "Castle?"

"Ryan, down here." Esposito's voice traveled back up the path to meet him on at the trail-head. He jogged down the winding path to the break in the trees where Esposito was standing. He came to a stop and surveyed the scene before him. Castle sat in the bright sunshine on the edge of a rock overlooking the hillside. He estimated an approximate drop of sixty feet from the edge of the boulder to the hillside below. He now knew why Espo had waited. They had both been there for Castle after the first Buchanan fallout. They understood. He was in every sense of the word, their brother. Espo knew he needed not to shock or startle him. A reaction and subsequent jump in the wrong direction could be disastrous and it was very likely that Rick didn't even know where he was. Espo put his finger to his lips to keep Ryan quiet. Ryan nodded and whispered, "I thought these were over."

Espo shook his head and quietly said, "He was hyperventilating when I got down here, but he seems to have gotten that under control."

Ryan looked around the area to get the lay of it. "What's your play?"

Esposito drew a long deep breath. "I don't know yet." He shook his head. "I think I'd like to wait it out a bit."

"Yeah, but,"

"The captain, I know."

"Javi, if she comes down here and sees him like this, she'll kick him to the curb, for sure."

"Yeah, I know."

"Beckett called and asked where we were."

Esposito dragged a hand through his hair. "How the hell did they break custody?"

"I don't know, but," he gestured toward their friend, "I'm going to do everything I can to put them away."

They turned to the rustling of pine straw and saw Kate scrambling down the path to them. She ran a hand through her hair as she gathered it into a ponytail. She wordlessly asked where he was. Esposito pointed to the rock. She started to walk in that direction when Ryan caught her arm. "Kate, we've got this. Be waiting here. He'll need the support."

Esposito motioned for Ryan to follow. Castle had started to show signs of coming out of his stupor. They both had vivid memories of helping their friend through this before.

He took a deep breath. His whole body shuddered on the exhale. He blinked in the bright sunshine. God it was beautiful; the sun, the mountains, the view.

"Hey bro," Javi said quietly as he inched his way toward him.

Ryan hopped up on the boulder and circled around the area closest to the hillside. "Hey Castle, everything's going to be just fine." Kate watched as their partners inched their way toward him. They were careful not to move too quickly.

Rick turned his head in the direction of Ryan's soothing murmurings and blinked. Ryan caught Esposito's eye and shook his head.

Castle closed his eyes again and gulped in the clear air greedily. When he opened his eyes, they were focused and looking at Ryan. He tilted his head to see Espo and Beckett. He made a panoramic sweep of his head, took in his surroundings, and felt the all too familiar clamminess feeling of his skin.

He ran a hand up over his face and through his hair. "Aw, crap. I thought I was done with these."

Espo chuckled. They had him back. "Hey bro, welcome back." He offered his hand to help Castle up and away from the edge. He gratefully accepted.

Ryan came up behind him. Sometimes in addition to being disoriented, Castle had been unsteady on his feet after an attack.

"Hey Ryan, nice rock, huh?"

"Yeah, now let's get off of it." They led him down the boulder and back to the trail. They delivered him to Kate's waiting arms.

"Thanks guys," he said to his retreating friends. He looked sheepishly at her, "Oh God, Kate, I'm really sorry."

She held up her fingers to his lips in an effort to still his apologies. "Did you do this purposefully?"

He scowled and said, "No, of course not."

"Then you have nothing to apologize for," she said as she pulled him into an embrace.

He jerked away abruptly. "What about Gates? Oh, jeez, how long have we been here?" He really looked around. "Where the hell are we?"

"You don't remember asking John to find a rest stop?" He shook his head. She tentatively continued, "What was the last thing you remember?"

He thought as he laced his fingers through hers and led her up the trail. "Um, back of the limo," he smiled, "you were snoring, cute adorable Beckett snores."

She rolled her eyes, "And?" She knew that he would be better off, in the long run, the more he could force himself to remember of the blackout periods.

"Um, Gates took a phone call, oh." His breathing picked up again. She squeezed his hand.

"I'm right here with you. You've got this." Her voice mesmerized him. It was soft and soothing like velvet on his skin. His breathing evened out.

"Thanks."

"I did nothing. You faced it and won."

He looked dubious. "Uh huh. I, um, feel like I need a shower," he opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, "and a toothbrush. God, I really thought this was done."

She squeezed his hand again just before letting it go. She handed him the men's room key and he went inside to clean up a bit. She waited and took both their keys back while he went over to the limo. He opened the door for her and helped her climb in before he got back in and seated.

"I'm really sorry about the delay, Captain Gates, guys," he said to the floor. He knocked on the glass divider and the SUV moved back onto the highway.

"Mr. Castle, Detectives Ryan, and Esposito tell me you are ill. I see nothing to apologize for."

He glanced at the boys and thanked them silently. He leaned his head against the cool window and shut his eyes.

They arrived at their hotel and checked in. They debated about whether to stay in the area or to head back to the city. The captain decided, after another glance in Castle's direction, that they could be of use to Sheriff Callis and his task force. After delivering their bags to their rooms, and with Castle showered and changed, they headed to Kingston to meet with the sheriff.