This is based on a prompt from Castle Fanfic Prompts. Set 2x18. Goes AU halfway. "After Beckett lives, Dunn decides he has to kill again, going after one of the few people who were truly important to her even if she denies it. Castle."

She shudders as the cold wind blows through the streets. It's late and Kate is walking alone in the city. She quickly reminds herself why she is there. Right. After everything that has happened she needed time to clear her head. She knows that she shouldn't be here, especially not alone but she just wanted to get away from it all.

She decides it's time to go home. Well, not really home. She doesn't have one anymore. That psycho blew it up. She needs to get back to Castle's loft. She still feels a little surprised that he offered his home. Or that is what she wants to think. Because deep down she knows that he would give anything for those he cares about. And that thought scares her. He cares about her.

She is on her way back when her phone starts ringing. She pulls it out with a sigh. She really doesn't feel like being yelled at by him, even if he has the right to. And she doesn't want to talk to the boys or Shaw either. Then her walk to forget would be meaningless.

It's not them though. In fact it's not anyone she knows. That gets her attention. There aren't a lot of places where they can get her number from. That can only mean thing. It's him.

"Beckett" – she answers, still hoping someone just called the wrong number.
"Hello, Nikki" – when she hears the cold voice, she freezes on the pavement.
"What do you want?" – She wants to tell him to go to hell, but it might be important what he says. If she needs to listen to this psychopath to save someone's life she will.
"Oh, you'll find out soon. I just want you to know that you've failed again." – With that he hangs up. She hates how confident he sounded. It sends a shiver down her spine. And she is more than annoyed at the amusement seeping through his voice.

She rushes back to his loft and enters the apartment. Only when she closes his door she relaxes a little. It's a bit strange that he is not waiting for her, but he might have been too tired to scold her tonight.

She doesn't see sings that anyone else is awake, and she really doesn't want to then up, so she moves quietly to her room. She's not sure when it became her room. She shouldn't think about it like that, really. It's not like she is going to live here for long.

She quickly goes through her evening routine and throws herself into the bed. She rolls around for what seems like hours. Her mind is filled with everything that's happened in the last few days. She tries lulling herself and counting sheep, but sleep seems to evade her. Only after she starts thinking about Castle she feels her mind relax. And just before she falls asleep she hates herself a little for it.

She wakes up early as usual, her body instantly awake. She still has a lot of time so she takes a long shower and gets ready for the day. Glancing at the clock she decides to make breakfast as a way of apologizing for her irresponsible behavior yesterday.

Soon she is dancing around in the kitchen, after starting the coffee machine. She makes eggs, bacon, waffles, just like her mother used to every Sunday morning. She feels the sadness only for a moment, as if being in the Castles' loft was enough to cheer her up. The thought makes her smile. She feels happy that they are so welcoming towards her, like she was family.

She is lost in her thoughts when she hears the door open. She sees Martha entering and looking around.

"Martha" – she greets her quickly.
"Kate" – she can tell that Martha is surprised, so she quickly searches for excuses to explain before she misunderstands the situation.
"I'm here on orders from the FBI" – she says. As always, Martha is calm about her being around them.
"Darling, I'm hardly the one to judge." – As she had a right to be here, making breakfast.
"I'm sorry. I wouldn't impose, but my place is…"
"Ashes. No, I know. – She is interrupted by Martha, who seems well informed about the case.
"Well, that explains the pat-down by the hunky guy with the earbud. I thought it was Richard making a dramatic statement about me dropping by unannounced." – She smiles at that. It is amazing how open and loving these people are.

"Speaking of, I don't suppose you saw Richard, have you?" – She hears the unsaid meaning behind Martha's words, and almost blushes.
"No, I haven't seen him since yesterday" – she quickly answers. – "I think he is still sleeping. We are in the middle of a hard case right now. He must be tired."
"Darling, your apartment got blown up. I know that you're having a tough one. Still, I think it's time for him to wake up." – With that she heads towards his bedroom. – "Richard, darling, wake up! Breakfast is ready" – Martha exclaims as she disappears in his door.

She has not been gone for a minute when Kate hears footsteps coming down the stairs. She smiles at Alexis, and greets her.
"Good morning Alexis"
"Good morning Kate" – you guys came home really late last night. I was going to wait for you but I was tired so I just went to bed." - She is surprised to hear that.
"I was out alone yesterday. Wasn't your dad home with you?" – She starts to feel a bit worried.
"No, I thought that you were working on a case. So you don't know where he is?" – Alexis is worried now too.

When Martha exits his room they both stare at her.
"I can't find Richard, do you know where he went, Alexis?" – She asks, not aware of the scared expression on their faces.

This is when it falls into place. Kate feels her blood run cold as she remembers the phone call from yesterday. That's what he was talking about. She failed. He's got Castle.

"Kate! What happened to him?"
"Darling, do you know where he is?" – She is brought back to the present as Alexis yells at her. Martha seems calmer, but she can hear the anxiety in her voice. When her phone starts ringing they both stop talking immediately. As she looks up at them she sees their hopeful face and her heart nearly breaks. Because she knows that it won't be Castle calling.

She reaches for her phone with shaking fingers, and picks it up.
"Hello, Nikki. I think you know what I was talking about now don't you? You're supposed to be dead. And because you are not, I will make you pay for it by killing the one person you care about most. Rook." – She can hear his laugh as he hangs up, but she feels her body and mind go numb. She just stands there with her phone in her hand, as Alexis and Martha stare at her. She can't find the words to explain to them how he is now in the hands of a psychopath all because of her. They will hate her for it surely.

"Katherine. What happened? Tell us." – Martha says in a demanding tone.
"He-"– she starts but has to struggle to keep herself together. – "He was kidnapped. The guy we've been chasing captured him."

The loft falls in silence. She sees the mix of emotions run across their faces. Shock, worry, and everything else. She is still scared of how they will react, so she is surprised when she sees the anger in them slowly evaporate. All that's left is fear.

She stiffens when Alexis suddenly runs to her and embraces her. This was not what she was expecting. She can feel Alexis sobbing against her, and it breaks her heart.
"Please get him back" – she hears the silent cry of the girl. – "I need him. We need him. Please."
"I will. I need him too. - She says the only think she can think of, and she cannot get herself to feel bad about it. – "I will get him back" – she mumbles out.

She needs to talk to Shaw right now.

Please let me know your thoughts.