This is my first fanfiction attempt in about 20 years. It came into my mind when I heard the title of "Number One Fan." This is nothing like that episode but I couldn't let it rest. Hope you like it.
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Detective Katherine Beckett-Castle opened the door to the loft she shared with her husband of nine months and wearily made her way to the couch. She was tired in every sense of the word. The day had started badly, with an early wakeup call from the morning sickness she'd been battling for the last three weeks. Add to that no coffee, lunch that sent her stomach flip flopping again and a murder that made her hate her job and Kate had had enough of this day. The case had been open and shut, the evidence so obvious that their suspect had no choice but to confess. But the victim called to her, a nine month old baby shaken by an irate babysitter with a headache, all because the teething baby would not stop crying. The small broken body, Kate's overwhelming hormones and her husband's absence had left her sobbing in the interrogation room after their suspect was taken away.
Kate picked up her phone and dialed the number that was first on her speed dial. She needed to hear Castle's voice, know that he was on his way home. The release of Hampton's Heat had kept Richard Castle busy for much of the last month. Book tours meant weekends apart and many nights kissing each other goodnight over the phone. It reminded Kate of her five month stay in DC although she knew this separation was coming to a close. Castle was scheduled to finish a book convention this weekend in Schenectady. A few more bookstore appearances, all in the New York City area, and a few talk shows and he would back at her side for the rest of the calendar year, and pregnancy.
"Hey gorgeous. How are you tonight?" Castle's answer to her call made Kate smile.
"Tired," Kate responded, "and missing you."
Castle could hear there was something more than fatigued in Kate's voice. "Bad day?"
"Will be better when you're here to hold me again."
"I'm in the hotel parking garage as we speak. Checked out ten minutes ago," Castle switched his phone to the other hand so he could dig his keys out of his pocket, "loading up the last of my bags now. If the roads stay clear I'll be home in three hours."
"Take your time, Babe," Kate interjected, "raining pretty hard down here, supposed to be snow up your way and getting worse overnight."
"I promise to be careful. I'll be home before it gets bad." Castle assured her. "Now you go get some sleep. Love you," he hesitated, "both of you."
Kate's smile, though tired, was clear in her voice, "We love you, too. See you when you get home."
Kate got up to get something to drink before settling down to nap on the couch. She rubbed her still flat stomach and happily thought of her off day tomorrow and the time she would finally get to spend with her husband.
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Castle finished loading the last bag into his car. His earlier thought, of going back to get some coffee to go, was forgotten. He just wanted to get home. Getting in his car, glad he'd brought the 4 wheel drive SUV with the amount of snow predicted, Castle failed to notice the small sedan that pulled out immediately after him.
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The promised snow had begun to fall ahead of schedule, just as he started his drive, and Castle mildly cursed the bad weather. It had been a brutal winter so far and with another month before spring, it wasn't showing any signs of letting up. Castle knew the snow would soon begin to stick and he'd have to slow to a more careful speed. The drive from Schenectady to Manhattan generally took about two and a half hours this time of night. The snow would extend that and delay his return.
Castle's musings about the time delay were rudely interrupted as a small sedan sped by him. Late Sunday night and the snow had combined to pretty much empty the roads. The small sedan driver was going way too fast for this weather and Castle shook his head at the reckless driver's actions.
Ten minutes later, blinking hazard lights ahead forced Castle to slow down and stop behind the same sedan that had passed him earlier. The hood was up and Castle's good nature compelled him to see if he could help. As he approached the car, using his headlights and cell phone flashlight, he spotted a small woman bent over the engine. She was about 5'4" and slightly built. Her hair, brownish he thought though hard to tell in the dark, fell over her bent head concealing her face. She shook, probably a combination of the cold and fear from breaking down on a nearly deserted road.
"Can I offer some help?" Castle called out as he approached the woman, not wanting to scare her in case she didn't hear his approach.
She didn't lift her head instead answering, "I don't know what happened. I was trying to get home and then it just stopped." She stepped back to give Castle access to the engine. "I'd appreciate any help you could give."
As Castle stepped in front of her to look down at the engine he heard the click of a gun's hammer being cocked. "So glad you stopped to help me, Rick." The small woman finally looked up as Castle slowly turned around. "I was hoping we'd have some time alone."
Castle stood lost for words as the turn of events sank in. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The small woman's face was suddenly filled with rage, "Rick! How can you say that?" The rage quickly subsiding. It's dark out here, she thought, he'll recognize me when we get home. "Now, toss your phone over here."
Castle took a look at the phone in his hand before following the woman's directions. He tossed the phone softly to her and watched as it dropped into the snow in front of her and she smashed the screen in with the heel of her boot. "I just renewed my contract." he grumbled.
"Close the hood and get in the driver's seat." She tracked his every movement with the gun as she circled around to get in behind him. Settled behind the wheel with the gun now at the base of his skull he heard her order, "Let's go!" and the small sedan pulled away from the scene leaving Castle's SUV still running and abandoned behind them.