The darkness of the room surrounded her as she struggled against the belt wrapped tightly around her wrists; the pain shooting through the already bleeding skin was a welcome distraction from the pain coursing through other parts of her body. Somewhere in the distance she heard the sound she had come to signify with more pain and she felt her breath catch as footsteps echoed throughout the warehouse. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes. The room around her faded and she was transported back in time to a place where she had truly felt safe.
She was in Castle's building. He was a few steps ahead of her. His suit still dirty from the explosion earlier that day. He'd been held hostage that morning and she still couldn't quite believe it. It had been one hell of a day and she knew that she'd let too many of her walls down today but she couldn't bring herself to really care. She had watched that building explode in front of her that morning and right now she needed to make sure that he was truly alive. He unlocked the door to the loft and before she realised what was happening Martha's arm had enclosed around her and she was being spun around. She couldn't help but revel in the feeling of a mother's arms around her once again; she had never met someone who could make her feel the way her mother had until she met Martha. Suddenly she found herself caught up in the great array of food that Martha had organised and followed the older woman towards Castle's liquor stash. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt as safe as she did at that moment.
A loud crash resounded through the warehouse; vibrations shooting across the concrete floor caused her to shiver. A breeze wiped through the warehouse and shivers wracked her whole body as she lay exposed on the old mattress. She struggled more strongly against her bindings as she prepared herself for whatever she would be subjected to next. The past 48 hours had shown her what the true depravity of the human mind could force someone to do. She didn't even want to think about what else her captor could possible do to her. The footsteps came closer and she attempted to relax, knowing that there was nothing else she could do now. A beam from a flashlight ghosted over her and she stifled a gasp as it focused more intently on her. As the light became two, the sound around her suddenly penetrated her ears and she attempted to turn towards the lights.
"Hey Beckett… it's alright…" She could just about make out Ryan's voice behind her and she struggled to turn towards him. "Shh… just stay still… Medic's will be here soon, just lie still" She slumped back down onto the mattress, her whole body beginning to sing in pain. She heard a commotion coming from the doorway and struggled to focus on what was being shouted. She could hear Castle's voice sounding out over everyone else's. She felt Ryan shift behind and his voice sounded quieter than she had ever heard before, "Can we let Castle in Beckett? He's been…god it's…" His voice broke and she wanted desperately to reach out to him. She coughed slightly and winced at the pain it caused through her chest. "Cover me first please..." Her voice sounded weak and she hated how she could not even force it to hold any of its usual strength. She felt Ryan shift and then his jacket was covering her shivering frame. She felt him stand and she held her breath as two sets of footsteps neared her. She held her breath as a shadow cast of her before Castle's face appeared in her field of vision.
"Hey…" He squatted down in front of her, his hand reaching out to touch her before he thought better of it and dropped in onto the mattress in front of her. She offered him the strongest smile she could and he gave her one in return. She lifted her head slightly in an attempt to meet his eyes and he lifted his hand towards her again "Can I?" She stared at him for a moment before nodding her head as much as she could before it dropped to the mattress again. His fingers ghosted over her bruised cheek and she shuddered beneath him "Sorry…" He went to retract his hand but she shook her head desperately. Taking a deep breath she kicked her feet and forced her body closer to his. His hand came back to rest on her cheek and although she shuddered slightly, it was nowhere as severe the previous had been. She coughed again, a ripple of pain shooting through her chest again. "Where does it hurt?" His voice as quiet and she found herself focusing on its tone, her ears tuning to only hear what he was saying. She swallowed and winced as her voice broke as she tried to speak. "Everywhere…ribs mainly… my head's a little sore… bruised pretty much everywhere…" She planned to carry on speaking but a loud noise sounded from behind her and she jumped, her head jolting forward and coming to rest on his hand. "Shh… it's alright Kate. Try to relax; I'm here for as long as you want me to be." She nodded, her breath coming in short pants as she tried to relax into him. "It was only Lanie, Kate… she's just worried about you." Again she inclined her head slightly and he stroked her cheek, the tremor that shot through her body barely noticeable now. "Can she come in?" Kate nodded her head again, her throat too sore to try and speak for too long. "Do you want me to go?" She shook her head vehemently and moved into him slightly further. He nodded and dropped his hand back to her cheek. His other hand rose into the air and she saw him beckon across the room. She heard the sound of heels clicking across the floor and it was only seconds before she appeared on Castle's right.
"Hey girl… good to see ya again." She offered Lanie a small smile and tried to focus on her face. "Just wanted to see you for myself… Medic's will be in to you as soon as the whole area has been swept… they won't let me treat you but I can be there if you want me to be?" Kate thought for a moment and stared up at the two faces hovering over her.
"Thanks Lane… but I got my partner." Her voice came out sounding even weaker than it had before but she struggled to care. A big smile appeared on Lanie's face and she watched her best friend nod. "I'll be around if you need me, you just get writer boy to call me okay?" Kate stared at her, her eyes trying to convey how grateful she felt for her friends trust. She blinked a few times before a single tear rolled down her cheek. Castle's hand brushed it away and she smiled slightly at him. She didn't realise Lanie had left until she glanced at the space where her best friend had been and noticed it was empty. She glanced at Castle he smiled at her. "She'll be outside if you want her." Kate nodded and allowed herself to relax into his body. His arm came to rest on her shoulders and neither of them paid any attention to the shudder that rocked her light frame. "Shall I tell you a story?" His voice was quiet and she could sense the nervousness radiating off of him. She bit her lip slightly and her own voice held an equal amount of nervousness, "Please."