A/N I did a Halloween inspired story centered around Beckett so I thought I'd do one Centered around Castle. This one got a little long so it'll have at least 2 parts.
I don't own Castle or the characters. I'm basically playing paper dolls with someone else's dolls and sometimes their paper.
"Castle, stay behind me." Beckett whispered, pulling her gun as they turned down the dark alley. The person of interest they were coming to pick up, took off the minute he saw them approaching and now they were chasing him through darkened alleyways.
"Great, just what we need to do, chase a suspected murderer down, dark, creepy, alleys, two days before Halloween." He groaned as they ran around a corner.
"Don't worry Castle; I'll protect you if the Boogey Man tries to get you." She said as they moved to round a dumpster.
Suddenly, a man jumped out, grabbed Rick, and threw him up against the hard brick wall, gripping his throat. Rick felt the back of his head slam, hard and his vision swam momentarily. He tried to call for Beckett but he could barely breathe and she had continued down the alley, not noticing her shadow had fallen behind. He didn't even have time to process what was going on before the man, who was pinning him to the wall with a hand on one arm and a fist on his neck, elbow at Rick's shoulder, opened his mouth, and a long snake-like tongue came out and inserted itself into Rick's ear. He tried fighting the guy off, tried turning his head away, but he was too strong. There was nothing he could do to make this man budge, not even kicking at his legs seemed to hurt. Rick felt his body getting weak, his muscles failing to work. Then just as quickly the man released him and took off running, leaving Castle in a heap on the ground.
Right then Kate came running back calling his name. "Castle, what happened? Are you ok?" She worried taking in his seemingly confused state and now rumpled clothes. He had been right behind her, then she turned around and he was gone. She didn't hear anything until she saw the man run away from the other side of the dumpster.
Kneeling down she started feeling his chest and arms, then slowly reached her hand to the back of his head. When she withdrew her hand, she found blood. "Rick, your bleeding we need to call a bus. Did that man mug you? Did he hurt you anywhere else? Rick, can you hear me?"
Trying to shake the confusion from his head he was finally able to answer her. "No, no, he didn't hurt me anywhere else. I think you scared him off before he could really do anything. I don't need an ambulance. I'll be fine. Head wounds tend to bleed a lot, and this doesn't even feel big enough for stitches."
Castle looked around trying to get his bearings. He felt off balance and exhausted. "Just take me home, let me rest and I am sure I'll be better by this evening when you get home."
"Babe, you could have a concussion, you need to get this looked at."
"All they are going to tell me to do is rest, which I can do at home. No television, iPad or computer screens until the throbbing begins to subside, and my head quits spinning and wake every two hours for the first 24 hours."
"How many concussions have you had?"
"Enough to know the standard protocol. Now just drop me off at the loft and I'll see you this evening. I can set an alarm on my phone to make sure I'm awake every couple of hours."
"No, I don't like the thought of you being home alone after a nasty blow to the head. Come on, we will get back to the precinct, clean this up and then I'll fill the boys, make a statement about your attack, and I'll take you home. " She said, helping him to stand.
As soon as he was up his ear started ringing. He stuck his finger in his ear to try to calm the high-pitched sound but, it didn't work. "Beckett, did that guy look strange to you? Did he look, I don't know, different?"
She looked at him and furrowed her brows "No, from the quick glimpse I caught he looked like a regular man. I was more worried about you than really taking in his full appearance. Why? Did you notice something? Did he do or say anything in particular or out of the ordinary?"
He wanted to tell her about the tongue thing and his ear but she was already worried enough he didn't want to add to that, on top of how utterly crazy he knew he would sound.
"Ok, this is going to sound a little out there, but,"
"More out there than your usual claims?" She cut in arching her brow and grabbing his hand.
"Yes, because it's not a theory, it really just happened. That man pinned me against the wall, with superhuman strength, and then this giant tentacle-tongue thing came out of his mouth and did something to my ear. Then you called out and scared him off."
"Ok, I'm not saying I don't believe you but maybe you hit your head harder than you realize and you're a little confused. Are you sure it wasn't his arm or something and you are confusing for a tentacle-tongue like-thing?" She was starting to think he really needed to get checked out.
"Look, I know how it sounds, but that man wasn't normal."
"Ok, I believe you. Let's get back to the precinct and get that done, make a statement, give a full description to the guys and we will get you home to rest. There's nothing we need to worry about right now other than getting you home." As they passed by a storefront with lights, she stopped to check the back of his head. "Looks like the bleeding has stopped, but we need to get it cleaned before we can tell if it needs stitches or not."
As they reached her cruiser, she popped the trunk and grabbed a small hand towel. "Here, see if you can apply pressure and make sure the bleeding has fully stopped. We can get you some ice at the twelveth."
An hour and a half later they were on their way home. Rick had taken some pain meds while Kate cleaned his head, so he was already starting to feel better. Once home he showered and got ready for bed, but the ringing in his ear from earlier was still there. After several restless hours, he finally fell asleep.
Waking up the next morning, he felt groggy and off. Standing up he walked to the bathroom to relieve himself and brush his teeth. He felt like he was on autopilot. Like someone else had taken the reigns and he was just along for the ride. After he had finished, the smell of coffee lured him towards the kitchen.
"Hey, Babe, how are you feeling? I went ahead and made you coffee and am just starting some breakfast. How's the head?"
He started to say he felt better just a little foggy, but nothing came out. He tried to get his body to move but it wouldn't budge. Instead, he stood there and smiled. What is going on? He thought to himself.
"Rick, are you ok? You seemed fine when I woke you up last night." She was starting to sound worried.
I don't remember being woken up, and no I'm not ok, is all he could think.
Finally, his body moved, and he approached her with a smile, kissed her hair-line and said "Yes, I'm completely fine. I must still be asleep."
No, no, I'm not, it's not me Beckett, please look at me. Please see that I am not ok.
Kate looks up and smile and presses a quick kiss to his lips. "Go sit down, and I'll do a quick breakfast and we can head into the precinct, see if anything has come in."
The body intruder smiles and slides around the bar taking a seat and a sip of his coffee.
A very frustrating and terrifying hour later the two (Three? Rick isn't even sure.) step off the elevator and enter the bullpen. As they make their way to Beckett's desk, the intruder takes everyone in, then slowly makes his way to the break room. As they enter they, see Ryan facing away and The Intruder silently approaches him. Ever so quietly Rick's mouth opens and the giant tentacle-tongue thing emerges and snakes its way towards Kevin's left ear. From this angle, Rick can see what it's doing. Once it makes contact with the ear, it pushes in through the canal and deposits tiny larva. Kevin freezes and finally goes limp. The tentacle-tongue slowly retracts, and The Intruder catches Ryan just as his legs buckle.
"Castle, what just happened?" The detective asks as soon as he is aware of his surroundings.
"Looks like you stumbled, did you not get enough breakfast or coffee this morning?" He says politely, helping the man to his feet.
"Yeah, I guess that's what happened. I'll just finish making this and visit at my desk to drink it."
A couple of minutes later the detective was on his way to his desk scratching at his ear and The Body Intruder found his way to Kate's desk and his chair.
"Hey, how are you feeling Castle? Any more sightings of a man with a tentacle-tongue?" Esposito asks with a smirk.
"Ha, ha very funny. After a good night's rest, I'm starting to think Beckett was right. I hit my head hard, and it was the man's arm reaching up." As The Intruder glances over at Kate she gives him a skeptical look.
Yes, Beckett yes, see that it's not me. I'd never tell you something like that if it wasn't true and I wasn't sure.
"Are you sure Castle? You seemed pretty determined that, that's what it was last night."
"Truly, I'm sure. I was just fuzzy headed and confused, but after thinking it over last night I realized how crazy it sounds."
"Ok, if you say so. Alright, guys, any word from the cousin, John Avery, that we were tracking down last night? Have the tox results come back yet?"
"I was just about to head out to Avery's job, see if we can catch him there. Ryan, you ready?" Esposito asks looking at his still dazed looking partner.
"Actually, can Castle ride along, I'm not feeling too well." He says, scratching his ear and rubbing across his forehead.
"Writer boy you in?"
"Writer man, Espo and yeah, let's go."
"You guys let me know what you find, and I'm heading to the morgue to see Lanie."
At the body shop, the suspect works at the manager points out the man they came to find, John Avery is huge. All muscle and tattoos. As soon as he spots them he takes off running, runs out and towards the back of the shop.
Once they have the suspect cornered between a car and the building the Intruder sees his chance. While Javier is distracted by the suspects claims of innocence the Intruder quickly and quietly opens his mouth. However, at just that moment the suspect turns to look at Rick and screams. Esposito spins around, gun held and sees the tentacle-tongue coming towards him. He starts backing up with threats to shoot him. But the Intruder is fast. Grabbing the gun and slamming Esposito on top of the car. He then turns grabs the suspect and throws him against the wall.
Inside Rick screams and pleads for the Intruder to not hurt them. He sees blood coming from behind Esposito's head and the detective is so very still, laying across the hood of the car. He begs for the Intruder to call for help.
Instead, the Intruder makes his way over to the suspect, using his tentacle tongue he deposits the larva in his ear then turns towards Javier. But before he can do anything there are shouts coming from around the building. The Intruder runs and lays on the ground faking being injured just as the men emerge.
The suspect stands up and the other men, pull their phones out and start calling 911 and checking the injured detective and ride along, yelling for the suspect to stay where he is.