Wow you guys! The response has been overwhelming! I love that we all come together during hiatus…this fandom truly is the best. Thanks so much for all of your reviews! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Special thanks to burningxredxcaskett for helping to figure this one out!

Chapter 2.

Rick woke to the barrel of a gun being slammed across his face. Stars danced in his line of vision as he fought to bring the room to focus.

It was dark. Too dark. But where was he? What was going on?

The last thing he remembered was driving to - Kate. Their wedding. A chilled panic washed over him. He had to get out of here, wherever here was.

Rick moved to stand, but found himself bound tightly to a chair. The slight movement caused his vision to blur and he fought against the feeling that he was slipping away. He couldn't help it though. As hard as he fought, he felt himself sinking back into unconsciousness. The last image that flashed across his mind was Kate. Kate. And the room went dark.

When he woke again, his head was throbbing and he could barely open his left eye. Pain radiated in his stomach and he looked down, surprised to see he wasn't wearing a shirt. A large, purple bruise appeared to be growing before his very eyes. The blackened center seemed to meld into the bright purple surrounding it. What the hell had happened?

"Ah, Mister Castle. How nice of you to wake up."

His blood ran cold. He'd know that voice anywhere. Jerry Tyson.

"Tyson," Rick spit out. "What the hell - "

A fist collided with Rick's mouth and he lowered his head in pain. He tasted the iron and immediately felt the warmth of his blood fill his mouth. He spat it out onto the ground and looked back up to the man who stood in front of him. Rick opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"Uh-uh-uh Rick. I thought you would have learned your lesson. I'm doing the talking here, not you. Is that clear?"

Rick grunted in response. His mind was racing. He had to get out of here. He had to get to Kate. They were supposed to get married.

"Pity you had to miss your wedding, isn't it?"

Rick jerked his head up in anger and felt his head swim. What had Tyson done to him? He felt the bile move up in his throat and heaved over his arm onto the floor.

"What do you - " Rick began, but was interrupted when the barrel of a gun, again, connected with his head. Fireworks exploded in his line of vision before the room went dark.

The music was quiet. So quiet in fact that Rick thought he might be dreaming. It wasn't until he was able to focus on the words that he figured it out.

Keep smiling through
Just like you always do
'Till the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds far away

He tried to open his eyes, but they were both swollen shut. He opted for his voice instead. "Kate! Kate!" He called, desperate to let her know he was alive.

Rick felt the air move in front of him and heard Jerry Tyson's ragged breathing.

"You're too late, Rick. She didn't hear you."

He was too late. Rick dropped his chin to his chest. If he could just make the pounding in his head stop, maybe, just maybe he could figure out a way to get out of this situation.

Every inch of his body screamed out in pain. He didn't know that he would even be able to move should he figure out a way to escape. He would worry about that later. Right now he had to focus on making the pulsing stop so he could get away. So he could get to Kate. To his always.

"Oh, she'll know you're alive," Tyson sneered. "I'm confident in the future Misses Castle's ability to decipher my code. Oh, that's right, I forgot. She'll never get to be Misses Castle because you'll be dead. She's going to go crazy in her search for you. I'll give her clues along the way, but it will never be enough. And just when she thinks she's found you, I'm going to deliver your cold, dead body to her front door. She'll finally understand that I'm in charge, and she'll live the rest of her days knowing that she was too late to save you. That it was her fault you died."

Rick felt Tyson's breath on his cheek and pulled away. He might not be able to see the man, but he wanted as much distance from him as possible.

"Get some rest Rick," Tyson said cheerfully. "We've got a lot to look forward too." He patted Rick's cheek, and the pain was excruciating. "Get some rest my friend."

Tyson brushed past his arm and then there was silence.

Rick fought to open his eyes, but was unsuccessful. He felt the tears, and the release of them racing down his cheeks, landing on his bare chest.

He would not end like this. He would not let this happen to Kate. Or their family. He promised her always, and that's what he would give her. He just needed to think of a plan.

But first, he needed to rid himself of the pulsing in his head.

He just needed to sleep. Just for a little bit. The mixture of pain and exhaustion washed over him as he let himself drift away. Kate. He had to get to Kate.

He dreamed of her. Of the wedding they were supposed to have.

He stood at the end of the aisle. Waiting, for her.

When she turned to face him, the rest of the world fell away.

She looked beautiful. Radiant, glowing in a startlingly white dress, with her hair pulled back, soft tendrils of curls framing her face. And her smile. There was nothing like it in the world. There was no one else who could make him forget everything and everyone else the way she could. It was always her. She was the one he had been waiting for. Always.

She started down the aisle and when their eyes connected he watched his wife-to-be pull her bottom lip shyly between her teeth.

But then, suddenly, he felt himself being pulled away. But, no. They were so close. They were supposed to be married. He fought against the pull, tried to free himself to get to Kate. She was screaming, running towards him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get any closer.

Rick woke with a shudder and a strangled gasp. Even in his dreams he was drawn to her. He couldn't let her down. He wouldn't let her down. He had to get to her.

He wouldn't give up. This was going to be ok. He would give her their always.

Wasn't he the one who had said, 'what's a great love story without obstacles to overcome? Every fairytale has them. Terrible trials that only the worthy can transcend. But you can't give up.' He wouldn't give up.

This was another obstacle. That was all. They have come too far for this. Bombs, snipers, ex-wives, ex-boyfriends. They've beaten Jerry Tyson before and they'd do it again. They've overcome all odds and come together in what Rick considered to be the best fairytale of all.

He just needed a plan.

Thanks so much for reading, please share your thoughts! xo Kristen