Hi again, everyone.
This is the second chapter of my second story. I would like to thank everyone who has alerted and/or favorited this. It made my day to see my mailbox full. I haven't gotten any reviews, yet. :( I promise I won't bite. Any and all, good or bad, are appreciated. I'm new and want to know what I need to do to improve.
I want to dedicate(I think I might for all my future stories/chapters) this to Emma/FanficwriterGHC and RGoodfellow64. Their reviews for 'Confessions' really inspired me. Plus I would like to know what you 2 think.
SPOILER ALERT part 2 : This chapter goes up to the epilogue of 'Boom'. So if you haven't seen it...well, you know.
Disclaimer : I don't own them, but it's nice to dream. Oh, and I think Nathan's just being 'devil's advocate'. Someone has to give an opposing view to Stana and Andrew.
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Batting a Thousand - Chapter 2
It was a long day for Jordan Shaw and her team. After they got back to the 12th, all they could do was gather as much information as possible and try to track down leads. The only 'good' news was from the lab, confirming that the explosive that destroyed Kate's apartment was, indeed, cyclonite - the same explosive that was left in Ben Conrad's apartment to make everyone think that he was the killer.
After a frustrating day of dead-ends, Jordan ordered her team to go home. They would start with fresh eyes in the morning.
Jordan was headed towards the precinct garage when her cell rang. A smile lit up her face when she saw who was calling. "Hey, Sweetie." She listened to her daughter talk a minute. "Yes, I know I said I'd go over your homework with you, but mommy got caught in work...I promise I'll check it first thing in the morning...It's time for you to get some sleep." As she reaches her car, something her daughter says has her laughing lightly. "I love you too Sweetie...goodnight."
She smiles, looking at the phone as she hangs up, realizing how lucky she is to have a wonderful and understanding family waiting at home. They've always supported her crazy hours, and she's eternally grateful.
She presses the button on her keyring, shutting off her alarm and unlocking her doors. She gets in, fastens her seatbelt, and turns the ignition. Putting the car in 'reverse', she turns around to watch for cars as she backs out of her spot.
The cool metal pressed under her chin stops her in her tracks.
From his hiding place behind the seat, Scott Dunn rises, his eyes cold as ice as he meets her gaze.
"Hello Jordan."
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Kate and Rick arrived at the lot where Jordan's vehicle was found. Agent Avery greets them. He then proceeds to inform them of the situation. Jordan's family called, telling them that she never arrived home. When they(her team) activated her vehicle's tracking system, it led them to where they are now.
Inspecting the vehicle, they find blood sprayed on the inside ceiling above the back seat. They theorize that Jordan was able to get a 'shot' in with her elbow, probably in the nose, causing his blood to splatter. Rick spots a blood trail leading away from the car. The trail ends at a set of skid marks, presumedly where Dunn had a car waiting. They radio in to check for any stolen cars in the past twenty-four hours, but doubt they'll get that lucky.
As they were looking around, Kate's phone rang. "Beckett."
"There's nothing like the bond between girlfriends. Is there, 'Nikki' ? You must really miss her."
"Where is she?" Rick and Agent Avery's attention went to Kate immediately.
"Safe. For now."
"If you hurt her, I'll-"
Dunn cut her off. "Well, that all depend on you. Doesn't it. This is your story 'Nikki', not hers. She's just an extra. The showdown only works if it's between you and me. Come to the Battery Park Ferrey Terminal midnight, tonight 'Nikki'...And come alone, or she dies."
"How can I be sure she's still alive?"
"I'll send you an e-mail." And with that, he hung up.
Kate stared at her phone for a minute, then looked at Rick and Avery. After telling them Dunn's side of the conversation, they got in their cars and sped off to the station.
It was quiet on the way back to the 12th. Kate and Rick were lost in their thoughts. One thought standing out foremost for them both.
They had a friend the save.
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When they got back, everyone gathered around the computer.
Kate opened the e-mail. It simply read; Dear Nikki, For your viewing pleasure.
There was a movie attachment. When she hit play, what they saw made them all want to...to...well, something.
Jordan Shaw was tied to a chair, situated in front of a covered window.
Dunn came into view from behind the camera, gun in hand.
Standing next to Jordan, he motioned to the camera. "Say hi to your friends, Agent Shaw."
Jordan snapped at him. "Go to hell, Dunn."
They paused the video, taking a moment to think this through.
Rick was the first to speak. "Whatever he's got planned, it's a trap."
Kate voiced her frustration. "If I don't show up, she dies."
"If you do, you both die." Roy replied.
"We need to get to him before the exchange." Avery stated.
They traced the e-mail's IP address to an internet cafe`, which was no help. Kate looked at the paused screen, trying to see some kind of clue.
"There's no reflective surface and the window's all blacked out." Kate stated.
"Not all of it. Look." Avery observed, pointing to the bottom-right corner of the window behind Jordan. "What's out that window?"
Unable to make it out clearly on the screen, they transfered the video to the 'smart board'. Magnifying the image, they were able to make out two tall structures.
"What are those, buildings?" Kevin asked.
Realization hit Rick. "Bridge towers!"
"Call up all bridges in the city." Kate instructed. "See if a partial view fits."
After going through the images, they get a match - the Whitestone Bridge.
"That means we're looking south and east." Roy observed.
Needing another point of reference to triangulate Jordan's location, they isolate the different sounds in the video. Hearing the sounds of an elevated subway nearby, they call up the location of a terminal in line with the bridge. With their last point of reference found, they zero in on the location. 1756 48th Ave. in the Bronx.
Armed with the information, they assemble the rescue team to head out.
They have a killer to catch and - more importantly - a friend/colleague to save.
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When they arrived at the building later that evening, the rescue team was there to meet them. Kate, Rick, and Avery were in the van.
The building was supposed to be abandoned, but thermal-imaging cameras showed two hot spots on the forth floor - presumedly where Jordan and Dunn were. As Avery was giving last-minute instructions to his team, Rick was feeling...something.
"This is wrong." he stated.
Kate looked at him. "What's wrong?"
"I feel like Princess Leia when the Millennium Falcon escaped the Death Star...It's too easy."
"Easy?" Avery snapped. "What do you mean, easy?"
"I mean, the sneak peek out the window, waiting to record the message just as the train was going by. He led us here." Looking to Kate, Rick continued. "You remember how perfect everything was with Conrad."
"I remember-" Avery added. "-but that's my partner up there, and we're going."
"She'll be dead the second you go in." Rick said.
"That's why we're not going in.." Avery responded. "The exchange is at midnight, which means he has to move her before, so.."
Kate continued. "So you wait until they come out and..."
Avery just nodded and left the van. Watching the thermal monitor, Kate and Rick watched the red images of Avery and his team enter the building. The team made their way up the stairs until they reached the two red images of - presumedly - Jordan and Dunn, waiting...
As they were watching Avery and his team get into position, Rick still felt something wasn't...right.
"I don't know how he's doing it...but he's not up there."
"What are you basing that on?" Kate asked.
"I don't know how I know, I just..." He trailed off.
"You just what?" When Rick didn't answer right away, Kate continued. "Castle, you and I have known each other long enough for me to know that sometimes your silly theories are right so if you have a reason to believe he's not up there, you need to tell me why. Now."
"Because...it's not how I'd write it."
"What happens in your version?"
"He let's us think we found him, to lure us here. Let's the FBI converge on the building, only he's not in there."
"Where is he?"
"Nearby. Watching. Watching it all unfold. He's got something planned. If it were me, I'd wait until they got inside - in position - then I'd blow the building."
"Where's he watching from?"
"I don't know...He wants to show he's smarter than us. So he'll be somewhere close by and out of the way."
"Castle...if it were you...where would you be watching from?"
"I wouldn't be watching from this building where they are." he answered, pointing to the building they thought Jordan and Dunn were. "I'd be watching from here." He pointed to the building across the street.
Kate thought for a moment. Rick did have some silly theories - as she just put it - but she's come to know Rick as insightful more times than not. Then she considered the psychopath they were dealing with. Dunn considered himself to be - among other things - a writer, as evident by the manuscripts in his apartment. An age old saying came to Kate's mind - It takes one to know one - or in this case, a writer to know a writer.
She got up and opened the van door, looking back at Rick. "Come on."
She didn't have to tell him twice.
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They made their way to the building Rick indicated. Not finding an open door, they climbed the fire escape until they reached an open window.
Once they were inside, Kate turned toward Rick.
"Here." is all she said as she handed him her spare gun.
Rick just looked at her. "You want me to hold this while you tie your shoe?"
"I want you to take it."
His eyes grew hide. "Are you...?"
Kate just nodded. The enormity of what she just did hit him. They were the only two there and she was giving him her spare gun so he could have her back.
Oh my Lord.
Making sure their guns were ready, they began searching the building.
Quietly, they made their way through the deserted building. Room by room they searched. The tension was thick as they continued. When they reached the top floor, they thought they heard someone...talking?
Making their way to the sound, Kate carefully looked into the room. What she saw had her both releaved...and worried.
Jordan was tied to a chair, her mouth covered with duct-tape. When she made eye contact with Kate, Jordan glanced to her left. Kate followed her line of site, spotting the source of the voice. Dunn was standing by a window, looking toward the building that Avery and his team were in, talking to - apparently - hear himself talk. Kate looked back at Jordan and nodded before ducking back around the corner.
She looked at Rick, speaking in a hushed whisper. "He's there...I'll draw him out, you free Shaw and get help." She paused. "Castle." He looked at her. "You're my only back-up."
Rick nodded and went into position. Kate braced herself and turned the corner, her gun raised toward Dunn.
"I thought it was me you were after." she said in a raised voice.
Dunn froze for a few seconds. He made a grave miscalculation. He was so confident in himself and his plan that he wasn't carrying his gun. It was sitting on the table in front of a bound Jordan. He didn't think that anyone would figure out where he was.
He did, however, have one other card to play.
He slowly turned around, a grin growing on his face. "'Nikki'...you came."
Kate just glared at him. "Put your hands up, Dunn or I will take you down."
Dunn made a show of waving his binoculars and slowly setting them down on a counter to his right.
"I've got a better idea, 'Nikki'. Why don't you put the gun down..." Dunn then pulled a remote device from his jacket."...or I'll detonate the nineteen pounds of cyclonite in the building across the street, turning Agent Avery and his team to dust." When Kate looked like she was going to advance, he continued, stepping closer. "If you shoot me, my hand could twich, setting it off."
"They're not in the building anymore." When the grin fell from Dunn's face, she continued. "I only sent them in to throw you off."
Dunn froze for a second, then his grin grew back. "You're lying."
"Why would they be in there if I knew you would be in here?" His grin fell again. "Face it, Dunn. I beat you. 'Nikki Heat' won."
"No." Dunn couldn't believe it. All of his preparation. All of his planning. All for nothing? It was to much for him to take.
"NO!" As he cried out, he lunged for the gun in front of Jordan. But she was able to kick the table, knocking the gun away from him. He ducked behind Jordan to protect himself. Kate fired twice wide to keep him off balance. He took off running out of the room. Kate hot on his heels.
Rick appeared as they left, rushing to free Jordan.
After he removed the tape from her mouth, she asked. "Where are my people?"
"Across the street..." he answered while working on her ropes. "...sitting on top of nineteen pounds of cyclonite."
"She was bluffing?"
"She was profiling."
"I've got this." Jordan said as Rick loosened her ropes. "He can outflank her! Go! Go! I've got this!" she repeated.
Rick hurried in the direction Kate and Dunn took, gun at the ready. Even though he knew that Kate could take care of herself, he was worried. While Dunn was a psychopath, he was smart, ruthless, and deadly(five dead bodies and Kate's apartment were a testamont to that).
Jordan's words were ringing in his ears. He can outflank her. Kate was depending on him to be her back-up, and he was not about to let her down.
As he made his way - quickly and quietly - through the building, he thought he heard voices ahead. He quickened his pace in that direction. When he turned the corner, what he saw froze his blood.
Kate was lying on the floor with Dunn standing over her - gun in hand - saying something to her.
"NO!" As Rick shouted, he fired, hitting the gun, knocking it out of Dunn's hand.
The gun skidded across the floor. Dunn was shocked for a split second before diving after the gun. Unfortunately - for him - it came to a stop under the high-heel of a certain Special Agent.
Dunn looked up to see Jordan with her gun trained on him.
Addressing Kate as she got to her feet, Jordan said. "I believe this is your collar."
As Kate pulled him up, putting the cuffs on him, Dunn said. "It's not over, 'Heat'."
"It's not 'Heat'." Kate responded, snapping the cuffs a little tighter. "It's Beckett!" Pausing for a moment, she continued. "You have the right to remain silent, so shut the hell up."
Kate handed Dunn off to Jordan. The two ladies looked at each other, mutual respect and gratitude in each others eyes.
"Thank You."
"Ditto." And with that, Jordan led Dunn away.
Kate then turned her attention to her back-up, a releaved smile on her face. "Helluva shot, Castle."
With a slightly stunned expression on his face, he took a moment to reply. "I was aiming for his head."
They stood there for a minute, just looking at each other. Then, all of a sudden, grins grew on their faces and, without warning, they started laughing, leaning against the wall as relief washed through them. They were just happy that the ordeal was finally over with Dunn in custody.
After a few minutes, they composed themselves. Looking at Kate, Rick smiled and made a galant after you gesture with a bow. Kate returned his smile with one of her own. Patting him on the shoulder, she headed for the exit, Rick falling in step beside her.
They headed home, tired, but a good tired. The reports and paperwork could wait until morning.
He needed a drink and she needed a bath.
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A/N : One more chapter after this. Will be up soon. Pretty please review.
Thank you for reading.
Louis