"Then where is he?" Ryan acted like it was the most obvious question and really it was. Why hadn't Kate thought about that?

"I… I don't know." Kate was dumbfounded as to where he could possibly be. "I have no idea but I am going to find him."

Kate started as if she were going to leave but Lanie reached for her hand. "Kate, sweetie, I think you should at least change first." Lanie was really trying to distract Kate from leaving and, well it worked… for the moment.

"Yeah, you're right, I should but as soon as I'm done I am going to look for him and all of you can either help me or stay out of my way." Kate immediately went upstairs because she didn't care whether they were going to help her or not.

Lanie spoke first after she heard Kate's door shut. "What are we going to do? We don't even know that Castle is alive and if he is, where do we even begin to look for him?"

Esposito came to put a reassuring arm around her and she gratefully leaned into him for support. "First thing we should all do is get changed and meet back down here. Whether Castle is dead or not, Kate is going to need our help."

Everyone seemed to agree on this and they all dispersed to prepare themselves for what was certain to be an extensive and emotionally taxing night.

Kate was standing in front of the mirror and did not realize how much time had passed until Lanie knocked on the door.

"Kate, are you okay?" Lanie tentatively opened the door.

Kate was standing in front of the mirror with makeup smudged all down her face. She was a mess.

"I can't take it off. If I take it off it will really mean I'm not getting married today."

Lanie tried to reassure her, "Just take it off to keep it from getting messed up. You may not get married today but you will someday. Come on, let's get you out of that dress."

Kate unwillingly turned around so that she could undo the zipper. Lanie held the dress as Kate stepped out and hung it back up while she got dressed.

Martha and Alexis joined them after they changed and they all went downstairs together to meet up with the boys.

Just as they arrived downstairs, the doorbell rang. Kate ran to the door and opened it to reveal detective Jefferson.

Kate asked anxiously, "What is it?"

"Ms. Beckett, I don't know how you knew. The body we found in your fiancée's car was not his. The ME identified the body as one of a woman."

"Oh thank God!" Kate didn't mean for it to sound like she had no regard for the dead woman but she was so relieved that it wasn't Castle. But that still didn't answer the question… Where was Castle?

"Have you found any sign of him at the scene?"

"The car seemed to have been run off the road and we found evidence that someone was dragged from the driver's seat. We also found evidence that the car was purposely set on fire, probably to buy them time."

Kate was a detective and should have realized what this meant, but she just couldn't think straight. Not when it was Castle. "Buy who time for what?" She sounded entirely confused.

By now the others had gathered in the front room and it was Jim who answered her question. "Katie, I think he is saying someone took Castle."

No! Why? Why Castle? Who took him? Was he okay? A million question raced through her mind as she tried to process everything that had been thrown at her today. Kate took a moment to collect herself and began questioning the detective.

"Did you find anything at the scene to indicate who might have taken him or where they went?"

"There were some tire tracks and shoe prints but I doubt those will give us much of anything."

What could she do? Think. Think Kate, who would have taken him? Why today? Who knew where he was and how to get to him?

Ryan and Esposito began discussing with the detective. "What about witnesses? Did anyone see anything?"

"No not that we've found so far. The whole thing seems to have happened rather quickly."

Lanie pulled Kate to a large sofa against the back wall and made her sit. "What are you thinking?"

"I just can't figure out who would do this. Why? If they wanted money, they would've taken me or Alexis. No, it's something else. I don't know what."

"You'll figure it out. But you just need to focus on the fact that he is alive. That's all that matters right now, okay?"

"Okay." Kate really wasn't any closer to reassurance, if anything she was more shaken up.

"Ms. Beckett, I am going back to the precinct. I will let you know when we hear anything. You do the same."

"Okay." By this point Kate was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

The detective left and everyone gathered around Kate both to comfort her and like they were looking for something… direction. Even in this, her most distraught hour, everyone looked to her.

"So, I don't know about you all but I am not going to rely on that guy to find Castle."

Kate received several nods and sound of agreement from the group and continued, "Let's start with what we know." At this, the already exhausted team settled in for the long night that lay ahead. They were not giving up until they found Castle, brought him back, and saw the happing ending that Kate and Castle deserved.

A/N: So I absolutely love Esplanie and had to throw something in for them. I hope it fit.
Hope you enjoyed! Leave a review so I know if I'm heading in the right direction!

Thanks,
~SB~