A/N- Once again I want to thank everyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited this story. Thanks to Kimmiesjoy for agreeing to beta this for me, listening to my nit picking rants, and being so patient with me. And to Charlie O'Kelley, thanks for helping me research and figure out how to make a story out of my mess LOL.
CHAPTER 3
"Son of a bitch!" Espo bellows, "He's gonna get himself killed!"
"Javi," Kate pleads, her voice barely above a whisper, shushing him as she reaches for him. "He's trying to save his daughter!"
Pulling his arm from Kate's grasp he sits down, his eyes glassy when he looks up at her. "I know Beckett, but we can't help him if we don't know where he is."
Ryan steps between the two and makes a suggestion. "We do know enough to contact the proper authorities and have them provide backup."
Kate places her hands on the table and leans in closer to her two 'brothers'. Her voice remains low but takes on an authoritative tone as she addresses them. "And tell them what? A civilian citizen of the United States flew to Paris to get his kidnapped daughter back and there's no telling what lengths he will go to in order to retrieve her?"
"They would hunt him down, not help him." Gates states calmly and the three detectives turn to see their Captain step through the door then close it behind her. "Besides, whatever Castle is doing, based on what I overheard, is more than likely going down now. It will be over before anyone can get there anyways."
Kate now has another reason to panic. If Gates heard Castle tell her he loved her, their partnership would be over. "Sir, about that call..."
"He called you?" Gates looks surprised. "I assumed he sent a message of some sort, didn't think he would actually call."
A small amount of relief washes over Kate but instead of celebrating that bit of good fortune, she remains in cop mode and focuses on what's most important. "There's no tap on my phone so it wasn't monitored but I had it on speakerphone and the boys were here with me and heard everything."
"Sir," Esposito addressed his Captain. "Castle said that they found the girls and they're going in after them." He looks to his partners and then to his superior. "He's not alone."
"Mr. Castle is a very knowledgeable man and he's more determined to get those girls back than any of us." She catches Beckett's eye. "The best option, for all concerned, is to trust Castle." "He has 5 years experience following around the best team of detectives in New York City. So I say we cross our fingers, say a prayer and let him do what he needs to do."
Knight's crew exit the vehicle when they pull up about a block away from the targeted building. One of the men reaches back inside the suburban and hands Castle a handgun, several types of grenades, and a bullet proof vest. "Strap up, Junior, let's go get your girl."
The writer cringes at title but holds his tongue and steps out of the vehicle, sliding the vest over his head.
Bile rises up in his throat when he realizes this is the first time he's ever vested up without his partner at his side.
He checks his clip then works one bullet into the chamber, slides the pistol into the designated harness on the vest, puts the grenades in the front pockets and fastens some extra clips to the side.
Knight senses the writers anxiety. He's seen that look before on many rookies, a look of distrust. "I know these men aren't your team but they are very good at their job. We all know the layout, everyone knows what to do, and we will succeed."
Castle nods, takes in a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Let's do this."
The sun will be up soon but there's still enough darkness to hide the mens approach. They stay close to the walls, single file and tight, silent but deadly. Knight signals to the men and they take their positions. One of the smaller men picks the lock and eases the door open while another two enter through a window.
His pistol held firmly in hand, Castle heads down the hallway, a couple guys in front of him and a few to the rear. Suddenly, the two ahead come to a stop and hold up a closed fist, halting the others. A few hand gestures later, the tech guy joins the two lead men and hold a scanner up to the door and wall.
He turns and smiles at Knight, holds up one finger and then closes his eyes, tilts his head sideways and places his hands against his cheek. Castle understands that means one person in the room and they're sleeping. "You think it's Tyson?"
Knight nods and quietly tells two of the men to guard that door and wait for his signal. He then tugs Castle further down the hall and around a corner. "When we find the girls, we will breech both doors simultaneously."
"I know the plan." Castle hisses.
Knight puts his hand over the writer's mouth and averts his attention back to the guys a few steps ahead of them. They've stopped to let the tech guy scan the room adjacent to the one they believe Tyson to be in and seconds later, he holds up two fingers.
"This is it." Knight whispers, gives a thumbs up then turns back down the hall to stand at the corner. After making sure he has the attention of both teams he starts the countdown.
Three fingers become two.
Two turns to one.
And then...
"GET ON THE FLOOR!"
"ALEXIS!"
"Daddy?"
"Oh my God baby, I thought I'd lost you. Are you ok?" Castle releases his hold just enough to get a good look at both girls and then pulls them back into a tight embrace. "Did anyone hurt either of you?"
Sara is crying, sobbing, great, huge tears rolling down her face. "He said we weren't his type and he had no plans of hurting us. It was you he wanted."
"He's going to kill you, daddy."
"That man will never hurt anyone again, princess" A confident voice informs the three huddled on the floor. "We need to go."
"What about Tyson?"
"We got him."
"I want to see..."
"No." Knight sternly denies his sons request. "We need to get back to the suburban."
When they turn the corner, Castle see two men standing in the doorway of the room where Tyson is. He cranes his head, hoping to see the maniac cuffed, wanting to let him see his smile as he escorts his daughter out.
Instead of a subdued man, he sees a dead man.
Tyson has a single gunshot wound, right between his evil eyes.
"I didn't hear any gunfire. Why didn't I hear... "
"It's real, son." Knight states and Castle turns to look at the man that had risk just as much as he had, if not more. His eyes no longer filled with hatred for the man that just hours ago told him he was his father. Castle nods his acceptance and glances down to where Knight's finger taps at the holstered pistol on his side. A pistol with a silencer. "I took care of it myself."
Castle opens the door and helps the girls in. He turns to Knight and holds out a hand. "I will never be able to thank you enough for what you've done."
"You'll never have to." Knight says sincerely and then shoves his son into the vehicle. "Take them to the airport." He orders the driver.
"I forgot to bring Alexis' passport and Sara..."
Knight cuts off Castle's rant and once again speaks to the man behind the wheel. "Use my plane."
Knight waits until his family is a safe distance away, then he sets fire to the building and walks away.
Alone.
They travel to a small, private looking airstrip and the driver helps Castle lead the girls to the plane that's waiting for them. "Knight's plane is a Concorde?"
"Yeah, pretty cool huh?"
Castle smiles but shrugs it off as if it's no big deal. "Didn't they retire the whole fleet about ten years ago?"
"Yeah but a few are privately owned." He grins,"Get the girls strapped in and we'll take off. We'll be landing in about three hours."
…...
Kate's phone vibrates against her palms and she glances around the bullpen to see if anyone heard the buzz or noticed the way her whole body flinched when it startled her. They're all oblivious and she's glad she put it on silent after that first call. It's a text from Castle.
We are all safe. Headed home now. ETA 3 hours Stewart ANGB-
Kate pockets her phone and acts like she's disheartened as she makes her way into the breakroom. She goes through the motions of making herself a cup of coffee but most her concentration is on decoding Castle's message.
She knows the average flight time is eight hours but Castle said he'd be home in three. He couldn't have already been in the air for five hours, she had talked to him before they went in and that was less than two hours ago... and what the Hell does ANGB stand for?
Google search results for ANGB are no help but when she adds Stewart... "Bingo!" Kate casually exits the break room and makes her way to her Captain. "I'm gonna head on home for a bit. Let me know as soon as you hear anything."
"You know I will, Beckett. Get some sleep if possible."
Ryan and Esposito share a look as they watch Kate mope toward the elevator. They glance over at Gates and she motions them over. "Something is up. Let me excuse myself here, meet me in the parking garage in ten."
"Guys you got this? Ryan and I are gonna head home, see if we can get some shuteye."
Karpowski stands straighter and nudges LT and Bruce, "We'll hold down the fort boys, go on home."
"I'm out too." Gates informs the crew. "You all have my numbers, call if you hear anything."
Kate arrives at her place with a little over two hours before Castle will land. She takes a quick shower and eats a few bites of leftover pizza and then heads back down to the street. She glances up and down the block and sees no suspicious vehicles but hails a cab just to confuse anyone that may be watching.
"Stewart Air National Guard Base, please."
"Ma'am?"
Kate checks the Driver ID and then addresses the young driver. "Noah, I will pay you a thousand dollars if you get me to 1 Maguire Way in Newburgh NY, within the next ninety minutes."
Noah twists his cap around and smiles. He needs to pick up more people in this neck of the woods, two very generous fares in the past 24 hours... yep, this was definitely going to be his beat from now on. "Buckle up Ma'am, It's rush hour."
Victoria 'Iron' Gates, Kevin Ryan, and Javier Esposito wait for the taxi to pass them and get a couple car lengths ahead before they pull away from the curb. "Don't lose 'em bro."
"Why must you always tell me how to drive but insist that I do it? You never offer, not even to split the shift with me. If you think you can do better..."
"Boys!" Gates barks."I called the cab company and lucky for us, the kid had to punch the destination into GPS. They're headed to an Air National Guard Base in Newburgh."
"I know exactly where that is." Espo says
Ryan looks over at his partner hopefully. "That mean you're going to volunteer to drive?"
"I'll navigate. I know a shortcut."
Castle steps off the plane, hugging Alexis tightly to one side and Sara, the other. They make their way down the steps and a man in uniform points them toward the exit.
"Castle!" Kate jumps out of the cab and breaks into a sprint towards them. The sun is just beginning to come up over the horizon and she swears she's never seen a more beautiful sight. "You did it." She sobs as she closes in on them.
The writer releases the girls so that he can catch the bouncing detective in his arms. Alexis and Sara loosely hold each other while they give the couple a moment to themselves.
Castle's heart aches, for a good reason this time, when he sees the relief on Kate's face. "Have I told you lately how extraordinary you are?"
"I love you, Castle" she whispers just before her lips cover his. She didn't mean to say it here, not like this, but as the chaste kisses began to deepen and the words repeated many times by both parties, she knew it was what they both needed.
Castle places his hands against Kate's face and slowly pulls away, smiling a true smile for the first time in days. "I met my father."
Kate laughs as scenarios flood her mind. Visions of the father and son vigilantes, kickin' ass and takin' names. "Tell me..." She pauses when she sees Alexis reach out for her and she welcomes the girl into her arms. "At home."
Gates and the boys watch from the shadows as Kate Beckett wraps her arms around her partner's neck and then passionately kisses him. Ryan wipes a tear from his cheek, Espo is full out smiling and Gates sighs then turns to her team. "None of that goes into the report." Her eyes narrow as she goes back into 'Captain' mode. "Do I make myself clear?"
THE END?
(: May do a sequel if there's enough interest. :) Take a sec, let me know your opinion via review or tweet me RayleenW
