Castle
In Route
A/N: I really struggled on whether to leave In Route in the story. Let me know your thoughts.
The EMT's were working furiously to save the dying man. Despite all their efforts his heart stopped, forcing the EMT's to resuscitate him. Castle exploded back into consciousness. His disorientation caused him gape about trying to ascertain his whereabouts. Where was he? He remembered that he had gotten off the airplane but not any more. The cab... Then the shot.. Was he still on the sidewalk? No he was moving.
"Hey, hey he's back with us." one of the Tech's shouted.
Castles blurry gaze was caught by someone who sat apart. Beckett?!? How could she get here so fast? He tried to call to her but did not have the strength. He tried to reach out to her but his hands were secured. She seemed to see that he needed to talk to her so she leaned in close. It was Beckett but no…. there were subtle differences in the hair and the set of the mouth and her eyes were so sultry.
"I'm not her sweet cakes." She reached out to stroke his cheek, "Look, Richard Dear; I can understand the confusion. You being shot and all, but it's me, Nikki. I know you think I'm Kate, we could be twins after all."
"Mr. Castle... Stay with us.", the closest EMT said.
The EMT watched the writer struggle to look at something on the ambulances side. It was most as if there was someone else in the back. He placed a restraining hand on Castle's shoulder. Castle struggled to comprehend. Was he already dead? If the pain was any indication then he was still very much alive. But why was he seeing a character from his books? Had he gone mad? Had the world gone mad?
"Richard, focus, Dear heart, save your strength you have to hold on until you get to the hospital. If you croak in the Ambulance they won't be able to bring you back. Understand what I'm saying, I don't want to be a one and done. Richard, I'll kick you ass if you die on me. Don't you die on me you selfish bastard."
Castle relaxed. Why worry about things now. As he stopped straining against the straps he felt a warm hand slip into his. He felt somewhat stronger. He would hold on as long as he could. For Nikki..... For Alexis.... For Kate......
Derek
Derek slipped into the warehouse, soaked to the bone. After he had killed Castle he had driven the stolen van into the Bronx and ditched it after wiping down all the surfaces he might have touched. He had changed into to street clothes and dumped his fake delivery outfit into a trash can a couple of miles from the van. He had then bussed/ taxied/ and subway'ed his way back to his center of operations. His first kill had gone almost flawlessly. Castle had looked so surprised when had been shot. He had to give Richard credit even as he was falling down dead he had tried to grab for clues. Taking the name tag would net the police nothing.
He walked over to his own version of the Murder board. At the very top of the board, in the center was an autographed picture of Richard Castle. Around the picture were various notes. With pride Derek took a red marker and drew X's over the Authors eyes and perpendicular lines through the mouth. Well and truly dead!
Opening the briefcase that sat on a nearby take Derek pulled out five more photos. Taking great care he lovingly taped the photos in a line underneath Castles. There was the shrew, the Editor Gina. She was almost as guilty as Richard for his death. Next to that he taped Meredith the ex-wife, Martha the mother, Alexis the daughter, last of all Nikki Heat his nemesis. Derek was still unsure as to the order he wanted to kill them in. Should he kill Gina next? She was complicit with Castle in Storm's murder after all. The only problem was that Gina was going to be too easy. He wanted his next kill to be more difficult. Meredith would probably not be in town until Castle's funeral that probably would not be for a few days. Maybe he would go for Martha, a sniper shot into Castle's apartment. Yeah, he thought Martha and then Meredith and by that time the cops should be on to his plans so Gina should be protected then he could take his revenge on that slut Nikki. Then Alexis would be all alone. Maybe he would take Alexis away; they could live together as it should have been He the father and she the beloved daughter. Taking care not to damage the photo of Alexis he moved it down on the bottom of his board. He caressed her picture.
"I am coming for you baby."
With those words he walker of to the table that contained his weapons. He lovingly picked up his sniper rifle, began to break it down and clean it…..
