Disclaimer: Again, these are not my lovely creatures they belong to ABC and Andrew Marlowe

Castle suppressed the desire to start laughing hysterically when he heard Gates say this group of people from the government was taking over the case. It had to be a joke. This couldn't happen. If they took the case then what? Did they expect the 12th to just stand by and watch or act like cheerleaders and wave pompoms at them? They couldn't really think they'd just stand down that easily. Government or not, Castle would let nothing get in his way of finding Kate.

"They can't be serious right?" Castle said nervously, shaking off the desire to laugh knowing it would not be appropriate.

"I'm sorry Castle…" Gates looking at him and her voice was laced with sorrow as it trailed off.

Ryan and Esposito were too busy glaring at the elevator the group from the government had left through minutes ago to voice the concerns they too felt towards the situation.

"No," Castle said with growing rage. "No no no! They can't do this!"

Trying to remain calm although it was clear Gates was just as upset as Castle was, her voice was strained as she said, "I'm afraid they can. Their rank individually practically outranks all of us put together."

"What part of the government are they from," Ryan more stated than asked as he and Esposito rejoined the conversation.

"I- I'm not authorized to tell you," Gates mustered, clearly upset about that fact.

"Why should that stop you?" Esposito said angrily. After realizing he had just yelled at his boss, his anger faded and he apologetically said, "I'm sorry. It's just what are we supposed to do? Just let them take over finding one of our detectives? One of your detectives? I don't think I can do that and I don't think you can either."

After a brief silence, Gates said, "Come to my office the three of you."

Castle, Ryan, and Esposito all nodded and followed her. When they got to the office Gates stood behind her desk and they stood on the other side waiting to hear what she knew.

"They're from a group called the Guardians," Gates stated once they were all situated.

Castle, not knowing all that much about the workings of the government, turned to shoot a questioning look at Esposito for an explanation but Esposito just shrugged with a confused look on his face. He didn't know the group either. That wasn't comforting at all.

Seeing that nobody in the room knew what this meant Gates went on to explain, "They protect governmental groups that nobody knows about. Basically they are one of the most covert operations in the entire country. You don't hear about them because most people don't even know they exist."

A moment of silence passed as this information sank in. Ryan then asked, "So what does that mean about what's going on with Beckett?"

"She's been captured by a group that wants to eradicate one of the secret societies the Guardians have been assigned to protect," Gates stated.

"Well that's not good," Castle said quietly.

"Although it means we can't get involved anymore it might actually be for the better. They may not be detectives or police officers, but they have connections that can help," Gates responded.

At that moment, the phone in the office began to ring. The three men all glanced at the phone and then turned to leave but were motioned to stay by Gates. They weren't done talking yet.

Gates picked up the phone and said, "Hello this is Captain Gates of the NYPD how may I help you?"

A few seconds later her facial expression completely changed to one that was a mix of anger and fright. Something was wrong. Her hand shook as she moved the receiver away from her ear and held it out towards Castle. "It's them. They want to talk to you."

Understanding her meaning, Castle tried to maintain his composure as he took the receiver from Gates and put it to his ear. "Give her back now and nobody will get hurt," he said into the phone. It was his turn to do the hostage negotiation.

"We give her up when you give us the information," Troy said on the other side of the phone.

"We still have five hours," Castle said matter-of-factly.

"No, you don't. Deadline got moved up. You have half an hour from right now."

"What?" Castle shouted. "You can't do that!"

"As a matter of fact we can. We are in control here. You have half an hour Mister Castle."

Sensing the man on the other side was about to hang up Castle said, "Wait!"

Castle heard a deep intake of breath on the other line before Troy said, "What is it?"

"I need to know she's okay. Let me talk to her."

After a moment of deliberation, Troy said, "Very well." He then put the receiver up to Kate's ear. "Tell him you're fine," he ordered.

"Kate?" she heard Castle say anxiously.

It was then that Kate realized what she had to do. She really had no choice. Kate knew Castle would willingly give anything as long as he knew she would be okay in the end, and as much as Kate appreciated that she also knew it wasn't always for the best. These people would get the information they wanted and then disappear for a while before they would strike unexpectedly. She might as well be letting Castle hand over death certificates to the people whose names were on the list. Her duty to New York and, at a larger scale the United States, was above the feelings she had for Castle that she hid for the past few years. There was no way Kate Beckett, NYPD, would let any secrets be given to people who would clearly use the information to harm others.

Hearing heavy breathing on the other line as Castle waited to hear her voice as confirmation that she was alive, Kate's face became solemn. She didn't want to put the man she cared so much about through what she was about to do but she had made up her mind.

"Castle…" she whispered as she started to tear up. "We're at Madison and J-" Kate rushed to say before the loud 'bang' of the gun went off.

On the other side of the phone, Castle heard the gunshot followed by the click of the line going dead as his world stood still.