I know it's been too long. I'm working on some things and well a lot of crazy has been happening. But I will try to be better. I hope you like the little twist at the end. Leave comments about what you think.

Love Always, ChelseaMarieC

Chapter 7

"Kate?" Alexis crept out onto the porch only to see Kate being soaked by the pouring rain. She didn't want to get wet herself but she couldn't leave Kate alone. "I was wrong to say that. I didn't mean it. Would you come in? It's pouring!" The rain instantly made their clothes like a second skin.

Kate barely shifted because if she sat up it would be evident that she had been crying and it wasn't just from the rain. So she turned her head to see Alexis, standing there, getting drenched. Her hair clung to her cheeks and she looked worn out. Kate knew that look, it was one she had been sporting lately.

"I know you didn't mean it. But, it is my fault. I shouldn't have let him love me. I shouldn't have been so selfish. I wanted him and now…" She dug herself out of the clumpy sand but sunk back into it. Her legs were too shaky to support her.

"No." Alexis fell to her knees beside Kate and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kate, you saved him. That's not being selfish. Sure my dad deserved you but you also deserved him. This isn't your fault. But you have to be honest with me. How do you know it's Tyson? And better yet who is Tyson?" She saw the hesitation in Kate's eyes. "You have to."

Kate finally brought herself up to her knees, she could feel herself sinking deeper into the sand. She fought herself on whether to tell her why she was holding back. But it was almost like she knew already. Kate shook her head. Rick would be so mad. That was a bag that he was only willing to share with Kate and that was only because she had been there for it all.

"I don't care what my dad wants. You have to be honest with me. Please Kate, I need to know." The desperate look in Alexis's eyes tugged on Kate's heart strings. And Alexis smiled once she saw Kate smirk. "I know I'm good."

"Can we get dry first?" That got both of them to laugh. Alexis held her hand out for Kate and they found solace in each other. Their heartache brought them closer. "I'll tell you everything. I promise." And Kate draped her arm over Alexis. And as she walked back to the house, she leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"What was that for?" Alexis's eyes sure looked sunken in but Kate could swear she saw a glimmer of hope.

"Because I love you." Sure Kate knew that Alexis felt the same and that she already knew how Kate felt about her but it doesn't hurt to hear it every once in a while.

"Are you crazy? You're gonna get sick sitting out there in that rain. Come here." Martha dragged Kate away from Alexis and draped a towel over her shoulders. "Do you want to wear yourself out even more? This is nuts. You need to stop this madness!" Martha hadn't meant to let her thoughts become venomous words.

Kate recoiled from where she stood, huddled in Martha's arms. Alexis even stepped back like she had been slapped. Nothing hurts more than when someone whom you love and trust thinks you are completely crazy.

"Gram? You agreed with me. You said that I wasn't crazy! Kate and I aren't crazy! We know he's out there. If you don't believe us, go home." And with that, Kate and Martha were left to watch Alexis storm off.

"Kate, now I didn't mean…" But Martha stopped the minute she saw the tears spilling out onto Kate's already moist cheeks. "Please…"

Kate just shook her head and stormed up the stairs herself. She didn't know what to do anymore. Kate had to be completely open with Alexis but Martha thought she was delusional. How could she do all of this? How could she do it without Castle?

"Rick?! I need you now. What do I do?" She buried herself in the towel and climbed into the porcelain tub. "I'm all alone and I need you here. I can't do this. What if I don't find you?" One of her tears hit the tub and she closed her eyes to remember the last time they shared this tub.

"I told you this wasn't romantic but just a mess." Kate watched Rick struggle to get out of the tub. She knew that him adding oil would backfire. She couldn't stop giggling as with every small advancement he made, he slipped back down into the tub.

"Ok. You can stop your laughing now. That isn't helping. I'm seriously trying to get out." He slid right back behind her. She bent forward, laughing so hard she started to snort. And with that, he grabbed her back and she collided with his chest. "You think this is funny?" His fingers traced her skin underneath the water and she instantly melted into his arms. He continued to run his fingers over her bare skin until she pushed herself away from him.

"OK. I'll help you get out. But promise you won't do that again. Especially in this death trap of a tub." She kneeled in front of him and watched him arch a brow. "Cut it out." She grabbed both sides of the tub and stood up. The water dripped from her bare body and for a minute, he stared at her, wet and naked.

"Um, this works too." His eyes followed her every curve until she lightly smacked the back of his head.

"Focus. Now I need you to stay still." She grabbed his head and used it to lift her out of the tub. Once her feet were firmly planted on the bath mat, she hopped up and down. "Yes. I'm out." She did a little hip swivel and watched him grow annoyed.

"A little help here. Please." He reached his hands up and she laughed but lifted him up in the tub. He grabbed her shoulders and she tried to steady her feet as she pulled him out but…

"Rick, hold on. I'm slipping." And the minute he was out, her feet spun and she fell to the floor. And he landed on his back on the bathroom floor. "Damn. I cut my leg open." She lifted her bare limb from underneath him and laid it out flat. There was a small gash on her right leg, right by the knee.

"I'm so sorry. Let me see." He forced himself to sit up and grabbed her leg in his lap. "I'll call the doctor." He looked at both of them and they both broke out into a laugh.

"We are a mess." She pulled her leg back only to push into him, knocking him back down with a kiss.

"A beautiful one."

And now, bundled in the towel, her tears sinking into the tub, she missed him so much that her heart actually had pain. She grabbed her chest which nowadays felt empty and buried her face into the towel. She needed to hear his laugh, she needed to see his lips in front of hers, and she needed, most of all, she just needed to know he was ok.

Alexis stripped her wet clothes and sunk herself into her oversized hoodie and burrowed herself into her bed. She knew that this wasn't crazy. And if she was so what? Should she really have to believe that her dad is actually dead? No. She wasn't in denial. She felt that this was real, that he was just waiting to be rescued. She needed to believe that. Because if she didn't, who would she be without him?

"Daddy? I know it's been a long time since you've heard that but Kate and I are gonna find you. I promise you. And do I ever go back on my promises? No. So, just stay safe and know that we're coming." She reached over and grabbed the small picture frame on her nightstand. It was of her and her dad two summers ago. She was laughing so hard that her face was redder than her hair and he fell beside her clutching his stomach. Martha took it and it was one of Alexis's favorites of her and her dad. She couldn't remember what she found so funny but nonetheless… it was laughter. She needed him back. She hoped he could hear her.

Rick woke to a loud racket coming from the other room. He didn't know what time he passed out or what day it was anymore. He could just feel that Kate, Alexis, and his mother were missing him. But somehow, he heard their cries and he fought some of his own. The next thing he heard, turned his blood cold. Two gunshots. He wanted to not panic but he had no idea who all was there and what was going on anymore.

"Rick?" A soft voice carried its way to him and Castle knew… Smith. "I'm here to help. Don't believe anything he says. You're safe as long as you don't know." And before Castle could say a thing, the voice and shadow were gone.

"Did you enjoy that show Castle?" Tyson slithered back into the room and tossed a water bottle to Rick. "That's what happens if you think you are in charge. I am and I guess he had to learn the hard way."

When Rick looked down at the water bottle in his hand, he fought not to toss it aside. He was so thirsty. But his hands were covered in it, blood. Who's blood he didn't know and that terrified him even more.

"I understand. I know you're in charge of me. But why do they need Kate?" He took a sip, trying to discretely wipe the blood from the bottle.

Jerry emerged into the light. The ghostly and frightening image of him bathed in fluorescent would forever haunt Castle's mind. He had a snicker on his face but Rick didn't back down. He nodded as if he was waiting and that made Jerry laugh.

"Oh you're funny. Why would I share everything with you? There are so many things at play here that I bet you can't guess them all. First thing, why take you and not Kate, right?"

Rick nodded and that made Tyson happier.

"Oh goody, I can think like the famous mystery writer. Next, why bring Kate into this at all? I mean who wants her other than…" He leaned right into Castle's face. "Bracken right?"

Rick recoiled inches from Tyson's face and tried not to hurl.

"Haha. You're repulsed by me. That's sweet. But no… I won't tell you another thing. Just know when the final act comes, it will blow your mind. You can't have all the fun now." And then Tyson went into another room and began to start water.

That gave Rick another clue. He had to be in a place that was still functioning otherwise the water would be turned off. No he wasn't so off. He tried to think of all the still available warehouses in New York but that was like finding a needle in a haystack. Not that he hasn't done that before but… He tried to channel his sense of his city. He had to be by the water. All the places by the water, there were so many options. He tried not to focus on the fact that someone was lying, dead, in a pool of their own blood while he sat strapped to a chair and while Tyson washed up.

"Oh man Kate, you need to find me soon. This will be a story to tell our kids when they're older. Because we will have kids. I'll be there for you. I said Always." He bit his lip and no longer cared if he cried. One tear slid down and wiped more blood from the water bottle. As he was crying, he heard a creak.

A small creak but nonetheless a creak. And a voice.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" It was just a young man's voice. But who would be stupid to come to an abandoned place in the middle of… he didn't know if it was day or night. He heard footsteps. Was he in a basement?

"Um. I saw that the light was on. No one is supposed to be down here without…" but with the slice of the throat, he stopped talking. The stairs had to be not too far away from where Rick sat. The young man's blood was in view.

Rick's stomach churned and he threw up beside him. Someone just died at the hands of Tyson but it was because he was down here. If he would have found Rick then… he had to die, in Tyson's twisted mind, there could be no witnesses.

But that got Castle thinking… what if there were witnesses but they just didn't know they were a witness? What if someone saw Tyson drive him off the road and wreck the car? What if they were still out there not knowing what they saw was important? Their wedding was big news and so many people could have been running late. What if they could somehow find Kate and tell her everything? Every and any little detail could help. He closed his eyes and prayed that somehow, he had a clue somwhere out there. Kate just needed to find it.

Jackson Hunt tossed his pen aside and stepped back. Everything that he could get his hands on about Tyson and Bracken was firmly taped to the not so bare hotel wall. He planned on surprising Rick and Kate at the wedding and that little idea could be the thing that saves his only son.

"I'm coming son." But first, he had to talk to Kate.