Authors Note: Okay, there was quite a positive response for having both POV's in the chapter so I'm planning on continuing that for a while. Sorry It's been so long in updating but I've been snowed in all week without my laptop (gotta love living in Scotland). This is mainly a filler chapter but I promise some exciting moments and revelations soon enough, and, as promised, a rather casketty flavour. Thanks to everyone who reviewed :D x

CHAPTER 9

"Castle, maybe you should go home" Ryan glanced at his friend from across the table. Now that it was clear that the blood on the door was Beckett's the team had been working their hardest to track down leads. So far they had nothing solid, and the signs of stress were beginning to show on them all.

"Yeah, it's been a long day, take a rest" Esposito and Ryan had been trying to get him to go home for almost an hour now, but to no avail.

"All of you home, now." The captain suddenly appeared behind Ryan's shoulder "You're of no use to me if you're tired." He looked straight at Castle, knowing he was about to argue "You're of no use to Kate either, not if you can't concentrate" he said simply. "Tomorrow at the precinct okay? We've gotten all we can from here." He walked out, and Ryan and Esposito got up to leave. Castle lagged behind, but left with the rest of them. He didn't want to go, but he had to think about what the captain had said. The captain had been right. If he was going to help Beckett he had to be at his best. And his best was not a sleep deprived wreck.

He hopped into the first cab available and went straight to his apartment. The entire journey was spent worrying about Kate, wondering where she was, and what sick son of a bitch had her.


She had pretended to be asleep when the man came back. He came in and rustled about a bit, then stopped. She felt a hard smack to her cheek and looked up, startled.

"Good Morning Ms. Beckett. Sorry for the rude awakening, but we have a job for you. Do it well and you'll be out of here in no time." He smiled at her, then grimaced suddenly, pulling out a small switch blade from his pocket, "but mess it up, or play silly games, and you will regret it." He led the blade slowly across her cheek, drawing blood. Laughing as she gasped at the pain, he continued, "Now, are you going to co-operate ms Beckett? Or do you and my little friend," he gestured to the knife, "Need to get better acquainted?"

She looked at the man, at the sharp blade with her blood on it, then past him, where a camera had been set up. She wasn't sure what he wanted, so she stayed silent, weighing up her options.

The man quickly grew impatient. "I asked you to make a choice" He bellowed, slapping her again, this time cutting her lip. "I am not a very patient man so I suggest you co-operate."

She looked up at him. "Fine" she spat. She felt too dizzy and ill to argue. Her lip hurt and she could feel blood dripping from both her cheek and her head wound. "What do I have to do"

The man smiled.

Authors Note: I'm sorry, It's not very long, and it isn't my best writing, and it is mainly a filler but I promise more and better as soon as everything settles down into some form of normality - If that's possible :P - any thoughts, comments, or suggestions welcome. All reviews are appreciated x

p.s. Does anybody have a good name I could borrow for a nice bad-guy (if that makes sense). It's for the next chapter. I don't really like the name bob anymore xD