Genre: Crime, Drama, Romance, Family, Humor
Rating: M for violence, language and sexual situations
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured on the show Castle, they belong to the creator of the show, ABC, and the others who do own them.
A/N #1: Since this chapter is a shorter one, I've decided to go ahead and post the next one today as well, and it'll be up in a few hours for those of you who want to read, so look out for it!
A/N #2: I was very interested in seeing what readers would think of the last chapter, so was great to get the feedback and I need to get to the thank yous right away! MichelleBell16 (Not too surprised you wanted me to update soon after the last chapter and that you want them to find Castle alive. And I expected you to mention Beckett and the rest of the family, not wanting anything to happen to them. Oh, and not surprised that you want Beckett to take Reynolds down, thought readers would want her to do that after all that happened, lol. So happy to see you can't wait to read more, and now you don't need to anymore!), Beckett-Castle4ever (It was really nice to see you mentioning the time Castle and Beckett had in the morning at the start of the chapter, the same for you enjoying their family time afterwards. And I have to admit I laughed a bit at your reaction to Castle being kidnapped, but you described it well, since that's basically what happened. It was so great you caught that they look out for each other when something bad happens; it's what I try to write. Not surprised you're feeling sorry for Beckett, after all that's happened to her, it'd be hard not to of course. Really glad you want to see how Castle will get back to his family, means of course you want to keep reading the story, which you can do now!), vetgirlmx (Made me smile when you were wondering first off in your review why they were so relaxed, lol, you're right, they shouldn't have been since he ended up being kidnapped. And I suppose they wanted to forget they had such bad luck, lol, just for a bit. Not surprised you thought they'd take Beckett, it makes sense of course, but not surprised you were glad she wasn't too. So, so relieved to read your reaction to the scene between Beckett and Lanie as I wasn't quite sure what readers would think of it. But yeah, with all that happened it'd be hard to see her not falling apart a little bit. And you're right; Lanie being there definitely helped her out. I definitely agree with you, has to be tough for Julia to see her mother like that along with everything going on. And speaking of Julia, the fact she's got a family now has to be a help; at least to me it would be! Interesting to see that you're of the opinion that all hell is about to break loose, but considering you mentioned that you readers don't know a lot of the story, makes sense. And so great that you can't wait to keep going, which here of course you get to do!), life's a mystery (Was great to see that you were surprised at Castle being kidnapped, was aiming for that of course. And of course not surprised to see that you're hoping that they get him out safely. And nice to read that since it means you want to read more, see how things turn out!), pcol22 (Glad to see as always that you thought the last chapter was a great one. And not surprised that you're wondering when everything's going to stop since a lot has been happening to Castle, or that you're wondering why that is too. And yeah, makes sense you saying Beckett needs to find Reynolds soon, since of course, she does. Was interesting to see your speculation, nice to see actually, lol. Really happy to see you're looking forward to the next chapter, and now you don't need to anymore!) and sammysgirl78 (Sorry, so sorry about these chapters, but the story's partly drama so… yeah, it's gonna happen. I was really happy to see that you liked the love scene at the beginning, made me smile seeing you call it their morning delight… though it's apropos of course, lol. Not surprised you're feeling sorry for Julia; it's understandable considering that Castle just got out. I actually wasn't too taken aback by the fact you too had thought that Beckett would be the one to be kidnapped, but was when you said you thought Alexis and Julia would be too. And yeah, expected you'd want the team to be able to get them out safely too, thought a lot of readers would want that. And again, made me laugh to see that again you know when I'm posting, but I do love that you do since it means you want to read more, and now you can go ahead and see what's next!). So thanks to all of you for your feedback, loved reading every review and I appreciate so much the time you take to write them!
A/N #3: The title of this chapter is a lyric from the song Scared by John Lennon, from his album Walls and Bridges.
Just Wanna Stay Alive
Pushing himself up after having been seated cross legged on the floor, Castle strode around the room to get the feeling of pins and needles out of his legs. It took a while to do that though, since the room; more of a closet; was not large enough for him to stretch out his long legs. But finally he felt better, though he was keeping his gaze down to his chest, trying not to see what was around and below him.
There were pictures everywhere, of Beckett, him and Julia, sometimes just him with his fiancée, sometimes with them with their daughter. But they all had him and Beckett in them, and he finally forced himself to look at them though the realization of what he had been taken away from was hard to face, swallowing hard as he looked them over. The room was tall, and he was relieved to see the first wall held no scratched or cut out pictures as there had been outside.
Castle's mind wandered as he turned to the next wall, seeing the same, wondering if Beckett and the boys could trace where he was before the next morning. But considering who was holding him hostage; he didn't think so. So he studied the third wall, seeing all of them were perfect. But he could recognize when they were taken, and it gave him a chill realizing that they'd been followed for a very long time. He had to wonder how far back the pictures outside the room that he'd seen went. He looked at some of the pictures on the floor, the same as the ones on the wall with them as the subject.
Glancing at the door then, he went over to it, flexing his hands into fists and trying to move them through the handcuffs. But Castle knew from experience that it would be impossible to release himself from them. He then wished he'd paid attention to the aspiring locksmith years ago who'd tried to teach him to get free from handcuffs; though when he'd been trying to learn they'd been on him in front. He debated opening the door and trying to whirl back around so he could see in front of him, but ruled that out, since the door was likely locked tight, and he had no way of checking to see if his kidnapper was in front of the door with a weapon. He turned around and debated hitting the door with his shoulder. But it would take time to recover if he managed to get the door down, and would give the kidnapper time to either kill him or severely wound him.
Castle nearly started to run to the door, but then paused, knowing it was too much of a risk to try. But then he glanced out of the corner of his eye at a picture of his fiancée and their daughter with him in Central Park, and he made up his mind. He needed to get back to his fiancée, his daughters, mother and everyone else he loved. Going up to the door, he pressed his shoulder, feeling which was the best way to hit it before he took a few running steps back. He then charged at it, turning at the last second, and finding himself rebounding off the door. He cursed as he almost felt like he'd dislocated his shoulder, and he scrambled to regain his balance hitting the wall behind him as the door opened.
"Interesting, I expected you to try that sooner," the kidnapper said, holding a gun aimed at Castle. "But even though that was a great try, no luck, I thought ahead and bought a reinforced oak door, so it won't budge. Go ahead though; try all night if you want to. I just have to wonder what I'll need to tell Katherine tomorrow if she finds you with your arms and legs dislocated." And with that he slammed the door shut, the sound of the three locks on it on the outside echoing in the room.
Feeling a chill going through him, Castle listened to the man talk to his fiancée, only able to make out her name but not much else. He knew he was talking to her though, and he finally gave up, knowing the kidnapper had planned well ahead. And looking at the pictures, he could easily guess that had been done for a very long time. Sliding down on the ground, Castle frowned as he looked down the wall in front of him, wondering if everyone in his family was okay. He knew they had to be worried about him, wondering what was going to happen to him. But eventually his gaze settled on his fiancée in one of the photographs.
Closing his eyes and leaning his head back, Castle wished desperately for telepathic powers right then, wanting to tell Beckett that besides being handcuffed and stuffed into a closet, that he was okay. He then realized what he and his fiancée had been doing in that picture and despite the dire straits he was in, he couldn't help smile as he recalled that day, a little bit after their first Christmas together. They'd gone walking together through the park, and as they came to a relatively deserted area, he remembered reaching down to the snow, and hitting his then girlfriend with a snowball.
Shaking his head of the rest of the memory of them fighting against each other playfully to keep from tormenting himself further, Castle glanced down at the pictures next to him on the floor, seeing one of him and Beckett at a playground with Julia. His eyes snagged on Julia, and it was then his breath became a little ragged, knowing that the little girl had to be aware of what was going on since he hadn't come home yet again. His heart broke as he could almost imagine what she was thinking scared he wasn't going to go back to her and her mother; why she still hadn't responded to his I love yous.
The adrenaline rush of the realization that he might not get to hear his youngest daughter ever call him daddy made him try to jump up. But Castle fell off balance, the attempt to knock down the door taking more of his energy than he wanted to admit, and he hit his cheek on the floor hard enough to cut the inside of it with his teeth. He spat out the blood, and shuddered as he'd seemed to taste nothing but that the entire day; assuming it was likely late. He couldn't help thinking of Alexis and his mother, hoping that everyone in his family was helping one another get through what was going on, through his absence. "I hope you're there with Kate and Julia, Jim," he murmured, looking up at the light, knowing if anyone could help comfort his fiancée, it was her father.
When a wave of fatigue hit him shortly after that, Castle knew it was late, and he lay back on the floor, unsure he'd be able to get much rest that night. But he knew he needed to; at the very least try to get some because he knew he'd need to be alert the next day. He got as comfortable as he could on his side before looking up at the wall again, and he mouthed 'I love you,' to his fiancée in one of the pictures again. That reminded him though that he'd said that to her, the last time he'd seen her. He was relieved they'd told each other that, but didn't want that in no way to be the last time he uttered those words to her, and not as just her fiancée, remembering the wedding in a little over three weeks.
Castle soon found himself starting to slowly drift off to sleep after looking over the pictures he could see from where he was laying. But one thing was going through his mind repeatedly; when Beckett had said she loved him that morning. He fell asleep thinking of that, not realizing it was going to influence his dreams, not even knowing he could dream considering he was utterly clueless as to what was going to happen to him. But he dreamt of his fiancée, and the sweet moment of hearing her utter those three words to him for the very first time.
"You think you can honestly beat me?" Castle asked his girlfriend, raising an eyebrow in her direction.
"I think it's possible," Beckett said, smiling at him as she considered the chessboard. "Funny we never played again after going to that park," she commented.
"That's because you'd known then I'd be victorious," Castle commented, sipping his wine.
"Keep telling yourself that," Beckett said, rolling her eyes and moving a knight.
Castle frowned at that, and then quickly moved a pawn, letting her capture it a moment later. That left his queen wide open, and he was able to move it in such a way that as he looked at her considering what that had done, he knew she realized he'd won.
"This won't be the last time we play this Castle," Beckett said, moving her last knight in a desperate attempt but losing the game in the end as he took her king.
"Still, a pretty good game," he replied as he picked up the pieces and put them inside the box the board was the top of. "And we should play again; I'd love to find out what you'll do when you win."
"I'm sure you would," Beckett replied, getting off the chair at the table by the windows.
"Come here," Castle said, taking her hand and leading her over to the middle of the living room, squeezing her hand. He took the remote to the music that had been playing while they'd been engrossed in chess, and he changed the song playing to something much slower.
Beckett smiled, not really waiting for her boyfriend to put that remote back in his pocket before she had her arms wrapped around his neck tightly and they began to sway. As they were dancing, she pressed her cheek to his, not even really paying attention to the song. She was content to let him lead, and finally, as the last of the music faded away, she realized what she wanted to do, and pulled away to look into his eyes.
"Kate-" Castle started to say, startled at the look in her eyes as she was somber.
Kissing him gently, Beckett wanted to silence him before she became lost in him. That kiss went on for longer than she'd wanted, but finally she pulled away and cupping his face in her hands whispered, "I love you Rick."
His heart beating rapidly in his joy the instant he heard her say that for the first time, Castle pressed his forehead against hers as he enveloped her even tighter in his arms. "I love you too Kate," he said sincerely before they were suddenly smiling at each other. He then leaned down, and carefully took her lips with his, her response to his kiss seeming to cement the words as they never stopped swaying gently together in their slow; soon sensuous; dance.
While the dream was a comfort for Castle, his memories of it the next morning waking up, seeing he was still stuck inside the tiny room; not a nightmare that felt so real he could have laughed over it with Beckett after making love to her; made it an agony to recall the dream and the memory it had encapsulated. But it fed the determination inside him and before the door opened, he whispered, "I love you Kate," staring at a picture of her in his arms from around the same time she'd first told him she loved him, turning to his kidnapper, poised as the man's shadow strode inside towards him, covering him in its darkness.
