I DREAM of you...
Summary: "Oh God, no! Don't die, Kate! Please, don't do this to me. Don't die!" Rick cries out into the night, holding the woman of his dreams close to his chest. The woman who filled his nights finally made it into his days and now he was going to lose her. Forever. *AU*
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters; they belong to the fabulous A. W. Marlowe and ABC.
A/N: I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and came into the new year safely.
All the best for 2013!
Here's part II of "Unexpected Help". I have to say that it cost me incredibly much willpower to write this chapter – I do love Beckett and it was very very hard to do this to her. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it nevertheless.
A scream wakes him up. It takes a few seconds for him to notice that it's his own voice.
His breathing is heavy and his head spins because he sat up so quickly, causing adrenaline to rush through his body. He holds his head in his hands until the earth stops spinning around him and he can think clearly again.
What the hell was that now? He can feel that he dreamt again, but he cannot remember one single thing. He just knows that it was important, he feels that it will have a big meaning for the outcome of this night. It is already deep in the night, his cell is dark and the moon shines through the little window on his left.
Johanna Beckett's voice echoes in his head again.
"Save her. Save my Katie. Ryan will help you, he's a good guy. You can trust him. He'll do the right thing."
Wait! That's new! He didn't hear her say the last part. At least he cannot remember. But in his heart he knows it's true.
"Can't sleep either?" A low voice reaches him from outside his cell.
"Who is there?"
"It's me, Detective Ryan. I was nearby and just thought I'd check on you."
"Oh. Oh." Make sure I'm still here. Got it. "Yeah... No, I can't sleep. It's too much at stake, don't you think."
"If one believes what you said." Ryan states. He tries to be nonchalant, but the little shaking in his voice gives him away.
"Oh come on. There has to be someone out there who believes me. Her life depends on it, can't you see that? Please tell me that she's safe." Rick grunts out, the desperation obvious in his voice.
"You're really afraid, aren't you?"
"God, can no one see that? Of course I am. I've seen her lying there. Dead! Dead, Dective Ryan. Covered in blood, her green eyes staring me down, and her mother - "
"Her mother?"
Shit! Rick bites his tongue, but it's too late. The words are already out there, hanging heavy and meaningful in the air between the two men.
"What do you know about Beckett's mother? Mr. Castle, this is serious. What is this all about? Beckett was right, you are involved in all thi-"
"No, Detective Ryan, please you have to believe me, I am -"
"Why should I? I came here because I wasn't sure if you really just made all this up, I was the only one thinking your story could make sense after all, but now -"
"Please. Please. Listen to me. I'll tell you everything, but we don't have time now. We have to safe Ka- uhm, Beckett. NOW! And then I'll tell you the last bit. I promise."
"No, absolutely no way. I'm done here. Good night." Ryan spits out, the taste of betrayal on his tongue and the disappointment burning in his stomach. He turns to leave, but Rick's words makes him stop in his tracks.
"You were in love with her."
"You sure you're OK?" Esposito asks Beckett when he parks the car.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I just need some quiet now, I'll read a little and then go to bed early. Maybe I'll visit my dad tomorrow, I don't know." she wanted to sound self-assured, but didn't really succeed. A stern look from her partner makes it clear that he noticed.
"Really, Espo, I'm fine. And our two friends over there - ", she points to a black SUV on the other side of the street, "will make sure I'll be safe. And tomorrow we'll see that it was absolutely pointless."
"Good, good. Call me some time tomorrow. And if you need something - "
"Okay, Javi, as I said, I'm good. Night."
She slams the door a little louder than necessary, to prove her point, not only to her fellow detective, but to herself as well.
It will be fine, all will be fine. She repeats this sentence in her mind like a mantra, while she stumbles towards the building and through the lobby. But she can't help the bad feeling in her gut as she rides the elevator upwards to her floor. The 'what if' bothers her to no end.
What if Castle told the truth? What if there's going to be another attack on her life tonight. There are obviously people out there who want her dead, so... It wouldn't be too far fetched. But how does he know all about it? How does he know when and where and how it will happen, if he isn't involved in all this? Are those dreams really the explanation for all this?
She walks up to her door and turns the key, but she can feel that something is wrong. The feeling manifests when she enters her flat, and it proves to be right when she steps back and wants to reach for her phone to call Esposito. But it's already too late. Out of the shadows beside her door steps a man clothed in black and reaches for her arm, pulling her inside again and slamming the door shut behind them.
It all happens so quickly, Kate cannot even reach for her gun. She only feels a sharp pain at the back of her head and falls to the floor. Then her vision goes black.
"I saw Johanna Beckett in my dreams." OK, now it's out. And this will have to decide if he will be able to save his Kate. It all depends on Ryan now and if he believes him eventually. And if the memory of his latest dream, his latest talk with Johanna will come back to him in time. As it stands, the only thing he can remember is what he just called after Ryan. His desperation must've have triggered his memory and he hopes that there'll be more to prove what he's about to tell the Irish detective that somehow he really likes.
"You know her name."
"Of course I do, I talked to her."
"But... You could have read it somewhere."
"No. I mean... Yeah, I could've, but I didn't. I know she's dead Ryan -"
"For ten years, yeah!"
"Ten years? Oh... Anyway, listen to me. I saw her. I talked to her. I know it sounds ridiculous, just like the rest of my story, that's why I didn't want to tell you about it. But it's the truth. She wants to help, she wants me to save her daughter."
"So you mean she is responsible for your dreams?" Ryan says slowly, not really getting the meaning of his words.
"I don't know. It's really confusing for me, too. I just know that it's the truth."
"Then prove it."
"I can't."
"Then what did you mean by saying that I was in love with her. With whom?"
Rick takes a deep breath. Now or never. "With Kate."
The following silence takes his breath away. Ryan looks at his with eyes wide open, his mouth agape. And the truth visible in his eyes.
"With Beckett?" Ryan asks, his voice too high. "No, you must be - "
"Don't deny it. We both know it's true." Rick says with a firm voice, suddenly remembering more words Johanna said to him. And suddenly he realises why she told him those things.
"It was back then when you started here at the 12th. You - "
"Stop! Stop it. I wasn't in love with her. I... I admired her. Her strength and her will to fight for justice. Her devotion to the job. It's completely different."
"If you say so." Rick answers calmly, looking openly at him.
"Okay, okay. Fine. I was... Maybe I was a little smitten..."
"And that's totally understandable. She is a beautiful woman. She's impressive. She's... tall."
"Yeah. But don't get me wrong here, this is long past. We're best friends and I wouldn't want it any other way. I never told her."
"Hey, hey, no need to explain anything."
"How the hell can you know this anyway? I never, never, told anyone!"
"That's the point, that's what Johanna told me. She knew that no one else knew about this. It was the only way to convince you that I'm telling the truth."
"I can't believe that I'm asking you this..." Ryan said after a break, "What else did she tell you?"
"That you are a wonderful friend for Kate. That you care about her. And that you would do anything in your power to keep her safe." Rick says slowly, the words just coming out of his mouth even before he knows what he's going to say. "That you would always have her back."
"That's true... That's all true."
"Where is she at the moment?"
"At home, I think. She wanted to make a point and spend the night alone at home..." Ryan answers slowly, the meaning of his words sinking in.
"So if this is all true what Johanna said about you – why the hell don't you check on her? Why the hell don't you have her back now?"
Ryan swallows hard. This writer really tells the truth. It all makes sense now. It's still hard to believe that he has those dreams and that he was able to talk to a dead woman, but it's the only explanation why he can know all those things. He just feels that it's true. And that means – that means that Beckett really is in danger.
"I'll call her right away. Wait a minute."
"Please hurry."
"I'm on it."
"Did she pick up?"
"It's ringing."
"Come on, Kate, pick up. Did she pick up?"
"It's still ringing, Castle!"
Both men are pacing up and down, simultaneously, only divided by the bars.
"Voice mail." Ryan states, slowly lowering the hands in which he holds the phone. "I'll try again."
"Yeah. Yeah, do that." Rick says, suddenly feeling numb.
"Come on, Beckett, pick up! Come on! Ah, the voice mail again."
"What time is it, Detective?" Rick wants to know, the bad feeling getting unbearable.
"It's just after midnight, so - "
"Oh God!" Rick groans, knowing that it's possible that Kate is already lying dead on the floor in her apartment. "Please, we have to go and check on her."
"Maybe she's just taking a bath?"
"God, Ryan! Don't you get it? There is someone out there who wants her dead!"
"But she's got protective detail and - "
"I've seen her dead! Lying on the floor in a puddle of her blood. Ryan, we need to drive over and check on her. Please!"
"We? You're under arrest. You can't come with me. I'll go."
"No, Ryan, please, let me come with you. I don't have my cell phone here and I need to know if she's okay. I can't wait until you're back here. Please don't make me wait here all this time. It's killing me!" Rick shouts, the desperation audible in his voice.
"I... I can't – Okay. Okay. It might me the most stupid thing I've ever done, but okay... But I need to handcuff you. And you stay in the car. And then we'll drive right back here and you don't say a word to anyone."
"Scout's honour."
"Then let's go."
"Ah, you're back already. Always causing trouble, huh?" a dark voice greets Kate when she slowly comes back to consciousness. But the fog in her mind is only disappearing slowly and she doesn't really get what's happening with and around her. Her vision is blurred and her head hurts so much she can barely manage to open her eyes.
But the voice of the man who is talking to her gives her the creeps.
Then the darkness comes back to her and she passes out again.
A sharp pain in the crook of her right arm brings her finally back and she realises that the haze in her mind has disappeared and she can think straight again. She opens her eyes and sees the needle of a syringe leave her arm. She wants to jerk back, but can't move an inch. The man who's kneeling beside her on the floor in the middle of her living room has tied her up. But she can see that the ties are only wrapped loosely around her arms and legs. It must be something he injected her with that makes her whole body immoveable.
She closes her eyes in agony. She's sick and tired of being tied up and unable to move. Why the hell does she always end up like this lately? And where's her protective detail? Oh shit, she really has to be more careful in the future.
And then it hits her. Castle said she was going to die tonight. Richard freaking Castle warned her that this would happen and she just hadn't believed him. And now all of this is actually happening and she cannot do anything about it.
Her heart sinks when the black clothed man returns to her side with a razor blade in his hand that reflects the light of the little lamp burning on a side table behind her. The rest of her apartment is dark.
The evil grin and the sparkle in the cold eyes of the man in front of her show her only too clearly that he enjoys this immensely.
Her mind is crystal clear, banking every detail it can in case –by some miracle – she survives this thing, she can use what she knows to catch the son of a bitch. But as it is, she can't help but running scenario after scenario – none of which end well for her, especially since she can't even lift her pinky finger and it costs her endless strength to speak.
"What... Why?" she manages, tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh, you're still able to speak? That's impressive, Detective, given the heavy dose I gave you. But I have forgotten the narcotics, it seems. Well, you'll get it right away. And then you'll sleep forever." the following chuckle makes Kate feel sick. Oh no, this can't be, there must be a way out of this –
Castle! He knows about all this, he'll –
No, he won't. He's sitting in a cell in the cellar of the 12th precinct. And she basically put him there. With no way out to save her this time.
So it was all true. His story about his dreams and that he was the one who saved her all those times. She knew it deep down in her heart all this time, her subconscious remembering a lot more than she thought. It all fits together now, it all makes sense. Only now it's too late.
The man comes back with another syringe and a wide grin on his face. If he enjoys all this so much, maybe she can get him to talk, if she's going to die anyway. Maybe she can play for a little more time, maybe her PD will come and check on her. Way too many 'maybes', but she doesn't have another option. It cannot end like this. She can't let that happen. She can't go without telling him that she believes him.
"Why?" she asks again, just before the needle hits her arm.
"Why should I tell you?" the brown-haired man asks back nonchalant, but at least stopping his task.
"'Cause 'm... gonna die... anyway." she manages, hoping her knowledge of human nature doesn't fail her this time.
"Hm, that's right. Yeah, what can it hurt? We have already won. Fine, Detective, I'll tell you. But first the narcotics. Then you can listen until you fall asleep."
Kate feels a cold shiver run over her body upon hearing those words.
And when the needle hits her arm she feels the pain, but it doesn't bother her anymore. It's over. The man they sent to kill her didn't swallow her bait, apparently they had sent someone this time who plays it safe. His forerunners got suckered and it seems that he wants to make sure it doesn't happen to him as well. Her bad. She can already feel the impact of the drugs he gave her, while she thinks about destiny. Maybe it's her fate to die now, at the hands of those men who want her dead. She'd escaped them twice – or maybe even more, she actually has no idea how often exactly Castle had already saved her life – maybe this time it's final. Maybe you can't rewrite your story, maybe you can't escape your destiny. Maybe it's her time to go now.
She can hear the low voice of her killer from far away.
"You already know that this is also about your mum's murder, right? I don't know much about this, but I can tell you that my 'employer' had something to do with it. And he found out that you made detective a few years back and thinks that you are too dangerous for him now. So you have to disappear. End of story."
"But... but they'll investigate... my murder... and this will lead them... to you... and him..." It's not only hard to speak, it's also difficult to think clear by now. Again. It takes all of Kate's will power to force those words out. She might be broken, but she hasn't lost her hope yet, maybe she can talk him into changing his plans after all.
"No, they won't. I already typed a suicide note on your personal computer. They will find it as soon as they switch the monitor back on. And then they will think that you couldn't stand it anymore that someone wanted you dead, that you were afraid of the way they would try to kill you next time and that you wanted to decide for yourself how your life was going to end. And don't worry about the stuff I injected you with, we've already tried it lots of times, they won't even find traces in your blood. There'll be absolutely nothing. And last but not least - " he said while he put the razor blade up from the floor with his gloved hands, "there'll be only your fingerprints on this blade. See?"
He unties her arms carefully, so as not to leave any traces behind. The ropes were only wrapped loosely around her anyway, so they wouldn't cause any marks. They really thought this through.
He takes her right hand and pushes the blade between her thumb and pointer finger, holding it in place with his own hand around them. Then he lowers her hands onto her left arm and begins to cut into the soft flesh there.
Kate is a little thankful for the drugs he gave her. She feels the pain in her arm, but the drugs take the edge off and so it's bearable. At least it's bearable. Only the feeling of her warm blood running over her skin makes her feel sick.
Her last thought goes to Castle and the regret that she hadn't trusted her instincts and believed him sooner.
"Come on, Ryan, faster!"
"Castle, stop shouting at me. I won't say it again. I need to concentrate on driving, so stop yelling at me. I'm going as fast as I can."
The loud sound of the wailing siren hurt his ears and the fear of being too late takes his breath away. Only the fact that he managed to convince Detective Ryan and is actually sitting beside him in a police car on the way to Kate's apartment settles him slightly. He did it, with her mother's help. He cannot really quite believe it, and he cannot even rejoice over this, too frightening is the thought of finding Kate already dead, just like in his dream.
Also Ryan can feel the suspense hanging in the air.
Neither of them says another word until Ryan parks his car behind a dark SUV. Ryan jumps out of his police criuser and sees in the corner of his eye that Castle does the same.
"Woah, Castle, no! Back in the car. We had a deal, right?"
"But Ryan, please, I need to - "
"Stay in the car, yes. Now sit down and show me your handcuffs." Ryan demands, and Rick knows he doesn't stand a chance here. The Detective opens his handcuffs and Rick face lits up. But only until he realises that he had handcuffed his right hand to the car.
"No, Ryan, you can't do that, please - " But the detective is already on the way to the black SUV and ignoring him successfully.
"Oh shit!" Ryan shouts, his face pale in the light of the streetlamps.
"What's wrong?" Rick shouts over to him, but he doesn't answer. "Come on, Ryan, talk to me! What's wrong? Is that -"
"Beckett's protective detail. They're dead, Castle. Shot right through the windscreen."
"Oh my God. Kate!"
Ryan is already running over the street and towards the building and then vanishes in the shadows and Rick is alone in the quiet street again.
Okay. Cuff me once, shame on you. Cuff me twice, shame on me.
Thank God he carries a spare key for handcuffs in his wallet. He fishes them out and is able to free himself. He's never been a scout, so he doesn't feel bound to the vow anyway. Ryan would understand. Kate is his first priority. Nothing else matters in this moment.
Rick enters the building, but he has no idea where to go from the lobby. He doesn't know which floor her apartment is located on. He can't even remember the number on her door. What now?
He decides to just follow his instinct and hopes to find something familiar to somehow orient himself.
And suddenly his feet move of their own accord and carry him right to her door step where Ryan is standing, talking agitated into his phone.
"- yeah, I need an ambulance right now. A female with significant blood loss – Castle! No!" the shocked detective sees Rick too late, he's already through the door to her flat. Ryan's phone clatters to the floor and while he's occupied with picking it up, Rick reaches his Kate and the image turns his stomach around. It's the exact picture he saw in his dream a few hours ago.
He falls to the ground beside her, ignoring the sharp pain in his knees, too overwhelming is the pain in his chest. He slowly reaches out for her face with shaking fingers. Tears are forming in his eyes and then he cannot hold it back any longer.
"Oh God, no! Don't die, Kate! Please, don't do this to me. Don't die!" Rick cries out into the night, holding the woman of his dreams close to his chest. The woman who filled his nights finally made it into his days and now he was going to lose her. Forever.
Ryan could only stand there helplessly, informing the ambulance and his Captain of the events and then finally flopping himself onto the floor beside Kate's door, waiting for help and staring numbly at the floor in front of him.
A/N: Another cliffhanger, I'm sorry. But this is just so much fun. I'm already working on the next chapter and it shouldn't take me too long to update. And then you won't get another cliffy, promise. ;-)