It is by no means an irrational fancy that,

In a future existence, we shall look upon what

Our present existence as a dream

Edgar Allen Poe

Not mine, just playing for awhile.

Kate, was fading fast, three days without water were taking their toll; lips were swollen and chapped, She'd ran out of saliva to moisten them yesterday, or was it today? She'd lost track of time. Lost track of time, Kate chuckled, that's all she had, time. Handcuffed and tied to a chair. She wasn't going anywhere. The detective wanted the Raven to return, at this point she would beg for a drink.

The silence was weighing on her as much as the rope used to bind her. The darkness was comforting. It allowed Kate to dream…..She was lying in bed, snuggled next to her one and done. Castle took her body places she'd only ever reached with him. Kate swore he'd used the four years to draw up plans on how to make love to her. (Not that she hadn't had plenty of fantasies herself, involving him) Castle surpassed Kate's expectations the first night they were together. He was a generous and talented lover.

It was different with Castle; she was in love with him. Kate thought she was in love before, she loved a couple of different men, but this was unlike anything she'd experienced. Kate was completely and utterly in love with Richard Alexander Rodgers Castle. Sometimes the Man child could drive her crazy, she wouldn't have him any other way.

"I'm so sorry Castle…. "Kate awoke,

Hope was fading along with her physical self. The drug used to subdue her left her weak, and without having any fluids it just acerbated the situation. She didn't know why the Raven didn't come back and finish her off.

Kate struggled against the rope and screamed in frustration "What are you waiting for?"

The Raven was cursing herself. Why didn't she execute the plan in the fall? The weather wasn't factored into her plans. It was snowing; The NYSDOT had closed the road. The road leading back to the cabin and Beckett.

Cursing herself for not stocking the cabin with supplies before she took the detective. She'd driven into town to check the tracking on Castle's phone and pick up supplies. The Raven couldn't get service in the back woods. The cabin was remote alright. You had to be going there on purpose. You wouldn't just happen by.

Raven was debating whether to just leave now, or wait until the road was open to view Kate's dead body. She really wanted to see her lifeless corpse. She decided she'd ask the men plowing the roads. Pulling up alongside a snowplow, the driver was breaking ice off his wiper blades.

"Excuse me, can you tell me when this road." Raven pointed at the road to the cabin, "When it will be opened?"

"Lady, once the road is closed, it may not open again until spring. That road only serves a few cabins. It's not top priority. I came out here to Post the sign and secure the gates." The driver looked at the Raven. "Where is it you are headed?"

The Raven lied, and said she was going to the town she'd just left getting supplies.

"The driver nodded, Okay you need to turn around and head South you will hit the interstate, just keep going and it will be about twenty miles. Once you get there stay put until this storm passes. The weather service is calling for three more days of heavy snow, looks like the blizzard from 2010. That Nor'easter dropped twenty inches of snow."

Raven smiled, "Thank you, I must have taken a wrong turn off the interstate."

The driver nodded and went back to knocking the ice from his windshield wipers.

The Raven was cursing out loud as she drove away from the cabin road. The further she drove from the blue and yellow flashing lights of the snowplow. The louder her obscenities became. She'd faced being shot and left for dead, getting booted from the job, Her own Country, looked upon her as a disgrace, all because, Kate Beckett interfered. Raven should be in her own country receiving the accolades for bringing the United States and its economy to its knees; instead she was stuck in some Podunk town. She wouldn't even get the satisfaction of seeing Kate beg for her life, as it slowly drained from her. Raven lost everything. She wanted to watch as Kate did too. "No…NO..NO" she screamed.

The Raven didn't know if the storm or something else was blocking her access to Castle's phone, She didn't like not knowing what he was up to. He was so unpredictable, when Raven first met Rick; she'd thought she was a rich playboy, who got his way by having the right kind of friends. After seeing him in action, she'd discovered he was sharp, he picked up on behavior and patterns a lot of her own people missed. She would never underestimate Rick Castle again.

At the loft, there was an unspoken panic. The city would soon be shut down with the winter storm. NYSDOT was advising people to stay home. The last storm it was hard for the plows to clear the roads. People abandoned their cars once they became stuck. With cars zig-zagged all over the city streets, it made snow removal difficult.

Castle was pacing the floor. He wondered if Kate was some place warm. He wanted to hear her voice, needed her to tell him she was okay. "Please baby, tell me where you are" he whispered as a silent prayer.

Hunt and Shaw were pouring over list of agents; dead, active, retired. They were looking for a woman between 5' 7" to 5' 9" narrowing the list was a slow process. Castle went and poured the remaining coffee out into the sink. He didn't need any more stimulation, his nerves were frayed. He needed to do something. The waiting was driving him insane. His mother and Alexis tried to console him. It wasn't helping.

Rick headed over to talk to Jim.

"Any news?"

Castle shook his head and took a seat next to Kate's father.

"Not, yet." Castle was trying to keep the desperation he was feeling out of his voice. Jim was in enough agony as it was.

"I thought we'd get a call by now…" Jim reflected for a moment and then began "Your father told me if I thought of anything…to…no matter how insignificant it may seem."

Castle was encouraging him to continue. (He felt like jumping off the couch and screaming get on with it.) He was wired.

"I received a call from my neighbor." Jim paused and looked at Castle

Castle was wondering what his neighbor had to do with Kate's abduction. "Your Neighbor?"

"Well he's not a close neighbor he's about five miles away. Charlie, the one who lives in his cabin year round." Jim seemed lost in thought. "He asked me if I came up to the cabin early for Christmas this year."

Castle looked puzzled. He'd met him, Kate introduced them.

"Charlie said he thought he saw smoke coming from the chimney, He was out hunting. He knows I turn the heat down when I'm not there. He asked me if I wanted him to check it out."

"So, is Charlie is going over to your cabin?"

Jim nodded, "Charlie said he would go after he went into town and stocked up on supplies for the winter. He called a couple of days ago." Jim chuckled "Charlie has supplies for three years already stocked; he just likes to be prepared."

Jim looked at Castle "He hasn't called me back."

Castle raised his eyebrow and was about to ask…

"That's not like Charlie, he always calls. I…I don't know if it means anything, it's just odd he always calls back."

Castle sat up "Can you call him?"

"I tried the lines are down. It always happens out there, when the snow fall is heavy."

"The cabin is remote; you have to know where you are going. Kate took me there, I wanted to see it… she'd shared a few stories of family time spent there."

Jim nodded, he knew that wasn't the only reason Castle wanted to see it. The cabin is where Kate hid from him while she was recovering from her gunshot wound to the chest. He thought she'd gone with Josh.

"Let's go and share this with the team." Castle and Jim headed into the office, where his dad and Jordan were searching through data bases.

Kate was fading in and out of consciousness. She preferred the dreams. She was always with Castle. They were in his bed. Castle was rubbing his hand slowly up and down her leg, the one she had draped over him. He knew it relaxed her. She wouldn't ask him to do it. She knew after having to wait so long to touch her. He enjoyed it as much as she did. She'd waited too.

The noise woke her; she couldn't focus enough to make out the sound. She wasn't sure if she was still dreaming, staying awake was becoming harder and harder. She just wanted to sleep, to drift off and be with Castle. She heard it again. "Castle, I'm here…I'm still here" Kate lost consciousness.

Charlie was a Veteran. He'd served in Vietnam. His sixth sense had kept him alive thru the war. His grandmother told him when he was seven, "Boy you've got the gift of sight" He'd passed it off as an old superstitious woman. He learned later on his grandmother also "Knew things"

Right now Charlie had the feeling he wasn't alone. He took the spare key from the plastic container hidden under the bush by the back door. He didn't see any light, but he knew someone was inside. He waited for his eyes to acclimate to the low light, and he quietly inserted the key. Charlie turned the handle slowly and inched open the door. He was ready for whatever was on the other side. He wasn't scared he was just cautious.

As he entered he listened. The cabin was quite, it was warm. Someone was here. He could smell unwashed human.

Charlie inched into the cabin, He didn't know if he was facing an armed and dangerous criminal or a harmless transient looking for a place to stay warm. The cabin was so remote he didn't think it likely it was a homeless person. He was ready for either.

He was becoming more acclimated to the low light, but he still relied on his nose to lead him to the person or inhabits inside Jim's cabin. He came to a dead stop. Someone was tied to the chair in the den.

Charlie had been in Jim's cabin many times. He and Jim would sit on the front porch and swap stories. He'd taught Katie how to fish. He'd listened when Jim needed a shoulder, after Johanna was murdered. He watched helpless as Jim slid into the bottle, trying to drown his misery. It was a rough patch…. Years later Jim helped him when his lovely wife Donna lost her battle with cancer. Charlie would never forget his friend telling him, he'd been there, and drinking only delayed the feelings, you had to face them sooner or later. Charlie poured the liquor down the drain and faced his grief. Jim stood by him and cried with him. Jim was a good man, and a good friend.

Charlie wanted to clear the cabin for other threats. The person tied to the chair wasn't going anywhere. He slowly moved thru the cabin checking any all possible ambush hiding places.

When Charlie was satisfied he was alone with the person tied up in the den. He back tracked and headed to see what was going on.

Charlie flipped on the light.

"What in the Hell is going on, Katie!" Charlie dropped to his knees and began cutting thru the rope. It was tied so tightly he cursed as he tried to get the knife in-between Katie and the rope. She didn't look good. "Katie, girl you need to wake up." Charlie was still sawing thru the rope. The last piece was around her chest, when he cut it Katie was going to fall forward. "Katie, wake up!"

"What kind of animal would do this?" Charlie was trying to remove the zip ties from Kate's ankles. The flesh was swollen over the ties. It made removing them difficult. He finally freed her ankles. They were cut and bruised. He didn't think she'd be able to walk.

Charlie placed his palm onto Kate's face. No response he slapped her lightly, still nothing "Katie wake up!" He slapped her harder.

Kate opened her eyes; she was blinking trying to focus. It was so bright the light was hurting her eyes. She closed them again.

"Katie, no…no…no…stay awake."

"Castle?"

" It's Charlie"

Kate tried to smile, she winced, and her lips were swollen and chapped. When she tried to smile they cracked open and bled. OH…Pain, again she wanted to sleep. It was peaceful when she slept.

Charlie was so kind; he'd taught her how to fish. He'd always carried a treat for her in his pocket. His wife Donna couldn't bear children, so they spoiled Katie. They were so kind. Katie wanted to go fishing. She liked to fish.

Charlie was shaking her "Katie, you have to stay awake. "

"Hurts"

Charlie knew Katie couldn't stand. Her being tied up and unable to move, her muscles wouldn't cooperate. He didn't know for sure how long she been here, too long. Charlie relied on his medic training in Vietnam. He was rusty, but the severity of the situation was bringing it all back. He didn't see any evidence of her having anything to eat or drink. She needed fluids.

He didn't see any open wounds. Thank God, he thought.

"Katie we have to leave."

"Thirsty" Kate whispered.

"Okay, sit up." When Charlie cut the last rope holding Kate she slumped into his arms. He tried to have her sit up she just kept falling forward. That's when he noticed the cuffs. He scooped her up and laid her on the sofa. He went into the kitchen to get water. He needed bolt cutters he searched the cabin, then he remembered where Jim kept a pair. He fetched them. Charlie returned and picked Kate up. He snipped several times Katie winced each time he tried to Cut. "Almost there Katie bug" finally he cut through the middle. Katie still had matching bracelets but her hands were freed. He held the glass to her lips.

Kate was so thirsty, she smelled the water and blindly grabbed for the glass.

"Easy, Katie…you can have all you want. Sip it so you don't choke." Charlie had to hold the glass for her.

Cool, wet water…it was so good. Kate's lips were so swollen, it was hard to seal them onto the glass; some of the water was trickling down her neck.

Kate never tasted anything so good.

"Katie, do you know who did this to you?"

"Raven" Kate's voice sounded strange to her.

"How many are they?"

"Four"

Kate was finally getting more water in her than out. She was fighting to stay awake.

The water was gone. She was trying to focus. "More"

Kate drifted out again. Charlie laid her onto the sofa and went and retrieved Jim's Parka out of the closet. He found a hat and gloves. Everything would be too big but it would work. It was about five miles to the cabin. It would be shorter cutting through the trees. Charlie parked his snowmobile about half a mile from the cabin. He would have to carry Katie, and he would have to tie Katie to him on the snowmobile. He hated having to tie her up again; there wasn't any other option. They needed to leave. One or two he could handle, four wasn't worth the risk. He was an old man. He didn't think these guys were. Katie was a tough cookie. If they took her down, Charlie didn't want to bet their lives, that he could take them out.

He picked up the phone. Jim's was dead also. It was worth a shot. He would radio when he got back to his cabin. He had a network of Ham Radio operators. He could get a message to Jim.

"Katie, wake up. Here is more water."

Kate heard the word water and tried to open her eyes. She hurt all over, but she could move. She wasn't tied anymore. That fact was just sinking in. Her brain seemed to be firing through molasses. She couldn't concentrate. "Charlie"

"I'm here, Katie open up take a drink"

Kate opened her mouth and felt the glass touch her lips. She took a drink. She was getting better at getting the liquid into her mouth. Her throat was raw it hurt to swallow, but she needed the water.

"Katie, we have to go."

Kate was ready to leave; she'd always loved her Dad's cabin. Being stuck here recovering from her shooting and being held here, it wasn't on her top ten lists of places she wanted to revisit. She was trying to get up. She was so dizzy. Her body wasn't cooperating.

Charlie was putting her into her dad's coat. She knew it was his, Kate smelled him. Charlie secured the hood and slid the gloves onto Kate's hands. He tied a bow around her wrists to keep the gloves falling off. He picked her up. "Time to go"

Kate was about to drift off again when the cold air hit her face. It was snowing, the snow was everywhere. Charlies breath looked like a steam engine climbing up a hill. Clouds of white puffs surrounded his face. She was about to say "Choo-choo" when she realized he was carrying her. No wonder he was huffing and puffing. Her brain was sending strange thoughts.

Charlie was talking to her, she needed to think.

"Katie, we are going to ride the snowmobile. Do you remember when you were little and you rode it with me?"

Kate nodded.

"Okay, I'm going to have you sit in front, just like you did then. I'm going to secure a harness and clip you to me, like when you were little, do you remember?"

Kate remembered, she didn't want to be tied again, she trusted Charlie; she was still a little scared.

Charlie saw the fear. "It's okay Katie bug, you're safe." He kissed the top of her head just like when she was little. Her Dad and Charlie were the only ones who ever called her Katie bug.

"Ready"

Kate barely shook her head.

Charlie secured the harness. He fired up the snowmobile and headed to his cabin. He didn't take a direct route. He didn't want to lead trouble right to his doorstep. With the snow falling like it was he was hoping it would cover his tracks. He had supplies at his cabin, things Kate needed, and a radio.

Let me know what you think.