A/N- Special thanks again to all the twitter cheerleaders! Thanks to Janna and Joanna for the beta. This chapter would've been a disaster without you. All mistakes that remain are mine and I apologize :). As always- thanks for all the love with the reviews and alerts. I apologize for not being able to thank each and every review, but each one was so appreciated and they made me smile!

Disclaimer- Castle is awesome and I do not own any of it

If You Want the Happy Ending

"Well maybe it is a sign. A sign that ours is a great love story. Cause what's a great love story without obstacles to overcome? Every fairy tale has them. Terrible trials that only the worthy can transcend but you can't give up. That's the deal. We want the happy ending, we can't give up. " - Castle

Chapter 11

Ryan and Esposito were still searching through paperwork at their desk when Castle and Beckett walked off the elevator. The murder board was already wiped clean which could only mean that they solved the case they were handling earlier in the day.

The case that led them to Kelly Nieman.

Hearing the pair walk toward Beckett's desk, the boys looked up at them, with confused expressions. "Hey guys—what are you doing back?" Ryan called out, as he moved toward them.

When both of the detectives were standing nearby; she turned to face Castle for a second to give him a slight nod of encouragement. "I received a call tonight from Dr. Kelly Nieman…" Almost instantly, both of her partners' heads whipped in their direction and then stared at Castle in disbelief.

"Wait—what? The crazy doc called you tonight and you're being this calm about it?" Esposito stuttered as his expression flashed pain and anguish for a brief moment before he quickly schooled his features to his norm. He wasn't quick enough, and Beckett caught wind of his look. She knew that the reappearance of Dr. Nieman had to bring up some unresolved issues for him. Seeing yourself hanging on a boat wouldn't sit well with anyone. When Beckett told him about the conversation she had with Tyson while they were held captive, Kate could see the huge sense of relief wash over Esposito's frame. Needless to say, the reappearance and knowledge that it was all another game; she could see that it left him a bit shaken.

"So you mean to tell me—that Javi and I find security cam footage of her and then she calls you, all in the same week? Either she's being incredibly sloppy or she's trying to play us…" Ryan looked at Esposito for a second before turning back to them.

"She's not sloppy. She's meticulous. This is all another game—much like with 3XK." Kate paused for a moment, picking up one of the files from her desk in order to look through the new images from the cameras. Handing them to Castle as she flipped through them, she noticed new pictures that were now in the stack. Pictures that showed Nieman at the airport immediately after their flight landed. "She's been following us this entire time. Since we've been back-" Her voice broke with emotion.

"Looks that way." Castle grabbed her hand, interlaced their fingers and his thumb started to trace patterns on the top of her hand to calm her down. "Do you have any clues to where Nieman was headed in Beckett's doctor's building?" Castle stared down at the copies, pausing at the ones of the doctor stepping onto the elevator.

"Yes and no. We know that she went into an office on the fifth floor, but that's all. Unfortunately we didn't have enough information to go on to get a warrant—so we need to wait until tomorrow to check it out." Ryan seemed hesitant to deliver the news to them, but he was right. There wasn't really anything else that could be done until morning. Nieman had something planned but without getting into the office, they had nothing else. Well aside from Castle's phone call.

"But let's also make sure tech tries to trace the call that was made to Castle's cell phone. Maybe that will give us a little further information to track her down." Kate's voice came out stronger as she turned toward her husband and gave his hand a small squeeze.

"Yes, but we have no evidence of any crimes that she actually committed. We have the tie to Tyson, but there's nothing illegal. No proof that she is responsible for any criminal activity. She was very careful to not even say anything incriminating on the phone call tonight…" He looked down at their intertwined fingers and brought her hand into his lap. Trying to keep her closer than she was already.

"So what did she actually say? Anything we can use?" Esposito was determined, probably just as much as Beckett was to catch Nieman.

"She referenced her partner—said that after what I did to her partner—plans had to change. She asked how I would feel if I lost my partner and what I would do to make those responsible pay for their actions…" His words faded out and even though Kate had already heard what Nieman said to him on the phone call; the words still left her feeling haunted.

"Castle, she'll trip up. We'll get her. She's smart and calculated but revenge is an emotion—and with that emotion, it will start to cloud her judgment. She'll make mistakes." Kate stood up for a moment and released his hand.

"I hope you're right. The idea that she's out there and could be creating a brand new little clone army…" Esposito sneered, before his expression softened. Walking over to Esposito, she gave him a supportive pat on the shoulders. "Sorry, Beckett. She's threatening you guys. I know you want her behind bars—just as bad, if not more."

"Hey—it's okay. Nieman and Tyson have messed with all our lives in one way or another. Tyson is finally out of the way and we'll get Nieman. It will be over soon." Kate voiced her unrealistic optimism to her friend, but inside the fear of the unknown gnawed at her stomach.

The constant fight for their safety over the last couple months was getting exhausting. She had to start focusing her energy on their baby. Their daughter would be here before they knew it but at this point Kate just wanted to keep her safe inside her own body. Anything external seemed to be spiraling out of control. Perhaps she was becoming irrational, but even when they caught Nieman—would they ever truly be safe? Her mind started to reel with all the possibilities. They were currently standing still in their investigation and in all actuality; they didn't have much to investigate her for anyway. Until they could prove that she committed a crime, she was just out there and there was nothing they could do about it. There had to be a connection. Something that she helped Tyson with; something the pair didn't cover up properly.

"We need to pull all the files we have left on Tyson. Any information we can pull together. Nieman was involved and we know it, but now we need to find some evidence of her participation." She was motivated, by fear, but motivated none the less. She was going to protect her family.

Silence from the dark of night fell over their loft. Castle was propped up against the headboard of their bed reading a book when Kate walked over; finally ready for bed.

All four of them were spinning their wheels at the precinct, but she didn't want to leave. Castle finally whispered in her ear—reminding her that she wasn't alone, reminding her that she needed to think about her health and the health of their baby. He pulled her back from the brink; pulled her away from forming a new rabbit hole to crawl down. When she came home earlier in the evening, she was calm and focused that her family was worth more than obsessing over a case. That all changed when they went back to the precinct after his phone call. Her mind began to wander because her family was the case; they were smack in the middle of it. Castle seemed close to the point of obsession as well, but somehow he managed to pull together enough strength to convince them all that a good night's rest was definitely needed.

"Thank you for tonight…" She spoke to him with a soft voice, almost a whisper. Her hand was slowly caressing the swell of her stomach, before she swallowed her hesitation and looked him in the eyes.

"What are you thanking me for?" His confusion was apparent, but all Kate could do was give him a tight lipped smile. Crawling into bed, she laid her head on her chest. Unable to look him in the eyes, she was too ashamed, as she started to confess her sins.

"I started to lose myself tonight, Castle. I was able to hold it together through everything with Tyson. I was able to hold it together—for us—for our family, but tonight…" Her strength started to falter and her words became thick with emotion. "Knowing that someone else is right on Tyson's heels; trying to come after us. I just can't sit back and be okay with that. I can't wait for clues—I can't wait. I wouldn't have left—before you reminded me. I would've stayed all night." Castle brushed the stray hairs out of her face and tilted her chin slightly to pull her into a kiss.

"Kate, I know how you get—hell we both get that way sometimes. But we're in this marriage—this relationship, and it's our job to have each other's backs. It's been that way even before we were together, but even more so now. We have had a hell of a couple of months. Huge highs and huge lows. But at the end of the day, Kate, we're going to have a little baby girl who needs us to always come home to her every night. The fight for justice always has to be second to our daughter."

"Rick, don't you think I know that? She's the reason I didn't want to leave tonight. I feel like we're sitting ducks right now. Just waiting for Nieman to make her next move—I don't want her to have the upper hand on this one. Bracken, Tyson, and now her—I'm sick of constantly running and hiding. I don't want to bring our daughter into a world like that. I'm a cop to make the world a safer place and to give a voice to the victims—but I can't help but feel a little victimized myself at this point." Tears were flowing down her cheeks, soaking Castle's t-shirt with her fear of the unknown. "I don't think I'm ready to be a mother—not when my job will continuously leave us at risk—her at risk. If something would ever happen to her, I would never be able to recover from that…" Whispering soothing hushes into her hair, Castle pulled her closer to him and wrapped her tightly into his arms.

"The world isn't a safe place, but she will be lucky to have such an amazing woman to be her mother. Being a parent is scary and you will always second guess everything. Whether you are a cop or a teacher or a lawyer. However, you are a strong, confident and relentless woman. Our daughter will love you and look up to you for all those qualities. We'll catch Nieman. I have faith in that because I have faith in you, but we can't lose ourselves to the fight."

"I don't know if I'll be able to do this half paced, but I don't have the stamina at this point to go at her full on without getting burnt out."

"That's what I'm here for, Kate. You're over halfway through your pregnancy. It's understandable that you don't have the stamina. This amazing body of yours is growing a person inside—our daughter and you are doing a spectacular job of it. You're allowed to be emotional and you're allowed to be scared. But at the end of the day, you are an extraordinary woman and you are my inspiration. It's my job to remind you of that, but it's also my job to remind you when you need to eat or sleep…" He chuckled a bit, kissed her and pulled back slightly to look into her eyes.

"Thanks, Castle. I don't know why this hit me so hard tonight. We made it through Tyson. Nieman should be a breeze—I blame the pregnancy hormones finally catching up with me." She laughed for a moment and cuddled back into his chest.

"We'll keep each other in check, Kate. I won't let anything happen to any of us."

"Hey, isn't that supposed to be my line? I'm the cop."

"Yeah well—it's my line too. I'm the husband and the father." Kate smiled into his body. At that moment, she felt safe in his arms. The day hit her unexpectedly even though it started with such promise. Tomorrow would be different; tomorrow they would figure out where Dr. Nieman was and how they would stop her for good.

As soon as dawn broke across the morning sky, they were back at the precinct to sort through more files. Trying to find the connection they needed, but so far they were coming up empty. Her frustration was growing as every minute passed them by. They were just wasting time. Taking one final sip of her half-caff latte that Castle made her, she sighed and looked over at him as he rubbed his tired eyes.

"Sorry I pulled you in here so early…"

"Nothing to apologize for—I told you, we're in this together. Did you get enough rest though?" She smiled at him, he was her rock. Looking at him now, no one could ever tell the hell he went through with Tyson. The therapy, along with the closure with 3XK; it left him whole again. Part of her feared that the appearance of Nieman would bring it all back, but he hadn't swayed. He had held it together; for her. This time she was the mess.

"Yes, but hopefully if we get a lead early—we can call it an early night."

"I just want you to be smart about it—us to be smart about it."

"Castle, I'm okay. I'm in control. Last night was a moment of weakness, but everything is clearer today." She looked down at her watch and sighed. "The office building is open now. We should really head over there, but—"

"Kate—" He gave her a warning look.

"But—I want to wait until the boys come in because I want to have backup with us." She rolled her eyes at him, but she knew she deserved his assumption. "Trust me. I learned my lesson on that one, Castle." She nudged his arm a little with her fist and started to sort through the report that tech just gave them about Castle's phone records.

Not long after they started looking through the tech report, Ryan and Esposito showed up ready to go to the office building. They talked to the building management and found out that the office that Kelly Nieman went into the other day was rented by what appeared to be another shell company. Which made sense, it was definitely her way of conducting business.

The office was a medical practice, or at least that's what management had it listed as. It was all suspiciously familiar to the last time she was around, but this time would be different. This time she wasn't going to get the chance to go into hiding. They walked into the unlocked office during normal hours, but the room was completely empty; no patients, no doctors or other staff. Deserted just like it was before; all those months ago...

Kate walked through all the different rooms, clearing each one as they went through; guns drawn. Her frustration was high. They wanted to be safe and the crazy doctor was definitely unpredictable. But all the rooms were empty, clear of even a piece of furniture.

"This is nuts. Why rent an office to just leave it empty?" Esposito stated sharply, his words laced with his irritation. Everything was bare. Gone without a trace. They headed for the front door, completely frustrated at the fact that this was a total dead-end. Walking closer to the threshold, she noticed something written by the exit

"What the hell is that?" Ryan wondered, as Castle walked closer to the item in question. Taped to the door, was a four by six piece of paper. Castle looked back at Kate anxiously, as he handed her the object.

Hand written words.

'What a perfect baby. Well almost. But don't worry, I'll fix her…'

Her heart sank with the realization of what this was.

On the back, their most recent ultrasound, that cheerfully announced 'It's a girl' across the grainy black and white image.

TBC

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