'IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, IF ANYONE AT ALL CAN HEAR ME PLEASE RESPOND.'

No response. She knew she heard something, she wasn't imagining things. Now more than ever she needed to be right.

'WE'RE DOWN HERE. PLEASE. WE REALLY NEED HELP.'

She was beginning to give up hope. It was no use, everything was crumbling, falling down around her and it felt as if she was the only thing left standing. Except in reality she wasn't. She was just as broken, just as many pieces of her were breaking off. Yet her remains stood in ruins. Weak and fragile, yet structural. It was more of a need; to be able to stand upright rather than fall to the ground. Or at least that's what she told herself.

Then, the unimaginable happened.

'I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. ARE YOU OKAY? HOW CAN I HELP?'

A voice. A reply. Someone was there. It was the happiest she had been in a long time. Castle still had a couple of hours, and hopefully everything would turn out okay. Hopefully.

'YES. I'M A DETECTIVE. MY PARTNER IS DOWN. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD HELP US?'

An idea came to her in an instant.

'THE PULLEY SYSTEM. YOU SEE THE MECHANISM WITH THE ROPE ATTACHED?'

How had she not thought of this before? The voice from above replied.

'YES. ITS KIND OF STIFF. IT COULD TAKE A WHILE. HOW DID YOU GET DOW-'

'NOW IS NOT THE TIME. MY PARTNERS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN QUICKLY.'

She realised she had sounded slightly too harsh. But she'd been in this state for days, it was no surprise.

In only moments, she could hear the creak of the mechanism lowering the cradle nearer and nearer, until she heard it thud and hit the pit floor.

'Castle. I think this is it. I think we can actually make it out of this together.'

She had bent down, and was stroking his head with her hand.

'If you can just let me lift you to the cradle, we can be out of here. We are going to get our wedding, and we will get our kids... And hell, even our grandkids.'

He wasn't responding. Time was critical now. Only having two hours meant his body was getting weaker. If they had any hope of making it, things needed to begin moving.

The voice from above came again.

'IS EVERYTHING OKAY? CAN I LIFT IT UP YET?'

'NOT YET. BUT THANKYOU, FOR THIS. JUST WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.'

It was now or never, quite literally.

'Rick, I love you' she said bending down to press a soft kiss to his lips. 'We can do this. I will be here the whole time. I will not leave. Please.'

It was as if her words were a switch. His arms twitched, and his eyes fluttered open. Kate felt this was the go ahead she needed, so on her count, she worked his body up onto the cradle.

Luckily her eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting of the pit, and she could see the cradle was just big enough for the both of them, and with any lucky it would carry their weight successfully.

As she positioned him on the cradle, she then too sat on it, and called up for the last time.

'WE'RE READY. YOU CAN BRING IT UP.'

Slowly but surely, the cradle lifted up off the floor. It shook, it's old rope and mechanism clearly weak, but seemingly coping with the job in hand.

As the cradle moved slowly upwards, Kate felt the brushing of Castle's hand against hers.

'Kate? Thankyou... For... Everything.'

His eyes closed, his hand went limp, and his body began to shake.

This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not when they were so close. She knew he had little time, but once they were out she would get him to hospital and he could get the antibiotics he needed. It wasn't supposed to be ending.

Yet there was nothing she could do. His weak body shook continually, and she rested a hand on his forearm trying to steady him.

'Castle. Just hold on. One last time.'

They were at the top of the pit, and the daylight was blinding. She blinked a few times to adjust, before she could see the person who saved her life.

She owed everything to him, but she couldn't conjugate a sentence to thank him. All she could think about was saving Castle.

'Please. Call 911. It's urgent. My partner has less than 2 hours left, he's fitting. He's been in and out of subconsciousness for days now. No food no water. And hurry. Please.'

She couldn't take her eyes off of Castle. She refused to let go, to even leave his side.

Once she heard the 911 call had been put through and was satisfied, she called the stranger over.

'I cannot ever thank you enough, but right now, this is your problem too. And together, we are going to save this mans life.'

'Yes ma'am.'

It was only now she took in his features. He must have been only 18. He wore sports gear, specifically running. He was only out for a run. And he had come across two strangers abandoned. Now he knew she was a detective he was almost afraid. He hung to her every last word, followed her every move.

'It's Kate. And this, this is Rick.'

'I'm Ben. I just graduated, I'm actually going into law enforcement.'

'Well Ben. We need to get him somewhere with softer ground while we wait. How long till the ambulance gets here?'

'Around 4 minutes ma- I mean Kate.'

'Okay. I need you to check his pulse for me. Check just to the left of his neck.'

'He's got one. Weak but it's there. I'm so sorr-'

'Please don't. I'm sorry, but this has been tough. I'm not ready just now.'

'Sorry.'

'Don't be. You were the answer to my worst nightmare. You saved me. You saved us.'

She stroked Castle's hair. Tears rolled, and for once, she didn't care.

They fell and dropped onto the white of his shirt. They fell heavier when she realised he was still in his wedding outfit. It released a chasm of emotions, which she wasn't ready for.

Luckily she didn't have to be. She could hear the wail of a siren approaching nearer. Within seconds it was directly behind her.

Two paramedics dresses in a dark shade of green jumped out of the ambulance doors and headed straight for where they saw the limp body.

'We'll take it from here miss. Can you explain the situation again.'

'Constant fits. Suffering multiple injuries. Lack of food and drink for around 3 days now. Been given some kind of drug. That's all I know. I just-'

'That looks like a nasty head injury. Can I take a loo-'

'No.' She pushed away the arm that reached forwards to examine her head. She's lasted with the injury for days, and she wasn't leaving Castle's side no matter what.

'I'm fine. I've been conscious, talking, breathing fine. It's him I'm worried about.'

'We will do everything we can. By the looks of things it's a mild reaction to the drugs. Nothing we can't clear up, but we will have a better picture once we're back at the hospital.'

'Wait. Listen I'm a detective. He was kidnapped. I was pushed down there after finding him. The kidnapper, his voice, he communicated through some kind of metal device he installed down there. He told us that Castle only has hours to live.'

'How many hours?'

'8. Well that was around 6 and a half hours ago.'

The paramedics exchanged glances, before one brought out a radio from a pocket in her jacket.

'This is a 142 coming in from Dealao Drive. We have multiple injuries. One female, head lacs. Talking. One male, many lacerations. Possible forced overdose. Been told may only have 1 and a half hours left. Prepare an OR as soon as possible.'

Hearing the paramedics talk made her increasingly more anxious. Her grip on Castle's limp hand tightened, and she closed her eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears.

The stranger, Ben, was looking around the scene. Eyes wide, he looked lost, like he didn't know what to do.

She didn't have the power to say anything to him. Every inch of her body ached, and suddenly she felt increasingly dizzy.

In an instant, she was down on the ground. Her head hit the ground first, and the rest of her body followed.

Her eyes closed and she felt the world slowly black out around her.