Author's Notes: Thanks again for reading and reviewing. You guys are awesome. Sorry I don't update faster; as much as I'd like to spend all my time writing fanfic, real life gets in the way. I think the trick is to already have the story written and then post it in parts. It always amazes me how many writers post chapters so quickly. Thanks for your patience. Yes, there will be a Castle/Beckett reunion. I always have them getting back together again in my stories. And sorry about Chapter 10 having some extra stuff at the end – it was an idea I was trying to work into the story, but couldn't figure out a good way to do it – Castle complaining that Erik was making a move on Beckett with Mrs. Newman reminding him that is exactly what he used to do in his playboy days.

Disclaimer – don't owe Castle; Marlowe and ABC do. All characters are fictional as are most of the towns. Still rated M because of warnings about topics and once again, Castle endangerment.

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The Call – Chapter 12

By the time the team arrived back at the sheriff's office, the FBI agent had Billy's 911 call pulled up.

After they listened to it, Sims walked over the map of the forest on the wall and placed push pins in three different locations. "These are the old ranger cabins that Billy might have been talking about. I'll have the park rangers check them out."

The first report came back negative – no one had been at the cabin.

On the second call, the park ranger asked to speak to Sims privately.

Beckett watched him talking on the phone before he turned his back on her. The conversation was purposely vague, with several Uh-huhs and confirmations.

Sims hung up the phone and then walked over to where the team was working.

"I think we've found the location, but no one's there now. It looks like someone has been there recently though. It'll take us about an hour to get there." He looked at the heels Kate was wearing. "Got any hiking boots with you?"

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When Castle woke late that morning, he found the note from Mrs. Newman on the counter in the kitchen:

Richard, I'm going to fix the dish and should be back in a couple of hours. Breakfast is in the refrigerator. If you go walking, stay on the paths. We've had a lot of poachers in the area recently and they've put out traps. I've put a set of Newt's clothes on the couch for you. Edith

Castle took the plate from the refrigerator and put it in the microwave. He found the clothes on the couch – a set of Newt's old sweatpants, t-shirt, a pair of old tennis shoes, and socks.

As the food was warming up, Castle quickly changed in the bathroom, looking at his reflection in the mirror and running his hand through his hair – hmmm, maybe a pony tail would give him a more dangerous appearance and possibly an earring. He shook his head suddenly – being out here had definitely affected his mind.

Castle took the plate of food out of the microwave, grabbed a cup of coffee, and walked out to the porch. As he sat down on the rocking chair, he was immediately joined by Arrow, who sidled up to him and leaned against his leg, looking up with starving puppy dog eyes. Mrs. Newman had warned him about the dog's begging ways, but Castle had always had a soft spot in his heart for animals and Arrow received several bites, in addition to licking the plate clean after Castle finished.

Castle sat for a while, slowly sipping his coffee, just enjoying being alive and out in nature, and now also anxious to call Alexis, his mother, and Kate to let them know he was okay.

Suddenly Arrow rose up and growled low in his throat, his hackles standing up on his neck. Castle was immediately on alert and scanned the woods next to the cabin. He relaxed when he saw the large rabbit in a nearby pile of leaves near the tree stand.

"Go on," he said to Arrow. The dog looked at him and then bounded off after the rabbit, barking and chasing it into the woods.

Castle relaxed back in the chair, dosing in the warm sun. The quietness of the woods finally caught his attention and he was about to sit up when he felt the cold press of a gun against his throat.

"So, mr. fancypants writer – I think you're worth a lot more than $50 grand – I'm thinking a couple of mill at least," Clyde breathed in his ear. "So we're gonna go into town and get my brother and my money. Then we're gonna disappear. And if you're lucky, I might not kill you. Now stand up slowly and put your hands behind your back."

Castle slowly stood, letting the plate and coffee cup drop to the porch, and slowly turned around, doing at Clyde instructed. Clyde quickly tied his wrists together and put another rope around his neck and jerked him off of the porch.

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Even with the recent rains, the smell in the cabin was so strong that Lanie had to cover her nose with her hand when she walked in after Esposito and Ryan gave the all clear sign, giving her the look not to let Beckett come in. She quickly got to work, taking various samples around the cabin, especially by the grate, and putting them back in her bag for analysis at the lab. The one test she did run confirmed that the blood type found in the cabin matched Castle's blood type.

She stepped back outside and walked to where Kate stood against the car. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure he was here. The blood type matches. I'm sorry, sweetie."

Esposito walked up, holding an evidence bag in his gloved hand. "Found these down by the river – silk boxers, jeans, button-down shirt. I'm pretty sure these are Castle's," he said. "Ryan's down there doing a sweep."

Kate and Lanie walked down to where Ryan and the officers stood, scanning the river.

"It looks like something heavy was dumped in the river a couple of hours ago," said Sims. "I've called in the dive teams for here and a couple of miles downstream. We've some time before sundown." He paused and then looked at Beckett. "I'm sorry, but we're considering this a retrieval now, not a rescue."

Kate nodded slowly. "I understand."

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Judging from the amount of sweat pouring down Castle's face, they had been walking for miles and he had stumbled a few times, trying to keep up with Clyde's fast pace, the rope burning into his neck each time Clyde jerked on it.

"So where are you and Billy going to go, once you get him and your money? Montana? Alaska?" Castle continued hoarsely. It also felt like he had been talking for hours, trying to make a dent in the boy's shell.

Clyde peered back at him and kept walking. "Don't matter none to you."

"Well, if it was me, I'd take Alaska – wide open spaces, not many people – you can live off the land. Wouldn't take much money. But then again, there's the sub-zero temperatures and the blizzards and the grizzly bears – maybe Montana is better – not so cold there."

"Will you shut up? I don't wanna hear no more of your yapping," said Clyde as he pulled on the rope, causing Castle to choke and stumble, falling on his knees. "Get up."

"What about your brother, Clyde? What does Billy get out of this?" Castle said as he stalled for time, panting.

"You think I'm stupid, mister? That I don't know what you're doing," said Clyde, kneeling in front of Castle, his face inches away from the writer's. "Move it."

Castle looked at Clyde intently. "No," he said in a low forceful tone, not backing down. "I know what it's like to be broke, dirt poor. I know what it's like to be abandoned. I think the people around you have made bad choices and you've paid the consequences. I think you're young and you've gotten into something that you don't know how to get out of. I think you'd do anything for your brother, but this isn't going to end well for Billy. He may get killed; even worse, he could go to prison. Do you think he could survive that, being able to only go outside for 1 hour a day?" Castle paused. "Let me help you."

Clyde hesitated and Castle knew he hit his weak spot. "No – you're just like everybody else," Clyde said finally, shaking his head, moving back. "We don't need nobody. And once we get the money and I get Billy back, we'll be out of here. Now get up."

Castle slowly got to his feet, grimacing at the pain in his bad knee.

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The dive team had arrived a short time later and started searching the river, while the team waited near the cars.

Kate waved away the cup of coffee Lanie offered her and stared out at the river. No, she thought – it couldn't end like this.

The radio in Sims's car went off and he answered it, and then turned to Beckett. "Sorry, Detective, but I've got another emergency in town and have to get back. Your team is welcome to stay here or ride back with me, but there's nothing more you can do here right now. They'll let us know if they find anything."

Kate and the team briefly looked at each other and then she nodded. "Thank you, Sheriff Sims, we'd appreciate that."

She cast one last look at the river and then stoically climbed into the car. Beckett knew she wouldn't make any phone calls until they had definite proof of what happened.

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Castle balked when they got to the stream they had to forge to get to the waiting car. It was only knee deep but looked like it was running fairly swiftly by the looks of the foam splashing against the rocks and the noise the rushing water made.

"What's the problem now?" demanded Clyde when Castle stopped.

"I'm not going to be able to do this with my hands tied behind my back," Castle said.

"Untie you?" scoffed Clyde.

"At least tie my hands in front of me so I can use them for balance. Or would you prefer that I drowned and you don't get your money?" Castle snapped at him.

Clyde swore and then undid the rope holding Castle's hand. He quickly tied them in front of Castle and then pushed the gun into his back, making him step into the stream.

Castle carefully navigated the slippery rocks, feeling the force of the water push against his legs. If he survived, he might be able to use this in one of his novels, but he had decided that "hands on" research was really overrated. He almost fell a couple of times as the rate of the current changed from mild to strong and then back, when Clyde cursed suddenly and made a loud splash as he slipped on a loose rock, dropping the rope that he held.

Adrenaline pumping, Castle didn't waste a glance behind him as he threw caution to the wind, grabbed the rope around his neck, and quickly struggled to get to the other side of the stream before Clyde got his footing back. He was already in the woods when Clyde reached the side of the stream and let loose several shots, narrowly missing Castle.

The race plunged deeper into the woods, with Clyde narrowing Castle's lead, as they dodged through the trees and the underbrush. Despite Mrs. Newman's warnings, Castle avoided the open areas, keeping to the trees even though it hindered his progress. It also blocked Clyde's shooting at him, or so he thought until one bullet creased the outside of his thigh, tripping him up.

He could hear Clyde coming, so he hid in some underbrush and clamped his hand over his mouth to stifle the wheezing noises he was making. Oh, Beckett was going to kick his ass when he got back because he was so out of shape now. And he sure hoped he wasn't hiding in poison something and would break out in a hideous rash.

Castle held his breath as Clyde ran past him and then he heard him stop.

"Come on, mr. fancypants writer, I know you're out here. You can't get away. These are my woods and I know every—" Clyde's comment was cut short by a loud clang and an unearthly scream as a trap snapped around his ankle.

Castle let out the breath he was holding and sucked air into his tortured lungs as spots swam before his eyes. He shouted a silent thank you to the universe and held on to a tree to slowly pull himself to his feet.

He started to stumble away from the area, but the boy's moans of pain made him stop. Shit, he thought, why did he have to be the guy who had to try to fix everything?

Castle turned around and slowly approached the area where Clyde lay, clutching his ankle. Only when Castle saw that the gun was well out of Clyde's reach, did he walk to where Clyde could see him.

"Yeah," Castle said. "You know the woods really well."

"Mister," Clyde whimpered. "You can't just leave me here – I'll bleed to death or an animal will get me."

"You should have thought about that earlier," Castle said as he picked up the gun and then walked over to Clyde. He examined the trap and decided that he couldn't get it off himself.

"Where's your knife?" Castle asked.

Clyde looked at him in fear. "You gonna cut off my foot?"

"No, I can't get the trap off and I can't carry you, so I'm going to mark a trail that leads to you so the police can find you. And if you're lucky, they'll be here before dark. Or I could just leave you here."

"In my boot," Clyde said finally.

Castle reached down and pulled out the knife out of Clyde's boot. It took him a minute, but he finally cut the ropes off of his wrists and then untied the rope around his neck. "What about the car keys?"

"Don't need 'em," gasped back Clyde.

"Why does that not surprise me?" Castle said rhetorically. He patted Clyde's chest as he stood, almost enjoying the turn of events. "Don't let any wild animals eat you before I get back."

He stood and looked around. "Uh, which way do I go?"

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Sheriff Sims and then team were half way back to Tarrington when they saw "Big Bertha", the tallest truck that they had ever seen, barreling down the road towards them. Doc Wilson waved Sims down.

"Just got a call from Eddie – she got back a couple of days ago and found that Castle guy at the ranger cabin and took him to her cabin. She finally got the antenna fixed this morning, but when she got back, he was gone. She thinks Clyde was there. I'm going up the back way to see if I can find them."

Spirits buoyed, the team quickly climbed out of Sim's car and into the truck, and headed up the mountain.

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Contrary to Clyde's comment that the car was right down the path and just around the corner, Castle was sure that he had been lied to and had walked at least another 5 miles before reaching the car.

He was also sure that he was dying of heat exhaustion and blood poisoning from the bullet graze as he limped up to the car.

Castle leaned against the door and rested a few moments before opening it and climbing inside. He swore as he looked at the tangle of wires and the broken drive shaft – whoever had taught Clyde to steal cars didn't know what they were doing.

Castle pressed his lips together as he touched two of the wires together and waited for the engine to catch, but it never did. He then tried the lights but they didn't turn on – dead battery – just his luck.

He leaned back against the seat, resting his head against the headrest. He would just sit here for a little while and then walk to the main road. With his luck, someone would come along in the next couple of weeks to find his withered body beside the road and take him home to New York.

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The rumble in his chest woke Castle – Abe, he hadn't thought about him showing up in his 18-wheeler, looking for him and Clyde. Not much he could do about that right now though, but he shouldn't be here. He had lost the gun on the long hike to the car so he had no defense against the uncle.

The part of his mind that could still register bodily sensations knew several things – his right leg had collapsed under him as he got out of the car, confirming his suspicion that he had hurt his knee again, and he was now sprawled in a very undignified position in the dirt. He straightened up against the front tire of the car, resigned to his fate, and wearily closed his eyes.

He opened them again as the truck came into sight. What the hell? part of his brain thought as he saw the tall truck that reminded him of the monster truck pull that he had taken Alexis and some friends to. It was loud and smelly, and the smoke was ridiculous, but the girls squealed with delight when they had been driven around the stadium in a pink monster truck, courtesy of his special tickets.

The one that was rolling toward him was sort of similar, he thought as he stared at it and then closed his eyes again, only to be woken by a rough lick on the face.

Hmmm, maybe he could work that into a book – Nikki licking Rook on the face to wake him up – nah, that probably wouldn't be too sexy, especially when her breath smelled identical to Arrow's, but she definitely liked treats and pool parties.

Castle waved his arm, pointing to the trail he had marked. "Up there, boy – go eat him," he said as he closed his eyes again.

The next sensations he felt was a cool hand stroking his face and a voice calling his name. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled as Kate came into view.

"Hey, Castle," Kate said, kneeling down next to him, smiling back.

"Hey, you got my messages."

"You know," Castle said, closing his eyes, "when we have kids, I'm teaching them how to hot wire cars properly."

"Yeah, right," scoffed Beckett. "And I'm going to be the bad cop telling them why they shouldn't?"

"No, seriously," said Castle earnestly. "What if there's a zombie hoard after them? Uncle Espo can be the bad cop – you can teach them how to fly the space ship for when the aliens attack." Castle's voice petered out as he closed his eyes.

"Castle – Rick!" Kate said insistently as she shook him. "Stay with me."

"Not going anyplace – battery's dead," Castle mumbled as he closed his eyes again. He opened them briefly a moment later to look at Kate. "You gonna be here when I wake up?"

Kate smiled at him as Castle went limp. "Always," she said, cradling his head in her lap.

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