Chapter 12

The sting of the backhanded hit brought fresh tears to Kate's eyes.

"I thought you said you didn't love him anymore? I thought we were on the same team?" Louis growled. If looks could kill, his angry gaze would burn a hole through Kate's body.

"I do- I mean we are." Kate stuttered.

Another backhand to her cheek bone took Kate back to the ground.

"Stop lying to me!" Louis shouted.

Kate kept her mouth shut and waited for the inevitable pain to come. Surprisingly it didn't. Louis grabbed her tied wrists and pulled her up to her feet. Then picked her up by the waist and flung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"You're supposed to love me." Louis mumbled repeatedly.

They returned to the small room and Louis laid Kate down on the uncomfortable bed. He immediately tied her wrists and ankles back in their restraining positions and left the room without another word.

Ryan glared down at the arrest warrant in his hands.

"What the hell is this?" Ryan asked, surprised at his words and bravery towards his captain.

She gave him an eery gaze and began to speak, "We have no definite leads on Beckett and Castles case. There is nobody else that can take this one, you gotta do it. It's just a small arrest, you'll be back soon. Now go." Gates commanded.

Ryan and Esposito dreadfully walked away, why was Gates making them do this petty arrest when Kate and Castle were out there with, who knows what, and fighting for their very lives. It was nerve wracking and highly annoying. Esposito and Ryan rushed out of the precinct hoping for a quick arrest. But they both knew they never were.

Castle fell in and out of consciousness. The need for medical attention was becoming greater every second. Although he knew his wasn't nearly as bad as Kate's. he had severe dehydration and malnutrition, while Kate had a probably infected back, broken ribs, and many more that he didn't even know about. He tried not to think about the horrible state she was in, but tried to focus on happier things. Of course that was easier said than done. They were in one of the most helpless situations they could be in, happy thoughts was nearly impossible. He started to remember his talk with Kate and Louis. They, well Louis, were planning something. And that something included him. Maybe this was the end of everything? Castle couldn't decide which was better, being there sacrificial offering, or sitting here in this basement waiting painfully for his slow and inevitable death. Either way they both ended in death. There was no happy scenario in Castle's creative mind. Once again Castle's thoughts took him back to unconsciousness.

Kate's bleeding wrists stopped her from pulling on the restraints again. She let out a small agony filled scream of frustration. This situation was just getting worse and she didn't know what to do. Kate hated feeling vulnerable and out of control. She was both of those things right now. A horrible moment for Detective Kate Beckett. Her thoughts got worse and more negative. Her cop sense kicked in and she new the possibilities of Espo and Ryan finding them was getting lower by the second. She couldn't fight the negative thoughts and the feelings of hopelessness, they were just too strong. They were consuming Kate's mind and dragging her down. Without help soon Kate will fall too far into the pit of despair.

The sound of a phone ringing tore her from her thoughts. It wasn't coming from her room but from last room nearby. That means Louis had it, that also means Louis still has contact with the real world. There was hope that he was somewhere linked and the boys could find his lead and take Kate and Castle home. Maybe Louis made a mistake somewhere down the path that would lead Espo and Ryan right to this very spot. Of course this was a lot of wishful thinking.

Louis entered the room. Kate couldn't decide what emotion held his face hostage. It was too hard to tell. He sat down on the bed next to her and stared deeply into her eyes, not saying a word. Kate stared back, refusing to let this man win such a small petty thing. But the competitiveness in Kate wouldn't let her lose. And she didn't, Louis pulled away after a few minutes and took a deep breath.

"Things are almost ready for the offering." Louis said, void of emotion. He stared blankly at the plain cream wall.

"Can I just apologize for how I acted.?" Kate manipulatively asked, a plan coming to her mind.

Louis nodded, urging her to continue.

"I was out of line. You were right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten so worked up about it." Kate said, "can you forgive me?"

"Of course baby, I could never stay mad at you." Louis said and smiled. He leaned down and planted a hard kiss on Kate's lips. She fought the urge to move away but instead tried to replace this man with Castle. The kiss ended sooner than she thought, which she was very grateful for.

"I was thinking. Maybe today we could spend a romantic 'us' day and do the offering tomorrow. I think we need a little make up time." Kate said, trying to set her plan into motion. As long as he was with her, he couldn't be with Castle. That would keep Castle alive, at least for one more day.

"Oh, I don't know. . ." Louis started. "But that does sound really fun." Louis smirked and gave Kate a scandalous glare.

"We should just have the rest of the day be Kate and Louis, no distraction. Then tomorrow we can carry out the plans for the offering." Kate once again tried to persuade the psychopathic man. Eventually it worked.

"Alright. That sound good. Let's get you in the shower and get you ready." Louis said and smiled. He began undoing Kate's binds.

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