A/N: Thanks everyone for reading! We hope that we didn't lose anyone while fanfic was screwy. Feel free to follow HPFan1952 on twitter (lttlegreengrl) and/or me on tumblr (itsallblackandwhitemoviestome) for updates : )

Disclaimer: We do not own Castle.

Co-authored by HPFan1952 and JasmineBelle7.

Fire beats roses again.

- Suzanne Collins, Mockingay

Sable Night, mother of Dread and Fear,
Upon the world dim darkness doth display,
And in her vaulty prison stows the Day.

-William Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece

Chapter Twelve

He had been so close. They had been right there. The desire to reach out and simply end their lives had been so strong. Now in the peaceful darkness of the yard, that desire raged on. It was a roaring fire in his chest, in his head. His muscles ached with yearning. He needed to move, to do something, so he made his way to the sliding doors and sat beside the steps, out of sight of the door. He sat there waiting for the tense argument inside to end. He waited for his master.

His master. He lived wanted so badly for the Dragon to be proud of him and thank him. He had worked so hard to finally be in this position and he was not going to let those two ruin it for him. He lived to carry out the Dragon's wishes but sometimes his own wishes got the better of him as they almost had tonight.

There was silence now inside the house and the lights turned on and off in different parts of the house. He could see the flickering lights on the lawn, dancing light and shadow.

A shadowed figure appeared in the rectangle of light at the door. He stood up, silently and revealed himself.

The Dragon looked shocked and hissed, "What are you doing here? My wife could see you!"

Ignoring him, the Texan spoke without feeling, in a low voice. "They were here tonight you know?"

"And I'm guessing they are gone now. " The senator looked around drawing out his words.

"Yes sir. You surprised them when you returned home so suddenly. I would have gotten them, I could have." His voice was almost desperate by the time he finished speaking. He was strong. He knew that, but when his master stood in front of him, judging him, he was weak.

Sherman lashed out. "Could and would is not good enough. I don't have time for this." He saw the big arrogant man in front of him seem to shrink and he cringed. Peter Sherman was tired, they had missed the event that evening due to some protesters and he had taken it out on his wife. He had blamed her for being late and for them getting caught. He hated himself for it. They used to be able to talk about things like that and she would reassure him. He wished more than ever that he could be free. He sighed, thinking hard, "They don't know anything. They can't know anything if they are this reckless. You need to pick them up tomorrow before it's too late."

"I almost got the girl that one time. I can do it again." The Texan's voice was small.

Peter kept his voice gentler than before and spoke evenly, "The girl is not enough anymore. It might have worked before but now more than ever you need to get them both. You know that that man will do everything in his power to save the girl and vice versa. They could expose everything being as reckless as they are at the moment." He paused for a second. Two. "But, they will do anything to be together so keeping them apart after we grab them could work wonders." He shivered at his cruelty; remembering that love, that love that he would be using against them. "Together they are strong but one without the other is weak." He was lost in his own thoughts again; love, his wife and his children.

The Texan stood stock still waiting for his master to surface again. He saw the feelings playing across the man's face like they did in movies and on television. He wondered what those feelings were like. He knew you were supposed to have those feelings. He thought that he should want those feelings. Everyone had those feelings except for him. He was empty, filled only with the heat and a tug that made him do what he did. It was almost like a feeling that you saw on television but it was in their eyes. When he looked in the mirror his eyes were blank, dark holes that sucked in his prey. While he saw the feelings everywhere he didn't know how to get them and he didn't know if he wanted to get them. Sometimes when he saw his Masters face, like when he talked about his children, he thought that maybe he should try and feel like that. But there was never anything there, only a vast emptiness and a flaming push to the edge from where there was no return.

Eventually the Dragon focused on him again. "I want them both tomorrow. Locked up and separated. Do not speak to me until you have done that. "

The Texan gave a curt nod. He had an order now and nothing could stop him. He was already drawn away, drawn to the hotel where the man and his girl were hiding. He legs moved of their own accord and he moved silently off into the night.

Kate leaned back against the headboard, releasing the breath she had been holding. Beside her Castle returned the phone into its cradle, wincing slightly as he shifted to gain a better position, his ankle turning a little too much to the left. She placed a hand on his shoulder, drawing his attention to hers. She gave his arm a gentle squeeze, a reassuring smile crossing her features.

"It was worth a shot. Thank you."

He nodded his head, giving her a slight smile in return before, turning his gaze to her hand still resting on his shoulder. She felt the heat return to her cheeks and spread to the rest of her frame as his eyes shifted back to hers. She scooted closer, the deeper connection drawing her without conscious thought. She lightly kissed his lips before her mind caught up with her, pulling back to meet the same stunned gaze she knew she held. She swallowed once, her heart racing in her rib cage. Her free hand found itself resting over his pounding heart for a second time of its own accord, as she leaned forward to meet him half way. His lips found hers with a gentle rhythm, demanding no more then she would allow. She invited more, unable to hold back the need she felt at his touch as his hand softly cradled her jaw.

She melted against the delicate dance he performed within her mouth, the soft sounds of pleasure and contentment escaping her. She gripped his shirt half leading, half following him down onto the pillows, his frame partially draped over her. Castle gently broke away, his lips just a fraction from hers. He found her eyes, his gaze delving deep into hers, quietly speaking every emotion he felt for her. Kate raised her hand to his face, running her thumb tenderly along his cheek, giving all she wished to speak in return with that simple touch. She felt his soft smile against her lips as he returned his focus to them, placing the softest kiss upon them before gently claiming his way to her neck. She wove her hand through his hair holding him in place as his hungry nips and loving tastes of her flesh stealing away her breath.

His leg slipped between hers as he drew himself closer. She shifted her leg in response cradling his hip against her. She felt a wolfish grin at her neck followed by a primal growl weaving its way deep into her marrow. His kissed his way along the exposed potion of her neckline towards the v of her throat, his hands weaving their way to the top button of her blouse. Her heart felt like it would escape her as slowly he slipped one button to the next, exposing more and more flesh for his lips to love and his hands to caress.

The dawn broke upon the horizon, warming the world outside until the fog lifted and its light could find the Earth. The first birds of spring started their song, one bird followed by another until the trees rang with their voices. The shop keepers begin the motions of open their stores, flip by card flip the buildings turning from open to close. The first cars of the day started by, those inside ready or not so ready to start their days.

He watched them emerge from their room together, arm in arm. He trailed them from across the street, his trained eye not once leaving them. It amused him how oblivious they were to the world around them. His chance had come. He waited until they exited the coffee shop before crossing the street, his hand resting on the butt of his gun. The boss said bring both and both he would gather, little lambs for slaughter, he hoped. They turned the corner of the motel first. He pulled the gun from his side and quickened his pace.

A/N: There will be an extended love scene as a companion piece coming soon ;)