A/N: Things with this chapter may be slightly more AU then the previous chapters, just a word of warning. Thanks as always for the support! You guys are awesome!

Xxx

Beckett walked into the loft without knocking; there was no time for knocking or any pleasantries anymore. If the kidnapper had been in the loft, whether Martha and Alexis were home when it happened or not, was serious business.

How had he gotten in? That was the main question. If Jason the security guard was with Alexis and Martha and they were outside the loft, the Castle's still had an alarm system on their loft, there was still a doorman out front and an unmarked cruiser parked across the street that Castle didn't know about. This also led to the second question, why did he take Balto and two pictures of the kids?

Beckett knew how important that wolf was to Rome and how important it was to his family at the moment; it was something of Rome's that they could hold and had the most meaning to him.

Beckett knew that Alexis had fallen asleep clutching the stuffed wolf the last few nights and she knew how tightly Castle cradled the well-worn creature anytime he thought of Rome. For the kidnapper to take that particular piece from the family was mindboggling and pushed cruel to a further limit.

The foyer to the loft was empty, and that included the security guard. Castle was at his desk typing on his laptop and Beckett suspected it was the chapter for M's other requirement.

Castle had managed to type out three chapters of this 'story'. None were very long and they were certainly not Richard Castle's usual standards but they did exactly what M wanted; they told the story of a mystery writer's son being kidnapped and Detective Nikki Heat and Derrick Storm working together to find the boy.

The first chapter had secured Beckett and Castle a chance to see Rome via Skype, for Castle to talk to his son and promise him that they would get him home. Unfortunately it was the first and only video he had been allowed.

Beckett could only imagine the pain Castle must have been feeling while writing those chapters. It was bad enough that his son was in the hands of a maniac, but that same maniac was forcing him to write about it.

M was taking things that father and son both loved, both were passionate about and using it to torture them both. This case may be all about hurting Castle, but M was clearly neglecting the fact that he was hurting him by hurting his son, he was destroying Rome slowly and Beckett knew if they didn't find Rome soon, his chances of coming home were going to get slimmer.

What made it worse was when they did get Rome back, what kind of shape would he be in, would he still be the same Castle Mini Me that she had grown close too, would Rome be Rome or would this ordeal literally destroy his childhood? Beckett hated to think like that, but it kept pushing in her mind, like an annoying tune that will just not go away.

"Hey," Beckett said from the doorway. Castle looked up. The bags under his eyes were getting more prominent; he hadn't slept well in days, he was running on fumes. Beckett was so terrified that he was going to crash and crash hard.

"Hey," he replied

"Where are Alexis and Martha?"

"Sent them to a hotel, I don't care if they weren't home when that bastard got in here, they're safer where they are now. I'm not taking any chances with them anymore."

"Look Castle, I'm sorry for sending you home, please understand why I had to do it. You're close enough to this case as it is, we all are, believe me if I thought the guy had Rome I was ready to do whatever it took to get him to spill."

Castle nodded

"I don't blame you Kate, I don't. And I have to thank you, coming home, seeing Alexis and my mother it helped, well up until…" his voice trailed off, writing was his first instinct his first stress reliever, so he had been typing since he called Beckett working on a long chapter for M. "Did he give you anything?" Castle asked hopeful "does he know where Rome is?"

Beckett shook her head,

"No Rick he isn't our kidnapper. But he did give us a lead"

"A lead?" Castle asked "how could he give a lead, is he connected to the case?"

"Rick I need you to focus and think hard. Does the name Sebastian Mastellie sound even the least bit familiar?"

Castle thought it over wracking his brain but no he had never heard that name, not once in his life.

"No," he replied and Beckett felt her shoulders sink. Mr. Smith had seemed so sure that Mastellie was Rome's kidnapper and that his son would know the name.

She tried to keep the disappointment off of her face; Castle had been faced with enough bad news lately. This could potentially destroy him, it had been a lead and now it was gone.

Suddenly he looked up at her

"What?" She asked

"Sebastian Martin" he said softly

"Who?"

"About a year before I brought the manuscript of In a Hail of Bullets to Black Pawn I brought it to a publishing company called Kilroy and McNeil Publishing. I met with one of their senior consultants and he read over my manuscript. I felt like we had a connection like after months of rejections this would be it. He seemed to enjoy the story and made some pretty reassuring comments about it."

"What happened?" Beckett asked sitting across from Castle, he shrugged

"I never knew. I received a rejection letter from Mr. Martin a week later, a pretty harsh one at that. So harsh in fact I went to the office to confront him or at least find out why. I was actually really shocked about the rudeness of the whole thing. The other rejections I had received were tame compared to his. He refused to meet with me, having his sectary tell me that I was not the writer he thought I was and that I would be better off finding a new career because I would never make it in this industry."

Castle paused and reached into his desk, shuffling through papers

"Don't tell me you saved it." Beckett said in surprise

"Course I did. I've saved all my rejection letters I even have the first framed it reminds me what I had to go through to get this far. So I never take it for granted." He leaned over and smiled victoriously "ah here it is!" He handed the letter to Beckett. She looked at him cautiously before she started to read it

"'Dear Mr. Rodgers,'" Beckett couldn't help the smile, it was too tempting to pass up. She looked up at Castle cautiously. She was surprised and pleased to see a smile on his face, the first one in days.

"Go ahead, laugh it up while you can," he replied "welcome to my neighborhood," he added half humorously

"Right… 'Dear Mr. Rodgers, I would like to inform you that Kilroy and McNeil will not be publishing your manuscript. You do not have the talent that is required to make it in the literary world. I recommend finding a different occupation because I do not envision you in any future finding someone foolish enough to publish the filth that you presented to us. The fact that you call your manuscript a novel is quite laughable. Your characters are as ordinary and forgettable as they come and your plot is virtually non-existent. I would if I were you save yourself any future disappointment and step away from this career. I am sorry you have wasted your time and I am even sorrier that you wasted mine. Also if I may add as a personal suggestion I would retire the name Richard Castle, it is quite childish and shows no semblance of imagination, your given name seems to suit your personality much better because it as just as ordinary and mundane as your characters and your awful plot."'

Beckett looked at Castle in shock and he shrugged

"Told you it was harsh,"

"I can't believe you took this." Beckett said unable to keep the surprise out of her voice "I mean you really didn't try to go over this guy's head?"

"At the time I was still young and naïve. I figured that was the final decision from that particular publisher, then that was that. I wasn't ready to accept defeat though, in fact if anything Mr. Martin's letter made me just want to keep fighting. I knew I wanted to be a writer I knew it was what I was meant to be. One man's opinion wasn't enough to deter me."

"What ended up happening with Mr. Martin?"

"I don't know honestly. I heard rumors from Gina that he was let go a few years ago. His company was really disappointed in a lot of his decisions, I wasn't the first author he rejected who went on to be successful and I certainly wasn't the last."

"Martin, you said his last name was Martin?"

"Yeah, Sebastian Martin, honestly he's the only Sebastian M I know. He was an arrogant bastard though, I do remember that. Nothing in his office was out of place…" Castle stopped short he began breathing heavy, as if he was having a horrible flashback.

"Rick what's the matter?"

"It's been so long, I mean we're talking seventeen, twenty years give or take…but there was something about his voice, it was uppity, he always talked down to everyone even if he was giving a rare compliment, like he was better than everyone." Castle ran his hand through his hair "Beckett, I can't be sure, at least not 100%, but his voice just flashed in my mind, Sebastian Martin and M's voice…Kate they're the same. Sebastian Martin IS M! He's the one, he kidnapped Rome!"

Before Beckett could answer him, both jumped out of their skin when a loud crash echoed from the kitchen.

They ran out of Castle's office to see Martha standing in the kitchen, a pitcher of lemonade laying in shattered pieces on the hardwood floor, with the liquid snaking its way around Martha's feet.

Martha herself was deathly pale and she was crying. Instantly Castle was at her side holding her tight

"Mother, Mother what are you doing here?" Castle breathed trying to calm her down, he helped her step over the glass shards and guided her over to the couch, helping her sit. Beckett went into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water and a box of tissues.

"I…I left my cellphone so I came back to get it and was thirsty. I knew there was some lemonade in the fridge and…" her voice trailed off as she looked at Castle "I couldn't help overhearing, Richard I am…I am so sorry, sweetheart this is all my fault. I never thought…oh Roman…I'm so sorry," Martha began sobbing again. It broke Beckett's heart and stunned Castle into silence.

"Martha, what's wrong?" Beckett asked rubbing her shoulders gently. It took a few minutes, but eventually between Beckett and Castle they calmed Martha down.

Martha had her head in her hands, trying to gain some composure. She knew that her family and friends thought of her as melodramatic; hurricane Martha, but rarely did she ever breakdown in front of anyone. She took a deep, shuddering breath in before dropping her hands and lifting her chin. Beckett and Castle were staring, quite dumbfounded at this display of emotion.

"Mother" Castle's gentle voice prompted her to give him a tight smile. She reached out and took grasped one of his hands in both of hers, soothing both him and herself.

"Oh darling, I'm so sorry if any of this is because of me"

"What are you talking about? How could you have anything to do with this?" Castle could feel a cold pit settle in his stomach, on top of the one that had taken up permanent residence since Rome was kidnapped. He shot a quick glance at Beckett and she also had that look on her face; composed, calm, but underneath he could tell that her cogs were turning, trying to predict the outcome of his mother's story.

Martha dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. "Remember that production of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was a part of in Shakespeare in the Park?"

Castle gave her an embarrassed look, "Erm not really"

"Yes you do, it was the early eighties" she prompted. At his still confused look she waved a dismissive hand and carried on. "Anyway, I met this incredible man at the after party, oh Richard his eye, you could swim in those ice blues…" Martha got a far off look on her face; she was reliving that night over again.

Beckett grinned at the slightly disgusted look on Castle's face. He knew that her mother was no saint; he had caught her doing the walk of shame (or the stride of pride in her case) on many occasions, but they rarely acknowledged what she had been up to. There are some things that parents and children just do not discuss.

Martha landed back in the present with a bump. "He turned out not to be the man I thought he was."

"What do you mean Martha?" Beckett wasn't like the Castle's, she didn't want a drawn out story. If something was wrong, she wanted to know. Now.

Martha turned her full attention to the detective. It was felt easier to address her than her son at this point.

"I'm an actor darling, and a darn good one too. So that means I also know when other people are putting up a front. Oh this man was good, very good. He had me hanging on to his every word for most of the night but eventually I realised I was being deceived."

By this point Beckett had guessed who this man was, but from the look on Castle's face, he had no idea. Huh, he was usually quicker on the uptake than this, but when a case is personal it clouds everything. Things that were once clear, were now muddied and confusing, something she knew all too much about.

"He was pretty…persistent" she said with a raised eyebrow and faint red tinge appeared on her cheeks, tears welling back up in her eyes.

"Oh my god" her son mumbled "He raped you?!"

"No darling, don't get worked up, I'm stronger than I appear", she gave him a wink to try to diffuse the emotions in the situation, but it didn't do much. "He tried a lot of things to convince me; one of them was blackmail. Turns out he worked in publishing at Kilroy and McNeil"

The blood drained from Castle's face.

"Sebastian Martin?" he whispered.

Martha nodded. "At the party I had told him about you, about how you were a writer trying to get his first book published. He told me that he would put a recommendation in for you if I did what he wanted. I refused of course, I'm sorry darling, I know you wanted to get published…"

"No! Don't you dare apologise!" Castle was furious. "That sick bastard!" He rose from the couch to pace. He wanted to hit something. No, he wanted to hit someone, a specific someone.

"Richard," Martha started

"So this is revenge or something? I get published and become a bestselling author without him and his firm, and he wants to get back at me? He rejected me because he couldn't get laid and now he comes after my family?" Theories started spurting from his mouth. Beckett and Martha, still seated, watched him move back and forth across the living room.

"Castle, I need you to calm down. We have a lead now, a solid lead! Speculating will not help right now" Beckett tried to diffuse her partner before he flew off the handle, mindful of the waves of guilt pouring off of the woman sitting next to her.

He stopped mid pace and turned to her. He saw the hard and unwavering look in her eyes; the 'I'm boss' look. He flicked over to his mother, looking as small and as frail as he had ever seen her.

"Mother" he called and he moved to envelop her in an embrace. "This is not your fault. You did nothing wrong" he tried to console. They stayed in each other's arms for a while. Castle didn't have the time to acknowledge that it was a bit weird; they didn't hug much.

When they pulled back, Martha had regained her composure. "Now Richard, don't worry about me, go chase down that man! Bring my grandson home!" she ordered with her usual flare and wave of her hands.

"Yes ma'am" he mock saluted, needing some of the banter back to calm him down.

Beckett made a move to pull out her phone to text Espo, when suddenly, Castles phone rang.

It sent chills down everyone's back. Martha took Castle's hand and held it tight as he timidly answered the phone.

"Castle,"

"Ah Mr. Castle you have finally decided to speak to me yourself instead of letting Detective Heat speak for you?"

"I've been a little preoccupied trying to solve your god damn mystery." Castle growled

"Ah yes my mystery. And speaking of mystery have you discovered the loft seems empty of certain belongings?"

Castle looked at Beckett quickly both partners thinking the same thing, how the hell did this guy know what was going on in the loft how was he always one step ahead of them...

'Bugs' Castle mouthed to Beckett she nodded and pulled out her cellphone texting Espo about the bugs also asking him to try and track Rome's phone try and get location on it something they hasn't been able to do in the past, but even Beckett could hear it in Ms voice he was getting cocky more than before.

Beckett waved her hand to Castle silently asking him to keep M talking.

"What do you want with the stuffed animal?!" Castle asked trying to keep his voice as calm as possible

"Oh Mr. Castle that is all part of the game. What indeed do I plan on doing with Roman's favorite stuffed toy? The creature he cannot sleep without, the creature he wanted so badly to take to camp but nearly didn't for fear of being ostracized by his new friends. What a wonderful and creative father you are to suggest putting Balto in Roman's pillow case to hide the shameful creature. It is amazing how attached to toys children are. I was so concerned about Roman's wellbeing that perhaps he was not sleeping well, because he was not feeling himself as of late, but I do believe now it is just because he was missing his toy. Though I'd still hate to think he is in anyway ill."

"What do you mean ill?! What the hell are you doing to him?!"

"Nothing Mr. Castle. Absolutely nothing. Roman has been quite compliant with my demands in nearly every part of this adventure, he does however appear to be very picky when it comes to meals. He simple does not want to eat what I have put in front of him. You have succeeded in spoiling him I see. I firmly believe in the phase spare the rod spoil the child. I do hope this doesn't affect his health too, he's already such a tiny thing."

Castle breathed deep, trying to keep his composure, but M talking about summer camp caught his attention, a moment between father and son that had taken place before camp in the privacy of home, the fact that M knew about it shocked and angered Castle. Not only had M bugged the loft, but he had done it months in advance.

Castle looked at Beckett his face twisted in horror wondering how long M had been spying on the family...how long he had been planning this kidnaping?

Before anyone realized what was happening Martha grabbed for the phone, pulling it out of her son's hands

"Listen here you bastard!" She cried into the phone "enough of the games, you let my grandson go now! Tell us where you are keeping him or I swear-"

"You swear to what Ms. Rodgers? Recite overused dialogue from one of your failed performances on the small stage? That would be quite painful for me. But is not the threat that will make me simply walk into the nearest police station and claim surrender. The continuation of the games is about to begin I do hope you're ready." With that the phone clicked leaving a dead line.

Martha burst into tears

"Richard I'm so sorry I don't know what came over me...oh god what have I done." She sobbed, unable to contain her emotions any longer.

Quickly Castle hugged her shoulders as Beckett willed her phone to vibrate, praying for a text.

She gestured for Castle and Martha to follow her and wouldn't say a word until they were outside the building on the sidewalk.

"If he really has the place bugged we can't let him know we know." She explained Martha was still sobbing quietly into Castle's shoulders. Beckett's phone began vibrating as she received a text from Ryan.

"Did the trap and trace work?" Castle asked over his mother's head.

Beckett smiled her first real one in a while and nodded

"Before wherever he was calling from interfered with the signal he could call out but we couldn't get a lock on the GPS of Rome's phone." She explained "He must be outside of the area of interference. Ryan says it'll take a few hours to narrow it down but the computer is working on it. We should have an exact location soon." She put a hand on Martha's shaky shoulders "Martha?" She said and Martha looked up slowly "you kept him talking long enough for us to get a lock on the signal. You have nothing to apologize for." She paused "let's get you back to your hotel," Beckett waved at a black unmarked car parked not far from the building.

Castle hadn't even noticed it before.

"Beckett?" he started but she shook head as the car pulled up along the curb and young detective got out Castle recognized from the precinct got out.

"Detective Hollaran will take you to your hotel Martha. Castle the boys will be here ASAP. When we get back upstairs do not say anything in the loft don't even say anything in the building only speak outside or by writing it down. I wouldn't be surprised if he had your cell phones and the main phone bugged as well so don't text me or anyone on it. Martha, tell Alexis the same thing no texts no calls on your regular phones." Beckett wrote down her cell number as well as Ryan and Esposito's "use the hotel phone to call us if you need us. One of us will be with Castle at all times if you need to get in touch with him."

Martha nodded, she hugged her son and the detective tight as Hollaran helped her into the car.

Castle watched as the car drove off and he rubbed his chin the worry weighing on his shoulders. He couldn't believe the loft was bugged...he couldn't believe someone had managed to get into his home and spy on him and his children and what was worse used that to kidnap one of his children.

"How could I be so stupid, so blind?" He muttered and Beckett put a comforting hand on his shoulder

"You know you're neither of those Rick. No one should feel like they've been violated like this especially not in their own home. I don't think there was anything that could've been done to prevent this; he would have gone through with this plan regardless of how much security you have on the loft or how close you kept Rome. You have to let kids be kids Castle, you can't keep them under 24 hour surveillance no matter how much we'd love too. Rome is a smart kid, he's already proven how resourceful he is, and you've taught him well Rick. We will get him back. M doesn't know we're tracing him right now he still thinks he's ahead in the game, but we're finally a few steps ahead, we're closing in on him, we'll bring Rome home."

Castle took a deep breath.

"When Rome was born the doctors wouldn't even let Meredith hold him, he was so little so weak they put him right in an incubator. She was asking for him when I finally made it to the hospital, by the time I got there the doctor and the nurses said it would be okay if I went to see him. Meredith wanted at least one of us to be there, at least one of us to hold him. She was still so sedated and tired she couldn't." Castle smiled at the memory "I walked into the NICU and the nurse brought me over to the incubator, she asked if I wanted to hold him. I was so nervous about it, he was so tiny so frail, I thought I might hurt him. Alexis was small when she was born, but nowhere near as small as Rome, he was only a month early, but so small. They nearly lost him when Meredith went into labor, they ended up having to do a C-section, the cord became wrapped around his neck, he wasn't breathing when he was born. The doctor wasn't even sure if he'd make it."

"He's a fighter Castle" Beckett said gently and he nodded

"Always has been, he's had so many curve balls thrown his way and he's managed to pull through each one."

"And he'll pull through this one, let's go wait for the boys upstairs. That way M doesn't get so suspicious before we take his ass down." Beckett added and Castle smiled a little, it was weak, but there was hope in his eyes that hadn't been there the last few days.