Thank U Kiwi for your review of: One of the rawest and most honest scenes you have written so far.
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"I'll catch you when you fall, Gemma" and his hands slid into the blond curls at the nape of her neck. "Get inside my Detective's head and save us."
He leaned into her slowly, captivated by her pupils constricting in desire.
She nervously gulped as his warm breath brushed over her face.
"So beautiful," he whispered, "Both inside and out," and then his lips descended to hers.
She tasted like vanilla ice cream on a hot summer's day, - rich, sweet, delicious.
As his lips moved purposefully over hers, her lips trembled against the firm pressure of his. Her fingers clawed into his upper arms, holding on for dear life as she felt herself slipping away.
A sultry whimper released from the back of her throat as his tongue pursed along her lips, seeking entrance, and just as his tongue collided with hers, she collapsed in his arms.
Rick held onto her limp body and slowly turned so his back was to the wall. He bent his knees and scooted down the wall, carefully lowering them both until he was sitting flat on the floor. He cradled her head in his lap and touched the soft tresses of white-blond that surrounded her face like a halo.
A soft smile graced his lips at the realization that the kiss had only solidified what he felt from the moment Beckett was shot almost 2 years ago, - from the moment when he held her bleeding body in his arms.
There was simply no other woman in the world for him but Katherine Houghton Beckett.
…
Her eyes blinked for a moment as she tried to catch her bearings.
She was in a stark-white hallway. An overpowering, astringent smell assaulted her senses. The electronic beeping of machines reached her ears. She heard the swooshing of an oxygen tank nearby and saw a perky nurse helping an elderly woman walk down the hall.
Gemma approached the nurse's desk cautiously, looking inside open rooms for Katherine. Inside the closest room, a rambunctious boy was bouncing up and down on his bed while his mother tried to calm him by reading a story. She peeked inside the next doorway and saw a group of family members huddled in a circle around the bed, praying for a loved one.
Something tugged on her to keep walking and drew her around a nearby corner.
As she entered the new hallway, her lips automatically lifted in recognition. Agent Brody Andrews was sitting in an uncomfortable chair outside a patient's room. Her grin widened as she realized he was trying to stay awake. His head dropped forward and then lolled to the side before his neck jerked back and into place. He rubbed his aching neck, and then slapped both his cheeks to try and stay alert.
She was taken aback again by his size. The man would seem perfectly at home in the boxing ring or on a wrestling mat. As she passed by him, she was shocked to realize that he had eyes similar to her Grandfathers, - green as a flower's stem and exuding from their depths was a gentleness that she wouldn't have expected from a man surrounded by darkness on a daily basis.
Katherine's voice, loud and clear, pulled her into the room.
Gemma's heart sank at the realization that she was awake. Please God, she uttered a silent prayer, Help me to know what to do next.
Kate was sitting up in the bed, dressed in a hospital gown, with a large white bandage wrapped around her forehead. Blood had seeped through the dressing and marred its whiteness. She was fiery and beautiful as ever, even in a frumpy hospital gown with her hair in disarray.
"Are you kidding me, Espo?" she asked, clearly frustrated. "The bastard's still alive?"
"Yes, forensics confirmed it. The man who I shot and killed wasn't Tyson."
"He's a freaking Houdini." She mumbled several curse words beneath her breath before asking, "Any news yet on Gates or Ryan?"
Espo's eyes were lifeless as he responded, "Gates was lucky. Both bullets hit her in the vest. One of them did break a rib though so she's struggling to breathe through the pain. The Doctor's talking about inserting a breathing tube if she doesn't start breathing easier on her own. They're going to keep her here for a couple of days to make sure the cracked rib doesn't splinter and affect her lungs."
"Thank God she was wearing her vest… And Ryan?"
His cultural accent was more noticeable, filled with apprehension. "He's still in surgery. You'd think after 3 hours they'd have the common courtesy to send someone out to let us know how he's doing." His hand wiped over his face in worry. "I know that a severe compound fracture is going to take time as they're inserting a rod into his leg, but the waiting is killing me."
"He's going to be fine," Kate said with the utmost confidence. "He'll be up on crutches in no time flirting with the rehabilitation nurses, driving Jenny bonkers."
"You're right. He's tougher than he looks… I think he's going to go stir-crazy though being out-of-commission for months."
"Yes." She continued morosely, "And hopefully he'll learn to walk and run normally again after rehab."
She pulled on her lower lip in frustration before turning to Javier with pleading eyes. "I've got to get out of here, Espo. I can not stay in this hospital room."
At his look of shocked disbelief she hurriedly continued, "You read that cryptic note of Tyson's. Castle's not going to live through the night."
"Beckett, you're suffering from a concussion. You can hardly stand, let alone walk without getting dizzy. No Doctor is going to release you in good conscience, especially since you lost your breakfast while being wheeled in here."
She refrained from telling him that there was another good reason that she couldn't keep food down.
Gemma was so engrossed in their conversation that she didn't even notice the 6 year old African-American girl approach her. She tugged on her sundress and asked with tear-filled eyes, "Are you an angel? Can you help me find heaven?"
She got down on her haunches and looked into her frightened, coal-black eyes. She reached out and touched a pigtail, running her hand over the tight curls.
"No, I'm not, and I'm positive that it's not your time to meet one either. What's your name, sweetheart?"
"Shalissa Johnson."
"What a pretty name for a very pretty girl."
She was rewarded with a bashful smile.
"Heaven is going to have to wait for you… Would you like me to help you find your Mama?"
She shook her head up and down excitedly. Gemma stuck out her hand and the little girl clasped it eagerly, pulling her out of the room. As they entered the hallway, a pleasing, male voice called her name.
"Miss Goodwin?"
She turned to face Agent Andrews who assessed her openly, from the blond hair, the goose egg on her forehead, the noticeable slice etched into her slim neck, the ugly, purple bruises painting her arms, the bandage around her forearm, the blood drops scattered across her dress, the bulky boot cast on her right foot.
The unwavering concern on his face surprised her, and his tranquil voice floated over her battered soul. "You're here? I can't tell you how happy I am to see you. How did you get away from that madman?" His hand raised as it he wanted to touch her, - needed to touch her to make she was alright, but it dropped heavily back to his side.
She didn't immediately reply as she was overwhelmed by the intense 'protective nature' emanating off him.
At her silence, he continued to fire questions at her… "How are you feeling? Are you okay? Has a Doctor taken a look at you yet?"
She shook her head negatively. "I know that this will be difficult for you to believe, Agent Andrews, but I need you to trust me."
"Trust you?" he asked, clearly confused with her line of thinking.
"I haven't been rescued. I'm still with Richard Castle and, - " her voice hitched as she continued, "He will die within the next couple of hours if you don't bring Detective Beckett to the Triborough Mental Institution just outside the city… She must come with you." Her left hand reached out to clasp his and she started at the warm reassurance she felt from his touch. "I need your help to save us both."
"Yep, she's telling the truth, Mister, because she's an angel and angel's never lie." piped up Shalissa, looking up at him in awe. "She's hurt though so you have to help her so she can help me."
"She's an angel, is she?" and he stooped over to the little girl's level and tweaked her nose. "I just might have to agree with you there, young lady."
Gemma's pink cheeks gave away how flattered she was by the compliment, but she didn't have time to dwell on his soft eyes that seemed to speak to her soul. "I don't have much time. Tell Detective Beckett where we're being held and she'll believe you… Promise - "
A nurse pushed a patient around the corner of the hallway and the squeaky wheel of the wheelchair startled him awake.
His eyes darted around the hallway frantically. What the hell just happened?
The dream had been so vivid, so real, that he could actually still feel her delicate hand in his.
During the week he'd tried to convince her to work with the F.B.I., he'd learned about her strength of character, her unselfish nature, her forgiving heart. Over that period, her beauty coupled with her insatiable desire to help others, had hit him hard. She'd practically been a constant presence in his thoughts since then.
Sure, he'd dreamed about Gemma Goodwin before… He felt embarrassed to admit that she was the star of his wet dreams, as the woman was a 'true lady' in every sense of the word, but Gawd, she was exquisite in a sky-blue lacy Victoria secret number which brought out the highlights in her hair as well as the fathomless blue of her eyes, but more importantly, featured her stunning legs which seemed to go on forever.
But a dream like this? Where she felt tangibly real? This was completely new to him… He clasped his hands together to try and stop them from shaking.
Beckett's voice, filled with underlying excitement, drew him from his own thoughts.
"I researched possible locations, Espo, where Tyson may have taken them and I believe I found it. I was reading about an old mental institution in Triborough on my cell phone just before the truck hit us." She looked around the room anxiously. "Where's my phone?"
"Uhh, I think the nurse's have it in a bag with all your personal effects."
"Did you take a snapshot of the board with the clues Tyson left us?"
"Yes." Javier pulled out his Iphone and quickly scrolled through his photos until he found the right one.
"Can I see it?"
"Si," he handed her his phone and Kate's eyes lit up in utter excitement. "Hand me a paper and pen please."
Javi handed her a pencil plus a paper with instructions on how to care for a patient suffering from a concussion.
Kate wrote down all 27 letters that were on the board and systematically crossed them off. "Oh my God!"
Javi stood behind her and looked over her shoulder as the puzzle fell into place.
"Espo," she begged, "You've got to get me outta here."
Agent Andrews stepped into her room with a commanding smile. "If he won't spring you from this infirmary, I will."
….
Gemma opened her eyes to stare into eyes almost as blue as her own. Rick's lips curved into a baby smile as he said, "Welcome back."
She sat up quickly, needing to put some distance between her and his heavenly body and narrowly missed bonking her head with his. She sat next to him with her back also against the wall and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her eyes avoided his as she said softly, "You kissed me."
She stopped herself from wiping her fingers over her lips as they still tingled from his touch.
"Yes, I did. Glad you noticed."
Noticed? Now she was going to have to fight the memory of that kiss for months to come. A deep fear settled over her that it would be the last, wonderful memory she ever had of Richard Edgar Castle.
Her silence wrapped around him and made him worry that he'd offended her.
"Hey," he took her chin in his hand and brought her eyes to his. "We're okay, aren't we? … Please understand that I couldn't hit you, Gemma."
"Yeah, I know." She removed his hand from her chin and held it. "We're okay... It was certainly much nicer than being smacked around."
"Only nice? I'm affronted by that lame adjective."
She had to refrain from playfully poking him. "I plead the fifth, because I refuse to feed that massive ego of yours."
From the hopeful look in his eyes, she knew what he was going to ask next. "Did you see her?"
"Yes… She's alright, Rick. She must have hit her head pretty badly as she's suffering from a concussion but she was speaking clearly to Esposito when I saw her. She seemed a bit shaken, but she'll definitely fully recover."
"Thank you," his hand squeezed hers in gratitude. "But that means she wasn't asleep."
"No she wasn't, but I was able to tell Agent Andrews where we are."
"You mean, Feebie-Beef-cake?" he asked humorously.
She flashed him a fleeting smile. "You would give him a nick-name like that."
"Well, he certainly looks like he could be related to," he brought his fingers up into air quotes, " 'The Rock,' or Vin Diesel."
"That he does," she smirked. "I told him to tell Katherine where we are and I fully believe he will."
"That's good news."
"Hopefully," she replied, too afraid to feel optimistic at this point. "I want you to know something," and by the tone of her voice he knew she was afraid that they weren't going to survive this hellish ordeal.
"I wouldn't have made it this far without you, Rick," and she entwined her fingers with his. "Those first few days with him were horrific; the only time he let me see Madelyn was after he, - " she took in a deep breath, "hurt me and felt like he needed her nursing assistance. I couldn't even look her in the eyes as I knew her fate was sealed." She paused for a moment, staring at their linked hands before continuing. "I'm ashamed to say that I seriously considered ending my own life to not give him the satisfaction of doing it himself."
"God Gemma. I'm so glad that you didn't."
"You gave me a reason to live, - to fight against him," she hiccupped as she fought against the tears that threatened to come. "Because I needed to fight for your survival as well as my own."
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of her palm tenderly, utterly speechless by her words. She was pure and simple a remarkable woman. Here she was thanking him for giving her a reason to live when he was the sole reason she was kidnapped in the first place.
His eyes melded with hers as he choked out, "You've got to make it as this world needs your light." He was silent for a moment as he lost himself within her expressive gaze... His thumb swirled over her palm before his lips upturned and he said cheekily, "No more death-bed confessions because Beckett's coming. She will make it here in time."
"Agreed. No more confessions," as her heart couldn't take thinking about a future without him in it.
Her body quaked as the door squeaked open. She leaned into Rick and whispered, "I'll try and keep him away from you as long as possible." She stood up and hugged the wall as Tyson entered the room with a small handgun at his side.
"I hope you've said your 'Goodbyes,'" he said chillingly. "Gem, strap him back down to the table."
"No, I won't do it."
"You seem to think you have a choice."
"I do… I'll leave the room willingly with you J.T. and make sure the door is locked behind us but I won't help you to restrain him. I can't be a part of his death."
He pointed the gun directly at Rick's right thigh and threatened, "I'll shoot him if you don't cooperate."
She looked into Tyson's aggressive eyes and decided to call his bluff. "No, you won't, because you don't want him to die by a gunshot wound and even though you're aiming for his leg, if you hit him in the femoral artery he'll bleed out in twenty minutes."
"She's too smart for her own good, wouldn't you agree, Castle?" He turned directly to Rick saying venomously, "Let's test you instead," and he pointed the gun directly at her abdomen. "Walk over to the table and strap yourself in… I won't ask twice."
Rick bent his knees awkwardly and with a painful groan used his hands to help him stand back up.
The pallor of his face clearly showed that he wasn't doing too well.
"Rick, no."
"I can't watch him shoot you."
"He won't. He's playing you. He's been counting down the hours before he can pull out that nylon rope to wrap around my neck."
His eyes filled with sorrow as his fingers swooped over her cheek. "I can't take the chance."
Tyson's evil laughter caused a stinging bought of tears to assail her.
Rick lumbered over to the metal slab and carefully laid down on it, obviously fighting the pain he was in. He took the first strap and wrapped it across his upper thighs, securing it tightly.
"Gemma," and the way J.T. said her name inherently commanded her to finish the job. With tears streaming down her face, she walked over to Rick grudgingly and placed the other 2 straps across his body, - one across his chest and the other across his lower abdomen, which also restrained his wrists. She made them as loose as possible without raising Tyson's suspicions.
"Come here, Gem. I'm going to make your wish come true and spend time with you first."
She placed her left arm on Rick's ribs and her fingers found the hair at the nape of his neck, caressing gently. Her eyes reflected the trauma she was currently feeling and he thought that if he survived this, he'd never forget the haunted look in their cobalt depths.
Bending low, she put her lips next to his ear to whisper, "Katherine needs you now more than ever before in her life... Use the stitching needle and do whatever it takes to survive."
She turned away from him sharply and strode quickly out of the room without a backward glance; Tyson hot on her heels.
A lone tear of hers cascaded down the front of his ear and trailed down his neck, settling directly over his heart.