Thank you for all your kind words. So, only one chapter left of this one, it is a wrap up chapter, with some of the chapter being in the present and the rest in the future. I've decided to write it after tomorrow episode. The outcome of tomorrow won't make a difference to my story now. I hope you'll still come back and read it. Thank you to my PTSD expert, my gun and gory death person, my beta and by BFFL who does whatever I ask her to do. You guys really made this possible! If it wasn't for the great characters created by Andrew Marlowe, and the masterful acting of our cast, my story wouldn't be possible.
Beckett and Castle slide silently into Gates' cruiser. As soon as they're settled she reaches for his hand, but doesn't say a word, doesn't even glance in his direction. Her eyes stare blindly out the front window, her lips tight, so distracted she doesn't notice the two other occupants of the car taking occasional glances in her direction. They arrive at the precinct in record time, one of those rare occurrences where traffic seems to work to their advantage.
The boys take Bracken to be processed as the rest go up to homicide. Castle is actually getting worried, she hasn't made a sound since she read Bracken his rights. Walking through the bullpen they reach Beckett's desk. She places her coat across the back of her chair.
"Mr. Castle, Detective Beckett may I have a word with you in my office please?" This isn't a request but a kindly veiled order. They both follow her. "Kindly take a seat." And she motions towards the sofa in her office. She walks to the front of her desk and leans back against it.
"Kate," Beckett's eyes spring up and meet hers. Her Captain rarely if ever has uses her given name to address her. "I'm going to step out of my office. You two have as much time as you need."
She gets up and closes the blinds facing the buzzing bullpen as she speaks. "Today, everything that happened, happened because you never gave up, Detective. It's has consumed most your of entire adult life, shaped who you are. I can't begin to imagine everything you may be feeling and experiencing, but I can tell that you need the space and time with Castle by your side. You can go home, but it doubt I can get you to step out that door until you see him processed. So, this is the best I can do. Take your time, and remember your family is right outside that door and will stand by you and help you in anyway we can." With that she turns towards Castle and gives him a warm smile, as she walks out the door she adds. "Take care of her."
There is so much space between them on the sofa. She's at least an arms length away. Her chin drops against her chest. The silence is crushing, and for once Castle is at a loss for words.
"Kate." He scoots closer to her.
He reaches for her and draws her against him, kissing the top of her head as he wraps his arms around her. It's then he feels the tears splash against his arm and he lifts her face towards him. What he sees breaks his heart.
"I wanted to rush in there, Castle. I wanted to walk right up to him and stick my glock against his forehead and pull the damn trigger. I wanted him to die slowly, so he knew what my mother went through alone in that alley. Give him the same horrible death he gave her. I wanted him dead." It's then the torrent of tears starts, the damn finally breaks and years of pent up emotions come spilling out.
"I thought I would finally get closure, but I don't feel that. He's going to jail, and he'll probably never get out, but I'll never get her back, Castle. I've worked so hard for this, and she won't be there at our wedding. She won't be there when I go into labor. She'll never meet you or our children. I feel her loss today as strongly as I did the day she was killed." Her body shakes with unrestrained sobs, tears stream irrepressibly down her cheeks and soak into his shirt creating dark sapphire splashes across his shirt.
"I thought it would feel different. I thought I'd want to celebrate, but this hurts, Castle. I don't do this, I don't break, but I'm broken."
"Kate, for years you've kept your emotions in check. You've spent the last 15 years knowing that there was something wrong, and getting nowhere. Even when you weren't actively investigating it was always with you. It isn't anything you can just forget." He holds her tightly wishing he could carry her burden. They sit quietly until she has exhausted herself and there are no more tears to shed.
After blowing her nose and getting herself as put together as possible there's a knock at the Captain's door. Espo and Ryan peek in and slide the door closed behind them. They've never seen Beckett this distraught and it pains them.
"Hey guys, we just wanted you to know we're here if you need anything." Ryan says as he approaches them.
"We have your backs, and he's going to pay, Beckett. The case is rock solid. The four partners sit silently in Gates office. A family stronger than many created by blood.
Meanwhile, 24 blocks away, what went around was going to come around.
The trauma center was easy to scope, getting his name on the list carried by the officers at the door had been even easier with his contacts. The ID on his doctor's scrubs is an excellent forgery, everything has been easier than he thought. Walking to the floor below Vulcan he approaches the fire alarm at the far end of the corridor near the stairs. After a quick review of his plan, he pulls the fire alarm and sprints for the stairs. He moves with the athletic balance and grace of a much younger man. Time is of the essence, and he only has a few minutes to get this done.
He makes it to the next floor in record time. Vulcan's room is only two doors down. Rooms are getting evacuated. He approaches the officer outside Simmons' room and shows his badge. The officer locates it on the visitors and employee list and looks up expectantly.
"We need help getting everyone out. If you can help one of the nurses in another room, I'll get Mr. Simmons ready. He'll stay cuffed in his bed and be rolled out here. We'll wait here for you to come out." He directs the officer as expected.
The officers agree and move to comply. The Dr. slips quietly into the room, nods to the cop sitting on the far side of the bed and goes to the IV administering Pavulon, a muscle relaxant given to people being executed. Rendering Simmons completely immobile. The drug is administered directly to the blood stream and takes effect immediately. To the policeman, this looks like the patient is being prepared for evacuation. Simmons can't move but he is conscious. The doctor walks around to the other side of the bed to disconnect other tubes. His right hand tightly gripping the tranquilizer dart in his pocket. Walking by the cop he drives the dart into his neck and within seconds he drops to the floor.
Vulcan's eyes are wide with fear as a wide strip of tape is placed roughly across his lips. He wants Simmons to die the horrible death he deserves. Without warning he rips the sterile white blanket back and jams an 8" stiletto up through the pelvic gap and wrenches it around violently ripping Simmons guts, bladder and stomach to shreds. The damage is way beyond any possibility of repair. The doctor looks at him for a moment with tremendous satisfaction and says, "Have an awful death and burn in hell forever."
Simmons stares in wide eyed terror convulsing with pain as he struggles with his fate. Hunt knows without immediate attention Simmons will die a horrific death and with the hospital in turmoil there good chance of that happening. The irreparable damage to his internal organs renders his body beyond any hope of repair and he watches as the contents of his bladder and stomach, as well as rivers of blood gush from his body. Hunt to slips out undetected amid the total chaos. His work is done and he can once again disappear into the ether.
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