S9, Episode 4
Letting Go
Chapter 13 – The Search
"Got a hit here", says the FBI Tech to his team leader, "there is something definitely down there."
The team had been conducting the ground radar search for over two hours. It had taken them nearly a hour to set up, so they were now three hours into their search. They are in the stables to the farm house, and the radar is probing one stall.
"Ok people, lets see what is under here," says the team leader.
Probing the floor, they hit a metallic surface covered with dirt and straw. Removing the debris, they see a metal plate. Feeling around it they discovered it is fairly large in area. One of the team members comes in with several pry bars and they eventually are able to loosen the steel plate and lift it out. Underneath the plate is an air tight hatch, similar to one found on ocean vessels. It resembles the overhead entry hatch that would be found on a submarine. They try and turn the hatch wheel to open it, but it is locked in place.
"Command Center", the team leader says over his radio, "we found what might be it, but it has a locked overhead door latch. We need a tech who can open it."
Bob Martin and Rick Castle have been monitoring communication from their van on site.
Bob responds to the call, "Security Team here, we have a tech who can do that, I am sending him over to you."
Bob and Rick exit the security van and head to the stables.
When they get there, their man is already probing the door hatch with his stethoscope.
"Can you open it?" Bob and Rick asks in unison.
"This is an old model, which is lucky for us. The modern day version has more security features making it more difficult to open. I need to drill a hole to access the tumblers which I can then rotate to the open position. It will take about and hour or so, but I can do it." Responds the tech.
When the hatch is opened, the SWAT team leader sends down a video probe to view inside the shelter. On the laptop screen they see Kate, unconscious and tied to a chair. Will is at a desk in front of a laptop and it appears he is still and just staring at the screen.
"I'll go first", says the SWAT team leader to his crew. He hands his assault rifle to one of his team members and draws his .45 cal Colt and cocks it. He slowly and silently climbs down the entry ladder. Once in he steps slowly and quietly towards Will. Will is so still, like he is unconscious. The team leader positions himself so he can see Will's face. Looking at Will, he then places his pistol back in the holster.
One other of his team is just then descending the ladder and he nods to him and gives him the sign to halt his actions.
"Suspect is out cold, could be a PTSD bout, get a medic in here now!", he barks out.
In the Ambulance
Kate is coming to as she opens her eyes she sees the face of her handsome husband before her.
"Hey", she says, "am I still dreaming? I was feeding Lily as you were watching us."
Rick upon hearing Kate, plants a affectionate and soft kiss to her lips.
Finishing the kiss, he says, "Can a dream do that? Welcome back to us."
She sits up and gives Rick a more hearty kiss. It is hard and passionate, filled with desire.
"God I almost lost you and Lily!" she exclaims.
"Well you didn't, we got you now."
"Where's Will?", she asks now fully conscious.
"Being treated in the other ambulance."
"How is he doing?"
"Still comatose and out of it. They are getting ready to air evac him to his health facility."
Health Facility
The hospital staff is watching as the helo is landing on the helipad. Among the staff is Coleen Sorenson there to aid the doctors' in any way so her ex husband can heal. It was early evening in Boston and Coleen had gotten the call on her ex husband just as she was leaving her classroom. Since It was early Friday night, she could stay the weekend if needed and thus had a duffle bag of extra clothes. Treatment for Will was immediate and she was prepared for what they had asked of her.
He was still comatose when he arrived at the facility. Coleen met him in his treatment room and he was in his hospital bed. His doctors had told her to talk to him about the courtship and wedding with stories of their married life. At first he did not respond just laid there and listened to her, but as she continued talking about them and their life together she could see he was listening more intently. He at first would not respond to requests like taking his medicine so initially he was feed intravenously. As days passed Will started getting more alert. He started to respond to taking his medicines or taking some food. Coleen stayed with him 24/7 during the weekend; an hour or two after work during the week.
Six Months In Passing
Kate Castle was back at the 12th as C.O. Months back they had managed to find Will Sorenson and take him for treatment at his Mental Health Facility. Since then she had been in contact both with Jordan Shaw and Coleen Sorenson on Will's recovery. Will was getting better and according to his ex wife Coleen had wanted to personally apologize to her for all the trouble he had caused her with his delusions.
Kate had told Coleen there was nothing really to forgive. Will had been sick and should not be held responsible for his delusions. He had been sufferIng from effects of his PTSD. He had been mentally incapacitated, Kate however was glad that all this was behind her. It appears that the FBI gave Will a medical retirement for his PTSD which allowed the FBI to shouldered the expenses for his treatment and gave him a pension so he could live in relative ease during his retirement.
Also, Will had remarried Coleen in a small private ceremony by a Justice of the Peace. Their first marriage had been a big church wedding and they wanted this second time around to be small and more intimate. Kate and Rick had attended, along with many from the FBI and NYPD. There was also some of Will's CIA associates in attendance. Kate was happy for the couple and hoped they would be together for life.
Lily was approaching eight months and was growing into a beautiful child. With the looks of her mom but the eye color of her father, Kate knew that when Lily was teenager that she would have many male admirers. Kate hoped she would take after her older sister in that matter, and not like her mother. Kate recalled her teen years as her rebel Beck years and prayed to the universe her daughter would not go thru such a phase.
Life was happy in the Castle household and there was now a comfortable routine that had set in. On occasion Rick was called in to do consulting for his NYPD team, but only on the "Beckett flavored" case as the boys often called them. Espo was back full time. Seems Kate wanted the Precinct Sergeant job to be done by all the eligible sergeants before making a choice of a permanent assignment.
Espo was more than glad to be back to field work. Anne Whitaker continue to be Rick's partner, but she also had a more permanent partner, the newly minted Detective Third Grade Tory Ellis, who took and passed the detective exam. Tory's background as a tech with computer expertise worked well for the Team. Anything technical went to her by default.
So the Will Sorenson case was finally closed out by the FBI and Will was released to Coleen two weeks back. They started their second time together. Kate was glad how it turned out, and was grateful the universe had answered her prayers on this matter.