Title: A Heartbreak, A Crime & A Declaration
By: greygoose70
Summary; In the aftermath of the dirty bomb Castle has some thinking to do but something happens that changes his life. (A/U for S03/E17)
Chapter 4
Castle again found himself looking down at a body (his body) on the a operating table. How the hell did I get back here? He asked thankful that no one could hear him. 'Well better here than on one of Lanie's,' he thought.
It looked like they were going back in at his abdominal wound. "Found it," the operating surgeon proclaimed. "Clamp," he said holding out his hand where a nurse placed one. "Looks like an artery was nicked just enough to cause the bleeding." He then proceeded to make the necessary repair before ordering one of his assistants to close Castle back up.
Alexis and Martha were waiting nervously in the OR waiting area. Waiting patiently for the surgeon to come in with the news concerning Rick when Kate and Detective Rizzoli came rushing in. The moment Alexis spotted Kate she jumped up out of her chair and went running to her instantly wrapping her arms around her mumbling, "You're here, thank god you're here."
"Yes Lexi, I'm here." she said consoling the girl and rubbing her back. Martha then arriving engulfing the both saying, "We're so happy you could get here so quickly, Katherine."
"Well you can thank Jane here for that," Kate replied. "Come on lets sit you back down."
When they were all settled in chairs Kate made the proper introductions," Martha, Alexis this is Detective Jane Rizzoli of the Suffolk County Sheriffs Department. Jane meet Martha Rodgers, Ricks mother and Alexis Castle, his daughter."
"Pleased to meet you both," Rizzoli told them. "And please call me Jane.
"Hello Jane," Alexis and Martha replied almost as one.
Dr. Winchester began removing his surgical mask as he left the OR in route to the waiting room, Castle right on his heels. Once he arrive there he explained the situation to all present finally telling them Mr. Castle would be back in ICU within the hour.
Castle upon seeing Kate and Jane there went over and whispered in Kate's ear. She acted like she didn't hear him so he tried again getting the same response, nothing. Castle went over to Jane and whispered in her ear as well, he got the same result from her that he got from Kate, zilch. No, no, no! He shouted. I need someone to hear me!
"Hear what," Lanie said coming through the door followed closely by Ryan and Esposito.
Suddenly two heads snapped around with a look of astonishment on their faces, those of Kate Beckett and Jane Rizzoli.
"Lanie, Ryan, Espo, what are you doing here." Kate asked when she saw the rest of her team and the medical examiner then seeing Detective Williamson from Karpowski's team straggling in.
"We came as soon as we heard 'writer-boy' had another episode." Answered Lanie going over to hug her friend and greet Martha and Alexis. "And you must be Detective Rizzoli," she said turning to face Jane. "M.E. Lanie Parish, pleased to meet you."
"Correct Dr. Parish, pleased to meet you as well and you may call me Jane."
"Then I'm Lanie and these two dudes are Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan."
"Just Espo will do,"he said in greeting. "Just Ryan," he said with a nod.
"Okay now that everyone knows everyone," Kate commented. "Lanie what were you saying as you came in?"
"Well as I neared the door I heard somebody shout "no, no, no. I need someone to hear me."
"Jane, Lanie come here," Kate whispered grabbing Lanie's arm and pulling her into the corridor. "You to Rick." She spoke somewhat louder.
Once the three (okay four if you count Castle) were securely out of snooping range from those in the waiting room Kate spoke up. "Rick, are you here?"
Yes, he answered.
"Whaa…" Lanie was about to scream until Kate put her hand over Lanie's mouth. "Shh," Kate said removing her hand. "It's a long story one we don't have time for right now. But Castle's spirit or something is here and previously when he talked it was only Jane and I that could hear him but somehow now its you. So what happened Rick?"
I don't know. One second I'm in the back of Jane's cruiser the next second I'm in the hospital operating room watching myself being operated on again.
"What'd he say Lanie?" Kate asked.
As Lanie repeated what Rick said to Kate, Ryan was receiving a phone call from Karpowski with information she got from the HR manager at MESA Safe.
Ryan stuck his head out the door speaking loud enough so Beckett could hear him. "Beckett you need come here, we got something."
As Beckett and the the rest of her group began their way over she answered Ryan call. "Whatta ya got, Ryan?"
"Well I ran the two first names you gave me along with the filters B&E and safe cracker through our data base and came up with five names, one of them being Clyde Benson."
"Thee Clyde Benson!" Beckett clamored. "One of the most well known safe crackers the NYPD has ever encountered. But the Feds caught him a couple of years ago."
"Yeah but get this he had a son named George. Espo here found out George works for C&H Trucking."
"Do we know who is partner is?" Beckett asked.
"That would be Craig Covington, his brother, rather his half-brother actually and guess who he works…"
"MESA Safe." Jane and Kate responded simultaneously.
"I just got off the phone with the Captain and he has put out a BOLO and sent units out to their home addresses." Espo said upon rejoining.
Lets find these bastards. Castle cried out.
Lanie tapped Kate on the shoulder and whispered in her ear Castles comment. "We will," Kate whispered back hoping Rick was close and heard her.
"Okay everybody we may as well get comfortable till we hear something" Kate told them.
Approximately forty minutes later two things happened. One, a nurse came to the door telling them Mr. Castle has been moved back to ICU and two, Beckett's phone rang. Seeing it was Roz she answered it with, "Hey Roz, what's up." She then listened before replying, "we'll' meet you there."
"Lets go. Craig Covington just got home," Beckett proclaimed getting up from the most uncomfortable plastic chair she was sitting in. "Roz has the place staked out in case George Benson shows up. "Lanie you're coming too."
"We got enough cars" Beckett asked as the group headed to the elevator. "I've got mine," Will answered. "And I've got Espo's and mine," Ryan replied.
"How about vests," Rizzoli then queried just as the doors to the elevator doors slid opened.
"Two extra," commented Will. "One," Espo responded.
"Jane, you and Lanie are with me and Will."
What about me"
"Why do think I'm going Castle," Lanie retorted softly.
They parked their vehicles a block away from Covington's house. Beckett had phoned Roz while they were in route letting here know where and she was there to greet them leaving her other team member, Jack, to keep watch. "Anything yet?" Beckett asked as they met.
"Not that I know of but I'm glad your here. This place has four exit points front, back, a side door and a door that leads to the second level."
Just as Karpowski finished a car pulled up and parked behind Espo's vehicle. The group turned their heads to see LT, dressed in black combat clothes, get out and approach them and saying, "the Captain sent me."
"You mean you volunteered," Beckett responded to him with a nod and a slight smile. She knew how close LT and Castle were, they were always seeing what kind of mischief they could get Ryan and Espo in to. LT was not going to let these two scumbags get away with harming his friend; he is a former Navy Seal and would take them out if it came to that.
"Okay everybody listen up, Ryan, Espo you two take the back. Roz, Jack you get the second floor exit. That leaves the other side for Will and LT. Jane and I have the front. Radios, how we fixed for radios" She finally asked remember they needed a way to communicate.
"I brought extra," LT replied.
"Okay people lets gear up and go," Beckett commanded leading the way to the trunk of LT's vehicle. "Good god LT did you think we were going to war," upon seeing the armory he had with him.
They'd be wise to take those M4 Carbines Castle spoke into Lanie's ear.
Lanie immediately grabbed hold of Kate and whispered Castle's exact words. "Why would he say that?" Kate asked.
Castle then said something else with Lanie repeating it to Kate, "Because he's been inside the house and found a cache of weapons. "Hold up," Beckett cried. "I want every watch team to have at least one M4 with two extra mags."
Beckett received some funny looks but one from each team returned to get one. Jane from her team picked up theirs commenting she hadn't used one since her Army days.
Minutes later after everyone had reported in they settled in for what hoped wasn't to be a long wait. And it wasn't. Just as dusk was setting in a white SUV pulled up in front of the house and four men got out and went inside. Kate was able to identify the driver as George Benson from a photo Roz sent her earlier. "What type of weapons did you say they had Rick."
"Saw AR15's" Lanie reiterated from Castle. "Four maybe five Glocks,." "Anything else?" Lanie paused. Just extra magazines and boxes filled with ammo."
"Shit!" Beckett declared. "We go charging in there we will be looking at a war. I'm calling for a SWAT team." She pulled out her phone from the pocket on her BPV and dialed giving whoever answered her location. She then got on the radio telling the others the same information and telling them to hold your position." 'Now if those inside will just hold off till the cavalry arrives.
"How long before SWAT gets here?" Jane asked her trigger finger getting itchy against the M4 Carbine she cradled in her hand.
"Twenty to twenty-five minutes," Kate answered. "Wonder what they are doing in there."
Want me to find out?
"Castle wants to know if you want him to find out," Lanie told her.
"No Rick, we'll just wait them out, backup will be here shortly." Kate replied.
Approximately ten minutes later Castle spoke to Lanie again. Better find some cover Lanie they're getting ready to come out and they are heavily armed.
"You went in!" Lanie shouted.
"He what!" Beckett bellowed thinking if he was physically here she'd smack him for being so stupid, but then remembering he couldn't be seen or heard she lowered her voice and asked what he learned.
"Said take cover they're coming out and heavily armed," Lanie said relaying Castles message.
"He's right Lanie. Find some place where you'll be out of the line of fire." Kate then got on the radio giving additional instructions to the others.
Several minutes later Jane saw the front door open, a lone figure stepping out looking up and down the street. "Wait till they're all out in the open, Kate" she said.
Moments passed but then four more figures appeared and began moving toward the SUV that's when Beckett raised the bullhorn and shouted out. "NYPD. Drop your…!
She got no further before one of them open fired from the AR15 he was holding, several rounds hitting the side of Karpowski's car with one shattering the passenger side window.