AN: Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews for this story. I really appreciate them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
Jim stares at his wife, anger boiling in his veins as she returns the phone to the receiver.
"You said no," he starts, gritting his teeth.
"Jim-"
"You said no to getting our own daughter back!" His hands clench into fists as his gaze burns holes into his wife's head. "You're choosing a case over Katie, our own flesh and blood. What's wrong with you?"
He's known his wife to be stubborn. Hell, it's one of the things he loves about her, usually. But right now, he only allows fury to consume him at the thought of their daughter being put at risk.
"Jim, please listen to me," she begs. He waits, wondering what the hell she could possibly say to justify her actions. "I did it to buy us some time. I know what he wants and who he is. I just need to gather the information I have and-"
"Get rid of it all," he finishes for her. However, his heart sinks as she shakes her head.
"I'm so close to finishing it. I can use what I have and hook this guy."
"What about Kate? Doesn't she count in any of this?"
"It won't take me long, a few hours at the most." Sighing, she massages her temple. "I promise you, this will be done before tomorrow."
"And if not?" He hates even entertaining the idea.
"Then I'll do what he wants and destroy everything I have on this case."
Her eyes hold promise, but he's not sure he can trust her to fulfill it.
"Fine, but if you know for a fact that this can't be finished by tonight, you need to tell me."
"I will," she says as she puts on her coat. "I'll be back. Just make sure to pick up the phone in case he calls again."
"Should I call the police?" The voice on the phone didn't say not to call the cops, but Jim doesn't want to anger his daughter's captor.
"Not yet, it hasn't been forty eight hours, so they won't take it," she replies. "If I come home and haven't accomplished what I intend to accomplish, then we'll call them."
Jim nods, sighing as his wife heads out the door.
He really isn't sure about any of this.
Johanna Beckett stares at the two women across from her, both bearing concerned expressions.
"Is everything okay, Jo?" Diane Cavanaugh asks.
"Yeah, you sounded really distraught on the phone," Jennifer Stewart notes.
Johanna glances down at the mug her hands clutch, trying to form the words suitable for the situation.
"Something's happened," she starts. "Something to do with the Pulgatti case."
"Oh?" Diane quizzes.
Swallowing, the brunette licks her lips, her brain still trying to process everything. "Katie's gone missing, she was taken last night." She hears both women gasp in astonishment, but she presses on. "I need you two to pull everything we have on the case."
"I thought you wanted to wait until you had more evidence," Jennifer chirps.
"I can't sit on this, not anymore." The mother purses her lips, gazing at her two coworkers. "Someone gave me proof, real proof of who's behind all this."
"Do you want to come back to the office?" Jennifer asks.
Johanna shakes her head vigorously. "No, it's too risky. I'm already chancing it by meeting you guys now." She turns to the window, observing the pedestrians passing by on the sidewalk. "I knew this case was going to get me in trouble, but not like this. Never like this," her voice cracks. God, Katie, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
"Just tell us what you need," Diane murmurs.
The brunette then clears her throat, detailing all of the information she needs to take this man down.
It's the only way to end everything and have her daughter back home safe and sound.
Alex knocks on the doorframe, his other hand clutching a bouquet of flowers.
"Come in," a soft voice calls from inside.
"Hey," he greets, smiling as he steps over to the nightstand by the bed and replaces the old bunch of flowers with the new one. "How are you feeling?"
The woman in the bed shrugs, rolling her eyes. "Throwing up a little, but it comes with the chemo. Besides that, I feel grand."
His lips quirk, enjoying the way her blue eyes sparkle a little brighter today. "Of course."
"So, how are you?" She gestures to the chair next to her. "It's not like you to be gone so long." It's true, he usually visits every day.
"I had errands to run," he lies. Well, it's not a completely falsehood. His mind flashes to the teenager, who began watching TV when he left her.
"Ah," his mother hums, smirking. Despite lacking her red hair, her expressions are still as vibrant as ever. "So, who is she?"
"She?" he inquires.
"The girl you've been seeing," she goads. She scoffs as his expression turns incredulous. "Come now, Richard, I know that look in your eye, the one you get when you think you've met someone." His lips form into a pout as his arms fold cross his chest. Is it really that obvious? His mother only chuckles.
"It's no one, just someone I seem to run into a lot, lately" It sounds like a lie, even to his own ears. His mother raises an eyebrow, or rather, she would if she had any, but says nothing. "So, any big plans for today?"
"Just another afternoon of bingo and chatting with girls," she states with a sigh. He has to give the hospital credit for trying to keep its patients entertained. "My next round starts tomorrow."
"I'll try to be here," Rick says. Doubt niggles in his mind, however, since everything could blow up by tomorrow. He prays it doesn't.
"Don't come on account of me, Dear." She waves her head. "Go try to woo that girl who's obviously stuck in your head."
"I'll try," he mutters, knowing what he's done to Kate is the farthest thing from winning her over. "I'll see you soon." He plants a kiss on her forehead before giving a departing wave.
Hopefully, Kate's still in the basement when he returns.
He goes back to the brownstone about a half hour later, his body filling with relief when he finds the door's still locked.
Entering the home, he unlocks the door to the basement, cocking his head when he hears the sound of running water.
She must be in the shower, he thinks.
Sure enough, when he opens the door to her temporary living space, the shower shuts off, the door to the bathroom creaking. His mouth goes dry at the sight in front of him.
Kate steps into the room, a towel the only thing encasing her body, her skin and hair dripping wet. Rick bites his lip, holding in a groan as she bends down to open the bottom drawer of the dresser, one hand gripping the edge of the cloth to keep it on her. Finally, he clears his throat, announcing his presence.
"Oh," she startles, eyes wide. "I, uh, didn't hear you." Heat rises in her cheeks and from his viewpoint, he's able to see just how far down her blush goes, almost.
"Yeah, I just came in." He turns around to give her privacy. "Up for some lunch?"
"Sure." He hears the rustling of fabric followed by the noise of a zipper being closed.
"Okay," he mutters before closing the door and locking it. Once done, he rests his forehead against the wood, his eyes closed tightly, the image of Kate clad in a towel still visible in his mind, her long legs on display. He knows the image is going to stay in his head for a while.
God he's screwed.