Here it is! The final chapter of Cause and Effect! Thank you all so so much for sticking with me throughout this story. I truly appreciate all the wonderful support I have received. Thank you for all the favorites and follows and each and every review! I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Thirteen
Javier stumbled after a rather powerful push from Damon behind him, but quickly righted himself and kept walking. They could still hear the sires from the fire trucks parked in front of the 12th as they came upon a black SUV stashed away in a dark deserted alley.
Esposito shook his head and looked back at his captor. "You let us capture you. Had your car waiting and everything."
Damon winked. "You know it, Kid. Remember, to defeat your enemy you need to be so many steps ahead of them that they can't even see you anymore. I've been sitting at the finish line for weeks just waiting for you to catch up."
"You know in that story the hare loses the race because he was too cocky." Javier volleyed back with a glare.
The former military major tossed his keys to the detective without warning. "You're driving."
After driving for about an hour the Hispanic detective's hands started cramping from the iron grip he had on the steering wheel the entire time. Javier knew he had to try to calm down…at least a little. He needed to be levelheaded if he was going to be able to save Kevin and get them both away from Calder.
Finally Damon told him to stop and get out of the car. However, before leaving the vehicle Javier took in the lone and dark cabin he was parked in front of. No lights illuminated from the small amount of windows surrounding the cabin, a small kitten statue stood next to the welcome mat at the door, while a rocking chair moved gently with the wind. The place looked completely normal. Gritting his teeth at the knowledge that they never would have found Kevin without Calder wanting them to the furious detective slammed out the car.
Damon sauntered into Javier's line of sight. His gun held loosely in one hand. Esposito didn't think twice and lunged at the unsuspecting dangerous man. The ex-military major reacted quickly and shifted his weight, so when they fell to the ground with Javier's momentum Calder was positioned on top. Espo sent a powerful punch to the dirty-blond's jaw, effective knocking him off his chest. Rolling after him Javier reached for his enemy's weapon while he was still stunned from the hit. Unfortunately, Damon recovered faster and brought the metal pistol across Javier's cheek, splitting the skin, bone crunching under the force of the blow.
Calder rose from the ground, gun aiming firmly at Javier on the ground, and spit out some of the blood now pooling in his mouth. With red stained teeth the muscular man smiled. "What was your plan here, Kid? If you actually had succeeded in subduing me? Huh? You still have no idea where Kevin is." The man taunted, chuckling madly.
The injured detective pulled himself to his feet. "I'd find him." He snarled.
"Sure. You'd bring in search dogs if you had to. Am I right? I'm sure it wouldn't take you too long to get everything mobilized. You would have at least a twenty to thirty percent chance of finding your best friend alive. I can't quite remember: are you a betting man, Javi?" Calder held out his weapon to the Hispanic detective, tempting the man to take it.
Javier stepped up close to Damon, but didn't make any move to reach for the pistol. "Let's just get on with this."
Damon scratched at the scar on his neck absently. "Whatever you say. Start heading behind the cabin. It's not too far."
As Damon said, it didn't take very long until they came upon what looked like a small metal plate imbedded in the dirt. Leaves and moss scattered over the top of the metal, hiding it almost completely from view. Upon closer inspection Javier could see on one side of the plate was hinges and he knew instantly that it was a door of some sort. A wave of sickness crashed over the detective as he realized his best friend was trapped inside whatever the door belonged to, underground, as if buried alive.
Javier dropped heavily to his knees, a jolt of pain shooting through his kneecaps with the impact, and clawed desperately at the door in an attempt to open it. As his dark eyes landed on a small keyhole the detective felt the intense fury that had been building in his chest burst. Whipping around the enraged man readied himself to attack, but was halted by the barrel of Calder's pistol aiming directly at his forehead.
"Now, now, Javier. The game isn't at it's end yet. Don't go doing anything rash when you're so close to finally saving him." Damon spoke with a voice filled with dark glee. His eyes alight with a crazed satisfaction as his plan came together exactly as he had hoped.
Javier practically growled, "I will kill you, Damon."
"Your threats are become rather empty. That's what…the third or fourth time you've said that to me? I'm beginning to doubt your resolve. Maybe we should strengthen it." Damon brought his free hand to the chains around his neck, and pulled free from beneath his shirt dog tags and a small key. Without missing a beat he yanked hard on one of the chains, releasing the key from his neck, and tossed it to Javier who caught it easily.
Detective Esposito immediately dropped down once more, turning his back on his captor even-though every instinct in his body was screaming at him not to. With a slight tremble in his hand Javier slid the key into the lock and twisted it until a click sounded.
The detective swiftly reached for the door, but suddenly halted in fear just as his fingertips brushed the cold metal. Overwhelmed, Javier closed his dark brown eyes and took a steeling breath. When he opened his eyes again it was with strong determination burning brightly through his gaze and without anymore delay Javier yanked the metal plate up.
A cold numb feeling washed over Detective Esposito at the sight that greeted him. His best friend sat unmoving in a square coffin-like box, too small for even Kevin's shorter frame to sit comfortably. Even with knees slightly bent some part of Detective Ryan's body touch all four walls of the cramped and dark 'cage', but Javier had no sense of mind to feel the rage he should for where his friend was being kept. Instead all he could feel was a numbing terror at the shocking state his best friend was in.
Kevin's extremely pale face was marked by the discoloration of numerous bruises. His clothes were covered in dirt and dried blood, but what was most alarming to the detective was his inability to tell if Kevin was breathing or not. From where he sat his partner looked dead or very near it.
Javier focused his sight on his best friend's chest, willing it to move, staring to the point of eyes watering. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Kevin's chest rose and fell unsteadily. The Hispanic detective exhaled with relief and swiftly reached down into the box to pull his friend free. Javier frowned at how easy it was to lift the grown man and felt a spark of fury as his fingertips brushed against Kevin's protruding ribcage. With extreme care, he placed his best friend on the cold dirt and took in the many injuries Kevin suffered because of him.
Javier lightly tapped Detective Ryan's cheek. "Kev? Kevin wake up, Bro. Come on…I'm definitely not carrying you out of here like some damsel. You know that Castle would never let us live that down."
Damon suddenly spoke from just behind the two detectives. "I find pain to be a very efficient motivator when Kevin is being difficult. Want me to try?"
"Don't you dare touch him." Esposito snarled.
In that moment, Kevin began to stir and Javier saw the brilliant blue of his eyes, something he had been convinced he would never see again. Uncharacteristically overwhelmed by emotions, Javier's brown eyes filled with tears and his voice cracked as he spoke to the person he viewed as his brother. "Hey Bro, you with me?"
Kevin blinked several times in an attempt to un-blur his vision until finally Javier's concerned face came into view. "Javi? What are you…how did you? You're not really here. Like Jen…you're just in my head."
Esposito shook his head feverishly, tears finally escaping his dark eyes. "No Man, I…I'm really here. I'm going to get out of here. Bring you back home…like partners do."
"Nnnno….no you…you can't be here! It's what he wants…he wants you to suffer. You have to get out…get out of here now!" Ryan struggled to warn desperately as his shaky hands gripped Javier's forearms weakly.
"I'm not going anywhere without you, Kev. Can you stand?" Esposito spoke softly. His mind racing furiously.
Detective Ryan blinked sluggishly, staring off blankly, taking far too much time to answer for Javier's liking. "I think so." Finally came the muttered response.
Detective Esposito bit his lip in worry and without needing to be asked, pulled Kevin to his feet and swung an are over his strong shoulders to take almost all of his partner's weight. Turning around the two were immediately faced with the barrel of Calder's pistol and a manic grin upon the man's face.
"How about we take this reunion inside?" Damon voiced smugly, waving his gun in the direction of the cabin.
Javier clenched his jaw tightly as he felt Kevin flinch at his former mentor's voice. The action bringing suffocating guilt crashing over the Hispanic detective. How would he even be able to look his partner in the eyes after they made it out of this? If they made it out.
As if sensing his best friend's internal struggle Kevin gripped Javier's shoulder with a surprising amount of strength to get his attention before staring directly into his eyes. "None of this is your fault." Detective Ryan stated breathlessly. His voice betraying just how exhausted and weak he was truly feeling.
Esposito was at a loss for words. Even after everything Ryan had clearly been through he was still more worried about him. Javier could only gaze at his friend in shock until Kevin sent him a small encouraging smile that sent him reeling further. As if Javier was the one that needed the strength to move forward. But the Hispanic detective quickly realized that he did. He was terrified, but Kevin's smile, even one as small as that, gave him the resolve to keep going. To know that they could still be fine…that his best friend could still be fine. That was all Javier needed to turn the two towards the cabin.
The short trek back to the cabin seemed to sap all of Detective Ryan's remaining energy, and by the time Calder was opening the door, ushering them inside, Javier was supporting all of Kevin's weight. The injured detective's bare feet dragging quietly across the wooden floor with each struggled step the pair took.
Esposito felt a jolt of relief as he spotted a wooden table and chairs sitting in the middle of the room. Moving towards it as swiftly as he could the detective carefully place his precious cargo down and gave his friend a quick once over. The relief he felt of being able to set Kevin down was replaced harshly by an intense sick horror as his dark eyes landed on the straps attached to the arms and legs of the chair. Swallowing against his suddenly dry throat Javier reached down again almost immediately, desperate to remove his partner from the offensive object.
"I think Kevin's fine right there, Kid. Leave him be and turn around." Calder ordered cruelly, but it quickly became apparent that Javier was going to ignore his order so he continued. "Or I could just shoot him and let you hold your friend as he bleeds to death." Words emphasized with a click of his pistol.
Detective Esposito clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, grip on Kevin's arms tightening without thought. The detective began breathing harshly through his nose in an unsuccessful attempt to calm his raging emotions.
It was his friend's quiet but surprisingly steady voice that pulled him back. "Javi, it's okay."
Esposito shook his head frantically in disagreement. "No…it's not…none of this is. I don't want you sitting in this thing."
"Are you really going to argue over a chair?" Kevin asked lightly, trying to joke, despite his voice cracking with obvious exhaustion.
The distraught man smiled a small fond smile at his friend. "It wouldn't be the first time I've argued over a chair and you know it."
Detective Ryan huffed out a laugh that dissolve into a painful coughing fit. He brought his overly shaking hand to clutch at his aching side after the movement jarred his injured ribs with pain etched upon his face. "Maybe we should hold off on laughing for a bit." He groaned out quietly.
Javier's smile slipped slowly from his face. Carefully, he gave his best friend's shoulder a squeeze and sent him a short but firm nod. The detective then stood up from his previous crouching position, turning to face off against his demented former mentor. His knuckles cracking from the force he clinched his hands into fists by his side.
"So here it is, Damon…the finish line, your checkmate. What's your next move? You've got me exactly where you wanted. You don't need Kevin anymore. This is between you and me." Javier said firmly, taking a step closer to his target with each sentence.
His former friend smiled cruelly. "Come now, Kid. Don't tell me you still haven't figured out the end of this story.
Javier's steps faltered. "I really don't understand any of this. You're the one that was in the wrong. You were using your team…using me to kill American friendlies! Just so you could benefit from all the death and destruction!"
"And you didn't benefit at all? I took you under my wing and made you into the tough and driven person standing before me. Do you really think you would be where you are now if I didn't pluck you out of the sea of indistinguishable soldiers for greatness?"
"I didn't ask you to take me under your wing, train me, and make me feel like I could be better. Well guess what? I am better because of your betrayal…not mine. I can't imagine what I would have turned into had you fully gotten your poisonous claws into me."
The ex-military man narrowed his cold grey eyes. "If I was so bad. Then why did you save my life? You disobeyed a direct order, and came by yourself into an enemy camp to save me. Face it, Dear Javier, you were my friend and still you stabbed me in the back." He hissed spitefully.
"Trust me, if I had known the kind of person you really were I would have left you for dead." Javier snapped back.
Damon's face fell as if his captive's words actually hurt him. The gun in his hand dropping slightly, as his gaze drifted to the other side of the room blankly. Esposito surged forward, trying to take advantage of his sudden distraction, but was once again halted by the threat of his weapon.
Calder glared at the detective, rage clearly burning behind his gaze. "I'm going to destroy you. I'll make you suffer unimaginable pain, before I finally…mercifully kill you."
The mixture of fear, anger, and hatred became too much and Javier finally lost the small amount of control he had desperately been clinging to. "Then do it! Torture me! Kill me! I don't care! If you feel so damn slighted by me then punish me!"
The wicked smile returned to his captor's face. "I have been." Damon stated surely. "Every single discomfort and indignity Kevin suffered at my hand was to punish you. When you thought he was dead, it cracked that mighty Javier Esposito persona you so carefully crafted all these years. Now there are cracks in your foundation, Kid. And…you're ready to crumble."
Esposito's heart rate quickened as terror gripped at his chest. Things were escalating rapidly. He needed to do something and soon.
Damon slowly moved in close to Javier, pressing the cool metal of his pistol over the detective's racing heart, effectively deterring any possible rebellion. Grey eyes connected with dark brown ones as the two former friends each stood their ground. The tension in the lone cabin was heavy as was the silence as its' three occupants waited for the next move.
Impatient Javier broke the silence. "Go ahead. Pull the trigger and end this. You've been waiting for this moment. For the day you could finally have your revenge."
The ex-military major shook his head. "I'm not going to kill you…not yet."
"What are you waiting for?" Esposito asked tiredly.
Calder lowered his voice and leaned even closer to Javier as if they were two friends about to share a secret. His mouth inches from the stilled detective's left ear while his eyes settled on Kevin sitting anxiously in the chair behind his partner. "Do you know what's worse than thinking your best friend is dead?"
Javier's heart skipped a beat as a feeling of dread overcame him. Without having to think about it the Hispanic detective shifted his footing to block his partner from their captor's view and glared at Damon.
The dirty-blond stepped back. "Finding him alive…only to lose him again." Calder finished his words by smashing the butt of his gun into the side of Esposito's head.
Knocked to the ground by the surprise blow the dazed detective watched as the blurry figure stalked dangerously towards Kevin and raised his weapon once more.
"That is what will truly destroy you. I am sorry about this, Kev. I actually started to like you. Oh well."
In a panic Javier jumped unsteadily to his feet and hurled himself at the man threatening his best friend…his brother. Slamming all his weight into Calder's side Esposito's mind registered the sound of a gunshot making his ears ring just as they landed forcefully on the floor. The two wrestled on the hard wood viciously until finally Esposito got the upper hand. Enraged, Javier repeatedly smashed his fists into Damon's quickly bloodying face as the man continued to laugh beneath him.
Slight hands unexpectedly tugged at Detective Esposito's shoulder while a muffled voice tried desperately to snap him of of his fury-fueled attack.
"It's done, Jav-…you listenin-…me? ESPOSITO!"
Jolted from his frenzy Javier looked up from Damon's beaten face to see his friend crouched next to him. "Beckett? When?" He asked numbly but his voice swiftly rose in intensity. "Where were you?! You should have been here ten minutes after we arrived! That was the plan!"
Kate gently pulled Javier off of Calder, allowing two other officers to pull him to his feet, and handcuff him. "We lost your tracker as soon as you guys turned off the main road. We've been frantically searching for over an hour. Believe me, we would have been here sooner if we could."
Damon chuckled hoarsely. His left eye was almost completely swollen shut, and blood leaked from his nose and mouth as he spoke. "Lost your tracker huh? I guess I'm not the only one letting myself be captured. We are definitely more alike than you'd want to believe, Kid."
"Shut up." Javier growled, starting towards their prisoner threateningly.
The Hispanic detective's words only made Calder smile wider. "Ya know, the saddest part about all of this is that even-though you found a way to get a step ahead of me…you still lost."
The anger controlling Javier's mind drained away completely with his former mentor's statement, allowing the detective to fully grasp everything that happened. It took him only a second to remember the gunshot going off just as he tackled Damon. Immediately his thoughts turned to his best friend, and thinking the worst snapped his gazed to the last place he saw his partner.
Brokenly Javier whispered, "No." As his throat burned with the rush of oncoming tears welling in his brown eyes.
The numb detective stumbled to the other side of the cabin to the overturned chair and his friend's still form. Castle and Beckett looked on in shock. The writer holding his silently crying wife in his arms. Neither of them knowing what to do or how to move closer.
Javier took a steadying breath before he moved to kneel next to Kevin, but the breath caught in his throat. A blinding smile broke out over Esposito's face as his blurring gaze connected with his best friend's, no his brother's, brilliant, awake, and wonderfully alive blue eyes.
Worry swiftly crashed over Javier and he dropped to the wooden floor heavily next to his partner. "Where did the bullet hit you?!" He asked while frantically searching through his friend's numerous injuries for the wound.
Kevin smiled tiredly and tried to bat his searching hands away. "It didn't. I…I pushed the chair back in time. I'm okay, Javi."
Javier stopped his probing and critically swept his sight over the wall next to them. He searched until his eyes settled on a small hole inline with where Ryan's heart had been only moments before. Releasing a shaking breath the Hispanic detective looked back at his friend with relief.
"Uh Javi, you're staring. It's kinda freaking me out, Bro."
Javier let loose a sudden laugh as the tightness gripping his chest for months finally released. He could breathe, really breathe, again. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again." He admitted with an unsteady voice as tears filled his eyes once more. This time with happiness.
Kevin cleared his throat before attempting to speak passed the overwhelming feeling to breakdown. "I never lost hope. I knew you guys would find me…that you would find me. Thank you."
Unable to hold himself back anymore Javier pulled Kevin up as carefully as he could and crushed him in a tight hug. The injured detective brought his shaking hands around his best friend's back and clung to him desperately, as he finally let go, tears soaking into Esposito's shirtfront. After a few moments Beckett and Castle joined the pair and encircled Kevin with no intention of letting go anytime soon.
There you have it! The final official chapter of this story. I have already written an epilogue that I will be posting shortly. I actually had it included in this chapter, but it became too long, and I decided it would be better separate. Please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter or the story as a whole! I hope the final confrontation lived up to any expectations you may have had. Again thank you all so much for reading! Let me know how quickly you want the epilogue posted! Until next time...
