A/N: This is NOT what it seems… that's ALL I'm saying. =)). This one goes out to Diana Zurensky... Kapish? Read on… no, wait… Onward… *sniggers* this turned out better than I expected, but that doesn't mean you'll like it.

It happened fast. The sound of a van door opening… two hands grabbing him… losing his balance… being thrown into the back of a van…. It was like something out of some lame sci-fi series. But it happened, and it happened fast, so fast that it took a few seconds for Castle to realize what had happened, and another few moments to respond.

The word trained killer flashed through his mind.

"What the-"

"Shut up writer-boy!" a bald man in his late 50's spat in his face.

Two men in suits had Castle's arms pinned behind his back as the van drove through the traffic.

"What do you want?" Castle demanded, determined not to show fear, despite how much was building up inside him.

"To kill you," the man stated matter-of-factly. There was no emotion in his voice at all, and Castle realized exactly what this ambush was.

"Oh, well, and here I was thinking, you wanted to buy me roses," he shot back angrily. He had to stay alive, even if it was only for the sake of his daughter, Alexis. She couldn't afford to be without her father, she was still learning right from wrong as far as he was concerned, still making the odd mistake that needed her father's advice or input from. "What do you want me for?"

"You happened to shadow Detective Kate Beckett," the bald man tapped his nose. "I see all. I know all. Big mistake, Mr. Castle. You should have picked someone else's daughter to play with. This one is going to get you killed."

The bald man finalized his thought. It had to do with Lockwood.

Finally, the van pulled to a stop and the men in suits hauled him out of the van and into what looked like an abandon building. He was cuffed to a chair, and slapped around a few times, as he clenched his jaw, determined not to show fear to these men. If they were going to kill him, they'd kill him, and he couldn't do a damn thing about it. He wasn't going to die, begging.

"Aren't you going to cry?" the bald man baited him.

"No," he said through clenched teeth. "And give you the satisfaction. Maybe you underestimate me."

The man laughed, and spat in his face.

Castle felt ill, but he fought to urge to throw up.

"That is extremely distasteful. Seriously, that's what you've got?" he said imagining this wasn't his last few hours, minutes or… however long these men intended to keep him alive. Instead, he forced himself to believe he was imagining his character in his Nikki Heat books.

Kate Beckett would come for him, of that he had no doubt.

"I'm going to slice your throat," the bald man stated.

"That's nice," he replied with a shrug. "I can see you have no creativity."

"WHAT?" the man roared.

"Slicing my throat, come on, are you trying to resemble some demonic monster in a Stephen King novel," castle shook his head with obvious disapproval, seemingly angering the man further. "I think I overestimated you."

The bald man leaned forward, inches from Castle's face, as they were nose to nose in battle.

"What are you waiting for?" Castle asked.

"I want to make this slow," he stated. "You're gonna wish you kept that sarcastic dialogue to paper, Mr. Castle."

The bald man withdrew and turned to the suit men, who handed him a pocket full of tools. He took out a pick axe, and the suit men stood back as the bald man stepped up to Castle, who could now feel the beads of sweat accumulating on his forehead.

"Not a fan of dialogue?" Castle said. "I can try mime if you like… though it's not half as popular with the ladies."

The man raised the small tool and scrapped it gently across Richard Castle's cheek, making a slight mark, that didn't even draw blood. Castle was beginning to feel the fear, but still, he kept it hidden. It wasn't the end all, just yet… was it?

Forgive the mention of "it was like something out of some lame sci-fi series" because I was watching SG-1 the other day, and Sam Carter got 'napped that way, so I thought at least SG-1 fans would appreciate it. I don't think it's lame by the way… okay, sometimes I do. SO… did I surprise you? You were expecting a reunion with Kate Beckett I presume. Bummer! =)).