"I guess we can't be surprised, can we?" A burdened voice said in her ear, rousing her troubled mind.
Kate didn't move, instead her gaze a blank fixation on the ominous message.
"Kate…" His arms encircled her torso, the palms of his hands in protective repose on her abdomen as he drew his body closer to hers.
The warmth his affections warded off the chill which had surged through her veins. She positioned her hands over his, unaware of the deep sigh escaping her mouth. Castle's arms felt like home and she yearned to bask in the sanctuary of his presence always. She turned to face him and their eyes connected as she flashed a faint smiled.
"Rick, I love you." She whispered, her hand resting on his jaw while her fingertips offered subtle traces on his lips.
"I don't know what will happen…" She buried her face in his shoulder.
"Kate." His fingers slid underneath her delicate chin and compelled her hazel eyes to return to his.
"We will find them, Kate. I won't let anything happen to you."
"It's not me I'm worried about Castle…" He saw a pain return to Kate's eyes. A pain only present when she was reliving the trauma of his disappearance.
"Jerry Tyson will not take our happiness away from us nor will Kelly Nieman. We're strong, Kate, we won't let them. I love you and will always be by your side. That's just part of the deal you signed up for when you married me. Then when we're both old and senile we can rediscover our love for each other. "
She found it irresistible how he always knew how to melt her heart with his faith in them. She adored his reassuring voice and boyish smile that were synonymous these moments.
"Thank you." She replied with a genuine smile.
"Always." He smiled back at her.
"Come now Mrs. Castle. I need your expertise."
"Oh?"
Castle took hold her hand and they made their way to the couch.
Kate spent the next few hours with Castle and Alexis figuring out a plan to ensure the red head's safety while they worked on the case. Any case involving Dr. Nieman and Jerry Tyson was close to home for both Beckett and Castle. The option to not pursue it was out of the question, still Alexis' safety was priority. After careful thought they decided she and Martha should vacation overseas until all was clear. Castle had trusted friends there so he knew they were in good hands. Tyson had resources, but not any that were so far reaching. The personal calling card for Beckett left no sign of any interest in anyone beyond her and Caste. Tyson had never made any plays at Martha or Alexis before so Castle knew that this victim meant to rattle him and Beckett. If he and Beckett were inseparable before, they'd be even more so now.
With the news that Martha and Alexis had made it to their destination and were safe, Kate and her husband collapsed on their bed. Both worn down from the emotional and mental exhaustion of this ordeal. It had only been thirty-six hours since they'd arrived at the crime scene, yet it felt more distant than that.
"Now the trick is falling asleep." Castle sighed as he pulled Kate closer.
"Yeah, I'm still on edge." She replied somewhat distant.
"We can't let him disrupt our lives, Kate. This is what he wants. For us to be paranoid and not focused on outsmarting him."
"You're right, Castle. The question is how do we move on without always feeling like we have to watch our backs?"
"I don't know that there's a right answer to that question. We just do."
"Well, I can think of one thing that might help." Kate said in a low admiring voice.
"Please tell me you're alluding to what I think you are." Castle begged.
"Why don't you kiss me and find out..."