Prison of Darkness
Notes: I hope you guys don't find Kate too out of character here.
Disclaimer: Still not mine. Never will be mine. You know the drill.
Chapter 10
Lanie Parish was deep in the insides of some poor murdered woman when her cell phone rang. With a sigh, she withdrew her hands and slowly peeled off her gloves. The phone rang four times, then five, before she finally got to it.
She answered, "hello," just in time to hear the line go dead.
She took off her robe and glasses and headed to her desk. As she went, she looked to see who the missed call was from. Her eyebrows rose as she saw it was from Javier Esposito. She quickly called him back.
"Esposito."
"Did you just call me?"
"Yeah, it was me."
"What do you want? Did you need clarification on Ian Woon?"
"No, nothing like that. It's Beckett."
"Beckett?" Lanie sat and was suddenly giving him her whole attention. "Is she okay?"
"She's taking a week off work because of what happened with Castle."
"Kate never takes time off."
"I know."
She thought for a moment before saying, "I'll check on her after work."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
XXX
At the hospital, Kate passed Gina in the lobby. Gina gave her a quick update on Castle before rushing off to an author's signing. Castle's condition hadn't changed, a fact which, at this point, was no surprise to Kate.
She continued on towards Castle's room, discovering that there were no other visitors. This was a relief. She had no intentions of telling anyone that she was there because she couldn't sleep.
The nurse on duty smiled at Kate as she walked by. Kate inclined her head in acknowledgment.
"Good morning, Castle," she said quietly as she entered and went to the chair.
If this body were just a shell and the real Castle were really out there somewhere, she wondered what he was doing and if he were safe.
"The things I agree to believe for you."
She looked down at the shallow cut in her arm and gently traced it with a finger.
"If you were here, I know you would tell me to go to sleep already and just get it over with. So, how do I do it? How do I just let go and go to sleep? I'm tired, but I've been tired ever since this thing started. I don't really think this is supposed to be an every night kind of thing, but here we are. Trapped...but at least I can come home."
With a sigh, she closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. Sitting there with Castle, she started to relax. Still, the chair was uncomfortable, and she remembered how stiff she was the last time.
Then, an idea came to her. As it went through her mind, she felt her face color. It would be embarrassing if anyone caught her, but she knew she had to get back to sleep. So much depended on it.
"I don't want to hear one word about this when you wake up, Castle. Not one word," she said lowly as she stood up and slipped off her shoes.
She also took off her jacket and placed it on the back of the chair. The shoes and jacket would be useful in the other world, but she was more concerned about the extra clothing keeping her awake. After all, she could always borrow something from Nahla.
There were still a couple of tubes attached to Castle, but Kate was able to gently move those aside. She placed Castle's hand on his stomach to make more room. Feeling foolish, she looked once around to make sure no one was watching. She knew they were alone, but she automatically checked anyway. Hoping that no one would catch her, especially Gina or Alexis...or Ryan or Esposito...Kate carefully got into the bed next to Castle. Even though she was on top of the covers and he was under, she could feel his warmth and his breath.
The bed was small, but Kate lay on her side curled up against him. There was just enough room so that she was not tumbling backwards off the bed.
She put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she was hit by an unexpected wave of sorrow and loss. Tears pressed against her eyelids and her throat tightened.
Kate hadn't realized until just that moment just how much she missed him.
A million images of Castle went through her head. How annoying he could be and how sweet. His love for his daughter. His sense of honour and decency. The way his heart went out to a young woman in distress. How he always knew the thing to say to make her smile. She knew her life was better for having met him. It was just really hard to tell him so. If she didn't get him out of this, if he didn't survive, she didn't know what she would do.
"You'd go on," his voice said in her mind. "You'd go on because you have to. You'd go on because you have the strength to survive. I have faith in you."
"Let's hope it's not misplaced," she whispered in answer to the voice.
Fighting away the tears and sorrow, Kate made her mind go blank. She only let herself think of and feel the warmth of his body next to hers. She counted his breaths as they lulled her. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. In...
XXX
Kate found herself outside Safe Haven. She was in the rumpled sweats she had put on that morning and in her sock feet.
"Kate?" She turned to see Nahla standing behind her.
The girl had her hair up in pigtails and she was wearing a belt with a scabbard dangling off of it around her waist.
"You're still here?"
"Well, yeah. You just left about ten minutes ago."
"It's been hours for me. I was afraid I'd missed you."
"We're just finishing up our packing. Mother is still working on your charm, so I made up a bag for you. You're quite a bit taller than I am, and a lot slimmer, but we had a man stay here once who was built kind of like you. When people leave clothes, Mother always washes them and saves them for someone in need. I'd say you were someone in need. You don't mind wearing men's clothes, do you?"
"To tell you the truth, besides your mother's dress, I can't really tell the difference."
Nahla's cheeks dimpled in a smile. "Good. Father has some swords in the back. You should come pick one that's light and easy for you to use, even with just a small bit of experience. I've also found an arm sheath and a leg sheath for you, if you're comfortable with knives. You didn't happen to bring that whatchamacallit you said that you fight with, did you?"
"You mean my gun?"
"I guess so. Did you bring it?"
Kate hadn't even thought of that. "No."
"I didn't think you would. Jacek is the only person I know who sleeps with his weapon." Changing tracks suddenly, she asked, "Would you like something for your feet?"
Kate looked down and wiggled her toes in her socks. "That would be nice."
"I thought so."
As Nahla led her into the inn, Kate asked, "Do you really think I'll need the clothes? I go home every time I wake up."
"Well, I figured with the unknown time factor, it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. Maybe one of your nights will mean three of our days."
"Good point."
They made their way through the common room, where Aizik seemed to be sulking, and towards a door Kate had never been through.
There was a long hallway with a mural painted all over the sturdy wooden walls. It was of green forests and rolling fields, and there was a peaceful kind of joy in it. Doors interrupted the mural occasionally, and Kate could see a staircase at the end of the hall.
Nahla took out a keyring and went to the third door on the right.
"This is my father's study," she said as she unlocked the door and led Kate in.
It was a big room, with a desk and a bookcase. What really caught Kate's eye was the wall of weapons. Her mouth popped open as she stared at the gleaming steel. Mostly the weapons were swords, but she saw daggers, knives, and even a flail and a mace. All things which would have given Castle's old fashioned heart palpitations.
"Wow," was all that she could say.
"My father believes in being prepared...he also really likes weapons."
"Castle would have loved this."
"Does he enjoy fighting?"
Kate felt her mouth quirk up at the corner. "No, just playing, but death fascinates him."
"He sounds interesting."
"He's an enigma."
"But your enigma," Nahla said slyly.
"When he behaves," Kate admitted absently as she continued to study the weapons on the wall.
"This is the one I was thinking of," Nahla told her, going forward and taking a short, slim sword from its perch. Unlike a foil, which Kate was used to, both sides were sharp, and there was a nasty point on the end. "Unlike with a rapier, you don't only jab. You slash when you can. Here, hold it. See how it feels. That's important."
Kate took it gingerly, testing its weight. The blade was light, even for its size, and she gave an experimental slash. It went smoothly, and there was nothing awkward in the move.
"Good?"
"Yes."
Looking pleased, Nahla plucked a scabbard off the wall and handed it to Kate. The detective buckled it around her waist and took the knives Nahla passed her.
They were just leaving the room when they almost bumped into Nahla's mother.
"Oh, there you are," she said. Then she really looked at Kate and asked, "Have you changed?"
"I left and came back."
"Is Nahla going to get you some shoes?"
"I haven't gotten there yet."
"You were looking for us?" Kate asked.
"Yes," Kalahn's attention turned from her daughter to Kate, "I have finished your anchor."
She held up a ring, just a simple band of gold engraved with vines and leaves. It was thin and elegant in its simplicity. Kate thought it was beautiful.
"This is it?" she asked Kalahn.
"Yes, this is it. Wear it or carry it in your pocket at all times, whether you are here or in your New York City. That way, whenever you return, it will be near Nahla."
Kate took it gently, almost afraid she'd drop it. She slipped it on her hand and liked the way it looked.
"I've been meaning to ask you," she said after one last glance at the ring, "is there a way I can see or communicate with Castle? I'd like to know if he's still okay."
Kalahn thought about this. "You won't be able to talk to him. You need to both have stones for that. Whether you can see him or not...well, maybe. Sometimes it works with just one stone, but only sometimes."
"I didn't know we could spy with those," Nahla said.
Kate glanced at her. "I thought you were a Mystic too."
"Apprentice Mystic," she corrected. "I'm just learning."
"It's wrong to spy with these," Kalahn told Nahla sternly. "You should never try except for in an emergency. And, then, most of the time, it does not work."
"Do you think Kate's connection to Richard will make it easier?"
"It might."
"I'd like to try," Kate told them.
"Are you ready yet, Nahla?" A growly voice traveled to them down the hallway. Jacek came into view, a frown on his face. He stopped short when he saw Kate. "You're back."
"Trying to leave without me?"
"We've got to get going," was his only reply.
"We're almost ready," Nahla said. "Give us a few more minutes."
"Fine," he said and left, his expression unchanging.
Kalahn continued as if Jacek hadn't interrupted, "Nahla, you find Kate some boots for the journey. Her feet look about the same size as yours. While you're doing that, I'll take her to consult the Stones."
"Okay."
Nahla went to the staircase, but Kalahn led Kate to a door across from the one they had just exited. The opening of the door revealed another study. It was full of strange and wonderful objects and had to be Kalahn's.
"The Stones are here. Sit."
Most of the chairs were filled with books and objects. Kate found one that had less than the others and gently moved the clutter to the floor. Kalahn cleaned off another chair, a lot less gently, and brought it over so she could sit facing Kate. She went to a nearby cupboard and drew out a large, flat stone. It was about the size and color of an empty piece of paper. It looked as if it should be very heavy, but Kalahn carried it with ease.
She sat in her chair with her knees touching Kate's and put the stone between them.
"How does this work?" Kate asked.
"For many things, you must use words or rituals to unlock the potential inside. For others, darker objectives, you use objects or living things. Some things are simpler. For those, the intent is enough. It is so with the Stones."
"What does that mean?"
"I will concentrate on the Stone, and hopefully your Richard Castle's image will appear."
Kate took the hint and fell silent. Kalahn closed her eyes and gently ran delicate hands against the sides of the stone. The woman's brow furrowed, and her expression went blank.
Kate stared at the stone's surface and waited. She waited and waited and waited. She was almost ready to give up when the surface of the stone began to swirl. Curiously, she leaned forward until her long hair brushed the polished surface. The swirls continued and got more violent. They went around and around until Kate thought she might be sick. Then, the colors came. They whirled for a couple of seconds before the image, suddenly, cleared.
It was him. Kate stared at him. She stared until her eyes burned. She just couldn't get enough.
He was scruffy, she had to admit. His hair was sticking up and greasy. His clothes, what little he had, were tattered and worn. Grime coated his bare chest and his face. A small growth of beard lightly covered the bottom half of his face. He was in a dim cell, but she could faintly see the scar in his mid section. The scar where he had been shot.
He was pacing the cell, and his eyes were distant and sad. She couldn't remember seeing that look on his face more than just a couple of times. He seemed so lost. She wanted to reach out for him.
And that's when she really started to believe.
Her fingertips joined her hair in brushing the stone. She wished she could wipe it all away—the cell, the dirt, the expression on his face. Seeing him like that hurt her in a way she couldn't explain.
The swirls started again. They swept across the picture, wiping all traces of Castle away.
Kate continued staring for a few minutes at the place where he had been. The stone was cold and silent. Empty and lifeless, as if her friend had never been there.
Kalahn's eyes opened and she looked into Kate's face. "You saw him?"
"I saw him."
"How is he?"
"Dirty. Scruffy. But alive."
"Then we still have hope."
Kate nodded, longing to see Castle's face again. She was already thinking of ways she could tease him about having a beard.
Kalahn took away the stone and Kate stood. "Then, I guess we'd better get started."
XXX
Martha Rodgers walked slowly down the white corridor. She was tired. Physically tired. Mentally tired. She was having the longest week of her life. She hadn't been this worried about Richard since he had had pneumonia as a child.
She opened his hospital room door, expecting to see him still and lifeless like all the times before. What she hadn't been expecting was the extra body lying next to him. The scene looked so natural that Martha had to smile.
For some reason, Kate Beckett had crawled up into bed with Richard and curled herself against him. Her head was resting on his shoulder and one arm was flung against his chest. Martha could almost imagine that her son was smiling. If he only knew he had the pretty detective right where he wanted her.
Detective Beckett looked so peaceful. Much like Martha herself, Kate had been looking tired and rather haunted lately. Now, the lines had smoothed from her face, and she was sleeping soundly. Martha didn't want to disturb her. Kate needed her comfort and her sleep, and Martha decided she wouldn't be taking it from her.
She turned and went out, softly closing the door behind her.