Hey, got this one written and won't get a chance to update again before I go away so I thought I'd put it up now, sorry in advance if you don't like waiting

Disclaimer: Sadly not mine, not one bit :(

Jerry's departure left his threat hanging in the air for what seemed like forever. No one wanted to move, to speak. No one wanted to address the question. No one wanted to make it real.

'Whas goin' on,' Alexis' speech was slurred and she sounded groggy, but she was talking, and that was something at least.

'Alexis?' they all reached for simultaneously

'Whoa..gimme some space. Why it so dark in here?'

No one wanted to answer her question

'Alexis, sweetie, are you okay?' Castle reached his arm gently around her shoulders

'I'm not…I dunno if…' she trailed off

'Alexis?' Castle asked, shaking her a little. She didn't reply 'Alexis?'

'I told you, Caslte. Drifting,' Beckett said quietly, unconsciously reaching for his arm again in the darkness

'It's probably good she's not awake right now,' he answered in just as hushed a tone, 'She shouldn't have to deal with this,'

'You need to get her to a hospital, Richard. You and Beckett,'

Castle wasn't stupid, he knew what she was implying 'Mother, that's not happening, you're not doing this,' he insisted

'Well then who is, Richard? I'm old, I've lived and loved, and, oh, all sorts of fun. I'm the sensible choice,'

'No,' Beckett's voice came from behind him 'You guys go, I'll stay, that'sthe only logical option,'

'How, exactly?' Castle asked, and there was a strange note in his voice

'Well first of all, you're all a family. That way you don't lose someone you love,' Castle coughed uncomfortably

'Secondly, Martha, you've lived an amazing life. You're a unique person and you deserve to carry on living life to the full until it's your time. Then, of course, Alexis is completely outta the question, she's way too young she's only just started living. I'm just a cop, there's hundreds of people who can do what I do, think the way I think. I'm replacable. The rest of you aren't. Problem solved,'

'Beckett you're being..'

'Sensible,' she cut him off 'I'm being sensible, Caslte. I don't even understand what I'm doing here, but somehow it makes sense that I'm the one that doesn't leave,'

'Beckett…kiddo, you're young, you've still got so much to do with your life, you're far too young to die,' Martha's voice was sad, but stern.

'Look, neither of you are dying okay!' even though she couldn't see him, Beckett could picture exactly how his face must look, sad, haunted.

There was a step from not far behind them and they turned, pointless as it was, towards the direction of the sound.

'Ooh, this is great isn't it?' he asked 'All of you debating who's gonna die, it's just fascinating to listen to,'

'Stop it, Tyson!' Castle shouted at him, surprising Beckett, she'd never heard him that angry before

'Why? It's fun. Now you've had just over an hour, it's time Castle. Who do I get to kill?'

'No one. You're not killing anyone…unless it's me,'

Jerry laughed

'That's awfully gallant of you. But last time I checked, you weren't my type,'

'Well, neither are they,'

'Oh…yeah about that, they are now. I improved them,' his voice was patronising

'What? What did you do?'

'Why don't you ask Katherine, here,'

'Beckett?' she heard him turn towards her 'What's he on about?'

'Well…I…I'm kinda blonde,'

'Why?' his voice was incredulous 'Why would you…but you're perf..' he trailed off

'Because, Castle, she clearly got tired pining over you and decided to move on with her life. Invest in someone who would actually pay her due care and attention, someone who deserves her,'

Beckett didn't know how Castle managed to find Jerry in the darkness, but she knew he did as she heard fist coming down on flesh

'Castle!' she shouted 'Castle stop it!'

She heard something slam to the floor, and then for a moment there was simply aching silence

'Right then, now that's done, back to business,' Beckett's heart sank a little as she heard Jerry

'Who do I get then? Do we have a winner?' he laughed, apparently finding himself incredibly funny

'Me' both Beckett and Martha spoke at the same time

'Ooh, eager are we?' he laughed again

'Take me,' Beckett said quickly before Martha could say anything else

'No,' she insisted quickly after 'Kate, I need you to look after him,'

'Oh god, this is fun,'

'Jerry,' Beckett said, 'Kill me, please. I promise I'll make it worth you're while, I'll scream and cry and beg. Whatever,'

'Tempting,' Jerry chuckled 'You know I think I'm gonna have to take you up on that one. Congratulations,' she felt as he reahced for her and grabbed her arm, pulling her up off of the floor roughly

'Say goodbye to your loved ones, Kate dearest,' he clapped handcuffs on her 'Although there's not a lot of point really, you'll be seeing them again soon enough. That is if you believe in the afterlife of course,'

'What?' Beckett asked fighting to turn around and look at him through the impossible dark

'Oh, did I not mention that? The bomb wasn't just here to hurry along the decision…that's how I'm killing my other two,'

Hope you liked it, Reviews? :)

Emz xxx