Title: Rock Foundation

Disclaimer: I do not own the Castle characters or their story lines. I just borrow them for fun.

Summary: A Sequel of sorts for my one-shot Rock Solid. Kate and Rick deal with the aftermath of Knockdown and move forward with their lives, learning to balance their partnership with their budding relationship.

Author's note: So, I'm releasing this before the episode because…because you're going to need "Pretty Dead," after you read it. I'll give no more disclaimers. It speaks for itself.

Emma

Chapter XXIII

"They're Tyson's prints, Detective," the uniform told them when he walked up about twenty minutes later.

"Great, thank you," Kate said with a pained smile. "Was there anything else?"

"Fraid not," the young man replied.

"Alright, well, thank you all the same."

He walked away and Kate and Rick exchanged frustrated looks. They had gotten nowhere with anything so far. Tyson was in the wind and they were about as close to catching him as they were to solving world hunger.

"Something will pop," Rick said, glancing over at her from the case file he was reading. "We won't stand still forever."

Kate gave a tired nod and turned back to her computer, where she was looking at city maps, trying to find some rhyme or reason to the locations of Tyson's hits. Rick's cell rang.

"Hello," he answered, his eyes still glued to the file.

"Richard Castle."

Rick dropped the folder and Kate looked over to see him hit the speaker button.

"What do you want, Tyson?" he asked.

"Is Katherine there?"

"That's Beckett, to you, Tyson," Kate replied.

"I don't think you're in a position to bargain with me right now," he told them.

"Let me ask you something, Jerry," Rick began, holding up a hand at Kate's horrified look. "Why?"

"Why? Are we really going back to this?" Tyson sounded exasperated. "You seemed so sure of yourself the last time."

"You're changing your game. That must be tough for you," Rick continued, as he raised his eyes at Kate, who finally got the hint and began to track the phone. "Why not just stick to what you know, to what's easy?"

"I don't know, Castle, why did you kill Derek Storm?"

"Boredom doesn't usually mean violently killing people."

"It did for you."

"Touché, Jerry," Rick forced a laugh. "Now, you called for a reason?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm not quite in Manhattan anymore."

Kate and Rick froze. "Oh?" Kate said, nodding to Castle to tell him that she'd gotten a lock on the phone. They looked at the computer together and Rick grabbed Kate's hand.

"I'm heading to a new location, but I'd hurry, were I you. I'm almost there and, well, there might be trouble if you don't fine me."

The other line clicked off and they watched for a moment as the dot that was Jerry Tyson moved toward the Hamptons.

"Kate," Rick breathed.

"Ahead of you," she replied, yanking her phone to her ear and dialing. "Yes, this is Detective Beckett, I need an APB out to every station on Long Island. We have a trace on Jerry Tyson, serial killer, the 3XK. He's headed east on 27. I'm sending the trace to every station," she told the dispatch as she filled in the necessary information on the file. "It's absolutely urgent. I'll get an affidavit…yes, thank you." She turned back to Rick. "Everyone will be out after him. You have to call Alexis and Martha."

"And say what?" he asked, completely out of his element. "Hi, Sweetie. A serial killer's coming to get you, but don't panic."

"Call the security guards," Kate replied quickly. "I have to go talk to the Captain." Rick looked so lost. "Castle!" she said firmly. His eyes jerked to hers. "Right now, I need you to focus. You can freak out in about five minutes. Call your security team and have them make Martha and Alexis safe. Then you and I are getting in a car and going to the Hamptons, you got it?"

He nodded and watched as she ran to Montgomery's office. He took a deep breath and called Alan. "Alan, yeah, this is Rick. We've got a situation. Tyson's on his way to the house. I don't know how close he is, but easily within the half hour. Yes. Yes, thank you. There is, the basement, yeah. Get them down there. Try not to, right, thanks."

He clicked off and put his head in his hands. "Rick," Kate's voice broke him out of his stupor. "Come on, we're going. I'll even let you flip the switch for the siren."

Not even a smile, but he did get up. Kate took what she could get and grabbed his hand, leading him down the stairs. There just wasn't time for the elevator.

"I called Ryan and Espo, and they're already heading out there. We've got a plate number, thanks to some tech work with the trace. We're going to get him," she said with conviction. He needed her to be the strong one right now. Later, much later, when it was over, she could go comatose. Right now, she needed to keep his family safe.

When they reached the car, she yanked him around to the back and opened the trunk, pulling out their vests. He donned his quickly and then reached over and strapped hers on one side. The fact that it was nearly too tight for comfort was not lost on her, and she squeezed his hand before gently nudging him toward his door.

They got into the car and Kate pulled out, speeding out of the garage. She handed the siren to Rick and watched as he flipped the switch and stuck it to the top of the car with little enthusiasm. He rolled up the window and just stared out the window as they sped through the streets.

They were quiet for a long time. Tyson had slipped out of Manhattan. She wanted to see red. They reached the highway and Kate found herself with her foot to the floor for the first time she could remember. Rick was silent and it was starting to wear at the nerves of steel she was pretending she had.

"Rick," she said quietly.

He looked over at her. "Kate, what if…"

"No," she shook her head, keeping her eyes on the road. "They're going to be safe. You've got your security team with them?"

He nodded. "We have a bunker in the basement. No windows, cast-iron door—they'll be safe down there."

"Then try to believe that."

"I know, I just…my baby, Kate. She's only 17. And my mother. And even once we have him, the psychological damage..."

"They'll be alright, Rick. No matter what. And if Alexis needs therapy, you can send her to the best doctors in the country."

"I may need one, after this," he muttered, closing his eyes.

"We can find you the best one in the city," she said quietly.

"And you?"

"Me?" she found his hand on the seat. "Getting him behind bars and then falling into bed with you for a week sounds like all the therapy I'd need."

He brought their hands up to his lips. "Thank you."

She squeezed his hand and they lapsed into silence for another long moment. Kate's cell rang and Rick picked it up, hitting speakerphone.

"Beckett," she said.

"We're at the house," Esposito told her.

"That was fast," Rick exclaimed.

"Little Castle and Mama Castle, Castle," Ryan replied.

Rick smiled faintly. "Thanks guys."

"You got it, Bro. Now, Beckett, we've got a SWAT over here, and the girls are safe with Castle's security bros, and flanked by our snipers. They're safe. The locals haven't seen the car with Tyson."

"So he may be on foot."

"Positive," Ryan added. "Just got a hit from the States. They found the car. He's out in the brush somewhere."

"We're coming up on Riverhead now," Kate told them as she took the exit and got onto the county road.

"SWAT's on their way out there too with Agent Shaw. They should meet you in about ten."

"Alright. Thanks guys. Keep us posted."

"You got it, Boss."

They signed off and Kate and Rick rode in silence, both peering around in the dim light of dawn. They slowed as a truck pulled out through a deserted intersection, forcing Kate to slam on the breaks.

"Kate," Rick murmured. Kate looked over to where he'd indicated with his head and found herself staring at a disheveled Jerry Tyson, leveling an impressive gun at them.

"Rick, stay in the car."

"What?" he exclaimed. "Hell no."

"Richard, so help me God, if you get out of this car…."

"If you get out of this car, I will never forgive you, Kate," he said, even as both of their eyes remained trained on Tyson, who was stalking slowly toward them. "Where the hell is the SWAT?"

"Two minutes too late," Kate replied. "The glass in here is bullet proof, but not for what he's hauling if he gets any closer. If I stay in here, we're done."

"If you get out, he's going to kill you."

"Well, Rick, if I stay in here, he'll kill us both," she hissed.

"Drive the light," he implored.

"Then he gets a clean shot at you," she replied.

"Get out of the car, Beckett!" they heard Tyson yell. He was still far enough for the glass to protect Rick.

"Kate," Rick whispered.

"I have to get out, or he's going to kill us, Rick. I'm wearing a vest."

"If the glass won't protect you, then that sure as hell won't."

"I've got a shot when I open the door," Kate replied.

"Kate, no. He's going to kill you out of revenge. He wants me to watch!"

"Well, if I stay here, we're both dead, and then it doesn't matter does it?" she yelled.

"I can't watch him kill you!" Rick yelled back.

"We don't have time for this, Castle!" He grabbed her hand to keep her from reaching for the door. Tyson was advancing. She twisted her arm free and pulled out her gun, cocking it.

"Get out of the fucking car, or I'll kill you and your pretty little writer boy!" Tyson called.

"Rick," she gave him a last fleeting glance. "You have to stay in the car." The distant sound of the SWAT brigade reached her ears. "They're going to get here in about 30 seconds, and that's all I need. But you HAVE TO stay in the car!"

"Kate, no!" he growled.

Tyson was too close. Time was up.

"Alexis," was all she said before she kicked the door open ducked beneath it to fire at Jerry's leg. She heard the scream of pain but it was obliterated by the bang of his firearm. The car jolted and she was knocked backward.

She barrel rolled and jumped up, firing again, this time to kill. She watched her bullet meet Tyson's forehead and saw the heavy firearm fall to the ground. She jumped out of the way as it hit the driver's side door with a rattling boom. She scrambled up and spun around to look back at the car. Her door had been obliterated and she could feel the sting of some shrapnel digging into her cheek and outer arms, but her eyes were glued to the passenger side.

The windshield was shattered and smoking. Her gaze fell to Rick and she felt her heart fly into her chest. He'd ducked down across the seat as the shot went off, reaching for her. The right side of his vest was blooming red, blood pouring out of a gash in the material that was dangerously close to his stomach. Tyson had aimed straight into the car and Rick had missed a bullet to the head by only inches. But he was bleeding. Oh, God, he was bleeding so much.

Kate launched herself back into the car, ignoring the smocking wreckage of her door. She reached for his head, gently turning him to look at his face. His eyes were open and he was screaming soundlessly. She could hear the sirens and the screeching of vehicles but she couldn't' see anything but his face.

"Rick, Rick, I'm here, I'm here. Hang on. Help's coming. Hang on!"

"Ka..Kate," he panted, his pain clouded eyes finding hers as his fingers wrapped around her hand. "You…ali…alive."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm alive," she promised, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "I'm alive." Then, with a presence of mind that shocked her, she leaned out the open door. "I've got an officer down! OFFICER DOWN! I need EMTS STAT!"

Her yell was repeated and then there were personnel all around them. Hands were grasping at her elbows, trying to pry her away from Rick, who was clutching at her hand with surprisingly painful force.

"Beckett, you've got to get out of the car so we can get to him," someone was telling her. It might have been Ryan. "Kate!" It was Esposito. "Come on, let them in there. We've got to get him out."

Kate pried her hand from Rick's and let Esposito drag her from the car. She stood watching as the medical team got Rick up onto a stretcher while he fought them.

"Beckett," the head EMT called after a minute. "Get over here and calm him the hell down. He's going to rip more than's already gone."

Kate sprinted over to the ambulance and skidded to a halt beside Rick, who was flailing about while they restrained him. "Rick, Rick," she said, leaning over his head. "Castle!"

His eyes found hers again. "Thought…thought…"

"I'm here. Right here. I'm coming with you," she told the EMTs.

They nodded and started to raise the stretcher.

"Guys," she turned to Esposito and Ryan.

"We've got this. And we'll get Martha and Alexis over there as soon as we've gotten Tyson all cleaned up. Good shot," Esposito added.

Kate nodded and then climbed up into the ambulance, moving to sit behind Rick's head as the EMTs scrambled to cut the vest off of him. The pain finally became too much and he began to yell as the vest ground into his wound.

Kate placed her hands on his cheeks and pressed her forehead to his, ignoring the sting in her own cheek and the rough spread of heat from the burns on her hands. "I'm right here, Rick. Focus on me," she whispered.

He continued to moan but his eyes found hers. "You got out of the car."

"And you got shot."