The Hanger

Castle walked towards the back of the hanger. There was a desk and chair, he took a seat in the chair propped up his feet on the desk and removed a small box with a trigger on its top. He set a transmitter on the desk, the one that will transmit to the receiver that Montgomery has in his possession. He turned it on and spoke softly, "Roy remember the plan. Kate if you can hear me please remember you agreed to look after Alexis. I hope it does not come to that but if it does I have taken care of everything. Just speak with mother she knows who to get you in touch with."

As Castle finished talking 2 dark colored SUV's pulled up in front of the hanger's main opening with the front of each angled towards the hanger effectively blocking the opening.

XX

Kate had heard everything Castle has said. There were tears streaming down her face when she pulled Josh's hand from her mouth spewing out. "Josh get your damn hands off of me now! Captain we need to get in there and help him! I don't know what thinks he's doing but there is no way he is can do this. He is a blessed writer not Jason Bourne."

"Kate it's too late to go back in there. Please be quiet or his plan is blown. Just as soon as we can we will get in there, but if we go in and he hesitates it could cost him his life." As Roy finished speaking they heard muffled sounds of vehicle doors closing.

XX

The doors to the SUV's open and the occupants begin to file out. Just as Castle expected 2 armed men moved towards the helicopter and 2 moved towards the empty fuel barrels. These guys had their weapons drawn and were surveying the hanger. As Lockwood and his driver exited and started moving towards Castle he spoke. "Glad you could join me guys!"

"Well, well, well if it's not the writer. You were next on my list, you saved me from a lot a trouble. Thank you, I really appreciate it." Lockwood turned to his right and motioned with his right hand for the 2 mercenaries on that side to move behind the helicopter.

"Wouldn't do that fellas. Look down in front of the copter. That's and IED tied to this trigger." Castle raised his right hand and waved the little box with the switch in the air. He looked over to the merc's by the fuel drums and said "I did not forget about you guy's either."

With that all of Lockwood's men stopped moving and started searching with their eyes. Castle could see the exact moment written all of over their face when they found the IED's. "Good job fella's. Now it seems we need to have a little chat don't we Hal?"

"You have balls Richard Castle, I'll give you that. But this isn't going to end well for you."

Castle raised the UMP and pointed it at Lockwood and with a chilling tone slowly and methodically spoke. "Richard Castle, that's a name most people know me by. Richard Rodgers is another people know me by. That's the name that my mother gave me at birth. But there is another that very few living people know me as, Gabriel."

Lockwood raised his hand to his guys for them to hold in place. The shock on his face was undeniable. Castle know that he had the edge he was looking for. The silence seemed to go on for an eternity before Lockwood spoke again. "Gabriel's dead. He died in Uzbekistan in '99. I know because I made sure of it."

"Nope I didn't die, should have but I didn't. But I can see why you would think that, since you left me to die."

Lockwood face begins to pale and Castle knows Lockwood remembers him. With that insight he continues.

"I did not recognize you Hal until just now. When you got out of that SUV it hit me who you are. It's plain as day, and by the look on your face you remember me also."

"When you left me I was taken prisoner by Mirov's men. But I was pulled out of Qureshi about a week later. Thank god for Team 6." I know you can see the resemblance. I was a little thinner, had a bushy beard oh and I had that pesky leg wound. But if you look really hard you can see the face of the guy you would not let the chopper land to pick up."

XX

As the 3 of them huddled behind Castle's SUV Montgomery looked at Kate and asked, "What in the hell is he talking about?"

Her tears has stopped but her eyes were puffy and red. If you had told her this morning that not only would she kick the 'love of her life' out of her life but she would have Montgomery pretend to hand her over to assassins but Rick Castle would be facing down 6 killers while she hid in a ditch behind an SUV she would have called Bellevue to have you when did Rick, no that's not right, Castle yeah Castle that's right. When did Castle become the love of her life? He was important to her, very important to her but love of her life. Could he really be the love of her life?

But here she was and that was taking place as well as her boyfriend was hiding in a ditch with her. Was he here to protect her? She was not quite sure but he had a gun and was right by her side. "Josh why are you here? This is no place for you."

"Castle called and asked me for help. He said he was going to do everything he could to save your life." Josh took a breath and composed himself and look into Kates eyes and he saw it. He knew that she is in love and not with him but with Castle. "He loves you, did you know that? I wasn't sure until I talked with him tonight but he does. And by the way you're looking at me I pretty sure you are in love with him."

"Josh, I don't know what to say…" At that moment Kate closes her eyes and remembers Montgomery's question. "Roy I don't have any idea what he is talking about. But we need to help him…"

XX

At that moment the sound of gunfire come across the receiver followed by 2 explosions. "OH MY GOD!" and Kate had tears streaming down her face again.

Castle was staring at Lockwood when he caught a glimpse of movement by the fuel drums. He dove out of the chair just before the first shots were fired from the guys at the fuel tanks. Castle immediately pushed the trigger on the detonator and the IED's blew.

Lockwood looked around and saw his 2 men beside the helicopter were down. Both were not moving. He moved to his right where the fuel tanks use to be. He had 1 man down and the other was injured but still in the fight.

Bullets were crashing into the desk as Castle leaned out and open fire with his UMP. He caught Lockwood's driver in the leg.

Castle the retreated to the tail of the helicopter all the while spraying bullets in the direction of the destroyed fuel tanks.

"Gabriel, you're slipping. In the past we would all be dead."

"Lockwood if I wanted you dead you would be." Castle saw Lockwood's remaining merc sweeping towards the back of the hanger and put 2 rounds in his side from the UMP. The merc went down instantly.

"Looks like it's just us Hal! Want to lay down your weapon, let the police take you in to custody?"

At that moment a burst of gunfire came out from the opposite from his position. Castle had made his way to the front of the copter and had a clear shot at Lockwood who was focusing on the tail section. The area Castle had vacated a few moments prior.

"I didn't think so." Castle pulled up his weapon and squeezed off 2 shots catching Lockwood in his left leg and shoulder.

Lockwood slumped against the remains of the fuel tanks not moving. As Castle rose from his secure spot he pulled out one of his pistols and walked towards Lockwood. As he neared the first of Lockwood's me he raised his pistol and fired into his chest. He continued with each of the merc's he past.

"It's so good to know that you are still breathing Hal. You and I have some catching up to do don't we, Hal."

XX

The tears coming down Kate's face had turned to outright sobs. Roy realized that the receiver was no longer working. He looked over to Josh, "I think that the transmitter is damaged." They could hear that the gunfire in the hanger had begun to slow.

"I think it's over." Josh mouthed to Montgomery as he stoked Kate's hair. Her head was buried in Josh's shoulder as her sobs began to quiet.

"Kate are you ok?" Roy asked.

No response.

"Kate!"

Still no response.

"DETECTIVE BECKETT!"

Kates head snapped towards Montgomery. "Yes sir!"

"Are you with me?"

"Yes sir I'm good." Beckett said as she wiped the last of here tears from her eyes.

"Let's clear that room Kate. Dr. Davidson please wait here and stay covered." Roy said as he started to climb from the ditch.

Beckett rose and checked her service weapon, making sure there was a round in the chamber. They slowly moved to the door leading in to the hanger. "Take it slow Beckett, we don't know what we are going to find. If he is down, you get to him and I will provide cover."

"Rodger that sir."

When the door opened she was not prepared for what she saw.

Castle was looking down at Lockwood and could tell he was not long for this world. "Hal, it looks like I hit you femoral artery. I can let you bleed out or I can end your suffering. All you have to do is tell me who sent you."

"You're really are Gabriel aren't you? It isn't personal you know. It was just another job."

Castle bent down to look Lockwood directly in the eyes. "It's pretty damn personal when you threaten the 3 women I love most in this world. Now who the hell sent you?" Castle was pushing the barrel of his pistol into the shoulder wound of Lockwood. Causing Lockwood to scream in agony.

Kate's heart skipped a beat when she heard Castle's declaration of love. Though be it not your normal declaration, but has anything really been normal between them.

Lockwood winced in pain once again when the barrel of the gun was pressed deeper into his shoulder. "You can't save your family now. By the time you get back to the city they will be dead." He grinned up at Castle with a smug satisfied look.

Castle leaned down and whispered in his adversary's ear "I'm a step ahead of you asshole. They were already out of danger before you entered this hanger." With that Castle struck Lockwood in the side of his head with his pistol. Lockwood's eyes immediately closed as he was rendered unconscious.

As Castle rose the sound of boots clicking across the floor caught his attention. He know who it was without turning. He could feel her presence, he has been able to since he met her. He could not explain why but a sense of peace came over him whenever she was near. That peace was filling his body when at this very moment. He holstered his weapons and took a deep breath.

"Beckett you're supposed to be in a vehicle on your way to anywhere but here. So I'm guessing that Roy is somewhere in here also."

"Yeah I'm here Rick."

Beckett was still standing at the tail of the helicopter looking at Castle. Who was this man? He had just stood toe to toe with 6 trained killers and came out on top. How could he have done this? Up until tonight he has shown no ability to take care of himself let alone this.

"Castle?" She calls just above a whisper but loud enough that he could hear. No answer.

"Castle!" Again no answer.

"Rick." His back still to her he raises his left hand as to say 'just 1 minute' and he begins to move towards the front of the hanger. He knew he had some explaining to do, but that would have to wait. Right now there was something else that was more pressing. At that moment the sound of tires screeching to a halt filled the air.

Thoughts?