This fic takes place in the future the events of Veritas accrued (so if you haven't seen it yet there will be spoilers). Castle and Beckett are married but the season finale is not part of this the wedding will be mentioned but it will be the way I image their wedding. Everything else is as is on the show.

Disclaimer: Me own Castle yeah right! If I did Nathan, Stana and I would be bffs and there would so be a Caskett baby on the way. Andrew Marlow is the lucky owner of Castle, lucky bastard lol. How ever I do own all 6 seasons of Castle on DVD, all 6 Nikki Heat books, a calendar, a t-shirt and a Caskett wedding picture paper weight!

Chapter 17: Search and Rescue

Esposito frowned as he watched Kate cling to her father, her cell phone clutched in her trembling hand. "Chica what is it?" he asks even though he had a feeling he already knew the answer.

"R..Rick" she sobs holding out her hand so he could take the phone.

He takes the phone looking at the screen. He sees Castle unconscious lying in the back of a car his hands tied up with the message "Give me the tape or writer boy dies"

Gates stands up "Let's go back to the house." she looks at Kate "We'll get your husband back." she promised

Kate didn't say anything she just clung to her father as they left the restaurant she was quiet the whole way home. She said nothing as she walked up the stairs to her and Rick's bedroom. Tears filled her eyes as she picked up Rick's favorite shirt bringing it to her face as she fell on the bed "Oh Rick." she sobbed quietly "I can't do this with out you, I can't raise a baby alone." she cried

Martha watched her daughter in law feeling her own heart break "Katherine" she walks over sitting on the bed "My son loves you with all his heart and has for a long time he won't give up he'll fight to get back to you, Alexis and the baby." she rubbed the younger woman's back.

"I..Its all my fault Martha." Kate cries "Bracken took him be..because of me."

"Oh darling no, the senator took him because he is a sick and demented man set on destroying anything or anyone in his way." Martha tells her.

"I should have killed him that day in..instead of giving him a scar." Kate looks down at the t-shirt on her lap.

"Katherine" Martha lifts her chin so they're eye to eye "If you would have killed him you would have killed my son."

"Wh..What? How?" Kate blinked.

"You gave Richard your heart, body and soul the night before he fell even more in love with you, if you had killed the senator you would have gone to prison and the life you two have now never would have come to be." the older woman points out with a slight smile.

"How did you know about that night?" Kate blushes

"Darling please, I'm a mother I know everything why on earth Richard thought he had to hide you is beyond me." Martha motions with her hands

"I wasn't too thrilled about being in the closet either but I did it for him, I..I'd do anything for him Martha I love him, I've loved him for a long time." Kate admits "And now I'm losing him, we're losing him." she places her hand on her abdomen fighting fresh tears.

"No you aren't there are two young men downstairs who have become like sons to me they will find Richard I can feel it in my heart and my heart is never wrong." she motions with her hands again the actress in her coming out.

Kate smiled a tiny smile "I love you Martha I'm glad we're finally family"

"Finally? Kiddo you've been a part of this family for years." Martha tells her. "And I love you too." She pulls her in for hug.

Kate never though she'd feel the familiar warmth of a mother's embrace again but she was wrong her tears soon flowed freely.

"It's okay darling, its okay" Martha held her rubbing her back much like she would when her son was upset and in needed her comfort like when her ex daughter in law Meredith broke his heart.

I..I love him Martha ..I don't know how t..to exist with out him." Kate cries softly.

"I know sweetheart but you won't have to my son isn't going anywhere" she told her "They'll find him, he'll come home and then you two will probably spend all day in bed together." she teases hoping to lighten the mood.

Kate blushed against Martha's shoulder but the truth was she'd love nothing more than to be in bed curled in Castle's arms.

Esposito climbed the stairs knowing what he had to say wouldn't be easy. It was either him or Jim. Jim shook his head knowing he couldn't go though it again he couldn't watch is baby girl's heart break even worse than it had 15 years ago. So it was up to Esposito. He frowned when he saw Kate in Martha's arms.

"Kate" he spoke softly making his presence known.

"Javi! Did you find Rick?!" Kate asked hopeful.

Esposito didn't know how he was going to tell her, he hoped and prayed the info they got was wrong. "Kate I'm so sorry." he starts. "Chief Brady called a body was found it uh, it fits Castle's description"

The color drains from Kate's face "N..N..No!" her hazel eyes fill with sadness and tears.

"They need you to go down and look at the body" he tells her.

Kate looks at him tears dripping from her cheeks "I..Its not him J..Javi , i..it can't be him" she cries.

"It probably isn't but we still have to go, we need to be sure chica" he replied softly

"Com one darling let's go prove that it's not my son" Martha hid the tears in her own eyes as she led her daughter in law out of the room.

Kate's entire body trembled as she entered the morgue. She'd been in Lanie's morgue a thousand times but this was totally different.

"You must be Kate Castle" the young doctor gave her a sympathetic smile "I'm Dr. Buchannan let me know when you're ready, just take your time" he said seeing the woman shake.

Kate took a deep breath "I..I'm ready"

The doctor lowered the sheet off the victim's face so she could see him.

So far all she could do was look at the victim's chest; it was covered in stab wounds. She swallowed nervously slowly lifting her eyes to the victim's face. "Oh God" she gasped covering her mouth running to the bathroom where she collapsed on the cool floor empting her stomach.

The doctor told Espo and Martha she hadn't identified the body she just ran out upset.

Martha went into the bathroom hearing her daughter in law crying "Katherine, darling what happened in there?" she asked fearing she knew the answer.

Kate looked up at her mother in law "Ma..Martha….

Author's Note: Hello fellow Caskett lovers! Ugh sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Writer's block sucks! Here's the next chapter and yes a cliff hanger! Come on I'm sure you know the answer though lol. I may do another Christmas standalone not sure yet. I hope this chapter is okay. Please positive reviews and constructive criticism. Caskett holiday hugs for all!