A/N: So I'm sorry it took me this long to update... I really don't have an excuse other than the fact that I honestly didn't know how to continue the story...anyway this is somewhat related to "Under Fire" but there no direct relation to the episode...is just the theme that is related...anyway PLEASE REVIEW AND ENJOY!
It turns out that being in the main communication line was even more upsetting for the three detectives. They heard desperate calls from people waiting on news on their loved ones. They heard paramedics struggling through the debris trying their best to find someone, and they heard them cry whenever someone was dead. It was such an agony for Beckett to wait that she had to step outside and try to calm her nerves down, but no matter how hard she tried, she could feel her eyes burning, even though she didn't want to break down, not when Castle was struggling to get back to her...alive. She heard footsteps behind her, but didn't turn to see who it was. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"I figured you could use something to calm your nerves." Esposito said as he gave her a to-go cup.
"I don't think coffee is gonna help right now." She replied with a sad smile.
"It's decaf." Esposito handed her the cup again and she took it.
"Thanks." Beckett took a sip as both detectives stared at what used to be the office building. "Where's Ryan?" She asked trying to distract her attention.
"Oh! He's probably trying to calm himself down by annoying the tech guys." They both let out a small laugh and grew quiet once more.
"You know..." Beckett started, looking at her decaf. "When we were working the sniper case, Castle brought me one of these. I almost didn't accept it can you believe that?" She let out a laugh. "I don't think I understood his worry until now." She looked at the floor, trying to hold back her tears. Esposito squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "As cops we're in constant danger, but we never stop to think about our significant other...and what he or she must feel whenever we go out to arrest someone." She let out a shaky sight. "We must be strong and resistant to any physical damage, but the thing is...we can't imagine the amount of strength it takes to understand that at any moment a cop may not come home." Beckett felt a little proud that she kept relatively calm, despite of her situation.
"He's gonna get out alive Beckett." Esposito said resolutely. "He may not be a cop, but he's just as strong."
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The only light was the few flashlights, and it went through the debris like a bright miracle. The noises from the outside were muffled by the amount of concrete covering them, the sound of their machines and their own ragged breathing. It was such a feeling of helplessness, looking at a man trapped under hundreds of pounds of concrete, while they were taking too long to get to him without causing a second collapse. Ted, who was the young paramedic of the team was the one who saw the man first and checked for his pulse. After feeling that weak beat he worked harder than ever to be able to get to him, and after what it felt like an eternity to him, the team managed to make a small space, circling the huge piece of concrete that was over the man.
When it was safe enough, the firefighter in charge of the team brought a brighter light, so that Ted could see the extent of the damage. There was a deep and large cut to the man's temple and his face was dirty and bruised. Ted took out of his bag stethoscope and he certainly didn't like what he heard.
"Frank!" Ted screamed to the firefighter next to him. "How long is it gonna take to take that damn piece of concrete from him?"
"I don't know Ted!" Frank answered through the sound of the drill. "Probably an hour or so...why?"
"He doesn't have that time Frank!" Ted screamed as he pulled out an oxygen mask. "His breathing sound are shallow and his heart rate is way too slow...I think...I think he has a collapsed lung!"
"Which means...?" Frank asked.
"Which means you need to get him out in less than an hour, otherwise he's not gonna make it out alive!"
"Ok guys you heard the medic!" Frank screamed through the roaring of the drill and the rubble. "We need to get him out alive, his fiancée is waiting for him so let's keep on working!" The small crowd immediately went into action. Ted took a step closer to the man and placed the oxygen mask over the man's face.
"Hey buddy we're getting you out, alright?" Ted said in a low voice. "Can you open your eyes for me?" Ted shook him gently on one shoulder. The man's eyes flickered but didn't open. "That's it buddy, just try a little harder." Ted knew the man could hear him, since his eyes slightly opened. "Great! That's what I'm talking about buddy now...can you tell me your name?"
"Ca...Castle..." He said weakly. Ted smiled. "Rick...Castle..."
"Nice to meet you Rick, although the circumstances are not the best." Ted laughed, but it soon slipped away as Castle's eyes started to close again. "Hey Rick!" Castle opened them again and blinked rapidly. "We heard you're engaged man...who's the lucky lady?"
"Kate..." Castle's voice was not even above a whisper. "Detective Kate Beckett from the NYPD"
"A detective huh?" Ted said with amusement, trying his best to keep him distracted from the men working on removing the concrete from his legs.
"The best..." Castle whispered, then he felt a sharp pain on his legs. "Ow...what...?"
"Okay Rick I need you to listen to me." Ted said as his voice grew serious. "Frank and our guys are pulling the concrete from your legs and is gonna be painful, but I need you to stay awake...because I need to know that you're still alive when we get you out, you understand me?" The paramedic saw how Castle started to sweat and breathe quickly.
"Oh man...I don't think I can do that...I...I just feel so...tired..." Castle said closing his eyes.
"Hey Castle what if I told you that your fiancée is out there in the communications post?" Castle opened his eyes at the statement. "That's right...and I can tell Frank to turn up the radio so that you can talk to her while we get you out of this concrete, how does that sound?"
"Can...can you do that?" Castle asked in disbelief.
"Have some faith in us buddy." Ted chuckled. "Hey Frank! Turn up the radio, our boy here wants to talk to his girl before we remove the concrete!"
"No problem Ted!"
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"Hey Beckett!" Ryan called out from the communications post. "You need to be here." and then he went back, his fellow detectives practically running behind him.
"What is it Ryan?" Beckett asked as she sat in a chair.
"We have a radio signal from one of our rescue teams." said the technician next to Ryan.
"Is Castle's rescue team." Ryan said before either Esposito or Beckett could reply. In less than a second, Beckett was already sitting next to the technician, who turned the volume up so that everyone could hear the transmission.
"Rescue team three, we hear you loud and clear." said the technician through the mic.
"Copy that." said a raspy voice. "We're in the southeast side of the building, about six floors under, we need an ambulance ready for transport, the patient is critical, I repeat the patient is in critical condition!"
"There's a whole team outside ready for you guys" said the tech guy.
"There's a request from the patient." said the voice. "He's asking for Detective Kate Beckett, could you please call her?"
"I'm right here." answered Beckett almost immediately.
"Someone wants to talk to you Detective." said the voice as those in the communication's room heard noise followed by a shallow breathing.
"Kate...?" Castle's hoarse voice sounded through the room.
"Castle!" Beckett said letting out a relief breath and choking back the tears.
"Hey...I guess it wasn't our last call after all." Castle said with a weak voice that made Beckett's heart break in a million pieces.
"I told you it wasn't." Her was barely more than a whisper. In the background she heard a metallic noise, followed by Castle's groan. "Castle..."
"Just...just proves the universe wouldn't dare to go against you." Beckett let out a small chuckle.
"Not just the universe Castle..." Beckett said with a watery smile. "Try to leave and I'll kill you myself Castle."
"I wouldn't dare..." there were more noises and low coughs, quickening Beckett's pulse. "After all...you have a gun..."
"And you don't really have a choice." Beckett finished for him. Silence. She could only hear the static and her fellow detectives' breathing.
"I love you Kate." Castle's voice sounded so tired.
"No Castle you don't get to say goodbye yet." She couldn't stop a single tear from falling down her cheek.
"I'm not...but I need you to know nonetheless."
"I love you too Rick." She was received by silence as she heard movement.
"This is team leader, we're done here and we need all hands on deck to pulled him out of here...copy?" the male raspy voice said.
"Copy that team leader...whenever you're ready to move." the technician said, the he turned towards the three detectives. "They're getting him out now...you guys can wait near the ambulance."
A/N: Again, I'm sorry it took me this long to update...but hopefully it won't take me that long again...please don't forget to review...is my only way to know you like the story and you're following it...thanks guys!