Disclaimer - Nope, Castle's not mine.
Rick's Loft - 20:23 – Surveillance Room
Donavan and Rick had both changed into their combat black clothing. Rick was wearing the Dragon Skin Bullet Proof vest underneath his shirt, which was covered with a thick black jacket. Both men had guns strapped to their pant belts and a Boot Knife strapped to their left legs.
Rick had his eyes on the monitors on the wall, watching the detective as they kept an eye on the new Captain. Kate had gone into Rick's room, so he lost sight of her some time ago.
Alexis was still in her bedroom and his mother had retired to hers. Rick strongly disliked that he was putting his family through all of this stress but this ended tonight.
"You okay, Son?" Donavan asked Rick, placing a hand on his shoulder and gently squeezing it for support.
Rick tore his gaze from the monitors and turned to face his father. It had been decades since the novelist had gone to battle. He wasn't a young soldier anymore. Now he was a father, a writer and had a woman that he loved.
Rick knew if anything happened to him, it would kill his daughter, his mother and Kate. He would never intentionally put his girls through that kind of pain.
"To be honest, Storm. I am terrified," Rick admitted. His stormy blue eyes, filled with trepidation. "I am not a single young Soldier anymore, I have a family. Are you positive that we can win this?" he asked.
Donavan could see that his son was scared, he didn't blame him. Rick had been out of the game for a while now, even though he was still in shape, every time he visited Australia; the two took to the mats and sparred.
"I would never put you in a life threatening situation if I thought I had the slightest chance of losing you. I might have only found out today that you're my son, biologically. But from the first moment I caught you falling from that tree, I felt in here ..." Donavon placed a hand over his heart, tapping it before continuing, genuine. "That you are my son."
Rick was overwhelmed by his father's declaration of love for him that he pulled him into a man hug.
Ever since he was a little boy, at three years of age he craved the love of a father. Donavan coming into his life kept that craving at bay, since he had Donavan as a permanent fixture in his life. No father would ever really measure up to his high standards.
Today, finding out that he never went without a dad, that his father had been there all along, the little boy inside of Rick was satisfied.
It was the ringing of Donavan's phone, which caused father and son to pull apart.
Rick turned his attention back to the monitors. Donavan pulled his cell from its pouch on his pant belt, glancing at the ID of the caller before flipping it open and answering, serious.
"Storm ... Yep ... you certain? ... Okay," he answers before closing his phone and placing it back in its pouch. He shifted his gaze onto his son, to who had his back to him, eyes locked on the monitors.
"I am off to stare down the devil and see if he'll blink. I'll see you when this is over, son." Donavan informed his son.
Rick faced his father. "Be careful, Storm." Rick handed his father an ear bug.
Donavan took the ear bug and stuck it in his ear, then walked off.
Open Lounge Area
Kevin was always known as the funny one, always cracking a sarcastic comment or saying something totally random that causes everybody in the room to look at him like he is from another planet. But not tonight, the Kevin Ryan that was sitting on the couch tonight was the quiet and dejected.
Without Jenny, it was like a big part of him was missing, but Javier understood how his partner felt, because he felt the same. Neither knew how their girls were doing, if they were hurting or even safe.
As the Hispanic detective turned from his partner and towards the Captain, anger flowing through his blood. How can we trust her after this? It was her uncle that was behind all of this and what about his three sons. What if they all wanted to take after their father? His thoughts were interrupted when Javier heard the new Captain's voice fill the room.
"I know you two don't think you should trust me, because you do not trust my uncle..." Nicole began before she was cut off by the Irish detective.
"Trust him! He abducted our girls and shot Beckett!" Kevin snapped. His eyes were deep blue and his voice was filled with agony.
Javier could see his friend was hurting, so he took over. Standing up from the couch and looking at his new boss, infuriated. "You gotta be Loco, if you think we could ever trust him! And you're his familia, how are we meant to trust you?" Javier proclaimed, his accent ringing strong.
Nicole placed one hand on her hip, the other resting by her side. She was sick and tired of being accused for her uncle's actions, even though she still didn't fully believe what the detectives were saying was true. Not until she had the proof, which would have to be her uncle confessing to her face.
"I do not care if you do not trust me," she began. "I am your Boss! And you'll speak to me with respect. Or I will make sure that you're stuck behind a desk until you're very old men!" Nicole promised.
Both male detectives said nothing.
Donavan began making his way through the open lounge area and towards the door, noticing the change in the room and hearing the end of the Captain's little speech. The older man couldn't help but smirk, he knew the younger woman needed proof of what her uncle really was and he planned to give her that proof.
Rick's Room – 20:30
"Anywhere you are, I am near. Anywhere you go, I'll be there. Anytime you whisper my name you'll see. How every single promise I keep, cause what kind of guy would I be. If I was to leave when you need me most..." Chris's voice sang softly through the speakers.
Kate was lying in Rick's bed, hugging his pillow in the dark and listening to music. Whenever she was in doubt, over thinking too much, or just needed a break from reality, music helped. Over the last eleven days, so much had happened. Her mother's case had re-come into light, her killers were all dead and the guy that hired them to have her killed was going down tonight.
It was becoming a little too much.
For eleven years, Kate had been fighting this losing battle and it was finally all coming to a crashing end, and the brunette wasn't sure how to feel. Should she be revealed or content because her mother was finally getting the justice she deserved?
"I miss you so much, mom," Kate whispered, upset. Closing her eyes and letting a few tears slip.
"What are words if you really don't mean them when you say them? What are words if they're only for good times then they don't? When it's love, yeah, you say them out loud those words, they never go away they live on. Even when we're gone..."
Silent tears began to fall more constantly, down her cheeks. Kate than felt the bed dip on her left and she knew that he was there. He always seems to know when she needed him most. She than felt his arm draped over her shoulder and pulled her close, kissing her on the forehead.
Kate opened her eyes and rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Letting the tears full freely and they both said nothing, just listened to the words that filled the room.
"And I know an angel was sent just for me and I know I'm meant to be where I am and I'm gonna be. Standing right beside her tonight and I'm gonna be by your side ... I would never leave when she needs me most."
The two had grown comfortable around each other, quite quickly. Not that Rick even knew what personal space was, it could introduce itself to him and he would still try and hug it. But that was just the kinda guy he was. He had a big heart and that was one of the reasons why she loved him.
"What are words, if you really don't mean them when you say them? What are words if they're only for good times then they don't? When it's love, yeah, you say them out loud those words, they never go away, they live on even when we're gone."
Kate had admitted her feelings, finally to Rick. Hearing him tell her that he loved her was a big thing to her, even though she still hadn't told him that she felt the same.
Saying those three little words, were a big thing for her.
Unlike teenagers these days, she just couldn't let them fly out of her mouth. When she says 'I love you' to someone, she means it. Kate knew that she loved Rick, but there was something stopping her from saying those words.
"Anywhere you are I am near, anywhere you go I'll be there and I'm gonna be here forever more. Every single promise I keep, cause what kind of guy would I be. If I was to leave when you need me most?"
"Did you know that those who appear to be really strong, like nothing can hurt them, really are the most sensitive? And did you know that those who spend all their time protecting others, trying to keep the balance stable, sometimes really need someone to protect them?" Rick's soft gravel voice filled the room.
"I'm forever keeping my angel cloooosssse." The song ended.
Kate lifted herself from her beloved writer and looked into his eyes, as he continued speaking.
"And the three hardest words for them to ever say are 'I love you, I am Sorry and Please Help Me?" Rick told her, tucking the loose fallen strand of hair behind her ear. "Even though they might from the outside seem like the strong one, keeping it all together, inside they breaking, piece by piece but manage to do it all with a smile." Rick finished telling Kate.
She gave him a sad smile, her tears had stopped a few moments ago but hearing Rick describe her like that. She wanted to start again.
As the next song began to play 'Reflection by Christina Aguilera', Kate laid her head back down against his chest and listen to his heart beat really fast than slowly slow down to a steady beat. Her arms were draped over his stomach, holding him close.
The room had fallen silent for a few minutes until Rick spoke up.
"Kate, are you going to be okay?" he finally asked. His fingers were softly tracing up and down her arm.
Kate felt his chest vibrate as he spoke. It kind of tickled causing her to smile. She could hear the sincere concern in her partner's voice. He was truly worried about her, even though that didn't shock her. After all, he was always there.
"Only if you come back to me ... finish this for good," Kate lifted her head once again and locked her hazel green's onto his stormy blues, even though the room was darkly lit, she could still see him perfectly.
"Always," he promised, a small smile tugging at his lips.
That was all the proof that she needed, knowing that he would come back to her tonight. Enclosing the distance between them, she looped her arms around his neck and bought her lips to capture his. At first it started off as a soft sweet kiss, before Rick deepened it, sliding his tongue in her mouth to tango with hers and pouring everything he felt into the kiss.
Gently laying her back against the pillows, her arms still looped around his neck. Rick lied to the side of her so he didn't crush her. Running one hand through her hair, his other hand placed on her hip. As the kiss grew more intense and passionate, a moan escapes Kate's lips, which only fuelled his desire for the beautiful brunette even more.
Rick being well aware of her injuries and not wanting to cause her pain or hurt her. His fingers ran slowly up from her hip and along the length of her body, he could feel her tensing under his touch. Rick's fingers stopped just under her left breast.
The two pulled apart for much needed oxygen. Kate looked up into his beautiful stony blue orbs, lust burned in his eyes, matching her lust-filled burning desire.
Rick lowered his lips to her neck, he began trailing kissing from her jaw and down along her neck. Kate un-looping her arms from around his neck and began sliding them down his back, as she craned her neck giving Rick open access to it.
As she felt her partner's lips on her neck, felt him suckling her soft skin, Kate's mind was foggy. This man knew how to work his mouth, she was curious to how he worked the rest of his body, even though she knew she wouldn't be finding that out for several weeks yet, because of her injuries.
But that didn't mean they couldn't do everything else in the mean time. An ear-to-ear grin, displayed on Kate's lips, just the thought of Rick pleasuring her sent a chill through her entire body.
A knocking at the door, echoed throughout the room causing Rick to pull himself from his beautiful partner, groaning. Rick's eyes locked onto her hazel-green, Kate's hand resting on hips.
"Dad?" Alexis's tiny voice began. "Are you in there, Detective Ryan said that Gramps already left?" her voice carrying through the door.
Rick leaned back down and pecked a quick kiss on Kate's lips before un-tangling himself from her and moving off the bed.
Kate watched her partner walk towards the door and for the first time, she noticed that he was dressed differently. He was in black combat gear; a glock 17 strapped to his hip, seeing Rick dressed like that turned her on even more.
Rick opened his door and standing on the other side was his beautiful little girl, dressed in her silk Pjay's. They were a deep read with black Chinese calligraphy written all over them, her long strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail.
"Hey sweetheart," Rick answered, smiling at his daughter.
Alexis notice that her father's hair was ruffled, knowing that she interrupted something, the teen's voice reddened. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to – um ..." she started to apologize but her words died off, not sure what to say.
"Lex, it's okay" Kate's voice answers behind Rick, the brunette detective was making her way through the dark room and stood beside her partner, her fingers finding his as they laced together.
Alexis wasn't stupid, she knew her father and Kate had been 'getting physical'. Kate's lips were swollen, her hair was tossed and Alexis was pretty sure that her father had marked Kate's neck. Alexis turned her attention back to her father.
"I just wanted to say, be-careful Dad. Don't be a hero," the teen told her father, her voice almost trembling.
The father could see the fear in his daughter's eyes; Rick placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders. "Pumpkin, I would never do anything that would take me from you," he promised before pulling his daughter into his arms and giving her a Castle bear hug.
Kate watched the interaction between father and daughter, the sight in front of her warmed Kate's heart. He really was a great dad and she knew that when she had children, she would want Rick to be the father. Because she knew that those children would be loved unconditionally and always have someone there from them, since she worked crazy hours and had a dangerous job.
"Yo, Castle. It's time," the Hispanic called from the direction of his open lounge area.
Rick gave his daughter one last tight squeeze before pulling back and placing a kiss on the top of her head, than turning and facing Kate. Knowing that his daughter was present, he just pressed a kiss on his partner's forehead, locking eyes with her. "I'll be back later," Rick promised before disappearing out of the room.
A moment of silence passed before Kate suggested. "We should head out," the older woman placing a hand on the teen's shoulder, smiling at her.
"Kate – um, I suggest you freshen up before coming back out," the teen hinted. A moment passed before Kate realized what Alexis meant. She ran her hand through her hair and her face heated. "I am so sorry Lex..." Kate began apologizing.
Alexis let out a giggle, placing her hand on the detectives shoulder, assuring her. "Kate, it's fine, I am not a little girl anymore, even though my father would prefer that."
Kate was still a little un-sure.
"I am happy for the both of you, just promise to keep all of the mushy lovey dovy stuff behind closed doors. Nobody wants to see their parents make out," Alexis finished.
The brunette was stunned for a moment. Alexis had said 'parents' not 'parent' and that surprised Kate, she loved Alexis like she was her own. Who could blame her? The teenager was easy to love, just like her father.
Alexis saw the apprehension in the older woman's hazel-green eyes, worried that she scared her off. "I didn't mean to scare you Kate, saying that ..." she began to apologize.
"No, it is okay Lex. Yes you did surprised me but I care for you too," Kate answers the teen smiling, pulling her into a side hug. Alexis relaxed when the older woman hugged her. She knew that Kate wasn't highly affectionate, so Alexis knew that Kate wasn't going anywhere.
A long minute passed before the older woman asked the teen. "How bad is it?" Kate was hoping that the teen knew she was talking about so she didn't have to go into detail.
"I am pretty sure, we don't have mosquitoes," Alexis answered.
Kate looked at the teen puzzled, it then hit her. The older woman's eyes widened and her mouth gaped as she tore from the teen's embrace and as quick as she could without causing herself any pain, disappeared into Rick's bathroom.
A moment later, Alexis heard Kate shout from her father's bathroom. "I'm gonna kill you, Rick."
The teen let out a chuckle.
Rick's Loft - 20:53 – Lounge Area
Kate and the Castle women were seated on the couch, staring at the screen of the laptop that was sitting on the coffee table. They were watching the footage from Rick's button cam. Ryan had set it up before the boy left over fifteen minutes ago. So far they were only watching Rick drive, which surprised Kate. He was making great time and even seemed to know where all the short cuts were.
Kate was sitting in the middle of the two Castle's; Alexis had her arms linked with the brunette. Martha was sitting close but not as close as Alexis. All three women had their eyes glued to the screen, only hearing the muffled sounds of driving coming from the speaker in the watch Rick was wearing.
The injured detective was now wearing concealer so Rick's little love bit was covered up, even though Kate knew that her two partner's whom were more like brothers, knew that the writer and her were now together. They were also smart enough to keep their mouths shut, both knowing that she might not be able to kick their asses at the moment but she would get their girlfriend and Fiancée to withhold sex.
Kate watched as Rick arrived at the park. He said something to the men that were dressed in black combat gear with ear pieces and weapons at than entrance, before driving through.
George Washington Square Park - 20:55 – South Entrance
The detectives and the new Captain were all in the black surveillance van, sitting just outside of the South Entrance, that moments ago they had watched the writer drove through in his black escalade.
The captain was watching the monitors that were showing the footage from the novelist and Storm's button cams. Both men were also wearing listening devices so what was said around them could be heard and they could hear each other.
The Irish detective tore his eyes from the screens and looked at his partner; something had been bothering the blue eyed man for a while now. "Did you see that Castle was strapping, I get this feeling that there is a lot Castle and Storm are not telling us?"
Javier kept his eyes on the monitors. "Yeah, I know," the Hispanic answers before pointing to the screens. "Bro, look," he exclaimed.
The central fountain - 20:56
Rick pulled the escalade up in-front of the massive fountain, turning to the guard in the passenger's seat. "Stay here, until I say," Rick ordered.
The park was quiet tonight because two hours ago, Donavan had his man evacuate it; the only men that were on the surroundings of the park were detail from Storm Security.
Rick hopped out of the escalade and cautiously made his way over towards the two women that were sitting on the edge of the fountain. His hand was on the butt of the gun, preparing to draw it at any time.
Lanie was gripping Jenny's hand tightly, keeping the woman calm. Which was hard, she had just stopped sobbing before Rick showed up, now he was walking towards them, very un-castle like and more army.
"Lanie, Jenny, you ladies okay?" he asked them both as he stopped just in front of them, still puzzled to why either hadn't moved an inch. His previous training taught him when civilians acted like that, there was a high possibility of a bomb in the area.
"He said if we move an inch, he will shoot us," Lanie informed her favourite writer.
Rick was relieved that her answer wasn't 'bomb'. He could tell that both women were petrified. "If he does that, than I shoot his sons!" Rick shouted rather loudly, so his message was clear. Just in case there were ears listening, even though the permitter had been secured. "Come on, get into the escalade" Rick began, reaching out his hand. "You're safe now, I promise."
Lanie looked at Rick's hand. Jenny was gripping her right hand tighter. With her free hand she slowly began reaching for Ricks.
Thompson St – 20:58 – Apartment Building Roof
Donavan quietly made his way across the roof, spotting his target near the edge looking through a scope. The former marine would bet his life, that his son was at the other end of that. Not wanting to wait another second longer, he raised his Desert Eagle Mark XIX to his eye line.
"Step away from the edge, Grant!" Donavan began. His old friend didn't flinch; his back remind turn to the former marine.
"I should have figured you'd find me, I see you have guards at every entry point of the park. Always thinking of the innocents, that is your weakness, Storm." Dallas informed his old friend.
Donavan was slowly walking towards the 'living grim reaper'. He couldn't see Dallas's face yet, but knew that the man was smirking. The former marine could see Dallas's finger placed on the trigger of the sniper rifle.
"I said step away from the scope, Dallas. I will shoot you if you don't!" Donavan shouted. His gun aimed, ready to take the shot if needed.
"Ah, there's your son. The way you talked about him all those years, I should have figured as much," Dallas answered out loud, watching through the scope as Rick safely got the girls into the escalade, watching over his shoulder. Than opening the back door and out hopped his sons, they had black pillow cases over their heads and their hands were cuffed.
Donavan was now approximately three metres from Dallas Grant. He had a pretty good head shot, it was highly likely that Dallas was wearing a vest. He was not stupid. The former marine was listening to his son via the ear wig, now knowing that the girls were safe in the car.
"Grant, last warning, step away from the scope, this is between you and me!" he shouted at him. "I should have ended it years ago when I found out what you were really up to, I shouldn't have walked away," he confessed.
Dallas finally released his finger from the trigger and spun around. "Walking away was the smartness thing you have ever done, it's the reason your family is still alive, the reason that Detective Beckett is still alive, well that in because Roy managed to keep her away from digging into her mother's case again, well until your son had to go sticking his nose into something that was not any of his concern." Dallas spoke up, annoyed.
Donavan glared at the man standing across from him. "Rick wanted Kate to stop hurting; knowing the only way she could would be if her mother's murder was caught!" he proclaimed.
A Silence passed between the two for a long moment.
"Storm, you must know by now this is going to End with only one left standing," he announced. Grant than pulled his gun from behind his back and aimed it at his former friend. In a blink of an eye, he was quick.
"How do you think this is going to end, Grant. I know you will not turn yourself in; you're too much of a coward to confess your pass and present sins. What about your family?" Donavan shouted, gun still on him.
Dallas knew that his sons would be ashamed of him, he couldn't change the past but he knew he could impact the future. "I am doing this because I love my sons, because my niece's reputation doesn't deserve to be dragged through the mud because of what I started. They're good kids and they don't know anything. This is all on me, Storm." The older man declared. "I was the one who talked those cops into abducting those family members of the mob, it was because of me that the Rookie shot that FBI agent and it was because of me that the homicide detective lost her mother ... That's my cross to bear, not my families. It all ends with me," he finally confessed.
Donavan knew exactly what his old friend was doing. Dallas raised his gun, aiming it directly at him. "Goodbye old friend," he answered as he pulled the trigger.
The central fountain
Rick heard two shots fire through his ear piece and than a thud sound. Panic washed over the writer. He then heard a crackling sound through the ear wig.
"DAD!" he shouted into his ear piece.
The shot sounded close, like from a building roof top that was behind them. Still hearing nothing from his father's end, the novelist in him began conducting horrible theories in his mind, of what could have happened to his father.
The detectives black van pulled up beside Rick's vehicle. Out jumped the two male detectives and ran straight towards their girls, who were getting out of the escalade. The four of them reunited by hugging each other, both women were crying hysterically in their other halves arms.
Rick was still freaking out, was his father dead. He turned and looked towards the two detectives. "Ryan, Esposito, what happened?" the writer asked, both detective looked at their friend, their faces crestfallen. They had seen everything that had happened on the monitor in the van.
Rick's eyes winded, shaking his head. "No," not wanting to believe that anything bad happened to his father.