Sorry that it took so long to write this new chapter. I've been trying to figure out how best to move this along so it wasn't dragging out, and this is the best way I could think. I think after this there might be either somewhere between two to three or four more chapters. I don't know as of right now, but hopefully I'll have a vague outline of it by the time I post the chapter after this.

I don't believe I've said this since the second chapter, but thank you so very very much to all of you that have liked and favorite and seem to really enjoy this story. It really does make my day.

Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own anything that has to do with Castle. That belongs to ABC and Andrew Marlow.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter!

XOXO and a Happy New Year to you all!

It was months later now. Miranda Smith's murder was resolved, checking his story against witness accounts claiming Henry had walked out of the apartment with the bloody knife in his hands and blood seeming to cover his clothes. No one seemed to draw up an image of a man chasing after him who only wanted to 'talk', so Josh's part in this was brushed under the rug to Gates' happiness and smugness. She had warned them that it would come to nothing. That it was a stupid lead to follow.

But, that wasn't the weird part. The minute the case was done, the information was filed and put away to gather dust in the stacks, Josh disappeared and Henry Sage was found in his cell hung by his ripped up bed sheets, supposedly suicide, but Kate guessed differently. Kate tried to get Gates to see there was still something connecting the two of them, something no one else could see but she felt was still there, and that Henry Sage hadn't killed himself off free will, but she was brushed aside. Told that she was over thinking it because someone, not Lanie she knew, had told someone else that the knife wound was a match for the knife that killed her mother. Now, she seemed like a conspirator.

That was when Castle suggested the trip to the Hamptons. She wasn't very keen on the idea, she didn't want to leave the precinct just to be sure that something didn't come in to add to the puzzle she was just putting together. But, after a few days of begging and pleading and light pushing from the boys, she agreed and within hours of her agreement, they were at Castle's Hampton house.

It was not very easy, though, to settle down. She was seeing things she knew wasn't there or coming up with a new idea every moment. They had decided to stay two weeks, but within three days she was bored, on edge, and felt like she was driving Castle crazy. She knew he was worried about her, fearing that she was about ten seconds away from a mental breakdown, so he did the only thing he could. He made a call.

"Hello?" Kate asked when Castle handed her the phone on the fourth night of their stay.

"Katie, you need to calm down," Montgomery said on the other end, seeming exasperated with her, "I didn't tell you to watch your back only for you to jump at every closed door or every new person."

"But what—"

"But what if they're part of it, yes I understand, but you have to stop from jumping prematurely. It won't help. You'll give yourself away and then they'll act and that wouldn't be good for either you or the guys," Montgomery interrupted, his tone suggesting that she listen without argument.

Kate took a deep breath and nodded, "Alright, I'll try to calm down," she promised.

"See that you do, Katie," he told her, though it sounded more so of an order, before hanging up.

Kate leaned against the wall of the hallway where she stood before slipping down to the ground and bringing her knees up to her chest. "Are you alright?" Rick asked, walking up the stairs to sit across from her and nudging her foot with his, smiling when he saw her small smile.

"Yeah, I'm good," she told him, reaching over for his hand, "It's just…I don't know what I could do. Every time I turn around I can't help asking myself if it was really an accident when I bump into someone on the street, or if the guy at the coffee shop looks a bit dodgy, or if my own Captain is selling me out to someone. I hate it Rick. I don't know what to do," she finally admitted, biting her lip.

Rick moved to sit next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head, "I love you," he whispered, squeezing her shoulder gently, "I love you and I swear I won't let anything happen to you."

Kate knew she could argue and say that he really couldn't make that promise, but she chose instead to allow herself to nestle into his arms and be comforted for now.

She only wished the peace would last a little longer.

LINE BREAK

They had decided to stay another week, figuring with how long it took to get Kate to calm down, so it was officially day one of their second week of their three week mini vacation. Rick had gone back into the city to get some files Kate had asked for, figuring she'd get some paperwork done while she was there considering he was using the time to write more as well. It was around one in the afternoon, she was in the living room watching some repeats of Temptation Lane when the phone rang. She looked beside her for her cell phone, but realizing it wasn't there quickly remembered it was in the kitchen where she left it after having made herself a sandwich for lunch.

"Hello?" she asked upon answering it.

"Detective Beckett, I believe it is high time we meet," a disguised voice answered on the other end. At that same moment, she felt the cold metal of a gun against the back of her head. "Now, if you'll be so kind as to let my men put you in the car. And please, Detective, don't try to be clever. Leave no trace of yourself or my men and we will let Mr. Castle and your friends stay clear of this. I give you my word," the person promised before hanging up.

"Out you go," the man behind her head, roughly turning her around and pushing her towards the door.

Kate took a deep breath to keep herself calm, knowing she would be no good to her friends if she was panicking, and allowed him to herd her towards the car that waited for them. Inside were three other men with similar guns held in their laps, but all had ski masks covering their faces so she couldn't see anything but their eyes. Looking in the mirror, she noticed the driver was dressed similarly.

"Where are you taking me?" she finally asked after a few moments on the road.

"To the boss," one man said, and she could see the faint hint of a smirk under the mask.