::::::::::::::::::::Abandoned warehouse::::::::::

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The pursuer was right, the lights made finding her easier. Kate's heart pounded when she heard the boxes come crashing down. His comment on guys joining him hit her like a punch in the stomach. They are coming for me. She crouched down and reached for the crowbar she had spotted earlier. She stretched her arm as far as she could, only managing to touch it's metal surface with the tips of her fingers. Only half of her arm was covered in shadows, and Kate knew one slip would be enough to cause the metal bar to make her location well known. She had no other choice. The crowbar slid across the edge of the table it lay upon and dangerously wobbled in her grasp. Kate held her breath. She managed to grip it tightly and it only scratched the leg of the table. She looked up, waiting for a response. Nothing. She pulled the crowbar near to her and stood as tall as the stack of crates she hid behind. Now what? she questioned. At least her hands were no longer empty and that gave her some assurance.

Castle waited and through the metal crisscrosses of the stairs he finally saw him. Dirtbag, he quoted Montgomery and pressed his lips, exasperated. Castle noticed his professional hold on the gun, he saw as the light caught the back of his head. Castle gripped his gun tightly and measured the man up. Late 50s early 60s, in good shape, 5'8,... smiling. He is enjoying this! Castle decided to make his move, pointing the gun with his right hand through the opening in the metal stairs, closing one eye for aim. In that instant, the man's movement evaded the frame of his shot. Castle punished himself for the hesitation, and swallowed the lump that had lodged in his throat. He looked around for access to a better angle, one that would eventually provide him with cover as well. That's when he noticed the big light switch on the wall. It was a clear path, with nothing to hide behind but he knew it was Kate's best hope. Who was to say that Castle would find the man before he found her? He needed some distraction, something that would keep the man's attention elsewhere while he made a run for it.

He looked down at his left side, the blood had stopped and the pain was subsided by the adrenalin. He felt uneasy as his blood pressure dropped. It had been almost a day since he last ate. He looked again at the distant target, the light switch. How fast can I make it there?

Kate heard footsteps grow nearer. With both hands she defensively held the crowbar up. If he was aiming, holding the gun outwards, there might be a chance that she could see the gun first and take a swing at it. Suddenly, above her, she heard the crackling sound.

The overhead pass was crumbling under the man's weight. He too had thought of gaining the advantage of a risen point of view, and had started his way up the stairs when the rusty structure threatened to collapse. He hesitated and was deciding if he should continue upwards or not.

As Kate swung around, she let the crowbar slide out of her hands. It went flying off to where the crackling sound had come from and hitting all objects it encountered on it's way before finding the floor. This set off an array of bullets shot by the man. He turned to go down the stairs, flooded by the excitement of the chase. He was surprised to hear someone run in the opposite side of the room.

Castle was startled by the sudden events but quickly convinced himself it was the perfect distraction he was asking for. Holding the gun firmly in one hand, he ran to the wall and pulled the switch down. Once he did, the warehouse was submerged in black again, and the sparks of bullets fired in his direction, glowed in the dark. He instinctively fired back, aimlessly and took cover. Sooo stupid! he condemned, as with this action he had given away his cover.

The man was momentarily stunned as he himself was being shot at. He shielded his body behind a pillar. Someone had fired back at him, and Kate didn't have a gun. He called out "Bobby, you there?" Silence. "Knock on something if you're there Bobby"

Castle hesitated. Can I still keep him believing I'm one of his men? Or was this a trick? Either way, any noise would give away his position.

Kate listened carefully. Two distinct guns had been fired. The lights had been turned off. Castle? she hoped. She started to fear that she would never see him again. Never? She sorrowfully smiled. Ever, she answered herself. It wasn't corny after all. She needed a chance to tell him. To tell him everything. A chance to say that they had a real chance.

"Bobby?" the man repeated.

"Keep on talking, SOB...", Castle mumbled quietly as he gazed from under the table he had slid beneath. He adjusted his eyes to the absence of light. I can hunt too...

Writer guy!, the man thought as he twitched his nose, infuriated. He rethought his strategy. If he could find Ms. Beckett he could hold her hostage. He had to make her out herself, and fast. He focused on her, and kept his head low.

He called out "She wasn't supposed to die you know?" He paused for effect. "But she brought it on herself." He lifted his eyes and, with help of the risen moon that begun to pour light through the east windows, he saw the footsteps of high heeled shoes on the layered dust that covered the floor. His smile was noticeable in his voice "I had made it clear: no one was to touch Pulgotti's defense." He slid off his shoes and began to follow the tracks "If she hadn't been so damn nosy, I wouldn't of hired Rathborne to kill her."

Kate's face froze. He hired...? She couldn't believe it. Every hair on her body had risen, as the animal instinct of readiness for attack took over. She couldn't think, she couldn't breath, she couldn't stay put any longer. Since that night in early January, 1999, all she had wished for was to come face to face with this man. This man.

Kate gasped for air as in her mind arose the thought I got him mom! Her mother's voice saying her favorite expression, I told you so, Katie!, replied. Flashes of all the efforts put into finding this man emerged. This man. She clenched her fists to fight the haunted visions of all the innocent people that had lost their lives because of him. It was this man's decision to tragically perpetuate the horrid scene of a knock on the door, the bearing of sad news, the minute afterwards where you still don't believe it. The minute you wish you could still live in. Afterwards would come the cruel minute in which you know your world will never be the same. Ever.

Castle felt a rush of pure hatred flood his body. The SOB! The tension was so great he almost hit his head under the table. He could only think of Kate, he could only breath her desire for justice, he couldn't stay put any longer. Since that night three years ago in the archive room, all he had wished for was to seek justice for Kate. My Kate.

Castle took a deep breath and looked around. He figured out a route that would lead him to where the man's voice had last come from. His mind creatively writing the scenes of how this would end. The most important scenes Castle had ever written. The classic duel told so many times was becoming his reality and, in this hour, he could think of no greater cause. Castle believed that in this hour, he would prevail. The courageous hour you wish you will live once in your lifetime. Afterwards would come the cruel hour in which you realize you have taken a life, and it will follow you. Always.

...

The Dragon continued his hazing. "Katie..., can I call you Katie? That's what your mother called you right?" He reached down to grab a part of a long rope that lay on the floor. He had seen that the footsteps leaded to behind a stack of crates. He needed to move fast. "In fact, Rathborne told me she called out for you..." he paused and laughingly added "you know, when she wasn't busy squealing and bleeding out..."

That was too much for Kate's heart to bear. She lightly hit her forehead against the crates. Kate had said that she wanted Castle around when this time, the final confrontation with her personal devil, came, and she meant it. If it was him that fired the second set of rounds she needed to know. She called out, "Castle? You said you'd always have my back!" Enraged, she was set to emerge from behind the crates when a sudden movement to her right startled her.

The man had whipped the long rope, sending a curved motion in it to snap on the left side of the crates. He had hoped to create a distraction as he would contour the crates to his right. It had worked.

Castle was already on his way through the maze of crates and boxes when he heard Kate cry out for him. He had deeply hoped that she would be strong enough to resist the Dragon's taunts. She was risking it all. Damn it, I hate re-writes! He could not be late for this act.

Kate was expecting to hear some warning, footsteps, something. She heard the distant crack and turned to it. Then, she felt it. He is behind me! As Kate turned around the first thing she noticed was the gun. Then she noticed the man. The second she laid eyes on him she wasn't Detective Kate Beckett anymore. It was the 19 year-old Katie, looking forward to skating next weekend with her mom that asked in a whisper "You...?"