Disclaimer: Still own nothing. Actually I am wearing some clothes that seem to be my size so I guess I own them.
Chapter 5
Pulling up outside Esposito and Ryan looked at each other unsure how Beckett and Castle could even be alive looking at the building.
Esposito located the search and rescue commander and flashing his badge asked if they had located any survivors.
"We've pulled nine people from the bottom three floors. The fourth and fifth seemed to have taken the brunt of the explosion. We haven't found your Detective yet, though. We believe that the north end was the least damaged though and she told you they were near the north stairs right?"
"Yes they were heading toward them when the explosion hit. She didn't know if they were still on the fourth floor or not."
"Looks like most of the main support columns in that section are stable. I've got two guys going up the stairs now. Can you contact her again?"
"I can try." He pulled out his phone and pressed the button to redial her number.
"Kate two guys are coming up the stairs. Can you hear anything?" She listened.
"Not yet." Just as she said that there was a loud sound. "Wait there was a loud boom."
"Did your guys make a loud boom?" The captain radioed to his guys.
"Yes they have reached the steel door to the fourth floor and hit it but it won't open."
"Kate they are at the fourth floor door."
"I can hear them but can't see them. There must be something blocking the door. Give me a second and let me look." Forgetting, Kate stood up and turned away from Castle to walk toward the noise. As she did Castle watched her go and gasped. He saw the metal sticking out of her vest just below her shoulder blade. Under her vest she was wearing a white blouse khaki dress pants. The blouse and pants were both stained red. Blood had run out under her vest and down the tail of her shirt. Suddenly Castle knew why she had been moving around him so carefully. She didn't want to turn her back to him.
Halfway to the door she stumbled and caught herself with the broken left arm. The cry that escaped her lips broke his heart. She quickly righted herself and continued on. He was unable to hear her anymore.
"Javi, there is a pretty big piece of concrete laying in front of the door. Its only about two feet high though so if they could cut the door, the top should open."
"Got it Kate they are heading up with a saw you guys stay back." As she hung up the coughing hit again. This time she choked and threw up. Blood. She was so thankful that she was out of Castle's sight.
After a few minutes she returned to him. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well this might be easier than they thought. Apparently the stairwell is intact. They just need to get the door open and they'll be up here to get you out."
"Kate." He was hesitant. The way she was acting, maybe she didn't know. How could she not feel it sticking out of her back.
"Castle what is it. Are you OK?" The simple act of speaking made her cough. She tried to get away from him but couldn't. She threw up again. He saw and the look upon his face broke her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"Kate your hurt."
"Castle I'm fine. You're the one we've got to get out of here. Castle right now all that matters is getting you to the hospital. Back to Alexis." She was fighting the tears, fighting the fluid filling her lung, fighting the numbness spreading up from her feet. "Rick, I will not let her lose you. I know what it does to a daughter to lose a parent. I will not let her go through that."
It scared him that she had used his first name. She took his hand "Promise me you will hang on."
"It actually doesn't hurt that bad. Is that a bad thing?" She didn't know what to tell him.
