Not sure what happened with the first attempt to upload but I think I have it straightened out. Thanks to those who have already started following. Most of the story is written so should be uploaded over the next few days.
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They drove about 20 minutes in relative silence, the only noise was turning directions from the back seat. They had left the highway far behind and now traversed smaller streets. The light snowfall had become a major event and it was getting harder to see let alone drive. With the threat of a bullet in his skull if he crashed the car, Castle was careful to maneuver through the streets taking turns at almost a crawl. The heavy snow weighed heavily on his mind as he realized that any tracks left behind were being quickly obliterated by the snow.
"So, you going to tell me where we're going?" It was the third time he tried to get something from his captor.
"Home, silly," she huffed at him. "You keep asking the same question. We're going home."
Same question resulting in the same answer every time. She had ignored every other question he asked.
Stopping at a light, Castle tried a new approach. "You want to tell me your name?"
BAM! He never saw it coming as she slammed the butt of her gun into the side of his head. The world seemed to spin and if it wasn't that they were already stopped, the car would have probably crashed into a ditch.
"Stop being difficult, Rick." She snarled at him. "You know my name! You've known it for years!"
The light was now green but with no one else on the road besides them, Castle was in no hurry to go. He was waiting for the stars circling his head to go back into the sky.
"Now let's go. Don't make me angry," She threatened, "you won't like it."
Castle slowly accelerated down the deserted street. By this time of night, everyone was secured in their houses and waiting out the latest snow storm.
Five minutes and two turns later, Castle pulled into the driveway of a small ranch style house, the garage door already opening. She must have the remote with her, he surmised. The house was rather nondescript as far as he could tell in the dark, snow blanketed conditions. The garage was neat and the small car fit easily. The door closed shut behind him and Castle realized that by the time the sun came up tomorrow, there would be no way to track them. He was alone with a crazy, gun toting woman and no one even knew he was missing.
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As he finished parking the car, Castle heard the back door opening. She was careful and smart, smart enough to wait until the engine was off before starting to get out so he couldn't back the car out through the door.
"Get out." More orders from the small woman.
Castle did as he was told. He knew he was in trouble but he had to play it safe for now. Do what she said and hope for her to drop her guard and give him an opportunity.
They entered the house, small but clean and modestly decorated. The garage opened into a small den or family room. The kitchen was attached and beyond a breakfast bar extended into the living room. Turning right, Castle could see a hall with three doors leading off it. It was down this hall the woman directed him. She still hadn't told him her name and after the incident in the car, Castle wasn't eager to ask her and risk her wrath again. His head was still ringing and the dizziness had not even started to dissipate.
The door to the left led to an obviously feminine bedroom, probably hers. Directly opposite, the first one on the right, contained a bathroom. The second door on the right was where they stopped.
"Go in," she commanded with the same monotonous tone she seemed to use on all her commands, "turn on the light."
Obeying, Castle shed light on a room empty except for a wooden arm chair. It was one of those old formal dining room chairs, very heavy and very sturdy. Castle noticed the metal restraints on both arms and legs. His already pounding heart suddenly felt like it would burst through his chest.
"Sit down, and put on those restraints."
"No, wait," he pleaded, not even embarrassed by the desperate crack in his voice, "tell me what you want. Why are you doing this?"
"Sit down and put on those restraints." She repeated waving her gun toward the chair.
Castle looked around the room, trying to see something, anything that he could use to convince her but the room was bare save for the chair. He studied his captor for the first time since his abduction. She was small and slightly built, would be no match for him, except she had the gun, a Glock, 9mm. Castle knew plenty about weapons from long before he started working with the NYPD. From the way she held the gun, she knew what she was doing as well. His size and strength advantage would do him no good as long as she was armed.
"SIT DOWN!" She now screamed at him. "I don't want to hurt you but I will if you don't do as I tell you. Now sit down or I'll make sure you can't stand ever again." The threat was accompanied by the weapon now pointed directly at his knee. Knowing there was nothing he could do at this point, Castle sat in the chair.
"Put the restraints on your legs," she ordered, "and I will check them."
Castle slowly obeyed, locking first one, then the other ankle in the metal restraints.
"Good, now your right arm, please." Castle nearly snorted at the "please" but wisely held his mouth in check, locking the restraint on his right wrist.
"Put your left arm on the arm of the chair so I can finish." She was almost giddy with delight. Castle did as ordered and with the gun out of reach, she finished securing her captive. She checked all the metal cuffs and then burst into a huge smile.
"Finally, now you're home, Rick." She moved to kiss Castle on the lips but he turned his head away to avoid her, earning a slap across the face. She grasped his face between her hands and turned him back to look at her. "I'll be patient with you, for now. This little game of yours will quickly grow tiresome." Castle could see the fire in her eyes; hear the venom in her words, "you belong to me, and only me. Eventually you will realize that this is your home, this is where you belong. You will never leave here."
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Morning sun streaming through the windows was a soft wake up call for Kate. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so soundly. She went to turn over only to realize that she was still on the couch. Couch? Sunlight? What time was it? Kate quickly checked her phone to see it was nearly 7:30, she had slept close to 10 hours.
Kate quickly got up and ran into her bedroom to find it empty, the bed not slept in. "Rick?" She called out, "Rick, are you home?" She knew it was foolish to believe her husband had come home without waking her, or moving her to the bed.
Redialing the same number she had just called last night, she was dismayed when her call went straight to voicemail. Okay, Kate thought, don't panic. Maybe the snow got too bad and he stopped for the night. She redialed the number again with the same result. She didn't want to worry his mother or daughter so she tried a different tact, calling the precinct.
"Yo, isn't this your day off?" Detective Javier Esposito had quite the way with words.
"Espo," Kate tried to keep the growing nerves out of her voice, "I need a favor."
Kate's friends knew her too well, "What's wrong?" Esposito asked, "What's happened?"
Kate caught her breath before she began. She needed to stay calm, he probably just stopped somewhere, but deep in her heart she KNEW something was wrong. Castle always made sure she knew where he was if there was a change of plans.
"Castle didn't come home last night." She managed to squeak out. "We spoke about 9 last night, he was just leaving to come home." God, why didn't she try harder to convince him to stay the night rather than drive home in bad weather? "I just woke up, he's not home, there's no message and his phone is going straight to voicemail." As she said it out loud the nervousness became an all-out panic. "Espo, I know this sounds stupid but I know something is wrong."
Kate Beckett did not easily panic and although it would be simple to chalk her nerves up to hormones, Esposito had known Kate too long to dismiss her feelings. "What road was he taking?" Esposito inquired, "I'll make a few phone calls."
Two hours later, Kate waited impatiently at her desk while Kevin Ryan, Esposito's partner, finished up his latest call. After many empty calls to local departments, Ryan had finally gotten some information. Esposito stood next to Kate with Captain Victoria Gates on her other side as Ryan hung up.
"Okay, that was Deputy Collins in Greene County." Ryan spoke slowly having trouble maintaining eye contact with Kate. "DOT has been cleaning up the accidents and abandoned cars from last night." He cleared his throat. "Castle's car was one of them. It was abandoned on the side of the road."
"So where is he?" Esposito asked.
"They don't know," Ryan hesitated.
Kate realized something was wrong, "Kevin, what is it?"
Ryan shook his head slightly, he couldn't look at her, "The keys were still in the car and the engine was on. The tank was empty but there was nothing wrong with the car some gas wouldn't fix. There was a receipt on the passenger seat. He had filled the tank at 9:09, right after he spoke with you. The car wasn't stuck in the snow." He then looked Kate directly in the eye, "It looks like he got out of the car, left it running and never went back for it."
Kate closed her eyes and leaned her head back trying to control the rising dread.
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Rick Castle slowly opened his eyes later that same morning. He assumed it was morning given how long he had slept combined with being hungry, thirsty and needing to go to the bathroom. The windows of the room were covered in heavy drapes and he could see no light through them. Which means no one could see in as well. He tried to stretch as best his predicament allowed him. He was still chained to the same chair as last night and his back was sending plenty of nasty messages his way.
"Hey." He squeaked out. Clearing his throat he tried again, "Hey! Are you there?"
Footsteps from the hallway stopped at the door to the room. Castle heard the click of a key in the lock before the door swung open revealing his captor and painfully too much light for his eyes.
"Good morning, sweetheart," the woman seemed almost giddy with delight, "how did you sleep?" She walked behind Castle, giving him a small peck on the cheek. "I know you're probably a little stiff from sitting too long in one place but I am just about finished with your room and will have you settled in there in no time."
"Good morning." Castle thought it best to appease his captor. His body was already sore from sitting so long in one position and, although his head no longer throbbed, he didn't want to see how well she could use the gun she still held in her hand. "I could really use a bathroom break about now, maybe some coffee."
"In good time, Rick," she seemed so pleasant again. "Give me another 30 minutes and you'll be able to move around." She finished whatever she was doing behind him and left the room, being sure to close and bolt the door on her way out.
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True to her word, 30 minutes later Castle heard the key in the lock once again and the door swung open. "Moving time!" she gleefully exclaimed. Once again pointing the barrel of the gun to his right leg she whispered quietly but menacingly, "I expect no problems. I'd hate to start our time together tending to a shattered kneecap."
She carefully unlocked the cuff holding Castle's left wrist, leaving the key in the cuff. "Unlock the rest and stand up." She ordered, backing slowly away, the gun never wavering. Castle followed her instructions, unlocking first his other wrist, then both ankles. He slowly pushed himself out of the chair making sure his movements were slow and careful, both to keep his captor calm and to avoid any muscles that may want to spasm to show their displeasure with the sleeping arrangements.
"Out the door, down the hall to the left, slowly."
Castle stumbled slightly before he got his footing. Following her directions he made his way back through the same hall he had come down last night. When he reached the kitchen again, she carefully opened a door to reveal a staircase and a lit room below.
"Down there!"
In much the same manner as last night, Castle's heart seemed to skip a few beats as he looked down the stairs. He knew his predicament was getting worse at every turn. Kate had to know he hadn't come home by now, perhaps they were already looking for him. The snow would obscure any tracks, assuming it came down as hard as it was predicted, and his abandoned car held no clues to his whereabouts. He was sore and stiff, hungry and thirsty, and his captor was armed. Despite the size advantage he held over her, he knew he was no match for her at this moment. The click of a hammer cocking broke him from his musings. "I said, down there...NOW!"
Slowly, with his heart threatening to pound out of his chest, Castle descended the staircase. The sight that met his eyes was more terrifying than what he imagined. The basement was, in essence, a large cage that extended from one end of the room to the other. Inside that cage was a small bathroom, shower and sink. A refrigerator and a cabinet that probably held plates, cups and silverware were on the opposite wall. Off to one side was a bed. Next to the bed was a wardrobe with some blankets and pillows on top. Next to the couch that was in the center of the cage was a small desk and chair. And next to that was a chair that matched the one upstairs, complete with the restraints.
Castle slowly absorbed it all. This wasn't some random kidnapping. His captor had planned this for weeks or months in advanced. She was prepared, not just for his abduction, but for an extended stay as well. If he'd had anything in his stomach, he probably would have lost it at the thought. It was a small miracle his pants were still dry.
"Welcome home," she still held that cheery tone, her smile plastered to her face. "I tried to make it as comfortable as I could. Of course, eventually, you'll move in with me. We have to be married first." She whispered that last part, as if it were their little secret. "Go in, I hope we won't be needing those restraints."
"Wait," Castle pleaded turning to face her, "tell me what you want. Is it money? My family will pay."
"Rick, go in the room."
Castle ignored her command, "Who are you? What do you want?" He continued, not caring how desperate he sounded. "Please! I have a family! A wife! A daughter who needs me! We have a child on the way! Tell me what you want from me!" He was practically begging by this point.
"Get in, now! I won't say it again." She threatened through clenched teeth, raising the gun to eye level.
Castle slowly backed away, maneuvering through the cage door. "At least tell me your name."
"Elizabeth," she responded while locking the cage door. "My name is Elizabeth, people call me Beth, but you already knew that."
She started to walk away but stopped and looked Castle in the eye. "Oh, and one more thing, Richard," accentuating the use of his full name, "don't ever mention that bitch you knocked up or her alter ego, Nikki Heat, again. You will forget you ever knew her or the bastard she's carrying, or I'll remove them from the story, permanently."
Castle waited until the door closed at the top of the stairs before he fell to his knees, holding his head in his hands he was helpless to stop the tears that began flowing.
Kate, he thought, help me! Please, help me!