Author's note: I'd like to thank phnxgrl, TORONTOSUN, KrisN, and southerngirl1 for their reviews. phnxgrl: I've been hoping Shaw would return on the show at some point, but that hasn't happened yet, so I brought her in here. TORONTOSUN: Yes, he is. Also, Alex has her reasons for talking to Kate. KrisN: Thank you! Hope this one lives up to your expectations as well. southerngirl1: Having your fiancé kidnapped by an evil criminal mastermind would be scary. We're starting up right where we left off. This chapter is a little long, and I think it is a little bit of an emotional rollercoaster, just to warn you. What's going to happen, you ask? Well, read and find out. Enjoy!

Chapter 41

Beckett was taken by surprise. "Excuse me?"

Alex smiled briefly. "I have an idea, but it may come down to you getting Tasered to fool Volkert."

Beckett blinked. "I... guess I could do that. What did you have in mind?"

"First, we need to establish some facts." Alex sat down in Castle's chair. "How long will it take for you to get to the George Washington Bridge from here?"

Beckett leaned forward and put her head in her hands. "I don't know. At that time of night, there should be less traffic, so half an hour maybe."

Alex nodded. "Okay, around 11, you go down to your car; pretend like you're sneaking out of here because I can guarantee there will be someone keeping an eye on everything by then. About ten to fifteen minutes later, Esposito and Ryan will go racing down to their car, with the FBI a couple minutes behind them. When you get to the bridge, park near the pedestrian entrance, and take a few moments to write out a 'suicide' note." Alex paused a moment to think. "When you're done with that, lock your gun, badge, phone, note, keys and any valuables you wouldn't want on you if you were really killing yourself in the car; you'll be making it look as if you're saying you don't need them anymore. From there, you walk to the middle of the bridge. When you get to the rope, make a show of being nervous as you tie the knot."

Beckett interrupted. "So I'm basically going to do exactly what they said."

Alex nodded. "Yes, except Ryan and Esposito are right behind you. If the timing is right, they will pull up next to you on the bridge just after you have finished tying the knot. They'll make a show of trying to convince you to stop, you'll put the noose around your neck and make it look like you are about to throw yourself over the edge of the bridge."

Beckett nodded in understanding. "At which point I get hit with the Taser and can't finish the job." She ran a hand through her hair. "You heard him though. If the FBI interferes, Castle will be dead."

"That's why Ryan and Esposito will be stopping you, and by then I'll be in a position to change Volkert's mind about killing Castle."

Beckett had misgivings about the plan, but Alex seemed confident. "The timing will have to be perfect."

Shaw signaled to Avery. "I think we can help in that department. We have earpieces that are not easily seen. With your hair, it wouldn't be difficult to conceal. That way we can stay in contact with you and the people watching won't have any idea that this dance was planned."

"That'll work." Alex turned back to Beckett. "I'm supposed to be waiting and watching from Volkert's headquarters. That way, I'll be in a position to argue on Castle's behalf and get him an extension."

Shaw put a hand on Alex's shoulder. "What makes you think you're going anywhere?"

Alex stood up and brushed the hand off her shoulder. "If I don't show up, they will know I'm working with the cops. And believe me when I say they won't hesitate to kill Castle early. You heard him. So unless you want to ensure that Castle is dead within the next two hours, I am walking out of here."

With that, Alex walked to the elevator and hit the call button. Shaw was stunned. The agents and police were waiting for a signal that they should detain her, but it never came. The elevator arrived and Alex stepped onto it, staring at the crowd as though daring them to stop her. The elevator doors closed, and that's when Shaw moved.

"I want two plainclothes to get down there and follow her. Don't let her out of your sight. I want to know where she is being taken. It's probably the same place where Castle is being held."

Two agents went down the stairs. Shaw returned to the war room and pulled up the external security feed for the precinct. A radio on the desk squawked and Shaw picked it up.

One of the plain clothes was on the other side. "She's not down here. And the security desk says the elevator arrived on their floor, but no one got off."

Shaw swore. "Search the area, but don't be conspicuous. I want to know where she's going."

Beckett sighed. "She probably didn't come in the front door. And she is very good at slipping her tail. The first time we chased her, I put a bullet in her shoulder and she still managed to escape."

Shaw turned around. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to resort to her plan. Nevins, what's your status?"

The radio came to life. "No sign of her. Zorn reports the same. She got away."

"Fine, get back in here." Shaw crossed her arms. "She wasn't on the security camera, and my men didn't see her. How the hell did she escape?"

Beckett noticed a problem. "Wait. We didn't see your men on camera either. I think she's feeding us a loop."

Shaw had her tech guys check the feed. A minute later, they confirmed the camera feed they were receiving wasn't live. After a moment, the live feed returned, but it was already too late. Alex was gone.

At 10:50, Beckett stood up from her chair. She had never felt so nervous. She had to remind herself that the plan was a good one, though it would probably be painful, emotionally, and physically. She had to trust that Alex wouldn't screw this up. She went over to the boys' desks. They had been busy with the phones for the last few hours. Nothing new had come in, but they kept trying, hoping to save Beckett from having to make this trip.

"I'm going to be heading out soon. Let me know where you guys are at all times so I can plan accordingly." Beckett was surprised that she sounded so much calmer than she felt.

Ryan nodded. "Shaw's going to want to see you before you go."

Beckett nodded. "I know."

Esposito stood up, his eyes communicating all the worry he felt. "Good luck, boss."

Beckett had to fight her tears. She smiled and nodded, letting him know she understood. Lanie gave her a hug and whispered good luck too before standing back and giving her friend the most concerned look Beckett had ever seen in her life. Captain Gates came out of her office as Beckett passed it and shook her hand, wishing her good luck. Beckett turned and went into what was now the war room. Shaw glanced up and nodded.

"Here, you're going to need it." Shaw pulled a tiny earpiece out of a box. "You'll be able to hear everything that we say. And you'll need this." She took a small button-cover out of the box and fitted it over a button on Beckett's blouse while Beckett put the earpiece in her ear. "Now, we can hear what you say. Just try not to talk too much; I don't want it to look like you're communicating with us."

Beckett smiled. "Thanks."

Shaw returned the smile. "Good luck out there."

Beckett glanced at her watch; it was almost 11. She decided to go down the back stairs to make it look like she really was sneaking out. Once outside, she walked to her car, constantly looking over her shoulders as though she was worried about being followed. She got to her car and started it up, ducking her head down and barely muttering "I'm on my way" as she did.

Shaw was the first to respond. "Copy that, Beckett. Let us know when you arrive."

At the precinct, Shaw fitted the boys with their radios and a Taser. "Hopefully the people watching will think that these radios are only connected to us. When you go down to your car, make it look like you were just checking on Beckett's whereabouts. Panic when you don't see her car and radio up to us. That should do the trick."

Ryan nodded. "Got it."

Shaw looked at her watch. "It's 11:12. Go."

Esposito and Ryan took the stairs down to the lobby and made a stop at the security desk. "Did Detective Beckett come down this way?"

The officer behind the desk shook his head. "I didn't see her."

Ryan turned to Esposito. "Let's check and see if her car is still here."

The boys went outside and checked where Beckett had parked her car. "It's not here." Esposito held up his walky. "Eagle's Nest, this is Bravo team. The Sparrow has flown the coop. We're in pursuit."

Shaw responded. "Copy that Bravo. Sending Delta team to assist."

Ryan waited until he and Esposito were in their car. "Eagle's Nest, Bravo team, Sparrow? Shaw didn't say anything about code names."

Esposito floored it and started the siren. "Man, I was in the military. It felt like the natural thing to do. And Shaw got right into it. Alright, Sparrow, we're on our way. Please tell me you haven't reached the bridge yet."

Beckett's voice came through the line. "ETA fifteen minutes."

Ryan responded. "Let us know when you arrive. Our ETA should be twenty."

Sixteen minutes later, Beckett pulled into an empty spot on Cabrini Blvd. near the pedestrian entrance to the bridge. "I'm here."

Esposito was the first to respond. "We got caught in a little traffic. ETA twelve minutes."

Shaw was next. "ETA eighteen minutes. How long will it take you to walk to the middle of the bridge?"

Beckett scratched her neck to cover her lips moving. "Ten minutes max. I'll kill a few writing that note."

Ryan's voice echoed in her earpiece. "Roger that. Let us know when you are on the bridge."

Beckett opened her glove compartment and found a napkin and a pen. She searched for some paper in her car, but didn't find any. She clicked open the pen and started to write. In the note, she apologized to the boys, to Alexis, and to Castle. "I didn't want to do this, but there wasn't another way." Tears fell down Beckett's face. It was hard to write this down even though she knew she wasn't about to die. But Rick might. At that thought, the tears fell even harder. She glanced at her watch; it was 11:31.

Beckett opened the car door and placed her badge, gun, phone, and keys on the driver's seat. With one last glance at the letter, she placed it, open, on top of her things. She was moving to lock the door when she remembered her necklace. Slowly, she lifted the chain over her head and took a minute to look at the rings. Her mother, her father, her own; she gently laid the chain on top of the note, and then locked the door and closed it.

Her heart was beating quickly as she started her walk across the bridge. "I'm on the bridge."

Esposito called back. "We're almost there. We'll stop by your car to give you a little extra time."

Shaw was next. "Take your time on that knot, and don't forget to look nervous."

Beckett pulled her coat a little tighter. "Roger that."

She checked her watch and sped up. When she reached the first major support structure of the deserted bridge, she took a moment to look back at the city she loved. Hopefully, whoever was watching would think this was her taking a last look. It was a rare, clear night, and from here the skyline was beautiful with all the skyscrapers lit up. After a few moments, she wrenched her eyes from the scene and looked around for the rope. Just like Volkert had said it would be, the rope was nestled among the supports. In the dark, it was easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. She pulled it out and spent a moment just staring at it. After a minute, she began to slowly tie one end around the railing of the bridge. Her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely get the knot to stay. After multiple attempts, she had a knot that looked sturdy enough. She then spent a few moments following the rope to the other end. When she had found it, she closed her eyes and took a few breaths to try and calm her shattered nerves, but it was hopeless. Finally, Beckett began to tie a noose knot.

She was almost done when she finally heard Ryan again. "There's her car."

She heard the SUV come to a very fast stop through her earpiece. She then dropped the rope as though her hands were trembling so hard that she couldn't hold onto it. The knot came undone and Beckett hurried to redo it. She heard when the car started moving again and glanced around when she heard the sirens.

She used the movement to cover her next words. "Guys, hurry up. I don't know how much more time I can waste."

Ryan was the one to answer her. "We're almost there."

She turned back to the rope and made a show of trying to tie it faster, which resulted in another drop. She glanced at the approaching car when she picked the knot back up. The boys' car screeched to a halt right next to her and they both got out. Esposito pointed his gun at her, and Ryan aimed the Taser.

15 minutes earlier…

The SUV had just turned onto West 177th from Broadway when Beckett spoke again. "I'm on the bridge."

Esposito grabbed the walky. "We're almost there. We'll stop by your car to give you a little extra time."

Shaw hurried to give Beckett final instructions. "Take your time on that knot, and don't forget to look nervous."

Beckett's voice revealed the stress of the moment. "Roger that."

Esposito gunned it as they turned onto Cabrini Blvd and neared the bridge.

Ryan spotted the car first. "There's her car."

Esposito slammed on the brakes and Ryan hopped out to check it. He spent a moment to read the letter. Esposito took the time to take the magazine and extra bullet out of his gun. After Ryan had finished with the letter, he jumped back in the car, motioning for Esposito to move it as he got in. Esposito slammed his foot down on the gas and they turned onto West 178th until they reached where the traffic coming off the bridge met 178th. Esposito then used a bootlegger's turn to spin the car around and rocketed toward the middle of the bridge, traveling against the flow of traffic, siren blaring and lights flashing. Thankfully, there was construction on the New Jersey side of the bridge, so traffic at this hour was minimal.

Beckett was speaking, and she sounded frantic. "Guys, hurry up. I don't know how much more time I can waste."

Ryan held up the radio to answer. "We're almost there."

Esposito tried to make the car go faster. They saw Beckett drop the rope and look up at them as she picked it back up. Panic was written all over her face, but he couldn't tell if it was panic in the moment, or panic for Castle. He slammed on the brakes and threw the SUV into park before scrambling out of the car. He pointed his gun at Beckett, knowing that without the magazine, it wouldn't matter if he pulled the trigger or not. Everything was riding on Ryan not missing his target when it was time for him to pull the trigger.

Esposito was the first to speak. "Drop the rope, Beckett! You don't have to do this; we can figure it out!"

Beckett shook her head. "Do you have Castle?!"

Ryan shook his head as he slowly approached her. "Beckett, the FBI are all over it! Shaw won't let you down! Come on, this isn't what Castle would want you to do!"

Beckett nodded. "I know! He would want me to let him die! But I can't do that; he has a family to live for!"

Esposito adjusted his aim. "So do you! We are your family! Come on, Kate; drop the rope and come over here! We don't want to hurt you!"

Beckett put the rope around her neck. "Tell Castle I'm sorry!"

With that she turned her back and stepped toward the railing. At that moment, she felt as though her heart had frozen as her muscles tensed and she felt herself lose control of her body. She fell to the sidewalk and her heart restarted. Ryan and Esposito were by her side a moment later. As they reached down to pick her up, she started flailing, fighting them as they carried her to their car. The FBI arrived just as they shut the door. Beckett stopped fighting and started to cry; she had failed to kill herself, which meant they had succeeded with their ruse. Now it was up to Alex to save Castle, and Beckett was afraid that wouldn't be enough.

A/N: So there is Beckett's faked suicide attempt. Will Castle survive? We'll find out. What did you think? Does it sound like something the characters would do? Let me know. I'm hoping that this sounds believable.