AN: Let's see if Emily makes it. Thank you again to everyone for following, favouring, and reviewing this story. Here's the next chapter everybody, enjoy. Don't forget to Review. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Castle or it's characters.
Save me, I'm Buried Alive
Five and a half hours…
I was stuck and trapped under six feet of dirt. Never in a million years did I think I'd be buried when I was still alive. All I have is five and a half hours of air and as long as I don't panic, I should be able to make it until then. Even though that's all that I want to do, I want to panic, but I don't think it'll really help.
No one is going to be able to hear my screams and my loud cries because I'm in the middle of nowhere. I banged my little fist on the wooden door, forgetting that my left hand was badly hurt, and I cried out in pain. It was no use, I was stuck in here, and who knows if my aunt and the precinct will find me in time.
They might not even know I'm missing. Once they do, I might already be dead. I cried silently to myself not wanting to believe that I was only hours away from imminent death.
3rd Person POV
Five hours…
The precinct was bustling with detectives and uniformed cops. Everyone was on the phone or the internet trying to get information on where Tony might be with Emily. Kate was a frantic mess on the inside, but she kept her cool because she didn't want to be thrown off the case.
Every time they think they have a lead, it just turns out to be a dead end. Kate didn't want to think about the thought that kept popping into her: what if he already killed her? Kate didn't want to think that way, she had to keep hope alive. They'll find her, they always do, and hopefully this isn't the end of Emily's nine lives.
"Kate… Kate…" she barely heard Castle trying to get her attention.
Castle sighed sadly and tried getting her attention again, "Kate…"
Kate looked up at Castle and he had a sad look in his eyes, "What Castle?"
"We can't give up, not yet. We'll find Emily, she's a fighter just like you. No matter how horrible the situation is, she'll make it through," Castle said.
"Thanks Castle, but I have this feeling that somethings terribly wrong. What if we are too late?"
"We can't think like that Kate. If we give up now, that means we gave up on her, and we can't give up on her. She needs all of us right now to push through this and find her safe and sound."
"I know… I know… I just wish I was at home when this happened. I'm never with her when I need to be. It's my fault she's in this situation in the first place."
"Don't say that Kate. This isn't your fault, we didn't know he was going to break out and go after Emily."
"Yeah, but I took her to that crime scene, I wasn't there to keep an eye on her when she went to that warehouse, and I didn't get to Roman before he got to her. I put her in the line of danger since I took her in."
"Kate, listen to me. Even though Emily has been through so much since she started staying with you, you are the best thing that's ever happened to her, and she's the best thing that's ever happened to you. You two have grown on each other so much in the past year, and you two need each other. Mini Beckett is one of the best kids I've ever met and I love her like she was my own, we'll find her and it isn't your fault."
"You're right Castle. Thank you so much."
"It's okay, I needed that just as much as you. I'm worried about her too, but I know we'll find her."
Esposito came running up to them and said, "Hey, we think we got something. A manager at a local hardware shop said he helped checkout someone who matched Tony's description. Ryan and I are going to check it out."
"Okay, let me know if you find anything," Kate said.
"We will," Esposito nodded.
Kate watched Ryan follow Esposito to the elevator and she put her hands on her head, raking her fingers through her wavy brown hair. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to see Castle looking sympathetically at her.
"It'll be okay," Castle said.
She nodded and he sat down next to her, both mulling over the thoughts in their head in complete silence.
Four and a half hours…
Ryan and Esposito came back with fire on their heels. They looked angry and solemn all at once and Kate quickly stood to hear what they had found. Castle saw them and quickly left the break room with a coffee in hand, hoping that they were getting one step closer to finding Emily.
"Kate…" Ryan started.
"What? What is it?" she asked with worry.
"We asked the man some questions, and he couldn't give us much details on where Tony might be," Esposito said.
"But…" Castle said.
"But he did tell us what he bought," Ryan said.
"What did he buy?" Kate asked.
"He bought…. He bought some rope, a knife, and two shovels," Esposito said.
"Oh god," Kate said sitting down, feeling numb.
"We don't know what that means. She could still be out there," Castle said, trying to remain positive.
"Yeah, we still have 40 some hours left to find her," Esposito said.
"What if we don't? This might not be like other kidnapping cases," Kate said.
"Don't worry, we'll find mini Beckett," Ryan said.
"I hope we do," Kate sighed.
Captain Gates walked out of her office and said, "Have you found anything yet?"
"No sir, we only found out what he had bought. Still no sign of him," Esposito said.
"Keep searching. Kate, if this gets too much to handle, I want you to go home," the captain said.
"I can't do that, sir. I need to do everything I can for my niece. I have to help find her," Kate said.
The captain nodded and said, "Fine, just don't do anything stupid detective. We need to be level headed about all of this, and that goes for all of you."
They all nodded and Captain Gates went back into her office.
"I'm going to make some more phone calls," Ryan said.
"I'm going to search some more footage," Esposito said.
They both walked off with determination on finding the little girl who became a large part in all of their hearts. Kate sighed and ran her hand threw her hair, trying to figure out what her next move was going to be. It felt like they've already searched everything and anything they could, she knew hope was fading fast.
Castle watched Kate as she looked lost in thought, her hazel eyes shining with unshed tears. Castle wasn't going to lie, he was losing hope too. As much as he didn't want to, he knew that things were looking slim. Kate walked off and Castle was going to follow, but he figured she needed to be by herself, at least for now.
Kate went to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy from the tears that were now spilling freely down her face. She couldn't breathe and felt like she was on fire. It felt worse than when she was suffering through PTSD. She couldn't fathom losing Emily, it felt like her mother all over again. Losing her sister hurt too, but not as much as her mom and Emily.
Emily has meant the world to her. She could be a pain in the ass sometimes, but she could also be the sweetest and caring kid she'd ever met. Castle was right, Em was definitely one big turning point in her life and something she needed. Whenever Kate would go home, she knew Emily would be there to make her shitty day become brighter.
Kate let out a sob and dropped to her knees, feeling all the pain she tried to keep bottled up inside. She put her head in her hands and let everything just flow out of her. She couldn't even think anymore, just numbness and emptiness filling her mind. Emily can't die, she just can't. Kate needs Emily more than anything.
Kate felt a pair of warm arms wrap around her and she hugged him close. She put her head into the crook of his neck and cried silently into his jacket. Castle rubbed Kates back softly, letting his own tears flow down his cheeks. It pained him to see Kate like this and it didn't help that he was just as tore up inside as her.
They needed to find Emily or everything could break away in an instant. He didn't want this to turn out to be the end of the road for Emily, she was just a child trying to get her life back on track. He wanted to go out right now and find that man who caused this whole precinct a terrible heartache.
They stayed connected to each other for what seemed like forever. They both needed this comfort and to understand each other's pain. They both knew the imminent danger lurking for Emily and hoped to god that she'll be able to hold on.
Three and a half hours…
Kate and Castle finally went back to her desk, feeling just a little bit better than before. Daybreak was upon them and there was still no sign of Emily or Tony. Everyone seemed to be on edge, they couldn't lose this case because if they did, they knew they've failed one of their own.
Castle was sitting next to Kate's desk as she flipped through hundreds of things on her computer. He saw the new spark in her after their little breakdown in the bathroom. She wasn't going to give up, not until she found Emily, hopefully alive.
"Dad," Alexis said.
"Richard," his mom said.
Castle stood up and said, "What are you two doing here?"
"We got your message. Please tell me she's okay," Alexis said.
"We don't know," Castle sighed.
Alexis cried silently and Castle held her tight.
"This is horrible. How are you holding up Kate?" Mrs. Rodgers asked.
"The best that I can be. I need to stay strong for her," Kate said.
"That's all you can do," Mrs. Rodgers said.
"Where's detective Beckett?" an unfamiliar voice rang out.
Esposito grabbed the man holding a yellow envelope in his hands. He dragged him to Kate's desk and threw him into the chair next to it.
"Who are you?" Kate said.
"Listen, man. I'm sorry for what I've done. I'm supposed to give you this later, but I couldn't live with myself if I let that poor kid die," Nico said.
"What are you saying?" Kate asked nervously.
"Tony enlisted me to help with his plan. I wanted him to think I was cool, but she was so scared. He made this for you," Nico said, handing over the envelope.
Kate opened it and found a map along with a handwritten note. She looked at the note and read it out loud, "Detective Beckett, by the time you're reading this note, your precious little niece will already be on the verge of death. She's buried alive at my uncle's old land. It'll take you an hour to get there, so get your shovels ready and start digging. Your friendly fugitive, Tony."
"Oh my gosh," Alexis said.
Kate unfolded the map and saw a large area of land circled in red marker. Emily could have been buried anywhere and if fresh snow has fallen in that area, it'll make it even harder for them to find any recently disturbed area or foot prints.
"He took my truck, he shouldn't be too far gone," Nico said.
"What's the license plate number?" Esposito asked.
"It's A5A1A5,"Nico said.
"Okay, I'll get a team and find Tony," Esposito said.
"Okay, hurry," Kate said.
Esposito left with some officers and Kate said, "We have to gather a team and find her."
"I'm on it. What about him?" Ryan asked.
"Were bringing him with us. He might remember where they buried her," Kate said.
"Got it," Ryan said.
"I'll try my best detective," Nico said.
"You better," Kate mumbled.
Emily's POV
Two hours…
I don't know how many hours have gone by, but I did know I was still breathing. I was cold, hungry, and dreadfully tired. No matter how hard I tried to get some rest, I just couldn't because I was afraid that I'll never wake up.
My body was stiff and ached from laying in the same position for probably hours. I felt sick and I'm pretty sure hypothermia is starting to kick in. My eyes were getting heavy, but I dared not let it consume me. I was going to fight until I couldn't anymore.
"Emily," I heard my mother's voice say.
I looked over to my right and saw my mother's hazy figure next to me.
"Mom?" I asked.
"It's me baby. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too. Am I dying?"
"You are Emily, but don't be frightened. I'll be here to guide you."
"I'm not going to die. I need to hang on, Aunt Kate needs me."
"Emily, when it's your time it's your time. You can't fight it forever. Your aunt will understand."
"Mom, please don't take me away from her. She's been the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"I know, I've watched. She's been a better mother to you than I ever was, but it's almost time to come with me."
"I don't want to go."
"Fine, but you only have a little longer."
She dissipated and I was surrounded by the darkness once again. I was getting close to my death and I was scared. I knew hallucinating was definitely one big step to passing on. I cried uncontrollably, this can't be the end, it just can't.
3rd Person POV
One hour…
The squad cars drove fast through the streets of New York until they got on to the dirt road where they picked the speed up even more. There was no time to waist and they needed to get to Tony's uncle's land before it was too late. Nico sat in Kate's backseat and Castle sat in the passenger seat.
"How long does she have?" Kate asked as they flew down the snow covered road.
"I'm not quite sure, possibly an hour maybe less," Nico said.
"How much further?" she asked.
"Not, much we should be there soon," he said.
They continued speeding down the road trying to make it to Emily on time. They pulled up to the old rundown place and saw the whole land covered in snow. It was going to be extremely hard finding where Emily was buried.
"Do you remember where she is?" Kate asked Nico."
He looked around and said, "I don't I don't remember. It was so late and I could barely see. Plus with all the fresh snow on the ground, it all seems the same."
"Great. Okay, I want everyone to grab a shovel and split up. We're going to dig each and every inch of this place until we find her!" Kate said, instructing the team.
Everyone spoke their agreement and grabbed shovels to help aid in the search. Castle grabbed a shovel and handed one to Kate. Ryan also grabbed a shovel and handed one over to Nico.
"Okay, let's head out together and find her," Kate said.
They headed out into the open area trying to figure out a way to get through the digging faster than ever.
Thirty minutes…
Thirty minutes has gone by and everyone was still working frantically to dig up Emily. There was piles and piles of dirt and snow next to hundreds of holes. Kate adjusted her leather black glove on her hand and went back to digging her new hole. It started snowing some more and it was getting rougher.
She looked up and saw Castle digging in front of her. He looked focused and small breaths were coming out as he worked hard. She was happy to have him here with her, and she was thankful for everyone who cared about her and Emily. They finished that area and still haven't found one clue leading to Emily's whereabouts.
They were about to start the next section when Kate' phone rang. She answered it and said, "Did you get him?"
"Yeah, we pulled him over on the highway. He put up a good fight, but we apprehended him pretty easily. Did you find her?" Esposito asked.
"No we're still looking," she said.
"Okay, I'll let you get back to it. You'll find her I know it."
"Thanks Esposito," she said and hung up.
"Did they find him?" Castle asked.
"Yeah, they did. Now we have to find her," Kate said.
"We will."
"I know."
Ten minutes…
They were on to the last open area which would be quick to search with all the people on hand. They dug and dug and finally Castle said in his hole, "I've got something!"
Everyone rushed over to Castle, and Ryan got down into the hole with him.
"Crowbar!" Ryan yelled.
A uniformed cop rushed over with a crowbar and handed it over to Ryan. Ryan quickly pushed the crowbar between the wood and wiggled it enough in to pop the coffin open. Once he popped it open, Castle grabbed the top of the coffin and pulled it open some more, revealing an unresponsive and blue Emily.
Castle and Ryan picked up her limp body and handed it over to the uniformed officer and Kate. They laid her down on the ground and Kate tried to get her to wake up.
"Emily!? Emily!? Please stay with me, please," She cried out to her lifeless niece.
When she didn't get any kind of response, Kate started performing CPR and mouth to mouth, waiting for the paramedics to make their way over to them with the stretcher. Kate looked at Emily's pale face and blue lips, watching her slip deeper and deeper into deaths grasp. She kept giving compressions, praying she'd be okay.
Castle looked on with fright, tears rolling down his face as he watched Kate frantically trying to revive mini Beckett. The paramedics brought over blankets and the stretcher. They bundled Emily up and took over the resuscitation process for Kate. They loaded Emily onto the stretcher and desperately tried to save her.
They moved fast, trying to get Emily to the hospital as quick as possible. Kate got into the back with Castle, both of them holding hands as they watched the paramedics work. The ambulance drove at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of the early morning traffic. They pulled up to the ER and rushed her into the ICU.
They stopped Kate and Castle and said it would be best for them to wait out in the waiting room. They sat together in solemn silence, both having tear streaked faces. No words needed to be said because they both knew each other's feelings at this very moment. Emily's chances looked bleak and it would be a very slim chance on saving her.
As the seconds and minutes passed by on the hall clock, hope started trickling away little by little. Everyone started piling into the waiting room, awaiting the word on Emily's fate. Lanie sat next to Kate, trying to give her friend support, while Castle still sat on her other side. Ryan and Esposito paced the halls with unease, while Martha and Alexis sat next on the other side of Castle, grieving along with each other.
You could feel the love for Emily in the waiting room filled with people she has touched. There was no doubt that throughout the whole year she's been living with her aunt, Emily has been a large part in everyone's lives. Even though she got into more mischief than any other average child, she knew how to have a good time and be happy. Ultimately making everyone else around her essentially happy too.
A doctor walked up to where everyone was and Kate stood, waiting for the information on her niece.
The man sighed and said, "Detective Beckett, it was a really tough situation. She was unconscious for at least five minutes before you arrived. Five minutes without oxygen is very severe especially when hypothermia is involved. Thankfully you gave her CPR and mouth to mouth before the paramedics took over. We were able to revive Emily, but we will not know the extent of the damage until she wakes up."
"Is she going to wake up?" Kate asked.
"Honestly, we don't know. We feel we were able to revive her fully, but honestly it's all up to her and her body. She also suffered a broken wrist and needed three stitches in the side of her head. We're pulling for her to hopefully make a full recovery. All we can do is wait," he said.
"Thank you," she said.
"No problem. She's a lucky kid, she has all of you by her side, maybe all this love will help her pull through," he said.
"Can I see her?" Kate asked.
"Um…Yeah we can do that," he said.
"Can I come too?" Castle asked.
"I think it may be best for just one visitor right now," the doctor said.
Castle nodded and Kate walked off with the doctor who directed her to Emily's room. When she walked in, she saw Emily hooked up to many wires and had a breathing tube down her throat. Emily still looked pale, but not as pale as she did in the field. Kate went over to the bed and sat in the chair next to it.
She took Emily's small, fragile, and cold hand into her own and she wiped a tear from her face with her other hand. Emily's other hand laid limply by her side in a light pink cast. Kate never seen Emily look so small and distant. Even when Emily was in the hospital after her other kidnapping, getting dosed with snake venom, and her amnesia, she still had a glow to her.
After this Emily looked like a ghost and a sad little girl trying to hold on. Kate brushed back Emily's medium length brown hair and brushed her knuckles over her soft cheeks. She continued staring at her and hoped that Emily pulled through this. She couldn't deal with a loss right now, especially of the most important person in her life right now.
"Emily, I don't know if you can hear me, but it's your Aunt Kate. Please hold on, I know you can pull through. We all want you to pull through this. Everyone worked hard to get you back, don't let us down. You fight through this, just don't go," Kate whispered sadly.
The monitors kept beeping steadily and rhythmically through the hospital room. Kate watched as the heart monitor went up and down and up and down, thankfully not going into a flat line.
Kate didn't know how long she was in there, but day turned to night, then it turned back to day. There was only three more days until Christmas and she hoped Emily pulled through before then. Emily would be devastated if she missed Christmas. There was a knock on the door and Castle walked in with two cups of coffee.
"Hey," he said, walking over and handing her a cup.
She took it gratefully and said, "Thanks, I thought he said only one visitor."
"Yeah, but I came by today and he said two visitors would be okay."
"I want her to wake up."
"We all do. She looks so different."
"I was thinking the same thing."
"It's like the fire went out."
"What if she doesn't wake up?"
"I know she will, but in case she doesn't, we're all here for you. I'm here for you Kate, no matter how this ends."
"I really appreciate your support, Castle."
"It's no problem. I know how much this hurts right now."
She nodded and they continued on in silence watching Emily sleep peacefully.
Emily's POV
I felt exhausted, my body ached, and I had a long tube coming out of my mouth. I tried so hard to open my eyes, but they were so heavy. I could barely move any muscles in my body, I felt horrible. I wondered if I was dead, but I think my body wouldn't ache if I was.
I faintly heard mumbles coming to the right of me. I tried to listen to them, but it was very hard and really muffled. I concentrated harder and finally picked up on the two voices. It was my aunt Kate and Castle.
"Kate, it's almost time for dinner. Do you want me to get you anything?" he asked.
"No," she said.
"Come on, you need to eat something. Emily wouldn't want you to get sick because of her."
"I know…"
"The doctor said she looks like she's making progress. She could be awake any moment, we just have to hold on to the hope."
"Yeah, but we still don't know if she'll be okay. She could have brain damage."
"Yeah, it won't be the same without her old self, but at least we'll have her back."
"Yeah, you're right."
I wondered how long I've been under. I'm glad they found me, but it seems like it wasn't fast enough. I must have passed out after my hallucination and started slipping under while awaiting being saved.
I pushed hard inside myself and tried to force my eyes open. I started to crack them open little by little and finally I was able to look at the bright ceiling of the hospital. It feels like I've done this way too many times in the past year.
"Castle…" I heard my aunt Kate say.
"What?" he said.
"Look…"
"Oh my god…"
"Go get the doctor."
I heard him rush out of my room and my aunt Kate filled my vision. I looked at her the best I could and I saw her smiling with tears brimming her eyes.
"Emily, can you hear me?" she asked.
I willed my muscles to move and I gave her a slight thumbs up with my unbroken hand. She laughed softly, still smiling through her happy tears. I heard Castle come back in and I saw a doctor come into my view. He shined a light in my eyes and I squinted slightly at it.
He removed the breathing tube from my throat and unhooked a few of the IV's from my body, but I was still hooked up to a lot of things. Aunt Kate handed me a cup of water and helped guide my unsteady hand to my mouth. I drank the water down greedily and my throat felt great from drinking that cool liquid.
The doctor continued checking me out and by the time he was done, I was already starting to get tired again.
"Looks like all her vitals are fine. Her heartbeats steady and she seems to be breathing on her own. We'll have to keep her for a few more days, but we'll monitor her closely and hopefully she'll be able to speak and have full function," the doctor said.
"Thank you," Kate said.
"Don't mention it. See if you can interact with her and get her speaking and moving," he said.
"I will," she said.
He nodded and walked out of the room, leaving me with Castle and Aunt Kate.
"Hey, Em. How are you feeling?"
"Like I was buried alive," I said softly.
"Well, Emily definitely doesn't have brain damage, "Castle chuckled.
I smiled at him and said, "I'm glad I don't, it would be hard on all of us."
"Yeah, but we would've got through it," my aunt said.
"Yeah," I said.
"What do you remember?" she asked.
"Everything. From Tony breaking in, laying on the floor in a rundown place, driving in Nico's truck, getting thrown into the coffin, and loosing track of time," I said.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you," my aunt said.
"It's not your fault. I'm fine and thankfully it was me and not some other kid," I said.
"You're some kid, mini Beckett," Castle said.
"I was raised that way, "I said.
"You were and it helped you become the fighter you are today," she said.
"Yeah it did. Aunt Kate? I asked.
"Yeah," she said.
"I saw my mom," I said.
"You saw your mom?" she asked.
"Yeah, she came to me while I was in the coffin. She tried to take me with her, but I didn't go. I had to stay, "I said.
My aunt hugged me tight and close to her body. I hugged her back and I looked at Castle who had a small sad smile on his ruggedly handsome face. It looked like he also had tears welding in his blue eyes.
After our long and heartwarming hug, my aunt kept asking me questions and trying to make sure my brain was working in full function. Eventually it was late evening and my aunt stayed with me through the night. I asked if she'd sleep with me and we curled up together in the hospital bed, yeah it was tight, but we didn't care.
When the next day rolled around everyone came into my room one by one, expressing their relief that I pulled through and also leaving me Christmas presents that I could take home with me. The doctor said if I keep up my good progress, I'll actually be able to get out for Christmas. He said he'll even try to help me leave early morning, so I'll have the whole day to spend at home.
I was happy to have so many people who loved me and did everything they could to find me. I couldn't ask for anything better than the extended family I've made within this year when moving in with my aunt Kate. I looked out my hospital window, watching the snow float across it, and I smiled to myself. I know my mom's looking down on me and she knows my life is better than she'd ever thought was possible.