391. Chapter 391

After Target

Episode 5. 15

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Run me over with a big white van, but I won't say I own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above and below.

Author's note: So, as you may notice, this takes place during Target, since if it took place after Target it would take place during Hunt. Okay, I could do that, but…Why am I going on like this? Just read it.

Rick was nearly sobbing with relief as he walked away from the El-Masris. The blood was from neither Alexis nor Sara. Both girls were okay. They had to be okay.

Kate broke away from the knot of uniforms she'd been talking to as soon as she saw Castle leave the El-Masris. She took his hand and gently led him behind a van where no one could see them. "This is a good sign, Castle."

He shook his head. "I can't see anything good in any of this."

Kate very was very careful with the words she picked. "Rick, if they viewed Alexis as nothing but a liability, they'd want to…eliminate that liability as soon as possible." She hated having to use that kind of language about Alexis.

Kate saw the fear and panic in Rick's eyes. At that moment she hated the men who'd taken Alexis as much as she'd ever hated anyone. She went on. "They're keeping Alexis, so they know she has value. And these men have all the hallmarks of professionals. Professionals make sure of all the details. And they don't kill their victims. It's unnecessary, and it causes problems. They're all about the money."

Rick nodded slowly. "I guess that's good news of a sort."

"I'm sorry, but it's all I have right now."

Rick hugged her. "Don't you be sorry. Right now you mean the world to me. Not that you didn't mean the world to me before."

"Do I mean a bigger world or a better world right now?" She asked gently, trying to lighten the mood.

"Bigger and better. You have no idea how much I love you and need you. Thank you so much for being here."

They stood with their arms around each other for long seconds. Then Castle spoke. "I don't know how you do it."

"It's my job, Castle. I long ago learned to push my feelings aside and concentrate on the job. On remembering that I'm a cop. I have to do that if we're going to get Alexis back."

He shook his head. "That's not what I meant. You've been going through what I'm going through for, what, fourteen years now? Alexis has been gone for hours and I'm a wreck. I thought I understood what you went through. I thought I could imagine what it would be like, but I had no idea. How did you ever manage it?"

Kate leaned against Rick. "For a while, I didn't. I didn't fall apart as bad as my dad did, but I really fell apart. I was so hurt, and so angry, and so…I don't have the words to describe what I felt. But, I found a way to channel all of that anger and rage. I became a cop. And I met people who helped me. Mike Royce was he only person who understood, who really understood and wanted to help. And Captain Montgomery helped me become a better detective, even if he…Well, you know. And Ryan and Esposito have helped me a lot. But the man who helped me the most, who was really responsible for the death of the man who actually killed my mom, and who helped me find the man who paid for the killing, is this writer that started shadowing me a while back."

"Glad to help." Castle said with a weak smile.

"But more than that, he's responsible for me being the kind of person that I've wanted to be ever since my mom died. He's allowed me to have the relationship I've wanted and needed since then. I owe you so much, Castle. So very much."

"Always."

Kate hugged Castle.

"Kate, even with these people being professionals, and everything you've said, Alexis could still…" Castle found that he couldn't complete the sentence.

"Don't even think about that." Kate whispered. "It isn't going to happen."

"I have to think about it. She's my daughter. I have to think about…" He stopped again.

"Castle, I've been where you are right now. I know what you're going to want to do. You're going to want to push everyone away from you. You're going to want a wall between you and the world. And I'm going to be right there helping you tear that wall down. I know how much my wall hurt you. Pushing you away. Demming. Josh. The lies. So, no matter what happens, you are never going to push me away. I will never leave you. Never. Do you understand that?"

Castle had tears in his eyes as he nodded. "I think, Kate, that I'm going to need you a lot more, rather than pushing you away."

"Then I'll be right with you. Always."

"I love you,"

She kissed him lightly on the lips. "I love you, too. But we should get back to the precinct."

He had done this a thousand times. More than a thousand times. He tried to count the number of places he had done this in, but couldn't remember all of them. Hell, he wasn't even sure he knew where he had been for some of them. But the surveillance on the farmhouse was important. It was, he decided, the most important thing he'd ever done.

The information from Henson had been useful but not critical. His bosses hadn't trusted him. Why should they? Henson was nothing but a disposable tool. The girls had been put on a plane. A plane big enough to get to Europe, South America, even to Asia if they refueled. He had people looking into this, friends and people who owed him. And people who he had to pay. He'd find out where the plane was going.

There was a car coming to the farmhouse. He picked up his night vision device. He smiled when the couple got out of the car. He had seen surveillance photos of her before, but he was impressed with seeing her in person. Confident, in control, trained and ready. He liked her already. Someday he'd have to meet her. Maybe.

The man didn't impress him that much. He looked defeated. Already beaten.

When they came out of the farmhouse, she pulled him behind a couple of trees. The people in the farmhouse couldn't see them, but he had a perfect view. She saw her talk to him and then kiss him. That seemed to put a little steel in his backbone. You'd damned well better marry this one, Rick, or I swear I'll disown you. He laughed silently. Not that anyone would notice, of course.

Once back at the loft, Kate crawled into bed with Rick, unmindful of the FBI agents in the living room.

"Kate?"

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"

"No. I was waiting for you. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for everything. Not just since the kidnapping, but for everything. I don't like to think of what I'd be like if I'd never met you."

"Me either." She said softly. "Now, we have to get to sleep. I love you, Rick."

"I love you, too."