Well it's me again. I just returned from vacation in Arizona. If you haven't had the chance to visit Sedona or the Grande Canyons I would highly recommend the trip. The views are amazing.

Again I own nothing.

Chapter 28

She found herself a place of cover where no one on the floor could see her unless they rounded the corner. Even then she was slightly obscured by the portion of counter that jutted out past the recessed corner in which she found herself seated. The large bear she'd purchased, which was sitting between her and the main hall, would help conceal her identity if anyone was to notice her.

She had paid an orderly fifty dollars to let her know when the writer was alone. She had no desire to enter his room while she was there. She was sure that in the near future she would have plenty of dealings with her, but not today.

She also knew that his family was a huge part of his life and if she would rather not face them today, maybe tomorrow they would sit down.

So there she sat reading an article on coronary embolism in a worn, dog-eared medical journal of some sort. Hearing the sound of heels clicking against the tile floor, she knew that meant only one thing: he was now alone. But she wanted confirmation from her informant before visiting the author. "After all she needed her fifty dollars' worth,"she mused silently.

After receiving the nod from the young man who seemed to be more interested in her chest than the fifty she was paying, she headed for the assigned room. She stopped to take in the author before entering; his eyes were closed and he appeared to be resting peacefully.

Xx

"Hello Gina," Castle said dryly, cracking the lid of one eye to peer at her.

"How did…" she stuttered.

"Your heels. Your steps have a different cadence than Beckett's. Hers snap the ground with an air of authority where yours have a more sedate sound. It conveys authority, just not the same level as Beckett's," he said while simultaneously turning onto his side and offering a tight smile. "Now, how can I help you?"

She moved closer to his bed and graced him with what she was sure the same smile that won his heart years ago. "I received word that you were in the hospital and I had to check on you myself. I needed to make sure you were getting the level of care you deserve."

Castle had always been able to sense a trap whether it be out in the field, a wanton fan, or worse yet an ex-wife who seemed to be eyeing him like a lioness on the prowl. He decided to head this off before Kate returned from the cafeteria with their coffee. "I'm getting great care; Kate and Alexis are making sure of that."

He thought evoking Kate's name would cause Gina to falter in her approach but that wasn't the case. It seemed to spur her on. "I think you know what type of care I can offer," she purred, looking down at her low-cut blouse knowing his eyes would follow.

"Gina, where is this coming from? You and I didn't work then and we sure won't work now." His eyes stayed firmly fixed on her head.

She became incensed and changed tactics. "What's this I hear about you giving her control of your companies? You didn't give me that right and I was married to you," she huffed.

Fearing the return of Kate and his inability to ever explain to Gina's actions, he tried to hurry her out of the room. "I can meet with you at your office in a few days, Gina."

"In a few days? Why can't we talk now? There are things we need to discuss."

"I would much rather have my pants on when we have this or any other discussions," he replied.

"So would I!" Beckett called out from the doorway as she entered. "For him to have his pants on that is. Gina, how nice to see you again," Beckett said sweetly as she traipsed to Castle's bedside. Coffees in hand prevented the need for an awkward handshake neither women seemed interested in giving.

Beckett leaned down and brushed a kiss across Rick's forehead then stood and watched him take the proffered coffee. "Dr. Davidson said he would be by in a few minutes with your discharge papers."

"I know you think the ending of the last Heat book suggests that Rick and I are not on the best of terms right now. But as you can plainly see, that isn't the case at all. We're together now and plan on that being the case for a very long time. And as the acting president of his company, all dealing with RCE should really go through me." Kate smiled after delivering her admonition, reveling in taking action against his ex-wife.

Gina shifted uncomfortably; she'd never been admonished that way before. "Is this the way you want it, Rick?"

Castle acknowledged her question with a nod and watched his ex-wife turn and march out of his room. "That was so hot!"

"The way she strutted out of here?"

"NO! Of course not. The way you took control – that was hot!"

Beckett sauntered closer to the bed and leaned down close to his ear. "If you think my taking control is hot, you might need to put a freezer in our bed room."

"Our?"

"Yes, ours," Beckett replied with a kiss to his cheek. "I was a fool to let you go before; I won't make that mistake again."

She was startled by a knock at the door, reacting like a school girl who'd gotten caught making out behind the bleachers; Castle only snickered. "Dr. Davidson, are we ready to go?" she queried.

Davidson shook his head humorously at the blushing beauty standing beside the bed picked up the chart and began to look it over. "I need to check our patient but I think we can release him today."

"That's great news. I'll step out and let you do what you need to do." Kate smiled at Castle. "I need to let Yana know we're springing you today. Alexis and she have a little party planned."

Xx

"Boss, they're on the move and the town car isn't headed to his loft."

"Follow them and let me know where they are; this just might be our chance."

Castle was ecstatic to be out of the hospital, just breathing fresh air made him feel better. Well, not fresh air. If he wanted that he would have to head to the Hamptons. It was the smell of the city. New York had a smell like no other city on earth. It was a mix of asphalt, car exhaust, garbage, stale beer, and eclectic cuisine.

Oh, how he loved the smell of the city! It was what he grew up on. He'd traveled the world, stayed in the finest hotels, eaten at the finest restaurants; but when he returned and was hit with that smell his face lit up. There was no where he would rather be.

A hand slipped across Castle's knee. "What are you thinking about so hard over there?" Beckett inquired.

"Just how much I love you and this wonderful city with all of its unique smells," he responded.

"Yeah, unique is the word I'd use. At least you didn't say something like the smell of roses or lilacs," she jested.

"They're pulling up to that bar we tracked her to a few weeks ago."

"Take them; we're on our way," Simmons ordered.

Standing in front of the town car Castle took a deep breath. "Still looks the same on the outside."

"How long has it been?" Kate asked. She was genuinely curious about his answer. She was sure he was okay with her purchasing this in his name, but she couldn't help but worry about spending that amount of money. It was more than she could make in ten lifetimes.

"It was shortly after Kyra left me. I spent a few weeks here drowning my sorrows. That was until Mother dragged me out, ripping me a new one the whole way. In an instant I decided that I wouldn't ever let that become a crutch, and I poured myself into my writing. It was roughly two years before I met Meredith."

"Well, let's go and see if the inside is what you remember." She linked her arm through his and led him down the narrow stairs.

Exiting their vehicle, the two enforcers for Simmons jogged across the street wanting to catch Castle and Beckett at the bottom of the stairs. They caught up to the duo as Beckett pulled out the keys to the door that the attorney had just yesterday given her. It was a little early for the staff to arrive since the bar opened at five in the afternoon.

"Hey man, can you give me directions to Rockefeller Center?" a large African-American man asked while standing at the top of the stairs.

"Yeah, just…" Castle looked up to see a snub-nosed revolver pointed at him.

"Stupid, just stupid," Beckett berated herself silently. She had let herself get trapped down there with Castle, all the while her service weapon was back in his loft. Of all the times to go out unarmed!

"Okay lady, just open the door and we'll all go have a drink and wait for our boss," the gunman said. "And Detective, don't try anything. If you do I won't hesitate to put a bullet in the writer, got it? Let me hear you say you understand."

Beckett was fuming and before she could answer Castle looked at her. "Tell them what they want to hear, Kate." She turned her gaze to him and he gave the most subtle smile, one that she was sure the henchmen couldn't see.

"I'll cooperate," she gritted out, all the while wishing the one with the gun was just a couple feet closer.

They all entered the Haunt and immediately Castle and Beckett were separated. Beckett was seated at a table, her hands bound, while Castle sat on a bar stool ten feet away. Those two thugs must have heard what happened in the warehouse and were taking no chances.

"What the hell do you want with us?" Beckett all but yelled at the two of them, attempting to keep them engaged as Castle tried to figure a way out. She looked at Castle who didn't seem too interested in taking down the two of them. She was sure that he wouldn't have too much trouble if the warehouse was any indication.

Castle caught her eye and winked. "He winked, he actually winked. When we get out of here I'm going to kill him." She shot him the toughest glare she could muster under the circumstances and he just grinned. "Yeah, I'm definitely going to kill him."

The door opened and a well-dressed brunette woman in her late thirties entered along with someone from their past.

"Simmons," Kate sneered.

"Detective Beckett, how nice to see you again and under such different circumstances," Vulcan laughed.

"Well if you have gotten reacquainted, do you mind telling us who the Flashdance extra happened to be?" Castle joked before a fist from the larger of the two thugs slammed into his midsection and brought Castle to his knees.

"Castle!" Beckett cried out and began to stand before being stopped in her tracks by a snub-nosed thirty-eight pressing against her sternum.

"Easy Detective Beckett, we have quite a lot to get to," the brunette said.

"Just who the hell are you?" Beckett asked with all the venom she could muster while Castle rose from his assault.

"Why Kate, I thought we would've been family in the future," the woman answered a flummoxed Beckett. "I'm Monica Wyatt, Tom's sister. I have a few questions for you and if I don't like the answers, the pretty little writer pays a heavy price. Capisce?"

Beckett just nodded her head at the woman who motioned for her to take a seat at a table facing the bar. She instructed Kate to place her hands on the table and if she raised them Castle would be punished. "I don't know how you were able to take out Tom and his crew but that isn't going to happen this time."

"I wouldn't count on it," Beckett muttered.

"Let's get started shall we? I need to know what you didn't put in the report," Monica said.

"What damn report are you talking about?" Kate shouted.

"That's not the way this game's played." Monica nodded to Simmons who turned and landed a haymaker to Castle's head.

"Now let's try this again, Kate. What do you know about our operation?" Monica inquired with a voice as sweet as honey, masking the evil that laid inside.

"Until last week I didn't know you even existed. I don't know a fucking thing about your operation," exclaimed Kate.

Without being told Simmons turned to hit Castle again but was met by a kick to his own midsection with such force that Vulcan immediately went to his knees, flailing for something to hold onto. Capitalizing on the thug's shock, Castle freed his left arm and landed a blow on the smaller of the two men.

Turning to face the larger, he again landed a kick doubling over the man. Castle grabbed the man by the chin and back of the head then slammed it into the bar. He raised the man's head and looked into his eyes. Seeing the guy's eyes roll back into his head, Castle decided to repeat the step for good measure.

After removing that thug as a threat he turned to the other one who was staggering to his feet from the ferocity of the initial punch. Castle hit the man in the Adam's apple leaving the man gasping for air, following that blow up with foot to the outside of his knee. Everyone in the room heard the pop of the tendons.

Castle turned his attention back to Simmons who was struggling to stand only to be stopped in his tracks by Monica's voice. "One more move and I'll put two in her head." He turned to see Monica with the thirty-eight against Kate's head. Castle immediately dropped to his knees interlocking his hands behind his head, unwilling to take a chance with Beckett's safety.

Simmons, who was now standing, pulled out a straight razor and stepped up behind him wrapping his arm under Castle's chin placing the blade on the carotid artery.

"Now Vulcan's going to cut him deep through the artery and through the larynx to the other artery. You're going to watch, little girl," she threatened. "Then you will tell me everything I want to know or we'll bring the redheads down here and do the same thing to them 'til I get answers." She laid the revolver on the table just out of reach and grabbed Kate by her ponytail and chin. "I said watch!"

Castle's eyes never left Kate's eyes while Simmons was toying with him. He was applying pressure and releasing said pressure on Castle's skin as he snickered at the two, taunting them as he did.

Suddenly a noise came from the front door that broke the order of events when all the participants in this drama attention turned to the door. What they saw would have made each of them laugh if the situation wasn't so dire. There was an enormous, stuffed, pink bunny blocking the door as someone attempted to open the door, completely unaware of the situation within the bar.

But even with the lapse in attention from Simmons, Castle wasn't able to turn the situation to his advantage.

The door opened and a shot rang out through the bar. Simmons fell away from Castle grasping his shoulder, stunned at the shot that came though the bunny. "Son of a bitch," he exclaimed.

The bunny dropped away revealing Yana with her Glock. "I wouldn't try it," she called to Monica. "I'd love to shoot you, but it would make way too much paper work for Kate."

"Yana, thank god." Kate rose from her seat and retrieved the pistol.

Yana turned to Castle. "You're welcome, big brother."

Thoughts?