A/N: Oh my goodness, I'ts been a good year or so since I update this and I've been getting notifications from so many of you telling me I should continue with it, and now that I actually have a bit of free time, I thought why not, let's finish it!

Thank you all for hanging in there!

Also, I think it's just easier for me to say this is Chapter 17, rather than get everyone confused

Please R&R, it really does keep me motivated!

Chapter 17

The sun had risen hours ago but the entwined couple lay sound asleep atop of the torn up mattress, clasped hands and tangled legs, having never let go from their first encounter. It had been weeks since either of them had slept properly and time was catching up to them.

Having both caught at least 5 hours sleep, Kate was the first to wake. Her eyes fluttered open and the quickly widened in excitement when they saw who exactly was in front of her and her memories of the previous night caught up to her.

She tried to stay still as she knew he needed his sleep as much as she did. She smiled softly at his relaxed features of his face, his small crop of hair at the front of his hair hanging loosely over his forehead. She gently unwrapped one of her hands and brushed the lock of hair out of his face, smoothly bringing her hand to rest on his cheek.

Castle took a big intake of air before his eyes opened and upon seeing Kate, seized her face in his hands and kissed her.

No words were needed as she rested her head atop of his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as he gently wound and unwound his fingers through the silky curls of her hair. She closed her eyes in contentment and smiled in relief.

'So Kate...'

She raised her head slowly to rest her chin on his chest whilst looking up at him, 'What.'

'Alexis said that we-you might be pregnant.'

Kate smiled and went to say something but was cut off as he pressed his lips against hers. She drew back and looked into his eyes, green meeting blue, and he grinned at her before kissing her on the forehead, 'Oh Kate, my beautiful Kate.' He wrapped his arms tighter around her as she snuggled into his warm body. She took a deep breath as she sunk into his warm body, writing this feeling permanently in her mind.

'A baby. Wow.' He whistled in happiness and looked down and found her eyes peeking at him.

He looked so happy at this moment, and she forgot how much she missed his boundless energy and uplifting optimism

She smirked before whispering, 'I think it might be a girl.'

He raised an eyebrow and smiled, 'Oh really? Not a boy?'

'Nope, definitely a daddy's girl.'

He chuckled, 'What, you don't think that an adorable little mummy's boy is waiting for us?'

She contemplated that thought, 'Scratch that, I'm fine with either.'

He sat up slowly and repositioned himself next to her miniscule bump on her stomach and whispered softly to it, 'Hey there gorgeous, I'm your dad. Now your mum may not approve but I promise to talk to you every night before I go to sleep.'

Kate snorted softly and rolled her eyes at Castle.

'I'm serious, and I also promise that I'm going to take very good care of mummy and you, forever. I know that right now isn't the best timing but I love you already, can't wait to see you.' He kissed Kate stomach before slowly standing up, stretching his arms above his head, extending his aching muscles. He turned to look at Kate slowly cradling her stomach in deep thought. He knew that a thousand thoughts were running through her head. What would everyone think? Would they even get out of this alive? Did that mean they were getting married? Was this too soon in their relationship?

'Hey.' He smiled down at her as she glanced up at him.

'Kate, you're going to be a great mother.' He looked adoringly down at her.

She looked at him quizzically, 'Huh, that's exactly what Alexis said.' He helped her to stand up and she started to twist and turn her torso to crack her spine.

He frowned as he moved over to the vent to peak through the cracks to see through the grate. The sky was lightening up over the horizon and a low mist hung against the road. He jumped down from the vent to stand in front of her, 'So, what's that plan?'

'Plan?'

'Yeah daring escape plan, fighting ninjas, that kind of cool stuff.'

She slowly raised an eyebrow at him and his wiggled his own. She knew he was trying to side-track her from the fact that their lives were in danger, and she loved him for that. Sending him her best serious look his face dropped and he murmured to himself, along the lines of '-kid better inherit humorous genes-'. A small grin spread on her face and she walked slowly into the dark and damp hallway. Having not paid much attention to the dingy space, she cautiously inched her way down the corridor, feeling Castle join her after he collected the few belongings they had. She grabbed her coat off him and slipped in on.

They reached the end and she tentatively pushed open the creaky door. The noise seemed to echo off the walls of the narrow alleyway.

'Psst, Kate! What are you doing?!' She ignored his remarks and the firm hand on her upper arm. Shrugging off his grasp she cautiously started to make her way along the dark side of the alleyway.

'Again, I ask, what's the plan?' He firmly asked.

'Not really sure.'

'What?!'

'I'm getting there.'

'I'm usually the one without a plan, you're Kate Beckett, you usually have plans A, B, C-' She swiftly put her hand over his mouth as they heard footsteps approaching and she tugged his sleeve to bring them into a crouch.

She grabbed the frame of the door and push the door open as quietly as she could. She motioned from him to follow her and she stealthily stuck her head around the corner.

Two guards were slowly canvassing the alley, looking for any clues that she might be there.

She quickly shut the door and Castle followed her back inside.

'They're here.'

'Who?'

'The guards from my cell.' She had started to become frantic now, trying to brainstorm all the ideas she could.

'Kate,' He caught her attention with a concerned look on his face, 'You can't go throwing yourself into harm's way this time, you're sick and pregnant.'

She rolled her eyes, 'I'm pregnant, not disabled.'

He gave her a pointed look and she rolled her eyes, 'Fine.'

He suddenly remembered he had his phone, 'Kate, my phone.'

Her head shot up and she looked at him in exasperation, 'You've had a phone this whole time?'

'I was in my pocket.'

She threw her arms up in defeat, but winced as the action brought a huge headache on and she lifted her hands to rub small circles at her temple.

He patted his pockets, frowning as they came out empty and he walked over to the vent and peeked out.

There it was, sitting on the pavement next to dead man, partially concealed from view. He groaned, knowing that that phone was their lifeline. He was determined to get Kate out of this alive, she was finally back with him after weeks apart, weeks of worrying of exhaustion, and he decided he was going to do it. He looked at her, taking in her frail, thin form and knew he needed to get her to a hospital.

'Kate, I love you and I'll be back.'

She went to object but he hushed her, 'This is our chance to get out of her, I'll contact Esposito and Ryan and get squad cars over here within the hour. You're sick, and if we don't get you to a hospital soon, you'll pass out.'

She frowned before nodding in agreement, although she was so close to telling him just to stay with her and be safe. After a moment, she moved forward and kissed him on the cheek, 'Good luck.'

He gave her a nod before she helped him open the grate quietly so he could check the coast was clear. After giving her a thumbs up, he hurdled across the barren road, sliding along the pavement before crouching so no one could see them.

'Hey!' Castle swore and quickly scooped up the phone as he heard the two patrol men speaking into their phones. Castle tore back across the pavement and heard bullets fly across the space behind him as he spotted Kate holding the vent open and he slid inside just as a rain of bullets sailed behind him.

He fell into a heap on the ground and Kate was frantically checking him to make sure he wasn't hit. After confirming he was fine, she pulled him up and he retrieved the phone from his pocket, quickly dialling the precincts line.

He could hear the guards shouting, coming closer to them and he muttered under his breath, 'Come on, come on.'

'NYPD, Esposito.'

'Espo! I found her, I found Kate. I need you to come and get us, we're about to be captured by patrol-men and I need to get Kate to a hospital!'

'Shit,' He heard Esposito barking orders to his fellow policemen and heard them ordering squad cars to be sent, 'Castle, we're coming, hang in there.'

The patrol-men were now standing right outside the room and a weary Kate tugged him towards the opposing door, knowing that they needed to get out of this room and find a new place to hide until the police came.

They wove through the dusty and mouldy corridor until they reached the back alley and she poked her head out, vaguely listening to Castle telling Esposito where they were and what the situation was. The coast was clear but she knew it wouldn't be too long until the whole place was swarming with members of the mob, looking for her. She was their leverage and knew now that she'd pissed them off, they wouldn't hesitate to shoot.

'Wait Kate-'

She shushed him, knowing they had to move, they didn't have a choice. She squeezed his hand in comfort and gave him a nervous smile.

They took off running into the opposite direction, her feet lagging behind as her muscles protested in exhaustion. Find a place to hide, she kept repeating to herself, trying to keep her mind on the task.

The alley was barren until she spotted the men up ahead and Castle pulled her backwards and started to push her back the way they came.

BANG!

A shot went off and she could barely register what was going on until she felt one of her legs collapsed upon itself, Castle yelling her name. He was crouching beside her, telling her it would be fine and in a daze, she glanced down to see a blood stain starting to spread on one side of her pants. The shot had gone through her calf muscle.

She was getting dizzy and felt the blood drain from her body, faintly hearing a large group of men shouting and seeing Castle face appear in her vision, telling her to stay with her and stay awake.

She mumbled incoherently and Castle scooped his arm under her back to support her, yelling at the men standing around them, guns pointing to Castle.

Faintly hearing them telling him they were taking them to the boss man, she felt Castle gently pick her up, the men herding the two of them forward. She was about to pass out but lifted a lazy hand to Castle's distraught face before she felt all her energy drain from her body and succumbed to the sleep she so desperately needed.

A/N: I'm a horrible person I know, this time I'll try and update within the next week or so, so bear with me!

Please R&R!

C xx