For starters, I do not own Castle or any of the characters from Castle. I'm just writing for fun, clean and simple. I also could never be genius enough to write such a song as "White Blank Page" which is the property of the fabulous Mumford and Sons.

I'm the worst. I know I'm the worst. I'm so sorry I'm the worst. Things have just freakin' exploded and then this story decided that it didn't want to be written. I've lost where I'm going with this so I've decided to end this story. I might write a sequel to bring it all back together but... I don't' know, what do you guys want? I know this is ending kind of abruptly but I decided that it'd be better if I ended it now in a way I was comfortable with than drag this out to where it's not good and everyone hates it. Thank all of you wonderful people for bearing with me while I stumbled through writing this out and for all of your support. I hope you enjoyed the ride. Leave me your thoughts, critiques, if you want a sequel, anything. Again Thank you and I'm sorry and I really hope you enjoy this final chapter. I love you all!

Thanks,

M:)

XXX

White Blank Page

Chapter 17

They drove for an hour and a half straight before Castle's puppy like bladder forced a pit stop at a gas station. As they got out of the car, Kate glanced back. Martha and Alexis were fast asleep, the girl leaned in her grandmother's lap. Her breath caught and Castle turned and looked through the window in time to catch her expression.

"Hey." he was around the car in seconds, pulling her face gently around, thumb skirting under the bruising, "No, don't go there. You're keeping them safe."

"It's my fault-" she choked.

"No. No. You were doing your job and these people, it's their fault. Mother knows that, Alexis knows that. You're keeping them safe." His forehead knocked against hers, blue eyes sparking in the crappy half-light that was leaking from the gas station.

"I'm so sorry." She murmured, the tips of her fingers tracing his lips.

"No. Stop. Don't be sorry." He caught her lips roughly, tried to kiss the pain from her body, from her heart, but it just made the tears build behind her eyes. She tore her lips away and ducked her head.

"Go pee, Castle. Grab a couple drinks or snacks or whatever. But hurry." He sighed, kissed her again and then ducked into the convenience store.

XXX

It was another two hours before they were turning down a long, winding, hidden drive. Kate's eyes felt droopy and itchy, head foggy and slightly tippy, but Castle's fiddling with her fingers where they stuck out of the brace kept her focused.

"This it?" he whispered.

"You needn't whisper dear, we're awake." Kate glanced in the rear view mirror and caught Alexis' groggy half smile.

"Yeah this is it. The driveway's a couple miles long." She gritted her teeth as the car bounced over another pothole, jarring every bone in her body and causing the pain that was slowly creeping into her consciousness, to double. From the slight tightening of Castle's grip, she could tell that he was experiencing the same thing.

"How long has it been since anyone's lived here?" Castle asked.

"Well Mom's Great-aunt Jane passed away when I was six but her son and my grandmother moved in. My uncles use it every now and then for when they go hunting or things like that. But otherwise... about twelve years. It should be in good shape though. The family's kept it up and safe. No one just comes out here regularly, though. There are five rooms and a couple fold out couches, three bathrooms... Hot water heater should still work..."

"I'm sure it will be just fine, darling." Martha murmured.

They bounced down the road in silence for another few minutes before the headlights glared off the side of a maroon truck.

"My dad beat us here," A second car was tucked behind the first, discreet, dark, "Looks like Espo and Lanie did too." Kate parked beside them and they all piled out of the car, pulling their bags out of the back and traipsing toward the front door.

It swung open as they approached and Jim stepped out.

"Good to see you all made it safely. What's going on, Katie?" He took her suitcase, ignoring her protests, and ushered them inside.

Great Aunt Jane's house had been vacant for almost twelve years but the memories of Kate's childhood still clung to the walls. To the right of the door was the spacious living room, outfitted with a fireplace (where a flame crackled cheerily, contrasting everything about their situation), couch, love seat and an easy chair that Kate could almost see her grandfather reclined in. Across from the living room was a small study that had always been off limits to the kids of the family and next to it, the kitchen with attached dining room. Two of the smaller bedrooms and a bathroom sat at the far left side of the lower floor. On the opposite side, between the living room and the study, was the stairs that spiraled up to the second floor. A library filled to the brim with leather bound volume and a reading nook next to a window stood to the right of the stairs and a bathroom was to the left. Three more bedrooms and the third bathroom made up the rest of the top floor.

"Hasn't changed much, has it?" Kate murmured to her father as they followed him into the living room.

"A few new spider friends but other than that, no." Jim set Kate's bag down and turned back to take Alexis' from her. The red head smiled blearily at Kate's father and he patted her shoulder.

"So what's happening Katie? Why are we all here?"

They were interrupted by Lanie and Esposito stumbling in from one of the rooms on the first floor. Javi's face looked even worse than it had four hours before if that were possible and Lanie was still clinging to his hand. Neither looked like they were going to be letting go any times soon.

"Everything good with you guys?" Espo asked, pulling Lanie down into his lap as he sunk onto the loveseat.

"Fine, you guys?"

"No problems," Lanie murmured, plucking at Javier's fingers where they'd come to rest on her thigh.

"Anyone heard from Ryan?" Castle asked, leading his mother and daughter in sitting on the couch as Jim took one of the armchairs near the fireplace.

"Called him a couple hours ago. He said he and Jenny had just left. Then he started talking about this fly that was in the car with them and how funny it was so Jenny took the phone. Said they should be here soon."

Kate nodded but kept up a steady pace behind the couch, worrying her lip until it bled.

"Katherine Beckett, if you do not explain to me what is going on-" Jim started but Kate rounded on him and spat out a quick explanation.

"Guy who kidnapped Castle and me, he was schizophrenic, diagnosedly. His brother's a cop. The brother's girlfriend killed her brother a couple years back, I was the one that sent her away, she died in prison recently, the brother was using his brother to hurt Castle and me but when that failed, he killed his brother," she paused there and turned to Esposito, "Did anyone ever check the-"

"-Security tapes? Yeah, they magically turned off for about twenty minutes, techs don't know how but I'm pretty sure it's a safe bet he did it."

Kate gestured to Javi and continued, "Killed his brother and now he's just out for blood against us and I figure we're all safest together."

Jim stared at her for a few moments and dropped his head, "But there are people looking for him? A team? Surely your captain-"

"He was in Special Forces, Dad. I'm sure he knows how to go to ground and stay hidden."

"He won't be found until he wants to be." Esposito affirmed and the tension mounted in the room even higher.

There was silence except for the crackling of the fire and a slight whisper of the wind. Kate's pacing continued, which didn't do anything to calm the rest of the room's occupants down. Alexis was drifting off again against Castle's shoulder while Martha picked at her nails nervously. Jim stoked the fire and Lanie and Javi whispered back and forth on the couch. Waiting for the Ryans was getting unbearable.

Finally, Kate couldn't take it anymore and stalked off to the kitchen, dragging her second bag behind her. Most of the cobwebs had been swept away and counters looked clean enough. The old fridge vibrated and hummed angrily in the corner and most of the clouding had been scrubbed from the faucet. Her father had clearly been busy since he'd arrived.

She hauled the bag up onto the counter and tugged the zipper open. The bag of clementines was the first to be removed, tossed unceremoniously into the fridge, which was also occupied by bag of sugar snap peas, eggs, half a jug of milk, two sticks of butter, a container of Chinese takeout, a mostly full jar of salsa, a bag of cheese, and a handful of apples. The fridge growled its protest as she kicked it shut, but she toed the grate near the bottom and it quieted some. The cabinets above the counter, in between the sink and the stove, were already claimed by even more Ramen than she had brought (the Chicken flavor was a dead giveaway for Esposito; it was a staple of his diet) an already opened can of almonds, a new bag of tortilla chips, a half eaten jar of peanut butter, two boxes of mac'n'cheese, and some instant rice.

She almost smiled, knowing exactly who had brought what, before adding her contribution to the mix.

"Wow, you brought the whole kitchen, huh?" Kate whirled at the voice, but it was just Castle, holding up his food bag in offering.

She snorted and relaxed back against the counter, massaging the bridge of her nose momentarily, "I think I left some super old take out, maybe a tomato. I was going to go shopping last week but..."

"Yeah." Something seemed to clog both of their throats and Castle set his bag on the island in the center of the kitchen to come wrap himself around Kate, left arm going around her shoulder to avoid the still tender knife wound and cracked rib and her squeezing around his middle was more gentle than either of them wanted.

She pulled away first, suddenly antsy again and reached for his bag, but pausing when he covered her hand.

"Keep in mind that while I was packing this, my brain was about thirty other places."

She chucked, "Yeah sure, okay." The first thing out of the bag was a can of spray whipped cream.

She cocked an eyebrow and turned to him.

"I told you. Plus I always have it around. When Alexis was maybe seven she had a really nasty cold, knocked her out for three days. She was getting sick of ice cream and soup and just grouchy and sickly. So when Mother came to watch her for a few hours, I went to the store and got some little dinosaur figurines and a can of whipped cream just for her. The next day, she was miles better and she swears to this day that it's the spray whipped cream."

Kate couldn't stop her smile at his story as she stowed the whipped cream in the door of the fridge.

"That's sweet, Castle." She murmured.

"Literally!" He chirped, seemingly pleased with himself.

She turned deliberately, making sure he caught her eye roll, "Come on, Writer Boy. You can do better than that."

"I'm operating under stressful circumstances, doesn't that count for something?"

She tossed a dripping bag of previously frozen peas from the bag and chased it when a block of cheese, "I suppose we can let it slide."

"Oh, you are most gracious and kind," he handed her an avocado and a stalk of broccoli and then nudged the door of the fridge shut.

A can each of pinto, black, and navy beans joined the other foods in the cabinets along several boxes of tea until finally they were left staring at the only item left in the bag. A pair of squat, round, light pink candles.

"What..."

"I may or may not have put those in the fridge at one point while I was packing... I don't remember putting them in here though..."

He was spared any sassy comment she might have lobbed his direction by three timid knocks on the front door. Castle and Beckett both froze and any quiet murmurings that had been coming from the living room had ceased immediately.

Esposito met them, slightly hunched, in the walk way of the front door as they all crept up to the door. Realistically, Kate knew it was the Ryans. They all knew it. But every tiny noise sounded like a bomb blast, a smattering of gunshot.

Being furthest ahead, Kate peered out the peep hole cautiously and let out a breathe she didn't realize she'd been holding and swung the door wide. Ryan had on a huge camping backpack, unable to carry anything because of the crutches propped under his arms and Jenny dragged another couple of bags behind her.

"Bro, what took you so long?" Javi took Jenny's bags and ushered them into the living room. Kate and Caste shut and re-locked the door as they followed.

" Rodriguez and White met us at the hospital to take us home but Pierce and Elliot called on the way and said a guy matching Davis' description had been hanging around our building so we had to drive around for almost an hour before Pierce and Elliot got close enough to see that it wasn't him." Ryan groaned as he sank onto the couch, dropping his crutches and causing them all to flinch at the noise.

"Sorry," he murmured, head lolling into Jenny's side where she perched on the arm of the couch. Her fingers carded gently through his hair and he hummed quietly at her attention. Javi sank back to the love seat, his arm looping back over Lanie who rested a hand on her thigh. There was silence save the crackling of the fire.

The weight of the whole situation seemed to fall on Kate all at once. They, all nine of them, were on the run, hiding from an idiot with a vendetta and no regard for anything other than his revenge. They'd been driven from their homes because she, Kate, had condemned a man's lover to death. It had been the right thing to do, all the evidence had pointed to Mariane Cunningham as the killer and she truly believed it but... now... it all seemed less important with every person she loved in danger. Her throat closed up as she watched them. This wasn't right. There had to be something she could do.

"So." Kate was pulled from her thoughts by her father's voice, "Now what, Katie?"

She took a deep breath and looked around. Eight pairs of eyes blinked back at her. Her family. Exhausted and scared, bruised and battered, either by sleepless nights, guns, tazers, agonizing worries, knives, combat, trauma from what seemed like a life time ago. They were all damaged. But as she looked at them all, a sudden wave of positivity surged through her. They would all be okay. Because that was what they all did. They survived.

The world steadied a bit as Castle's fingers slipped between hers and he gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"Now we wait."