The Haunting Past (A Castle Fanfiction)

Part Fifteen: Dealing in Blood

Rick hadn't given a second thought to anything. Instead, he simply reacted. As soon as the call cut out he was in his car, racing toward the precinct. He hadn't breathed a word to his family about leaving, and by simply disappearing, he left his wife to assume the worst. Reality, however, wasn't any better. Halfway between the hospital and the twelfth, Rick was passed by a speeding ambulance flying the opposite direction. He told his bluetooth to try the precinct again. For a third time, there was no answer.

He then made the call he had to make. Martha picked up. "Mother, listen to me very closely, alright?" He had cut her off before she was able to rant. As she began again, he silenced her by saying, "Hang on. I need you to listen to me. You need to think of some casual reason to get the girls out of the hospital and the three of you need to book it to the loft without tipping Kate off that something's wrong. You tell her the boys called and had a lead they needed help with. She doesn't know your bluff, so she won't read it on you. Just keep it short, sweet and simple. Then, you need to tell Jim to keep her occupied. She can't turn on the T.V, she can't leave her room, and no matter what, she can't contact the boys or anyone from the precinct."

"Richard, what is going on?!"

All he could say was, "Just promise me you will do as I've asked." She tried to argue. He let her go on a bit before he finally said, "Please, mother. Just do as I asked." Martha tried to call her son's name to be sure he was listening, but he hung up. He was too set on making sure everyone was safe and that Kate knew as little as possible. He couldn't tell his mother anything because he knew his wife could pull it out of her. She was a miracle worker in that aspect whether it was bad for her or not.

Another few moments later, a second ambulance sped by Rick's car headed toward the hospital.

Once Rick arrived outside of the precinct, all he could do to not completely freak out was remember that only two ambulances had passed. He had to park his car nearly two blocks away and had run the entirety of the distance between the car and the precinct before he was stopped outside the yellow tape. A unformed officer he didn't recognize sternly told him, "Sir, you'll have to stay behind the tape," when he attempted to cross.

Castle answered, "No, I'm- I'm a consultant. I work with these detectives. My- my wife works here. I'm working this case. I-."

The man put his hands up and said, "Stop. I know who you are, Mr. Castle, and you should consider yourself lucky we don't have the orders to arrest you. I was told to keep you as far away from here as possible, so get the hell away."

"Please," Rick begged, "Just tell me what's going on."

Just as he asked this, someone caught a glimpse of his face. As he looked over at the woman who bitterly called, "You," he could see the pain in her eyes. As Tori passed his way, he took in the sight of the bandage on her neck, alone with the tears in her eyes. She was obviously shaking, he just didn't know why. The closer she got, the more her pain came through. "You are an ass, Richard Castle! How could you?!"

She only got close enough to see him, standing partially behind the officer who was keeping her from crossing the tape. It was as though she was partially afraid of Rick, even though she was furious with him, "What happened?"

"Your friends came to make good on that deal of yours!"

Guilt immediately plunged into his gut. He knew now that everyone knew. "Tori, what happened exactly?"

"What do you care? You nearly got us all killed!"

"Please, Tori. I'm begging you. Just tell me what happened." His heart was laid out on the table as he thought of the four gunshots and two ambulances. Suddenly, he was taken off guard by the body bag being loaded onto a Morgue Mobile behind Tori, and his heart stopped.