"You made that up?"

"It's what I do!"

"You know what? You are so getting it for that one."

Vampire Weekend

17 July 1989

"Rick your home," Abigail "Abby" Rodgers yelled as she vaulted off the couch and tackled her older brother in a hug.

"It's good to see you too Abby, I've missed you," Rick Rodgers said as he hugged his little sister and all he could think was that it had been too long since he had last seen her. "So, how was mother?"

"Not bad actually," Abby said as she released him of her death grip and the two started walking to Rick's bedroom each with an arm wrapped around the other. "It was actually kind of nice having time with just her and me, but I've missed you, and I realized over this past month I have no idea how I'm going to deal with you leaving for college in the fall. So, I've come up with a solution."

"Oh, you have, have you, even thought I'm still going to be in the same city," Rick asked smirking at his little sister, he truly had missed her.

"Don't confuse me with your logic," she said making Rick double over in laughter.

"Well what is your plan oh great one," he said sarcastically, making Abby hit his arm.

"I'll just stow away in your suitcase," Abby said so matter-of-factly that Rick knew a part of her was dead serious.

"Of course that's not going to arouse any problems," Abby pouted up at her brother when he said that, making Rick full out laugh, he forgot how much Abby made him laugh until he had left her.

"I see now, you're this hot-shot college student, with a new girl, who doesn't need his little sister anymore," Abby dramatically stated putting her hand against her heart, she definitely took after Martha Rodgers, there wasn't ever a doubt in Richard Rodgers mind about that.

"I'll always need you Abby Bear," Rick said pulling his sister to her feet and giving her a hug, kissing the top of her head. "How about tonight we go out, dinner and a movie?"

"Sounds perfect," Abby then leaned up and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

Later that night…

"So what movie do you want to see Abby?" Rick asked as they stood in front of the theater his arm around her shoulders.

"That's a rhetorical question right," Abby looked up at Rick like he was a moron, which usually he did act a little moronic.

"Of course, Indiana Jones, I should've known," he chuckled as the two walked up to the window, but Rick stopped suddenly when he saw Megan Todd, making Abby roll her eyes at him.

"Go and ask her."

"No."

"Go."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"God, we both know you want to see her."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Okay, that may work on someone who doesn't know you but I do, so go and ask her." Abby was getting frustrated at her brother, boys they could be so dense sometimes, Abby thought.

"But tonight was supposed to be our night, I can see her tomorrow," Rick argued, him and Abby were always close and he hated to cut time short with her.

"I don't mind Rick, really, and if you don't ask her I'm going to," Abby threatened with one eyebrow perfectly raised, paired with her signature glare, it was a deadly combination.

"Ok, ok I will," Rick said knowing that with some people that was a complete bluff, but Abby was dead serious about asking Megan if he didn't.

"Good boy," Abby said patting his cheek.

Megan, of course, said she would love to see the movie and didn't mind that Rick's little sister was with them. Once they bought the tickets, popcorn, drinks and candy they found their seats in the theater. Abby and Megan were having a fun time messing with Rick, which he pouted and said it's not fair that they were ganging up on him. To which both girls rolled their eyes, leaned in and gave a kiss on his cheeks. The movie started soon after quieting them, but ten minutes in all three were enthralled and couldn't remove their eyes from the screen depicting Indiana's adventures.

After the movie ended the three walked outside and started talking about college coming up and what classes each Rick and Megan were taking, while Megan asked what Abby was going to do now that Rick was leaving for college. Rick, Megan and Abby were so caught up in talking that they didn't realize the time until Abby pointed it out.

"Guys we've been talking for over almost two hours," Abby pointed out when she looked down at her watch.

"Oh, I really need to get home," Megan said making Rick's face fall, Abby had to hide a smile behind her hand. "Do you mind giving me a ride home?"

"Of course not," Rick said a full-fledged smile returning to his face.

"How about I go and get the car and you two can continue talking," Abby said surreptitiously giving them some time alone that she knew her brother wanted to have with Megan.

"Thanks Abs," Rick reached into his pockets and handed her the keys to his car.

Abby walked away from the two of them, when she was a few feet away she looked back, a smile crossing her face. Abby hated the fact that her brother was leaving for college, even though he was going to college here in New York, it still meant he was leaving her. And seeing him with Megan tonight she realized she was losing her big brother another way too, she could tell he was slowly but surely falling in love with Megan. Of course, she was happy for him, happy that he found someone that he trusted and was happy with. Abby knew that this day was going to come sooner or later. But she was not prepared for it, prepared for losing her brother, of realizing that she wouldn't be his number one girl anymore. Abby smiled sadly and shook her head slightly at the thoughts running through her head.

Come on Abigail, Rick is never going to completely leave you and even you know that, this is just your fear talking. A voice that vaguely sounded like her brother said to her. Abby smiled knowing that yes Rick would leave her in more ways then one but he would always be her big brother.

Reaching the car she was just about to slip the key into the lock when she felt someone grab her around the waist and put a hand over her mouth. She tried to fight the man off but he was too strong and a lot bigger than her, and then she felt him put a needle in her neck. Rick please help me, RICK! Were Abigail Rodgers' last thoughts before the darkness surrounded her.

God, Rick thought to himself, she is so beautiful and she's talking to me! He couldn't help but wonder why this beautiful, intelligent, caring and amazing woman would even waste her time with him, but he was too far gone to care or ask. After Abby left to get the car Megan and Rick continued talking about what they would be doing in college and Megan mentioning how even though she's really excited, she's nervous too. Rick just replied saying that she would be just fine in college, making her smile, giggle and blush. Rick did a fist pump in the air in his head when he saw her rose tinted cheeks.

He was so enthralled by Megan that he didn't realize what time it was but knew that Abby should have been back with the car by now. Looking down at his watch he noticed that 40 minutes had passed since Abby left to get the car.

"Rick, are you ok?" Megan asked putting her hand on his arm.

"Yeah, it's just that Abby should have been back with the car by now," a worried expression fell across Rick's face as his imagination came up with worst case scenarios, but he shock his head to clear his mind of those images. "I'm sure she's fine, but we should walk to the car."

Rick slipped his arm around Megan's waist and if he wasn't so worried about Abby, he would have jumped for joy when Megan snuggled into his side. But he didn't jump for joy; it didn't even register in his mind. Once he was closer to the car, he saw the keys on the ground. He started getting even more worried, walking faster to the car, and trying to ignore the images passing through his brain. Standing right by the car he reached for the car keys, other than that there were no signs that Abby was ever there.

Rick stepped back leaning against the hood and putting his head in his hands. He vaguely heard Megan say she was going to the phone in the theater to call the police. When Rick Rodgers didn't see Abby anywhere near the car nothing registered in his brain, he remembered the police getting there and asking what happened. When the cop asked where Rick was he told him he was around at the front of the theater. Rick repeated the line over and over in his head, and he felt the guilt form at the pit of his stomach.

The rest of the night was a blur for Richard Rodgers as the police said they would have to wait another 24 hours before Abby was officially reported missing. He didn't remember Megan coaxing him into the car or her driving him home, of his mother tucking him into his bed, all he could think about was Abby. And the regret and guilt that he felt in every inch of his body.

If only he had gone to get the car instead.

If only he hadn't invited Megan along.

If only all three of them had gone to the car.

If only.

If only…

Richard Rodgers cried that night for his little sister that he couldn't protect, the next day he started to write a book, which a year and a half later would be published.

In A Hail of Bullets by Richard Castle

To Abigail who never gave up on me,

And who was my number one cheerleader.

I'm sorry.

A/N: Depending on reviews I may continue this, but if I do updates will not come quickly because school takes up all of my time.