The Call

by casanatomy

When Lanie rushes into the precinct with panic in her eyes and a lab result that would change everything, where is Beckett? And why has her blood been found at their crime scene when she was supposed to be in DC for her new job? Read to find out what has happened and what the gang at the 12th will have to go through to find her. (first fan fiction, review!)

Castle got the call an hour after it happened, an hour after they tested the blood they found at the scene and Lanie ran into the precinct with wide panicked eyes and a paper that would change everything held in her trembling hands. Esposito and Ryan had gotten to their feet so feet, they nearly fell at the wave of dizziness that hit them. What? Esposito asked, finally finding his voice. It's Kate. Lanie had whispered and Ryan and Esposito had shared a confused glance at that. What? Esposito asked, trying to reach out for her but she flinched from his touch. The blood… the blood we found at the scene… it… it wasn't our victim's Javi… It was Kate. It was Kate's. Lanie sobbed out, falling into Esposito's arms.

They had frantically called Beckett's phone and the panic built as each call went unanswered. Damn it! Her phone's off! Esposito yelled finally, slamming his fist down against his desks. Ryan had barely spared him a glance before he was dialing Castle's number. Esposito watched as he ran a hand through his hair, every so often glancing at Lanie in concern.

When Castle finally answered, they let out a breath of relief before they all started to ask questions. Ryan had turned to look at Lanie and Esposito with a glare as he put his hand against the speaker on his phone. Let me handle this, he whispered and waited until Esposito and Lanie gave him a nod before he took his hand off the speaker. He tried his best to keep his voice from breaking but he found his voice breaking as he said the writer's name. Castle could immediately tell something was wrong by the way Ryan's voice broke and the way Esposito and Lanie had been talking moments before. Castle's quietly excused himself from his fan and ignored Gina's concerned glance as he walked to the back of the room where he was alone. Ryan, what is it? He asked.

There was no way to prepare someone for what they were about to hear and Ryan knew he was about to shatter Castle's world. He knew and he desperately wanted to be able to do something to lessen the ache and panic Castle was about to feel but he found himself at a loss for what to do so he cleared his voice of emotion and did his job. It's about Beckett, Ryan said. At those three words Castle's heart started to race.