A/N: So this popped into my head and wouldn't leave. :) I haven't abandoned my other story, but I don't really know where I'm going with that one so yeah. This should be a fairly short story but I don't know. It might have a mind of its own :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

PS this is kinda short just cause i'm testing it out. next chapter should be much longer. enjoy ^_^

Kate had never been more afraid.

Sure, she's been shot, held hostage, even used as tiger food. But every single time, she was with him.

But not this time.

"Rick? Rick! Dammit!" nearly yelling in frustration, Kate jabs her finger at the screen. Rick's call, the only thing assuring her that he was alive, was gone. She knew he didn't just press end. She could hear it, seconds before the call cut.

The unmistakable sound of a gunshot.

Now, Rick was in Paris, chasing after his daughter, without a plan or backup.

More specifically, without her.

If only he had told her. She would've gone with him. Alexis was just as important to her, as she was to Rick. If only.

Logically, Kate knew that it was a father's instinct that drove him to Europe without saying anything. But it still stung. She thought they were past all the lies and deception. All the secrets they kept, they all ended in pain.

Sitting down at her desk, Kate glanced up at the whiteboard. The lack of information seemed to mock her. The blank spaces and question marks, all taunting her. The photo of Alexis, seemed to accuse her. Blamed her, even, for not finding Alexis fast enough.

For not protecting Rick.

Propping her head up with her arms, the detective stared down at the folder on her desk. She could feel the sympathetic stares of Ryan and Espo, but she didn't have the strength to call them out.

Still, Kate felt as if she had failed. Now all she could do was wait.

Looking at the screen before him, the man chuckled to himself. Steepling his fingers under his chin, he smiled in satisfaction. His plan was going perfectly. His eyes followed the figure shown on the screen.

"Well, well. So he's finally chosen," he grinned, "the little red head gets to live."

Spinning around in his chair, he addressed the two other men in the room.

"Hold the girl, but make sure she stays alive. I need their attention in Paris," turning to the man on the right, he continued, "Follow through with the rest of the plan. We're going to stage two. You'll be given a plane ticket within the hour." Dismissing both men with a nod, he turned back to watch the screen.

"Oh, Richard Castle. You're going to regret ever meeting your father. You're going to wish he was dead."

Reviews are welcomed! Thanks for reading ^_^