Thanks for the reviews and story alerts. :) Many thanks to KuryakinGirl for the quick beta. :)

Title: Price of Fame
Author: Cindy Ryan
Notes and summary: See part one

Alexis Castle felt like she'd been on a very long plane ride. Stiff, groggy, disoriented, and a bit of pain for joints being inactive for so long.
She didn't know what but she knew something wasn't quite right.
The more she became aware the more the teen realized simple things like breathing hurt.
Needing to know overpowered everything and Alexis forced her eyes open. The harsh fluorescent light nearly blinded her but she kept them open.
A familiar face swam into view.

"Alexis? Darling….thank God."Martha stated tearfully. "Your father will be so happy. I'm getting your doctor….stay awake."

The teen struggled to do as her Grandmother asked. Sleep kept clawing at her demanding her attention.
It'd be so easy to slip back.
The quest for knowledge kept Alexis awake.
She had to know what was going on.

Kevin Ryan had to remind himself to breathe. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were white. He took the SUV around corners at unsafe speeds. Speeds at which the battered Denali protested.
Things had gone to hell in a split second.
That always amazed him how fast things could be turned upside down.
One minute his partner had been fine and the next Javier had been hit by a car his seemingly lifeless body sailing across the street.

Swallowing hard Kevin forced the horrific image aside and focused on the task at hand. There was no way he was losing sight of the Crown Victoria.
Getting the bastard would be the best thing he could do for his partner.
His friend.

Ryan heard brakes squeal and saw a semi nearly jackknife in order to avoid the fleeing car.
Cursing Kevin radioed in his current position and continued pursuit.

His failure at protecting the people he loved was escalating dramatically. Kevin had to change that; starting now.

"Easy."Rick Castle ordered gently as Kate Beckett regained consciousness.

The busy ER staff swarmed around them moving from patient to patient.

Kate winced as she slowly sat up. She blinked and searched his face as memories returned.

"How long was I out?"Beckett asked as she closed her eyes briefly.

"Half hour give or take."Castle replied as he kept a supportive hand on her right shoulder. "Scared the hell out of me."

"Take more than a knock to the head."Kate stated quietly.

"There's something I have to tell you."Rick began grimly as his hand moved from her shoulder to her right hand.

"What happened?"

"Esposito was hit by the car after he pushed you out of the way."

Kate's eyes squeezed shut. "How bad?"

Castle sighed. "Don't know. Docs rushed him into surgery as soon as they brought him in."

"Damn. Where's Ryan?"

"Last I heard leading a high speed chase."

Kate hopped off the bed. "Have to get out of here."

"Whoa."Castle exclaimed as he reached Kate just as she wobbled on her feet. "You're not going anywhere. Doctor's orders and Montgomery's."

"Just a little dizzy."Kate protested as Castle helped her back onto the bed. He accepted an ice pack from a passing nurse.

"Rest."Rick urged gently as he sat next to her pressing the ice pack into Kate's left hand.. "Montgomery and Ryan have everything under control. They'll get him."

Reluctantly Kate stilled and laid her head on Castle's right shoulder. Her other hand pressing the ice to her head. "This just keeps getting worse."

Castle wrapped an arm around Kate's waist. "I know. You're okay and that's a start to things turning in our favor."

Kevin Ryan heard the chopper over head as the individual he was pursuing finally made a mistake and turned into an alley.
Uniformed officers were covering the bakery on the left and the hardware store on the right.
Another SUV pulled up beside him as Kevin blocked the alley. Three more unmarked police cars formed a line behind them.
The bald man wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans exited the Crown Victoria and took off towards the end of the alley.

"Don't think so."Kevin stated as he started running gun drawn. Montgomery had called and told him Javier was alive and in surgery. That was a small comfort.

At the end of the alley was a partial brick wall where the bakery ended and a twenty foot metal wire fence closing off the space. Beyond the fence was a series of apartment buildings that had seen better days.
The bald man started climbing the fence after risking a look back at the pursuing police. Ryan was the first to reach him grabbing the culprit by the waistband of his jeans and yanking him down.

Baldy cursed as he hit the ground back first. He bounced up to his knees before Kevin slammed him back down leveling the gun to his forehead.

"You don't have the balls….too may witnesses."

Kevin tightened his grip on the gun. He heard footsteps coming towards him but everything faded. Everything but what was beyond the barrel of the gun. The man who had tried to kill two friends of his.
He wasn't Ben White but it was too coincidental. There had to be a connection.
Nobody risks felony murder charges for nothing.
Had to be a hell of a paycheck.

Baldy's smile widened and Kevin's eyes narrowed. This bastard had rammed into Javier without a second thought.
Partners had a unique bond.
Had to have each other's back no matter what the situation.
He and Javier had clicked since day one.
Partners like that were rare.

Releasing the trigger Kevin brought the gun down hard. Blood flowed from the man's forehead as Kevin's gun left its mark. Heart pounding widely Ryan grabbed Baldy by his white t-shirt and yanked him to his feet pushing him against the brick wall.
From a distance Kevin thought he heard Montgomery's voice telling him to stand down. Hands tugged at his shoulders but Kevin ignored them.
Nothing mattered
Nothing except for getting justice for Alexis and Javier.
This man was the key.

Ryan pressed his left forearm against Baldy's throat. Just enough to make his point.

"The man you hit is my partner."Kevin stated grimly barely recognizing his own voice. "I'm only going to ask this once. Who hired you?"

Baldy struggled and Kevin eased his hold just enough to allow him to breathe easier.

"Never…..saw….dude."

"Not buying it."Kevin growled as he applied more pressure.

The older man's eyes started to roll back in his head. Suddenly a hand on Kevin's left shoulder propelled him backward and away from the suspect.
Kevin stumbled and fought to regain his balance. When he did he looked into the stern face of Montgomery.

"Get this asshole a bus."Roy ordered sharply as two young male officers scrambled forward to assist the slumping man.

"You are on suspension "Montgomery continued as Ryan straightened. "I want to see you in my office."

Kevin nodded as he followed the Captain to his car. Even if he'd thrown away his career at least he'd gotten the man who'd almost killed his partner.
That was worth enduring Montgomery's wrath.