Chapter 12

Ryan

"Ryan." He looked up to see Espo blocking the sunlight from the alley. Ryan could see his partner's eyes checking him for injury, then he simply sat down next to him as if it was a completely normal situation.

"It hurts." It sounded weak and stupid but it was the only thing that Ryan could think to say.

"I know mate, but we'll get her back I promise." The determination in his eyes almost made Ryan believe it for a split second before reality kicked in again.

"Don't make promises you can't keep Javi"

"I'm not. Your daughter and Jenny will be safe and sound soon, I give you my word." With that the conversation was over, they needed to get back to work, Espo stood up giving Ryan his hand and pulling his friend to his feet. It felt good to have someone who he could rely on so much, everything seemed a little more hopeful from then on.

As the elevator doors opened they could hear Beckett giving the team the low down.

"We are going to have a full tactical team storming that place, but we need to do it carefully. Jenny and Sarah Grace are our main priority if we can get these men alive and throw their asses in jail then great but if they leave in body bags that's not a problem either."

Kevin couldn't decide if he'd rather the kidnappers in handcuffs or body bags although he was pretty sure that if they hurt Jenny or Sarah Grace they would end up with bullet holes in them either way. With the talk over the officers took action all preparing for a rescue mission, there was a snap as guns were loaded and ripping of velcro as bullet proof vests were picked up and put on.

...

It was a sight to behold, a sea of blue, red and white. The whole NYPD police force was parked outside Ryan's building. If he didn't feel like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders he would have laughed at the sight. When Sarah Grace got older he always imagined taking her out in a police car, letting her press the sirens on and seeing a little smile spread across her face would make Ryan's heart swell with pride. The thought of that opportunity being ripped away from him fuelled his anger. It wasn't likely that they would hurt his daughter but he couldn't shake the feeling that something awful was about to happen.

As it was Ryan's house he was in charge of placing people where they were needed, he said that no one should even attempt to use their neighbour's fire escape as a vantage point as they had installed high tech motion sensors outside their windows to stop people from breaking in when they were out, which was an awful lot. Beckett made the executive decision that they should get everyone on Ryan's floor out and onto the streets but do it very quietly even if it took a long time.

"Better to have a clear path to get your family out safely than having to worry about civilians" she informed Ryan, he watched in anticipation as his neighbours spread onto the streets in droves, they were all escorted by police to the park across the road. A few of the elderly residents took longer to get out so after 10 painful minutes the NYPD were ready to take positions. Castle took his position next to the ambulance, with strict instructions to be ready when they came out to deal with any injuries, even he could tell it was a useless job but he needed something to do and truth be told a Ryan didn't rust that the paramedics would be ready quick enough but he trusted that Castle would be.

"Your also in charge of my daughter Castle, do not let anyone take her away from here, she stays with you and only you. I don't trust that my neighbours can look after her and even though I trust the officers around us I-" Ryan rambled.

"It's ok Ryan, I will take care of Sarah Grace, she'll be safe with me." Castle replied putting a comforting hand on his friends shoulder.

Ryan split the team up. Espo had a team of 10 that were to wait around back, Beckett with another 20 were to at the front while himself and 5 other officers went through the nursery window. He hoped that it was unlocked but if not it wouldn't take much to break the latch.

The radios informed Ryan that everyone was ready. He knelt next to the window releasing a sigh of relief when he saw Sarah Grace tucked, safely, into her cot. Then he grasped the window and prayed, it opened easily and quietly, he made the other officers wait outside as we went in. Just as Ryan was about to put his boot on the window sill another officer pulled him back forcefully. As Ryan collapsed onto the other officers, glaring at them, he realised why they had acted so irrationally. Faintly he could see a trip wire.

Carefully leaning in he saw that it was the only one but he panicked when he saw the amount of explosives that one trip wire was connected to, it was enough to take out the entire room. As slowly and carefully as he dared Ryan climbed inside, ignoring the suggestions of going in a different way. He could see his daughter and he wasn't about to leave her in a room with explosives. Straight away he picked up his angel and hugged her close, he was in tears by the time the female police officer managed to convince him to hand the bundle of blankets over.

"We're in. Sarah Grace is safe. The window was wired with explosives, I repeat the house is probably wired with explosives" If Gates was listening she would have tutted at the fact that he left the most vital piece of information to last but to him, his daughter's safety was the most vital piece of information.

Ryan signalled for the other officers to come through the window when the door to the nursery was wrenched open. He looked up to see the barrel of a gun pointing right at his head.

"Don't move or I shoot, got it"

Writer's ramblings

Sarah Grace is safe, phew, it feels good.

I don't own anything