Taking a sip of the cold liquid, Rick groaned as he rested the empty glass on the bedside table and stared at the photo album he'd collected when he'd entered the loft again. Turning the page, Rick stared at the image of his wife and daughter on the beach, his fingers running across both their beaming faces as he felt the tears slowly move down his cheeks. His wife and baby or his daughter? How was he supposed to choose who got away safely and who was injured by the bastard? Grabbing the bottle of whiskey, Rick quickly poured himself another one before drinking the cold liquid, his eyes shutting as he realised he was being stupid, drinking away his feelings. He needed to think about how to get everyone out safely, he needed to think of a way of keeping his wife safe and his daughter alive. His beautiful little girl, the redhead he'd brought up practically alone. He couldn't let either of them get hurt, or the unborn baby that Kate was heavily pregnant with. Hearing his cell phone ring loudly, Rick quickly grabbed it before answering it, not even looking at the caller ID as he breathed out.

"Hello?" he said quietly, desperate for it not to be Tyson with his need for the answer to his choice.

"Castle," Ryan declared. "We tracked the location of Tyson's last call to you, he's starting to make mistakes Castle," he stated, his enthusiasm obvious as Rick stared down at the image of his wife and daughter again. Was it really that easy? Was it really that easy to rescue his daughter and find Tyson and end everything? Tyson didn't make mistakes like that, he wasn't stupid like that. He was cold and calculating and he knew exactly how not to get caught so why had he made it so easy? "We're going to the location now; do you want to come with us?" Ryan asked as Rick stood up and nodded, glancing across at the whiskey he'd drunk. He was fine, he hadn't had enough to drink and he wanted to be there when they found his daughter. Grabbing his jacket and keys as he walked out of the room, Rick stared down at his wedding ring before breathing out. No way was it this easy! It couldn't be this easy.

XOOXOXOXOOX

Sitting in the small bed in the new location, Kate stared down at her abdomen before sighing and relaxing, her eyes shutting as she tried not to think about her husband. She missed him, she wanted him back but she knew he need to do what was best for Alexis as well. Their family wasn't just about her and Rick and their unborn child but also about his daughter, the young woman that she loved as well. Running her fingers across her abdomen, Kate smiled to herself as she thought about holding her baby for the first time, seeing who their child looked like the most and becoming a mom for the first time. She wanted to hold her baby and she wanted to see Rick again, she wanted her husband to hold her hand while she gave birth. She needed him back; she wanted to be selfish for once. She just wanted him back with her again!

"Mrs Castle," William's voice said quietly as he opened the door and smiled at her as she slowly opened her eyes and glanced at him. "I just came to see how you were," he admitted as she nodded, her hand running across her stomach as she slowly sat up. "How's the baby?"

"Kicking like mad since Rick left," she laughed as he nodded in silence. "Have you heard anything from Rick?" she asked quietly as he shook his head, her eyes shutting slowly as she realised that it was unlikely that Rick would try and get into contact. "Have you heard anything new about Alexis? Do they know anything about where she might be?" she asked, desperate to know if the young woman was safe so they could return to their family life. She was supposed to be preparing for a baby, not separated from her husband and terrified for her step-daughter's safety.

"I'm sure she's safe Mrs Castle," William declared as Kate nodded slowly. "I'll make you something to eat, need to keep your strength up" he announced, standing before he excused himself and left the room, shutting the door behind him as she shut her eyes and relaxed back. God, she wanted her husband back again!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Pulling his vest on over his shirt, Rick stared down at it before looking at the building in front of him. His daughter might be in there! His beautiful little girl might be in there and he was going to rescue her. He was going to save his daughter and never let her go again. He was going to keep her safe. Following Javier and Kevin in silence, Rick watched as they held onto their guns tightly and stepped into the dark building.

"Don't do anything stupid Castle," Esposito warned as Rick nodded, knowing not to make any rash decisions as he followed them, other cops running in behind them before disappearing to search the various rooms in the dark building. Hearing the familiar word 'clear' echo around the building, Rick sighed as he shut his eyes. She wasn't here! Alexis wasn't here.

"Castle," a man's voice called out loudly as Rick quickly ran towards the voice, panic covering his face as he entered the room to see a cop knelt down beside his daughter untying the ropes that were around her ankles and wrists.

"Alexis," Rick shouted, running towards the redhead as she stood up shakily and allowed her father to tightly wrap his arms around her. "Thank god you're okay, thank god," he said quietly, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she began to sob. "You're safe pumpkin, you're safe and I'm never going to let anyone hurt you again," he promised, tears running down her face as she buried her face into her father's chest as Ryan and Esposito entered the room. "She's okay," Rick called out to his friends as he moved to turn at them, the sound of a shot ringing out making everyone fall silent before Rick heard a small groan, his body turning before he quickly caught Alexis as she began to fall.

"Daddy," she sobbed as he stared down at the blood that was beginning to appear from underneath her white shirt, his hand quickly pressing down as he shook his head; the sound of Ryan and Esposito wrestling a man to the ground behind him unnoticeable as he stared at his daughter. "Daddy," she whispered.

"You're going to be alright baby, you're going to be alright, just keep talking to me pumpkin," he said quietly, trying not to cry as he held her close, tears running down his face as he stared at her.

"We need an ambulance now," Ryan's voice shouted down the cell phone as Rick continued to press down on his daughter's wound, trying to keep her alive.

"Talk to me Lex," Rick begged as her eyes slowly began to shut. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't lose his little girl. He didn't make that choice.

XOXOOXXOXO

Lying in her bed in the darkness, Kate shut her eyes as she attempted desperately to try and sleep. She wanted to go home; she wanted to have her baby and go home and be with her family. Hearing footsteps outside her door, Kate remained silent as she heard the door creak open before she shut her eyes tightly. This never happened. William always knocked and the other men never came near her, they remained silent and out of the way. Hearing the door open further, Kate quickly reached down for the gun she kept under a scarf on the bedside table before hiding it underneath the duvet and shutting her eyes again. Hearing the footsteps move closer towards her, the brunette remained still as she heard someone breathing near her.

"Tyson says hello detective," an unfamiliar voice said quietly.

"What do you think you're doing?" William's familiar voice declared before two shots quickly rang out at almost the same moment.

The next chapter will explain everything more; the two events that ended up with Alexis being shot and perhaps even Kate being shot. Anyway, please review. I know this chapter sees a bit odd because of the whole being easy to find Alexis but it will all be explained in the next chapter so hopefully you enjoy it.