Author's Note: This chapter goes from Castle's POV to Nikki's to Kate's. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Castle.

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"What?" Castle exclaimed, he could have sworn she said, 'my daughter.' "She's your what?"

"Quiet Castle, you heard me," Kate said leading him around a corner and she ran into Javier.

"Got anything?" he asked. Kevin appeared behind him.

"The girl. The man left before we found her," Kate answered.

"Do you want us to try and track him down?"

"No, but go tell Captain I will be at the hospital with her if he needs me."

"WE will be at the hospital if he needs us," Castle said.

Kate pinched her nose, "Yes."

Castle and Kate walked to the hospital in silence. When they got to the hospital the staff rushed Nikki into a room.

"So what's the story?" Castle asked settling into a chair in the waiting room.

"I guess there is no getting around it," Kate sighed sitting next to Castle. "Before I was a cop I was married. I thought he was perfect but after a while he became abusive. We were together four years before I became pregnant. Then after Nikki was born he became more and more abusive even towards her. I would tell him to leave her alone she was just a baby but that got him angry.

"I waited three years afraid to do anything and then I finally got the courage to get a divorce. Somehow he got custody of Nikki. I waited a few years and as you know my mother was murdered so I became what I am today. I thought I would never see Nikki again, but now seeing what has happened to her I blame myself for her suffering. I feel as if I didn't fight hard enough for her."

"I'm sure you did your best, Kate," Castle said soothingly.

"But my best wasn't good enough." Kate began crying.

"Come here," Castle said softly hold his arms open for her. She did protest she just leaned into his chest.

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Nikki woke up and looked around. She was sore and at first she didn't remember why and then the memory flooded her mind. Her father had his way again and this time to keep her quiet and now she was not going to talk at all. She looked nervously as a blonde haired woman walked.

"Easy Miss Nikki, you're safe," the woman said. "You are at the hospital and I am Bailey the nurse who will be taking care of you. Now if you need anything push this button." She indicated to the button on the bed. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to go check on my other patients." Bailey walked out.

Nikki settled down and stared at the ceiling. She wanted out of the hospital, she hated being there, but she wasn't sure what would happen when she was out. The door opened once again and a doctor came in. It was a female doctor so Nikki felt a little more comfortable.

"Hey I'm Doctor Andrews," she said. Nikki raised her fingers in greeting. "How are you Nikki?" Nikki shrugged. "Are you gonna talk to me?" Nikki bit her lip not sure how to answer. "Well it seems you have a couple visitors I'm gonna let them in." She bustled out of the room.

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Kate was pacing the waiting room. She had managed to calm down enough that she wasn't crying anymore, but she was thinking of how she could have handled the whole situation differently. Castle watched her with worried eyes.

"Kate come sit down. I'm sure she's fine," he said.

"Detective Beckett I'm Doctor Andrews," a woman's voice said coming from the doors to the hospital rooms.

"How is she?" Kate asked.

"She's fine," the doctor said. "You may go see her now, but don't expect her to talk back."

"What? Why?"

Dr. Andrews took a deep breath. "She seems to have closed down her voice box. She can't talk, well she thinks she can't it's completely psychological."

"But why?"

"With all the trauma she has been through caused this."

"I see can I go see her now?"

"Yes."

Kate walked down the hall into the room that held her daughter. Castle was behind her. She saw Nikki staring at the ceiling.

"Hey kiddo," Kate said softly. Nikki's gaze dropped to Beckett. Her eyes were lifeless. She looked like she all but given up. "You're safe now I promise. When they release you I am taking you to live with me."

She gave me the look of what-do-you-mean eyes. Then she shifted her eyes back to the ceiling.

"I don't think she understood you," Castle said behind Kate causing her to jump.

"Gosh! Castle what the heck!" Kate screeched. "Shut up you aren't helping."

"Sorry Beckett. I thought you knew I was here."

Kate turned to him glaring, "I told you to be quiet."

Castle held up his hands innocently. She just shook her head and turned back to Nikki and walked over to her bed. She sat in a chair.

"Nikki do you understand what I told you?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Nikki you are not going back to Ian's house ever. I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure of it."

"I will also help," Richard said and was rewarded by a glare from Kate.

"I have already made arrangements for you to come stay with me after the doctor lets you out. If you understand what I am telling you nod." She nodded and Kate was relieved.

Nikki closed her eyes and her breathing became even. Kate smiled at the sleeping girl, she was going to be okay, or at least for the most part. "Come on Castle we have to go work on the case."

Castle nodded and let her walk out first. Kate walked to the entrance of the hospital and walked out the automatic doors. When they got to the cruiser Castle came around like he always does and opened the driver's door. Kate rolled her eyes but got in not wanting to argue at the moment in time. When Castle was in the car she drove towards the precinct in thought. How was she going to catch Ian? How would Nikki react when told that Kate was her mother? Would she get mad? Or accept it? Or worst of all not accept it at all?

"Beckett?" Castle asked, breaking her reverie.

"What Castle?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Castle actually seemed authentically concerned.

Kate took a deep shaky breathe she was scared of what will happen in the days to come. "Yes Castle I'm fine." She pulled into her parking spot. She began to get out but Castle caught her arm. "Castle let me go!" She blinked and felt a couple tears roll down her cheek; she hadn't realized she had started to cry.

"Kate you are not okay," Castle said. "Let's just sit here for a minute and calm down, a lot has happened in the past few hours." He took his free hand and wiped the tears away.

Kate sighed, "Castle we really need to work!"

"Fine…" Castle gave in and together they walked into the precinct.