Author's Note-I know, I'm mean aren't I? Oh well. :D Now, just before you all start saying it, I honestly believe that Gates is in character here. Otherwise I would have changed it. In my head, this is an in character reaction, especially given how she was in Target/Hunt. If you have any huge issues with it, let me know, but I won't be changing anything major. Okay, now that's settled, on with the chapter. NYLF xx
"What do you mean she's missing? I left her in the car with you. She didn't move, I told her not to and she's a good girl. How did she go missing Kevin?" Castle asked sharply, his arms still around Becket as she started to tremble. This was all too much for her fragile emotions. He needed to get her out of here before she broke but he knew she wouldn't leave and she'd never ever forgive him if he forced her to.
"I, I turned my back for a second. Espo asked me a question so I leaned out the door to talk to him, when I turned back, she was gone. Just gone. It was thirty seconds tops between me speaking to her and finding her missing. There was no traffic, foot or vehicular. I don't know what to say bro she's vanished." Kate buried her face in Rick's neck as Ryan spoke. She couldn't be gone. Not after all this. She couldn't just be gone. Castle gently smoothed circles at the base of Kate's back, holding her steady and up right, leaning against her temple as he rocked them slowly side to side.
"What happens now?" he asked softly, not entirely sure what else to say. The world famous author was officially out of words.
"Espo's running like a mad man trying to look for her, Lanie too. We've called in back up. They'll do a grid search, traffic cameras, CCTV, everything. We'll all need to give statements." Rick nodded slowly, his hand never ceasing it's soothing movements.
"Okay. We'll come help look." Castle said over the approaching sound of sirens, a sound he never thought would be as comforting as it was right now. They both loved that little girl. She was a Beckett, Kate's little sister through and through, how could they not love her?
They hadn't found her. The two male detectives, Lanie, and a team of at least thirty strong uniforms had searched everywhere, questioned everyone on the street surrounding the scene, stopped every car, but there was no sign of the seven year old.
Kate and Castle had screamed themselves hoarse calling her name before Gates, who had arrived on the scene a few minutes after the cavalry, had gently ordered them to go back to the station. There was not a lot they could do. They were far too close to this to be objective and Kate had worked herself into an understandable, but uncharacteristic state. Rick was practically carrying her by the time they reached the break room. They were sat mere seconds before she broke down into heartbreaking sobs in his lap while he held her, his own tears trickling unheeded into her hair. Someone had to call Martha, Alexis and Jim, but right now, they needed to find Nevaeh, before something happened that neither of them would ever come back from.
You could says many things about Captain Victoria Gates. But one thing many people didn't know; she was fiercely protective of her own.
She knocked on the break room door the moment she got back to the precinct, her heart breaking for her best detective and her partner. Castle looked up and met her eyes, a question in his. The Captain shook her head and Rick nodded. Kate was sleeping in his arms, having cried herself to sleep a few minutes before. Gates wandered in and sat at the other end of the couch.
"You're still looking right?" Rick asked in a tiny voice. He sounded so lost and afraid, it made Gates' eyes burn.
"We're all over this Mr Castle; she's one of our own. We won't give up." Rick nodded. "How is she?" Gates asked softly, angling her head towards Kate. Castle leaned his head against Kate's and sighed.
"Cried herself out a couple of minutes ago. She won't come back from this, you know that right? If we don't get Navi back, Kate will never, ever get over this. It will break her." Gates nodded slowly.
"I know. We won't give up Rick. I promise. I give you my word. We will not stop until she's home." Rick nodded.
"Thank you. I know we've just met her but..."
"She's blood." Gates' interrupted understandingly. "By the time you had known Alexis for two days; I bet you would have done anything for her." Rick nodded emphatically. "It's exactly the same." She paused for a moment, taking a small comfort in watching Kate breathe, hoping this was yet to haunt her dreams. "Do you want me to phone your parents? I know Jim Beckett will need to know and I'm sure you'd like your mother here?" Rick smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Sir." She shook her head and gently squeezed his hand.
"It isn't a problem. She's family Mr Castle, we'll find her."