The creak would have been missed, if it weren't for Castle's acute ability to be trained into every detail of a situation.
The bullet missed their heads by centimetres and, while Rick ducked like any self preserving citizen should, Kate swung around, sure in the knowledge that her sister was as safe as she could be.
The fifth man came at her like a bat out of hell.
Rick moved out of her way, running for cover, knowing he would be nothing but a hindrance, and actually put Kate in more danger, if he tried to help.
Hand to hand combat was something of a speciality for Kate. She trained at least three times a week either at the precinct or in the gym in their building, but she rarely sparred with a gun in her hand against someone who wouldn't hesitate to snap her neck if they got close enough.
The fight was messy and brutal.
From what he could see, Rick had no idea what was going on short of they were both fighting for their lives.
Punches were thrown, body blows delivered, each of them wrestled for the gun.
Two of the uniforms had turned around to be her armed back up, but neither had a clean shot at any point. Any bullet fired was just as likely to hit Kate as it was their suspect.
An almighty crack was heard and Kate's subsequent cry broke Rick's heart but the gun shot was a relief.
Kate didn't even have time to even catch her breath as she lay on the floor, unable to move. The suspect holding Nevaeh cried out something entirely unsuitable for the young girl he was holding to hear and cocked his gun. A shot went off and for a terrifying moment the entire warehouse stopped, unsure which gun had delivered it.
Then their suspect's body dropped and Kate lowered her arm, laying her head down on the floor, desperately trying to catch her breath through the searing pain in her leg.
Ryan and Esposito ran to their suspect's side, the latter kicking away the gun and checking the non-existent pulse of their suspect while Ryan gathered Nevaeh up and held her into his chest. His partner came to his side once his own task was complete and checked the girl over, nodding to the Irish detective when he found a steady and strong pulse.
Castle and Gates', meanwhile, fell at Kate's side. Castle took her hand and gently smoothed her hair back from her forehead while the Captain started talking.
"Kate, can you hear me?" She asked, her usual calm persona flying out the window as panic tinged the question. Kate's eyes opened slowly, clouded with pain but alert.
"Nevaeh?" She whispered. Gates' looked over at the boys and received a nod from Ryan while Esposito called for ambulances.
"She's okay Kate. Ryan has her, she's okay. Can you tell me where it hurts?"
Rick squeezed her hand gently as her eyes rolled, pain stealing her ability to focus.
"Leg. Think it's broken." Kate murmured. "Need to see her, please?" Gates nodded to Ryan who swiftly brought the still unconscious girl over to them.
"She's here Kate." Ryan murmured, kneeling beside his boss, cradling the seven year old into his body. "I've got her." Kate grabbed her hand and held it tight, the warmth of her palm reassuring in her own.
"She okay?" She croaked lethargically.
"Pulse and breathing are good. There's an ambulance on the way." He smiled. "That was stupid Kate." Beckett nodded.
"I know." She murmured, her voice thick with pain and emotion. "How close was I?" Rick couldn't help but look to the younger man for the answer. Ryan gulped and looked down at the child in his arms.
"You hit his heart. If you had been a quarter inch lower, you'd of hit her." He told her reluctantly. Kate blanched as tears sprung to her eyes.
"Hey." Rick soothed quietly, cupping her cheek gently, drawing her attention. "You didn't hit her. You saved her Kate. She's okay."
Sirens filled the air and every officer sighed in relief.
"We'll get you both to hospital. It'll all be alright. I've got you and Ryan's got her." Rick quickly looked up to confirm and Ryan, the good man that he was, nodded as if it was obvious. "Everything's going to be okay Kate." She nodded slowly before allowing the pain free darkness she'd been fighting to confirm her sister's safety, to claim her at last.
Castle left Esposito at Kate's bedside, knowing Ryan was with Nevaeh, and made his way into the hall. He had a phone call to make.
"Rick?" Jim answered confusion lacing the question. Rick sighed softly as he sat heavily in a chair along the wall.
"Hey Jim." He breathed. "I, uhh, just thought you'd want to know. I, umm..." how did you tell a father that both his daughters were in hospital?
"Rick what is it? Is it Katie, is she alright?" Rick sighed, choosing not to draw attention to the fact he didn't even mention Navi.
"You never got back to her, so I'll go ahead and presume this is news to you. Nevaeh was kidnapped. Kate tried to call you but..."
"I got the message." Jim murmured. "I, with how upset Katie is with me at the moment, I thought it would be best if I wasn't in her face right now." Rick sighed heavily. He couldn't fault the logic, but Kate needed her dad to be a father right now. To the both of them.
"We found her. There was a fire fight and Kate was snuck up on by a suspect. She fought hard and got the drop on him but not before he could break her leg." He heard the elder man gasp.
"She's okay though right? And, and Nevaeh?" Rick felt himself smile gently. At least he asked.
"She's okay. She's conscious and being put in a soft cast as we speak. She'll be discharged for the night and be back in the morning. Nevaeh's okay. She has a concussion and is a little dehydrated so they'll keep her in over night but she should be home tomorrow lunch time at latest. Jim, I understand how hard this must be. I get that it was a shock, and it's a huge thing to get to grips with. But you need to man up and come see her." Castle shocked himself with his rant but as a father himself, he could see the need in Kate to be held by her own father. He knew that Navi needed him too.
"I'll..." Jim sighed. "I'll come down Rick. I'll give it a couple of days, let Katie and Nevaeh get settled back at home, then I'll come down and meet her." Rick nodded to himself.
"Thank you." Jim cleared his throat awkwardly. "I've gotta get back to Kate. We'll call Jim."
"Thanks Rick. Talk soon."