Castle's partner

Trust

My phone lands on the ground with a crash.

I stand unmoving, stunned with what just transpired.

I'm being stalked. Constantly watched.

I'm not safe.

And I can't tell anyone.

I stumble to the hard concrete and sit criss cross applesauce.

I bury my head in my hands.

"Why?" I moan. "I can't take this too."

If the team finds out they'll put me on lockdown and that is not happening.

But this person said he was working for someone with unlimited resources.

Tyson, Tyson has unlimited resources.

And look what's he's done to me already.

I sit like this for almost two hours, trying to pass time.

When I finally pluck up the courage to go back inside I pick up my phone which miraculously survived the fall. Probably because of the case Castle got me.
I walk down the hall and into the apartment.

I'm so lost in my own world I don't bother looking for Ryan or Jenny.

A hand lands on my shoulder, and I scream and pull away.

Ryan's eyes widen in concern.

I attempt to control my breathing after I about had a heart attack.

"You scared the crap out of me!"

"I'm sorry. But, what's going on?"

"There's nothing going on!"

He sighs. "If you don't want to tell me, fine."

He turns the other way.

"Uncle Ryan..."

His face is hurt as his head swivels.

"I love you."

I wrap my arms around him and find peace in his hug.

He reciprocates my action.

"I love you too. Samantha look at me."

I let go and look at him.

"I love you so much. Jenny does too. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you and it was my fault. I'm still here for you. Are you, are you cutting again."

"No, I told you I'm ok."

"Then let me see."

I narrow my eyes.

"You don't trust me."

"How am I supposed to you tried to jump off a seven story building! Every time I leave you alone you get hurt!"

Wordlessy I pull up my sleeves and hold out my wrists.

"Happy? Are you satisfied that the one time I was out of your sight I didn't do anything stupid? Surprise, it does happen sometimes! Now you can stop worrying about me because I'm not five! You can't protect me from everything! Like it or not I'm going to keep getting hurt whether it's my fault or not."

My eyes flash and I push past him, ignoring his calls for me.

I slam the door to my room and throw myself into my pillow.

I try to hold back the oncoming tears pooling at the back of my eyeballs but all too quickly the floodgates open.

I sob into my pillow and try to muffle the sounds.

I can't handle this.

I sit up and reach for my suitcase in the corner of the room.

I pull out my secret stash of blades, the ones you put in Exacto knives.

I take one out of the box and unwrap it.

I hold it in my fingers and know if I do this and they find out it will be bad.

I decide to take my chances.

I pull up my right sleeve and drag the blade across my wrist.

The cut isn't that deep, but it still bleeds. I do it again and again, until the blood flows down my wrist.

I take a Kleenex from the box and press it against my arm.

It doesn't take long to stop, I just hope they don't open up and start again.

My phone buzzes. It's the blocked number again.

You know they would hate to see you doing that. Maybe I should show them?

Attached is a picture of me cutting not two minutes ago.

He's here.

What do you want from me?

He responds a few seconds later.

I want you to tell them. I want to watch their pain.

And if I don't?

A red dot appears on my chest, flickering and flitting around.

Shit. He's a sniper.

I don't care if I die.

He sends me a picture.

The dot has left my chest, but shows up on Ryan's unknowing back.

Maybe you would if he did?

"No!" I whisper fiercely.

My phone rings and I pick up.

"Tell him or he dies. And I'll kill them all. Maybe I should start with sweet, innocent Alexis. Castle would break wouldn't he? Or maybe I should just kill you so I can watch them all break."

"Don't touch them. Kill me for all I care but don't, touch, them. Or I will find you, and kill you. I promise you that."