Castle's partner

Never Normal

I spend my days trying to find ways to put Tyson behind bars.

He hasn't seemed to be interfering, not until today.

I spent the night with Ryan and Jenny, but I wake to Ryan screaming.

I run to his bedroom, throwing my blankets off and slipping in the hallway.

"What's wrong?!"

"Tyson! He took Jenny!"

I don't process his words too quickly. I don't want to.

"What?"

He hands me a note.

"One down, one to go. How many people can you lose?
Jt"

"Damn it! Damn it! Ryan it's my fault! It's all my fault!"

"No, no it's not. We need to get to the precinct we need to find her."

I happen to glance at the clock and do a double take.

"Ryan, it's after noon! How did we sleep that long?"

Then I see his eyes, and they are completely bloodshot.

"He drugged us the son of a bitch."

"How do you know?"

I point to my eyes, I assume they're the same.

"Okay let's go."

He drives so fast I think we're going to get into an accident even with sirens.

We burst into the bullpen at full speed.

"Ryan, what's going on? I've called both of you a dozen times!" Beckett says.

"Jenny was kidnapped!"

He proceeds to tell them what happened before breaking down crying. He sinks into his chair and sobs into his hands.

"Bro, we're going to find her." Espo says.

And everything is thrown into chaos, a whirlwind of FBI, phone calls, and blood tests.

We're told we were drugged with "Good-Night Cinderella," which is a drug used in Rio.

It's my fault. I wander into an empty room and slide to the floor. Only now do I start to cry.

I cry myself to sleep, thinking about what he could be doing to her right now.

"Hey." Someone gently shakes me awake. I'm on the floor still.

Nick hovers over me.

I sit up, and hug him.

"I'm sorry about Jenny." He whispers.

"Don't let go Nick. I need you."

I know I shock him because I'm usually unwilling to admit that.

Suddenly the phone rings on Beckett's desk and Beckett answers immediately and puts it on speaker.

I race out to hear it.

"Hello?"

"Ah, Detective Beckett. I assume you already know but I have someone I know you care greatly about."

"We know about Jenny alright? Why'd you take her?"

"Easy bait. I'm offering an exchange. You give me the filth you call your niece, and I'll give you Jenny. Or she dies."

"No!" I scream, but it is promptly cut off.

Castle grabs me and holds a hand over my mouth to muffle my screams.