Castle's partner

Leprechaun Part 1

48 hours earlier

After my encounter with Tyson, I wait for Ryan to take me home.

I stay unusually silent, and Ryan tries to comfort me, but I pull away. He doesn't press.

I hardly touch my food before going to bed for a sleepless night.

I'm awake until my alarm goes off, and I lay in bed for another hour before standing up.

I start changing before I notice there is a note on my bedside table. I quickly read it.

"Leprechauns are never too short to light up the sky."
JT

I smirk, thinking it is just a cruel joke, and then I see the signature.

JT.

Jerry Tyson.

My blood runs cold.

I quickly start to decipher the message.

Light up the sky, that probably means a bomb or fire of some sort.

"Leprechaun?"

I say out loud.

An Irish person maybe-

"Oh shit. Ryan!"

I drop the note and sprint out the door.

Ryan was at the precinct but called to tell me he was going to check out a lead. He gave me the address in case anything happened, and I'm beyond happy that he did.

It's only about a mile away, and I run faster than I ever have.

My lungs are burning, along with every muscle in my legs. It hurts too inhale, but I keep going.

I hope I get there in time.

I will myself to go faster, and soon the pain is numb.

I see police cars and SWAT teams ahead of me.

The all too familiar license plate number of Ryan's squad car sits in front.

I dodge my way through everyone until I am under the caution tape.

Ryan is wearing a vest, leading a crew with his gun in front of him.

He puts his hand on the door knob, and I scream at the top of my lungs.

"RYAN STOP!"

His head jerks towards me.

I grab onto him like a leech and refuse to let go.

"Ross what are you doing?"

"There's a bomb in there!" I explain.

"How do you know?"

"Just trust me, please!"

Upon seeing the desperate look in my eyes, Ryan steps back.

I let go and breathe a sigh of relief.

"Do you know where it is?" He asks.

I think for a moment.

"Yeah, I can detonate it safely. Get everyone away. There's no one in there right?"

He shakes his head.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Be careful, ok?"

"Ok."

I watch as he gets everyone safely behind the caution tape.

He gives me a thumbs up, signaling that I can do my thing.

I turn towards the building.

It's not very big. One story, maybe covered in stucco?

I search the ground for a large rock, and quickly find one.

I hold it in my hand, it probably weighs around four pounds.

I look for a window and aim carefully.

I raise it above my head, and release the rock after a windup.

The glass in the window shatters, and the rock hits the floor.

I duck my head just as the bomb goes off.

I am knocked to the ground from the sheer force of the blow.

All around me, debris falls through the air like raindrops.

I feel a sting in my cheek, and know there is a cut, but I am otherwise unharmed.

Strong hands yank me to my feet.

I look up to see Ryan's face in mine.

"Oh my God Ryan you're ok."

I throw myself against his chest, and he slowly puts his arms around me.

"You just saved my life. And-and not just mine, but a lot of other people's too."

"I know. I'm so happy you're ok."

He squeezes me a bit tighter.

"I'm happy we're ok."

He lets go.

"You're bleeding!"

He reaches for my face but I dodge his hand.

"Ryan I'm fine."

He tries again, and I bat his hand away.

"Ryan!"

"Sorry. I just can't believe what just happened. How the hell did you even know it was in there?"

I hesitate.

"Um...uh...ya know, a cop's intuition?"

He takes me by the arm and leads me to the ambulance that just arrived on the scene.

I give him a dirty look.

"Hey, I just want to make sure you're ok. For all we know there could have been asbestos in that building and we're all dying."

I roll my eyes.

"It's a cut Ryan. Like I haven't experienced them before."

His face falls slightly, and I feel guilty.

"You know what I mean."

A medic appears out of no where and takes me inside the truck.

He cleans my cut (which is painful I might add) and places a small Band-aid over the wound.

He releases me and I go back to Ryan.

"You are one of the best cops around, but there's no way you knew about that."

"How do you know?"

He stops walking.

"Samantha, how did you know?"

I gulp.

"I got a note."

His eyes widen.

"From who?"

I look at the ground.

"From him Ryan."

He inhales sharply.

"Tyson?"

I nod without looking up.

He wraps his arms around me and rests his chin on my head.

"I won't let him hurt us, ok?"

Though I know this could easily be wrong, it makes me feel a little better with him by my side.