Castle's partner

When He Finds Out

I sit in one of the chairs away from everyone else.

I've always hated how cold hospitals are.

I pull my legs up and rest my chin on my knees. The news is on and of course they are showing the crime scene where Nick was shot. Luckily there were no reporters there when I freaked so there's no footage of me.

Hours pass slowly.

The rest of the team is conversing in hushed whispers, occasionally glancing in my direction.

Castle stands and walks up to me, then kneels next to my chair.

"Hey, I'm going to El Palmar, you want anything?"

"No thanks."

"Samantha I know you're mad at me but you have to eat."

"I said no thanks Castle."

He sighs. "Alright."

As he walks away, a doctor approaches.

"Family of Nicholas Lancaster?"

I stand up. "That's me."

"He's awake. There's a piece of the bullet lodged in his bone, and it would be too invasive to take out. The rest we were able to remove. He should make a full recovery."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, what's your name and how are you related to him?"

"Samantha Lancaster. I'm his little sister."

"Follow me."

The team then follows us.

"One minute please."

He goes inside the glass door, and from the window I see Nick on his bed. I press a hand to the glass, and Beckett puts a hand on my shoulder.

"What's your sister's name?" The doctor asks.

"Samantha Lancaster," Nick says without hesitation.

The doctor waves me inside, and I step away from Beckett's reach.

I cross through the door, and find myself sitting on Nick's bed.

The doctor leaves.

"Hey little sis."

"Are feeling okay? Do you need anything?"

"Nah, I'm fine."

Then he looks at me, and I at him.

I fall against his chest and we both start crying. He wearily takes me in his arms like he always has. He buries his face in my shoulder.

"I've missed you," he whispers.

When we both stop our sobfest, he lets go of me and moves over, patting the mattress.

I get on next to him, and he wraps his arm around me.

I place a hand on his chest.

"Who did this to you?"

"I don't know. He was wearing mask. I didn't see him. The other guy he shot, he was an acquaintance. Didn't know him too well. I'm lucky to be alive."

"We'll find the guy."

"You and the group of people watching us out there?"

I chuckle. "Yep."

"Who are they anyways?"

"It's a long story."

"We have time."