Katherine Beckett dusted the snow off her jacket as she entered her favorite bookstore. It was tucked between an old furniture store and an out of business pizza place. It was also around the corner from a Barnes and Noble so few people ventured there. Kate had always wondered how it stayed in business. She glanced around looking for the elderly couple that ran the bookstore. They had become fast friends after they discovered that Kate had been spending her days off of work at their bookstore. Her eyes finally spotted them in the back. Mr. Parker, who insisted she call him Steve, was on top of a ladder pulling down a LSAT study book for a student who didn't appear to be very happy. Mrs. Parker, who insisted she call her Donna, was fixing some coffee in the small kitchenette in the back for the other customer mulling around. She gave Donna a brief wave and headed for her favorite part of the bookstore. The back of the bookstore had a small staircase that was roped off. It lead up onto a small attic like room, and Steve had taken her up there one-day and said she was welcome back there anytime she wanted. Steve and Donna had made the room cozy with a leather couch with a huge throw blanket over it. The small room seemed to trap heat and in the winter Kate loved to bring a good book and wrap the throw around herself and just finally relax. Kate sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands using her fingers to slowly try and rub the tension in the back of her head. Yesterday had been a long day at the precinct. She was still considered a rookie and had been dumpster diving for a murder weapon all afternoon. The other rookie that was suppose to be helping her cut himself on a piece of glass in the first dumpster he searched. He ended up having wait for the paramedics to stitch him up and she was assigned to do all 6 off the dumpsters by herself. She had of course found the knife in the last dumpster she checked. She had then gone to check up on her dad who had been sober for 2 weeks. He was completely trashed when she got home. Her mother's favorite song had apparently come on the radio and he had gotten out the whiskey bottle he had stashed where she couldn't find it. Apparently, he had then gone to a liquor store and restocked his supply. She had tried to calmly get rid of all the alcohol he had bought, but it must have been a terrible day because he wasn't even upset he had once again fallen off the wagon. He normally cried and told her he was so sorry. She forgave him knowing he would just fall right back off in a week or two. But this time he was yelling he was done trying. He was never going to be happy again anyway and he just wanted to forget. He had then gone to his bedroom and slammed the door. She continued to pour the rest of his alcohol down the drain. Kate had grabbed the last bottle of whiskey and was pouring it down the sink when he had come storming out of his bedroom. Kate pressed her fingers against her eyelids trying to shut out the vivid memory of last night.

"Katie! I told you to stop! I'm done trying."

"Dad, it is going to get better you just have to try."

"When when is it going to get better Katie. I don't see your mother walking through that door anytime soon." Jim spit out as he paced back and forth in front of her.

"You don't think I know that! You don't think I wasn't the same thing. Look at me Dad. I worked hard to get back together. Am I 100 percent? NO, but I'm surviving. You're killing yourself. And what about me Dad. I have to watch you do this to yourself. Mom is gone, but I'm still here Dad.

"For how long! Katie" Jim yelled taking a step toward his daughter.

"What?" Kate said trying to wrap her brain around what was going on with her dad who was normally a calm drunk.

"How long are you going to be here? How long will it be before I find another cop on my doorstep telling me my loved one is dead?

"Dad that's not going to happen"

"Katie you're a cop. A cop in New York City. Last week you were telling me about some Captain that mentioned you would make a great detective and that you are hoping to become a homicide detective. SO tell me Katie what am I suppose to think. That my little girl isn't going to be going after people that want to kill her and will do so without hesitating.

"Dad, I will have a partner, back-up, and I wear a vest."

"How many cops have had all those things and still died?" he asked taking another step toward her.

"Dad."

"HOW MANY Katie!"

"I don't know"

"Well, I don't know if I can stay sober between your mothers death and your death." Jim said as he collapsed into a seat at the kitchen table

"Dad you don't understand. Mom would not want you to do this" Kate said as she reached for his hand. He snatched his hand back and smacked her across the face.

"Don't tell me what your mother would want. Just Get Out." He had calmly stated.

Kate didn't argue and she stood up and left the house. She had blinked back tears as she drove home. Cursing herself for believing that this time he would remain sober. He had finally gone to far. He had never hit her before. She felt like for the first time her mother's death had truly killed her father as well.

Kate was shaken out of the memory by Donna's voice floating up from the ground floor. "Kate. Would you like some coffee?"

"Yea I'll be down in a second."

"Oh I was just going to bring it right up to you.

"I have to find a new book."

"Oh well, Steve just got a new shipment in this morning. He put the boxes out by the front to put some of the newer ones and some classics in the window. Why don't you have a look and meet me in the kitchenette.

"Sounds great Donna" Kate said began to climb down the stairs.

Kate smiled as she saw the note from Steve along with the newest Richard Castle novel sitting on the top of the box. I know how much you love these books. Considering you bought all of them here don't worry about this one it is on the house- Steve.

Kate's head jerked up as she heard a muffled scream. She glanced out the window and saw a young girl being dragged down the street and into a small alley. The girl was kicking and screaming but Kate couldn't make out what she was saying. She made her way outside and started walking toward them and then broke into a run when her brain finally registered what the girl was yelling. "YOU ARE NOT MY DAD! Kate made the motion of reaching for her service weapon when she remembered she had left it at home. She quickly ran into the alley to see the man shutting the trunk of his car. Kate was only a few feet away form him when he pulled out a knife and made an attempt to reopen the trunk of the car. There was no thought process she just ran and tackled the guy. The guy had flipped her onto her back before she even really registered what she had done. Her head bounced of the concrete and her vision became fuzzy. "Not smart girly." Kate's hand touched what felt like a rock and she felt the blade enter her side as she smashed the rock against the guy's head. Kate rolled the unconscious man off her and slowly tried to stand up. Pain radiating from her right side forced her back to the ground with her left hand at her side. She felt a warm liquid and she glanced down at her left hand confirming that it was now caked in her blood. She gripped the door handle of the car and lifted herself up. Taking in a deep breath that left her slightly dizzy she stumbled to the back of the car and opened the trunk. A small red headed girl who couldn't have been more then 5 was huddled in the corner.' Oh sweetheart." Kate breathed reaching her hand out to the girl. The locked eyes and the girl shook her head squeezing her eyes shut. "I'm not going to hurt you. Can I take you back to your parents." The girl opened her eyes and looked at Kate and slowly nodded her head reaching for her. Kate bit back a scream as she hoisted the girl out of the trunk. 'Your going to have to walk take my hand." Kate said fighting the black spots that were beginning to invade her vision. As she and the girl stepped out of the alley she caught sight of Donna looking out the window. She saw the look of horror on Donna's face before she fell to the ground the blood loss finally getting to her. Everything seemed so far away and suddenly Donna was at her side and she felt pressure on her side. She tried to turn away and she vaguely heard Donna's voice. "Steve called 911. You're going to be okay. She heard what sounded like a little girl crying except the girl sounded like she was under water. There were voices everywhere.

"Hold on Kate. Hold on"

"Whose kid is this."

"Where are the paramedics."?

"I want my daddy."

"Kate don't do this. Look at me Kate Kate."

'"He's at the Barnes."

Kate vaguely recognized the sound of sirens and then black.