This is my first Fanfiction ever. English isn't my first language, so I'm really sorry for any mistakes. Hope you will enjoy it.
Background: Ryan and Esposito met during their service in the Special Forces. They became a couple. Esposito moved on to the NYPD, while Ryan stayed in the Special Forces. They live together and Ryan knows everyone in the precinct pretty well. This story starts when Ryan comes back after being deployed for about a year.
None of the characters of Castle are mine.
The elevator ride was the slowest ever, he thought to himself. Why can't this thing move faster?
It's been over a year since he last saw them, they were his family. He couldn't shake the excitement and nervousness feelings in his gut. He couldn't believe he's here again. There were times when he was sure he would never step into this building again, never see their faces again.
The uniforms felt small, he couldn't wait to take them off. He wished he had time to get home, take a shower, change, eat and sleep… but he couldn't do anything else before seeing his family again. The crutches pulled on his shirt, his leg hurt from putting too much pressure on it for too long and he was tired, so tired.
He needed to see them, hear them and feel them. He needed to reassure himself that this was real. He was really home, he was back.
There were things that needed to be said. He needed to see Javi. He needed to hug him, feel him close, hear his voice in his ear and tell him he loved him.
It's not like they hadn't talked, but this was different. He needed to feel the heat of his body, seeing his smile in person, being able to touch, to feel, just to be near each other again.
Finally the elevator doors opened and the noises of the 12th precinct homicide floor invaded his thoughts. He took a deep sigh and a smile crept into his face. He was home.
He started moving, using the crutches to support his weight and to avoid putting pressure on his left leg. He came around the corner and their desks area came into his view.
"Kevin?" Becket's voice never sounded better. He turned to see her standing with Castle in the entrance to the break room, each holding a cup of coffee.
"Hey" he answered in a low voice a shy grin plastered on his face. He couldn't stop smiling even if his life were depending on it.
Becket put her cup of coffee on the nearest table she found and went to hug him. He used his right hand to hug her back, trying not to lose his balance. "We missed you so much" she whispered in his ear and that felt so good.
He chuckled "I missed you guys too". She pulled away, but kept her hold on his shoulders. He grabbed back his right crutch.
"What happened?" she asked looking at his left leg, hanging in the air.
"Oh" Kevin started, looking down at his left leg too "Just some shrapnel… there was an ambush… I'm OK" he finished slowly. It was obvious he didn't really want to talk about it.
"Well, we're glad you're back" Castle's voice sounded from his right side. He turned his head towards him and smiled.
"Thank you" Kevin answered him. Castle clapped him on his right shoulder.
Both Becket and Castle noticed him looking around. "He went down to see Lanie about our current case" Becket told him in her soft voice "He'll probably be back soon".
All Kevin could do was nodding his head. "Does he know you're back?" Castle asked "Cause he didn't say anything".
"No" he answered him, as Castle helped him lower himself in to the chair next to Becket's desk "There was no time. Everything was so hectic and I didn't want to miss the last flight out".
Both Becket and Castle nodded at that. The group was silent for a couple of minutes, just trying to take in the fact that they are going to be whole again, their family is safe and back together. Becket couldn't stop looking at Kevin, a smile plastered on her face. He looked tanned, a bit older maybe or maybe mature was a better word for it, she thought to herself. He looked tired, but happy, content. She could relate to that feeling.
Castle was standing smiling down at Kevin. He really missed him. He kept wondering about what he went through over there. Kevin always looked so young and innocent, how could someone like that face so much violence and horror and stay like that for so long? He learned a long time ago to not underestimate the Irish man. He knew he could definitely take care of himself, but he couldn't help the feeling of wanting to shield him from the world.
"Kev?" it was spoken so quietly and soft, Kevin wasn't even sure anything was actually being said. Kevin stood up slowly, using the desk to keep his balance, Castle grabbed his left elbow, while Becket handed him his crutches. Javier took a few very slow long steps towards the threesome, but kept his gaze on Kevin. Kevin couldn't move his gaze anywhere else, he wasn't even sure if there were still people around them. He tried to calm his breathing as Javier neared him. Without another word, the two embraced each other.
And that was all Kevin really needed, to feel those strong arms around him, to smell this unique smell that could only belong to one person, to feel his heartbeat next to his. He buried his face in the space between Javier's neck and shoulder. He took a deep breath and for the first time in a little over a year felt completely safe.
Javier managed to gather his thoughts together and pulled away "what are you doing here? When did you get back?" Kevin didn't have time to respond once Javier noticed the crutches "What the hell happened?" Kevin looked away
Javier helped him to sit back down in the chair next to Becket's desk and he took another chair and set himself directly in front of Kevin and kept his left hand on Kevin's right knee. Castle and Becket excused themselves and moved back quietly to the break room.
"I'm OK Javi" Kevin started, but got interrupted by his partner. "You're clearly not OK Kevin".
He looked at his younger partner long and hard, waiting to hear the truth. Kevin held his gaze for about a minute, until he couldn't take it any longer and averted his gaze to the floor "Can we not talk about it here?" he looked back up into those brown eyes he missed so much. "I promise we'll talk about whatever you want, just not here" he took a deep breath "not right now" he finished in a quiet voice, this time not looking anywhere else but at Javi's eyes.
Javi nodded his head in agreement, knowing full well what it feels like to come back, to feel overwhelmed with the life that didn't stop while you were gone. He patted Kevin on the knee.
Becket and Castle came back out and walked towards the other two. "Espo, take the rest of the day off. Castle and I can handle the case by ourselves for now" Becket suggested.
Javi looked at her skeptically "you really think Gates will allow me to take the rest of the day off?"
"I'm not heartless detective Esposito" Gates voice came from the entrance of her office "I can understand that you two need some alone time" she gave him a stern look "It's good to see you're back Mister Ryan" she shifted her stern look from Javier to Kevin and softened it a bit.
"I'm sorry sir" Javi answered lowering his head in shame.
"Come on bro" Said Kevin "I can really use a shower, some nice dinner and a comfortable bed".
"Oh, I'll show you how comfortable our bed is" Javi winked at him and received "ewww" and "awww" from the family around them.
Javi grabbed his coat and things from his desk, while Kevin took his time with the crutches. They stood in silence in front of the elevator. They sneaked a look at each other, and a smile spread on both their faces.