A/N: It's been awhile since I've written, but thought it was time to get back in the game again. Let me know your thoughts.

"Tell me the story of us." Her soft voice breaks through his thoughts and he looks up from his clasped hands, eyes focusing on her clear olive irises. She's watching him with an amused stare, clearly waiting for his response. He's told her a story every day that he's visited. Cases they had worked on. Things they had once done together. This is the first she's ever asked to hear about them specifically and honestly, it surprised him a bit.

He had been so lost in thoughts that he hadn't even noticed that the nurse that had been there when he first arrived had finished tending to her bandages and was now gone. Her request was the first words she had spoken to him since his arrival forty- five minutes early.

"You're in luck," he finally says, leaning forward to take her hand, "That one's my favorites." She smiles back and once again, just as he is every time, he's startled by the look of utter youth on her face. If it weren't for the stark white bandage wrapped tight around her forehead, it would be easy to forget she wasn't well. That the Katherine Beckett that was propped on the bed in front of him was the person he knew and yet didn't know. He studied her hand wrapped tight in his and took in a deep breath before beginning.

"You hated me at first. Called me a nine year-old on a sugar rush," he said, smiling again. As he always did when remembering, his eyes started to drift shut. Forcing them open, he focused once more on her face. "It was fall and….I was slogging my way through the worst case of writer's block that I've ever had. It'd been nine months since I had even an inkling of a plotline. Some idea would come to mind and then the minute I would sit down to write…nothing." He closed his eyes, remembering that period of his life he thought he would never get through. The money from Hail of Bullets was close to running out. Alexis' school was getting more expensive and the alimony…he considered marrying one of his exes just to reduce the amount of money being spent. "I decided I needed new inspiration. A change of scenery. Anything to help me start writing again."

He paused again to gather his thoughts and licked his lips. The hospital air was dry and he always forgot to get a bottle of water before his visits. He glanced at her mouth, noticing the cracking along the pale pink of her lips. Making a quick mental note to bring her chapstick next time, he squeezed her hand and continued. He laughed to himself, thinking of the first time she realized he was the one she would be working with. The look on her face was one of utter shock…and slight disgust. Needless to say,it hadn't been one of her finer moments. "I'm not sure what made me think of the murder mystery/detective angle. It'd been done so many times before and it was risky…a hard market to break into, but I didn't have anything else and figured what the hell. The worst that could happen was my book being turned down. I tried speaking with the NYPD, who turned me down." As always, he felt the question before she got a chance to voice it. "It took the mayor stepping in for me to be able to work with you. It was only supposed to last for one book, but then…Black Pawn, my publishing company wanted three other books and so I stuck around. It took you a whole day after that to admit you had gotten used to me hanging around. I almost died of shock when you said that. Of course there was a death threat attached to that statement. " A smile broke out on her face and she looked down at their hands.

"Why did you choose me," she asked, studying his face closely. She liked studying him and his nuances. The way his face would smile and his eyes shined when he looked at her. His visits were her favorite. He always made her smile even everything around her seemed gray and hazy.

"You were….the best," he said, "Highest arrest rates…most cases solved. The decision was easy. The first day I met you though, I was surprised. You were nothing like what I expected." The smile returned to his face. The same smile she recognized as one he wore when he was remembering a moment they had once shared together.

"Why did I surprise you?" The yawn she had been fighting off ripped through her and she blinked the sleep from her eyes, her grip on his hand gradually weakening.

"We'll save that story for another day," he said, squeezing her hand and standing up from his chair. "You need your rest." She wanted to protest, but found that she couldn't. Already, her eyes were drooping from sleep.

As he always did before leaving, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, brushing the strand of auburn hair behind her ear. "Sleep well."

"Will you be here tomorrow?" Her words were slurred as her eyes began to drift shut.

"Always." He pressed another kiss to her the pale hand clasped in his own hand before resting it by her side and tucking the blankets closer. Her skin was warm against the chill of the hospital but he never wanted her to feel cold again. Silently, he waited for her breathing to even out before gathering his jacket and leaving. The door whispered shut behind him and he leaned against it, closing his eyes.

"How's our girl today?" Castle glanced up and saw Jim Beckett, her father, walking towards her. His hands were shoved in his pockets, the suede jacket he always wore hanging on his shoulders. Like the younger man before him, the stress of the past months showed. Clothes fit looser. Worry lines had multiplied and deepened. Even more gray hair showed at the temples of hairlines.

"Today was a good day," Rick responded, a ghost of a smile on his lips, "I told her the story of us." He shifted away from the door, moving to face the older man.

"That's one of her favorites," Jim said, smiling and glancing towards the woman now asleep in the hospital bed. Rick followed his gaze and felt the tears return to his eyes.

"Mine too," Rick responded. "I'll be back to see her tomorrow. She's resting now…just fell asleep a few minutes ago."

"She needs the rest," Jim said, sighing, "Three months in a coma…who knew you would need so much sleep after being unconscious for so long." Castle nodded, reaching for his phone.

"I need to get going. Have a meeting with the publishers. Call me if…" His voice trailed off at Jim's almost imperceptible nod. He nodded back and turned, leaving the hospital and walking into the rain.