A/N: This is in response to the kind reviewers who requested or remarked that they would like to see a continuation of "Mercy Street". As always Enjoy!!!

Masks

Castle Fan Fiction

By Dethwalker

Castle's Apartment

"A Party!" Martha and Alexis gasped together.

"Sure it'll be fun." Castle rejoined.

"But Dad, you just got out of the hospital. You should be resting in bed not planning a party!" Alexis said.

"That's the point. This is a jailbreak party, a shindig to celebrate the fact that I am still alive. Look I was cooped up in Mercy General for weeks; I need something to take my mind off of the whole Dominic Strom mess. What better way than to have a party?" Castle saw their doubtful looks, "Don't worry, I will call Rene and get him to cater and decorate. I won't lift a finger…. Well a finger more than I need to."

Martha and Alexis were not convinced. Both of them knew that Castle tended to ignore the trivial things. And to Richard Castle all things were trivial. They also knew the look that the Author was giving them. It was the look of fevered fanaticism; the look meant the Richard Castle was bound and determined to get his way. At times like this it was best to keep their heads down and try to stay out of the way.

"All right Dad, but try to rest. The Doctor said that you should stay in bed most of the time for the next 2 weeks…"

"He also said I should try and build up my strength. How am I supposed to build up my strength while I am still in bed? I ask you, how?"

"Look Richard, you doctors are afraid that if you don't take it easy you are going to collapse your self back into ICU." Martha reasoned. "So when you call Rene, do it from your bed or at least the easy chair in you study."

Castle grunted his displeasure and stormed into his study, slamming the door as he went.

"I am really worried about him. He is not bouncing back as quickly as I though he would." Alexis told her Grandmother.

"Don't be too worried about it kiddo. He is just coming to grips with his own mortality. After he was shot by that miserable Strom person, he has to deal with the fact that he could die any time, and not some distant future. He will come out of it soon" Martha opined.

"I hope it doesn't take too long. My Dad's pouty phases are always stressful"

"Your father will pull through, Alexis, and we all hope that it is sooner rather than later. This is something he has to work out on his own, unfortunately. As much as we want to help him, it has to be hands off. Go call one of your friends, blow off some steam, just be around if he needs you, dear"

Alexis thought about which friend she would call. She smiled when she knew exactly who she wanted to talk to.

The Precinct

Detective Beckett

Kate Beckett was pensive. She sat at her desk and pondered the developments over the last three weeks. When Richard Castle had been shot, she had been angry with him. In the early days of his convalescence they had reconciled. During the stress of hunting down the shooter and kidnapper, they had tossed aside their differences and admitted that they had feelings for each other. Now they were in Limbo, before the two of them had a chance to explore the new connection, she had been pulled back into the precinct and had been slammed with work ever since. Kate hoped that they would not be back where they started from. The detective was also worried about Castles state of mind. She had seen good Cops, hardened Cops break after being shot. She also worried about the silence, she had not heard from Richard since he had returned home from the hospital. Beckett hoped that it was just a matter of getting settled not Richard trying to run away from her.

Kate's cell phone rang, the Caller ID said 'Castle". Relief flowed through her. Tension she was only marginally aware of drained from her body.

"Beckett"

"Detective Beckett?" Alexis responded.

"Alexis? And I thought we had gotten past this. We are on a first name basis, remember?"

"Oh sorry Kate, I just assumed that that was just for the hospital."

"Alexis, that was before we had our time together watching your dad sleep. If you come to the precinct then feel free to call me Beckett, but the rest of the time Kate is just fine."

"Okay, Kate I am worried about my dad."

"What's wrong? Has he collapsed?" Kate asked worriedly.

"No, No, it's not that. He's just all brooding and moody. I understand that he got shot and trauma like that will have an effect on people, but this is my dad we are talking about. It's like the big kid in him has died leaving just the 'tortured writer' behind."

"Lexi, I am sure this is only temporary. He has had a very traumatic experience. We have to be patient. He has to find his own answers." Beckett stopped talking when she realized that she was spouting platitudes. "Sorry Alexis. I did not mean to get on the cliché wagon. What can I do for you?"

"Can you come over and talk to Dad? He has been getting more reclusive since he has come home. He hasn't even gone to his poker games. I'm afraid that the next thing he will do is just stay in his room, and start carving little animal figures out of soap."

Kate laughed at the imagery. "You are your father's daughter. I'll come around after work, Okay?"

Apartment

Castle

Castle stood looking out his study's floor to ceiling window, watching dusk gather over the city. He was absently rubbing the small scar over his heart. New York City at dusk mirrored his state of mind. His depression was gathering signaling his soul's descent into night. It was getting harder and harder to put on his happy mask. He knew that Alexis and his mother were worried and he wanted desperately to reassure that he was alright but he just could not expend the energy that he did not have.

Beckett regarded her partner from the doorway to his domain. Alexis had met her at the door of the apartment and had pointed worriedly toward the author's study. Kate had walked over and had been ready to knock on the door. Instead she had found the door ajar and Richard staring out the window. She took a moment to read Castle's posture. His body's whole attitude fairly screamed depression. His shoulder were slumped, his head slightly bowed and his eyes were downcast.

She thought of all the things that were left unsaid in Rick's hospital room. There was so much that they needed to talk about. Kate had let Richard into her heart and he had admitted to her that he had thought about her in intimate detail, but they had left it there, Both choosing to wait until Castle had healed before they explored their relationship any further. Was this the time to broach the subject?

"Richard…" her voice sliced through the silence.

Castled jumped, he had not heard Kate enter. He wondered exactly why she had come.

"Detective…" he saw a brief glimpse of hurt in her eyes. Mentally kicked himself in the head he realized that when the two were alone calling her Detective was a slap in the face. "Sorry pain meds.." he apologized "To what do I owe the honor of your company… Kate?"

"I came by to see how you were doing. You have your family worried. I am worried." She admitted.

"That was not my intention." He sighed. He slumped dejectedly into his chair, wincing and raising a hand to his chest. "I'm trying" he whispered

Her heart almost broke. The depth of sadness was evident in his voice. She knew Rick kept his family foremost in his thought and was loath to cause them any pain. She moved fluidly around to the back of Castle's seat and tentatively encircled him in a loose hug. At first she felt him stiffen but after a moment he began to relax.

"I 'm sorry Kate, I don't mean to be a burden."

"Richard, you are not a burden. I should slap you upside your head for just saying that. Alexis is just worried because her Dad is acting decidedly un-Castle-ish. You missed your poker games, and that has her freaked out." She stated "I've been worried too."

"Sorry Kate, I hate always saying that. I just don't know what to do. The pain meds make me loopy, not taking them means I hurt like hell, there is just no middle ground."

"Are you having the dreams too?" she asked. She felt him flinch so she knew the answer to that.

"Yeah, they're pretty bad. I have started to keep my door closed so I don't wake up the house. I am so screwed up, Kate."

"We already knew that knew that Rick." She quipped.

"Hey!" Castle smiled. It was ghost of his boyish grin, but it was a start. His grin grew brighter. "You know if you really wanted to help me with my nightmares, you could sleep over. My bed is king size so there would be no problem with room. I usually sleep in the nude, but I guess I could make an exception, you know, so you would not loose it and start begging me for sex."

"You should quit while you're ahead Castle" she was happy that he could still joke about things.

"You wound me Beckett, have I not bled enough?"

Kate privately admitted she would have taken up the offer to sleep with him had he been serious, but also admitted that it was too soon to move their tentative relationship forward, not if they wanted a sustained relationship. Kate was sure that she wanted a sustained relationship with Richard Castle. She was in this for the long haul and she hoped that Rick was too.

"Well you can tell Alexis that I am all cured now that you are here. She does not really need to worry."

"Castle, don't belittle our efforts on you behalf. Alexis is right to worry about you. You have been through a very traumatic event. It's not like everybody gets shot. You are going to need time to heal, physically as well as emotionally. This isn't one of your novels."

"I know, if I had written this scene we would already had sex on my desk and would be headed for round two in my bedroom." He growled sexily.

She shivered at the thoughts that his words conjured. It took all or her willpower not to succumb to the passion that was rising inside her. She swallowed and forced her mind back to reality.

"You wish." She said breathlessly.

"Yes Kate, I do." He whispered.

He spun his chair slowly toward her and reached out to gather her into his arms. She was warm and soft nestled next to him. Their eyes locked, each trying to comfort and communicate their unspoken feeling to the other. Their lips met. Kate was surprised how gentle his kisses were. She was expecting animal lust but was receiving impassioned love. Silence reigned. At last they broke apart.

"If you won't share my bed, will you at least stay for dinner?"

"Yes" Kate smiled.