Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
8/28/11
This post-finale fic is not at all how I expect the season four opener to go, but it has some interesting nuances I wanted to explore. This story is spoiler-free as far as season four goes but there are spoilers for the season 3 finale.
Special thanks to Cellogirl for sharing her medical expertise so I wouldn't have to guess and make things up as I go! For those of you who are interested, my premise is that the shot missed Kate's heart but damaged her lungs. Special thanks also go to 'Mr. Williams' for his generous feedback on the story.
Subtext
A Season Three Post-Finale Fic
The gray light of early morning filtered through the draperies of Castle's bedroom window, falling on the foot of the bed. Its thin glow did little to illuminate the darkest recesses of the bedroom.
Kate sighed and stretched, wincing as she did, and modified the movement accordingly. She could not wait to have that chest tube out. Her gaze wandered over the room, drawn yet again to the lean and predatory lion staring back at her. The photo captivated her with its grace and power as it crouched as though stalking her, ready to spring. The low light added sensual detail to its muscles bunched beneath its tawny fur.
It captured her gaze every morning as she woke alone in Castle's bed. Well, sometimes alone. Sometimes he was already there with a tray of food, trying to mask that same predatory gleam, the hungry look in his eyes. She should have been alarmed by it. She wasn't. The first time it happened, she was so woozy and disoriented with the heavy pain meds, she thought she'd imagined it. But two days later, she caught him staring at her wearing one of his dress shirts, desire, and something more, plain in his unguarded gaze.
Staring at the lion now, its predatory hunger reminding her so much of the bed's usual occupant, she smiled, imagining, not for the first time, what it would be like if Castle reached for her with that same look in his eyes.
Hers drifted closed, smiling as the lion and Castle merged in her thoughts. The swift grace of the lion, his teeth nipping the tender flesh of her neck, or shoulder while she… offered no resistance.
Moments later, the ring of her cell phone shook her from her fantasy. "Beckett."
"Hey, Girl. Did I wake you?" It was Lanie, her life saver, in so many ways.
"No, I was awake. What's up?" Her voice was husky with disuse.
"I've got a damn cold." Lanie complained. "I'm not going to make it over to pull your chest tube this morning."
Kate bit her lip to avoid voicing the groan of disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Honey. I know how much you hate having that thing in." Then an unusually cheerful note slid into her voice. "Tell Castle I'm going to miss making goo goo eyes at him."
It was enough for things to click into place. "Esposito is there with you, isn't he?"
Lanie giggled, "Busted! Tell Castle, Javie might let me come over tomorrow, but he's holding me hostage this morning."
Kate smile was sincere. "Tell Esposito, thanks for being patient with this charade."
"I will. And he gets it. Can't let those dirt bags know where you are, or if you're alive." She paused and a note of concern entered her voice. "You doing okay? Keeping the wound clean?"
"Yeah, but I was looking forward to a shower," Kate finally admitted.
"I don't blame you. I'm sure Castle would be only too happy to help you bathe." Lanie giggled.
"I'm sure." Kate agreed. "I might have Josh come over. He hates not being able to see me."
"What he hates is you hiding out at Castle's! Too bad he's not gay. He could be the one faking an affair with Castle instead of me!"
"God!" Kate tried to stifle a giggle. "Those two could never pull it off!"
"Be honest now, it might be fun to let them try…" More laughter from the phone and she could hear Esposito joining in.
"Oh God! Lanie, don't make me laugh!"
Neither could speak for several moments, which Kate spent trying to suppress her giggles and wincing in pain. Finally, "Ask Javie if there's been any more suspicious eyes around Castle's place."
The answer came a moment later, "No, everything's quiet."
"Good." Kate breathed a sigh of relief. Her gaze wandered to the lion again. "Lanie, thanks for making the trip to check on me every day. I—I can't thank you enough."
"Honey, you're welcome. What are friends for?"
"I owe you, big time."
She heard the low rumble of Esposito's voice and Lanie's answering giggle. "Javie says it's him you owe, for putting up with that bullshit with Castle."
Kate smiled. "Probably true."
Lanie giggled again, "I gotta go."
Kate's smile was wistful. "Okay. See you."
In the stillness of the empty apartment she gradually became aware of the increasing sounds of traffic as the city woke around her. Sounds from the kitchen followed.
She briefly contemplated waiting for Castle's strong arm to help her sit up before deciding to try it on her own. She rolled to her side, sucked in several deep breaths, grunted and grimaced as she dangled her legs over the bed's edge, rising when her feet hit the floor. She stood there, panting for a moment, waiting for the pain to fade. It was getting easier, slowly. She stared at the masculine comforter on the unmade bed. If someone told me I'd spend two weeks sleeping alone in Castle's bed, I'd never believed it.
The poster of the bull elephant caught her eye and she briefly wondered what Castle was trying to say about himself. She smiled, a modified version of her earlier fantasy tingling her thoughts but she pushed it aside at the knock on her door and reached for the robe draped over the chair. This was getting easier too, she noted, managing to not only sling it over her shoulders but get both arms through the sleeves—gasping. Too much pre-pain-killer activity.
"Come in," she grunted, pushing her tousled hair back from her face.
He appeared with rumpled bed hair, the sleeves of his T-shirt clinging to his biceps. "Coffee, toast, and Percocet: the Breakfast of Champions!" He set the tray on the night stand and handed her one of the steaming mugs.
"Thank you." Their fingertips brushed as she took it from him and sat on the edge of the rumpled bed. He claimed his usual chair.
"You didn't wait for me," he commented.
"It's gotten a lot easier," She exaggerated.
"Managed your robe as well, I see."
"Almost like new." She gave him a satisfied smile as she sipped her coffee.
"Right." He agreed sardonically, observing her reactions. "That's why you're sweaty."
The corner of her mouth curved upward, and she reached for the toast.
"You may be looking forward to being able to dress yourself again, but I, on the other hand, am dreading it." That gleam was in his eye again, belying the harmless flirting with an undertone of danger.
Her lips parted to tease him back, but right now, sitting on his bed, in her current state of partial undress, vulnerability, and arousal, and with him looking so damn sexy, so predatory… She changed the subject instead. "Lanie called. She's not coming today."
"Ah. Maybe I shouldn't have sent her home with diamonds yesterday."
Kate was about to sip from her mug but lowered it instead, her eyes narrowed. "You didn't…"
He was all innocence. "I gave them to her in the lobby. Eduardo and half a dozen passerby saw." He sipped from his coffee, unconcerned until he noticed her stare. "What?"
"You didn't!"
"It's part of the sham, and a thank you gift."
She set her mug back on the tray. "Castle, Lanie is dating Esposito."
"I know that. It's a thank you gift for her help. Why are you staring at me like that? She's been here every day for ten days straight, changing your bandages, helping you bathe… She deserves it."
All Kate could do is shake her head. "She did it for me, Castle, not you."
"Maybe I have diamonds for you too." His voice was low and husky as he watched her over the rim of his mug. Legs stretched out in front of him as he lounged, a smile flirting with his mouth...
What she was about to say went right out of her head and she stared at him instead. An odd feeling stirred in her, a feeling telling her something wasn't right, that she was missing something. She lowered her gaze, frowning at the thick nap of the carpet between them.
"Sometimes I get this odd feeling," she began, "like we're actors playing a scene, only I'm missing key subtext."
Castle lowered his mug, staring at her uncertainly. "What do you mean?"
Her brow furrowed in frustration. "Sometimes you say things to me and I feel like I'm missing something. Like someone said or did something that I don't remember. Something important."
His face was somber and she knew, she knew, he held the key to whatever it was she was missing. "I see," was all he said.
"There!" She was on her feet again. "You know something I don't! Something I'm supposed to know!"
He'd been so cheerful earlier. Now, sadness weighed his spirits down as he stared into his mug, not meeting her eyes.
"Castle—"
But he interrupted, his voice so quiet that she instantly knew there was something important. And he was about to tell her.
"What do you remember about the moment you were shot?"
"Nothing."
His eyes probed hers. "Nothing?"
"I remember hitting the deck. Your face… I knew it was bad, cause you looked so scared." She waited for him to speak again. "Did something happen, other than me ruining the funeral by dying?"
His voice was infinitely gentle as he set his coffee down, rubbing his palms against his thighs. "Kate—"
The doorbell rang, jarring them both. Their eyes met, widening in an identical response to danger.
"Could it be Alexis or Martha?" Kate was already reaching beneath the mountain of pillows for her pistol.
He rose to his feet. "No, they're safe in the Hamptons, clamming."
The smooth steel of her weapon instantly calmed her nerves. She could handle this—so long as it didn't get physical. She nodded at Castle who moved to the door. The predatory grace was back.
"Could it be your dad?" he asked.
"Let's hope so," she muttered grimly.
The doorbell rang again and Castle moved to the door, glancing at her as his hand rested on the knob.
She eased the safety off and raised the pistol, right wrist gauntleted in the left, feet apart… she grimaced against the discomfort of holding the heavy gun aloft but she covered him, taking careful aim, ready for whoever came through the door. She saw her own thought echoed in his eyes… Why the hell didn't he have a peep-hole in his door?
She nodded, indicating she was ready.
He cracked the door, peering through the narrow opening. His eyebrows raised in recognition, if not pleasure. "Oh," is all he said, closing the door to unlatch the chain, reopening it without so much as looking at her. She held her mark anyway.
"Hello, Josh," Castle greeted him without a smile, resignedly stepping aside to allow Dr. Josh Davidson entrance.
So what did you think? Favorite parts or constructive criticism?
Please leave a review and tell me what you think.
