A/N: an anonymous tumblr prompt to AnnieXMuller that I took charge of. It'll be 4 or 5 chapters, based in Season 3 after Knockdown. I'm going to try to pretend that Doctor Motorcycle Boy doesn't exist, so if that makes it AU, so be it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Castle.
Every week, since about three weeks ago, and always around 10am on a Thursday, Beckett returns from her visit to stare down Lockwood. No one knows that's where she goes. She hasn't told them specifically, just said she's going to chase a lead in whatever case they have at the time. Conveniently, Castle has been elsewhere for the last three Thursdays. But not today.
An almost imperceptible frown crosses her forehead. He sees it, of course, caught her change in routine, and that makes her frown even more before she can get her poker face on.
"Hey Beckett." He stands from his, no wait, that's her chair. She gives him a slight glare and he wears his most innocent boyish face.
"Hey Castle." She perches on the desk, facing the murder board, leaving just enough room for him to sit next to her. She raises a hand to her forehead and takes a breath, trying to quell the headache that won't go away. Before he can ask if she's okay, Ryan comes over with a file and they're out the door to pick up the suspect.
With the suspect squared away in holding, Esposito and Ryan head back up to the bullpen.
"All done, Beckett," Esposito says, as Ryan sits down at his desk and starts typing in his password.
"Thanks Espo." She's standing in front of the murder board again. Still. She hasn't moved from there since she and Castle came out of the interrogation room half an hour ago. Esposito joins her at the board and looks over the evidence in silence. He can feel her swaying slightly beside him, and he chances a sideways glance at her.
"Hey Ryan, hey Esposito!" Castle calls over from the break room door, two mugs in hand. He wanders over to Beckett's desk and starts to move around it to pass her the coffee when she suddenly crumples. Esposito has already caught her before Castle can even put the cups down, and he gently guides her down to the floor.
"Beckett? Beckett! Can you hear me?" Esposito speaks loudly to her, still cradling her in his arms. "Wake up, Beckett!"
Castle stands immobile. Sure, he'll tackle her to the ground at the merest possibility of a bullet, but fainting in the bullpen? He has no idea what to do. Ryan is already by his side, though he's not certain when that happened, taking his elbow and guiding him away slightly while telling the rest of the detectives and uniforms to go back to work.
"Welcome back," Esposito smiles at Beckett's re-opened eyes, "Nice of you to join us." She tries to sit up so he angles her to lean against the desk. She raises her palm to her forehead and sighs. "You're not well, Beckett, I'm gonna take you home."
"Espo..."
"No, Beckett. You don't get a say in this." He pops his head up over the desk and raises his chin at Castle to get his attention. "Me and Castle are gonna stand you up, then you and me are going to your apartment, and you're going to sleep." Beckett frowns.
"Who says I need sleep?"
Castle comes around the desk and butts in, "Nurse Esposito says so. Ready?" He and Esposito gently lift her onto her feet. Ryan hands her bag and jacket to Esposito, along with the keys for her car. "Get some rest, Beckett." She links her arm with Esposito's and lets him lead her in a daze to the elevator.
"No, you're not driving."
"When did you get so bossy, Espo?" She tries to give him an eyebrow but it makes her headache worse.
"Since you started fainting for no obvious reason." He pulls out into the traffic. "Kate, are you pregnant?"
Beckett turns her head slowly to Esposito, her mouth open in shock. "No!"
"Are you sure? 'cause my Aunt used to faint when sh-..."
"No, Esposito!" She growls under her breath, "I'm not pregnant."
"Good, 'cause I don't want to be babysitting your kid." He purses his lips together in a tight line, as if that should have been an internal statement. "Sorry, Beckett," he continues, quietly.
She just glares at him some more, and the rest of the journey is spent in silence, though she can tell he's itching to carry on the conversation. She doesn't let him though, not until they're getting out of the car. It feels like he's digging his fingers into her elbow, and it hurts, but without it she knows she'd be falling in a heap in the corner of the elevator.
"Espo, I'm tired."
"I know, Beckett. We're nearly there and you can get some sleep." She just nods. "Do you want me to get you anything before I go back to the precinct? Something to eat or drink?" She shakes her head.
"I'm just gonna sleep." He unlocks her door and gently ushers her inside, putting her bag and jacket down on the couch. She shuffles into her bedroom, toes off her shoes and slides under the covers. Esposito shakes his head with a small smile and follows her in, shaking her a little to rouse her enough so she's listening to him.
"Don't sleep in your clothes, get changed." She looks down at herself, as if surprised she didn't have her pyjamas on already.
"Okay, but only if you go away." He huffs a laugh and waves as he walks out. She's asleep before he even shuts the door.
A/N: I'm enjoying writing this, so chapter two won't be long in coming :)