Just a random thought about how long is enough.
"I need time, Castle"
"Kate, for the love of God, you're killing me. It's been how long since we had that talk in the park. How much more time do you need?"
"Castle, how many times do we have to have this conversation before you get it through your thick skull that I'm not ready for a relationship until I can go 'all in'.
Castle looks at her and sees the sharp planes of her face become hardened into something he's grown used to seeing.
'After all this time, she still is afraid of commitment. What is it going to take to get her off the dime? It's not like we're going to live forever.'
Kate cringes inside at the look on his face. She hates herself for being a coward but until she's resolved her 'issues' it wouldn't be fair to Rick to start something she couldn't dive into with him, together. She promises herself that it won't be much longer. She wants him in her life but settles for what they have right now. It's enough for right now.
Someday though…
They sit there in the sun until a voice jolts them from their thoughts.
"I thought I'd find you two out here. It's time for bingo in the recreation room. Ms. Beckett, Mr. Castle, you know how much you two enjoy bingo. Now, Mr. Castle, if you'll just give me a minute, I'll wheel Ms. Beckett into the rec room and I'll come back for you. Please don't try to walk all that way unassisted. You remember what happened the last time?"
"So I took the wrong turn and ended up in the garden, big deal."
"Castle, you'd get lost in a phone booth. You haven't changed a bit. Not one bit. And get your hand off the nurse's ass, Richard Castle!"
"It slipped, honest!"
"You haven't changed at all. You said you'd wait as long as it took. What happened to 'Always'? Huh?"
"Kate, I'm sorry. Don't get upset. You know it's not good for you heart, baby, and – "
"Don't call me 'baby'. You're a 6 year old on a sugar rush. I'm going to play Bingo. We're done, Castle. Through. Understand?"
"Dad, wake up! You were having a nightmare. And what are you doing asleep on the couch? You know Ash's coming over later to study. That must have been some dream."
"Not a dream, Alexis. A wake up call."
A/N: Hope springs eternal? Or does he finally figure it out.