Just thought of this idea today. Let me know if you like it and if I should continue :]
Kate lifts her good hand, feels around her nightstand, her fingers as her eyes. She hears the table vibrating underneath and if only she could make it stop. The medicine making it nearly impossible to lift her eyelids, she finally grabs her phone, opens them enough to press 'answer', and holds it to her ear.
"Hello," she says, still groggy.
"Good morning. My name is Rick and I am here to let you know that I will be stopping by later this afternoon to set up step one, the first meeting."
Kate sits up, rubs a hand over her eye, trying to not ruin the night-bandage on her forehead.
"I'm sorry, what?"
The man sounded flat. He wasn't annoyed, but Kate could tell he wasn't eager to continue.
"I think you might have the wrong - "
"Katherine Beckett. 30 years old. Car accident two weeks ago," he said confidently plain.
That was her.
"How -"
"They normally know when we call, give me a second . . ."
Kate can hear him flipping papers - she must be on speakerphone.
"Who is Jam Beckett - "
"Jim Beckett?"
"If that says an I instead of an A, then yes. He signed the paper."
"What paper?"
He sighs.
"Here's the deal. I am to come to your apartment and be your set of hands until you're better. I'll be there though the cast phase and into the rehabilitation and then when you're good and ready to do things on your own, I leave."
"Sir, look," she says, exhausted and annoyed, "I know what your job is, but I honestly can't -"
"Your father paid which means I have to come anyway. I'll be there around 3. That gives you enough time to get out of your bed. But, if you need me to do anything, leave it until I get there."
"I don't think you can help with the things I need help with."
"I know. And trust me, I asked them to give you a female helper, but we had a call out and we're behind staff - it's volunteer work so not many people can just cut and run to help you guys, so I'll be there. Call a someone who can help you get dressed or whatever and then we can go from there."
Castle hangs up his phone. This is exactly what he wanted to do - go to some stranger's house on a Saturday afternoon to help her move around her apartment. Picking up his phone, he pulls up his publicist's text messages and sends a very sarcastic one about how much he loves this wonderful idea.
Castle stands to addressing his daughter in the kitchen.
"Hey, wonderful, amazing, sweet, kind, beautiful -"
"Dad, what do you want?"
Playing with the pen, leaning against the island where Alexis is eating her lunch, he dares not to look into her eyes to play up the guilt trip he was about to dish on her.
"I was wondering, if you're not doing anything today, if you could come with me on this med call..."
"Dad, that's your thing."
"Well, it's not my thing, exactly. And I know, but the last one wrapped up early - he moved in with his sister - and they placed me on the list of the girl who just quit - so I have to help this woman and I don't think she is comfortable or okay with someone coming over to help her."
Alexis looks to her dad, seeing his hidden desperation in his eyes, and sighs.
"Fine. I'll come."
Slapping the table underneath him, Castle bellows, "Great! We're leaving at 2:15."
"Dad, really. Honestly - I can't - ugh - Dad."
"Katie, you're left arm is broken and so is your right leg. You need help."
"I don't need help."
"I think you do."
"Dad, I'm fine. Lanie has come over every day - "
"She called me. She needs to go back to work tomorrow - none of your neighbors want to help because they have never met you because you are never home -"
"Really, we're going to play that card now - "
"Look, I'm just worried. You were in a major car accident - you just got out of the hospital a week ago. You need help and I feel horrible that I can't be there every day. You know I'd move you here if I could - "
"I know, Dad. But, really? An aide? I'm not 80."
"No, but you're hurt. Katie, I love you, but I don't have time to discuss this now."
She hangs up with her persistent father and begins the tedious event of getting out of bed. Lanie wouldn't be coming over - and they practiced this before she left everyday - but it's just as hard as it was the first time. Her body would be sore for the coming months. Putting all her weight on her left foot was still painful, and her right foot wasn't an option. Grabbing the crutches next to her, she stood the left one up, making sure it didn't move, but couldn't put her arm on it because of the cast - and the pain. She swings her left foot to the side of the bed and Kate braces for the irritating soreness that is about to come. She uses her right arm to pull her right leg around the side of the bed and sticks it out. Using her right arm and her left leg, she positions herself into an upright stance, leaning against the right crutch.
Moving to her closet, Kate leans against the wall and pulls out her sports bra - the only thing that can fit around her enormous cast - a pair of sweatpants - baggy enough to fit around her right leg - and a baggy tank top.
After almost falling to the floor - twice - Kate spends most of her energy trying to make it to the bathroom. Using one hand, she brushes her hair - hopefully he knows how to put it in a ponytail. Leaning her hip into the counter, Kate manages to bush her teeth and wash her face. But, having forgotten the towel, she uses her shirt to dry. It's July - it's hot - it will dry itself.
Hobbling to the kitchen, she thinks she's getting a bowel of cereal, but getting to the box was good enough. Her destination was in sight - the couch. She throws the box as close as she could get it - she'll just kick it with something the rest of the way. Sitting down has now become a luxury after walking. Looking at the time - already an hour since that phone call - she realizes her medicine is wearing off and she will be miserable just in time for him to arrive. She didn't catch his name - he was speaking fast and monotone - as if he was reading off of a paper. He'd be here in an hour and Kate didn't plan to move until then. She drifts back to sleep after eating half a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch leaving the crumbs around her seat and her shirt.
Kate jumps awake when she hears a knock at her door. She should have thought about this before she sat down on the opposite side of the apartment.
Why didn't she place herself in the chair by the door...
"Come in!"
"It's locked!"
Damn.
"There's a key in the plant at the end of the hall!" she shouts.
Now that everyone knew where her key was she'd have to move it. Kate hears footsteps come back from the plant - a muffled conversation -
"There's five keys in and under the plant."
"Is there a gold one?"
"There are two."
Kate sighs. She's not walking to the door.
"Try them both!"
A couple of seconds pass and then he walks in.
Kate doesn't see him, she'd have to turn and her leg cast would dig into her hip.
"Go put that back," he says in the other direction.
"Who's here with you?"
"My daughter - she's seventeen, I thought she can help us."
He walks over to her finally allowing Kate to see his face.
"Wait a minute. What is - "
He sits down in the chair across from her.
"Richard Castle. The novelist - is a home aide?"
"It's for the publicity. Turns out my last book was a little controversial - "
"But it was so good!" she blurts out.
"So I have a fan?" Castle's tone changes, suddenly interested in the woman he would be helping.
Kate blushes a little and looks away from him.
"So, you know me. What should I call you?"
"Kate. Just Kate."
"Okay Kate. You can call me Rick - "
"Um, no. Sorry. I can't - I - sorry."
"Don't apologize. What do you want to call me?"
"I'll call you Castle. There's a reason, but I don't want to say."
"Okay. That's fine. This is my daughter, Alexis," he says, pulling his hand up to greet her as she walked into the apartment.
Looking around, Alexis takes it all in, and stands behind her father.
"Hey," the girl says.
Kate nods her head. It would be awkward like this for a while.
"Okay, well," Castle interrupts, rubbing his hands together, "should we get to know each other? Did you eat?"
He laughs as he discovers the cereal box next to her. Her foot is resting on the coffee table, causing her to slouch into the couch making the crumbs complete the couch potato vibe she has going on.
"Don't worry. It's all you could grab."
She smiles.
"My last guy broke both his arms and his leg. The amount of food that was thrown around his apartment - I get it."
Castle stands, his daughter follows. He's found that being forward quickly erases the tension in the room.
"Is there anything I should make to eat?"
"Whatever you find. My friend bought food but I'm not sure what."
Castle opens cabinets and drawers to familiarize himself with the kitchen.
"Okay, well it doesn't look like you have much. And you need to eat."
"I did eat."
"Cereal isn't going to last until tomorrow," he says, his head in the pantry.
Kate registers what he said. He's going to be here every day. Until she gets better this man will be seeing her every single day. She's going to have to make herself comfortable with him. She lifts her leg with her right arm and puts it to the floor. The thud causes Alexis to turn and look.
"Don't get up!"
"It's okay."
"Dad, I don't - "
"Alexis, honey, you're okay. She's not broken - " he laughs. Castle walks over to Kate who is determined to do this by herself, " - but she might need help doing this," he says.
"I've got it."
"Okay," he surrenders and backs up to let her do it.
He watches as she awkwardly moves to put her straight leg on the ground causing her left leg to fold underneath of her. Bending over to pick up the crutch, she manages to almost fall of the couch. Standing the crutch up, she puts all of her weight and tries to pull herself up - but doesn't take her soreness into consideration.
"Have you sat on your couch yet?"
She glares at him. No she hasn't. She's had no reason to leave her room. She didn't think about how deep it was and how strong she needed to be to get out of it.
He knows she hasn't, but still backs off.
With one last hope, Kate holds onto the crutch and tries to pull herself up, but the bottom padding slides off of the edge of the rug and the hardwood floor, causing it to jump. Castle, who has now moved to the back of the couch, grabs her good arm and keeps her from falling into the coffee table.
"Can I help you now,"
Silently, Kate surrenders.
"Put your right arm around my shoulder and I will put my arm around your waist. Okay?"
She agrees and they both get her to her feet. Kate smiles, but quickly stops - he doesn't need the satisfaction - but Alexis sees it.
"It looks like you got yourself dressed, so where do you want to go?"
"I'll sit at the kitchen stool while you . . . do whatever it is that you're doing."
"Okay,"
They hobble into the kitchen, Kate leaving her crutches by the couch, and he places her at the seat.
Castle comes around to the opposite side of her and leans on the table.
"So, I know it's going to be weird, but we're going to have to get to know each other. And what a better way to do that then to order pizza later and watch some movies."
It's the last thing Kate wants to do. She's going to ask him to get her medicine in a minute and that will knock her out.
"Well, I need to take my medication," she suggests, hoping it was a polite enough way to tell him to leave.
"Yes, I figured. While you sleep I'm going to go to the store and get some food – because I'm going to be eating some meals here for the time being – and I'll be back in time for you to wake up."
She tries to hide the disappointment on her face. Everyone is quiet. Alexis – uncomfortable because of her unsure place in this project – stands at the edge of the kitchen island.
"Do you go to school?"
A traditional question from Kate to break the silence. Castle's surprised that she's giving it a shot. He thought it would take a few more days before she started to give in.
"Yea. Yes. I'm a junior."
"The best year of your life," Kate says sarcastically.
Alexis laughs, feeling the tension lighten.
"It's a Saturday. I probably won't need much help today, if you want to go out with your friends . . ."
Alexis doesn't want to be rude, but she doesn't want to be here.
"No, I'm fine. They can wait."
"Okay, well your dad can get me into my room and after he gets my medicine, I can show you where my clothes are and you can get my pajamas for me. That way, later, I can dress myself and you don't have to stay all night. You can go home when I go to sleep."
Alexis smiles, "Okay. Thank you.
Their movie ends and even though it is still awkward, Kate knows that it's changing. They talked throughout dinner. He made jokes and she laughed. After, she watched him clean up and put away the rest of the pizza, he helped carry her to the couch. About 3/4 into the film, he fell asleep.
She throws a pillow across the room to wake him up.
Castle startles, unfolding his arms and registers what happened.
"You fell asleep on me," Kate says.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay," she smiles.
The silence comes again, and with it, the awkwardness.
"It's late. Why don't you get me into my room, get my medication, and you can go."
He does as he's told. After standing a few times throughout the day, they are beginning to get this routine down. She settles down, sits on the bed, and waits for him to come back.
"Okay, take this now. I'll put this one next to your bed for tomorrow morning. I guess I'll come by around 2 when you will need another?"
"Making the schedule around my meds, I like it."
Kate smiles, but takes the cup of water and her pill.
"Okay, well. I'll see you tomorrow."
Do you like it? Should I continue? Thoughts?