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.

December 24th, 2011. 7:30 pm

A numbness in Kate's cheek became increasingly noticeable, and uncomfortable, as the female detective slowly drifted into consciousness. She lifted her head off it's previous resting spot, her desk, and yawned. She her hand moved up to her face and removed the paperclip that had imprinted into her skin, wincing in pain as her flesh adjusted to the metal object's absence.

Across her desk Richard Castle began to stir. He squinted as he tried to work out the pain that his awkward sleeping position caused his neck. He looked at his wrist to check the time. 7:30pm.

"Beckett, we've been out for four hours!" The writer exclaimed, grabbing his winter coat from the back of his chair. "Well Beckett, I would love to stay and wrap up, pun intended, this case with you but if I am late for dinner Alexis will have my head, and I have a much better present waiting for her at home."

He chuckled at his own wit and headed towards the elevator but stopped when Kate called his name.

"Castle, you might want to see this."

She tore her angry gaze away from the computer screen and walked towards one of the windows. She slowly opened the blinds to peer out at the city, silently praying that her computer had been lying to her.

What she saw was not good.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!"

The brunette exclaimed, combing her fingers through her curls, hoping in vain that the added pressure on her brain would cause her to see clearly because this could not be right. In the four hours since she and Castle had fallen asleep, working on a case, a heavy snow fell over the city, at least 2 meters of snow, and it was still coming down! Her frustration turned into a second of anger, why hadn't anybody woken her up?

Kate's anger quickly subsided when the events of this afternoon replayed in her mind. It was noon and everyone was heading home for the night. She had refused to leave though, and Castle refused to leave her. They wished their colleagues, well Kate's colleagues and Castle's friends, a happy holiday and they sat down at her desk to work. They must of fallen asleep at around 3:30, still no further ahead in their case than before.

Kate was wishing that she had gone home with everyone else when Castle joined her at the window.

"That's not good!" He exclaimed, echoing her thoughts exactly.

"Of course it's not good Castle! How the hell are we supposed to get home!"

"Uhh, I can't call a car?"

"No Castle, the roads are pretty much closed. We are strongly urged to stay indoors."

"Says who?"

"I don't know Castle, how about the news report that the city just e-mailed me, or, if not that, what about your common sense Castle! That's two freakin' meters of snow on the ground!"

Castle could sense that Kate was getting annoyed so he backed off.

"Alright," he said softly, "What do we do?"

He walked over to his chair and sat down, Kate followed.

"I don't know." She said after a while. "Try calling Alexis."

He nodded his head and pulled out his phone.

"Hi Alexis... Yes I'm okay!... No, no, we just fell asleep... I wont stay at the precinct all night before a holiday again, I promise... Are you sure?...Make sure grams doesn't drink too much eggnog, you remember what happened last year...love you too sweetie, bye."

He ended his call and looked up at Beckett.

"Well, Alexis is fine. She was more worried than angry so I am off the hook!" He said, pronouncing the last three words distinctly while doing a jig, trying to lighten up the situation.

They sat in silence for another minute. Kate picked up a hard candy from her desk and began twiddling with the wrapping. After a few minutes of listening to the crinkling cellophane Kate paused and looked up.

"What now?" She asked, softly, clearly upset at the situation.

"I don't know," Rick began honestly, "but, at least nobody can commit murder in this weather!"

He smiled, hoping to cheer her up. His efforts resulted in a small hard candy, hurled at his head.

A/N:

I know it seems really corny, bear with me it should get better! Let me know what you think!