I believe I could continue the story, but yet not sure if right after I stopped, what would force me to change its rating (xD), or if just continue it with a development of their relationship. Just let me know what you think, ok?
The clock was showing 3:15. Everything around her was sleeping, but her mind couldn't. The sheets were messy under her body, looking like a whirlwind from all the tossing and turning all night.
"I can't", she said, giving up and going to the living room.
She got a glass of water and sat on the couch, both feet up on it, and threw a blanked over them. Then, she reached for her cellphone. "I wonder if Lanie is up", she thought, grinning while typing a message on the phone, wondering what would her best friend think of this high school act.
'can't sleep. Can u come over?'
She hit send, and only then noticed the name on the message.
TO CASTLE. MESSAGE SENT.
The beep on his cellphone brought him back from his mind. Castle was sitting on his study, computer open, the feared blank page in front of him. He was trying to write, but his mind took him far away instead. That day had been strange. Following Slaughter around didn't go as planned. He wanted to run away from Beckett, and she ended up saving him. And putting her job at risk. For him. He couldn't figure that out yet.
He reached for his phone, and had to check twice to believe it. He even pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It left a red mark on his arm.
She thought about sending an apology message. But then Dr. Burke's words came to her head. "Maybe it's what you didn't do". She could consider it 'doing something', even though it wasn't planned, and she decided to wait and see what would happen. It was a high school act, anyway, she couldn't go anymore 16 than that. If anything went wrong, she could blame it on the insomnia.
His hands were shaking while he thought on what to write back. The blank page now was the reply space on his phone, and that was much harder. He checked the clockon his laptop. 3:40. "Damn! Let's get this over with", he said, clicking the cancel button. He closed the computer, grabbed the car keys and left.
The radio was playing old songs, that late night programming that played nonstop because there was no dj. Kate thought that the tacky lyrics of that 80's collection fit the moment. It was 4:15 already, and no reply. She checked the message. It had been sent at 3:21. He was sleeping. Or he ignored it. Anyway, her inner 16 year old was disappointed. She just kept staring at the window, watching the sky shift colours as the night ended. It was now the moment to think on how to erase the message on his phone before he could read it. She couldn't bear the awkwardness. Maybe, if he's sleeping, she could break into his house and erase the message, or maybe…
A knock on the door made her heart jump. She nearly fell while trying to get out of the blanket and run to the door. She took a few seconds to breathe and pretend she wasn't rushing when she opened the door.
Her inner 16 year old squeaked silently inside her, and her hands were shaking, one on the door knob, the other hidden behind her, but she kept the 'oh, hey, wasn't expecting you here, at 4:30 in the morning, after a message I sent you by accident but not exactly accident because I do want you here' attitude. He didn't look so calm and happy.
'So', he just raised the phone to show her the message, and looked like he was waiting for an explanation. She wasn't expecting this reaction. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out if it. She didn't want to tell him it was meant for Lanie. He'd go away. It'd be over. She didn't want that.
'What do you want from me, Kate?' he said, serious. 'I'm sick of this. Do you think this is funny? This is your idea of dealing with what happened? To what I said when you were shot?'
"I don't remem…"
"ok, cut it. We both know you do!" she was definitely not waiting foor that. So that's why he was acting strange. He was hurt. She had hurt him.
'How?'
'I heard you. With that suspect.'
''Rick, I…"
"I know. You were ashamed. You didn't know how to dump me. But you have to understand I thought I'd never see you again, that you'd…" they both held their breath when the word 'die' came to their minds, completing his sentence. "Anyway, what you did was far more cruel, Kate!"
"I know, but… wait, what? Dump you?" Oh, you stupid!
He didn't know how to react to that. What's with the surprise? Unless…
"I was healing, Castle. I was dealing with the fact that someone out there wants to kill me. Almost did. I didn't want to pull you into that."
"I've always been in that, Kate." He thought about the board at his study, with all the information he's gathered about her case. Better not mention that now. He just entered the apartment, their eyes locked into each other's. He held her hand on his, feeling them shaking.
"They tried to kill me, Castle! Open air, everyone I love there. You were right next to me. They could've hit you! I have to catch these sons of bitches before I... If anything happens to you…"
He didn't think. He just pulled her closer and kissed her, releasing her hands to cup her chin with his. Her arms automatically went around his neck, and her hand grabbed his hair nervously. He felt the pain of his hair being pulled, but didn't care, his arms now around her waist, going slightly under her shirt, rubbing her curves. She stopped the kiss and looked right into his eyes. They both smiled, looking relieved.
"I love you, Richard Castle"
