Title: Now I Know
Author: youngerdrgrey
Pairing: Castle/Beckett
Summary: Twenty-six letters in the alphabet. Twenty-six moments in the lives of our favorite partnership. Some are hard and others easy. They're all complimentary in a way and, when put together, they give you something worth a whole lot more than apart.
Rating: T
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Disclaimer: I own nothing. All rights for the characters and the world go to their owners. I, in no way, believe – or would lead others to believe – that I own Castle. Though, I would have no objections to having some time with this cast.
Author's Note: Hello all! Thank to those who alerted and favorited, and especially to those who reviewed. I would much rather prefer people leave reviews because they let me know what you like and what you don't! If there's something that makes you smile, tell me so that I have an idea which sides of their personalities you like. It helps in the decision process for the chapter(s) that aren't finalized. Also, no one told me about an updating preference so I guess they'll just be random if people don't speak up.
"Yours" is a term I think everyone is familiar with. This chapter takes place at least one week and a half into Kate's stay at the hospital. Hope you enjoy it.
(2/26) Y FOR YOURS
Living in the hospital reminds Kate of her seemingly endless childhood summers. Each day falls into the same pre-determined patterns of nothingness. She awakens to the sun peaking through the thin blinds of the hospital room. The deep cerulean curtains that should protect her from it are still haphazardly pushed into the far corners from the night before. Her gaze drifts from the curtains to her right side where they latch onto something else blue, Rick's eyes. A small staring match has him grinning before he pulls out some film from the 90s meant to make her smile. Eventually, she acquiesces and they watch the film until she cannot take his staring any longer. And so and so forth until the night comes and the nurses close the curtains for her to get some sleep and Castle opens them to watch the city and the sunset and then they do it all over again. And again. And again.
The monotony should make her melancholy. Instead, it warps into becoming the next normal in a string that Kate has had to create over the years. She resents the normalcy more than some of the past, but what can she do when even breathing makes her wince? She sucks it up. She sucks up the frustration and bottles in the restlessness. She puts on a smile for her friends. She accepts the flowers. She does whatever she needs to do to convince everyone that she is okay.
"You are not okay," Lanie announces.
Kate takes a moment to bite back her groan before turning her attention to her best friend. Lanie sits on the bed, hands crossed in her lap and eyes never straying from Kate's face. Kate's eyes wander, if only to avoid the scrutiny. The dress Lanie wears looks new. It's far too form fitting and flashy to be for work, so she must have plans with Esposito after the visit. The red makes Lanie's lipstick pop, which oddly enough just makes Lanie's knowing smile all the more irritating. Kate's skin itches just looking at it.
"I'm fine," tries Kate.
Lanie rolls her eyes. "Don't insult my intelligence with your pride. You're thinking about something in that pretty little head of yours. What is it?"
Kate considers lying. She's not really thinking of too much. She could easily say that she was in pain or something. No, Lanie would try and up Kate's meds and probably call Castle. Where the hell is Castle anyway? Kate shouldn't have to be cornered by Lanie. She should be hearing the latest chapter of the next Nikki book, or watching Forbidden Planet for the third time.
"I've been sitting here alone for an hour now," Kate tells her.
"Minus the last five minutes when you've had my marvelous company," Lanie corrects. Kate cracks a small grin.
"Right, of course."
Lanie hums in understanding. Of what Kate is not exactly sure. Lanie shakes her head and asks, "Where's Writer Boy? I thought he'd be curled up at the foot of your bed."
Actually, he sits in the chair beside it.
"He went to get jello and probably got sidetracked by Veronica," Kate says.
"Veronica?"
"She's practically a clone of his ex-wife, only she's a nurse. My nurse. She even had the audacity to ask Castle to sign her scrubs while she took my blood pressure," Kate says.
"Bet that sent it through the roof."
"She was unprofessional," Kate reasons.
Lanie points out. "Castle isn't the patient."
"That doesn't mean that she can flirt with him. He's not up for grabs. He's-"
"Yours?" Lanie interjects.
"Exactly," Kate confirms. The split second look from Lanie has her speaking again. "He's my partner and should be here with me or home with his daughter. Not schtupping that little-"
"Whoa, reel it in, girl. Castle's not schtupping anyone," Lanie says.
A bit of hope swells inside of Kate, peeking through the green of her eyes. It can't be true though. Rick has flocks of women chasing after him from all sorts of social circles and tax brackets. He attracts them like children to candy and they will not leave until pried away. Rick cannot be on some vow of chastity. For him to be single and truly alone, he would have to be waiting on someone. Waiting on... her.
"That's crazy, Lanie. Have you seen him?" Kate asks.
"Have you?" Lanie sends back. "He's running on nothing but coffee, hospital food, and your smiles these days. He doesn't go anywhere but to his loft, the precinct, and this room. Unless he's doing Karpowski - which he's not - he is not getting any. Besides, he's holding out for someone special."
"How naive," Kate grumbles.
"It's not naive if you want him just as much."
Kate's neck twitches as she brings her attention fully back to Lanie. "Me?"
Lanie rolls her eyes. "Oh don't make me slap you, Kate Beckett. You and Castle have been playing this game for three years now and it's getting old."
"We're not-"
"You are jealous, Kate. You're jealous every time he talks to another girl. He's not after anyone else. If he was, he would have her by now," Lanie concludes.
"H-he's not after me, Lanie," Kate says. Lanie opens her mouth to object, but Kate shakes her head. "If he were, he wouldn't be out there, doing whatever or whoever he fancies, he would be-"
"Knock knock."
Kate's sentence freezes just as much as her body does. Meanwhile, Lanie smirks as she glances to the door. Rick stands on the other side, peeking through the window beside it. He holds up the red packages in his hand and dangles them enticingly.
Lanie decides to finish Kate's statement with "Standing outside your room with jello?"
Kate shakes her head again and waves Rick into the room. He enters with his usual flourish and all of his clothes the same as they were when he left. His hair remains perfectly styled. All buttons are done. Lanie's comments start holding water as the actual woman grabs her purse.
Lanie clears her throat.
"Well, I've got plans with Javi tonight so I'm gonna go," Lanie says.
Rick grins and plops down in his chair. "Are you two still joining us for poker tomorrow?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world. Night, Castle. Night, Kate." Lanie offers her friend one more knowing glance before leaving.
Once the door closes, Kate turns her attention back to Rick. He's watching her, but what else is new? He offers her a smile and pushes her cup towards her. When she doesn't reach for it, he speaks up.
"It may be late, but it is still delicious. Melanie swears by it," he says.
"Who's Melanie? Another nurse with cartoons on her scrubs?" Kate asks.
Rick chuckles as he answers, "Ms. Flester, from 116."
Kate's face flushes as the image of Rick spooning jello with a twenty-year-old morphs into that of the sweet, grey lady from a few rooms down. Oh, gosh, how is she going to live this one down?
"You've been with Ms. Flester this whole time?" she checks. He nods.
"She roped me into joining her for dinner in the cafeteria. She played the 'dying-of-cancer-at-eighty-nine card. I was putty," he says.
She can't believe it. "You know this room has a phone, Castle. Call next time." Next time what? Next time he helps other patients out of the kindness of his giant child heart? Or next time he inadvertently stands her up? Kate feels a new level of respect for Ryan and his constant check-ins all of a sudden. Jenny probably doesn't sit around fuming. Then again, Jenny and Ryan are engaged and Kate and Rick are just…. Are they still partners? Well, they are friends, but that does not seem to cover it. They're Castle and Beckett and whatever that entails.
"There won't be a next time," Rick vows easily. "Don't worry, Kate. I'm all yours."
Kate grins despite herself. She likes the sound of that, almost as much as the squeaking chains of swings on a warm summer day.
End Author's Note:
Another chapter down. Check out the Tumblog if you're interested in getting updates as the story progresses. I got my "O" word thanks to seldomnaughty over there so yay!
Do you have an update preference? At random? On a certain day of the week? In order? Reviewer decided?
How about this: if five people review and tell me what they think, I will give you all a sneak peek at my personal favorite chapter. What do you say? Fair?