I considered this scene for Patience, but it really didn't fit with the tone of that story. So, I thought it might be an amusing snapshot to include in this instead. I realize we've now jumped to Season 7, but this is what was in my head! I hope you enjoy it. Before I forget, I must remember to thank you for the follows, reviews, and favorites for the first chapter. You're all really kind.
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me, but I 'm claiming ownership of this story.
2. Somniloquy
The thing that most people notice about Richard Castle, writer, is that he very rarely thinks before he speaks. Nervous energy, fear, excitement, they all magnify this disassociation between brain and mouth. This has got him in to some very, shall we say, awkward situations over the years; most recently in his work as a civilian consultant with a team of homicide detectives. Her team of homicide detectives.
"Yes, Gina, it is work," has been his sulky mantra over the last several years as he faithfully follows her around this murderous city doing his best to love and protect her whilst at the same time attempting to ignore his ex-wife and publisher. One and the same person actually, if you can believe that. Gina. Get over it, Kate; he's chosen you. Now who's sulking?
Unfortunately for Rick, but now very fortunately for herself, she has discovered that he has even more trouble engaging brain-before-mouth when he's asleep. Really, there's no filter at all. They finally got their acts together and progressed from being merely partners, to being lovers and partners, and are currently partners and betrothed-soon-to-be-marrieds. That's probably a phrase she's just invented, but Rick really loves her linguistic skills. The point is that she has been a party to this information for a while now, has even teased him about interrogating him in his sleep before. Many months ago when they were working a case and he happened to let slip (in his sleep of course) a name that most definitely wasn't hers, he chose to believe she was joking about her sleep-interrogation methods. She loves messing with him, he's so easy sometimes. That he still chooses not to believe her is his problem, not hers. This method she's come up with is awesome in its perfection; she gets to snuggle up with him and get information as well. Seriously, it's a win-win. For her. Even if he doesn't give up any useful information she still gets the 'Rick Patented Snuggle'. Yes, that is a real thing. She doesn't even have to question him usually, he just talks and she just listens and learns. Seriously, it's perfect.
Admittedly the stress of the last few months has almost broken them. His abduction on their wedding day and the evidence uncovered in the weeks afterwards left everybody with so many doubts she wasn't sure they would ever find their way back as a couple. But he's here with her again, although they aren't completely up to full strength with their mind-meld awesomeness yet. They're still being very careful to live around each other without causing upset or distress and it's holding them back. However, she is now very definitely back in his/their bed thank goodness, and in the fortuitous position of getting the chance to snuggle and sleep-interrogate him yet again. Maybe the Universe doesn't hate her as much as she first thought.
To be honest this latest chance for interrogation has come a bit out of left field. There's been nothing from him for weeks about his time away, no nightmares or flashbacks, since he's been back. So, she's somewhat rusty and unprepared to hear him muttering about "the ship" in the middle of the night. It must have been his restless shifting which woke her, his words immediately ensuring her complete alertness. He's talking? Ship?
"Rick," she's careful not to jostle him too much. "What's happening?" She barely breathes the words in to his ear.
He mumbles and pulls her just a little bit closer in to his side. Yes. Here we go.
"He was on the ship as well, it was a battle ship." He goes quiet again, but he's far more restless than before.
Who? That man he went off to meet today while she had to wait in the car? They were both held captive on a ship? That little blue dinghy came from a ship? The Coast Guard told them that wasn't a possibility; she really needs to have another talk with them about their inability to decipher evidence. He's talking again, listen Kate.
"They're getting ready." That doesn't sound good. "Lots of weapons on board." No. This is sounding more and more like they should be calling in the FBI; CIA; Coast Guard; navy; marines; and National Guard. Somebody, anybody. Who's getting ready? And for what? She really needs to wriggle an arm free so she can grab her phone, call Gates. Rick move.
"Rick, where are they?" Please answer, Rick, please. This is really important. He hasn't spoken about anything that happened to him since he returned, and now he just casually mumbles in to her ear in the middle of the night that they're about to be, what, invaded? Bombed? Come on Rick. Focus.
His face is getting that adorable little frown/pout combination which usually does a really good job of frying her concentration, but not this time. Why didn't he leap back in to the car earlier today and insist she call for help? It sounds like he's got caught up in a major international conspiracy. Maybe it is his father and that's why he wouldn't tell her anything earlier? He was adamant that she should just drive away. Maybe the whole thing is already being handled. But who is the man that wanted to meet him alone? How does he fit in to all of this?
"I'll get the message out through social media, I was on television this morning. I can let people know, lots of people." What? Social media? Not sure that's going to cut it Rick.
"Rick, listen to me very carefully. Who has the weapons? Where are they?" Please answer Rick, please. Come on, concentrate.
"Dark side of the moon." What? You have got to be kidding me. This is about a space ship? He's talking about aliens? She was just about to have a national State of Emergency declared and he was talking about aliens all along? Unbelievable.
She warned him about this, definitely did not imagine that little talk they had about offering rewards for information and finding yourself buried under a pile of nut jobs. She might have said haystack not pile, but she definitely said nut jobs. That was her exact phrase, he couldn't possibly have missed it. They were both walking and talking at the same time, but that really doesn't class as multi-tasking, and therefore he should have been paying attention.
This little middle-of-the-night sojourn in to fantasy land is a case in point as far as nut jobs are concerned. Aliens; of all the nut jobs she had in mind when she warned him earlier, UFO nut jobs didn't even feature in the Top Ten. She really did not see that one coming. Wait, what? Oh. Maybe it's about you, Kate, not him. It's you that's slipping, really losing your touch. You missed alien-guy today, not him. Good job Rick's asleep and can't see you losing your touch right in front of him. Sweet man-child didn't tell you earlier because he didn't want you to be embarrassed that you missed the UFO nut. He had to deal with it for himself, totally unprepared. You still wouldn't have a clue if he didn't talk in his sleep. He really is adorable.
Maybe now would be a good time to let go of this obsession with sleep-interrogation and return to the 'Rick Patented Snuggle'. Give him a gentle kiss on the cheek and wriggle back in there, as tight as you can. Far less chance of embarrassment and confusion all round that way. Far more chance of sleep. Win-win.
Aliens.
I really couldn't resist this one. Next chapter we find ourselves back with Kate again.
Sally
Twitter: mshistorybrit
