Because no one post a review saying they knew who Malcolm is, he is a former character of Nathan Fillion's (Malcolm Reynolds) from Firefly. Cute show, B-rated acting, but great to fill the off-season, and if you watch them, make sure you follow up with Serenity which is the follow-up movie.

For all of you Caskett fanatics, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Castle finally gets to see Beckett in the hospital.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, I'm just filling the time until September.


Rick decided to visit his favorite flower shop on the way to the hospital. He used to be a regular, but he had rarely used them in the last couple of years, now he came in just for mother's day and to have flowers around the house for publicity photos. He couldn't remember when he stopped sending flowers to the women he was with.

As always, he was amazed at the large variety of flowers that a tiny little shop in New York City could have. Dismissing the roses at the entrance as being for lovebirds and funerals, he went to look for something brighter, something that would bring a smile to her eyes when she saw them. No lilies, they were to strong a fragrance for her tiny room in the hospital. The chrysanthemums were cheerful, but the red reminded him of her blood sticky on his fingers. The sunflowers were too obvious. Then he saw them on the back wall, tall spikes of big white flowers; gladiolas. Okay, so maybe these were obvious too, but he loved the symbolism of them.

The final arrangement of gladiolas, delphinium and yellow tulips was carefully wrapped in plastic with the vase tucked into his bag. For a few minutes he felt like himself again, getting to do things for Kate that she would never do for herself. Like bringing her coffee each morning, it was another small way to show his feelings for her.

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The hallway was deserted on the sixth floor of the hospital. The waiting room had a couple of people sitting and staring into space. There wasn't even the soft chatter that happens around shift changing time he was accustomed to. He realized it was earlier than he usually snuck in to see Kate. Josh having made it abundantly clear from the beginning he wasn't welcome. Rick made his way to the nurse's station to find Regina.

"Hello Regina, I brought you something." Rick smiled at the nurse behind the counter as he held out a bouquet of Black-Eyed Susans to her.

"Richard Castle, aren't you the charmer today."

"Guilty," Castle laughed.

"How is Detective Beckett doing?"

"Nothing has changed since this morning. As I was telling you on the phone, yesterday the doctors weaned her off of the medications that were keeping her in a coma. Really, it is anyone's guess as to when the detective will wake up. Her vitals keep getting stronger and the doctors are really pleased with her progress. It may be your lucky day."

"Is Dr. Davidson in surgery or in her room?"

"Don't you know me better than that. I would have called you if Josh was still gonna be in there. Now, quit your blabbing with me, and get yourself down there and spend some time with your partner."

Rick gave Regina one more big smile before continuing down the hallway to where a uniformed policeman was guarding Kate's room. Rick nodded to him, and showed his ID before being allowed to enter.

The antiseptic smell of the room hit him at once. He could almost taste the iron in the air when he breathed in. The lights were dimmed and it took him a moment to get his bearings. He first scanned the constantly humming machines with their random beeps and blips. He couldn't tell much from the glowing red readouts, but watching the heartbeat monitor brought him a sense of calm, knowing how close she had come to death, how close her heart had come to stopping beating.

Rick walked to the chair beside her bed, but just stood there staring down at her face. He traced the contours of her face with his eyes, memorizing every detail about her, cataloguing the changes since the last time he had been able to visit. She looked better; there was a color to her skin instead of the gray hue that bespoke how serious her injuries were. Her cheeks were thinner, but nothing a few home-cooked meals couldn't fix. Overall, Katherine Beckett seemed peaceful, more like she was sleeping instead of on the brink of death.

Before settling into the chair, Rick placed the flowers on the table nearby. They would keep for a little while without being in water. Gently, Rick picked up Kate's hand in his own rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. She felt a little chilly to him and he covered her hand with both us his to warm it up. Almost shyly Rick began to talk to her. Nothing important. Just the everyday moments of life, Alexis's plans to follow Ashley to college, Martha's newest production, and bits of gossip from the precinct, funny stories from his childhood. Anything to let her know he was there for her, always.

When a nurse came in to check on her he finally let go of her hand long enough to put the flowers in water. When he returned, he noticed a stray hair across Kate's face and he gently brushed it to the side, letting his fingers linger on her skin before picking up her hand and continuing his monologue.

Rick knew the minute Motorcycle Boy walked into the room. He could feel it in his clenching gut.

"You're holding my girlfriends hand." Josh stated in a calm voice that held an edge of a challenge to it.

"No, I am holding my partner's hand. She just happens to be your girlfriend." Castle countered in an equally calm voice.

"And I believe you're sitting in my chair."

"I didn't see your name on it". Castle felt like he was back in third grade taunting the school bully.

"Are we really going to go into this now?" Josh's voice grew incrementally louder. "Maybe you should walk away like you usually do, because I have had a long day in surgery, and I just want to sit down next to my girlfriend. So I can make sure that she is resting well."

"I assure you that Beckett is resting very well," Castle's voice began rising to match Josh's.

"And you are a doctor? This is your professional opinion from years of experience working in hospitals around the world? How would you know how she is doing?" Josh challenged.

"Look who's talking, are you even in one place enough to know whom the person is you are treating? Who do you think has Beckett's back when you are off saving the world with your Doctor's Without Borders group? Who do you think is HERE saving her life?

Somehow without realizing it Rick had let go of Kate's hand and was standing toe to toe with Josh, their voices, although still not shouting, rising with their tempers.

"Kate knows I want to be here with her, but I can't just let someone die who needs my skills. I choose to be part of the world instead of just writing about it."

"Do you think I just spend my days holed up in my study? Well I don't, I choose to engage in the world by building re-la-tion-ships. I don't fly around the world because I am too afraid to commit to something or someone. If you don't like my company you can leave, but I am spending the evening here with my partner!"

"I don't think so," Josh countered. "Visiting hours are already over, so I can have you kicked out of here at any time. Being a doctor allows me to spend all the time in Kate's room that I want. I suggest you grab your stuff and get out."

The two men glared at each other. Neither one wanting to be the first to look away and admit defeat. In the silence of this staring contest a hoarse voice came from the bed, "Castle". At the sound of his name Rick turned toward Kate to see her eyelids fluttering. A second word formed on her lips and she rasped out "stay". Huffing, Josh turned around to leave the room when a third word from the bed stopped him, "Josh." He turned back to Kate just as she croaked "stay". And with that monumental effort, Kate descended back into the darkness of unconsciousness, a look of peace returning to her face.

The two men locked eyes in an uneasy truce. Josh moved to the bed and clasped Kate's hand daring Castle to say anything. Rick walked to the corner grabbing a second chair and his bag. He set himself up on the other side of Kate's bed. After watching her for any other sign that she was returning to them, dragged his laptop out and started typing. Castle didn't care about the continuity of the story, he needed the outlet of writing so he would be tempted to continue arguing with motorcycle boy.

Rook walked Nikki up to her apartment. He had been a reporter looking at the ugly side of humanity too long to allow her to enter into any building alone this late at night, even if she did live there. They were both exhausted. Although the address the old lady had given them wasn't a trap, it wasn't helpful either. Supposedly, good ol' Samuel Prichard hadn't worked there for 6 months, and the only clue as to his new employer came from one of the kid's former coworkers that he was working somewhere in the upper east side. That little tidbit led to lots of legwork and little results.

Nikki stepped inside her apartment, leaving the door open for Rook to follow her. "I need a hot, steamy cup of coffee, do you want something."

Rook glanced at Nikki with a mischevious twinkle in his eye, "I would love something hot and steamy from you."

His words sent a shiver of longing up her spine. "Wouldn't it be …" Nikki began, and as she turned back to look at him, she crashed right into his arms. She hadn't realized how close he was. Her quick retort died on her lips. Locking eyes with Rook, Nikki couldn't move, she suddenly didn't want to. The air around them seemed to vibrate with the electricity of their gaze. Nikki felt herself licking her lips longing for one taste of Jameson Rook.

Rook didn't disappoint. Still looking at Nikki, he lowered his mouth to touch hers, his hands gripping her tighter. Their lips lightly grazed against each other, the passion behind the kiss still waiting to be released.

"Nikki…" Rook began, his voice husky with desire, his lips still touching hers.

"mmmm hmmmm" Nikki mumbled into his mouth, as her tongue flicked out seeking to deepen the kiss.

And although it killed Rook to say it, he continued, "…I should probably go." He separated from her just enough to look deep into her eyes. Making sure that she heard what he said.

Nikki entwined her fingers in Rooks hair, pulling his mouth back to her own. The kiss instantly ratcheted up in intensity, as their tongues searched out the others mouth.

One of Rook's hands slid down to cup her bottom while the other hand moved to her head bringing their lips even closer. He could taste the warmth of her mouth, the saltiness, the softness of her. With his desire for her increasing his logical thought was disappearing. He tried one more time, "Nikki…"

As their lips crushed back together, she breathed, "Rook, stay."


Chesssnut, I hope you enjoyed the scene where Kate talked in her sleep. I have been waiting to write this chapter from the very beginning.

Unfortunately, this is where the story as I initially conceived it stops. I am thinking about the next morning and I already know what I would have Castle find in the envelope. But, I started this to avoid the mushy hospital scenes, so my question to you is: should I keep going or have it end there.

Thanks for your feedback!