By the time Esposito and Ryan arrived almost two hours later, Castle had become a gloating poker victor and written half a chapter of his book. Beckett had taken a nap, waking only a few minutes before the boys arrived. She and Castle were talking quietly but animatedly about Nikki Heat's motivations during a particular plot point, though she was frustrated by the fact he wasn't telling her the full story, only giving little nuggets of information, when the door opened.
"Hey, Castle," both detectives said as they entered. Castle jumped up from his seat to greet them vigorously, with much back-slapping and man-hugging.
Beckett cleared her throat, loudly, to get their attention after it had gone on too long, but when that didn't work she commented, "Enjoying your bromance there, boys?" All three whirled around, mock-glares adorning each face.
Castle was the one to retort first. "Jealousy doesn't become you, Detective Beckett. If you feel you're missing out, I'd be happy to hug you," he offered with a smirk.
"Ah, I would, but..." she held up her injured arm, "can't. I'm so disappointed too." Her voice held just the right amount of sarcasm and Castle could only give her another mock-glare, increasing the size of her grin.
It didn't take too long before he finally thought of a reply though and told her almost seriously, "Don't worry, I'll add it to your hug credit and will pay out when you're feeling better."
"Hug credit?" She raised her eyebrows. "Not necessary."
"Oh, I insist, can't have you missing out now, can we?"
"Can't wait," she muttered while rolling her eyes, annoyed at him getting the last word, yet again. Esposito and Ryan were both wishing they had some popcorn as they watched the show from the sidelines, exchanging grins with each other and silently communcating their mutual pleasure at Castle and Beckett getting on so well already, despite the way things had transpired on Castle's last day in the precinct.
Deciding he should help out his colleague and friend, who was now sighing loudly in irritation as she realised that Castle had written on her cast while she had been sleeping, Esposito stepped into the fray. "We didn't know what to bring you, so I hope this is okay?" He produced a fruit basket from behind his back and pushed past Castle to place it on the nightstand.
Beckett nodded. "Thanks, guys." She then turned her attention back to Castle. "You wrote on my cast without my permission?"
"I did," he confirmed, with not even the slightest hint of guilt. "Make sure you get them to cut it off carefully, imagine how much you can sell it for on Ebay since it has some plot notes for the book."
"It does?" Her eyes switched to the cast, which she hadn't actually read, having just glanced at it and recognised the handwriting.
He shrugged. "Nothing special, just the plot point we were discussing earlier, but it's got my favorite line."
"Why did you feel the need to write plot notes on my cast?" she quizzed, shaking her head even as she asked, not sure she really wanted to know the answer. Her eyes were still reading what he'd written and she was trying to figure out which of the two lines of speech on the cast was his favorite.
His reply was instant, as if he'd been waiting. "No post-it notes with me, so that was the nearest thing."
"You have a laptop right there, and a notepad," she pointed out.
"I do," he acknowledged, then nodded to the cast, "but that was more fun. Besides, you should be proud, look how stealthy I was to write on it without waking you up. I learned that from you." She had to give him that one, his stealth tactics had definitely improved.
Esposito returned to his original spot beside Ryan at the door. "Do you think they'd notice if we left?" he stage-whispered, eliciting a chuckle from his partner.
"Probably not," Ryan replied, "but Lanie did ask us to make sure Beckett doesn't injure herself more when she strangles him."
There was a lull in Castle and Beckett's debate, only brief, but enough for Beckett to realise there was another conversation happening in the room and that they weren't alone. Castle got the hint when she glared at him.
"So, guys, what have you been up to the last four weeks?" Castle asked them both.
"Little of this, little of that," Esposito replied.
"What's her name and did she really tell you it was little? That had to hurt," Castle grinned, bumping fists with Ryan as they laughed.
His mouth falling open but no sound coming out, Esposito looked at Beckett, but even she was laughing. "Don't look to me for support," she told him, "you're the one who invited him here."
Worried she might be pissed at him for calling Castle, even though she seemed to be enjoying the company, despite her protests, he said, "I knew he'd want to know and I figured you'd want him to. He'd have heard about it one way or another, eventually."
"It's okay," she assured him, "though you're helping me bury his body when I lose it with him."
Castle interjected before Esposito could reply, "And just what are you going to lose with me, Detective? I thought you were more... worldly than that, but if not, I'd be happy to -"
She cut him off with a glare. "Don't push it, Castle, you're outnumbered right now."
He looked to the guys but they nodded their heads. "What she said," they stated in unison.
Castle's grin faltered a little before he turned serious and told Esposito, "Thanks for calling me, I appreciate it. I know I haven't been in touch since I've been gone, but I haven't forgotten about you all, it's just that I had to focus on the fictional characters, not the real ones."
"It's okay, Castle, we understand," Beckett said, though she quickly wondered why she'd let him off the hook so easily. If his excuse was true, why was he back now, with no clear intention of leaving, when his book still wasn't finished?
Rick decided to give the detectives some alone time and told them he was going to get something to eat, now that they were there to look after her.
"I'm not a child, Castle, I don't need a babysitter," Beckett bristled.
"Yet look what happens when you're left alone," he replied softly, his worry for her showing through. She met his gaze, but the intensity of his almost burned through her and she dipped her head. "Can I bring you anything back?" he offered. When he received a negative response he popped his laptop in its bag and took it with him as he left the room in search of the cafeteria.
Taking a seat at one of the empty cafeteria tables, Rick pulled out his cellphone and turned it on. He took a bite of his sandwich as he waited for the phone to boot up, quickly regretting not stepping out for something to eat earlier, while hot food was still being served rather than just stale sandwiches from a vending machine. The phone beeped, signalling new messages, and he groaned as he saw that there were five missed calls from Gina, three text messages and five voicemails. One of the text messages was from Alexis, and he happily called her first, giving her an update on Kate.
Ten minutes later, after he'd caught up on all the news from Princeton and assured his daughter that Beckett would be fine, Alexis asked him, "Dad, have you called Gina and told her where you are?"
"Why do you ask?" he queried carefully.
"Because she left me a voicemail a little while ago asking if I knew where you were. She said she'd been trying to get hold of you all day but that you're not answering and, although she suspects it's just because you're procrastinating on the book again, she's beginning to get worried. I haven't called her back yet, do you want me to?"
He smiled at her offer, knowing she was willing to step into the breach for him, but he declined. "Thank you, but I should take care of this one myself."
"Are you going to go back to the Hamptons to finish the book?"
"Not unless Beckett comes with me when she's released from hospital," he responded, shocking himself with the force of the thought.
"Do you think she will?" Alexis asked hopefully. "The Hamptons would be a great place to recuperate."
"I don't think she'd agree with that statement," he said somewhat sadly. "Being cooped up with me probably isn't her idea of paradise."
Alexis recognised the tone in her father's voice as something she didn't hear very often, lack of confidence. "You'll never know if you don't ask, Dad."
"True," he agreed.
"So will you? Ask her?" she pressed. Rick smiled, knowing full well where Alexis got her 'don't give up' attitude from.
"Maybe," he replied. It was all he could say. He knew he would love to have Beckett in the Hamptons with him, alone, hell he'd even asked her before, but right now the priority was for her to get well enough to be released from hospital; he'd think about the rest later. "I'd better go," he sighed, "need to call the she-devil."
"Dad, that's no way to talk about my ex-stepmother," Alexis chastised through a chuckle.
"You knew who I was talking about though!" he defended. "Take care, I love you."
"I love you too, Dad. Good luck."
The dial tone resounded in his ear as Alexis ended the call and he stalled for more time by eating the rest of his sandwich, washing it down with a Dr Pepper. He knew exactly what Gina would ask and he knew she wouldn't like his answers. The two text messages she'd sent him were bad enough, demanding that he call her and telling him that he'd better have a good excuse for avoiding her calls. Her voicemails were worse, each one highlighting the progression in her ire, the final message being all-out anger and a threat of what would happen if he missed the deadline again.
He knew it was immature, but he opted to send a text message instead of returning her calls in person. It took him three attempts to convey what he wanted to say concisely but firmly, taking into account that she was his ex-wife and knew him well.
Sorry for absence, family emergency. Am at hospital, limited cellphone availability. Not Alexis or Mother, so don't worry. Back in NYC and may be for a while, but still working on book. It will be fine. Will be in touch soon.
He hit send, waited for a delivery confirmation and then switched off the phone, crumpled up his sandwich wrapper and tossed it and the empty soda can into the trash before striding out of the cafeteria.
Passing the 24 hour gift store on the way back to Beckett's room, Rick stopped. He'd been gone nearly thirty minutes and was eager to get back, but an idea occurred to him and he stepped into the store to see if he could make the idea come to fruition.
TBC...
Thanks for the continued reviews, etc. Much appreciated
Continued thanks to Tanya Reed for the fabulous beta