Chapter 4
Comrades In Arms
(MASH TV Show)
Part 2
Castle was pacing slowly back and forth inside the hut. He had tried sitting but found his wounded leg throbbed maddeningly if he sat for too long. Pacing back and forth eased some of the pain. Pacing back and forth gave him something to do. He was pleased to note that the shelling had stopped for the time being.
As he paced he cast a look at Beckett. She was sitting at the table and staring into the distance, lost in her own thoughts. She had been like that for some time now.
"I'm sorry I insisted on going ahead when we started getting shelled." Beckett said, suddenly breaking the silence in the hut, feeling his eyes on her.
"Oh that's alright. You come from a long line of courageous military people. Insanity is hereditary." Castle replied.
"I suppose I deserve that." She huffed.
Castle paused his pacing and regarded Beckett sitting there. He felt a little sheepish with what he had just said to her. She did not really deserve that.
"No, you don't." He said gently.
Beckett slowly turned and looked at Castle.
"I was upset." She explained. "I wasn't thinking clearly."
"What's eating you, anyway?" Castle asked. Then he remembered the letter. "What's in the letter?"
"What's in it?" Beckett said, suddenly riled up.
"Never mind." Castle waved a hand. Every time he mentioned the letter Beckett got her back up and took it out on him. He was tired of fighting with her.
Castle turned and slowly walked over to the shelf where he had left his bag. He started chuckling loudly as he reached into the bag.
"What are you laughing at?"
"I remembered something." Castle said. He pulled out the bottle he had stored in there and slowly made his way to the table.
"You're going to be sorry you were mean to me when you see what I brought."
"Probably a bottle of that liquid rat poison of yours. Forget it."
The home made gin Castle and his fellow tent mate Captain Ryan made in the still they had in the Swamp, had been called a great number of names over the past two and a half years. Liquid Rat poison was just the latest in a long line of names. What ever it was called Castle had found it helped to make life a little more bearable here in Korea.
"Ha-ha on you." Castle chuckled as he gingerly eased himself down on a chair at the table. With a bright smile on his face he lifted up the bottle to show Beckett.
"Japanese scotch." He announced.
"So how good could that be?" Beckett scoffed.
"How good does it have to be?" Castle replied.
Beckett stared at the bottle in Castle's hands considering the offer. Reaching a decision she held out her hand to him for the bottle.
"Give me the bottle."
Castle passed the bottle across to Beckett and she quickly unscrewed the cap. She pointed to the ceramic cup on the table.
"Is that cup clean?" She asked.
Castle picked up the cup and peered into it.
"It can't be too dirty. Whatever is in the bottom is still alive." Castle remarked.
Beckett reached across the table and snatched the cup out of Castle's hand. She poured a generous measure into the cup and held it out to Castle who took it with a nod of thanks. She then picked up the other cup and quickly filled it. Setting the bottle down on the table Beckett picked up her cup and brought it to her mouth.
Beckett took a big sip of the scotch and Castle did the same. He winced at the taste of the fiery liquid as it made its way down his throat. It was not as good as he had been hoping then again he had not paid anything for it. Truth be told he had liberated it from Major Burke's personal locker. Taking another sip of the scotch Castle regretted not having taken the other bottle, the one labelled 'saki'. That bottle probably had the good stuff.
Beckett took another sip from her cup.
"Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" Beckett asked, drawing Castle from his thoughts. He looked at Beckett and shrugged his shoulders. "I was going to ask you the same question."
Though he tried not to show it he was starting to get a little worried about their current situation. They must be behind enemy lines if the dead North Korean soldier was anything to go by. If they were behind the line then the possibility of being captured by the North Koreans or Chinese grew stronger the longer they were in these parts. The enemy was not known for observing the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of enemy prisoners. He did not even want to think about what they might do to Beckett.
"I don't like the war, you know?" Beckett announced suddenly and then paused to take a sip from her cup. Setting the cup down she looked across to Castle.
"I hate it." She stated. "I hate the destruction. The stupidity of the waste." She paused and let out a low choked sob. "The disruption to personal lives."
"Kate, what's in the letter?" Castle asked her gently.
"Oh, well, this will probably give you a laugh." Beckett pulled out the letter from the pocket of her combat jacket. She unfolded it quickly and cast a glance at Castle. "For instance, this is only the beginning..."
Castle gave her an encouraging nod of his head.
"'My dear Darlene...'"
Castle's forehead creased with confusion. "Is that your nickname?"
"No." Beckett said firmly.
"Why is he calling you Darleen?" Castle questioned.
"He's not calling me Darleen. He put this letter in the wrong envelope."
Understanding flooded across Castle's face. He shook his head slowly in disbelief. How could Beckett's fiancé be so dumb, he wondered to himself?
"My dear Darleen," Beckett continued reading the letter she was holding. "How long has it been since we walked together on the beach at Oahu? I can still see the moonlight splashing on your shoulders and hear the gentle whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of the waves."
Beckett lowered the letter and looked at Castle.
"His last letter to me dealt entirely with a self-loading semi-automatic submachine gun. My letter went 'clickerty, click, click'. Whereas hers goes, 'whoosh, whoosh, whoosh'."
"And splashing moonlight." Castle added helpfully.
Beckett glared at him before she turned her attention to the letter and resumed reading aloud.
"I know you've heard I'm engaged. I'm sure you'd like her. She's competent and a hard worker..."
Castle shook his head again. Was the man deranged or something? In the two and a half years he had known Beckett, competent did not even begin to describe her. Also, of the nursing staff there was no one who worked harder than Major Kate Beckett. Sure, they had their differences and their run ins. All of a sudden he wanted to rise to her defence. Wisely he kept his mouth closed.
"She'll make an excellent hostess when we return to the States." Beckett continued. "All in all, a sturdy woman."
Beckett dropped the letter to the table.
"Sturdy!" She shouted with growing emotion.
"Um...sturdy is..."
"Sturdy!" Beckett interjected angrily, cutting off Castle. "I mean nothing to him. If I were a half ton truck he would be more lyrical about me! And the worst thing is this stupid woman with the ocean whooshing all over her toes is this minute reading the letter he meant for me."
"I'm sorry, Kate." Castle said quietly. "You must really hurt."
"Hurt? You know what it feels like to give your heart to somebody? To live just for a glimpse of his handwriting in the mail? To lose sight of his picture because you've covered it with lipstick? And then to find out you're sturdy?"
Castle was taken aback a little as this was the first time he could recall of Beckett opening up to him, revealing something of herself that was deeply personal. Beckett was an intensely private person at the best of times keeping a lot of stuff close to her vest. It was not an easy task living close to jowl in front line surgical hospital, pretty soon one got to know everyone else's business. Beckett had managed to keep some things private.
"And then to have them lob artillery shells at you, huh?" Beckett added.
"It's certainly been an interesting day." Castle agreed.
He glanced down at the table top for a couple of moments searching his mind for the right words that he could say to her. He was a published author, he reminded himself. Try as he might he could not find the right words, at least nothing that did not sound trite. He chose instead to be honest. "Kate, I wish there was something I could say to ease the pain."
Beckett lifted her chin, a defiant pose even though her eyes glinted with tears that threatened to spill but making an enormous effort not to let them fall.
"I'm alright, Castle." She said evenly, giving him a faint smile. "I've always taken great pride in the fact that I can adjust to anything."
"Why don't you get it out of your system?" Castle suggested.
"I'm fine." Beckett insisted. "Thanks for the drink."
Castle picked up the scotch bottle.
"You want some more?" He asked.
"Oh, a sip, maybe."
Beckett beckoned for the bottle of scotch. Caste passed it over and watched with surprise as Beckett didn't just put a splash in her cup she filled it almost to the brim before she put the bottle on the table. He was even more surprised to see her down half the contents of the cup almost in one gulp. He, on the other hand took a little time to finish off his own drink.
XXX
It was late in the evening when Castle gathered up the left overs from their meal. It had consisted of dried crackers that he was certain had been war surplus from World War 2 which some one in Supply Command considered were still edible enough to be given to the troops in Korea. Along with the crackers there was strawberry jam and it was washed down with the rest of the scotch. It was not a meal fit for a king but it was enough to satisfy their hunger pains.
He deposited the empty jam tin cans and boxes in a corner of the hut. He limped back to the table. He watched as Beckett made her way to the other side of the hut. It had not escaped his notice that she was holding a long round stick in her hand. Where she had found it Castle had no idea.
"I'm sleeping over there." Beckett informed him, pointing out the selected spot with the stick in her hand.
"Okay."
Castle had half expected that they would sleep together for warmth. He had been ready to make the suggestion but she had spoken first. Beckett paused and looked in Castle's direction.
"Oh, and I should warn you, if you come over here for any reason during the night, announce yourself." Beckett showed him the stick she was holding. "I intend to swing this to kill."
Castle broke into a grin and nodded his head to show that he understood the warning. He had no doubt that she could and would use the stick like a baseball bat if he wandered over there unannounced.
Beckett quickly settled down on the floor using her bag as a pillow. Castle rose from the table. He leaned over and blew out the candle. Then he slowly eased himself down to the floor and onto the makeshift bed that he had made.
"Night, Castle." Beckett called out.
"Until the morning, Kate." Castle replied automatically.
Castle closed his eyes and silently waited for sleep to come. The shelling had stopped about an hour or so ago, just around the time they were eating dinner. He did know when but he had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that the shelling would start up again. Even artillerymen had to take a break to eat dinner, he figured.
Pushing aside thoughts about when the next artillery barrage was going to come his thoughts turned to Beckett. He really felt for her. He had met her fiancé only once, when he had come to the 4077th on a flying visit. He was a high flying medico stationed at Tokyo General with the reputation to match. If that was not enough, he also had the swarthy good looks that made women swoon.
To Castle the man seemed friendly enough but he would have liked to have seen if that reputation of his was well deserved or not. As it happened Major Josh Davidson MD had visited the 4077th when there had been a lull in the fighting and no wounded had come in. Yet not an hour after he had departed the camp than the casualties had started coming in.
Now that Castle thought about he did not like the man all that much. He did not like him because he had upset Beckett. How could the man describe her as 'sturdy'? He shook his head in disbelief.
"Kate." Castle said into the silence.
"What?"
Castle was not surprised to find that she was not asleep yet either.
"I wouldn't use the word 'sturdy' to describe you."
"Oh, and what word would you use?"
Castle thought for just a moment. A smile appeared on his lips as the right word came to him.
"Extraordinary."
The silence seemed to drag on before Beckett responded.
"Well, you're not so bad yourself, Castle."
Castle smiled even more.
XXX
Castle had been dozing, somewhere in that world between full consciousness and deep sleep. That nether world where dreams were born and took flight. He was but moments away from falling into deep sleep when he heard the shriek of an incoming artillery shell. His sleep filled brain did not fully register the danger of the falling shell.
Castle wasn't sure which was louder, the shell exploding or Kate's screaming. It didn't really matter because he snapped open his eyes and hurriedly sat up. A sharp bolt of pain lanced through his leg reminding him in no uncertain terms of his wound but he ignored the pain as he scrambled to get up and reach for the matches on the table.
Another shell exploded nearby just as he struck the match and lit the candle. The artillery barrage had started up again. The hut seemed to shudder with each explosion, shaking out more dust from the ceiling. Now that there was light inside the hut Castle looked over to where Kate was.
She was sitting up and screaming at the incoming shells. There was a pale terrified expression on her face. Castle could not quite make out what she was screaming but he really did not care what she was saying. The shells were getting closer and closer and louder.
He winced at the of pain in his leg as he struggled to his feet. Ignoring the pain he hobbled across the hut over to where Beckett was. Another shell exploded just feet from the side of the hut. The wall shuddered under the concussion sending a cloud of dust across the room.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Beckett screamed. Her shout was drowned out by the explosion of another artillery shell.
Castle had finally managed to get across to the other side of the hut. He only needed one look at Beckett to realise that she was very close to losing it. She was staring up and shouting at the ceiling to the falling shells beyond, but her body was coiled ready to make a spring for the door.
"Beckett, come here." Castle called out.
Beckett did not hear him she was looking around wildly and shouting at the artillery.
"Come here." Castle shouted.
Castle rose up and grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down to the floor. For a moment he thought Beckett was going to fight him, struggle to break free of him. She turned her head and stared at Castle, almost if she was wondering how he had managed to get across the hut. The wild, fearful look in her eyes began to clear.
"I...I'm sorry." She stammered. "I'm afraid."
"Me too."
"I don't like being afraid. It scares me."
"Me too." Castle assured her.
Castle released his hold on Beckett's arm only so that he could wrap both arms around her and draw her close to him. He could feel her body shaking uncontrollably. He tighten his hold on her. He could understand the fear and terror she was going through. He had experienced those very same emotions the first time he had been caught in an artillery barrage when he had been sent up to the frontlines, to a battalion aid station for the very first time. Only he and his laundryman knew how scared he really had been on that occasion. It was nothing to be ashamed of. He had seen some of the toughest soldiers go to pieces under artillery barrages.
"Please hold me." Beckett said.
"I'm holding you."
Several shells landed close by creating a tremendous crash.
"Hold me." Beckett begged. "Hold me."
"Kate, I am holding you." Castle assured her.
He held Beckett even tighter than before. She was still shaking but was relieved to find that the shaking was not as bad as it had been moments before. He could feel her arms around him, holding on for dear life.
A couple of more shells crashed into the ground shaking the foundations of the hut and loosening more dirt and dust from the ceiling. Castle had buried his face into Beckett's neck to avoid the falling dust getting into his eyes. As he lifted his head he felt Beckett's lips brush the side of his mouth.
He turned and looked at her. Beckett looked almost surprised as he did. He gazed into her hazel-green eyes. He could still see the fear in those eyes but he also saw something else, something that he could not quite put his finger on.
At the same time as a shell crashed outside Castle found himself leaning closer to Beckett, their lips crashing together. They started kissing each other, desperation and need fuelling their ardour. They pulled away only so that they could take a breath. A look of surprise filled Beckett's eyes as she stared at Castle. He was sure that his eyes reflected his own surprise. Beckett suddenly launched herself at him, her lips fusing with his. Castle slowly eased her down to the floor. He could feel her hands scrabbling at his clothes while his own hands started to roam over her body. Her soft moans only made him kiss her with more passion. The explosions beyond the but were forgotten.
XXX
Castle felt himself being drawn to consciousness. Something was tickling his nose. He twitched his nose hoping that the irritant would go away. His eyes remained closed. He did not need to open his eyes to know that it was still very early in the morning. Far too early in the morning to be getting up. The dream he had experienced was one of the most vivid and enjoyable he ever had. He wanted to hold onto it for as long as possible but already it was quickly slipping away from his grasp.
Taking a deep breath he smelt dust but there was also a faint trace of something else. His sleep addled brain was making him sluggish and he took another breath trying to discern what that faint aroma was. The answer came to him a few moments later. Cherries.
A smile slowly spread across his face as he felt pleased with himself at having picked that perfume. Cherries. He liked cherries. It was one of his favourite perfumes.
As he slowly came awake he strained his ears and he could hear the sounds of birds chirping outside. There was another sound that reached his ears. This other sound was closer. Slow and steady breathing. The smile on his face deepened when he realised that somebody warm was pressed up against his chest. His arm was draped over this sleeping warm body.
He took another deep breath and smelled cherries again. Something in the back of his mind told him
he knew of someone who smelled like cherries.
Castle snapped open his eyes. He blinked several times and looked down at the mass of brown hair that was sprayed over his left arm. Beckett rested her head in the crook of his shoulder a contented smile painted on her face.
He stared open mouthed as it all came back to him. What happened last night had not been some fantastic dream his mind had conjured up. It had been all too real and the proof of that was lying fast asleep in his arms.
Castle continued to gaze down at the sleeping woman. As much as he wanted to disengage himself from the sleeping Kate Beckett he feared that any movement would wake her up and he did not want to wake her up just yet. She looked so peaceful as she slept. Looked happy even. Far happier than she had been yesterday.
Settling down Castle could not help but smile to himself as he thought that he was responsible for putting that smile on Beckett's face. His smile deepened even more as he remembered what they had done the night before, despite all the fumbling with their clothes. If he had put a smile on her face then she certainly had put a pretty big smile on his.
Staring up at the ceiling he saw that there were a few holes in the roof. He took note of the silence and realised that the shelling had stopped. Maybe the artillerymen had taken a break to have breakfast, he wondered. Or better yet they had finally stopped firing their shells because they had run out. Whatever the reason Castle was grateful that the shelling had stopped.
His thoughts quickly returned to the woman sleeping beside him. If he was being honest with himself there had been more than a few occasions where had wondered what it would be like to spend the night with Beckett. He had even dreamed about it. It was more than pleasing to discover the reality was far, far better than the fantasy.
A rumbling in his stomach was the less than subtle reminder from his body that it needed sustenance. It seemed very loud in the silence of the hut.
Beckett started to stir, and drew a deep breath. Castle stilled as he looked at her. He was afraid at how she would react when she found herself in his arms. If past history was anything to go by, there could be a lot of outraged shouting and some false accusations thrown about, not to mention a few solid objects thrown that were close at hand. Yet despite that he made no move to separate from her. He just waited, girding himself for what might come.
Beckett's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a couple of times as she looked up at Castle. Her hazel green eyes widened a little and she blinked again. As the sleep cleared from those hazel orbs the curious expression on her face slowly melted into a warm smile.
"Hey." She purred softly.
"Hi." Castle replied, starting to breath again.
Beckett closed her eyes. She let out a yawn as she stretched out almost cat-like. That was the way Castle would have described it. As she stretched the combat jacket he had placed over her sometime during the night slipped and revealed an expanse of flesh. Castle quickly released his hand and quickly pulled up the jacket to cover her. This earned him a grateful smile from Beckett.
"How did you sleep, Beckett?"
"Better than I have in a very long time." Beckett informed him. "You?"
"Same."
Beckett closed her eyes and continued to smile.
"What time is it?"
Castle checked his watch.
"About six-thirty." He informed her.
"Too early." She sighed.
Castle was fascinated as he looked at her. He had been worried, scared even, that Beckett might have turned into an angry banshee once the enormity of what they had done had sunk in but here she was lying in his arms, not wanting to move and smiling contently, almost without a care in the world.
This was a side of Beckett he had never seen before. Over the past two and a half years that they had been serving together treating the countless wounded soldiers that came through the hospital he had seen the best and worst side of her. Yet this was a side of her that she revealed to very few people. He could not help but feel a little privileged.
Castle's rumbling stomach pulled him away from his thoughts. Beckett opened her eyes at the sound.
"Someone's hungry." She giggled.
"Yeah." Castle agreed, a little sheepishly.
"Me too."
Castle slowly disengaged his arms from around Beckett and shifted backwards a little. He tried to get up and winced in pain. He had forgotten about his leg. He tried to get up again but gasped at the pain.
"Is it your leg?"
"Yeah. It's stiffened up." Castle replied.
He saw the wicked gleam in Beckett's eyes.
"I...I...I'll be okay." He stammered. "Just give me a minute."
"No, you stay where you are. I'll get us something to eat."
Beckett sat up quickly and as she did so the jacket that was draped over her slipped down to reveal her dishevelled clothing. Castle's eyes dropped to her open shirt and saw her bared breast. A moment later he realised that he was staring and started to look away.
"It's okay, Castle." Beckett informed him. "Nothing you haven't seen already."
Her gentle laughter made him blush, something he had not done in a very long time. All of a sudden he felt like a teenager again but he watched silently as Beckett slowly fixed up her bra and then started to do up the buttons of her shirt. He saw the large discolouration on her skin at the base of her throat and realised that he had given her a hickey.
Beckett gave him another smile as she pulled up her pants and buckled the belt. Once more he remembered that clothes had been pulled aside rather than taken off in their heated coupling. Neither of them had really cared. At the time it did not seem to matter.
Without a word she slowly got to her feet and walked across the hut to the table where their bags had been left. Castle continued to watch Beckett as she searched their bags looking for something to eat. He would have continued to watch her but her realised that his own pants were at half mast. With a little difficulty he struggled to pull them up, wincing at the pain in his leg but he pushed through the pain and eventually managed to pull his pants up. As he started doing up the button of his Hawaiian shirt he noticed a couple of discolourations on his chest. He started started to grin as he covered his chest. Beckett had managed to leave her mark on him it seemed.
Breakfast was the same as dinner had been, consisting of crackers and some jam. Beckett brought over the food and they ate it on the floor together. There was no scotch as they had finished the bottle the night before. It was hardly nutritious but it was enough to stop the hunger pains for a little while.
"It would have been nice if we had some of the peaches that Esposito had put in the Jeep." Beckett remarked.
"Yeah." Castle nodded. "Or some of Burke's caviar."
"Yeah."
Beckett finished the last of her crackers and wiped the crumbs off her fingers then she settled against Castle's chest as he leaned against the wall.
"I could kill for a cup of coffee." Beckett said.
Castle nodded his head. He could do with a cup of hot coffee right now too. A big steaming mug of black coffee. He looked down at Beckett.
"Can you survive without your coffee?" He asked.
Beckett shrugged her shoulders in answer to his question. Castle knew that Beckett loved her coffee. She was a coffee fiend and it could be dangerous to be around her if she did not have her daily shot of caffeine.
"I think I'll survive, just." She said with a half smile.
"Good to know."
There was a chill in the morning air and Castle reached for his combat jacket. He carefully draped it over Beckett. She let out a soft murmur of thanks and settled further against his chest.
"Do you think they're looking for us?" Beckett murmured.
"I guess so." Castle replied. "When we didn't show up at the 8063rd, someone must have raised the alarm."
"I wish we could stay here for ever." Beckett said softly.
Castle was surprised by her remark. He shifted his head so that he could look down at her and saw that her eyes were closed as she rested her head on his chest.
As much as he enjoyed holding Beckett in his arms, he knew that this small oasis of happiness would not last. In the early morning light reality was intruding into his thoughts. As much as he wanted the woman currently in his arms, the cold hard fact was that she was engaged to someone else. While he might have a reputation of being a womaniser, a reputation he played up to mainly to break up the boredom between treating incoming casualties, what he was not was that of a home wrecker. He did not get between a husband and a wife, nor did he get between an engaged couple. He had been on the receiving of such a thing and it was a pain he never wanted to inflict on anyone.
It did not mean that he would not cherish what happened between him and Beckett last night. It would be a memory that he would look on fondly for the rest of his life, of that he was sure.
"We can't stay here." Castle announced suddenly, his thoughts returning to the present. "There could be more enemy soldiers passing through, and I'd rather not be here when they do."
Beckett opened her eyes and looked up at Castle. A look of concern settled on her face.
"What about your leg?"
"I'll just have to manage somehow."
Beckett regarded Castle silently for some moments and then slowly, almost reluctantly nodded her head. With a heavy sigh she pulled away from Castle and got to her feet. Leaning down she held out her hand to Castle.
"Come on, I'll help you up."
Castle took hold of her offer hand and struggled to his feet. He hopped about a couple of times until he got his balance.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Beckett questioned, unable to hide the look of concern from her face.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Castle assured her.
Beckett regarded him for a moment. She did not want to start an argument with him so she quickly turned away and gathered up their combat jackets and handed Castle's his jacket and then put on her own. Castle had picked up their helmets and gave Beckett her helmet. She put it on and walked over to the table where she picked up their bags. She walked back to where Castle was standing and passed his bag to him. He slung the bag over his shoulder.
"Lead on." He motioned.
Beckett left the hut first. Castle paused and cast one final look around the hut to make sure that they had not left anything behind. He then limped out of the hut and joined Beckett outside. He slowly cast his gaze around the immediate area. He was shocked at what he saw. The ground had been ploughed mercilessly by the artillery shells, there were so many craters that it now resembled a bleak moonscape. How the shells had managed to miss the hut completely was something he would never know.
"I don't much like the landscaping." Castle remarked.
Castle looked in the direction where the body of the dead North Korean soldier lay and all he saw now was a large crater.
"So, which way?" Beckett asked.
Castle turned to looked at Beckett for a moment before turned his gaze to what remained of the road. He looked one way and then the other.
"That way." He announced, pointing in the direction they had come from.
"Are you sure?"
"That way is as good as any." Castle shrugged his shoulders.
Beckett looked at Castle and nodded her head. They started walking.
XXX
By his estimation Castle thought they had been walking for about half an hour not that he was really paying attention to the passing of time. His limp had become more pronounced the more intense the pain became. He could certainly use a rest break but he did not to voice the suggestion. As far as he or Beckett knew they could still be in enemy territory. The quicker they got away from this area the better he would feel.
Along the way he had fallen a few paces behind Beckett. She had not said anything but from time to time would look over her shoulder to see how he was fairing. Every time she did that he would flash her a big grin, as if to tell her that he was doing fine. Once her head turned his grin would vanish.
Still, walking a few paces behind Beckett was not all that bad. It afford him a pretty good view of her butt. It was the kind of butt that he could write odes to, he thought to himself with some amusement, if only had some paper and a pen. Gazing at her butt seemed to be the perfect antidote to take his mind off the pain in his leg.
"You better no be staring at by butt, Castle." Beckett warned, without looking around.
"What? Huh...n...no." Castle stammered., startled at having been caught out. How did she do that, he wondered?
Beckett paused on the road and slowly turned around to look at him. He saw the amused grin on her lips. The grin faded when she took a good look at him and saw his condition.
"You don't look so good, Castle. Do you want us to stop for a rest?"
"No. Let's keep going for a little longer."
"Sure?"
"I'm sure."
Beckett bit on her lower lip as she debated with herself about stopping and resting for a few minutes. She was not sure if he would appreciate if she decided to stop and rest. She decided that they would keep going for a little while longer.
She waited until Castle reached her. Without a word she took his arm and put it around her shoulders while her own arm snaked around his waist allowing her to take some weight off his wounded leg. Castle did not say anything over her actions other to nod his head in thanks. Slowly they resumed walking along the road.
"Have you thought about what you'll do when the war's over, Castle?"
"Get the hell out of Korea as fast as I can." Castle replied.
Beckett glanced at Castle, surprised at his rapid response.
"What I meant is, what are you going to do when you get back to the States?"
Castle had thought about it many times what he would do when he returned home. A smile rose to his face as he thought about it now.
"I have a daughter back home, whom I haven't seen in two years." He said slowly. "We have two years of catching up to do."
Beckett smiled and nodded her head.
"And after that?" She asked.
"Oh, I think I might buy myself a bar." Castle announced.
"A bar?"
"Yeah, a little place in midtown Manhattan, perhaps, or down town even. I could serve drinks at the front and treat patients in the office out the back."
"Two of your favourite occupations." Beckett remarked with some amusement.
"Yeah." Castle chuckled.
"Uh...um...what about your writing?"
"My writing? What about my writing?"
"Well, are you going to continue writing books?"
Castle had a successful writing career on the side before he got drafted and sent to Korea. He had published several murder mystery books that had become bestsellers. He had been half way through his latest book when he had gotten his call up papers. He had managed to finish the book during the first year here in Korea in between the lulls in the fighting. He had continued writing when the boredom had gotten too much for him, short stories mainly but he had also created characters that he would use in future books. Characters that were based on people he knew at the 4077th.
Castle looked at Beckett and saw the expectant almost hopeful look on her face. There were only a handful of people at the 4077th that knew he was a published author with several bestsellers to his name. He did not draw any attention to his writer self. It was something that he did not talk about. He was in Korea to treat wounded soldiers not to get material for future books or to meet fans.
He had spotted a couple of his books in Beckett's tent but she had made no mention about them and he certainly did not draw her attention to them either. He had always suspected that she might be a secret fan.
"Are you a fan of my books, Beckett?" He ventured. Now was as good a time as any to find out.
"Of course not." Beckett replied hurriedly, her face starting to turn red.
Castle's face brightened with amusement on seeing her sudden discomfort.
"You so are a fan." He challenged. "Aren't you?"
"I think the pain from your wound has deluded your brain, Castle."
"You're a fan of my books." Castle said in a sing-song voice. "You're a fan of my books."
"I may have read one or two of them." Beckett conceded.
"Yeah I saw them in your tent."
"Oh."
"I could autograph them for you when we get back to the 4077th?" Castle offered.
A look of indecision crossed Beckett's face as if she was considering his offer. For a moment she hovered between Kate Beckett fangirl and Kate Beckett professional nurse and army officer. The professional nurse and army officer won out.
"Let's keep moving, Castle." She said.
"Okay. But the offer stands, you know?"
"Thanks, I'll bear that in mind."
"Or if you prefer, I could autograph your chest?" Castle said in a low seductive voice.
"Castle!" Beckett stared at Castle, shocked at the suggestion.
"What?"
"Do women really ask you to sign their chests?"
Castle grinned and nodded his head up and down rapidly.
"Ugh!" Beckett shook her head as if she was trying to remove the image that had been planted in her mind.
"There was this place in Hollywood..."
"Enough." Beckett interjected in a firm tone of voice. "I don't want to hear about your sordid escapades in Hollywood."
"Okay."
"Let's keep walking."
XXX
Beckett spotted a fallen tree by the side near a bend on the road a short distance ahead. She was silently grateful at seeing it. Castle struggled with his leg and he was starting to lean on her a lot more. Being a big man he weighed a lot and she was starting to falter. A short rest would do them both a world of good.
"Let's stop over there for a few minutes." Beckett announced, pointing to the fallen tree.
Castle looked over to where Beckett was pointing to and immediately nodded his head in agreement.
It took them over a minute to cover the short distance to the fallen tree. Castle sank down on the tree and let out a long sigh. He stretched out his wounded leg. Beckett grateful not having to heft his weight, sank down on the tree beside him.
For a few minutes they just sat there in silence, each with their own thoughts.
Beckett turned and looked at Castle. "What are we going to tell Josh?" Beckett asked.
"Wha...what? What are we going to tell Josh?" Castle muttered. "About what?"
"About us. About what happened last night?"
Castle had been expecting Beckett to raise the question about what happened last night all morning. He was surprised that it had taken her until now to mention the matter. Even though he knew the question was coming, he still not was as prepared for it he imagined.
"Well, what do you usually tell him?" Castle said, offhandedly.
Beckett let out an outraged gasp and jumped to her feet then rounded on Castle. He looked up at her and saw that she looked angry, very angry.
"What do you mean, what do I usually tell him?"
Castle knew he had said the wrong thing and he knew he was about to face her wrath, and he did not know how to defend himself. He heard the sound of a branch snapping.
"Did you hear that?" Castle said.
"I asked you a question, Castle."
"Kate, there's somebody coming."
"I want to know what you meant by that crack?" Beckett was growing angrier by the second.
Castle got to his feet and looked about but could not see anyone.
"Castle!"
"Quiet." Castle hissed. He reached out and grabbed Beckett's arm. "Get behind the tree." He started to pull on her arm.
"I'm waiting for an explanation, Castle." Beckett shrugged off his arm.
The sliding of a rifle bolt quickly put paid to further argument. Both Castle and Beckett slowly turned around and found a squad of six soldiers standing before them. The squad was led by a sergeant who was standing in front of his men. There was an amused grin on his face and it matched the grins on the faces of his men.
"Oh, hi there." Castle said, breaking into a welcoming smile. He could see from the looks on the faces of the soldiers they had heard more most of the argument.
"Would you be Captain Castle and Major Beckett?" The sergeant inquired.
"Uh, that would be us, yeah." Castle replied.
"We're from the 8063rd." The sergeant informed them. "You must be glad to see us."
"Glad?" Castle laughed. "Glad?"
"Stop laughing." Beckett retorted.
"Kate, it's over."
Beckett took a step closer to Castle and got into his face.
"No, it isn't." She hissed angrily. "Not by a long shot, buster!"
XXX
Castle sat on his bunk in the Swamp. He was leafing through the pages of a six month old copy of Life Magazine. It was twenty-four hours since he and Beckett had returned from their trip to the 8063rd to demonstrate the new arterial transplant technique. The surgeons at the 8063rd were now up to speed with the new technique and more soldier's legs could now be saved.
Castle was off duty and confined to the Swamp to keep off his leg. In a couple of days he would be as good as new again. Suddenly he closed the magazine and angrily tossed it across the tent. He could not forget the frostiness that had descended between himself and Beckett after they had been rescued. In the O.R. at the 8063rd they had sniped at each other all through the surgical demonstration. They had managed to call a truce for the remainder of their visit there and now back home the frostiness had turned positively cold with Beckett ignoring him, completely. He had tried to apologise to her but she had rebuffed him. It bothered him and he did not know how to make it right.
Castle was drawn from his thoughts when the door to the tent opened and Captain Ryan and Corporal Esposito came in. Both men grinned like Cheshire cats as they looked at Castle.
"So, you going to tell us what really happened out there, Captain?" Esposito said.
"Yeah, Castle. You can tell us, we're your friends." Ryan added.
Castle looked from Esposito to Ryan. Ever since his return Castle had been plagued with questions from Ryan, Esposito and even Major Burke about what really happened out there between himself and Beckett. No matter what had happened between himself and Beckett and the current state of their relationship, he was not about to spill the beans. His response had been to deny anything happened. It was a response his comrades did not believe, hence the constant pestering.
"Nothing happened."
"Come on, Castle. You expect us to believe that?" Esposito scoffed.
"Friends tell each other things, you know that." Ryan added.
"Nothing happened." Castle repeated as he scrubbed his face with his hand.
Esposito shook his head a look of disappointment on his face. The look did not last long. It vanished as he turned and looked at Ryan.
"I hear that some times in adversity even the coldest of enemies can close ranks together." He said.
"Joining hands, as it were." Ryan added, grinning.
"Sustaining each other." Esposito finished, nodding his head.
"Come on, Castle. We want details?" Ryan urged.
Castle let out a long frustrated sigh.
"Details, huh?" He said.
"Yeah." Ryan and Esposito said in unison. "Details."
Castle made a show of looking over his shoulder beyond the mesh walls of the tent and into the compound as if he was making sure no one else was listening in. He then looked up at Ryan and Esposito and waved them closer. The two men leaned down. Castle waved them even closer until they were just inches from him.
"THERE ARE NO DETAILS!" Castle shouted as loud as he could.
Both Ryan and Esposito jumped back like scalded cats. Esposito glared down at Castle.
"I can't even look at you right now." He said. Ryan just shook his head in disappointment.
Castle silently watched as Ryan and Esposito walked out of the Swamp. Before the door closed Colonel Montgomery walked in. He walked over to the still and poured himself a drink. He turned and looked over to Castle holding up an empty glass, silently offering him a drink. Castle nodded his head. Montgomery passed Castle his drink and then sat down.
"Are you here to bother me about wanting details about what happened to us?" Castle asked before he took a big sip of his gin.
"No." Montgomery replied. "I'm here to find out if you're up to go on duty tomorrow. We're expecting casualties in the next couple of days and I'm going to need all hands."
"Yeah, I should be fine, Colonel."
Montgomery nodded his head. He took a sip of his drink. His eyebrows rose upwards in surprise. He looked at the clear liquid in the glass.
"This is not a bad batch." He remarked.
"We're using a new filter." Castle informed him. "Week old socks."
Montgomery nodded his head and took another sip. "Smoother than last week's vintage."
Castle took another big sip of his drink. He then stared down at the glass in his hand, lost in thought.
"Something on your mind, Castle?" Montgomery inquired.
Castle slowly looked up from his drink and focused his gaze on Montgomery. Colonel Montgomery was regular army with long service in uniform. His position as commanding officer of the 4077th made him a father figure to the people under his command. Castle respected the man and valued his opinion.
"I need some advice, Colonel." Castle said finally.
"Okay, I'm listening."
"Something did happen between Beckett and me."
Montgomery remained silent, nodding his head slowly in encouragement.
"We got caught in an artillery barrage and sought shelter in a hut." Castle said slowly. "We were scared and lonely."
"Understandable."
"And we...we turned to each other."
"I see."
"Only I turned away first, and I guess I've insulted her."
"And you don't know what to do about it?" Montgomery asked.
"Yeah."
Montgomery took a sip from his drink then set the glass aside and looked over to Castle.
"Talk to her." He said.
"Yeah, well, I've thought of that. Even tried." Castle replied. "Only I'm afraid, if we make up, it's liable to start all over again."
"Are you afraid of her or of you?"
Castle shot the Colonel a puzzled look.
"Why should I be afraid of me?"
"Sounds to me son, like maybe you felt something for her, and it scares you."
"I felt something for her?" Castle scoffed.
Montgomery fixed Castle with a pointed look. Castle turned away from looking at the Colonel.
"Yeah, maybe I did." Castle confessed in a low voice. He brought up the glass in his hand to his mouth and drained the contents in one gulp. He put the glass down and looked at the Colonel.
"Actually, while I was screaming and yelling at her a while ago, a part of me was remembering the other night." A small smile appeared on Castle's face as the memories of that night returned.
"So, talk to her." Montgomery urged.
Colonel Montgomery rose from the chair.
"Thanks for the drink, Castle." Montgomery said as he walked towards the door. Reaching it he paused and looked back to Castle. "Talk to her. That's my advice to you, son. I don't want my chief surgeon and head nurse not being able to play together."
"Yeah, okay." Castle nodded.
"What's the worst that can happen? You admit that she stirred something in you?"
Castle watched as the Colonel walked out of the tent. Letting out a loud sigh Castle fell back on his cot and stared up at the ceiling. He thought about what the Colonel had told him.
XXX
Castle limped across the compound. His progress was slow but at least there was little pain in his leg. The pain killers he had taken not that long ago were doing their job. He was filled with trepidation the closer he approached Beckett's tent. He had half an idea how this visit was going to turn out and wanted to turn around and limp back to the Swamp. He did not turn around though because he knew he had to at least make an effort.
Reaching the tent he raised his hand ready to knock on the door but paused. He felt nervous. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and rapped his knuckles on the door.
"Yes?" Beckett called from within her tent.
"Don't call the police." Castle replied quietly. "I just want to talk."
A moment later the door swung open and Beckett stood in the doorway looking surprised. A moment later the surprised look was gone as her face closed down. She reached out and grabbed Castle by the arm and started to pull him into her tent.
"Hurry up, don't let anyone see you." She said.
"Nobody saw." Castle did not really care if anybody saw him or not.
"You can't hang around my door like this. You want people to talk?"
Castle was about to tell her that people were already talking about them but he saw the anxious look on her face and the quip died a silent but peaceful death. Beckett released her hold on his arm and moved away from him and walked a little further into the tent before he turned and looked over to Beckett.
"Kate, I came to say sorry about, you know." Castle informed her. "And to level with you."
Beckett raised a questioning eyebrow in Castle's direction.
"Maybe we cared for each other that night a little bit more than either of us would like to admit." He said slowly. "I don't see why we can't own up to that."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Beckett shot back, looking a little defensive. "Nothing happened out there, not a thing."
Castle was stunned momentarily. He stared at her, thinking he must have misheard her. No, he had not misheard her.
"Nothing happened? Is that what you're trying to tell me?" He exclaimed.
"Not unless you took advantage of me while I was drunk." Beckett retorted angrily, glaring at him. "You took advantage of me when I was most vulnerable."
"Hey, it was a two way street, Kate. Remember?" Castle said sternly. "If I took advantage of you, you certainly took advantage of me. Several times."
"Get out!" Beckett yelled.
Castle turned and walked to the door. He put his hand on the door and was about to push it open but he paused. The anger that had flared up in the face of her attitude was quickly pushed down. He dropped his head and let out a long sigh. He really did not want to fight with her.
"Kate, back there when we were taking advantage of each other, there was a part of me that wished..." Castle's voice trailed off. He shook his head. "Forget it, it doesn't matter. I'm...just sorry."
Castle pushed open the door and was about to step out.
"No, wait!" Beckett called out.
Castle paused and slowly turned around.
"Come back and sit down."
Castle regarded Beckett carefully. The anger that had blazed in her eyes was gone.
"Please?" She added.
Castle nodded his head. He closed the door and walked over to the table and to the chair Beckett had hurriedly pulled out for him. Slowly he sat down. Beckett also sat down and looked at him.
"I think we can be friends." Beckett said slowly.
"Okay." Castle nodded his head. They had reached a truce of sorts, he thought to himself.
Beckett worried her lower lip nervously as she thought about what she was going to say next. Castle waited patiently. He did not have to wait for long.
"I'm not a very open person sometimes."
Castle nodded his head slowly in understanding.
"Nothing will be different, not between you and me, or you and Josh." He said.
"Oh, I don't expect things to be the same with Josh." Beckett remarked.
Castle frowned at hearing that.
"You're not breaking up with him?" Castle said, with some concern.
Beckett shrugged her shoulders.
"All he did was accidentally send you a letter he wrote to somebody named Darleen."
Beckett shook her head.
"I'm sure the one he meant for you was just as nice." Castle insisted. Beckett scoffed and waved her hand at that remark.
Castle frowned a little more. He did not want to be catalyst for Beckett breaking up with Dr Davidson. Beckett saw the concerned look on Castle's face.
"Don't worry, Castle." Beckett said. "It's been heading that way for a little while."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Kate."
"Don't be." Beckett said. She picked up a folded sheet of paper from off the desk. "I'm sending him back a carefully worded letter."
Castle watched as Beckett unfolded the letter.
"Dear Derrick." Beckett paused and looked at Castle. "Do you like Derrick? Maybe I should make it 'Dirk'? Or 'Lance'?"
"'Derrick' is nice." Castle assured her, smiling. He was rather tickled that she had used the name of the main character in his books.
Beckett smiled and nodded her head. "'Derrick will make him crazy."
Castle chuckled. Beckett resumed reading the letter, glancing at Castle as she did so.
"Dear Derrick, I'll never forget the night we spent in that abandoned hut. You gave me your warmth and comfort when I was most afraid. And now I think from time to time, when I'm afraid I may have the courage to let another person know it. You've helped me to grow a lot."
Beckett lowered the letter and looked at Castle and smiled shyly at him.
"Thank you, Derrick."
Castle beamed back at her.
"Thank you, Darleen."
Beckett folded the letter and set it down on the table. Castle rose to his feet and Beckett also got up.
"Can I buy you a cup of coffee, Kate?" Castle asked.
"I thought you'd never ask, Castle." Beckett smiled.
XXX
Beckett and Castle walked side by side as they crossed the compound as they made their way to the mess tent. Castle noticed one or two people looking at them but he ignored their looks and turned to look at Beckett. He saw her looking about the compound with an anxious expression on her face.
"Are they staring at us?" Beckett asked from out of the corner of her mouth. "They're talking about us."
"So what if they are?" Castle replied.
Beckett looked at him with a quirked eyebrow.
"We're just two colleagues going over to the mess tent for a cup of coffee." Castle added. "Like, we've done a million times before."
"I guess you're right." Beckett conceded.
"Besides, let them talk all they want."
Beckett shot Castle a pointed look.
"Only two people really know what happened, and that's all that matters."
Beckett looked away as she considered his words. As much as she hated to admit it, Castle was right. A small part of her was worried about what people here at the 4077th were thinking or saying about their little adventure. She had seen the knowing looks directed at her when she and Castle had returned to the camp. One or two of the bolder people had even ventured to ask her about what had happened. Yet the more she thought about it, the more she realised she really did not care what people were saying or thinking. Only two people really knew what had happened, and that is what really mattered. A smile spread slowly across her face as she nodded her head.
Reaching the mess tent Castle stepped forward and opened the door for Beckett. She gave him a nod of thanks and walked into the tent and Castle followed her in.
The mess tent was starting to fill up with people now that lunchtime was approaching. Castle whispered in Beckett's ear and pointed to the table where Ryan, Esposito and Major Burke were sitting and eating. Beckett nodded her head and walked over to the table. She sat down at the farthest end of the table where there was some space. The men at the table nodded their greetings and continued eating, and made comments about the quality of the food that was served up. It would not have been lunch if there was not some remark about the quality of the food.
A minute later Castle arrived with two cups of coffee. He passed Beckett her cup and then sat down at the table beside Ryan, directly opposite Beckett.
"You not eating?" Ryan inquired.
"Not hungry." Castle replied. "I had some crackers and jam a little earlier."
Beckett had her cup of coffee half way to her mouth when she paused. She pressed her lips tightly to prevent the smile that threatened to appear on her face. She focused her eyes on the coffee not trusting herself if she looked at Castle.
Colonel Montgomery entered the mess tent and walked over to the table where his officers and company clerk were seated. He came to a stop at the head of the table. He looked at each of them a moment before he spoke.
"The Swedish MASH near Chorwon just heard about our arterial transplants." Montgomery announced.
"I don't want to hear the rest." Ryan said, setting his fork down.
"You guessed it." Montgomery grinned. "They want a demonstration."
Before the surgeons at the table had a chance to protest Montgomery raised a hand to silence them.
"I think, Castle and Beckett have done their duty." Montgomery continued. "Which leaves the two of you."
Major Burke threw down his fork angrily.
"Colonel, I refuse to run the risk of going through what the two of them went through." He intoned mournfully.
"They were bombed, wounded and hounded by the enemy." Ryan added, not looking pleased.
"And they came back bloody and limping." Esposito put in.
"Outside of one moment of glory in the operating tent, the whole trip was for them one gargantuan disaster." Burke finished.
As the others were complaining to the Colonel, Beckett had been staring down at her coffee she was holding in her hands. Slowly she lifted her gaze and looked across the table to Castle and found him smiling. Her lips curled upwards into a smile.
"What are you smiling at?" Major Burke asked, noticing Beckett's smile.
"I'm not smiling." Beckett replied, innocently.
Ryan looked at Castle and saw him smiling.
"What are you smiling at?" He said.
"This isn't smiling." Castle replied. "I'm serious."
Montgomery looked from Castle to Beckett and pursed his lips, trying to not to smile. He was pleased that his chief surgeon and head nurse had patched things up. He turned his gaze on Ryan.
"So, who is going to volunteer?" He asked. "Ryan?"
"Okay, okay. I'll do it." Ryan announced unhappily. "But when I come back, there better not be any smiling."
"Who's smiling?" Castle and Beckett said in unison, and continued to smile at each other.
XXXXX
There you have it, the end of this two-part story. I'd love to hear what you thought about this effort.
Con