38. "You fainted… straight into my arms. You know, if you wanted my attention you didn't have to go to such extremes."


His eyes fluttered open, brow furrowing as he tried to recall what had happened. He winced at the bright light, and blinked as his blurred vision started to come into focus. Lights. He was seeing lights. Bright lights. Rick Castle was staring up at bright lights. He narrowed his eyes, knitting his eyebrows together as he stared up at the uncovered ceiling of the bullpen.

"Get back, give him some air," came a familiar voice. It sounded like Ryan talking.

"All right, folks, show's over," that sounded like Esposito. "Let's get back to work."

Groaning, Castle attempted to move from his prone position on the floor, but something held him down. Arms. Someone was holding him, supporting his shoulder and neck. No. Not someone. It was Beckett. Detective Kate Beckett. She was murmuring soothing words in a quiet reassuring voice as she tenderly ran her fingers down the side of his face and brushing back the flop of hair over his forehead. Her palm went flat against his forehead and she sighed.

"Kate?" he croaked, coming to.

"There you are," she said with a soft smile.

"What… what happened?"

Kate smirked, her hazel eyes alighting with amusement. "You fainted… straight into my arms," she explained.

"I… what?"

"You know, if you wanted my attention you didn't have to go to such extremes," Kate said, lips pursing as she held back a laugh.

"What can I say, I'm my mother's son," he declared with a wiry grin, regaining his senses.

Kate bit her lower lip and rolled her eyes at that, but inclined her head in agreement nonetheless. Castle sucked in a breath and with her help sat up. His hand immediately came up to cradle the side of his head.

"Take it easy, babe," Kate insisted, placing a hand on his shoulder to help keep him steady. Her other hand came up to gently caress his cheek. "You bumped your head pretty hard."

Castle winced as he glanced around the crowded bullpen. The other detectives and officers were all back at their stations, though none were really trying all that hard to pretend to actually be working. Damn rubberneckers. He groaned, and rubbed his forehead.

"I guess I should really watch where I'm going," he said with a self-deprecating smirk.

"That you should, Castle," Kate concurred with a soft smile, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Or you can just stop staring at my ass whenever you follow me out of the room."

"I was not—," he stopped short at her pointed look. "Okay… I'll admit it, I was staring. But can you blame me? You're just so… so hot. I'm overwhelmed by it."

"Sure, babe, whatever you say," Kate pursed her lips, trying hard not to laugh. "But, just so you know, you're not so bad yourself. I'll admit I have trouble not staring when you saunter around."

A cocky grin grew across his face. "Really?"

Kate stared at him for a long moment before smirking. "Shut up," she insisted, "unless all you want to do is look for the next month."

Castle bobbed his head, a little bit too enthusiastically.

Kate's smile grew wider as she shook her head. "All right, let's get you up and get some ice on that head of yours before it starts to swell." And then added, under her breath, "It's big enough already."

She helped him up, one hand resting on the small of his back to help steady him. Castle draped an arm over her shoulder and casually leaned against her.

"You make a pretty good nurse," he whispered in a suggestive manner.

"Yeah?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow and an amused expression on her face. "Well, if you behave the rest of the day, maybe I will help nurse you back to health when we get home tonight."

"Then behave I shall," he grinned excitedly.

Kate bit her lower lip and shook her head, disbelieving, but was unable to keep the same excitement and subtle arousal from streaming out of her eyes when she glanced over at him.

"God, I'm so lucky to have you as my wife, Mrs. Castle," he declared as they walked towards the break room.

Kate grinned and said with a cheerful expression, "You'll get no argument from me, Mr. Beckett."