I know I'm a cruel tease but it's the first thing in this update, other than this of course, I just hope it was worth the wait! Thank you once again for your reviews and please continue to enjoy and comment each one makes me want to write more!
Lying on top of a blanket on the floor, he sighed as she lay asleep in his arms, dressed only in her underwear and an open shirt, his fingers lingering over the words carved so brutally into her lower abdomen, he was amazed there wasn't any internal damage. Castle's Cop Whore! His fingers continued to run over the top of each letter gently, his goal not to wake her but to familiarize himself with the injury, to get himself over it so he could be strong for her because she was the one who needed the shoulder to cry on. She'd sobbed in his arms when she'd showed him and had quickly fallen asleep when all her tears had dried up and there were no more left. He couldn't help but blame himself for everything. He'd caused her pain. Yes, he hadn't been the one to cut into her but his name was involved in both of her extreme injuries, the red marks on her shoulder and abdomen indicating how painful it was however much Kate tried to say it wasn't. He wanted to go into prison and kill him for hurting his Kate. For scarring her. For calling her a whore!
"I don't blame you for thinking I'm disgusting" she mumbled causing him to look up at her, finding himself drowning in her watery green eyes. "I have to agree with you there".
"You are not disgusting Kate" he declared as she stared at him, the tears in her eyes getting worse. "You are the most beautiful woman ever, I don't know how many times I have to tell you before you realise it but I will tell you every minute of every day if I have to" he announced before kissing her. "I love you Kate, I love your kindness and compassion for people, your strength and control, I love how beautiful you are inside and out, I just love YOU Kate" he declared causing her to smile at him. "I just wish you could see how much".
"I just can't see how you can love someone like me now, someone who looks like this" she whispered causing him to look down at her practically naked figure except for the black material of her underwear. "One day when we actually..." she began before stopping.
"Have sex?" he asked causing her to nod as she shut her eyes.
"You're not going to want to touch me or look at me because you won't see the me you fell in love with, you'll just see a victim who's scarred and ruined" she mumbled causing him to sigh as he sat up and pulled her onto his lap.
"Kate Beckett when we have sex you don't have to worry about me not wanting to touch or look at you, I love everything about you scars and all and personally they just add to the attraction, he wanted me to hate them but they just remind me of how brave you are and your courage is one of the things I love about you" he whispered before kissing her. "And anyway if I was going to have anyone as my whore it would always be you" he declared causing her to smile as he smiled at her, pressing a kiss on the end of her nose. "But you're not a whore so don't even think about it".
"Rick" she whispered as he hugged her, her head resting against his shoulder slowly as he sighed. "I love you" she mumbled before his phone started to ring, a small groan leaving his lips as he grabbed it and sighed.
"Castle" he moaned before hearing the sound of Lanie shouting at Esposito.
"Just shut it for a minute, hey Castle how's our girl?" Lanie asked causing Rick to stare at Kate who was looking at him.
"Opening up" he whispered as Kate stood up and started to button up his shirt that was draped over her body. "I think we're getting somewhere now Lanie" he declared as Lanie sighed.
"Well we, meaning me and the guys, were wondering if she'd be alright for us to come over with Chinese, we're worried" Lanie announced causing Rick to look up at her as she stood there staring at the pictures on the wall. "I mean if it's too much we don't mind waiting till she feels more like herself but we just wanted to see her".
"I'll ask" he whispered before getting off the floor and walking over to her, his arm wrapping around her waist. "Lanie and the guys want to come over with take out, okay with you?" he asked causing her to stare at him. "You choose Kate, no one's forcing you" he whispered as she sighed.
"They can come as long as they don't mention it or ask if I'm okay" she declared causing him to smile, going to talk again but stopping as she grabbed his hand. "I only want to talk about it to you Rick, I don't want anyone else knowing".
"I promise, no one will mention it" he whispered before kissing her and smiling, bringing the phone to his ear once more as he continued to hold her against him. "Lanie it's fine, just promise that none of you will mention the case or ask if she's alright otherwise your all kicked out" he declared causing Kate to shut her eyes.
"Okay we'll be there in ten" Lanie announced before hanging up.
"Are you sure you're alright with this?" he asked causing her to hold his hand.
"There my family Rick, anyway it's only dinner and I have you to protect me from anything bad" she whispered as he nodded. "I better go and change into something sensible, will you help me with my bandages?" she mumbled before walking towards the door, quickly followed by him. She wanted to see people, surely that meant something?
Next Chapter: Dinner with Lanie, Esposito and Ryan. Will it go okay? I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I'm not happy with it at all but oh well! Please review as there always wonderful to read.