Disclaimer: They're not mine. I'm only borrowing them for the summer. Andrew Marlowe is doing a spectacular job. Way better than I could ever do.

A/N: Apologies for the delay. I was in London this past week. Thank you for all the gentle nudges to update and the lovely reviews.


And All The Mornings Ever After

Chapter 8 – What Are Best Friends For?

The bedroom was quiet, cool, washed with the intermittent stripes of afternoon sunlight that filtered through the gaps in the blinds.

Kate and Castle were lying together in bed, resting, and talking quietly about Lanie's earlier phone call while they waited for her to arrive.

Castle stroked Kate's arm, the repeated rhythm of his fingertips moving across the surface of her skin having a hypnotic effect on both of them. For Castle it was the simple, intimate act of being able to touch her just like this - freely. For Kate it was more physical, as if she could feel every whorl, every arch and loop that formed the unique friction ridge pattern of his fingerprints. The sensation aroused and yet soothed her, and she had just let her eyes fall closed when they heard the sharp knock on the front door.

"Lie still," said Castle, kissing her lightly before he got up, crawling backwards off the bed. "Be right back," he promised.

"Don't let her bully you for details," warned Kate, rolling onto her side to watch him go. "She's been waiting years for this, and she can get pretty vicious when she wants to be," she said, with a lazy smile.

"Don't worry. It'll take better than Lanie Parish to break me," replied Castle, giving her a wink.

"You're a brave, foolish man, Richard Castle," Kate called after him, knowing just how persistent her friend could be.


By the time Castle got halfway through his office, Alexis was at the front door, unlocking it and swinging it open.

"Lanie," she said, surprised to see her boss standing out in the hallway. "Oh, you must be here to see Kate?" she realized, sounding momentarily disappointed.

"How're they doin'?" asked Lanie, earning a smile from Alexis for treating her like an adult by immediately drawing her in to her confidence about Kate and her dad.

"Mentally? Best shape I've seen them in, I guess. At least in front of me. They seem much closer…united, like a proper couple," said Alexis, after a moment's thought. "But it just seems…I don't know…kind of sudden? And physically? Kate's…well, you should probably see for yourself. Since I'm no expert. But she's badly bruised, looks like she's in a lot of pain, oh, and she fainted before lunch, after she got out of the tub," confessed Alexis. "Dad tried to pass it off as just the heat from the bath or lack of food, but I'm not sure," she said, a worried frown creasing her forehead.

"Thanks. That's helpful, Alexis. And how're you doing?" Lanie asked kindly.

"Me?" asked Alexis, surprised to be asked.

"Yeah. Kate sounded pretty loved up on the phone. You been hiding out in your room?"

Alexis laughed in relief. "How'd you guess? Yeah…I'm…Kate was pretty honest with me earlier. I was horrible, a real brat to her, but she didn't back down. I have to respect her for that. She didn't treat me like a kid. Answered all my questions. I just hope she means what she says."

"Alexis, she loves your dad. I know that much. Maybe it took her a while to tell him. But she loves him and she's one of the most loyal people I know. So, give her a chance, hmm? I'm sure she'll prove herself to you."

Alexis blushed.

"She shouldn't have to prove herself to me. I know she's a good person. That she's brave, and strong, and fights for what she believes in. I just wish she had let my dad in sooner. He's just been waiting around for her to like, notice him, and she hurt him, Lanie, more than once. That's been really hard to watch; seeing him humiliate himself like that over her."

"But that's all over now, Alexis. You have to let the past go if that's what your dad has decided to do. Give them a chance."

"Give whom a chance?" asked Castle, striding out of the office as if he hadn't just heard the rest of the conversation between his daughter and the M.E.

"Never you mind," said Lanie sassily, putting her arm around Alexis' shoulders. "How about a cup of coffee for your boss?" she asked, ensuring the girl was occupied in the kitchen so that Lanie could speak to her dad alone.


"So…how much of that did you hear?" she asked Castle, raising an eyebrow at him.

Her gaze was penetrating and direct.

Castle swallowed thickly. God, Kate was right. Lanie was one tough, perceptive cookie.

"Fine. I'm guessing all of it," replied Lanie, when Castle didn't immediately reply. "How's my girl doing? And I want the truth, Castle. Not whatever fairy story you've been feeding Alexis."

"She's in pain, just like I described on the phone, and she's pretty banged up all over actually. Her back looks…" he winced, eyes clouding over as he thought about the contusions marring her pale, perfect skin.

"Okay. That's…why don't you just take me to her so I can judge for myself, huh?" suggested Lanie softly, laying a comforting hand on Castle's arm. "But before we do that, tell me, how are you doing?"

Just like Alexis, Castle was surprised to be asked this question. He seemed to waver a little before answering Lanie, unsure how much to reveal to her.

"I'm…kinda punch drunk, actually," he admitted, letting out a breath. "It's like all my Christmases came at once…"

"But?" prompted Lanie, seeing the whisper of uncertainty in his eyes, the struggle.

"I'm…suspicious."

"Of Kate?" asked Lanie, a little surprised.

"Not, no…that's… That sounds awful, when you put it like that. Just, it would break my heart if she changed her mind," he said frankly.

"Come over here. Sit," said Lanie, drawing Castle over to his own sofa. "What makes you think she'll change her mind?"

"I…I don't know. Just…ever have something happen that just seemed too good to be true?"

"Try me. Explain. What's the problem?" asked Lanie, sympathetically.

Castle sighed, letting out an exhausted knot of emotion.

"I went to see her yesterday…at her apartment, and she wouldn't let this crusade go, even after I told her that I loved her, and explained that if she didn't stop pursuing this thing they would kill her. And even after all that, she let me walk away, like everything else was so much more important. So when she showed up here last night…I…I thought I'd break if I touched her. Here she was, finally throwing herself at me and I wanted to hold her at arms length, keep her away from me, because I knew that as soon as I touched her…I wouldn't be able to stop," he explained, his face stricken at the memory.

He broke off abruptly, suddenly seeming to realize just whom he was confessing all to. He passed a hand over his face, clearly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said any of that. I'm sorry, Lanie, that was…"

"Hey. Hey! I've been here Castle, for all of this. Watching you and Kate dance around one another, flirt in my morgue, do that crazy back-and-forth thing that you do so well…fall in love. So don't apologize. I know how you feel, a little anyway, and if it's any comfort, I know how she feels about you. I've known her for a lot of years, and I've never seen her this way over anyone before. So follow your heart, Castle. She's not going to break it."

"I know. I…"

"You can trust her," she said gently.

"I do! Oh, Lanie, I do. It's not…" he said quickly, horrified she might think otherwise.

"Then trust yourself."

Castle nodded, taking her point.

"And do this right, Castle. Talk to her. Tell her what you need. Make her listen, and get her to talk back. Don't mess up like Javi and I…"

Castle listened intently to Lanie while she talked, and then he squeezed her shoulder in gratitude when she finished.

"Lanie, this is not going to slip through my fingers. No matter how hard. This is…she's it. Everything," he said, looking more serious than Lanie had ever seen him before.

"Then you're gonna be just fine. Both of you," said Lanie, pulling Castle into a hug.

"But I'm warning you," she added, wagging a finger in his face. "If she picks out some ugly ass bridesmaid dress for me…you tell her I'm never speaking to her again."

Castle laughed in surprise at the change to Lanie's tone, and the assumptions she was making. The tension in the room eased considerably.

"Now how about we go see our girl, before she comes out here looking for us?" the M.E. suggested.


Lanie tapped on the bedroom door before opening it slowly.

Kate had propped herself up in bed and was sitting with her knees drawn up towards her chest.

"Hey, girl. How're you doing?" asked Lanie softly, coming round to Kate's side of the bed to give her a gentle hug.

"Hi Lanie," she greeted her friend. "I'm pretty good, considering."

Castle had followed Lanie into the bedroom and he now hovered near the door.

Though some small, damaged portion of his heart tried to hold him back, he couldn't seem to stay away from her today. An invisible magnetic pull drew him to her, without words, without a look or a sound. He just needed…

"She looks good, don't you think?" said Castle supportively, wandering to the opposite side of the bed to sit down next to Kate, up by her hip.

"Well don't you two look cute in your little matching outfits," remarked Lanie, looking at the pair of them sitting side-by-side, both still wearing Castle's navy blue sweats and similar grey tee shirts.

Kate blushed even as she glared at her friend.

Castle ignored the M.E. and kissed her tenderly, delicately curling a finger behind her ear then trailing it down along her jawline to her chin as she leaned into him, lips soft, barely brushing, breathing the same air.

Lanie didn't even pretend to look away. She just watched them, a soppy grin replacing her normal tough girl expression.

"I'll leave you two alone," he said, when he broke the kiss, assuming Kate would want some privacy while Lanie examined her.

Castle finally backed away until all that joined them were the tips of their fingers, arms held out towards one another at full stretch.

"Why don't you put him down, Kate," admonished Lanie with a smirk, "and let me take a look at you," she instructed.

Kate blushed again. Castle barked out a laugh, and then finally left the room, throwing a smile over his shoulder at her.

"Yell if you need anything," he added, reluctant to leave her even for a short while.


"That man is crazy in love," noted Lanie. "And looking at your face, he's not the only one," she remarked, eyeing Kate frankly.

"I'm not even gonna argue with you today, Lanie. Because I'm too exhausted, and, even if I did, I'd be lying," Kate admitted with a tired smile.

"I'm so proud of you, honey" said Lanie, hugging her again.

Kate winced from the pain of her friend's touch, drawing back to looking enquiringly at her.

"Proud? What for?"

"For telling him. Finally, Kate. You both look…"

"Shattered?" offered Kate.

"Yeah," laughed Lanie, "well that, and just…right," she added. "Like this is where you were always meant to be."

"Feels that way," her friend admitted, nodding as she plucked at the comforter with her fingers, a shy smile on her face. "But I think maybe Rick's gonna take a little convincing."

"He's…yeah, he said as much."

"I messed this up, Lanie. So badly and for so long. I hate what I've done to him. All the crap I put him through. Like I was testing him to see if he was worthy of me or something. What right in hell did I have to do that? To Castle of all people," she said, frowning ferociously. "He's such a good man, and I nearly drove him away with my obsession, and my stupidity, and my walls," said Kate, her face mirroring the stricken expression Lanie had just witnessed on Castle's face.

"But Kate, you didn't mess it up. And that's the point. The only point. You fixed it. You told him. You chose him in the end, girlfriend. Now you just have to take a little time to reassure him. But that's gonna be the fun part, right?" said Lanie, winking at Kate.

Kate took Lanie's points on board, nodding silently to herself.

"So how about I check you over so I can leave you two alone to reassure one another some more?" Lanie twinkled.

"Do I get a certificate or something? Cause I don't think Castle's gonna let me near him without some kind of medical clearance," said Kate with a tired, amused smile.

"Let me take a look and I'll tell you exactly what you can and can't do to lover boy."

"Eh, how about we keep it G rated. Alexis is out there, remember? The walls…well, let's just say assume everyone can hear anything you say around here, okay?"

Kate lifted her shirt and Lanie helped her to ease it over her head. Her face fell when she saw the state of Kate's back; the large dark bruises, the lacerations near the top of her spine.

"He got you good, honey," she remarked, fingers lightly skimming Kate's skin, examining as she went. "Back seems fine though. Superficial, even though I'm sure it hurts like a bitch. Nothing a little arnica and some time won't heal."

Next Kate lay down on her back to let Lanie examine her stomach and ribs. The ice pack had reduced some of the swelling on her left side, though the bruising still looked awful.

Lanie pressed tentatively around the injured area, testing both Kate's ribs and the soft tissue beneath them.

"Well, your ribs don't seem to be broken."

Kate let out a sigh of relief.

"But?" she asked.

"They're badly bruised, and with what you said earlier about the pain being worse when you breathe in, and the fainting…"

Kate interrupted her.

"Wait, how do you…oh, Castle," nodded Kate, "of course."

"No, actually. Little Castle's worried about you too. She told me," said Lanie, nodding at Kate when she raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"So…as I was sayin' before you interrupted me. With the fainting, left-side tenderness, nausea, I'd say your spleen probably took a direct hit. But I don't think it's anymore than bruised. If you start vomiting, you call me. Okay? Otherwise, take it easy. Let Castle take care of you, Kate, and save swinging from the chandelier for another day. Gentle sex is fine if you feel up to it."

"Lanie," groaned Kate, covering her face with her hands.

"What? You wanted a certificate, that's the best you're gonna get from me," said Lanie, grinning at Kate's embarrassment.

Kate pulled her shirt back over her head and smoothed it down.

"Thanks for coming over. I really appreciate it. I know Castle would only fuss and worry if I let him. Hopefully this will put his mind at rest."

"You're gonna have to put his mind at rest, Kate. You, honey."

"I know. Don't think I don't…I do. I know," repeated Kate, shaking her head. "I can do it now, Lanie. I've got to. He's too important not to."

"Good girl."

"You know he's out there pacing, right?" said Kate, her smile suddenly breaking out like sunshine.

"Shall we put him out of his misery? You wanna call him or shall I?"

"Castle?" said Kate, not raising her voice very much at all, because as she suspected, Castle was hovering just out in his office, walking the floor from door to window and back.

He appeared with obscene haste.

"Yeah?" he asked, his voice and face bearing the same anxious expression, sounding a little breathless despite a complete lack of exertion.

"She's gonna be just fine," said Lanie, watching his features relax in relief. "Just…nothing too energetic for a few days," hinted Lanie, with a suggestive smirk.

"Got it," said Castle, smiling at Kate, who let out a groan of embarrassment. "Not a problem."

When Castle and Kate failed to break eye contact, the soft look on their faces mirroring one another, Lanie knew it was her cue to leave.

"How about I come by tomorrow? We can talk some more. And you can tell me what's going on with those boys, about the job and everything," she suggested, acknowledging that these two had plenty to deal with for one day.

"Great. That would be…thanks, Lanie," said Kate gratefully, swinging her attention back to her friend.

When Kate made to get up from the bed Lanie stilled her with a hand to her shoulder.

"You two stay here. I can show myself out. Give me a chance to say goodbye to my protégée anyway," she said, winking at Castle.

"No way is my daughter cutting up dead people for a living," said Castle, with mock outrage. "So don't encourage her, Dr. Parish."

"Oh, so I'm good enough to check over your girlfriend, but I can't mentor your daughter?" she joked, pulling Castle into a rough hug.

"You take care of her, you hear?" she warned him. "And be good to each other," she added, backing out of the room with a wave.


Now that they were alone again, Castle climbed back up onto the bed next to Kate, resting against the headboard beside her. He put his arm around her and drew her gently in against his side until her head was resting on his shoulder. He kissed her crown, reveling in the warmth and weight of her against his body, relaxed and completely willing.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he whispered, flexing his fingers against her arm. "I'm so glad you're okay, Kate," he repeated, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Hey," whispered Kate, turning onto her side so she could nestle closer into his body. "We're okay. Both of us, Castle. We're okay. You hear me?" she murmured, pressing her lips to the bare skin of his arm, his neck, his jaw in reassurance.

He folded himself around her, guiding them both down until they were lying flat, entwined in one another.

"Stay with me tonight?" he asked, his voice betraying the worry that had been tugging at his heart since he'd woken up next to her this first glorious morning after.

Kate lifted her head to look at him, finding his shining blue eyes, uncertainty swimming right there on the surface. She drew up a little, getting closer to him. Her lips skimmed the soft curve of his mouth, and she watched his eyes drift closed at her touch.

"I'm not going anywhere, Rick," she whispered against his cheek. "Not going anywhere," she repeated, hoping he understood. Hoping he believed her.

His arms tightened around her body in reply and the room grew silent once more.


"She said gentle sex was okay, right?" asked Castle, after a moment, the levity returning to his voice.

Kate smiled into his tee shirt, her grin hidden in its soft cotton folds.

"And she's a doctor, right? So, she should know," said Kate, resting her cheek against his chest.

"A doctor, right," agreed Castle. "Passed the medical, Miss Beckett. Fit for active duty," he said proudly.

"How about you make me dinner, and then later…" she said seductively, her fingers curling around the back of his neck, the other encircling his wrist as her tongue traced the seam of his mouth.

"Later?" purred Castle, opening is mouth to allow her access.

"Mmmm, later…" murmured Kate, pressing her body down on top of his.

Castle's hands settled at her waist, holding her on top of him, focusing on her mouth, her glorious tongue, her heart beating against his chest, all of it life affirming.

"Food, then later," Kate hummed into his ear, sucking on the plump softness of his lobe.

"Deal," he whispered, tugging her against him while trying so hard to be good, so that later didn't turn into now.

Because after four years of waiting for this, for Kate, he needed every ounce of self control he could muster to stop himself from rocking his hips into hers right then, as she moved above him, slowing her kisses until only her breath caressed his damp lips.

"Deal," she whispered back, her smile seeking shelter against his neck. "So feed your girlfriend, Castle. Cause she's hungry," said Kate, raising herself up on her knees beside him with a crazy, happy grin on her face as she reached out her hands to draw him up after her.

A/N: Still enjoying this? Please let me know.