Disclaimer: Umm, there's not a snowballs chance in hell that I could ever own these characters.
Authors Note:Continued thanks as always to those who read... and those who choose to continue to read... my first Castle Fanfic.
Previously on A Simple Search…
Moving purely on instinct that was probably honed from being a father, Castle was suddenly there to catch her. He had his arms under hers, and he kept all of her weight off her injured limbs. It probably helped that he was a head taller than her when she wasn't in heels. As they steadied themselves and took stock of the situation, they found themselves a little closer than they were used to being.
"She's going to kill me" was the thought that ran through Castle's mind in that moment, where they both held their breath as if waiting for some imagined dust to settle. Yet he couldn't help but notice, as they stood them immobile, that it actually felt pretty nice to hold someone again.
Chapter 8
"Castle?" She tried to sound slightly threatening but she'd lowered her voice to a whisper. She didn't want to make him instantly drop her after all; he had saved her from considerable pain. She refused to think it was for any other reason than self-preservation. Nope. Not a chance.
"Yes" Came an equally whispered reply.
Neither occupant of the room moved any more than to take a slightly laboured breath.
"You can put me down now. I would like something to eat if you don't mind" She was talking as if he was a wild animal likely to bolt at any moment, softly and slowly; Making sure of every word. Still totally to do with self-preservation of course; no other reason whatsoever.
He slowly lowered her to the ground properly, gently so as not to jar her injuries. She thought they would brush this little interlude under the carpet like so many others before it, but he surprised her by suddenly bending down to scoop up her legs in a swift but sure motion and began to carry her from the room before she had a chance to protest.
It didn't mean she couldn't protest once she got her sense back of course, "Castle…."
"I'm taking you to the couch so you're comfortable while I order some take-out. Chinese OK?" While she waited as he walked towards the sinfully comfortable couch, she wondered idly if everything he bought had to be sinfully comfortable but dismissed the thought as ridiculous and put it down to the remnants of drugs in her system.
Next she'd be sitting in his room wondering where he bought his bookcases and practically playing house while he made her breakfast in …..Whoa, OK, that'll do. Better stop those thoughts right there she decided. That sort of direction was always best left alone.
"Chinese is fine. Thanks Castle" He'd lowered her so she lay across the length of the couch and moved to put a cushion behind her back. Handing her the remote after clicking on the TV he wandered back towards the counter of the kitchen and his phone.
Turning to the TV she began flicking through the channels. Nothing held her interest for more than half a second. Glancing over towards the kitchen she could see Castle chatting to whoever had picked up the phone as if he knew them personally, which was typical of him really because he probably did. He finished up with a few words of thanks and turned to the coffee machine and began the ritual of making her coffee.
After she'd watched him work for once, albeit at making her coffee rather than his actual job of writing, he headed in her direction with a Nikki Heat mug full of her version of ambrosia, "I should thank you Castle, and I should do it now before I start feeling irritable and I become the worst house-guest you've ever had. I'm glad you were there today, even though I told you to stay away from that interview." She took the mug and inhaled the fumes as if she was an addict.
"I'm glad to be of service." He sipped from his own mug and glanced at the TV. He paused and took an obvious breath before saying what he obviously needed to get off his chest, "I know you don't want to be here, I know you think it'll be an awkward and uncomfortable place to recover, but I'll stay out of your way as much as I can. I promise. I just want to help."
She looked at the honest expression on his face and considering she didn't have much choice, decided that she'd let that go for now. "It's OK Castle, I've given up already; you don't need to worry about me trying to sneak off in the middle of the night or anything." After taking a long inhale of the heavenly aroma coming from her cup she took a sip and readjusted herself against the cushion at her back, "Besides, I need to find a suitable punishment for the website, so maybe waiting on me hand and foot will help me decide what that should be."
He looked surprised, "I thought you were OK about the website?"
"Well I was right up until I had to sit through that interview and then of course if it wasn't for that I wouldn't have ended up where I am now. Don't worry too much Castle; you're no good to me if you're incapacitated." She smirked at his surprised and now worried expression. Perhaps she could make lemonade out of the lemons she's been handed today, and even have a little fun while she did it.
To be continued...
