This one's not about the sex. This one's all about the love.
"Jim!"
"Rick, how are you?"
"How do you think?"
Jim nodded in understanding.
"Is it just you?"
"Yeah, Ryan and Alexis were here - mother, Esposito and Lanie even popped in when they heard but I sent them all home. Did you just get here or - "
"Uh, no, I've already been filled in by the Doctors and in to see Katie."
"How is she?"
"She's fine. She's sleeping now but she told me to tell you that the morphine is working exceptionally well, not to do anything stupid and that she'll see you in the morning."
"She might be a little late on that last point."
"Yes, I heard about your little escapades from the nurse who came to check on Katie when she was asleep. Did you really try to sneak in six times?"
"Seven. They threatened to escort me off the premises."
"That's why I'm here. They're letting me sleep in the room with Katie, on a little bed they have for family members and I've come to sneak you in."
"Why, Jim Beckett, are you breaking the rules?"
"It's a silly rule, not legally enforceable unless you present a threat to the patient. You should be able to visit your girlfriend in the hospital on Christmas Eve. It's not like she's in the ICU."
Castle grinned.
Jim walked a few steps ahead of Castle, keeping looking out and signalling him to hide when there was someone coming. Finally, they made it to her room. Her bed was separated from Jim's, which was much lower, by a curtain.
"Why don't I give you two some privacy?' said Jim, sliding the curtain once Castle had approached her bed.
Castle sighed in relief as he sat, peering down at her.
Aside from a few cuts and bruises, she looked ok.
He took her hand. It was cold. He kept it, safe warm and protected in his, keeping watch of his beloved.
"Mr. Castle?"
"Mflfm."
"Mr, Castle, my shift is about to end and the next nurse may not be so understanding."
Castle yawned and stretched. It was morning and a young nurse was smiling at him with understanding.
He nodded.
"Visiting hours start at nine. It's six now. That should give you enough time to go home, change... maybe fetch a Christmas present if you got her one."
"Thank you."
"Hey, it's Christmas." She left.
When he tried to take his hand away, she stirred, squeezing tighter.
He chuckled and finally managed to pry it away, planting a kiss on her forehead.
The first thing she was aware of was the smell of coffee. The second thing was a warm hand in hers. She opened her eyes, blinking as they adjusted to the light, smiling when they found Castle's.
"Hey," she sighed sleepily.
"Hay," he smiled back. "Merry Christmas, Sweet heart."
"Merry Christmas. She peered down behind him at the bed.
"Where's Dad?"
"Having breakfast at the Cafeteria."
"Is he ok?"
"Oh, yeah, he's just..."
"What?"
"Well, apparently, those little beds aren't very comfortable. He was rubbing his hip. He didn't say anything but I think he was in a little bit of pain."
"Oh, no."
"It's not your fault."
"I know."
"If it was up to me, I would have switched places with him."
'Yeah, I know. I was talking to Dad about that last night. We both agree it's a good idea if I make you my next of kin."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it makes sense. You're closer, you're with me most of the time anyway and... if anything like this ever happens again, I want you around."
"I did get to be there for you this time. Your Dad helped me sneak in and I got to sleep next to you here in this chair for a little while."
She smiled.
"That's nice."
"It'll be even nicer when I get to take you home - if that's ok with you."
"Of course - but can you do me a favour?"
"Anything."
"Can you go into my personal belongings and grab me something?"
He complied, setting the coffee down on the table next to her bed. "What am i looking for."
"A small present wrapped in Christmas paper with the words: "To Castle from Kate" stuck to it.
He grinned and fished for it like a an excited schoolboy. It was small and thin.
He sat back down.
"Here, open yours at the same time," he said, handing her something round wrapped in purple wrapping paper. Beckett thought she had an idea of what it might be, and wasn't disappointed when she opened it to find it was a baseball signed by Joe Torre.
Castle, on the other hand, was completely surprised to open his present to find a very official, authentic looking - and feeling - police badge with the words: NYPD: Honorary Detective on it.
"Wow, Castle, thank you. My Dad's gonna freak."
"Kate." His voice was low and throaty.
"How did you...?"
"I know a guy who used to make the real ones. I pulled him out of retirement to call in a favour."
"Kate, the badge number..."
"Yeah, it's 41319, same as mine - so if you try to use it for real, Castle, I'll find out about it."
He stared in stunned awe. "Kate... this is amazing." He leaned down and gently kissed her.
Three weeks later
"Castle was taken by surprise when he came home to find a candlelit dinner waiting for him while his favourite Marvin Gaye song played in the background as Beckett stood before him, wearing his favourite sexy black nighty. He dropped the keys.
"What's this?"
"It's a celebration, she said, closing the door behind him. "I've been officially cleared to go back to work - as well as resuming ... all other activities that my injury prevented me from participating in."
He gulped, but his stunned expression soon turned to a knowing smile.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
He kissed her deeply and swept her up into his arms.
"I made dinner.
"Is the oven still on?"
"No."
"We'll heat it up later," he said, as he took her to the bedroom and lay her down on his bed, engulfing her mouth with his as she stripped him bare and he did the same for her, only having to worry about one item of clothing.
And then he was inside of her again, where he belonged, and she was pliant and athletic and whole, He wasn't hurting her - quite the contrary, by the sound of her moaning as she gripped his shoulders, ankles pushing into his rear to his established rhythm.
"Castle, Castle," she gasped as he rubbed her clit with one hand , taking a nipple in his mouth. "I missed this."
"So did I," he whispered back, as they came together.
