DISCLAIMER: Don't own 'em. Want to, but sadly balance of account has gone to the power bill this week-damn those toaster ovens and electric blankets.
Kate Beckett, more than anything, hated being treated like a child. Mostly, this wasn't an issue she had to deal with very often, because most people took one look at her face and decided to alter their modus operandi, stat.
Castle, unfortunately, didn't fall into the Most People category.
"You've been pushing way too hard on this thing, Kate. You've got to be able to take a breath occasionally."
Kate gritted her teeth. "I am breathing, Castle. Although for you that option is rapidly becoming unavailable."
He glanced at her, back to the road. "And, you're cranky. This does not lend itself well to a Detective-Writer relationship."
She snorted, trying to ignore the dull thumping in her head. "Well, considering we don't actually have a Detective-Writer relationship, your complaint is officially duly noted and ignored."
"Ow."
She rolled her eyes, and turned to stare out the window.
"You're angry at me for dragging you away from the case."
She spoke to the window. "I'm not angry, Castle."
It was his to turn to laugh. "Really? Because you're giving an excellent performance of Mary Sunshine over there."
She blinked in disbelief, anger spiking through her and making her head start to pound harder. He really just said that, didn't he?
"Oh, I'm sorry, Castle. Are you feeling neglected? Did you want me to hang on your every word, be on my very best behaviour twenty-four/ seven? I'm really devastated that my dead victim has to take precedence over your-your-"
She hesitated, biting the words back.
Castle looked over at her, anger beginning to glint in his eyes. "What? My what?"
She glared at him. "Ego stroking!"
He laughed, too loudly. "Oh my god, that's what you think this about? Poor Castle is so needy he needs to be first in the queue all the time? I can't believe you have that low an opinion of me-"
She bit her lip. "Castle-"
"-All I want is for you to be honest with me for once. I don't care if you feel like crap, but don't sit there, and look me in the eye, and tell me you're five by five, because you're not, and I can see it, and you do this relationship we have a disservice by not allowing me to be there for you!"
She fisted her hands in her lap. "Castle-"
He thumped his hands against the wheel. "-God, you are the most frustrating women I have ever met."
She flared. "You want me to tell you what I'm thinking? Even if it hurts you?"
"I want you to be honest. I-"
"-I don't think this is appropriate. You, taking me home."
Castle stopped speaking.
She took a careful breath. "Castle-"
"Don't." One word, pushed at her.
"Okay." She said it quietly, staring sightlessly ahead of her.
Neither of them spoke until Castle pulled up outside her apartment.
He turned off the car, and then sat looking out the windshield.
She watched him for a moment, then nodded. Fine.
"Thank you for the ride."
He didn't say anything as she got out of the car, but as she walked towards her apartment building she heard his door slam.
"Why is it such a big deal that I took care of you?"
She turned around to find him leaning against the passenger door, and she would have felt frustrated that he was looking at her like she had the answers to everything, except he also had another expression on his face as he looked at her.
He's upset. She sighed. Damn it.
She took a couple of steps back towards him, wrapping her coat tighter around herself.
"I can't let anyone take care of me."
He spread his hands, frustrated. "Why the hell not?"
"If I let someone in, let them be there for me, I'll get used to it."
Castle frowned. "And that's a bad thing because you're phobic about back rubs and extra cups of coffee?"
The corner of her mouth quirked before she could stop it. "I'll get used to it, Castle. And then, when that someone I've let in leaves, then I'll have to get used to being alone all over again. I told you- I'm a one-and-done kind of girl."
Castle nodded. "Huh."
She raised her brows. "Was that a, huh, I've achieved enlightenment and Kate can go to sleep now, or a huh, I'm still angry?"
He raised his brows back. "That was a huh, Kate cares if I'm angry?"
She shook her head, watching him. "I care if you're angry, Castle. And I'm sorry I've been...off. These cases hit me in the solar plexus sometimes, and sometimes I forget to let people know I've taken a punch."
She stepped closer, offered her hand. "No hard feelings?"
He looked at her outstretched hand, looked at her.
"Seriously? A handshake?"
She gritted her teeth. "Seriously."
He tutted at her, shaking his head. "I can see I'm going to have to teach you how this is done. Put your hands in the air."
She blinked. "What?"
He gave her a hurry up gesture. "Let's go, time's a wasting. Put your hands in the air."
Mystified, she slowly raised her hands.
Castle pushed off from the passenger door and stepped toward her, holding her gaze.
"Now," He murmured, "No sudden movements."
Her stomach tightened. "Uh, Castle-"
"Shh." He stepped forward, past her outstretched hands, and folded her into a hug.
God, he's warm, was all she could think as, caught off guard, she placed her hands around his waist.
Castle spoke into her ear. "Now, I'm not going to stop trying to take care of you."
She tensed in his arms, and he stepped back, grinning at her.
Oooh.
"Castle-"
"-But you're welcome to try and stop me. Go to sleep, Detective."
"I-you-" She gave up. "Goodnight, Castle."
It crossed her mind as she headed into her building that she was running out of ideas to stop him jumping the fence and right over her rules and boundaries. She was also finding they never seemed to be as high once he ran into one.
She sighed, then grinned at herself, at how weirdly pleased she was he'd hounded her, tonight. Anyone would think you liked the man.
Author's note- Thank you so much for all the absolutely lovely read and reviews- I take note of everything sent though and I really appreciate your comments! Have a lovely week, all.
