This is one of my longer chapters as it never wanted to end. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Castle or any of the characters.


Chapter 9 - Natalie Rhodes

She was being discharged. Finally.

None of her friends were coming to see her this morning. They had a pretty difficult case to solve, so they were going to arrive at Castle's loft at about seven-ish to have a get together with a few beers, and some orange juice for Kate. She was still on a fair amount on pain medication, and she didn't want to return to a hospital bed because she mixed alcohol and drugs. It was half past eleven and she was expecting Castle to arrive any minute with Alexis to pick her up and take her back to their place. It had been a while since she'd been to his place from her damaged recollection. She'd stayed at his when her apartment blew up, so she knew her way around which meant she wouldn't feel uncomfortable. Plus, she had Alexis to watch movies with while Castle continued with the job he was actually paid for, and even though she wouldn't admit it, she was looking forward to spending time with her favorite mystery novelist. She'd missed a lot and now was the perfect opportunity to catch up on latest events.

She was interupted from her thoughts when a red head bobbed towards her to give her a hug, being careful not to squeeze too hard. She automatically put her arms around her, holding her just as lovingly.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?"

"No, Lex. This is nice. Not had many hugs since being shot so it's nice to finally get one."

She heard a voice by the door. Big Castle had arrived.

"I would've given you a hug if it was what you wanted." He playfully pouted. They weren't exactly the huggy type, even if they were pretty close friends.

"So you can feel me up, Castle? Another time maybe." She winked at him and he responded by sticking out his tongue.

"I just need to get some clothes on. Lanie brought me some sweatpants and a loose shirt but I'm gonna need help getting them on."

She walked into the bathroom, followed by Alexis who had offered to help eagerly. Alexis was followed by Castle, who almost got a broken nose from the door rapidly closing in his face. With the teenager's help, Kate managed to get changed as Alexis spoke to her.

"Can I ask you something, Kate?"

She wasn't used to giving advice, but she loved Alexis too much to refuse.

"Sure. Anything you like, Lex."

"It's about staying at the loft." She was being secretive about her intentions, and naturally, Kate jumped to conclusions.

"If you don't want me there, just say, I'll be OK on my own-"

"Oh, no, it's not that. I'm happy you agreed. It'll be nice to have somene other than Dad and Grams to talk to for once. What I wanted to say was that I know something went down between you two before the funeral, and I don't know what it is and it's none of my business. I only know that you had an arguement, and it was a big one. He doesn't know that I know this, but he was throwing things around when he came home. He was distraught. There was broken glass on the floor and a big dent in the cover art for 'Heat Rises'. I don't blame you, I know you have a hard job and he can be incredibly annoying but when we were in that waiting room, he wouldn't leave. We had to bring him food, and even then he wouldn't eat it. We brought him a cup of coffee from his favorite place, and he almost broke down when we gave it to him. We were sat there with the possiblity of losing you and I could tell that if you didn't come back, my Dad would be gone too. He doesn't follow you around for research, we all know it. Nevermind, I've said too much. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have unloaded on you. I-"

"Hey, hey, it's OK. I don't know what happened before I got shot, but I know that I care about him. More than I should care about someone I work with and I'll do everything I can to make sure that you don't have to see him like that again, or worse even. OK?" Alexis nodded smiling a little. "C'mon, we should go out before he knocks the door down asking what we were talking about, if he hasn't eavesdropped already."

"That's my Dad. And thanks, Kate."

"No problem, Lex, now lets get out of here before I go crazy."

They stepped out into the room where Castle was sat on the bed on his iPhone, tapping the screen furiously.

"C'mon, Castle, you need to sign the papers seeing as I'll be staying with you."

He stood up, slipping his phone into his pocket and helped Beckett into the wheelchair. "Don't even try to argue about walking. If you refuse to use the chair, I'll just carry you instead."

She smiled at him and rolled her eyes. They signed the necessary paperwork and left the hospital via the front entrance to Castle's car. He helped her stand up while Alexis folded the wheelchair and put it in the trunk of the car. Before helping her into the passenger seat, Castle wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm getting that hug now and you're not stopping me."

She laughed quietly and put arms around him cautiously and tucked her face into his neck.

"I heard what you said in the bathroom." She pulled back for a second, angry at him for listening to them. He simply pulled her back to him. "I didn't eavesdrop intentionally. I wouldn't. The walls were just thin, OK?" He sighed before continuing. "I just wanted you to know that I care for you more than I should, too. I don't know what I'd have done if..."

"Shh, Castle. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Thank you for helping me through this. I couldn't have got this far without you." She kissed his cheek before hobbling to the car. He stood there for a few seconds, stroking the place where her lips had been and quickly hurried to help her get into her seat.


When they arrived at the apartment building, Castle once again helped her into the wheelchair, and she once again grumbled about it. When they were in the elevator, Castle spoke again. He'd been silent during the car ride whilst his daughter and Kate talked as though they were old friends.

"I've got a surprise for you, KB."

They exited the elevator and started to walk towards his front door.

"I doubt it, Castle. Nothing you do surprises me anymore."

He opened the door and smiled at her before wheeling her in to a chorus of "SURPRISE!"

"You were saying, Detective?"

"OK, Castle, so you still have the element of mystery." She grinned at him before tunring to see Martha, Jim, Lanie, Ryan, Esposito and even Jenny stood around with drinks, all with beaming smiles on their faces. Hung across the wall was a banner reading 'Welcome 'Home' Kate!' She noticed it was written 'Home' and couldn't help but laugh a little. All the furniture had been rearranged so it made a circle with a table in the middle so they could all sit and talk. Considering she couldn't drink alcohol and could barely stand unassisted, it obviously wasn't going to be a standard party. There were bouquets of flowers all around the room, each with their own individual note and scent. There were even a few gifts on the table in the middle, wrapped neatly or in small gift bags.

"I know you don't like fuss and that you're probably going to school me for it later, but I thought it'd be nice for you to be around all your family again after being cooped up in a hospital after almost dying. You might say you don't need a party, but maybe some of us do." Castle whispered into her ear. "OK?"

"I'll be good on one condition."

"Name it."

"I get to open my presents first."

He automatically stood up and wheeled her over to the seating area and helped her to sit on the sofa and got her a drink of OJ. Everyone else followed and eventually they were all laughing at Jenny's embarassing stories about Ryan.

Lanie interupted the laughter. "So, we all decided we'd get you a gift. Nothing special, just something to help you along with your recovery, and maybe the odd gag gift in there as well. But, you have to guess who it's from."

Kate reached for the first gift, a small bag with a gift card that read 'Effective against annoying writers'.

"Oh! I like the sound of this one." She opened it to find a can of police issue pepper spray. Castle immediately covered his eyes.

"Don't hurt me. I can't live without my eyesight." He grimaced as Beckett motioned for him to come closer to her. When her mouth was right next to his ear and teased him.

"Don't worry, Castle. I could always just cuff you to the bed and leave you there. You don't mind, do you?"

He moved so it was now his mouth next to her ear. "Trust me, Beckett. You don't have to leave me. You could just torture me a little."

"Ok. Stop talking. You two whisper very loudly." The turned to find a disgusted Alexis who was covering her ears with her hands so she couldn't hear their interraction. When Kate looked at Jim, she realised that he wasn't too pleased with what he'd just heard either. She just blushed and moved the topic along.

"I'm gonna guess that this is from Esposito. It's police issue, so it's got to be from either him or Ryan."

"You guess correctly. And if you need it, I could get you a taser for him too." She turned to looked at Castle, who was once again, horrified.

"You know, that would be great. But after last time, we, along with the FBI, learned that it's best not to leave him alone with a taser."

"How could I forget? Definitely a story for the grandkids. I think Jordan Shaw loved it really." Castle started to daydream.

"Yeah. Who couldn't love a guy who gave them mounds of paperwork because he can't control his urges to touch things."

"You know, Detective, I-"

"Don't. Finish. That. Sentence." He looked swiftly at Alexis and Jim again.

"Yeah. Better not. Open your next present."

She opened several more presents. She got a whole bunch of bath stuff from Lanie, with earplugs to block out Castle's moaning. From Alexis, she got several books, mostly crime novels, for her to read during her stay, as well as a promise that she could use her mini-library upstairs. From Jenny, she got several gift boxes full of chocolate and cookies and several recipes for a variety of healthy meals. Ryan, ever the joker, got an XL Maids outfit, hoping it would fit Castle. Unfortunately for Kate, he loved the idea.

"Should I go and try it on, model for you all?"

"Dad, please. Put that thing on, and I'm taking a picture and sending it to the press."

"Save it for Halloween, Castle. Would scare all the kids." Kate teased him as he feigned hurt.

There was a large bouquet of flowers on the table, much larger than any of the others. Reading the gift card, Kate became confused.

It's been a while, but I heard what happened. Hope you get better soon, I might need more tips on Nikki Heat! Love Natalie x

She glared at it for a few minutes. She didn't know any Natalie. Not since grade school, and that Natalie hadn't liked her all too much. "Do I know a Natalie? I can't think of anyone."

"They're from Natalie. That's nice of h-" Ryan stopped talking at the glare from Jenny. She'd ask why later.

"From Natalie Rhodes, the actress. She's playing you in Heat Wave. She came to the Precinct and helped on a case to get into the head of Nikki Heat. You invited her, but in the end, you couldn't wait for her to leave. They were definitely the weirdest few days in my life so far." Esposito explained.

"I completely agree, though I must say, it was hilarious seeing you in a temper tantrum because she took your coffee."

"Hey! I don't have temper tantrums. I'm 32, not 6."

Jim cut in before she could go any further. "One, Katie, you are 33. And two, I have home videos that prove that you have had your fair share of temper tantrums. Don't make me use them."

She went wide-eyed before replying. "If any home videos or photos end up in the hands of a certain mystery writer, I'll tell a few tales of my own."

He chuckled, obviously unfazed. "It's a shame that I don't care. I'm old enough that I don't get all that embarassed anymore, but I'll be glad to see if your storytelling skills have improved from being around Rick. For a cop, you're not very good at blackmail."

"Believe me, she's good. That's when there's any need for me to be blackmailed. I've gotten to that point where I know not to speak about certain events ever again, or I get my ass royally kicked." Castle turned, his face completely serious. Jim should've known Rick would know things about his daughter that no one else would.

"And don't you forget it. Tell me more about Natalie."

"She was nice for the first day, she helped us get a good lead in the case, then all of a sudden she steps of the elevator and her hair is brown, wavy and she's dressed in the kind of thing you'd wear. Then she started talking like you, ordering officers around and taking your coffee. No wonder Castle started to like her more. He had two Becketts. It was creepy." Ryan explained the main parts of the case.

"Sexy."

Kate turned to look at Castle, eyebrows raised. He was unaware that he'd said his last comment out loud.

"Not the only thing she stole though, was it Kev?"

Ryan and Esposito looked at each other and sniggered like a pair of kindergarteners. Meanwhile, Castle's face was just as confused as Kate's.

"What else did she steal?" Castle voiced his question.

"You, bro. Don't think we didn't see you and Natalie getting steamy in the elevator."

"Dude, you saw that?"

Kate was even more confused now than before.

"Saw what?"

"Castle kissed Natalie."

"She kissed me." Castle's arms were flailing widely, trying to make his point.

"You didn't exactly stop her. Don't blame you though." Eposito's comments earned him a slap from Lanie, which was returned with a quiet, "Sorry."

"She invited me back to her place afterwards and do you know what I said?"


"Can I ask you a question?"

Beckett was getting kind of annoyed by Natalie Rhodes at this point. She'd enjoyed her presence at first. It annoyed Castle that she didn't know who he was. But then she'd turned up the next day and equipped herself with a brunette wig and a black leather jacket. Just like her. Then she'd stolen her coffee and kissed Castle in the elevator. Castle wasn't hers, but it didn't mean Natalie could have him. Right?

"Sure." She sipped on her coffee, tilting her head back.

"Is Castle gay?" THAT, she was not expecting. Coffee was spat all over her desk. Castle? Gay? Where the hell did that come from?

"I'm sorry. What? No. No." Beckett couldn't help but wonder where this had come from. Castle was a womaniser. He was NOT gay.

"Then... You two are an item and sworn to secrecy, right?"

"No. We are not an item." She was getting used to telling people they weren't together. She was like a broken record. Thing was, this time she felt something after saying those words. The first thing that came to her mind was disappointment. But she had Josh. Her boyfriend. Why would she feel like that? "Why?"

Natalie sighed. "Last night, I invited him back to my place. And he says something to me that I've never heard from a man before."

"What?" Beckett was a little worried by her seriousness. Although she couldn't tell if she was acting. She was good at that.

"No."

"No?"

Was she hearing right? Castle had turned down the gorgeous actress, Natalie Rhodes? After years of sleeping with various women, she wasn't expecting that bombshell. No?

"I don't get it. He's into you. But you're determined not to give into these feelings you clearly have for him. So he fantasizes about you through his writing. It's literally verbal masturbation." She was serious. She'd been confronted about her 'feelings' before, but no one had ever quite put it like that before.

"Uh... Wait, what? OK. What does this all have to do with me?" First she was talking about 'gay' Castle and then she's talking about her and Castle as a couple.

"I am not wearing this get-up for my health. You're Nikki Heat. He's Jameson Rook. I need to sleep with him in the name of character research. Could you talk to him?"

She was asking for permission. This just got creepier. And she hadn't thought that was possible.

"And say what?"

"I dunno. Give him permission or something." She was actually asking for her blessing? Was this woman crazy? On drugs?

"Uh... I... I..." She was stuck for words. Speechless. Only Castle ever got her speechless with his crazy stunts and theories. "I need to go. Over there."

She followed the direction where her fingers were pointing without looking back, taking her coffee with her.


A chorus of Yes's flew across to room with him. All of them logically thinking that no man in their right mind would turn down Natalie Rhodes.

"He said no."

Everyone's attention flew to Kate, who was rubbing her temples with her fingers. They were all silent, knowing that she was remembering something.

"I think... I think Natalie spoke to me about it the day after. She was shocked that you said no." She stopped talking and started to chuckle, which eventually turned to full blown giggles.

"What?" Castle chuckled nervously.

After a few more seconds of laughing, Kate managed to get out a few words. "She asked me if you were gay!" She laughed again, but this time she wasn't on her own, joined by everyone except the man himself.

"Don't worry, Castle. I told her you weren't. You definitely aren't." Her certainty raised several eyebrows around the room, mainly Lanie's. "I think I almost choked on my coffee when she asked me. The conversation afterwards was even funnier. She asked persmission to sleep with you for research and then to described your books and our relationship, she used the phrase... Alexis, Dad, cover your ears." They did so.

Just be sure, she whispered the next few words into his ear quietly to avoid them hearing accidentally.

"... Verbal Masturbation."

She then realized that she probably shouldn't have said those words whilst he was drinking from a glass of water, as the liquid ended all down his front as he spat it out.

"Seriously?"

She nodded.

"Oh my God, is that how everyone sees it?" By this point everyone in the room was confused as they hadn't heard what Beckett had said, but judging by his incredibly red cheeks, it was extremely embarassing for him, and very hilarious. "I'm never going to be able to look her straight in the eye ever again. Or you. No more writing sex scenes about Nikki and Rook."

"Stop writing those, Castle, and I'll beat you." Lanie was obviously opposed to his idea, and secretly, so was Kate.

What was happening to her? She'd woken up after being shot, lost any memories from the past 12 months, before which she had feelings for Castle, but hated him all the same. And now the anger had gone and she wanted to do very dirty things to him, but what scared her he most was that she was noticing every little thing about him. The way the corner of his eyes crinkled when he gave a huge smile, the adorable looks he gave to Alexis, mesmerised by his daughter and the way their dynamic had changed. And she liked it. She liked him.