A/N: Sorry this one took a little longer to post. It wouldn't cooperate and it's really frickin' long (compared to the other chapters) but I just didn't want to split it up! More Caskett will ensue! Also, Lizzie, thanks for the glass reminder! I addressed it in this chapter! Thanks all! Please keep the reviews coming! They really make my day!

Chapter 10

Rick kept his eyes on the road ahead trying to fight the blur that kept creeping into his vision. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he was severely jet lagged and hadn't slept in over 24 hours.

He stole a glance to the passenger seat and smiled. Kate was out cold, her head leaning towards him, lips slightly parted, and his hand still tangled with both of hers. She looked peaceful, serene, but he knew she couldn't sleep for long in that position with her injury. He needed to find a hotel...now.

They had only been driving for about an hour. He figured that was enough space between them and the creep who was after Kate, unless the guy was tailing them right now...but that kind of thinking would get him nowhere.

They were coming up on Portland and he really was in no hurry to get to the Hamptons. The more they moved around the better, right? And he had loaded up on cash before he left New York, just in case, which meant they could pay for their room and not be traced. He figured Kate could probably use a shower too as he noticed the blood caked through her brown hair. He grimaced a little and thought he could definitely do without it being there.

He pulled off the highway in Portland and stopped at the first hotel he came to that didn't look too shabby.

"Hey, Kate?" He moved his hand a little in her lap and she stirred, making little wake up sounds that made his heart ache.

"Hmm?" She stretched an arm carefully over her head and opened bleary eyes to look at him.

"I think we should stop here for the rest of the night."

"Okay." Apparently drugged, sleepy Kate meant non-argumentative Kate as well.

"I have to see if they have any rooms available and check in so..."

She was nodding and shutting her eyes again at the same time, snuggling deeper into the car seat. Why he had the sudden urge to kiss her at that moment, he would never know.

He settled for nudging her hands that still held his captive, "Kate, I need you to come in with me."

He had to keep from chuckling as she jutted her bottom lip out. Kate Beckett was actually pouting at him. "Why? I can wait for you in the car."

He smiled at her, "I know you can but I'm not leaving you in here alone." He was slightly familiar with this side of her since she had stayed with him at the loft for two months after her surgery. Vicodin made her sleepy and whiny, but he kind of found it endearing.

He got out of the car and came around to her side, opening her door.

"Come on, Kate."

She took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh which he took as a good sign, that she was trying to clear her head. She struggled with the seat belt until he reached across her and undid it. He felt bad. She had only taken the pill a little over an hour ago and he hadn't allowed her enough time to sleep it off.

She regarded him for a moment and then grumbled, "I don't have any shoes, Castle."

At this point she was refusing to meet his eyes, clearly upset that she would have to rely on his chivalry once more.

Castle, on the other hand, simply tried not to laugh. He knew his eyes were dancing with humor as he readied himself to collect her, but he tried to contain it.

"We'll get you some new ones tomorrow, I promise."

She sighed again, this time he knew from irritation at her helplessness, and held her arms out to him expectantly.

The optimistic side of his brain kept screaming, best day ever! But he gathered her in his arms without flourish and said, "Just to the sidewalk. I won't embarrass you by parading your helplessness around the lobby." He couldn't help a small smirk and it earned him a mild backhand to the chest and a small grin. She hooked one arm around his neck and all he could think was that he needed to start working out instantly so he could be Kate Beckett's personal mode of transportation.

True to his word, he deposited her gently on the sidewalk but kept an arm snug around her waist as they walked in when he noticed the limp in her step, probably from the glass she'd stepped in earlier. He couldn't remember if she'd ever gotten it out.

There was a small social area with plush chairs across the walkway from reception and he saw that Kate was comfortably seated before he proceeded to the front desk.

"Hi, do you all have any rooms available?" He glanced back at Kate who had her foot propped up on one knee working any remnants of glass out of her heel. He would have to look at that later if she'd let him.

The receptionist looked over him a bit wearily, it was, after all, almost three in the morning.

He glanced at her name tag, "Miranda, nice to meet you," he figured he better assure her that he wasn't a creep, "my name is Rick," he hesitated, "Rogers," no real names, good idea, "and that lovely lady over in the chair is my wife," yep, Kate might hate him a little after this, "we just got into town and are exhausted! Is there anyway you'd be able to accommodate us for the night?"

Ah, success! Miranda's gaze softened a bit, "Hello, Mr. Rogers, welcome. Let me see what we've got available."

Ten minutes later Castle had a room assignment and both of their duffel bags as he and Kate trudged to the elevators. The hotel was small with only four floors but it was in a quiet part of town with all the surrounding buildings being shorter than their room, less convenient for a shooter's perch, Castle thought.

He'd opted for a one bedroom suite, not to take advantage of the situation, but because he still hadn't recovered from the incident earlier that night and frankly, he didn't want Kate out of his sight for even a second. He hadn't said anything regarding the room and she hadn't asked, just followed him trustingly.

They debarked the elevator as it dinged signaling their floor and Castle lead them to the end of the hall at a set of double doors.

Kate raised her eyebrows, "Wow, living it up Castle?"

He shrugged sheepishly and slipped the key card into the receptor. He entered with both duffels and flipped on the light with his elbow.

"Do you want to shower first?"

She had stopped at the entrance to the bedroom and was staring at the single king bed, inviting with all its pillows, crisp sheets, and down comforter. Yikes, he hoped she was too tired and out of it to put up a fight.

Just in case, "Look, Kate, I know what it looks like, but you can have the bed. I can sleep on the couch out in the living room."

She regarded him with a look he couldn't decipher, not disapproving, just...puzzling. She chewed on her thumbnail as she studied him and he found himself staring right back (he loved it when she did that).

Her response reminded him that they were talking, not ogling one another. "No, it's okay."

"But-I-you..."

She bit lightly on her index finger and smiled, "What's the matter, Castle? Afraid you can't handle the proximity?" And she disappeared into the bathroom leaving Castle slack jawed and speechless.

While she was in the shower he ordered some room service. He was so tired he wasn't really hungry but he knew her and figured she hadn't eaten since she'd left Manhattan. He paid, set the two burgers and garden salad on the coffee table, and decided he needed to drop a call to Esposito to let them know everything was okay.

He dug Kate's fed issued phone out of her purse (he felt a little sleazy but decided it would be safer to make calls from the non-traceable cell), and punched in Esposito's cell number.

"Hello?" Esposito's response was mumbled with sleep.

"Hey, Espo, it's Castle, sorry to wake you."

"No, man, s'okay, you guys alright?"

Castle could hear Lanie in the background, "Who is it, baby?" And then Javier's muted response, "It's Castle, babe, go back to sleep."

Then directed back at Castle, "What happened?"

"I'm not completely clear on that yet. I know there was a shooting- the guy came after Kate, shot an FBI agent."

"God. Is she okay? The Captain phoned us and said something about an incident with a shooter but we couldn't get much more out of her. You know how she is."

"Yeah, she's fine, didn't get hit. She's with me now. We've got one fed tailing us just in case but they wanted me to take her off the grid."

"Dude. You mean to tell me the feds thought she'd be safer with you? They must've been all outta ideas!"

The humor was not lost on Castle and he grinned into the phone, "Yeah, I hear ya. They didn't have any other options though. If they had taken Kate the shooter would have just continued to follow them." He put on his best Captain America voice, "They didn't know who they were dealing with when I walked in."

Esposito laughed, "Alright, man, you just be careful with our girl there."

All the humor suddenly dissipated, "Yeah, I will. You know you don't have to tell me."

"I know, Bro."

"You and Ryan make it home okay?"

"Yeah, we got in a few hours ago. I think the Captain called us as a courtesy- she didn't know we followed the feds, obviously, but by the time she called we were already back in the city. Figured you had to be close so we gave you a buzz to make you step on it a little harder."

"Yeah, well, it worked."

"I'm glad you got there, man."

"Me too. Go back to sleep. Hey, will you let Ryan know everything's fine for now?"

"Yeah, I'll call him in a few hours."

"Thanks. Tell Lanie I'm sorry for waking her."

"Not an issue, Bro."

"I'll call when I can, see ya."

"You guys be careful."

Castle hung up and waited for Kate to finish in the bathroom.

He was hovering between consciousness and sleep when she emerged from the bathroom.

"Castle?"

"Hmmm."

"Can you open your eyes for a second?"

He peeled them back slowly and was met with the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Apparently he became extremely cliche in his sleep since this had to be a dream. Kate Beckett stood at the foot of the bed wrapped only in a towel, the wet tendrils of her hair dropping rivulets of water down her arms and neck, her skin pink and fresh from the hot shower.

"Castle!"

Not a dream. "Yeah? Sorry."

"It's okay, I didn't mean to wake you, but, uh, my pajamas have blood all over them and I didn't want to wear jeans to bed..."

Detective, if you don't want to sleep in jeans I am more than willing to let you sleep naked. Probably not the best time to joke about her state of undress as he could tell she was already uncomfortable.

"Uh, yeah, hang on. I think I've got a t-shirt in here somewhere." He began digging through his bag and pulled out a navy blue, cotton tee. "Here. And here's a pair of clean boxers if they'll fit."

She pressed her lips together and the corners of her mouth turned up self consciously, "Thanks."

She disappeared behind the bathroom door and emerged a few minutes later wearing his shirt but holding his boxers in her hand. She tossed them to him, "Thanks, but they were too big. I think the shirt covers the important stuff though," she glanced down at her legs probably because he couldn't stop staring at them.

"Hey, Castle, you gonna be able to handle this?" But her smile was light and filled with humor.

He breathed a sigh of relief, "Detective, you are going to be the death of me."

"Hmmm. I hope so." There was that smile again. God, would she stop flirting? If she wasn't careful he would have to just kiss that delicious grin right off her face.

He settled for, "I ordered you a burger." Lame.

She didn't seem to notice. "Thanks. I'm starving, actually."

"You haven't eaten since day before yesterday." A statement, not a question. He knew her.

"No, I haven't been hungry."

"Come on, I'll eat with you."

They moved to the living room and sat next to each other on the couch as she self consciously pulled at the shirt to make sure she didn't flash him when she bent her legs (not that he would have minded). They ate their meals in relative silence, making eye contact here and there and smiling but not feeling like they needed to speak. This was one reason he loved being with her; that he could just be with her and not have to come up with something to say all the time.

When they were finished he broke the silence, "So, how about you let me take a look at your foot?"

She furrowed her brow, a slightly confused look in her eyes, but a smile playing on her mouth, "I didn't know you had a foot fetish, Castle."

He narrowed his eyes at her, "No, the glass, duh! I just want to make sure you got it all."

She grinned and popped one more miniature tomato in her mouth, readjusted so her back was propped on the arm of the couch and stuck her foot out, wiggling her toes.

He wasn't quite sure where all the playfulness was originating but he certainly wasn't going to call attention to it. Could she really have missed him that much? Their relationship had become a bit more relaxed when she was living with him but this new level of comfort they seemed to have achieved never failed to surprise him.

He squared himself to her and gently took her foot in his hands, supporting her ankle with one hand and running the thumb of his other down the side of her arch. He could have sworn she inhaled just a little more quickly than usual but when he looked at her she was concentrating on making sure her shirt didn't ride up too high.

He lifted her foot a little higher and studied her heel, running his thumb over it very softly just in case their was any lingering glass still imbedded there.

"Does that hurt," he looked up to meet her gaze. He'd never met anyone who could pack so many incomprehensible words into just a look.

She didn't break eye contact, "No."

He did, coward, "Well, I think you got all of it. Your heel's a little red though so be careful when you walk."

"Thanks, doctor."

"Hey," he put up his hands in mock self defense, "just looking out for you, Beckett!"

"Well, stop it! You're gonna give yourself a heart attack!"

"You have no idea." He mumbled softly, not sure if he wanted her to hear the comment or not.

She was staring at him again with a slightly amused glint in her eyes, "Hey, Castle?"

He found he was a bit powerless to look away, "Yeah?" Great, real manly, Castle, try being a little more breathless next time.

"Can I have my foot back now?"

He realized he was still cradling it lovingly in one hand and softly stroking his other hand across the top. He stopped abruptly, "Yes," he placed it on the couch cushion, "...I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I'll just have to make sure Ryan and Esposito find out about your little fetish when we get back." She was smiling at him full on now.

"You better not! Or I'll tell them how I had to carry you down the stairs like a wounded princess because you spazzed out and stepped on a little piece of glass!"

She suddenly reached forward and grabbed his ear, but not as hard as she would have if they hadn't been joking, he knew. "Okay, okay, apples, apples!"

She smiled triumphantly and let go, glancing at the digital clock on the end table.

"It's four in the morning, Castle, don't you think we should try to get some sleep?"

He inhaled and stretched his arms over his head, "Yeah, I'm pretty exhausted."

She placed their used dishes outside the door and hung the "do not disturb" sign on the handle. He crawled into bed after brushing his teeth and let his eyes get accustomed to the darkness. He could hear the sounds of her in the bathroom, washing her hands, brushing her teeth, and he was struck by how easy it was to be domestic with her.

He closed his eyes in brief contentment when he felt the bed shift as she crawled in on her side. They both laid there in the silence for several long minutes until her voice broke the silence.

"Hey, Castle?"

"Still here, Beckett."

"Just checking." He could hear her smile.

"Castle?"

He chuckled, "Yeah?"

"Just...don't say anything, okay?"

He had no idea what she was talking about but slowly became aware as he felt her shift towards him. He held his breath as she fit herself along the length of his body and took his arm to wrap around her waist. Was she spooning with him? He let out the breath he was holding.

"Kate-"

"No, Castle, no talking, remember?"

He felt her relax against him as sleep drew ever closer. Her hair was damp against his chin, her body warm as it molded to the rest of him, and God she smelled good. That was fine. They didn't need to talk about it. He needed to feel her just as much as she needed to feel him.