"Kate? Can you hear me?"
"Kate time to wake up."
"Kate it's your mother. I'm telling you to get up!"
"Give me a call when she wakes up."
"Thank you detective. I'll call you personally."
Detective? Is Rick here?
The thunder outside rumbled and she felt a weight leave the bed.
Where am I?
She wanted the comfort of the weight to come back.
Speak damn it!
"Wh-" was all she could get out.
Slowly her eyes drifted open.
"Where –"
Progress but she still couldn't get everything out. Hell she didn't even know what she thought. Her thoughts where interrupted constantly by the gentle rocking swing of the effects of the drug.
"Beckett?"
It was Rick.
She sat up slowly and felt a hand grab her arm and pull her up. It was a bigger hand and she knew he had done it. She was grateful for his help and even more grateful for the hug from someone on the other side of the bed.
"Mom!" She felt arms wrap around her and knew it was her son, Alex.
Her vision stabilizing and sight now becoming coherent she could make out Alex's shoulders and Rick, now standing, and peering at her over shoulder.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I'll tell ya' later." He answered.
"Mom! Detective Castle saved your life!"
"Really?" She said. "That's twice now."
Oops.
Johanna spoke, clearly the 'momma bear' reflex kicked in. "Young lady I do not want you going out there anymore! I can't have you going out there and getting killed! You have a child!"
"Grams I'm not a child!" Alex defended.
"Oh hush you! You are too!" Johanna's tone now sharp and agitated. "And you!" Her wrath now pointed towards Richard Castle.
"Who do you think you are getting her in that situation?"
"Me? I saved her life did you not hear that part?"
"And you wouldn't have to if you had talked some sense into her!"
"Me? I … what about you? She signed those papers without talking to you?"
They both looked at Kate.
She had to think fast. "If I did just happen to almost die then can I please talk to my partner about –"
"I'm not her part-" He started to correct her but then remembered the deal.
"She's a special consultant. Not my partner." She couldn't help but smile a little.
Johanna gathered young Alex and ushered him out. She followed in kind and closed the door behind them.
Kate removed the covers over her and found herself in her pajama pants. Quickly she noticed she was in a tank top to sleep in and felt more vulnerable than when she was in the room with the crazy nanny Amy.
She swung her legs off the edge of the bed and let the carpet restore sensation of touch before standing.
"Let me help." He said as he held her arm again with his hands.
They were warm and not clammy like someone who might be nervous. Dry and soft. Strong, confident hands.
She snickered a little at how weak she must have appeared and the awkwardness of how they were not just testing boundaries now. They weren't verbally sparring or flirting. He was being a genuine, nice guy right now. She logged this moment in her memory before she finally got too light headed and needed to sit.
"Whoa. Let me sit."
He let go of her arm and watched her on the edge of the bed. Dizzy and waking he decided he had to let her go.
"I can't work with you anymore. Wiggins at the 5th. You can follow him. He's one of the best and they have a higher conviction rate so –"
"What? Castle! I don't want the best! I want you!" Suddenly she was feeling more alive.
They both paused at the admission.
"On cases." She corrected hoping he hadn't noticed.
"Beckett you've got enough to write a book already."
"I'm writing a series."
He wanted to be mad but he decided to wait for an explanation.
"I told Black Pawn about an idea for a series. About Nick Heat. They liked it and I sent them the first 100 pages last night. Rough draft."
"Just watch CSI: Miami and some Law and Order. Safer"
"What about the reality, Rick? What about those things that people need to know?"
He needed to end this and get out. He was hoping they were still talking about work.
"You just got started. You're a writer make up the rest."
"I'm done making things up Castle. I want something real." A pause.
Why do I keep doing that? She thought.
"To write. I need it to be real."
"You're willing to get yourself killed over writing some stupid book?"
"It's a series. I'm a big girl and you have a gun."
He laughed. Laughed at her childish innocence in these matters. Barely a week and she wanted to go down the rabbit hole. How could something so ignorant come in something so damn sexy?
"You ever been shot Beckett?"
"I've had a gun to my head."
"Not the same."
He began unbuttoning his shirt, removed it and revealed a lump of scarred tissue across his left pectoral and down his left arm.
"You ever have hot lead tear you apart? Twenty six hours in surgery stapling, stitching you back together? Hours in Rehab? My arm, during surgery at one point, had been completely removed from the socket."
The scar seemed to spider web from the pressure point between his ball socket and chest down to his left bicep.
She was silent as she stood and stepped forward.
She immediately had questions but found her hand reaching out to him. Her hand on his and she felt his wound. The raised scar tissue with her hand underneath flexed his taut muscles.
"H-how?" She finally was able to sputter out her words.
"Can't say. Got out a live though. Mission accomplished."
Her hand moved on his skin and the contact sent a warmth through her. She wanted to study him. Wanted to submit papers to scientific journals. She was fascinated by him.
Her touch shut him up and he let her other hand touch his other side. The tenderness calmed him and he had forgotten why was so angry for just a moment.
"Stop." He whispered.
She couldn't. She stepped closer.
"Please Kate." Her other hand now on his chest and moving down his other arm where she saw the bloodied gauze wrapping.
"Let me." Her voice rasped.
"We shouldn't."
"Why are you so mad at me Castle? Why can't you let me in? Just a little bit?"
"I –" He couldn't finish. Her touch was breaking him. He didn't want to tell her but he was going to if she kept at it.
"I like you Rick. Can you be with me tonight?"
"Don't want to hurt you." Finally it came out.
"You won't."
She put her hand around the back of his neck.
He forced himself to focus, "I don't know if I want to strangle you or kiss you right now."
"Let me help." She said.
She lifted herself to him and kissed his lips.
Cliffhanger right? Google my name (Arsi Mckhoi) and follow me on facebook. Thanks ya'll. Also buy my book. Self promotion over. I'll post the rest of this scene tomorrow.