A/N: I apologize for being such a slow updater; my inspiration has been lacking lately and this chapter has been an absolute nightmare! I have been fighting with it for far too long so I hope you enjoy the finished product!

Thank you for sticking with me!

A LITTLE RECAP: Kate has been admitted into the hospital after being attacked in her apartment. Her attacker informed her there is a bounty on her head and advised her to get out of the city. Castle suspects something is wrong and when we left off, he was crying in an abandoned basement restroom.

Up next: Kate's return from radiology.

PART TWO

Kate heard her wrist snap before she felt it, she could see the blood pooling beneath her skin as the fractured bone pressed against the surface. It hurt, but not nearly as much as the aftermath would. Her injury was a warning, a friendly reminder that she was not in control.

CHAPTER TEN

The basement had been cold.

Kate shivered in recollection as she raised her encased limb a few inches higher, allowing her nurse to maneuver the sling around her bulky cast. The fiberglass coating was sharp against the raw skin of her inner elbow and she winced as the rough material was crushed against her chest and secured into place.

"Sorry Hon', it needs to be tight."

The break in her wrist had been worse than they anticipated and it had taken one of the heftier orthopedic residents to jar the bone and snap it back into alignment.

Her wrist was still weeping.

She gritted her teeth as she felt the last strap tighten. Her nurse shifted her arm within the cradle, eased her elbow into the bend and tucked her fingers beneath the overlap.

Her hand fought for freedom the moment the nurse turned her back.

Lanie had frowned her way through the entire immobilization process. There had been a few not so subtle scoffs of disapproval and before the nurse could even get out the door, the medical examiner was already disassembling the harsh restraint.

Had the situation been different Kate may have laughed.

The constraint fell slack and her shoulder sagged in contentment. She rotated the distressed joint appreciatively and tossed the contraption aside. "Thanks, Lanie."

The ME smiled. "You're welcome, Sweetie."

Kate brought a leg up and tucked it beneath the other. She rested her cast across her lap, reached for some of the leftover cotton fluff and tucked a liberal amount beneath the sharp edge of the fiberglass. The detective massaged gently at her chafed skin and Lanie rummaged her way through the cupboards lining the wall.

The detective reached for the duffel bag at the foot of her bed and she dragged it across the sheets. She pulled open the zipper and removed a pair of athletic pants and a purple camisole.

She loosened the knot behind her neck and managed to rid herself of her gown.

Getting dressed was slightly more difficult.

The ME turned around to see Kate struggling with the straps of her top. The cotton snagged along the jagged edge of the cast and her neckline plunged salaciously. Lanie gasped, "Katherine Beckett, is that a hickey?"

"W-what?" she sputtered, tugging up the hem of the purple fabric. "No."

Damnit, Castle.

"No?" the ME asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"No," she confirmed.

Lanie smiled. "Nice try, Sweetie, but that –" she pointed out, directing an accusatory finger towards the offending mark, "- is most definitely a hickey... Castle gave that to you, didn't he?"

"No he didn't," she replied firmly, clasping a hand over her breast, "and it is not a hickey."

"Are you sure?"

"I think I would know, "she retorted.

Lanie took a deep breath and contemplated a different approach. "You know, Honey... if you did sleep with him –"

"I didn't."

"But if you did," she reiterated softly. "There would be no shame in it."

"I know that," Kate replied, sighing. "I... I wouldn't be ashamed I –"

A loud knock halted her mid sentence.

Her door opened and footsteps approached. "Knock Knock," a familiar voice called out.

Lanie sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "Come in, Javi."

He pushed the curtain aside and stepped into the room. He had a cardboard tray in one hand and a stuffed monkey in the other; he gave both women a smile and set the tray down on the bedside table. "How you feeling, boss?"

Kate frowned. "Better than you if that thing is for me," she replied sharply, nodding towards the stuffed animal.

He chuckled and tossed the purple-eyed creature into her lap. "Relax Beckett, it's from Castle."

"Oh," she replied, her tone softer. She stroked a few fingers along the chocolate fur and a soft smile tugged at her lips.

Esposito feigned shock. "Seriously?"

"What?"

He raised his eyebrows. "You were seconds away from throwing that damn thing back in my face but now that you know it's from your boy the monkey gets a smile and an ear scratch."

Kate pursed her lips; narrowing her eyes and fixing him with her best you really wanna go there? look.

Esposito raised both hands in mock surrender. "Hey," he laughed. "Don't give me that look, you know it's true."

She rolled her eyes. "Where is Castle?"

"Calling his kid," he replied, leaning against the wall next to Lanie. "Said he will be up soon."

The ME canted her head towards him. "Do you think you could go hurry soon along?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Chica?"

"Mmmhmm," she hummed, elongating each m, "and don't come back without a writer monkey."

"So bossy," he replied, pushing off the wall. "I like it."

He fled the room before she had the chance to react.

Lanie unfolded the triangle bandages she swiped from the medical supply cupboard and sat on the bed next to Kate. The detective offered her arm and Lanie wrapped the bandage around her cast, tied it behind her neck and knotted some excess material at her elbow. "Does that feel okay?" she asked.

Kate nodded solemnly.

"Are you okay?"

Kate drew in a shaky breath. "I did sleep with Castle," she admitted softly, her voice breaking. "I'm not ashamed… I could never be ashamed, but I..." She rubbed at her watery eyes with the back of her hand. "I regret it."

Lanie took a deep breath and shook her head. "I don't think you do, Honey."

Kate's heart clenched.

Her shoulders slumped and her head fell forward. "What am I supposed to say to him, Lanie?" she asked, almost desperately. "I have to leave… and I can't ask him to wait."

The ME sighed. "Sweetie, he would wait for you even if you didn't ask."

But should he have to?

A/N: Kate and Castle are next! I'm quite happy with the next chapter's outline thus far, so follow, review or do absolutely nothing at all, but at least have faith in Beckett, because she may just surprise you. Thank you for reading!