Author's Note: I'm hereeee! I actually wrote this last night when I could get a moment away from my friends. You guys should love me so much. That's how dedicated I am. Haha! I actually had to borrow UVA's internet just to upload it. :D

"So… how bad is the damage?" Castle asked, closing the door to the room. He had been back in Beckett's room almost immediately after his family was gone.

He carried a brown, cardboard box in his hands now. He discretely held it by his side. Kate assumed that he had gotten it while she'd talked to Martha and Alexis.

Apparently he had seen something in their faces as they left, because the writer seemed extremely suspicious.

"It's nothing we can't handle." Beckett said slyly, trying to ignore how lovely it felt referring to herself and Castle as we.

Despite Kate's words, Castle still seemed on edge. "Beckett, whatever my mother said…"

"Castle, she didn't do anything." The girl interrupted quickly. "Don't worry. Would your mother ever do anything that wasn't in your best interest?" Kate was joking now, trying to make the mood lighter, but Castle only looked more worried.

"Eh…" He rubbed the back of his neck and decided that if Martha had said anything too terrible, he would find out at home. She would get an enjoyable session of 20 questions the next time they spoke.

"What's in the box?" Beckett asked, desperately wanted to get off the topic of the visit with Castle's family.

The man's face lit up at the question. "This, my dearest detective, is a present for you!"

Kate looked at him with doubt. "Castle… I don't need a present." She said in a slightly warning tone.

"Don't knock it before you see it. This is the greatest present I've ever given anyone. Well… the second greatest…." Rick chuckled immaturely at his perverted joke.

Beckett groaned but she was secretly beyond relieved to see this side of Castle coming back. He'd been so uptight since her injury; not a dirty joke in sight. And dare she even think it? She had missed those jokes and that childish laughter.

"Just let me see the present," The detective said impatiently.

"Which one?" Castle's eyes glinted playfully.

"Oh, Castle," Beckett said in frustration, gesturing for the box in his hand. Maybe she hadn't missed these jokes.

Rick smiled guiltily and handed the box over. He took a step back to watch her open it.

Kate pulled the box open quickly, anxious to see what Castle could possibly be so excited to give her. Inside she found several large three-ring binders.

"What is this, Castle?" She asked in confusion, reaching to pull the binders out and examine them.

"Just look," He murmured in reply.

Beckett flipped through the first binder. She was greeted by pages upon pages of words; enough for a book. Each page appeared to have tiny script writing on the bottom right corner. Kate looked closer to read the words.

"Richard Rodgers"

"I… I don't… Castle, what are these?" The pieces were all here, but Kate still wasn't making the final connection.

"This is all my early work, Kate." He said softly. "Even before I was going by Castle. I just thought... maybe since you were stuck in here, you'd want something to read. I can't promise that anything there is good, or even decent, but…"

"Castle," Beckett cut off his nervous rambling. She looked up into his eyes. "This is amazing," She breathed, flipping through the pages and pages of words.

The writer seemed to release a breath when he heard Kate's words. "I warn you, there's a lot of romance there. Back in my younger days, that seemed to be the only thing on my mind. Hopeless romantic, you know."

"I was the same way," She replied with a small smile looking up to catch Castle's gaze.

"Seriously?" Castle asked, looking at her doubtfully.

"Believe it or not," Beckett confirmed. "Isn't love the only thing on most people's minds? Especially when they're young…"

The two kept silent eye contact for a moment before Kate spoke again.

"This is really, really thoughtful, Castle. Thank you. Why don't you go out for lunch? You must be starving." Her voice cracked as she looked down again.

Obviously she didn't want the man seeing any emotion out of her regarding what he'd done. Castle had no idea just how much of a fan she was. His stories had all but saved her life and having the opportunity to read his early work was something she couldn't wait to do.

"Aren't you hungry?" Castle asked, of course thinking of her before himself.

"I'll have the nurses bring me some of that renowned hospital food," She waved one hand while clutching the box of papers in her other.

"You do not have to eat hospital food." Castle said. He sounded almost offended, as if Kate was much too good for hospital food. "I'll pick you something up." He offered quickly. "I can come back here and we'll just have lunch together; just like normal!" He spoke excitedly as if it was the best idea he'd had all day.

Beckett, despite how anxious she was to read, couldn't stand to deny him. "That sounds great. Let me give you some money. Just look in my bag, right over there. Front, left pocket…"

"You know full well that won't happen, detective." Castle said with a smile. "What sounds good?"

Normally Kate would have pressed on about paying for her own meal, but she knew Castle really wouldn't allow it. "I'll have what you're having." She said simply.

"If you don't specify you're going to end up with everything…" He said, tilting his head forward to eye the girl.

Beckett fondly remembered the last time Castle had brought her a "little bit of everything". He had made her feel better just by being there, like he always seemed to do.

"Chinese sounds fine," She said after a moment of thought.

"Perfect," Castle grinned. "Don't think too little of me once you've read that," He said with a gesture towards the binder in Kate's hand. "I've progressed as a writer, I think."

"I won't think any less of you at all, Castle." Beckett said, being completely genuine.

"See you, Kate," He said, turning to face her once more before he left the room.

"Bye, Rick." She said quietly, as soon as the door was shut. She knew he'd be back soon. He'd rarely left the room since she'd been shot. But that was why Beckett appreciated Castle so much. He truly was always there.

She flipped open the first binder and began the first of his many short stories penned under the name of Richard Rodgers.

Author's Note: There we go! I know this was probably weaker than my past chapters, but like I said, I've been on vacation so I'm proud just to get this out. Reviews inspire me to write, even on vacation. :D

Also I really need some help: I got my SAT scores back and I don't know how they stack up so if anyone could help me out, that would be great. I made a 680 on the Critical Reading, a 560 on the Math, and a 730 on the Writing portion; so 1970 all in all. How does this stack up to others? I'm the eldest in my family so I have no one to compare to. Thanks always!