Thanks to Trish (deandreamer) for advice about how to line things back up again. I'd never written a full flashback type fic before and while it works so well on the show i wasn't sure how to recreate the mood without retelling too much of the story- hopefully this works.


Erosion
Chapter 10- Warm


There was no discussion over who was going first. The door had barely locked shut behind them and she was heading up the stairs to the bathroom on the upper floor assuming Castle would be doing the same in his own bathroom.

"You want dry clothes?" he called from the foyer.

"I'll find something," she answered, not interested in waiting for him to find her something to wear when all she wanted was to warm up.

The ambulance officer who was waiting for them upon their arrival to shore had checked them over, pronounced them battered but not broken, handed out Tylenol, and prescribed a warm shower, food, and bed rest; all of which they were more than happy to comply with.

The bathroom was already filling with steam by the time she stripped out of the baggy coveralls and managed to pull off her wet underwear. The first touch of warm water scalded her fingers and she had to adjust the temperature before stepping in. She stood directly under the stream with the water pummelling her head and her shoulders; massaging away the aches and thawing her frozen skin. She gradually increased the temperature until the room was clouded with steam and the heavy air made it difficult to breath.

Her hunger eventually pulled her from the shower. She rubbed vigorously at the skin of her legs and arms, and then patted more gently over the bruises to her ribs and neck and forehead. She used Alexis' hairdryer to dry the bulk of the moisture from her hair but was too impatient to finish it off.

She wrapped the large towel around herself and opened the bathroom door. A pile of clothes was already waiting for her on the floor at the door, and she smiled at Castle's thoughtfulness before disappearing back into the bathroom.

Bundled snugly in his sweatpants and socks she felt better than she had any right to, considering the past several hours. She pulled open the top drawer and hoped Alexis wouldn't also mind her borrowing a hair tie.

Castle's voice called to her from further along the hallway and she poked her head around the door.

"Pass me out the rest of your clothes, I'll rinse them and put them in the dryer." His body was concealed behind the laundry alcove and only his head poked around the doorframe.

"Are you asking for my underwear, Castle?"

"I promise not to paw them overmuch."

She was too tired to think of a witty rejoinder. Instead she gathered up her things and carried them in to join his in the washing machine.

She leaned against the wall of the hallway and, through half-lidded eyes, watched him do laundry.

As soon as the machine beeped and the cycle started he was ushering her down the stairs to the flickering flames of his heater and the smell of chicken casserole.

"Feed me, Castle," she begged.

###

Standing together at the door to his loft, her hand on his shoulder, Castle couldn't help but wish she'd reconsider her decision to head home.

"Sleep well, Castle. I'll see you later." Well fed, and drowsy from the fire, her body felt heavy and sluggish, and Kate couldn't wait to get home, fall into bed, and just sleep. Without thinking she leaned in to say goodnight.

She was moving up towards him, her eyes closed, before he had a chance to realise her intention. Her mouth settled over his – the gentle press of lips – her mouth closing around his top lip with a slight increase of pressure before pulling away.

Castle felt the world shift under his feet and, as she stepped back, his body sought to follow her; he wanted nothing more than to hold her against him and kiss her again. The catch of her breath reminded him to breathe.

She groaned, annoyed at herself, "I'm sorry, Castle, I must be more tired than I thought." She dropped her head and started to step away. With her heart skipping in her chest she felt light and euphoric; another surge of adrenaline through her already exhausted and sleep-deprived body.

"Kate?" One hand moved to wrap lightly around her back, not restraining her but urging her to stay close. "It's okay." He tried to reassure her.

"I wasn't thinking." The goodnight kiss had felt all too natural. Even now she wanted nothing more than to collapse against him.

Castle slid one hand against her cheek and lifted her face. He was amazed that she allowed the intimate touch. "You're exhausted. Just stay here."

"I can't." She pushed away to untangle herself from his touch, "I'll see you later?"

Castle battled with himself. He was fighting to stay on his feet and she looked ready to collapse. "No," his voice was gentle but he wasn't negotiating any longer, "We've had a hell of a night, Beckett." His hands were already untying her coat.

"Castle, don't." Despite her protest there was no strength in her voice.

His hands stilled, but he didn't let go of her belt. "I'm not going to have us survive an armed ambush, being abducted, an exploding boat, and the freezing waters of the Atlantic only to have you wrapped around a streetlight because you fell asleep on the way home. Sometimes it's okay to admit that you're not invincible; that you need something."

"I'm feeling anything but invincible at the moment. Tonight was one close call too many, Castle," she said, her honestly surprising them both.

"I know," he whispered, taking a slow and steady step to close the gap between them. He parted the sides of her coat and tugged it from her shoulders. "I need this, even if you don't." His hands trailed along the length of her arms and he took a half-step closer as her coat fell away. His head tilted and the slight stubble along his jaw grazed along her temple.

"This?" There was an edge of fear to her voice, but she turned into the press of his cheek against the top of her head. Her eyes drifted closed.

"You – here safe – two doors, a hallway, and a staircase between us." His expression was gentle, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth hidden in her hair, "and a hug."

"I can't do this out of fear, Castle."

"It's just a hug." His arms settled lightly around her, nudging her in closer against him.

She let go and dropped her head to his shoulder. With an unsteady breath she filled her lungs and then, with a sigh, bought her arms around his waist and embraced him forcefully. The night had been one nightmare situation after another and she wondered how many second-chances they'd get before their luck finally ran out; before one of them ended up coming home without the other.

"It would be a mistake to start anything while we're feeling like this; exhausted and not thinking clearly." The words were for meant for herself, but she was speaking out loud.

"No one is starting anything. We're just going to get some sleep."

"Okay." She was quiet for a moment, soaking in the warmth of him. She didn't want to go home to an empty house and an empty bed; empty without Castle. She didn't want to be alone with fragmented images of 'if only' and 'what could have been'. With her arms wrapped around him, she asked, "Will Alexis be back early?"

"Alexis? No, not until dinner tonight, why?"

"I don't want to leave," she admitted, finally.

"Come on," he loosened his hold on her, "Come upstairs."

"No," she kept her face hidden against his chest and clutched at his shirt, preventing him from moving away from her. "I'd rather not be alone, Castle. Would that make you uncomfortable?"

"Would what make me uncomfortable?"

"If I slept in your room? I just... Is that too much?"

"Never too much." Rick cradled her head against his chest. With his eyes squeezed shut he clamped down the rush of emotion he felt at having Kate ask him for something she needed. "You can ask me for anything, Kate."

"Some things are too much to ask for."

"Not this. I've had to watch you go home alone, or home to someone else, after so many days like today; days when I've wanted nothing but to have you close enough to touch, just to know that we made it through and you were safe... and still here with me."

"But you'd have let me go again just now." Kate didn't understand how he knew when to push and when to let her go when even she didn't know how she felt. He'd become so adept at reading her it was both terrifying and reassuring.

"I would, if I thought that was what you needed. But it's not – you need this as much as I do."

"I do."

"Then come to bed with me."

Kate didn't meet his gaze as she stepped away. She reached for his hand and pulled him after her. Crossing the living room she turned off the lights and led him to his bedroom.

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The End.


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A/N- Bwah ha ha! No, it's not the end, i'm just messing with ya. I figure i'm going to have to do that at least once every multi-chap fic.

How would it be to sit through all of that only to finally get them safe and realising how much they care about the other and all we get is a deep and meaningful look or a shoulder bump! It'd be like WATCHING THE FREAKIN' SHOW! with their fade to black and no kissing!