Close Encounters 10


They sat opposite each other on the bed, Kate up at the head for its support and Castle at the foot. Her legs were in a vee on either side of his and they were playing a stupid card game to pass the time.

Castle had nothing more to do, nothing at all before they left tomorrow. Mitchell was taking care of the last minute details, had already put together their cover IDs for the flight from Athens to Rome. Being on a military transport meant they wouldn't have to be on their guard, but that passenger flight from Athens had him worried.

Mitchell would take care of them. He trusted the man.

Kate was in the skinny jeans; they fit a little bit better than the other pair he'd bought but there was still a lot of gap in the waistband. Too much. It had made his stomach churn when he'd helped her slide them on.

It was going to be a while before she was healthy enough to go back to the office, and he didn't even want to think about fieldwork. Thirteen days of malnutrition and dehydration and she'd lost so much muscle tone, so much of her usual and effortless strength.

She would have physical therapy and a trainer of course. He'd stick right by her side for as long as she wanted him, and longer, and she'd get it back. She would.

Kate was poking his thigh with her toes, growling at him, and he realized he'd disappeared on her, fallen back into his darker thoughts. She lifted an eyebrow and he gave her a self-deprecating smile, leaned forward to take the playing card she held out to him.

"Sorry, got distracted."

"And not by me," she said with her eyes narrowing. "Not allowed."

He laughed at that, glanced down at his own cards to find the match. Go Fish. A kid's game, but simple enough that when one or the both of them lapsed like that, wouldn't hurt too much.

"Well, darling, hate to tell you. But it was about you anyway."

"I don't like that kind of distraction," she said back. "That wasn't the sexy kind."

He gave her another smile, this one easier. "Yeah, I'll work on that."

"You do that, Castle," she murmured back. Her smile at him was soft, forgiving, full of knowledge. "Have any eights?"

He huffed and glanced down at his hand, gave her a shake of his head. "Nope. Go fish."

She curled her toes along the inside of his thigh, leaned forward to draw from the pile between them. He caught her foot and stroked his thumb along her arch, felt her flex against him.

"Your turn," she murmured and slowly dug her foot under his thigh. He lifted his eyebrow at her and she grinned back.

"What do you think you're doing there, Beckett?"

"Trying to get up to no good, baby, but you seem determined to keep it PG."

He laughed again, decided to give her a little of her own medicine. Castle dropped his cards in front of him and got up on his knees in her bed, planted his fists on either side of her hips, dropped his body slowly over hers. She grinned back, a caught-breath gasp as his pelvis found the cradle of her hips.

Her slow roll upwards into him made him grin and he ducked his head to press his lips to her pulse, tasting her.

"Oh, yeah," she hummed, her fingers weak at his sides, tickling and arousing, skimming to his back. "Castle."

He buried his face in her neck to catch his breath, felt himself at the ragged edge of his control just like that, just her breathy voice saying his name.

She pressed her fingers at his spine, tried to draw him down closer, but he couldn't get much closer without crushing her. So he lowered himself to his elbows and drew his arms under her, brought his palm to her neck to lift her into him.

She kissed his jaw, along his throat, licked his skin even though he could feel the frantic bird of her heart beating against her ribs.

He stroked his fingers along her side, all his weight on his other elbow, a knee, trying hard to keep from falling on her but she was making it almost impossible to stay away.

He found the hem of her shirt and tunneled his fingers up against her warm skin, the harsh rise of her bones knocking into his knuckles. And then the door clicked as it opened and he jerked back to drop to her side, smoothing down her shirt even as the nurse made a humph and moved into the room. Kate pressed her lips together and gave him a sly look, her fingers hooked in the waistband of his jeans and wriggling, killing him.

She was killing him.

The nurse came inside with the chart, a raised eyebrow of disapproval, but she didn't say anything as she checked Kate's vitals. Castle tried to twist off of her, scoot into the bed at her side, but she seemed determined to be wicked, her fingers curling at the top of his ass.

He grunted, narrowing his eyes at her, and he shifted again, dislodged her hand finally. She pouted at him, stuck out her tongue, and if that stupid nurse wasn't in here, he'd do something about that tongue.

Something as dirty as she seemed to want.

The nurse came around to the other side and checked the IV, the line, the drip. "How do you feel?"

Kate actually laughed, a burst of amusement that was more arousing than her fingers where they shouldn't be or that roll of her hips up into him. Just that laugh, and the look on her face as her eyes caught his.

"Um, I'm feeling pretty good."

The nurse made another disapproving noise, but she seemed a little less stern than when she'd first come in.

"All right. Any discomfort, pain?"

"No. I'm good."

"Still shaky?"

"Some," Kate hedged, another glance at him. She sighed and then unfurled her hand against the sheet. "Yes. Still shaky."

"We've got dinner planned for you, a pre-approved menu. Make your selections, okay?" The nurse handed over a printed sheet. "I'll come back and get the menu, send it down to the cafeteria. And you'll have your first real meal. Should help with the shakiness."

Castle gave the nurse a thankful nod and circled his fingers at Kate's elbow, his heart rate slowing down again with the reminder of her limited capabilities.

The nurse left and Kate gave a sigh. "This isn't exactly real food."

He glanced down at the menu and scanned the selections, had to laugh. "What? Mashed potatoes and jello not good enough for you?"

She elbowed him for that but tilted her head into his shoulder. "Got a pen? I need to decide what I'm having for dinner."

He glanced over at her and she was giving him a little secret smile; he grinned back and dropped a kiss to her forehead. "You eat your dinner and I'll sneak you something good."

She lifted her head, eagerness in her eyes. "Yeah? A brownie. Or a chocolate chip cookie. Or - oh, Castle - a roll. Can you get me some bread?"

He laughed but she looked so earnest. "Yeah. Do my best, love."

"Mmm. Can't wait."


Castle grinned when he glanced down and realized she'd fallen asleep. They'd returned the menu to the nurse, a little optimistic with her selections, and then she'd done her best to tease him, fingers playing, mouth wicked and clever.

Castle nuzzled her neck for another soft kiss and then eased away, sliding off the bed. He straightened his pants, a wry look in her direction, took a few deep breaths. Even skinny and weak and laughing at him, she had him tied in knots over her.

Jeez.

And while she was sleeping, he'd run down to the cafeteria and sneak her some desserts. Bread, she'd asked for. The look in her eyes and the way her mouth had moved... but was cafeteria food any good?

No way. He'd have to go out on the base and see if there was a bakery, someplace with pastries. She wasn't a huge fan of donuts, but bear claws. He knew she loved those. And coffee? He'd get decaf, keep the stimulants out of her bloodstream at this point.

Castle leaned over her and brushed another kiss to her forehead, skimmed his fingers through her hair. She gave a soft sigh and seemed to turn into him, but she stayed asleep.

He left the room and found the doctor right outside the nurses' station. "Dr Serkan."

The man shook his hand and smiled softly. "Ah, Mr Smith. I hear you leave us in the morning."

"Yes sir," Castle said. "You think she can do it?"

Dr Serkan tilted his head, as if seriously thinking about it, and then he nodded slowly. "Yes. I do believe she can. She's quite strong."

Castle nodded back, his throat closing up. "Yeah."

"Make sure she rests. Back to back flights?"

"Oh. Well, we have a layover," Castle hesitated. Not that he didn't trust her doctor, but he didn't want to let out too many details. "It's a few hours."

"Take as much time as you possibly can," Dr Serkan said quietly. "Make her sleep on the flight. I don't want to give her a sedative, but she should sleep."

"Yeah," he gruffed back, frowning. "I can - she sleeps a lot already."

"Very good. No unnecessary moves, limited engagements. Have you considered... ah, her mental state?"

He froze. What had she said to him? Wolf.

"I see," Dr Serkan murmured. "The base therapist-"

"We have a therapist," he interrupted. "I should call him. I'll call him. Thank you, that's-" Castle bobbed his head, frowning down at his feet. He wasn't stupid; he knew what Beckett did when she was mentally cracking, when she was drowning - he'd helped her in that, back when they first dug into her mother's case together.

Well, shit, they'd done some of that before she'd fallen asleep.

"You do that," Dr Serkan said softly. "You call him."

"I will. I'll - yes."

Dr Serkan clasped Castle's hand once more, a strong and reassuring squeeze. "You will do fine. You will both be fine."

He sucked in a deeper breath and nodded again. "Thank you."

"Go with love," Dr Serkan said softly, and then he turned and moved down the hallway, off on his rounds.

Castle stood rooted to the spot for a long moment, and then he roused, remembered what he was doing.

Bread.


It was the smell that woke her; the rich and overwhelming aroma of butter.

Kate's eyes slipped open and she knew she was grinning already; he was too. Castle leaned over her and kissed her hard, his teeth nipping her bottom lip, but she pushed at him.

"Not-uh. Where's my bread?"

He laughed. "Got it right here, love. Found a bakery on the other side of the base. Took a while - made them open back up for me."

"Oh, Castle," she breathed, struggling to sit up. "You got me a bearclaw?"

"Something like it," he hesitated, giving a little laugh. "Here."

She held out her hands and he dropped a heavy bag straight to her lap. She laughed and opened it up, the scent of baked goods overwhelming.

"Oh, yes," she murmured. "This is - there's no way I can eat all this."

"You won't. I'm eating at least half of it."

"Half?" she snorted. "No way. Hands off."

"You and what army?"

She sighed, staring up at him with the fantastic smelling desserts in her lap. "It would take an army to stop you."

He gave her a little grin and winked. "How about this? I'll give you first pick, since you're the invalid."

She slapped his chest, felt the hard expanse of his muscle flexing at her touch. She grinned and slipped her fingers to the waistband of his jeans, curled up under his t-shirt and stroked.

"Shit," he grunted, eyes slamming shut.

She hummed and splayed her fingers out over his ribs, felt the way he swayed towards her. "What was that about being an invalid?"

"Beckett," he growled, snagging her hand. But instead of pulling her away, he stepped in closer, fingers tangled in hers, and gripped the back of her neck for a kiss.

She surged up into it as best she could, one hand on the bag of food he'd sneaked in for her, the other at his own neck, the tremble of her body giving her away.

Castle growled into her mouth and stopped, nudging his forehead against hers, breathing hard. "Can't do that to me."

"But it's so fun," she panted.

"Eat your dessert, you tease."

She grinned again, and even though she felt like she needed to sink back against the bed and just lie there, stupid and tired, she reached into the bag and pulled out the first thing she got her fingers on.

A buttered roll. She had mashed potatoes and some kind of creamed corn and peas coming for dinner but oh-

"Is it okay?"

She stared down at the light, heavenly bread, the rich aroma filling her up, and she finally looked at Castle, unable to get a single word out.

"Are you crying?" he yelped.

"No," she growled, dropping her head again and rubbing the back of her hand under her eye. His fingers gentled at her neck and before he could really make her cry, the knock on the door interrupted them.

The nurse came in with her dinner tray, giving Castle a baleful look before he could snatch the bag away, hide it behind his back.

But Kate still had the roll in her hand and she curled it close to her chest. "You won't-"

"No solid foods," the woman tsked. But she didn't try to take it away; she merely left the dinner on the side table. "Don't let the night shift nurse see you."

Kate grinned in relief and Castle thanked her, shut the door after the tech as she left. He came back to Kate with a wince and shrugged. "Eat your dinner first, Kate. Then we'll work on dessert."


She wasn't full.

It was a surprise to actually feel hungry again, to still want to eat. She slathered mashed potatoes over a torn off piece of her roll and pushed it into her mouth even as he laughed at her.

"What are you doing?"

She wrinkled her nose at him because her mouth was full, chewed on the roll to get enough down so that she could stick out her tongue. He laughed harder and leaned back against the railing of the hospital bed, giving her some space.

Probably to avoid the elbow she was trying to cram into his ribs. She swallowed again and licked her bottom lip, and then she reached out for the water, fingers stretching. Castle rolled his eyes and plucked it from the side table, gave it to her.

She sipped slowly, exhausted with the effort of eating, and then leaned back as well, closing her eyes. She felt Castle take the water away from her again and she let it go, dropping her hand to her lap.

"How's it going?"

"I'm hungry," she murmured, letting her eyes flicker open.

He was grinning at her; he looked happy. "Yeah? Good."

"It's a lot of work."

He chuckled and brushed his fingers at her arm, curled around her elbow. "You do good work though. Look at that."

She glanced at the tray and saw that most of the mashed potatoes were gone, though the jello remained. The creamed corn had somehow tasted like absolute heaven and she'd sucked it down first, tearing pieces of roll to sop it up.

"I did do good," she murmured, grinning.

"Gold star."

"Don't be patronizing," she said, knocking her knee into his thigh.

"Oh, but sweetheart, you make it so easy."

Kate curled on her side and into him, gripping his shirt with her fist. He'd changed into a blue button up and those dark wash jeans that made him look crisp and beautiful. She loved him in these jeans. "Your eyes are so blue."

"Wow, you are drunk on mashed potatoes."

"Mm, just bread. Good bread."

"Want dessert?"

"Not yet," she sighed out. "Finish the mashed potatoes."

"Your eyes are closed, Kate."

"Gotta rest. Still hungry but I gotta rest."

She felt his fingers stroke the hair off her cheek, behind her ear, and then the caress of his palm to her jaw. He was warm in the bed with her, and her dinner was resting in her belly, full but not too full, the good kind where she could eat a little more and still be okay.

It was bliss. "Kiss me," she murmured, let her eyes open again.

His head tilted down towards her, their noses brushing. His hand was heavy at her jaw and neck and she watched him as he came in closer.

She was sleepy; dinner made her sleepy, but she wanted to taste him last.

Castle brushed his thumb over her bottom lip and touched his mouth to hers gently, a sigh of his breath. She let her lashes fall and kissed him back, a stroke of her tongue and the nip of his teeth, the soft and vulnerable claim.

Kate lifted her hand and curled her fingers around his wrist, held him to her.

"Wake me before my mashed potatoes get cold," she whispered.

"Of course," he murmured.