Chapter 14

During the night, Kate woke to the sound of Castle's voice, but he sounded distressed. He was calling her name and saying "No." Each time he said it, it was louder and more frantic, and she shook him and called him until he woke up, knowing Ahmed was likely to be there if he got much louder.

"Castle, it's okay. It was just a dream. You're okay. You were just dreaming." She pulled his head to her shoulder and held him close, whispering assurances, stroking his shoulders and back, and soothing him awake. He wrapped his arms around her desperately. When he calmed, she said softly, "It must have been a bad one."

"It was. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up…or worry you. I'm supposed to be taking care of you."

"I told you that you don't always have to be strong for me. I need to take care of you sometimes, too. It had something to do with me?"

"Yeah."

"What was the dream?"

"You don't need to…"

"You made me talk about my nightmare…and it made me feel better…to say it and know it wasn't real…so talk to me. Castle. We're going to be honest, remember?"

"This time he killed you. You were hanging from the building, and he shot you, and you fell." He turned away from her and ran his fingers through his hair, and there was a catch in his voice as he said, "All I could do was watch you fall."

"Look at me. I'm here. It didn't happen. She reached for his face to turn it toward her for a kiss, then she understood why he turned away. She felt the tears and pulled him back to her. "It's just me," she reminded him. "You don't have to hide anything from me. Have you had nightmares like this before?"

"Yeah."

"For how long?"

"Since you were shot."

"I didn't know."

"I guess the cat's out of the bag now, huh?"

"You want me to talk to you. I expect the same thing, understand?"

"Okay."

"Can you sleep now?"

"Am I hurting you if stay here?"

"Not if I move this arm just a little. There. I'm fine."

"I can hear your heartbeat from here."

She felt a tear run down her own cheek as she held him, trying to protect him from his dreams. She held him where her heartbeat would give him the comfort of knowing she was still with him, and after a few minutes, they had both fallen asleep again.

xxxxx

Rick got up and dressed early the next morning and slipped out quietly, careful not to wake Kate. He was a little embarrassed that she had caught the tears, but seeing how insistent she was about needing to take care of him, too... That was well worth a little embarrassment.

Ahmed had promised to be awake and alert after Rick left, so he met Rick in the hallway to assure him he was on duty. He understood both his friend's concern for the woman he loved and Kate's need for healing sleep.

"Thanks for this," Rick said.

"You pay me well, feed me well, give me a fine place to lay my head…and you are my friend. No need for thanks. I will watch over her…as you would do for my loved ones."

"Then I won't worry."

"That is a lie," he answered, smiling in amusement.

"Well, I won't worry much." Rick smiled at being called out on his tendency to worry.

"I can accept that as truth." As Castle turned to leave, he heard, "Rick…" and turned back at the sound. "The stewardess yesterday…did it hurt you with your Kate?"

"We talked before we slept last night. Jacinda told Kate the truth about what happened between us. It was what Kate needed to know. She probably did me a favor."

"You lead a charmed life, my friend," he said, shaking his head. "Enjoy your day, and try not to worry."

Rick gave him a brief, brotherly pat on one arm and was off to meet Paula and the car that would take them to the television station.

xxxxx

Kate woke up when her alarm went off at seven-forty-five. Rick's TV spot was scheduled for eight. She got up, made use of the bathroom, splashed some water on her face to help her wake up, and put on her robe. Knowing Rick had left Ahmed to provide for her safety if she needed it, she knocked on the adjoining door. It rankled her that she might need help if it came to it, but she had admitted to herself, even if to no one else, that her injuries had left her less capable than usual. She hadn't been able to cope with Maddox when she was at her best, and she knew she wouldn't stand a chance against someone like him now. Theoretically, she was safe unless they found Smith again, but there were no guarantees. She had much more to live for now, so she conscientiously wasn't complaining about security…at least for now.

Opening the door on her side a little way, she called, "Morning, Ahmed. I know Richard Castle didn't leave here without being sure you were awake. You want to watch him on TV with me?"

The other door opened fully, and Ahmed loomed in the doorway for a moment before he came into the living room of the suite.

"He should be on in a couple of minutes," Kate told him, easing herself into a roomy chair. "I think I'll watch and then go back to bed if you don't mind. You can leave the adjoining door open if it makes it easier."

"That might be best," he agreed, sitting down on the sofa.

About that time, Rick was being introduced on the show, and they both smiled, commenting a time or two as he worked his charm on the two anchors, hawking his book, dropping teasers about the plot, and leaving his audience wanting more.

"He's really good at this, isn't he?" she said.

"Wait until you see him at a book signing. He has them eating out of his hand there, too."

"Actually, I've seen that before," she said a little sheepishly. Way before he started following me around for the Nikki Heat books, I stood in line for an hour for a signature. To this day, I don't know why I wanted to do that, but I'd read all of his books. I was going through a tough time, and I could get lost in them. They helped me get through some things…and I ended up there...like a fan girl. It's the only time I've ever done anything like that. Then I worked with him long enough to know the real man. He amazes me."

"You amaze him, too, Kate Beckett. I'm happy that my friend has you with him."

"I'd think anyone who cares about him…anyone he confides in, would be less than that trusting of me."

"I am a good judge of character…a necessity of the job. I saw the two of you together yesterday, and I did not see a woman who does not care deeply for Richard Castle."

Kate simply smiled and looked down, uncomfortable at such a conversation with someone she had known for such a short time, surprised that she was allowing it, and nodded in agreement at his statement. "The two of you seem to be good friends," she observed. "How did you meet?"

"I met Rick at the airport in London on my way to this country…shortly after I had to leave my own. He and Alexis had been on holiday in London and were on their way home. My family and I were having difficulty navigating such a large airport, and we stopped him to ask questions; the rest, as they say, is history."

"How did that develop into such a friendship?" she asked, more interested now than before.

"Richard Castle can't resist a story. He is a curious man."

Kate laughed. "Probably the understatement of the century."

Ahmed chuckled, too. "He apparently saw a story in us and needed to hear it. When it turned out that we would be waiting at the same gate, he sat with us…my wife, my brother and me, and before we knew it, we had told him our story…beginning to end. He is also an easy man to talk to. Alexis was about ten years old; and, for a child that age, she had nearly as many good questions as her father."

"What was your job before you left your country?"

"Perhaps I should begin at the beginning," he suggested.

"Always a good starting point," Kate agreed.

Ahmed said he had been married only a few months at the time, and spoke of how happy he and his wife were in their first home.

"My brother and I were in the army and had both distinguished ourselves enough to be trained as members of the palace guard...something like your secret service. At that time, our country had a king. He wasn't a perfect man, but he was a good man. He cared about the country, about the good of the people, and he had made an effort to rid the government of some of the corruption that had been rampant under his father. That angered a lot of important people, and some of the military leaders took over the government, killed him, his family, and the unit guarding him that night, along with as many other members of the palace guard as they could find. Two of the guards who had escaped managed to warn those of us who were not on duty that night. There were members of the community close by who we depended on to provide assistance if we needed to move the king inconspicuously, and they had become friends. My wife, my brother, and I went to them with barely more than what we were wearing and the papers we would need to travel, and they smuggled us out of the city. We managed to cross the border and make our way to an American humanitarian aid group who allowed us to stay for a while until we could decide what to do. We worked for them in return for food and shelter, and we found jobs outside their group as well. After we decided on a path of action, they helped us work through your embassy for asylum. We were given student visas to study in this country, and a supporter of the group offered us transportation to London…in a truly frightening commuter plane. I don't know how old it was or what was holding it together, but it did get us to London; and we were exceedingly grateful…both for the kindness and the fact that we all lived through it. We barely had enough money for our plane fare, let alone anything else. That was when we met Rick at the airport."

"He must have been fascinated. I can almost see him writing your story in his head as he listened."

"I'm certain he was, but we didn't know at the time that we were talking to a well-known writer. We simply enjoyed our conversation. My family liked him, too, and all of us enjoyed Alexis. He offered his help when we got to New York…helped us find a place to live…and, I suspect, paid some of the rent without mentioning it. We realized much later that the rent was quite low for the apartment we had at the time. He called me when he needed security, which was more often then, and recommended my brother, Joseph, and me to friends of his who had similar needs periodically. We worked at clubs…large events. All of us were business students, and eventually, we built on the clientele that grew from Rick's recommendations and established our own security firm."

"And you stayed in touch?"

"Spending as much time together as we have on tours like this one, Rick and I talked a lot, confided in one another. As different as we are, we found that we had a lot in common. He's a good man…a good friend."

"I know," Kate agreed. "I hope I'll have a chance to meet your family sometime. Do you have children?"

"Two," he answered with a fatherly look of pride. "A seven year old daughter and a three year old son."

"I can already see one of the things you have in common."

"What is that?" he asked with a smile.

"That's the same kind of look I see on Rick's face when he talks about Alexis."

"It is often difficult for fathers to control such things," he answered with a broad smile.

Kate laughed. "I seem to remember catching that look on my father's face, now and then when I was younger."

"It is undoubtedly still there. You simply are not there to see it so often now. He still has much to be proud of."

"Another thing you and Rick have in common. Knowing the right thing to say," she answered with an appreciative smile.

He stood to leave. "His television time is over now. Why don't you try to sleep a while longer? Sleep is healing, and you will enjoy the trip more when your injuries heal. Rest. The doors will be open, and I'll be close by."

"Thanks. I hate admitting it, but it does make me feel better."

"I understand that. We are both trained as warriors. Perhaps one day I will need to ask for your help, and I have no doubt that you will provide it well."

Kate smiled. "All this, and a diplomat, too." She started toward the bedroom and stopped, turning slightly back toward Ahmed. "Castle is a warrior, too. He's fearless when he needs to be, keeps a clear head in battle, thinks well on his feet. You should know that about your friend. And he's an honorable man. I don't just care about him; I have a great deal of respect for him, too."

Ahmed smiled in return, looking pleased; then he nodded and retreated to his suite, leaving the doors between the rooms open.

Kate closed herself in the bedroom, went back to bed, and wasn't awake even long enough to be surprised at how quickly she was falling asleep again. She was still asleep long after Rick returned, and she got up just after he had ordered lunch for the three of them.

xxxxx

"Good morning," Castle said to her with a teasing smile. "I was beginning to think I wouldn't have the pleasure of your company again until after the book signing."

"I can't believe I've slept this long," Kate answered, sitting down beside him on the couch and leaning against him sleepily.

He turned his head to give her a little kiss on her lips; then he put an arm around her shoulders and leaned back, where she could be more comfortable resting against him. "Lunch should be delivered soon, and Ahmed will be right back to join us."

"He's an impressive man…surprisingly easy to talk to…even for me."

"He has a brother who's almost as impressive."

"Good genes there," Kate commented with a smile. Suddenly changing the subject, she said, "You were good on the show this morning."

"You got up to watch?"

"Only for that." She moved her chin to his shoulder to look at him, knowing he would notice that she was throwing his words from the day before back into his path. "Otherwise, what kind of support would that show from somebody who's supposed to love you?" She stopped and kissed his neck because it was the closest thing to her mouth, and added, "I was impressed. You were definitely in charge."

He kissed her mouth again while it was so close and smiled. "Thank you."

"Enjoy the compliments while they're here, writer-man," she said, moving her head to his chest. "We'll see how much of the old Beckett eventually returns."

"I fell in love with the old Beckett, remember…but I gotta say, I'm liking this huggy, kissy, admits she loves me Beckett a lot." He kissed her head, and heard her little chuckle. "The book signing will be over before dinner. That gives us the evening free again. Do you feel like going out somewhere, or would you rather stay here tonight?"

"Can we play it by ear? I thought I'd want to get out for a little while this morning, but I seem to have slept through most of it."

"Sure. Whatever you want."

"How did you get to be so patient?"

"Just wait until those ribs let you breathe easier and you aren't hurting when you move. Then you'll see a lack of patience. I'll be dragging you back to our room every chance I get, probably not asking so often what you want to do."

"Because you'll already know," she answered suggestively. "One night making love with Richard Castle is not enough. And that still doesn't answer how you can be so patient."

He grinned and answered, "It didn't hurt that Lanie threatened to kill me and make it look like natural causes if I touched you before your ribs allow you to breathe without pain."

Having heard such Lanie threats before, Kate's laugh burst from her; and she was immediately reminded that the ribs weren't ready for such action quite yet. She had coughed that morning, which also served as a warning.

Rick kissed her head and sat quietly holding her until her little burst of pain subsided. "You okay?" he asked.

"I'm okay."

He turned himself more toward Kate and pressed her gently against the back of the sofa, kissing up her jaw line and reaching her lips with soft kisses that she returned, each one becoming more insistent. When the last one broke, they were both breathing harder, and he was kicking himself for getting lost in the kisses. Her response to breathing heavily still showed some trouble, and he decided he'd have to tone down the kissing, too, for another few days. They both knew Lanie wasn't his only reason for being patient.

"Another few days, probably. We've waited for years. We'll survive another few days. And, for the record, one night making love with Katherine Beckett isn't nearly enough, either."

"Sorry I'm so worthless on that score right now."

"When we get there again, the anticipation will make it even better." Rick planted one more quick little peck on Kate's lips before they heard the outside door of the next room close.

Having heard the quiet, loving sound of the voices next door, Ahmed called from his room to let them know he was there. Then he entered their room and went to open the door for the obviously intimidated young man who was delivering their lunch. The cart had been checked in the hall before he was allowed to enter the room, and Ahmed's practiced eye had looked him over carefully for the possibility of weapons.

Even though Rick was happy to have such security in place, he did feel sorry for the unsuspecting young man and went to give him a generous tip before he left.

"Poor kid," Kate chuckled from the sofa as the two men smiled. "Is all that really necessary?"

"Just doing my job," Ahmed said in his defense.

"What he said," Rick responded, "and I did give 'the poor kid' a healthy tip to help him get over it."