Chapter 21

Beckett's eyes flickered opened as she came awake and found that the darkness had lightened. Becoming fully conscious she glanced in the direction of the open door to find that dawn was not far off from breaking. She silently cursed the arrival of a new day.

She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of his breathing, the steady beat of his heart, the feel of his arms still wrapped around her. Revelling in the warmth his body provided, feeling comforted and at peace, seemingly cocooned from the rest of the world. It felt good and she wanted this moment to last. She felt good being here in his arms, though she was not ready to admit that, especially to him. But if she was being honest with herself she could not remember feeling like this with any other man she had been with.

Despite their surroundings once again she had slept well. Two days in a row, this could be habit forming, she thought to herself with some amusement. It was a habit she could get use to.

Opening her eyes she turned her head slowly to look up at his sleeping face. A smile came to her lips as she gazed up at him. She could easily get used to gazing at that ruggedly handsome face, it was very pleasing to the eye. The urge to reach up with her hand and stroke his stubbly cheek was strong but she resisted the urge not wanting to wake him, not yet.

The worry lines that creased his face when he was awake were not there. He seemed contented, and was that a smile on his face? It was, she realised. It pleased her to know that she was responsible for putting that smile on his face. She could only wonder what his face would look like if they had slept together, slept together. She killed that thought instantly. No she was not going to go there, no way.

As she continued to gaze on Castle's face her thoughts wandered back to the previous night. She could not believe that she had opened up to him and told him about her mother. Her mother's murder was something that she told very few people about, close friends yes, certainly not to most of her boyfriends. That was a part of her they did not need to know. And most certainly to no to near strangers.

Yet there she had been opening up to this man and telling him her most painful secrets. It was if she trusted him but why should she? She hardly knew him, they had only been together for a few days. Admittedly they had gone through some life threatening experiences together but still how could she so easily trust him? It so wasn't like her to be so trusting with a stranger.

Well he wasn't a stranger, not exactly. Travelling with him had been an experience. She had learned a lot about him in the time they had been together. One moment he could be the most exasperating man alive that had her wanting to hurt him so much only for the next moment to be cracking jokes that would bring a smile to her face or even make her laugh despite herself. He could act like a nine year old on a sugar rush one moment and the next he could be a responsible adult, or do something sweet for her.

She had not forgotten how he reacted when her stomach had acted up. He had been full of concern for her welfare. He had been concerned for her despite how badly she had been treating him. That said a lot about him.

It was ingenious what he came up with for them to get money so that they could get some food and the antacid she needed. They way he had spoken and carried himself in that bar there was a moment she almost believed he was a FBI agent. And she did not even feel guilty at having stolen the money, well maybe just a little.

Her father may have spilled the beans about her being a fan of his books and that she had even gone to one of his book signings, where he remembered her, and caused her embarrassment. There was one secret she had not spilled last night. She did not tell him that his books had helped her in easing the pain of losing her mother. Reading his books had kindled the flame of justice inside her and set her on the path to becoming a cop. His books provided a beacon of hope and light at the end of the tunnel of despair she had been walking through. If there was nothing else, she would be always grateful to him for that. But there was something else that she was grateful to him for. Reconciling with her father.

Her smile deepened when she recalled the night before at her father's house. She remembered his laughter at some story her father brought up from her past. She had been shocked at how many stories her father could dredge up just to embarrass her, more than a few she had even forgotten about. However there were a couple of moments when he had withdrawn from the conversation and caught him looking at her and her father with a sad smile pasted on his face. On seeing her looking at him, the sad smile vanished and he plunged into the conversation again. It was only now that the realisation came to her. He had been thinking about his own daughter as he watched the back and forth between the Becketts.

"You know it's not polite to stare at someone while they sleep." Castle announced sleepily.

Beckett was startled out of her thoughts at the sound of his voice. She saw his smile had deepened and his eyes were half open and looking at her.

"I wasn't staring, Castle." Beckett replied hurriedly. She was grateful that it was still dark enough to hide the blush blooming across her cheeks.

"Yeah, yeah I know you were gazing." Castle chuckled.

"That's right."

"Feel free to continue to gaze upon my ruggedly handsome features."

"Don't flatter yourself, Castle."

"Good morning, Beckett." The author said.

"Morning, Castle."

Beckett started to get up but found Castle's arms tightening their hold around her preventing her from moving.

"Castle."

"Stay a while, it's still early." Castle insisted. He closed his eyes. "And this is nice."

Beckett thought about fighting him and breaking free of his warm embrace but dismissed it as quickly as it came. It was nice. And he was right, it was still early what harm would it do if she remained there next to him for a little while longer? She rested her head on his chest. Yes, she could very well get used to this, she thought to herself as she felt herself being drawn back to sleep.

XXX

Beckett stood beside the open door way staring at the passing scenery rushing by. The sun had been up for an hour or may be a little more. The train was rolling through farm land. She had no idea where in the world they were. All she knew was that the train had been heading in a north easterly direction. How far they had travelled through the night, she had no idea. She certainly had no idea which state they now found themselves in.

Beckett turned from staring out the door look over to where Castle was sitting. He had reached for the bag of groceries he had managed to hang onto when they had jumped on the train. He opened the bag and was removing items. There were some sandwiches and a couple of pastries which he set on some napkins he had found in the paper bag.

"Breakfast Beckett?" He called out.

"You got any coffee in the bag, Castle?"

Castle peered into the paper bag and then looked over to Beckett, frowned and shook his head.

"Then I'm not hungry." Beckett said.

Castle picked up one of the sandwiches and held it out to her.

"You have to eat something, Beckett."

"I said I wasn't hungry."

"Come and have something to eat." He insisted, still holding up the sandwich to her.

Beckett shook her head.

"You have to eat and I will not take no for an answer."

Again Beckett shook her head.

"Don't make me get up and have to force feed you, Beckett."

Beckett regarded Castle carefully, studying the stern look on his face. There was something in the tone of his voice that caught her attention. Something in his voice told her that he meant what he said. It reminded her of her father when she had been young and stubborn.

Reluctantly she stepped away from the doorway and came to sit down next to him. She crossed her legs and held out her hand for the sandwich. Castle smiled at her as he passed over the sandwich. Beckett unwrapped the sandwich.

"Don't you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?" Castle said.

"So I've heard."

"Well you shouldn't skip breakfast."

"I could kill for a cup of coffee." Beckett declared.

Castle nodded his head. "First chance we get, I'll get you big cup of coffee, okay?"

Beckett gave him a small smile and a nod of her head. She bit into her sandwich. They ate in silence.

"Do you know where we are?" Castle asked after breakfast had been finished and the rubbish placed in the paper bag.

Beckett was standing at the open doorway after she had finished her sandwich and pastry that Castle insisted she eat. She glanced over to him.

"I think we've been travelling in a north east direction." Beckett informed him.

"That would place us somewhere in either Indiana or Kentucky." Castle replied.

"That's my guess." Beckett nodded her head. "We're nearly home."

"And I'm almost dead." Castle said gloomily.

Beckett's face creased into a frown as she looked at Castle who was looking decidedly unhappy.

"Look, Castle the Witness Protection program isn't so bad." She told him. "They'll give you a new name and you'll have a new life."

Castle looked up at her anger blazing in his eyes. "Kate, do me a favour, okay?" He said tersely. "Don't play this routine with me because it really insults my intelligence. The only thing important to you about me is getting your money."

Beckett was stung by his words. Anger flared up within her and rose to show on her face.

"I'm tired of you making me out to be some kind of thug whose only concern is a big chunk of change." she said angrily. "Did you know that Racine's people offered me a million bucks for you?"

"Why didn't you take his money, your sure as hell doing his work?" Castle shouted.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Beckett shouted back. "The reason I do this shit, Castle is because I didn't take that slimy lowlife's money a year ago! You remember that guy's brother I told you about? It was Racine. It didn't take his money back then and I sure as hell am not going to take it now. So there you go, now you know everything."

Castle stared at Beckett stunned by her outburst. He did not speak for some moments.

"He's the reason you were forced out of the NYPD?" He said finally.

Beckett nodded her head.

"And you're still taking me in?"

Beckett nodded again.

Castle frowned at her.

"Are you out of your mind?" He exclaimed. "You let that son of a bitch beat you! With what you know about police work and what I know about Racine's operations, we should be able to put him away for for thirty years, maybe more."

Beckett shook her head firmly.

"I'm not in that business anymore." She said, the heat gone from her voice.

"Hell, I'm a writer with some accounting skills and I tried to get him, Beckett." Castle said angrily, not understanding why she was acting this way. "You're this badass gal, with ninja fighting skills, and you're backing away?" Castle paused and shook his head.

"I don't have it in me any more." Beckett said in a low voice.

"Bullshit!" Castle said angrily.

Castle rose from the floor and started to make his way towards Beckett. Beckett saw him approach but looked away. She felt the train start to slow down. That caught her attention. Grabbing hold of the side, she leaned out the doorway to take a look. The long freight train had slowed down as it made its way around a bend. After looking for a couple of moments she moved back in and turned to Castle, who had come up to her ready to continue this argument.

"This is our stop." Beckett announced.

"Huh?"

"We're getting off here, Castle."

Castle's anger vanished suddenly and a look of alarm took its place. Beckett motioned him to jump.

"You first." She added.

"No, no, ladies first." Castle replied, waving to her.

"Jump, Castle."

"You first."

"No, you first."

Beckett couldn't believe that he was being childish about jumping off the moving train. Well she was not exactly thrilled about jumping the train even though it was moving slowly. An idea came to her. She held out her hand to him.

"We jump together?" She said.

Castle looked down at her offered hand and then back up at her face. He nodded his head. He reached out and grasped her hand, squeezing it tightly.

"Like Butch and Sundance, eh?" Castle remarked

"On the count of three, ready?"

Castle grunted a reply.

"One...two...three."

XXX

Special Agent Wil Sorenson swung the wheel of his car sharply and it barrelled through the open gates of the rail road depot. He raced in the direction of the rail siding where a swarm of marked and unmarked police cars parked in front of the freight train. Armed police officers were moving along the length of the train cars peering through the open doors and under the cars, searching for the fugitives.

Sorenson had a small smile on his face as he came to a halt and killed the engine. He had a good feeling about this. There was no way Beckett and Castle were going to get away from him again. Not today. He got out of the car and pulled on his sunglasses. The other agents in the car also got out and watched as the freight train was systematically searched.

Sorenson spotted the senior officer in charge of the search standing near the train surrounded by several uniformed officers. He started making his way to the officer.

"Captain, Special Agent Wil Sorenson, FBI." Sorenson announced as he reached the captain. The two men shook hands.

"Find them yet?" Sorenson said, trying to keep at bay the smile that wanted to appear.

The police captain looked at Sorenson and shook his head.

"We've found nothing." The Captain announced in a drawl.

"What do you mean, you've found nothing?" Sorenson replied, a frown starting to grow across his face. "They have to be on the train."

"Special Agent Sorenson, I've got the damned train surrounded and my people have searched it from the front all the way to the back. Nothing."

"Damn it, search it again." Sorenson insisted.

"They're searching it for the third time." The Captain said, trying not to let his irritation show on his face.

"Goddamn it!" Sorenson shouted.

Suddenly Sorenson remembered himself. He paused and took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He looked to the Captain. He gave the man a nod of the head.

"Thank you Captain." Sorenson added through gritted teeth.

Sorenson turned from the police captain and started walking back to his car.

"Boss, they must have jumped off the train anywhere along the line." Agent Tuttle said, stating the obvious.

Sorenson stopped walking and turned to look at Agent Tuttle. For several moments Sorenson did not speak a word, he just stared at the other agent. Sorenson wanted nothing more than to reach out and strangle Agent Tuttle with his bare hands. He did not act on that impulse though.

"Agent Tuttle, open your mouth one more time without my permission and I will have you transferred to the surveillance division, and you will spend the rest of your career have to listen to mobsters' wives complaining to their husbands about why they don't have the latest furniture like their friends do."

Agent Tuttle opened his mouth to respond but closed it the moment Sorenson held up a warning finger. Instead Agent Tuttle nodded his head in understanding.

Sorenson resumed walking to his car.

XXX

Tom Demming had rolled his car to a halt on the street directly across from the entrance to the train depot. He saw the police surrounding the train in the siding. He had an amused look on his face as he witnessed the exchange between Sorenson and another agent. Sorenson did not look happy that much was plain to see. So Feds didn't find Beckett and Castle, Demming thought to himself. Maybe he still he had a chance of finding them? Demming was about to start up the car but paused. No, he would see what the Feds would do. They would lead him to Beckett he figured.

XXX

Beckett gingerly rose to her feet. No doubt she had a few more additions to her collection of bruises she had received over the past couple of days. She was thankful that she had not broken anything. She turned to look at the embankment. The embankment had a steep decline and she could not help but be amazed that she had managed to survive jumping off the train.

She remembered jumping off the train and as her feet had touched the ground she had managed to tuck and roll. She had rolled all the way down the embankment. How she didn't get hurt let alone get killed she would never know. As she now studied the decline she spotted several large rocks that some how she had managed to avoid as she was rolling down.

The euphoria she felt at having survived the jump off the train vanished as she remembered Castle. Looking around she spotted him at the bottom of the embankment a short distance away. He was in a sitting position with his back to her and hunched over.

"Castle?" She called out a little frantically.

"Beckett." Castle said in a gasp.

A worried frown creased Beckett's face as she rushed over to him. Dropping to her knees beside him she saw that his face was contorted with pain.

"Castle, are you all right?"

"I think I might have broken my wrist." Castle said as he looked up at her. There was pain contorting his face.

Looking down Beckett saw that he was cradling his left hand in his lap. Her face furrowed deeper with concern that he had been hurt.

"Let me take a look." She said.

At first Castle was not going to let her but she pulled his good hand away and he let her. As gently as she could she took his injured hand not wanting to cause him any more pain that he was going through. His wrist was discoloured and starting to bruise.

"Can you move your fingers?" She asked.

Castle slowly wiggled his fingers. Beckett was relieved to see that he could move his fingers, that was a good sign as she struggled to recall her first aid training. Carefully she prodded his wrist where the bruising was growing.

"It hurts." Castle hissed.

"I know."

"It really hurts.

"I know it does, Castle." She said soothingly. "Try and be a big boy for me, okay?"

"Okay."

More relief swept through her when she did not find any bones protruding where they shouldn't have been. She was sure, or as best as she could be that he had not broken his wrist. There was some movement in his wrist even thought it caused him considerable pain in that action. He needed to see a doctor.

"I don't think it's broken." Beckett announced. "But we need to take you to a doctor."

Castle nodded his head.

Beckett returned Castle's injured hand back to his lap. She sat back and considered what she had to do. She had to splint it just to be on the safe side. Looking about she searched for material to make the splint. She rose to her feet when she spotted several twigs that might do the trick.

Returning to Castle's side she knelt beside him.

"I'm going to put your hand in a splint and then see if we can get you some medical attention, okay?"

"Works for me." Castle said.

She needed material to wrap the arm and also making a sling. Her t-shirt would do the trick she thought. She took off her jacket and started to lift up her t-shirt.

"Whoa, Beckett, what are you doing?" Castle said in alarm.

"Turn your head, Castle." She replied. "I'm going to use my t-shirt to wrap your hand and make a splint."

Castle stared at her wide-eyed for a moment before the surprise melted away to replaced by a leering look.

"Showing me see your boobs is an admirable way for me to forget about the pain, I like your thinking, Beckett."

"Castle!" Beckett exclaimed, shocked.

Beckett could not help but blush as she suddenly she thought about what she had been about to do.

Castle despite his pain started to laugh at her mortified look.

"It's not funny Castle."

"It is from where I'm sitting. You should see the look on your face." Castle said unable to stop laughing.

Beckett could still not believe what she had been about to do. What was she thinking? Castle's laughter managed to ease the tension that had arisen. Slowly she allowed a sheepish grin to grace her face. She shook her head at him

"Beckett, use my shirt." Castle offered after his laughter had died away. "I'm wearing a t-shirt underneath, and besides it's larger, more material." Castle suggested.

"Good idea."

"Can I still see your boobs?" He asked hopefully.

"No."

"Please?"

"I said, no!"

"But I'm in pain."

"You'll be in a lot more pain if you don't shut up."

"What kind of nurse are you, threatening a patient with more pain?"

"A nurse that's not going to show you her boobs."

"You're no fun, you know that?"

"We'll you're just going to have to live with it." Beckett said as she helped him out his jacket.

XXX

It was the best first aid she could administer under the circumstances, Beckett thought to herself as she finished knotting the sling. It was makeshift but it would have to do until she could get Castle to a doctor. Castle looked at her handiwork and nodded his approval. It concerned her that he still looked a little pale. It was probably from the pain of the sprain, she figured. She was grateful that he had not made another request to see her boobs. Even now she still couldn't believe it.

Pushing aside those thoughts she helped Castle get his jacket on and helped to his feet. She was grateful too that he had suffered no other injuries in his fall down the embankment. As they stood together, Castle decided to milk his injury by putting his good arm around her shoulder and leaned on her for support. Without thinking Beckett threaded an arm around his waist.

They stood like that for a few minutes in silence. Beckett was looking about deciding which direction they should take to find the nearest town. Picking a direction they started walking. It surprised her that Castle had not said anything. He hadn't offered his two cents worth. She put it down to him being more concerned about his pain and trusting her that she would get them to the nearest town.

They were walking through a small forest. Castle had not asked her again to see her boobs but she had a feeling that it would not be long before he did. The terrain was not difficult and they found a walking path which they took. From time to time Beckett would glance at him and saw that his face was pale. His wrist must have been hurting him more than he was letting on.

"So how are we going with your schedule, Beckett?" Castle asked.

"Don't worry Writer Boy, I'll get you home with time to spare." Beckett replied.

"You of all people should know it's Writer Man, not Writer Boy."

Beckett felt herself start to blush. She looked away from him and concentrated on the path ahead.

"So how did you manage to sprain your wrist, Castle?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Well when you let go of my hand I landed awkwardly and I put out my hand to steady myself and well...what you now see if the result."

"I didn't let go of your hand." Beckett said quickly.

She remembered as they were hurtling toward the ground his hand had slipped out of hers but she had no time to do anything about it as she hit the ground and started rolling down the embankment. She did feel bad that he had gotten hurt and though she was not willing to admit it, she was a little concerned about how long it was going to take to get him back to New York.

"You let go of my hand." Castle said breaking into her thoughts.

"Castle, you keep that up and I will break your arm." Beckett warned patting his good arm.

"All right, you didn't let go of my hand." Castle said.

They had travelled about a couple of miles through the forest track when they came to a road. Beyond the road was a small rural town. Beckett and Castle looked at each other and smiled. Without a word they crossed the road and walked into the town.

Coming upon a local Beckett asked directions to the nearest pointed them in the right direction. The helpful local looked at Castle's sling and pointed to the end of the street where they would find the doctor's office.

Beckett opened the door to the doctor's office and held it open for Castle to go in before she followed him. It was a small doctor's office with the reception area having a few chairs along the walls. There was a small coffee table in the middle with the ubiquitous ageing and well thumbed Readers Digest and National Geographic magazines spread across it. An elderly woman sat behind the reception desk. She gave Castle a sympathetic smile when she looked up.

"You look like you have been in the wars, dear." She drawled and smiled.

"You could say that." Castle said and returned her smile.

"I think my friend might have broken his wrist." Beckett informed the receptionist. "Is the doctor available?"

"He's with a patient at the moment but he shouldn't be too long, mam."

Feeling his gaze on her she turned her head to find him smiling at her. She wondered why he was smiling at her. What had she said could make him smile like, she wondered? Then she remembered, she had called him her friend. She gave him a small smile in return before turning to the receptionist who had placed a clipboard on the counter.

"If you could fill in this form, please."

Beckett took the clipboard and with Castle they went over and sat down. As she was filling in the form for Castle, Beckett heard the door to the surgery open but she did not look up.

"Kate?" A voice called out.

Beckett looked up to see a tall handsome man with black hair and a nice tan. He wore a black AC/DC t-shirt under the white doctor's coat as he stood in the open doorway of the surgery. He had a look of surprise etched on his face as he stared at her.

Beckett felt her heart sink when she saw who the doctor was.

"Josh?" She said hesitantly.

Castle looked at Beckett to the expression on her face before looking over to the doctor staring at her and then back to his companion who now had a shocked look on her face. A small smile slowly spread across his face.

"Beckett, care to share with the class?"

XXXXX

Your thoughts dear reader would be appreciated.

Con