Set season 2 after Boom.

Castle awakes with a weird feeling in his stomach. It feels like a knot of some kind, as if he is worried or afraid, but he has no idea what makes him feel this way. At least not until he hears a sniff from somewhere outside his bedroom. That's when it all downs back on him. Beckett. He tries to stay away, tries to give her the space he's promised, but it's so damn hard leaving her alone when it's clear she's upset. He knows the deal is he's not supposed to bother her, even if it's his loft she still wants her privacy. But then again, why isn't she in her room? Maybe she wants him to investigate the sounds of her pain.

"Screw it," he mumbles to himself before he throws away the covers and pulls on a shirt to cover himself. He doesn't care about putting pants on, not when he hears another sniff and doesn't think she'll care he's only in his boxers. Just for safety he quickly grabs his robe on his way out of his bedroom. He's not exactly sneaking through his office and into the living area but he's not making too much sound either.

He spots her after looking around the living room for several seconds. She sits on the floor by the big windows, facing the city below them, with one hand cradling her neck and the other in her hair. He stands for a few seconds just observing her, he keeps thinking she's going to turn her face to him or in some other way acknowledge his presence. When she doesn't he starts wondering if maybe he was too quiet walking in there. He gulps and scratches his head before opening his mouth.

"Beckett?" He does his best to keep his voice sooth and low to not scare her. Looks like she gets a bit startled anyway due to the small jerk her body makes at the sound of his voice. She looks towards him and lowers her hand in her hair in order to wipe it across her face. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he apologizes as he walks towards her.

"No, it's okay, I shouldn't be out here," she says, keeping her voice down as to not wake up any of the other members of the Castle family. "I tried to stay in the guest room but it just felt… cramped."

He sits down in front of her, watching as she's avoiding eye contact by focusing on the buildings outside.

"Don't worry about it, you're free to go around as you like," he assures her, seeing her eyes flicker to his. Her hazels looks watery and he realizes the sniffs must've actually been related to her being sad and letting out her emotions. "What's on your mind?" he asks as gently as he can muster.

He watches as she shakes her head, tries to smile only for her eyes to turn more watery and he sees the smile falter. Her lips purses in that way that tells him she's trying to hold back her emotions and he wishes he had the right to tell her to just let it out. But he's afraid it would only result in her closing in on him again.

"I-uh, woke up from a nightmare, in which I wasn't alone in my apartment when it blew up and I just… it keeps repeating in my mind," she admits and he hopes he's not showing how surprised he is at her actually opening up. "I know the case is over, I know he's in prison, but I don't have a home anymore. And my dad was close to losing me too. Having a few days off to relax and recover strength isn't really my strong suit." She shrugs her shoulders while her free hand, not the one still on her neck, starts fiddling with the knees of her leggings that she's wearing.

He tries to think of some comfort but can only really think of one thing. "How about you let me help you? I mean, I can help take your mind off of things, we can have a movie night, play boardgames, I've got video games too, you are free to read any book of mine," he gestures to the books in the shelves acting walls between the living area and his office. "If you want to you can even read what I've been writing on the next Nikki Heat book."

The small smile that tugs her lips has his insides warm with pride, he made her smile.

"Thanks, you're too sweet," she says low and he smiles.

"Always." Her smile grows bigger at the promise and he can't stop the next suggestion out of his mouth. "And if you ever need a massage don't hesitate to ask."

She laughs quietly at that, her eyes rolling in that way she only ever does for him. "Might take you up on that," she teases and he observes as the sadness in her eyes disappears, replaced with a small mischief glimpsing.

"Please do," he says and she shakes her head with another laugh. Her fingers leaving her knee to grab a hold of his and drag it to her knee. She plays with his fingers and he feels his heart skip a beat at the tingles, she's definitely more to him than just a muse.

"Thanks Rick, for easing my mind. For making me laugh," she whispers and when he meets her eyes there's a promise. A promise only for him. A promise of something more. A promise involving a them. A promise of soon.

THE END