another short chapter for tonite :)

enjoy!


SUNDAY

Kate slept through dinner, and the sly smiles Lanie and the boys shared when they came in a half hour later to find Castle wrapped around their friend. He'd glared and carefully detangled himself before Jim entered with pizza from the diner down the block.

They'd shared pizza and coke and water, just like the night Kate had been brought in, though the atmosphere was decidedly lighter. Jim had been relieved when he heard the people who did this to his daughter had been caught.

Now Castle sat drinking coffee as Kate filled out her release papers with a small smile, quickly sorting through the pages.

"You have another one for me, right?" Kate said, gesturing to the coffee in his hand without really looking up.

"It's waiting for you at the loft," Castle said, talking over her interruption and finishing his sentence firmly, "where you will be staying for the next few days. Doctors orders. And Lanie's. And my own," he finished with a smile.

Kate glared at him briefly before remembering how grateful she was to have him in her life and smiling.

"Fine." she signed a few more papers before flipping to what she thought was the last page.

Kate slowly looked over at Castle and raised an eyebrow. "Rick," she said carefully.

Castle perked up at that. She never called him by his first name. "Yes, Katherine," he answered playfully.

"Where's the insurance papers?"

Castle's eyes widened and he flashed her a bright grin. "It's taken care of?" he said.

Kate ground her teeth together momentarily before relenting. "Fine."

"Fine?"

"Fine."

"Really? You're not going to fight me on this?"

"Nope."

"You're thinking of ways to pay me back without me noticing aren't you?"

Kate flicked her eyes back to his. "No."

Castle shot her a look and she had to crack a smile. "Seriously, Castle, I really appreciate it. This is something you obviously wanted to do for me and it's sweet. Really."

"Really." Still disbelieving, but daring to be hopeful too.

Kate laughed now. "Really."

"I'm not buying it."

Kate smirked now. "Next time I tell you to stay in the car or to stay out of a building or to stay away from a crime scene, you do it. Actually, the next five times I tell you to do something at work, you do it."

"Five?"

"Five."

"One."

"Five."

"Three?"

"Five."

"Four?"

"Ten."

"Five is good." Castle went back to his coffee and Kate laughed, handing over the paperwork to the nurse who walked in pushing a wheelchair.

As Kate maneuvered herself into the chair with a grumble, Castle smiled at her small display of her old self. It made him feel lighter, like she would really be okay after all this.

"You coming Castle?"


"Katie," Jim greeted his daughter at the Castle loft when she and Rick walked through the front door.

"Dad! What are you doing here?" Kate accepted the tight hug easily, holding on a touch longer than usual.

"Brunch. Rick invited me, since you're moving in here for a few days."

Kate grinned over at Castle and he smiled back. "Thanks, Castle,"

"Ah, don't thank me yet Detective; Alexis and my mother will be home soon to smother you with so much attention you won't know what to do with yourself. I know how much you love that,"

"I don't mind when you do it," she said before she could censor herself. Castle grinned and raised an eyebrow as Kate turned pink, looking away from the two amused men in the room. "Right, I'm just gonna go, get changed."

Kate turned to take her bag and head up the stairs to the guest bedroom when her father grabbed her wrist with a chuckle.

"Katie, we weren't laughing-," he dropped off when Kate froze and her arm went limp in his loose grip. He caught her eyes and she looked frightened. "Oh, sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't realize-,"

Kate waited as her father tripped over an apology, unable to speak just then. The intercom buzzing startled all three of them and Alexis' bubbly voice calling for her dad to come open the door, since their hands were full of brunch, pushed Castle into action.

"Jim, would you mind helping Alexis and my mother? I'll show Kate upstairs," Castle didn't wait for confirmation from either Beckett before gently sliding an arm around Kate's vibrating shoulders and carefully guiding her towards the stairs. Her bag hung over one shoulder and she went with him willingly.

Once she was seated on the bed, Castle sat next to her and told her to take deep breaths. The doctor had warned him about this just that morning. Anything could set off a memory of Kate's time with Daniels and Clark. Including people touching her face or restraining her hands or wrists.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, to freak out." Kate breathed, leaning over against Castle. She was trembling and slightly pale.

"Hey, it's alright. It's not your fault, and your dad knows that."

Wanting to distract her and to bring that smile back to her face, Castle eased her up to sit on her own and then stood.

"Here, I was going to wait until everyone was gone to give these back to you, but I think you need them now."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a watch. Her father's watch. And a small ring box that, when popped open, held her mother's ring.

"My mom's ring? And my dad's watch," Kate reached out and touched them gently where they rested in Castle's hands. "You kept these? This whole time?"

"Of course I did. They're a part of you Kate,"

He held out the watch to her and then slipped the necklace over her head, let her settle it against her sternum. She touched it as it hung there and then fingered the watch.

"I don't know if I can put this on my wrist." she said sadly.

Castle kneeled in front of her and carefully took it from her, slowly wrapping the band around her slender wrist and thin bandage without fastening it.

"How does it feel?"

Kate considered it and the man in front of her. "Okay."

"Can I tighten it?"

She swallowed. "Yeah," and she watched him slide the strap through the clasp and then poke the ends together until it was snug against her skin. She smiled.

"What?" Castle asked when he saw Kate's smile.

"Feels good."


Brunch was a happy affair once Kate went back downstairs and hugged her worried father. Martha and Alexis were both hesitant to hug her and Kate held out a hand to each of them.

Jim watched his daughter interact with the Castles, and Rodgers, with a smile as he sipped orange juice. He watched Rick Castle slide a hand over her shoulders, her back, down an arm. The writer would squeeze her fingers or upper arm in comfort.

Kate would smile slightly up or over at him, sometimes she returned the glancing touches.

Interesting.

Jim watched Alexis Castle inch closer to his daughter on the couch after brunch, where they retired with fruity drinks. Jim and Kate with plain OJ, Martha's had a kick to it, Alexis' had ginger ale in it and Rick had a large glass of something extremely colourful and non-alcoholic.

The younger redhead finally reached her goal of sitting shoulder to shoulder with Kate and her smile brightened. Kate shifted away slightly, probably thinking she was taking up too much space if Jim knew her, and then shifted back when she caught sight of the girl's dimmed smile.

Martha reached out at every opportunity to pass Kate another roll or piece of bacon bite or mini cupcake, or to touch her shoulder, her elbow, her knee.

Very interesting indeed.

"Observing the excitement, Jim?" Jim turned at the sound of Castle's voice.

Rick sat next to him with his rainbow drink. "Can I get you anything else?"

Jim smiled slightly and shook his head. "No, I'm good Rick. I can see why Katie enjoys spending so much time with you and your family,"

Rick looked over at the women at that comment and grinned. "They could make anyone feel welcome, even Kate." He seemed to realize how that sounded and backpedaled wildly, facing the older Beckett with wide eyes.

"I mean, not that she's difficult, well she is difficult, I just mean she's guarded and doesn't relax easily, not that I'm saying she's uptight, well she is uptight, but-,"

"I get it. She's not easy to work with sometimes. Trust me, I know." Jim cut Rick off after letting him ramble for a few moments.

Rick nodded thankfully and sipped his drink. "I'm surprised she's agreeing to stay here for a few days. Usually it's like pulling teeth,"

"But it's not anymore?"

"She didn't fight me on the insurance, she came here willingly..." Rick trailed off, considering the woman currently in conversation with his daughter and mother.

"I'm sure you know that Katie isn't, forthcoming, with her feelings." Jim tried after a few moments of comfortable silence. "She's guarded. She takes how people act over what they say and does the same in return. Especially since, well. Since Johanna,"

Rick kept his eyes on Kate as Jim spoke lowly, so the women wouldn't be interrupted or overhear. Kate felt his gaze on her and looked up, shooting him a little grin. She winced a little as the bruises protested and went back to listening to Alexis.

"Yeah, I noticed."

"So, what's she telling you now?"


Kate eyed the big bed wearily. She was exhausted after the brunch, but then her father had hung around trading stories with Rick and Martha until late afternoon, when Alexis had gone out with friends.

Her father had finally left after lots of tight hugs and Martha had snuck away shortly after, carrying a small overnight bag. Nobody questioned after her destination. By dinner she'd wanted to just go to bed but Rick dragged her out to Remy's for dinner and a walk in the park.

He'd held her hand gently, loosely. And she'd let him. When they walked through the park, he laid an arm across her shoulders. And she'd let him. Coming back up to the loft, she'd leaned against his shoulder in the elevator in exhaustion. And he'd let her.

"Something wrong?"

Kate started at the voice and turned to face Rick. "Oh, no. Just spaced out for a second I guess,"

Rick came in with a glass of water and a bottle of Tylenol. "Sorry we tired you out so much. Guess it was a strategic move on my part."

Kate took the water and pills and set them down on the nightstand, took a seat on the bed. "Why?"

Rick watched her sitting there, eyes fighting to stay open. One of her hands came up to rub a sleepy lid. "I was hoping it would tire you out enough that," and he hesitated.

Kate dropped her arm and blinked up at him. "Enough that what?"

Rick sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Enough that you wouldn't have nightmares," he said quietly.

Kate inhaled sharply and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Oh," she said on the exhale. "Think it'll work?" she continued softly.

Rick didn't answer.

"You know," Kate said after a beat of silence. "I didn't have nightmares in the hospital."

"Really?"

Kate shook her head tiredly. "No. Want to know my theory?"

Rick smiled a little, eyes crinkling at the corners. How had she missed how exhausted he was too? "Always,"

"It's because you were there."

Rick digested this for a moment. He held his tongue against all the replies he had immediately. Instead, he took her actions instead of the words.

Kate was laying down against the pillows, above the sheets. Boots had been kicked off. Shifted back into the middle of the bed. Stared up at him easily with a hand under her cheek.

He made his decision quickly.

He turned back to the door and when he got there, realized it looked like he was leaving. When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw her laying in the same spot, still watching him sleepily, trusting that he'd come back. Rick flicked the lights off and toed off his shoes and pulled his sweater over his head.

In the lamplight, Rick saw Kate follow him with her eyes as he crossed the guest room to her, taking his belt off as he went. He knew he'd be uncomfortable in his slacks and she would be too in her jeans, but didn't care.

Kate didn't move as he slid onto the mattress, shuffling closer until their knees grazed. She let him get used to what she was essentially offering.

Rick lifted a heavy hand and brushed gentle fingers over her cheek, her forehead, down the bridge of her nose. He watched in quiet fascination as she let him do it. Checked more than once to make sure his hand was still attached to his body.

When her eyes didn't open after the last blink, Rick shifted a little closer, settling the hand around her waist so she curled into him. Her forehead landed softly against his chin and he breathed deep. She smelled like hospital and like his mother's perfume, that scent got everywhere, and vaguely like Remy's cheeseburgers. Lingering, though, under the layers of other people and places and hospital soap was the slightest hint of cherry.


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