Sorry for the very short chapter. I think this is a good place to end this chapter. I will have a very slight time jump in the next one – which will be a longer chapter. But I didn't want to wait to finish that before posting this. So here it is - Chapter 7.

Usually disclaimers apply – I don't own anything.

Kate gave up any hopes of a dignified exit and rushed out of the room mumbling under her breath.
Once outside, she collapsed against the wall and bent down putting her hands on her knees. WOW. What had just happened in there? It was like her brain cells had taken leave. Seeing him safe and not as badly hurt as she had been imagining all day, seemed to have fried her sanity. Checking out a man in a hospital bed was a new low even for her. Thank god Lanie hadn't been witness to that! Or she would never live it down. From inside she heard Rick's resigned voice say, "Just cut the darned thing off. The boxers that is" he added hastily. Kate fought down a giggle, but lost the battle and a beautiful smile broke out on her face. After everything that had happened today, it felt so good to be steps away from alive and kicking, albeit slightly grumpy and bruised Rick Castle. She quickly got out her phone and texted Alexis and Lanie. She gave them a quick update on his condition and promised to text again once she had more information.

-x-x-x-

Once she had given Lanie and Alexis an update Kate sank down into one of the chairs outside Rick's room. A few minutes later the nurse who had cut Rick's jeans off came out of the room and told Kate it was safe to go in since Rick was 'decent' now. Kate was glad – she didn't think she could handle any more of shirtless, pant-less and hurt Rick. The mix of emotions the combination stirred up in her heart was dangerous. She walked back into the room cautiously and was surprised to see she was alone with him. He was now clad in the standard issue hospital gown and appeared to be sleeping. She was glad - she had not expected to be facing this situation so soon today. She had been so focused on getting him out safe and under medical care that she hadn't even considered the possibility of being alone in a room with him for the first time in weeks. Especially considering her last words to him had been to get out of her life. She had almost been granted that wish in a more permanent way today. She wished she could just rewind time and eat those words she had so cruelly thrown at him.

"I can hear those wheels spinning in your head Beckett. Come here and sit down before you give yourself a migraine."

Her eyes snapped up to meet his blue ones, smiling at her from the bed. There it was she thought – his uncanny ability to read her mind or anticipate her needs before even she was aware of them. For a second the old Beckett surfaced and she was going to make a snarky remark, but then she did something so unexpected it surprised even her. Instead of impaling him with trademark glare she stuck her tongue out at him and dropped into the chair next to his bed.

Rick was so stunned he just looked at her with his jaw hanging open. This was just so un-Beckett! What the hell!

"What?" She was looking at him with narrowed eyes.

"Umm …no…Nothing."

Kate knew exactly what he was thinking. And she wasn't ready to have THAT discussion with him yet. A plan had started to form in her mind and it definitely did not involve getting into a heart-to-heart in an ER. So she promptly changed the subject before they strayed into emotional territory.

"How are you feeling Rick?"

"Like crap." But he smiled when he said it. "I hurt in places I didn't know I could hurt." He sighed and touched the right side of his face and then his lip gingerly.

Kate quickly got up and eyeing an icepack on the table by his bed, gently applied it to his cheek. And even though she had decided she wasn't going to, she couldn't resist running her fingers through his hair. He caught her hand and lacing his fingers through hers said in a soft voice, "I didn't know if I'd see you today Kate."

Kate's eyes teared up at the look in his eyes and she said hoarsely, "Rick how –"

Just then the doctor walked in and the next few minutes were spent in the doctor doing a thorough examination of Rick's injuries. Kate stepped out of the room in order to give him some privacy. Once the doctor had completed his examination, Kate walked back in. She felt another wave of tenderness overcome her when she saw how exhausted Rick looked. But he had a determined look on his face and was engaged in a staring match with the doctor. Kate hid a smile and walked over to Rick's bedside.

The doctor looked at her and said in a resolute voice, "We have to run some scans to make sure there are no internal injuries or broken bones. We also need to stitch up the laceration on his leg which is going to be a minor surgery on its own. Once we've done that he will be moved to a regular room."

"No way…."

The words were barely out of Rick's mouth when Kate quickly interjected, "Thank you Dr Sheldon. How soon will he be done with the tests? His family is in the waiting room outside and is really eager to see him…as you can imagine."

"The scans will take about 30 minutes. Soon after, I will need to suture the wound on his leg. So I'd say he should be in his room within the next hour or so."

"Hey I'm still here you know! Quit acting like I'm not."Kate did her signature eye roll and then smiled and thanked the doctor.

The doctor nodded and fixing Rick with another stern look said, "I'll be back once you're done with the scans."

No sooner had the doctor set foot outside the room than Rick started up again. "I WANT TO GO HOME KATE."

"Rick, you have just been through a horrible ordeal and your body needs the rest and care you can get in a hospital. Not sitting in a car for an hour or more trying to get home"

Rick snorted and said, "Look who's talking."

Kate narrowed her eyes and said, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You aren't exactly the poster child for listening to medical professionals when they say your body needs rest and care."

Kate knew he was just picking a fight but it still got her hackles up. "Heyyy"

He raised an eyebrow and asked "Hey what? Don't have anything to say do ya."

Oh Boy, he is really itching for fight, thought Kate. While she knew where some of this might be coming from, she also knew this wasn't the place or the time to get into it with she injected as much sincerity as she could in her voice and said, "Rick I know you are tired and hurting and want to go home. I get it. I really do. And if I didn't think you needed it, I would spring you out in a heartbeat. But passing out from a possible concussion or worse bleeding out from the wound in your leg, is not something you want Alexis or Martha to have to deal with do you? They are scared enough as it is. Just stay the night, or what's left of it okay? Then tomorrow we can reassess the situation."

Rick continued to stare at her for a second after her little speech. But then something seemed to shift in his eyes and he sighed and conceded defeat. "Okay. But one night that's all. After that I am out of this place and this STATE! Even if it means I have to crawl out on my belly."

Kate bit back a smile and nodded, "Deal. Now I'm going to go and give Alexis and Martha an update. Do you need anything?"

He shook his head wearily and said, "No chance you can convince her to go home is there?

"Rick."

"I know, I know….she isn't going to leave. It's just that she has been through enough today. I would just feel so much better if she was home – safely ensconced in her own bed."

" She is a tough cookie Rick." He could hear the tenderness in Kate's voice. "I promise you I will make sure she is doing okay. And as soon as they are done with your tests and have you stitched up, they will both be here with you. So don't worry okay?"

Once again he nodded smiled and planting a quick kiss on his forehead started to walk out. She had just made it to the door when she heard him say softly, "Thank you Kate."

Kate was afraid if she turned and looked at him she would probably start bawling like a baby. So she swallowed past the lump in her throat and just nodded. Then turning the knob she walked out of the room.