She quickly scrambled off him and stood by the bed. She puffed out her cheeks and blew the air out. "Okay let's just get you settled into bed."

Rick nodded and scooted back towards the head of the bed and rested his head on the pillow. Kate pulled the fresh comforter up to his neck smiled at him. "Good night Rick. Sweet dreams."

She switched off the lamp on his nightstand and turned to go when he caught her hand. "Thanks….for everything Kate." She smiled at him again and then squeezed his and walked out, gently closing the door behind her.

Early Morning next day :

Castle could fee someone watching him. He slowly cracked one eye open and saw his daughter standing by his bed watching him with a concerned look on her face.

"Dad! You're awake." She beamed at him and then sat down next to him on the bed.

He yawned and said, "I am now."

She beamed even more and then said, "Good, I was hoping to see you before I left for school. Grams wants to see you before she leaves for her school too. Something about interviewing for the drama class."

"Hmmm" he mumbled scrubbing at his eyes. And then his eyes popped open and he looked at her in dismay. "Wait. You are both going to be out today?"

Alexis smiled inwardly. She knew where this was going. It was going to be fun to see his reaction when he found out who his caretaker was.

"Yeah dad! I have my Physics test today remember?" She made a show of looking at her watch and then leaned over and kissed his cheek soundly. "Gotta go Dad. I love you." She bounded to her feet and was almost at the door before he knew what was happening.

"ALEXISSS"

She stopped at the door, turned around and winked at him, "Be good for Detective Beckett Dad. Don't give her too much grief." And with that she was gone.

What the hell had just happened? Castle couldn't believe his ears! Why were they leaving him to fend for himself in his given condition? And what did she mean by?…..

His inner dialogue was interrupted by another red haired tornado whipping into his room.

"Darling! I'm so glad you're awake! I wanted to see how you were doing before I left. I wish I could stay home today Richard, but duty calls. Alas! The school is not going to run itself. First there are the interviews for the drama class. Then the interior decorator is coming by to show me samples for my office." Her hand gestures were even more dramatic than usual and Rick was starting to see a pattern.

"Mother" he began ominously but was cut off by Martha's "Oh good heavens. Its 8 already! I have to go Richard or I'll be late for my first interview. Bye Darling! Be good." With a wink and a wave she was gone before he got his mangled thoughts together.

Rick was really starting to get ticked off. What had happened to his distraught daughter and mother? All of a sudden they couldn't get away from him fast enough! And how in god's name did they think he was going to manage by himself? He heard muffled voices and then the loft door closing.

This is just great! What am I supposed to do now? Suddenly he heard a sound in the kitchen. "Alexis? Mother?"

He had just shrugged off his comforter and painfully swung his legs over the side of the bed when he heard the bedroom door opening. The first thing he saw was a delectable flannel covered rear end.

Kate shouldered her way into the room backwards carrying a tray containing an omelet, toast and a glass of orange juice. "Good morning!"

Rick's jaw almost hit the floor. "Kate? What are you doing here?"

Kate scrunched up her nose and said "For a writer you seem to be having trouble finding words. You keep repeating yourself. Didn't you ask me that already yesterday?" She said all this while she set the tray down on the nightstand. Once she had set the food down she turned around and left the room with a "Be right back."

Rick knew he probably looked like an idiot with his jaw still hanging slack. Was he dreaming? He had to be right? What was Beckett doing here at this hour…..and in her jammies no less!

Kate returned a minute or so later, carrying a pair of crutches. His face lit up in a huge grin.

"Oh my god I could kiss you right now." He hated the darned wheelchair and the dependency it implied. While the crutches were still annoying, at least this way he was somewhat independent.

"That's what the crutches are for."

"Huh?"

"Go brush your teeth and THEN you can kiss me!" She beamed at him. Rick was once again rendered speechless. Now he was certain he was either dreaming or the pain pills were causing hallucinations. Either ways he didn't want to wake up. So he took hold of the crutches she offered and started the arduous journey to the bathroom.

Kate watched him carefully, staying close enough to help him if needed but far enough to give him that sense of independence. Once he was safely inside the bathroom, she returned to the bed and sat down on the edge of it chewing on her bottom lip. She had managed to pull off the oh! so casual attitude with him, but now that she was alone she had butterflies in her stomach.

She had spent the night on the couch so that she could be close enough to Rick if he needed her. But he had slept through the night and so had she. She had woken up when Alexis had come downstairs. The two of them had chatted quietly while Alexis got her things together for school and Kate made breakfast. Martha had joined them little later and Alexis had gone to check in on her dad before leaving. Martha had soon followed suite. While the women had been visiting with Castle Kate had gotten his breakfast tray ready. Now here she was, waiting for him in his bedroom, in her pajamas. Kate had surprised herself by not freaking out over all the domesticity. If anything she was actually enjoying it. On an average workday, he breakfast consisted of some form of unhealthy bakery item and coffee on the go.

She couldn't remember the last time she had made breakfast for somebody and actually sat down to eat it. If there was one thing her shooting and Rick's ordeal had taught her, it was that these kinds of moments were what life was really about. She could be chasing down criminals in dirty alleys all day long so long as she had this to come home to. She just hoped she hadn't been too late in coming to the conclusion. She hoped Rick gave her the chance to prove it. That's what she planned on focusing on, for the next 3 weeks.

She looked up when she heard the bathroom door opening. Rick stood framed in the doorway arms clutching the crutches.

"Hey, you ready to chow down?"

He watched her for a second and then taking a calculated risk said, "Not before I get my teeth brushing reward."

Her eyebrows screwed up for a moment and then it dawned on her. Smiling, she sauntered over to where he stood and getting up on tiptoes loudly smacked him on the cheek. And then before he could grab her she was back in her spot by the bed.

Rick wished he didn't have the darned crutches to deal with or he would have grabbed her and kissed her senseless. For now though he had to resort to pouting and complaining in a whiny voice, "No fair. That does not constitute a kiss. That was a gobblesmack."

Kate couldn't control her laugh. "A ….what? Are you making up words now Rick?"

He advanced towards the bed saying, "Gobblesmack. I didn't make it up. Alexis did…when she was about three. The louder the smack the harder she giggled. It was a game we played all the time."

He had reached her side by then and smiled down at her. "So detective, do I get the real deal?"

She stood up slowly, planted her hands on his chest and rose up on tiptoe. Rick held his breath; hoping for more but afraid that she would tease him and walk away. Kate slowly but surely brought her lips to his. Her hands travelled up and into his hair as she kiss deepened the kiss. Rick couldn't believe what was happening. Two real, honest to god kisses in the space of 12 or so hours! If he was dreaming, he didn't want to ever wake up.

He really hated the darned crutches that wouldn't let him pull her to him all the way. He was sure if he let them go and grabbed her, they would soon end up on the floor in an ungraceful heap.

He must have made some sound of frustration, because Kate pulled back from him and looked into his eyes. She laughed and patted his cheek. "Patience Castle, patience."

Castle growled and muttered under his breath. "Easy for you to say."

"I heard that!"

"Yeah well, I think 3 years is more than enough PATIENCE for ANYONE. For me – think in dog years."

Kate didn't know how to respond to that so she resorted to their usual friendly bartering. "Don't be such a baby Castle. You will be up and walking on your own legs in no time. In the meantime though, you need to eat breakfast. You haven't eaten much in the last 3 days and the fever has really done a number on you."

He nodded and plopped back down on the bed. Once he was seated by the headboard, she placed the tray on his lap and he started to dig in. He hadn't realized how hungry he was till he ate the first few bites. Kate in the meantime had surprisingly, settled herself next to him on the bed. She had found the remote to the tv in his room and was currently flipping through channels. Every so often she would grunt or smirk over something she saw on tv. He hadn't noticed till then, but one of the cups on the tray had been hers and she currently had her hands wrapped around the warm cup.

Castle was done eating but he didn't want to disturb the moment. This was a scene he had dreamt of often but never envisioned happening. He also didn't entirely get what was going on with this new Kate. Was this truly her turning over a new leaf? Or was it some misplaced sympathy or guilt? He hated to think it was the latter. It would completely destroy him if that's what it was and if she walked away again. Wait hadn't he had this conversation with himself yesterday? And while he was held hostage? Hadn't he decided he was going to get on with his life sans Katherine Beckett ? So why was he still kissing her and wanting her and scared of her all at the same tame? He sighed and decided to take the bull by the horns.

"Kate"

"Mmm-hmmm" Her eyes were still on the tv. She was watching some cooking show with complete concentration.

He decided to just jump in. "At the risk of sounding like a broken record, what are you doing here Kate? Don't you have criminals to catch? Cases to solve? How come you're playing Florence Nightingale to me, after you made it abundantly clear few days back that you wanted nothing to do with me?"

Kate turned off the tv and slowly turned her body toward him. She looked down into her coffer and mumbled said softly." I took some time off."

Rick didn't think he had heard her correctly. Did she just say she had taken time OFF?

"I'm sorry, what do you mean time off?"

She smiled sadly and said, "Vacation Rick; I had tons stacked up and I decided to use it. I don't have to be at work for the next 3 weeks…...or more if needed." When he continued to stare at her thunderstruck, she said" You don't have to look so shocked Rick. I DO take vacation. Just not as often as most people do….. or that I should." When he still didn't say anything, Kate realized he wasn't going to make this easy. So she decided to lay all her cards on the table. "I just…" She gulped and took a deep breath, "I know I have been a bear to be around Rick. Especially since the shooting. But you were still there for me every step of the way. Just like always. And instead of being grateful for having that kind of support, I treated you like crap and pushed you away. It's taken me a while to realize just how much that…YOU mean to me. And if you give me a chance, I want to show you just that. That's what the next 3 weeks are about. If…..if you'll let me. " She paused and then continued before she lost her nerve. "I want to stay here, with you for the next few days…..if you'll have me. I want to get to know the REAL you. The YOU that doesn't need to tiptoe around me out of fear of upsetting me. The YOU that probably only Alexis and Martha get to see. And I want you to get to know the real ME. The ME from before my mom was killed. The ME that doesn't hide behind the tough cop exterior. The real ME Rick, warts and all." Kate gulped and continued, "What do you say Rick? Can you give me the next few weeks of your life?"

Rick continued to stare at her wordlessly for what seemed like a lifetime, but was only seconds before a smile broke out on his face and he extended his hand towards her in a handshake. "You got yourself a deal Detective." Then his smile got cheekier and he said, "Now go make me some coffee."