I appreciate the responses! It's nice to join a new fandom. Castle is a recent development in my life, and probably not a healthy one, but it's just so damn good that I can't stop watching it. This is a short chapter, for which I apologize, but I grade one more round of exams today and then will get to write afterwards, so be not afraid, more story will appear.

Onward: a brief chapter 2.

Previously: His brow furrowed – he could see something was up – and then she saw his gaze fall to the letter on the table beside her. His face went pale, and he swallowed. "Oh, God. Kate, I – it's not – I can explain –"

There was a long moment of stunned silence, during which Alexis looked at her dad, looked back at Kate, and quietly picked up her bag and slipped out the door. This moment did not beg for an audience.

"Where did you even get that? It was in my jacket pocket, but when I got h-" his eyes flashed in realization, and he sighed, his shoulders slumping. "My well-meaning mother."

"That's what Alexis figured." Something clicked and whirred on one of the machines beside her, and a wave of medication hit her system like a wash of warm water. She took a deep breath. "Castle, it's okay."

"No, Beckett, please. I need to explain –"

Kate was still lucid, but her eyelids were starting to fall shut in spite of herself. Her whole body felt heavy with sleep. It was hard to focus. "Castle, I'm not trying to avoid this, but I think the morphine's kicking in again, and I really can't stay awake. Can we please talk about this later, when I can keep my eyes open?"

Her eyes were already half-shut, but she could see him smile gently, realizing she was just drugged up, not upset at him. "Of course. Didn't realize I was boring you, Detective."

She could see him standing, and just before her eyes closed completely, she reached weakly, failing miserably to reach his hand. "No. Stay." Her voice trailed off as she let out a long sigh and fell into a deep slumber.

Author's Note: My most recent writing was for Stargate Atlantis. It's really nice to be back in an active fandom. Inspiration for this chapter goes to the mighty drug morphine. I still remember exactly how it felt when it hit me the day I got my wisdom teeth out. It really does just kind of WHOOOSH you into sleepy. I saw the IV start, felt it swamp me with Zzzzzzz, and told the oral surgeon "Whoa, this stuff is strong" before I passed out two seconds later, then woke up with four less teeth. Ah, memories.

Thanks for all the reviews!

Keep on truckin'.