Author's Note:

Just wanted to give a HUGE thank you to everyone whose read, reviewed this story and added the story to their favorites and alerts. It was great seeing them come through on my mobile. Love the story feedback. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Oh and Whatarushh don't think you're off the hook for your Beckett sick fic

Just Another Layer - Chapter 2

Esposito clears his throat and Castle shuts the door just as Captain Montgomery walks up. The last thing Beckett needs is for the Captain to hear her trying to convince Ryan to disobey a direct order.

"Gentlemen. How's she doing in there?" He doesn't know why he's even asking. The look on both their faces confirms what he already thought. Detective Kate Beckett's being a pain in the ass.

"She hasn't killed Ryan yet but, uh, she's not budging."

"Of course she isn't. Why would Beckett make this any easier?" Montgomery shakes his head and starts pacing, "A man sits through a full day of meetings starting at the crack of dawn and can't even enjoy a nice steak dinner and bottle of wine without something or someone screwing it up."

A shocked Castle isn't sure what to do next. He can't remember ever seeing Montgomery yell. Then again, he's never had to because the stern voice he uses almost always accomplishes what he needs it to.

His jaw clenched, Esposito stands a little straighter as the Captain stops directly in front of him, "Beckett had no business interrogating that suspect. I'm holding you and Ryan partially responsible for this mess. You should've made her go home?"

Finally! Someone else being upset about Beckett gives Castle some satisfaction. Montgomery's right. She shouldn't have been working today. Castle can't stop himself from thinking that if he had been with her this week instead of in California, they wouldn't be standing in an emergency room right now. No, by now, he would have her home wrapped up in her favorite blanket watching a movie marathon. A big smile creeps onto his face as he imagines Kate asleep with her head on his shoulder.

Castle's picture of he and Beckett is shattered by Esposito's rather loud defense of himself, "Sir? It's Beckett. We both know the only person making her go home is you."

"As true as that may be Detective Esposito, you still knew I told her not to come in today. We are not done discussing this." Dressing down his detectives is not Montgomery's favorite part of the job. Today, though, Esposito needed to understand that as good as he Ryan, and Beckett worked as a team there were times when Beckett did not know best and it was their responsibility to step in.

"Yes sir." A defeated Esposito makes his way further down the hall towards Castle, "Well that sucked."

Seeing Montgomery turn around, Castle's eyes bug out realizing Esposito's words were apparently louder than either of them thought.

"Excuse me detective."

Castle jumps in for a speechless Esposito, "He was just saying how this situation sucks and I think he's got a point."

Montgomery stares down Castle without success and Castle decides to seize the opportunity, "Captain, may I speak with you for a minute. Alone."

Relieved to be out of his boss' crosshairs for the moment, Esposito nods to Castle who's dragging the Captain further down the hallway.

Confident they're out of Esposito's earshot Castle takes his best shot, "Captain, can you shed some light on what's got Detective Beckett so worked up?"

"Simple. The woman hates hospitals." Montgomery isn't the least bit surprised this is what Castle dragged him down the hall for, and, his answer while not the whole truth is true, "That makes her no different than most cops Castle. Hospitals are a reminder of mortality, and, cops get plenty of those without being stuck here overnight."

Castle laughs in disbelief that they really think he's that easy, "C'mon Roy. There's more to that story and you know it. I'm just worried about her."

"Not this time Rick. If you really want to know, you're going to have to get that answer from the source herself. If I were you, that's not something I would try to accomplish tonight." Montgomery heads back down the hall eager to escape Castle's questioning. It doesn't take a genius to see how much this is affecting his friend or the effect that Beckett has had on him. He just wonders how long it will take Beckett to realize just how much Castle cares about her.

Shot down again, Castle's frustration is reaching a boiling point and his mind is racing. What are they hiding about Beckett? More importantly, why are they hiding it from him? He's been embedded in the NYPD for over a year. That's long enough that he thought they accepted him as true member of their team. Do they really think they can't trust him?

"How do you want to handle this Captain?" Esposito's trying to get back on track. The longer he looks at Castle's dejected face, the worse he feels for the writer.

"First, tell me what the doctor said."

"That Beckett needs to stay. She's been sick for about a week longer than she let on. They hooked up an IV to get some fluids in her, but they're pretty much done until she either chills out or passes out."

Castle slouches down into the chair. The idea of Beckett passing out makes the knot in his stomach even bigger. How could he not notice she was sick before he left? He does remember her being quiet those last few days but he thought maybe Beckett was upset that he would be away. That maybe she'd even miss him. It was the longest they'd been apart since the time she kicked him out over her mom's case. He shakes his head forcing himself to snap out of it. What is wrong with him? A girlfriend would be upset that he was going out of town. Kate Beckett is not his girlfriend.

Taking a deep breath Montgomery walks over to the door of Beckett's room, "Let's get this over with," he stretches his arm towards the door, "After you Esposito."

The detective sighs at his punishment then turns to Castle who hasn't moved a muscle, "You coming?"

The writer looks up as if he's studying the two men, "Thanks but I'll just wait here."

Now it's Montgomery and Esposito's turn to be confused. Since the moment he met Beckett, Castle's gone out of his way to make sure he was in on everything and anything that involved her. This is not the Rick Castle they have come to know.

"Clearly there's something else going on here and I don't want to upset Beckett anymore than she already is." He knows his voice is more sincere than they're used to and it surprises them. Part of him is surprised too. Surprised by his overwhelming desire to take away Kate's pain and if that means not intruding on her private moment then so be it. He's just going to have to take their word for it that she's okay.

"Whatever you say bro," Esposito disappears into Beckett's room unsure whether Castle has the right idea but wishing he was the one who could stay in the hallway.

"Castle, I doubt that's possible but ok." Montgomery then follows Esposito into the room.

Leaning back in the chair Castle rubs his tired eyes. He is not a patient man in these situations. He's a man who relentlessly solves mysteries. How can he not solve Kate's? She's his muse after all. No, she's more than that. He just doesn't know what. What he does know is that trying not to focus on how much he wants to be in that room with Detective Kate Beckett right now is like dying a slow, painful death.

Author's Note:

Okay, so there was no Beckett in this chapter but don't you worry. There's plenty of Beckett and Castle in the remaining 3 chapters. Thanks for reading.