A/N:
Thanks for the wonderful response to Chapter 5. Hope to have Chapter 7 up by Monday. Reviews, author alerts and story alerts make me ridiculously happy so thank you for all of those.
Chapter 6
Castle's intrigued as he watches Beckett talking to his daughter on the phone. Almost 15 minutes had passed since Alexis called. He barely had a chance to say hello before she was asking to speak to 'Kate' and they're still chatting away. When had Beckett and his daughter become so close that they are now on a first name basis?
With nothing else to do, Castle uses the opportunity to observe two of his favorite people. It's the first time really. Whenever the three of them are together, he's usually too busy defending himself to pay much attention to anything else. Of course, it's no secret that Beckett thinks Alexis is a good kid. She's told him plenty of times but he always thought she was being polite. Sitting here, though, he sees he's been mistaken. Beckett's completely comfortable on the phone and not the least bit bothered that he's blatantly staring at her while she does it. In fact, right now, his muse is more relaxed than she's been the entire evening.
From Beckett's half of the conversation, Castle can tell Alexis is flying through the details of her day. It only takes a few minutes for him to realize she's giving her new friend quite a different version than she usually gives him. It's a version told in girl speak and Beckett's listening as if it's the most compelling story she's ever heard. It's almost surreal. Tough as nails Detective Kate Beckett is sitting cross-legged on a hospital bed, tired as hell, IV sticking out of her hand, not a stitch of makeup on to hide her puffy eyes, and hair in a messy ponytail, giggling while talking to his daughter about her day. It's one of the sexiest things he's ever seen.
"Goodnight Alexis." Beckett passes the phone to Castle like it's the most natural thing in the world.
"What?" She doesn't understand the look he's giving her. It's as if she's caught him doing something he shouldn't be, only she has no idea what it is.
"Nothing," Castle grabs the phone and walks over to the window, "Oh, so you do remember it was your father you were calling." Much to Castle's delight Beckett shakes her head and rolls his eyes. From his spot at the window, Castle has the perfect view to watch Beckett without her knowing.
Until Alexis' call, Kate hadn't even realized it was late enough for bed. She glances at her watch. 11:00. Almost time for Castle to leave. The bedside table is covered with the remnants of their poker game. Popping a gummi bear in her mouth, she peeks at Castle's cards. At least he won't have a chance to claim victory for a fourth straight time. When he's gloating on Monday, she'll have to remember to blame her losses on her fever.
Finally. She had managed to resist those gummi bears much longer than Castle predicted, "You two certainly had a lot to talk about. Should I be worried you and…Kate are plotting against me when I'm not around."
Kate stretches her legs, not really paying attention to Castle's conversation. In spite of her earlier protests, she is thankful he stayed. He is quite the nice distraction, and, being back in his company makes her feel happier than it probably should. Unfortunately, the thought of him leaving soon makes her just as sad.
"Yes, Detective Beckett is pretty great." He watches Beckett, waiting for a reaction that never comes. Ah, how quickly things change. No smile, only the faraway look in her eye as she runs her mom's ring up and down its chain.
Kate's mind is starting to race with thoughts of the long night ahead. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Castle watching her reflection in the window. She'll never understand what he finds so interesting about her. Quickly, she picks up a magazine and starts flipping through pages.
"How's your studying going?" He listens to Alexis while keeping a watchful eye on an increasingly anxious Beckett. She must be delirious if she actually thinks he's going to believe she's okay because she pretends to be interested in a magazine.
Beckett closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. This is ridiculous. She does not need Rick Castle here. She's done plenty of things alone without freaking out. She finished college, graduated from the police academy, took care of her dad. For god's sake, the first time she was shot she was by herself. She couldn't find her dad until two days after she was discharged. Facing things alone is nothing new for her.
Castle spins around and walks over towards Beckett, "Yes I'm behaving myself."
His words pull Beckett out of her head and back into the moment. The image of Alexis as the parent and Castle as the teenager always makes her laugh. Their dynamic is so sweet. So very Castle. There's no denying that, despite his flaws, the man is raising a well-adjusted, smart young woman.
"Good night, love you too." Castle wanders back over to the bed, "You know, she thinks you're awesome."
"Yeah." She curses herself. What an idiot? He's kept her company all night and now she sounds like she could care less about his daughter.
Seeing Beckett's half-hearted smile along with her answer sparks even more concern in Castle. It seems, in a matter of minutes, Beckett's flipped a switch on her emotions, "You okay?"
"I'm sorry."
That they spoke at the same time breaks the tension that threatens to take over the room. Now nervous laughter replaces it. Castle's almost certain he saw the smallest, most genuine smile that's ever graced Beckett's lips. It gives him hope.
She looks up for a second before thinking better of it. She hates that stare. The one that says he wants to know what she's afraid to say. The one that makes her want to tell him. Focusing on the magazine in her lap, she makes one last attempt to compose herself so that she can tell Castle goodbye.
Finally, she meets his eyes, "Yeah. It's just..." hearing the tentativeness in her own voice, she pauses until she's sure her walls are firmly in place, "it's getting late. You really should be getting home to Alexis. She misses you."
Castle fights his instinct to scream at her that that's the lamest attempt at a goodbye he's ever heard. She's back to biting her lip but harder this time. It's one of the things Beckett does when she has something to say but isn't sure if it's worth the risk. Even knowing so many things about her, he hasn't managed to figure out how to get her to just let go and say it.
"It is."
She closes the magazine and tries again to smile, "You've had a pretty long day. You must be tired."
"Maybe a little." Beckett's nervous about staying at the hospital but that's not why she's sad. Suddenly it hits him. She missed him and she's sad now that she thinks it's time for him to leave again. He can barely contain his excitement, "You know, actually, I think it is time for bed."
Beckett scoots further back on the bed not trusting herself to make anymore eye contact with him, "Well, thanks for the soup. Goodnight."
Castle reaches over to turn off the light above Beckett's bed before taking the magazine from her lap, "I'm going to need you to move over Detective."
"What?" A very confused Beckett props herself up on her elbows as Castle takes off his jacket. She was expecting goodnight or whatever it is that writers say when they leave someone at a hospital, not this.
He leans into her until he's only a few inches away from her face, his voice low and insistent, "Slide over. You're much too small of a woman to be a bed hog."
"Bed hog? No way!" If Castle thinks he's doing what she thinks he's doing, Kate's not the only person who's going to be needing their own hospital bed tonight.
Just as he expected, Beckett's absolutely indignant. Even more encouraged, Castle continues to close the space between them until they are practically nose to nose, "Move or I will move you."
His voice is much deeper than usual and her anger is battling her butterflies for control, "If you try, I swear I'll…"
Before she can finish her threat, his arms are under her legs and back. He lifts her slightly above the bed then gently drops her a few inches to her right. Given her height, she's much lighter than he would've thought.
The shock of his hands against her bare skin delays her reaction but only by a few seconds, "Castle!"
"I warned you." His smile is now beyond his control. The more flustered she gets, the happier he is. Since they met, getting her all worked up has become one of his favorite pastimes. Before Beckett has a chance to reclaim her original spot on the bed, he hops in next to her.
"Have you lost your mind?" She's used to Castle pushing her buttons. She just can't believe he's doing it now.
"Hey, if I'm going to stay the night, I might as well get comfortable. Everybody knows sleeping in hospital chairs is terrible for your back." Given his position, he's actually not so convinced that this bed is that much more comfortable than the chair. The bed's definitely smaller than he expected and even laying on his side his body touches hers. That, of course, is well worth any discomfort he might feel. Being this close to Beckett is definitely something he could get used to.
"Stay the night?" She doesn't care that she's yelling. Beckett's finding it harder and harder to control her emotions with him in bed beside her. She turns on her side in a desperate attempt to put more distance between their bodies.
"Shhhh," Castle watches her eyes cross as she looks down at his finger pressing against her lips and nose, "you're waking up all the sick people."
She really thought he could take a hint better than this. Looking down at his finger, she weighs her options. The butterflies in her stomach make it hard but she's becoming angrier and angrier at him for not leaving. Frustrated and flustered, she slaps his finger away harder than she needs to, "Castle, get out of this bed right now."
He's not naïve enough to think if she really wanted him out she couldn't muster enough energy to push him out. What he is, is confident that she won't. This is what they do. He loves it, she pretends to hate it. At least he hopes she's pretending because if she's not that would take all the fun out of it. Fiery Kate Beckett never fails to amuse him.
"Fine. I'll let the nurses kick you out." Trying to ignore how close Castle's body is to her own, Beckett's at least satisfied she's found a way to get rid of him. She feels around the bed searching for the call button.
"Looking for this?" Castle smirks waving the call button in front of her before dropping it on the floor behind him.
Now Beckett has no idea what to do. He really is like a child. A stubborn child determined to do what he wants. Yes, part of her had wished he was staying but that was when she didn't think there was a chance of hell of it actually happening. Rick Castle in her bed all night is not something she's prepared for.
"Your plan was flawed anyway detective. I've bribed the staff with enough pizza, donuts and coffee they're probably already in a food coma. In fact, they should be getting another delivery in about an hour or so." He'd interviewed plenty of emergency room doctors and nurses to know that a little food goes a long way, "Oh and, don't forget, they like me better than you."
"Ugh, you're incorrigible." Beckett's head drops against the pillow as she shifts her strategy, "You really shouldn't be so mean to me when I'm sick."
Castle knows exactly what she's doing and no amount of pouting is going to get rid of him, "I'm mean? You're the one yelling."
"Well, don't think you're going to get any sympathy from me if you get the flu." All Beckett has left in her bag of tricks are empty threats. She hates to lose and it seems Castle is more determined than usual and that's saying a lot. She's still shocked they're laying in the same bed.
"Don't plan on catching it unless you decide you want to make out. Then all bets are off."
"My fever's not that high Castle."
"You really should try more new things. You might just like them. Anyway, isn't that why I pay all that money for health insurance?" Sick or not she looks absolutely adorable laying there, pouting. He takes that she's still looking at him as a good sign.
She doesn't know if it's the fever or her proximity to him. All she knows is her resolve to get this man out of her bed is melting faster than a snowman in July, "Castle, why can't you ever just listen?"
Positive she's close to surrendering, Castle does his best to silently reassure her that it's okay. Those beautiful green eyes may have lost their shine but they are as strong as ever. They are the same eyes that stare down suspects, colleagues. The same eyes that manage to keep him in the car, silence him, reprimand him, and put him in his place. Today, though, he's prepared to wait those eyes out. Whether she wants to admit it or not, there's just too much at stake.
"Because I don't think you really want to be alone detective. I don't think you want me to leave. As a matter of fact, I think you're a little relieved that I'm here."
In an instant, her mind takes her back to the day she warned him not to think he knew her. That moment scared her. A man she'd just met already knew more about her than she'd wanted most people to. She remembers how it stung when he told her that she was broken. If he stays, he'll find out just how broken she really is. She's not ready for that.
"How can you be so sure of yourself Castle?"
"That's simple. Lanie assured me you would be." Castle didn't think it was possible but Beckett's face got even paler. Without a word she turns away from him and his heart sank.