Pre Caskett. Beckett is thrown into a deep pool when trying to get a suspect. After realizing she can't swim, Castle jumps in to get her.
Set in 3x21, 'The Dead Pool'. Prompt found from castlefanficprompts on tumblr.
He was going to tease her about this for weeks. Usually it was him that the suspect got the upper hand on, it was usually him that ended up on his ass and made to feel a laughing stock in front of Beckett and the boys, but not today. Today it was Beckett's turn, and what a turn it was. They had arrived at UNY Pool Side after finally getting the break in the case they needed. Espo and Ryan were on standby near the doors in case their suspect tried to do a runner, whilst he and Beckett entered the poolside to arrest Rob Tredwyck.
It was all going fine, Beckett had read him his rights and was just about the slap the cuffs on him, when suddenly he spun around and pushed Beckett into the pool before shoving into Castle and darting for the door. Castle managed to grab him, causing him to trip and fall to the floor. Ryan and Espo; after hearing Beckett scream as she landed in the water, were making their way quickly to apprehend him.
"Castle, you guys OK?" Ryan asked, looking over his shoulder towards Castle as he wrestled Rob to the ground and cuffed him.
"Yeah were fine, Beckett just fancied a swim, isn't that right Beckett?" Castle joked, pulling himself to his feet.
"Beckett?" he shouted, figuring she had swam to the ladder in order to climb out of the pool.
"Dude, where did she go?" Espo, asked looking around.
Panic began to rise in his chest, his eyes darted around the poolside looking for her, she was his partner and he couldn't see her. Looking down at his feet he realized the depth of the water. Three meters. His eyes lifted slightly to look at the water, it was there he saw her, under the water and not moving.
"Beckett!" Castle yelled, quickly removing his jacket and diving into the pool.
She had told herself to keep her head up and kick her legs, but as soon as she felt the water around her neck and ears she began to panic. She had never like going swimming and as soon as she was old enough to, she refused to go to the pool. Even on her weekly school visit she would refuse to swim and would sit out on the side.
Her fear had come from when she was three years old. Her mom had taken her to the pool for the first time and she had been so excited. Her mom had bought her an ocean blue bathing costume with a dolphin in the center with a towel to match. She had been so excited to get in the pool, standing by the side with her mom she waited whilst her mom blew up the armbands for her. She didn't remember exactly what had happened apart from two teenage boy running towards her and before she knew what had happened she had fallen face first into the pool. She remembered how scared she was, as soon as she had hit the water she had swallowed a mouthful of the chlorine filled liquid, it rushed up her nose and in her eyes, scaring her and taking her completely by supirse. Not knowing what to do she had panicked and began to thrash around but her feet couldn't touch the floor, and she slowly sank underneath the water. It was only when a pair of strong hands pulled her from the water and rested her on the side of the pool that she realized what had happened. After that she had never wanted to go in the pool again. Countless times her mother had tried to persuade her, but little Kate Beckett stuck to her guns and was determined never to go near a pool again.
It was the same sense of panic that was building in her chest now. She couldn't touch the floor and her weak attempts at kicking her legs were overtook by the tremble that ran through them. She had tried reaching for the side of the pool but all she was met with was more water, finding nothing to hold herself up with. She had tried to shout for Castle but she knew he hadn't heard her. Her voice was barely there, every time she spoke all she seemed to do was breathe out precious air. She couldn't breathe in, she couldn't hold any oxygen, as if someone was squeezing all the oxygen out of her lungs. Before she knew what had happened she had slipped under the water again, her eyes wide open in fear as she watched the surface of the pool drift further and further away as her vision became blurred and her eyes stung with chlorine.
The next thing she felt was a pair of strong arms taking hold of her, very similar to how someone had pulled her out of the pool when she was only a child. They had a firm grip and seemed to be dragging her to the surface, but she wasn't sure, her body was limp and wasn't responding to her commands, she simply had to trust whatever was happening to her was OK.
Castle emerged from the water, holding Beckett by her waist ensuring that her head was well above the water. Keeping her head over his shoulder he swam to the side of the pool where Espo and Ryan were waiting to help lift her out of the water. Between the three of them they were able to lift Kate out of the water gently and lay her down.
Castle rushed to her side, kneeling down and taking her face in his hands.
"Beckett, open your eyes come on!" he yelled at her.
The three of them held their breath, fearing the worse, but a second later Kate started to cough up the water. Quickly Castle turned her on her side so she was able to cough up the rest and finally take in a deep breath, filling he lungs with the oxygen her body had been craving.
"That's it Beckett, good girl, nice deep breaths now" Castle coaxed as he ran his hand up and down her back.
She raised her hand to tell him she was fine but the words got stuck in her throat. Instead she settled for grabbing his hand and squeezing it hard, a notion which took Castle completely by surprise but he wasn't going to let go any time soon. He felt like an idiot for thinking he could tease her about this, she was clearly petrified. Her grip on his hand was bone crushing but he didn't care, if it made her feel safe then that was all that mattered.
"That's it Kate, you're ok, just breathe" he soothed, trying his best to calm her shaking body.
"Castle" she rasped, her throat feeling as though it was coated in sandpaper.
"Can't. Swim" she gasped in-between gulps of air.
"Afraid of water" she mumbled, her eyes slipping shut as her body began to shake more as the memories from her childhood flooded back to her.
"Shush, it's OK Kate, I've got you. You're safe now"
She curled her body into his, seeking both his warmth and comfort. It was a good while before either of the spoke again. He wouldn't admit it publicly but he had been terrified when he saw her body under the water. He had no idea she couldn't swim and the thought that he could have so easily lost her struck him deep. He knew he cared for her, and more than he would for just any partner. Right now in this moment, he knew his feelings ran deeper than simply a friendship. This wasn't the first time he had felt like this towards her, their kiss a few weeks ago had only proven that to him. He loved her and he couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life without her, even if neither of them were ready to admit it just yet.
"Castle?" she whispered, her voice soft like silk, bringing him out of his thoughts to meet her glazed over eyes.
"Thank you. For saving me"
"Always"
