Thanks to Elizagoth who beta'd this next chapter!

RE:D.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Of Sick Days and Bad Phone Calls

Esposito walked into work, late expecting some sort of remark from Beckett's writer monkey. He was pleasantly shocked to find Beckett sitting alone at her desk no Castle in sight. He took the seat next to her.

"Where's your shadow?" he gestured to the spot Castle normally occupied.

"Had a long night, where's your better half?" Beckett smirked.

"Home in bed."

"Wow, next time go easy on the poor guy," Beckett full out grinned.

She loved poking fun at the detective's new relationship, if you could even call it that seeing as Beckett was the only one who knew.

"Ha ha, very funny. He's sick caught a cold or something," Esposito stated sounding a little sad without his partner there.

Beckett took pity, "Look it's slow here today, no new body I'm just gonna finish the paper work for the last case. Why don't you go take care of Ryan I'm sure he's miserable without you."

Beckett couldn't help but smile when Esposito's face lit up.

"Thanks Beckett I so owe you one." he shouted over his shoulder as he rushed out the door.

Esposito tried to be quite as he opened the door to Ryan's apartment. They had only been "romantically" together for a few months, but Ryan had given him a key years ago in case something happened.

First thing he noticed once through the door was Ryan was not on the couch where he'd left him.

"Kevin, where are you?" he shouted walking towards the kitchen to grab a drink before launching a full out search for his partner.

Not getting a response from Ryan, he looked in the only place he thought he'd be… the bedroom. He walked into the bedroom finding a half asleep Ryan curled up in as many blankets as he could find.

"I didn't hear you come in," Ryan yawned lifting his head a little to look at his partner.

"I tried to be quiet, thought you'd still be on the couch," Esposito sat in the empty spot on the bed.

"Got cold, please tell me Beckett sent you home to keep me warm?" Ryan asked with hope on his face.

"Lucky for us she let me have the day off to take care of you, now share some of those blankets."

As soon as Esposito was under the covers, a shivering Ryan curled around the new source of warmth.

Esposito smiled to himself, "now get some sleep." he placed a kiss on Ryan's head.

Castle arrived at the precinct confused as to why the desks next to Beckett were empty.

"Where's Ryan and Esposito?" he asked taking his normal seat next to Beckett.

"Ryan's sick, and Esposito's checking on him," she answered dully not looking up from the computer.

"Is it just me or are those two acting different lately?" Castle obviously hasn't caught on yet.

"Different how?" Beckett hide her smile at the fact Castle is being a little slow here.

"Well, I mean they act like there's some inside joke between them that we don't know about, plus I haven't seen one without the other close or right behind in weeks!"

Castle was very confused at why Beckett was smiling.

"You know something I don't!" Castle shouted while following Beckett around.

"What makes you say that?" she tried to keep a straight face.

"With Ryan and Esposito! There's something you're not telling me. Is one of them dying? Or both? Oh wait! One's under cover for the CIA? Or has one committed a murder and you're all trying to cover for him?" Castle ranted in confusion

"Castle please shut up! There's nothing going on. Go away so I can work" Beckett finally fed up went back to her desk, as a slightly annoyed Castle stalked off to get coffee.

"Beckett please!" Castle begged.

"Really Castle? Still going on about this? Shouldn't you be off writing or annoying someone else for a change?" Beckett said trying to blow Castle off for about the thirtieth time that day.

"There's something you're not telling me!" Castle continued to press.

"Castle! There's nothing I'm not telling you! Go home already," Beckett shouted finally fed up with Castle the joke had finally wore off.

"Not until you tell me! It's Ryan right? He's not really sick, is he? That's why Esposito never came back to work. He's dying isn't he? Or their undercover or -"

"Castle shut up! That's it I'm going home!" Beckett cut him off before storming off.

Esposito couldn't tell where the ringing was coming from. He reached out to make it stop.

"Hello?" he answered still half asleep.

"Esposito? Is that you? Why are you answering Ryan's phone?" Castle questioned.

Esposito's eyes shot open, now fully awake.

"Um guess he left his phone next time mine, thought it was mine ringing." he really was a bad liar, but Castle seemed to fall for it.

"Oh I was just checking in seeing as how neither of you showed up to work. Did I wake you?" Castle smiled to himself thinking he finally caught them.

"Yeah I crashed on the couch in case Ryan needed anything during the night." okay maybe his lying was getting a little better

"Oh sorry, get some sleep see you guys later. Bye." Castle hung up before Esposito had a chance to reply.

"Who was that?" Ryan grumbled moving closer to rest his head on Esposito's chest.

"Oh just Castle, can you believe he still hasn't caught on yet?" Esposito laughed.

"No, I was pretty sure he figured it out that first night in the hotel room." Ryan ran his hand down his partner's chest.

"I don't really remember what Castle saw that night. Maybe if you refreshed my memory I might?" Esposito raised his eyebrow in question.

"Let's see what I can do." Ryan smirked in the darkness. Even if Esposito couldn't see it he knew he'd hear it in his voice.

"Good, now come here." Esposito flipped them so he was on top, before leaning down and smashing his lips to Kevin's.