Reason: Chapter 15

I woke as an annoying beeping filled my ears. My eyelids felt as if sandbags were weighing them down. A raised my hands to rub them but stopped when a pain lanced through my left side. I clenched my fists and brought both arms down. I caught my breath after a moment but the beeping had increased its tempo.

"Dad?" Alexis's voice was soft and quavering. I knew that tone. She'd been crying. Why had my baby girl been crying?

With great effort I opened my eyes and trained them on her. Her eyes were red and tears had stained her cheeks.

"Honey," I began. My voice sounded hoarse and came out like a croak. I cleared my throat and tried again. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Dad," she said, sounding a bit panicked. "You're in the hospital. You were hit with a shovel."

Suddenly I remembered. No wonder my side hurt. And now that I thought about it, I had a killer head ache.

"Oh..." I remarked, trying to sound casual. I must have sounded like a pained groan because Alexis jumped up and looked me over, her hands fluttering.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "Should I get the doctor?"

Before I could respond, my mother and Beckett walked in. Beckett hurried over.

"Alexis, what's wrong?" She asked, concerned, looking me over like Alexis had.

"Nothing!" I interjected. "Nothing's wrong." I looked Alexis in the eyes and reached to grab her hand. "I'm okay," I told her. She smiled at me briefly and squeezed my hand.

"Are you okay?"

Beckett sounded hesitant, and when I looked at her, she bit her lip and refrained from making eye contact. I knew the problem right away.

"This wasn't your fault," I told her, staring at her until she looked at me. Then I smiled. "Didja shoot her?"

Beckett scoffed. "No way, I gave her flowers. I'll have to take 'em back though, she didn't finish you off."

I laughed with her while Alexis just looked confused. She didn't get it but with that simple, morbid exchange, Beckett and I were back to normal.

"And the treasure?" I asked.

"Returned to the museum," Beckett informed me.

"Lovely," I said. We smiled at each other for a moment.

"So how long you gunna mope around in that bed for, Castle?" Beckett inquired. "Thought you were a tough guy."

Just then, a doctor walked in.

"Mr. Castle, it's good to see your eyes open. You gave us quite a scare," the doctor joked. "I'm Dr. Robinson."

"Hey, Doctor," I greeted, waving weakly at him.

"Now, Detective," he put emphasis on the word detective and I glanced at Beckett curiously. She looked up innocently. "Beckett has kindly informed me that you are an important asset to the N.Y.P.D and under no circumstances is anything to happen to you. With this in mind, I say that you can go home tomorrow so we can keep you under observation."

I raised my eyebrow at Beckett and grinned. She blushed and looked away. Mother laughed and Alexis smiled at a memory.

"I see I have some catching up to do," I quipped, looking between them all.

"I'll let you get to that Mr. Castle," Doctor Robinson said. With a nod, he left.

"You should have seen her, Dad," Alexis informed me. "She was pulling her badge on everyone and demanding information."

"She was quite insistent that the very best be put to work on you," my Mother said, smiling. There was a look in her eyes I couldn't quite place.

"She practically threatened to shut down the hospital and have it investigated if something happened," Alexis told me with a laugh.

Kate was still avoiding my eyes. She turned slightly away from me but I could see the blush on her cheeks.

"Kate, I'm touched," I teased. "I had no idea I was that important."

In spite of the teasing, I really was quite warmed by her concern. I hoped she could tell or that I would get a moment to speak with her alone.

"Didn't want the mayor to get angry," Kate said. She was still turned away and I thought I heard a slight waver in her voice.

"Alexis, let's go get some food," my Mother told my daughter. "You haven't eaten in hours."

Alexis bit her lip and looked at me worriedly.

"I'll still be here, kiddo," I reassured.

"You better be."

She left, Mother putting an arm around her shoulders.

I turned to Kate.

"Thank you," I said. "For looking out for me."

Now she turned to me and I could see her eyes were red.

"You could have died."

Her voice broke on the last word and she looked down.

"Come here," I commanded.

"Castle..."

"Kate, come here or I will go there."

She looked at me and saw my determined face. I could see her struggle internally for a moment before she came over to me. I reached out and grabbed her hand. She let me. I raised it to my mouth and kissed her knuckles lightly. A ghost of a smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you," I repeated, holding her gaze. Her other hand came up and smoothed my hair before resting lightly on my cheek. I leaned into her touch.

"Always," she said.

Oo..oO

Kate sat in the hospital chair by my bed. She had taken of her shoes and rested her legs lightly over mine. She was leaned casually back in her chair. We were talking about nothing and everything at the same time.

"So I told him, the porcupines were the ones who stole the cheese, not Bessie," I concluded.

She laughed, throwing her head back and clapping her hands together.

"And he bought that?" she asked.

"Oh yeah. I can be very...persuasive when hung over a balcony."

"I'm sure you can be," Kate remarked.

"Speaking of life-threatening situations," I began. "Who was mysterious gun guy?"

Beckett smiled mysteriously. She swung her legs off the bed and leaned in, supporting her head with her hands.

"Guess," she dared.

"Hypocrite," I muttered. Her smile widened.

I thought over the case and what we knew. I tried to find things that didn't fit; less than rock-solid alibis.

Beckett watched me think. I was aware of her study of my face but pretended I didn't notice. She was looking at me with an intensity that surprised me. I figured that it was because of the fear she had experienced just hours before.

I continued to puzzle over the case until the answer came to me. I grinned when it dawned on me.

"Aaron Gallagher," I stated. "Except that's not his real name."

Beckett nodded in admiration.

"How'd you know?" she asked.

"Not ever having broken a law is a bad reason to give ten thousand dollars back. I'm guessing the man formerly known as Aaron found out how much that treasure was really worth and went rogue. He's probably a sociopath with no real emotions."

Beckett nodded. "You got it. Psychologist says he's as crazy as they come."

"But what about Debra?" I inquired. Her motives remained a mystery to me.

Beckett looked away evasively. "She's...crazy too."

I narrowed my eyes at her. She glanced at me then quickly looked away. I raised my eyebrows. She huffed and made a defeated sound.

"Shethoughtshewasapirate," Kate told me quickly.

"You're gunna need to slow down and maybe project a bit," I said, gloating.

Beckett narrowed her eyes at me and I smiled winningly.

"She thought she was a pirate. Multiple personality disorder."

"I think that's what we call a pirate connection, Detective."

"No," she corrected. "A pirate connection is when normal Debra stole the jewels because they belonged to her pirate ancestors and were very valuable. She was going to claim they'd been stolen and get the insurance money."

"Some things aren't adding up," I commented. I decided to gloat later about winning. "How'd she know about the robbery?"

"Aaron's real name is Toby Sanson," Beckett informed me. I gasped. It was too perfect! Beckett smiled at my glee and continued. "Though he pretended to feel nothing for his sister around Colten, he still looked out for her. This was a great opportunity to get money and show that no one messed with his sister."

"So Gary just chose the wrong guys to steal stuff for him," I said, putting a darkly amused tone in my voice.

"That he did," Beckett agreed.

"Have you extracted everyone's confessions?"

"Yeah. Interrogating Debra Sanson/ Debradica, Pirate Queen was a little disconcerting, though," Beckett joked. "She kept changing on me. I lost track of who I was talking to."

"And yet you still got it out of her," I commented, proud of my partner.

She shrugged, giving me a warm smile.

"I was a little determined. She did attack my partner," Kate was trying to joke but I heard the undercurrent of worry.

"Yes. My pride is wounded," I said glumly. "Brought down by a lowly shovel."

"I'm just glad you got back up," Beckett whispered.

I grabbed her hand. I was worried I'd overstepped some boundary but Kate gave me a grateful smile. I tensed in surprise when she scooted her chair closer to the bed. I relaxed again when a playful look appeared on her face.

"Got anymore crazy stories, Castle?"

"Well, there was the time a pack of dogs chased me down an alley," I mused aloud.

"Oh really?" Beckett leaned in.

"But that's not all," I told her. She waved her hand in a 'go on' gesture. "I was wearing a toga at the time. Only a toga."

Oo..oO

Beckett left after a few more hours. She said she had important police business to do. Alexis came to sit with me when school ended. Much to her dismay, I had made her go.

"So what's the deal with you and Detective Beckett?" Alexis asked smoothly. I choked on a sip of water I'd been drinking.

"What?" I sputtered.

"She was here all day, right?"

I nodded.

"So...?" Alexis prodded, looking at me expectantly.

"I don't know, honey," I told her truthfully. Because I didn't, really. Things had never been concrete between us. Now... we had grown closer today, that was for sure. I had seen some of Kate's feelings for me and I was sure she'd seen some of mine. Only time would tell what would happen.

"So you two haven't..." she trailed off and made a vague hand gesture. She looked embarrassed.

"No!" I said quickly. "You're too young to know about that anyway."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Dad, I'm 16."

I fake shuddered. "Don't remind me." I paused as an idea struck me. "Maybe I should get a gun. A real one."

"Dad, if you do that I swear I'll..."

Oo..oO

The next day, I was released from the hospital. Bed rest was suggested but not mandatory. I went home for a bit but Alexis had school and Mother did too. I got bored and lonely quick. Sadly, inspiration was not striking me (unlike the shovel) so I bummed around glumly. Then 'Who's That Lady' rang through the room.

"Beckett?" I asked.

"Hey, you back at the loft?" she asked. I could hear the busy noises of the precinct in the background.

"Yes," I answered, my tone reflecting my mood. "It's awful."

"D'you think you could come down to the 12th?" Beckett wondered. "The kids want to see you."

I laughed.

"I'll struggle down," I joked.

We said our goodbyes and hung up. I had secretly been hoping for a call all day and had dressed hours earlier. I merely had to grab my keys and go.

Oo..oO

I arrived at the 12th with two coffees. As I entered the bullpen, I noticed it was strangely silent. I looked around me, alarm bells ringing but, other than the lack of people, nothing was amiss. Light came from the blinded break room and the aroma of expensive food wafted through the air. I could also hear soft music crooning in the background.

I went to investigate. I pushed the door open with my shoulder and was greeted with an interesting sight.

Kate Beckett, N.Y.P.D Homicide Detective, was wearing a black dress that hugged her in all the right places. Her hair was knotted intricately atop her head with a few carefully selected tendrils curling down. Her back was to me as she arranged boxes of food on the white draped break room table.

Candles were lit, casting a soft glow to things and the music I had heard in the bull pen was still as soft and indistinguishable, only adding ambience.

"I should have brought flowers," I remarked, my voice a little deeper than normal. Kate jumped and turned, facing me with surprise.

"You got here fast," she said accusingly.

"I didn't speed, if that's what you're after," I said. "You'll have to find another reason to use your handcuffs."

A mischievous look gleamed in her eyes and I instantly felt fear. That look meant an onslaught of teasing and taunting was coming my way.

"I'm sure I will, Ricky," she purred. I squeaked on the inside but on the outside kept my cool. Or I thought I did. Her satisfied expression told me otherwise.

"What's all this?" I asked, gesturing towards the table and her dress.

"You won, remember?" Kate reminded me. "So...here's me, in a dress, having dinner with you."

I smiled. I liked this idea. It was special and also out of the prying eyes of the paparazzi. I told her so.

"That's what I thought, too," she told me with one of her smiles.

"Where is everyone?" I asked. It seemed odd that the bull pen was empty. It was never empty.

"Captain gave everyone the night on call. He seemed pretty excited and said something along the lines of 'about damn time'."

There was something different about Kate tonight. It was in the way she moved and spoke and smiled. It was in her eyes, her hair. It clung to her very skin. She was bolder, more open, less worried.

"I concur with the Cap'n," I quipped. I worried that it's gone too far but Kate merely smiled and moved closer so we were nearly touching. She met my eyes and something crackled in the air.

"Me too," she whispered.

We stood there, trapped in each other's gaze for what felt like hours. Eventually, Kate looked down.

"We should eat," she said quietly.

So she wasn't totally open. Not yet. It would take time, but eventually I knew it'd happen; we'd happen. I would wait forever if I needed to.

I agreed with Kate about food and we took our seats.

I folded my hands together on the table.

"Now," I said. "Time for some Kate stories."

Oo..oO

Dinner passed by far too quickly. I learned more about Kate's early days as a cop and she learned more funny Castle stories. I felt closer to her than before. She was letting me in, little at a time.

Baby steps.

I helped Kate clean up. She told me to throw out the take-out containers so I went to the bull pen to use the garbage there.

The Albeni/Carlson murder board was still up and I went over to it; a testimony to our hard work. I glanced over the headshots, the clear printing, the timeline, Gary's final letter...

Gary's final letter. The one I never finished.

I also hope you come to your senses and-

The possible ending taunted me. The letter called for me to read it. I looked around me hastily. Beckett was still cleaning up the break room. Her back was to me. I snatched the letter off the board and opened the evidence folder that held it. I pulled it out slowly and opened it, my eyes skipping right to the bottom.

I also hope you come to your senses and give that Writer Boy of yours a chance. He obviously has feelings for you and, judging from the way you look at him, you do to. Now, I'm gunna be dying with regrets. A beautiful girl like you shouldn't. So live sans regrets, Detective. As a great man once said, Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Seize it for all you can.

All the best, Gary Carlson

Well, I had obviously misjudged Gary. He was a genius and a great man. Kate and I should name a child after him. I snuck the letter back in its folder and stuck it back up.

And as I joined Kate in the break room, all I could think of was her finally living the life she deserved.

Oo..oO

The reason why I stay? Isn't it obvious?

Hope.

A little hope can get you a long way. Like a man stuck in the desert hopes for water, I hope for Kate Beckett.

There's always hope, with her.

And love.

I stay because of hope and love. Sounds sappy, I know, but I've never said a truer thing.

Until tomorrow,

Richard Castle

A/N: And there you go.

Thank you so much to you, readers.

Especially to I'm Widget, who reviewed each chapter and kept me going.

Now we can all move on to season four stories. :)

One last thing, though. Could you please, please, review and tell me what you thought? Even one word would do. Yay, nay, ew, stop, die... anything.