Castle spent the rest of the day in recovery. He never opened his eyes for Alexis or any of the few others that were allowed in to see him, but they all had the feeling that he was somewhat there, even if he wouldn't acknowledge anyone after the slight tightening of his hand for Alexis. The doctors decided that he was breathing well enough on his own to remove the breathing tube, so they did, and watched him carefully after doing so just to make sure. He passed the test just fine, although they all knew that when he was awake breathing was going to hurt his ribs. But that was what painkillers were for.

Alexis spent part of the day with her father, but not as much as she'd have liked. Recovery wasn't the best place for a visit, and Martha didn't want her to be under any more stress than necessary. She'd seen her dad and knew he'd be okay; there would be plenty of time later on for them to visit when he was in a regular room.

The hospital administration was doing an amazing job of dealing with the press that had swarmed the place. With the help of several extra police officers (sent over by the chief of police with the blessing of the mayor) they didn't have any serious problems, but they weren't really set up for someone that was as in demand as Castle was, and safe-guarding both him and Beckett from undesirable visitors in different rooms was more of a challenge than they were ready for. The head of the hospital went to Montgomery and asked if anyone would be offended if they put Castle and Beckett in one of their large private rooms. It would be big enough for them both, with a privacy curtain to separate the room into two – and better for them, it was in a corner of the hospital with only one entrance that would need guarding by the police.

Montgomery, well aware that the hospital needed as much consideration as possible, was also well aware that one other person definitely needed to be consulted. Especially since it was his fault that she was in the hospital in the first place. He waited for a time when everyone had gone to get something to eat in one of the doctor's lounges and then snuck into Beckett's room to discuss the idea with her. Luckily she was awake, although she was seriously drooping.

To his surprise, she didn't even give him her best killer glare when he brought up the request. She didn't jump for joy at the idea, but she didn't flat out deny him, either. He had an idea – one that he kept completely to himself, of course – that she was worried about Castle and wanted a chance to check on him and knew very well that the doctors weren't going to let her up any time soon. Assuming, of course, that she could get up and walk to another room without falling on her face.

The hospital also needed to appeal to the press who had been clamoring for information on Castle ad Beckett. All requests for information so far were being denied, but something was going to have to be done in an official capacity, and soon. Montgomery got with the hospital and on the phone with the governor of Pennsylvania. Between them they set a time for an official press conference at the hospital for the next day. The governor would get the necessary members of the search and rescue team to the hospital for the conference the next morning, and the hospital would add the doctors who worked on both Castle and Beckett for any questions that the press might have. Martha agreed to be there as well, to answer any questions that she might be willing to. As long as they weren't ridiculously personal. The press were advised of the time that was being set for the press conference and told that anything they wanted to know would have to wait until then. Then, to make sure that any overzealous reporters didn't do anything stupid overnight – like try to sneak into unauthorized parts of the hospital to find out where Castle and Beckett were – they were warned that anyone who did would be barred from the conference. Or completely ignored during the question and answer part – which would be a fate worse than death for any of them. The press would wait. But they still stayed close to the hospital, just in case something interesting happened.

The doctors waited until after visiting hours were over to move Beckett and Castle. They gave Alexis and Martha a chance to say goodnight to Castle, and Beckett's dad and the others a chance to tell her goodnight, and then shooed even them away from the hospital to go get sleep. Then they moved Castle first. His bed would go closest to the window, and furthest from the door. It would be quieter for him and with the privacy curtain he'd be well away from any prying eyes in case someone managed to get by the police guards. Beckett was going to be the one closest to the door, but still had a curtain of her own to keep her from unwanted guests.

She was awake for the move and looked over at the curtain as soon as they had her bed in its position.

"Want it open?" one of the nurses asked with a knowing smile.

She started to say no just because she didn't know what the other woman was thinking but didn't want her to think something inappropriate, but she nodded and the word died in her throat.

He was propped upright in the bed, but she couldn't see much of him, just the scratched up side of his face and some bruises. But she could see that he was asleep and could hear the beeping that kept time with his heartbeat. It reminded her of the nightmare she'd had of the plane crash and the way he'd held her afterwards to comfort her. With that memory in mind she fell asleep before the nurses had her even completely settled in.

OOOOOOOOOOO

A fit of coughing woke her in the middle of the night. Not her own, but coming from the bed beside her. She sat up, and winced at how stiff she felt from lying around all day. The room was dimly lit and she could barely see his outline from where she was.

"Castle?"

He managed to get control of the coughing, but didn't reply with anything but a soft groan of pain.

She rolled out of her bed and dragging the IV stand behind her limped over to his bedside, leaning against the bed and looking down at him. His eyes were opened and he turned his head to look at her. He didn't look very awake, though. A mixture of medications and painkillers were swirling through his system, keeping his normally sharp mind dull, and his expression more like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Beckett?"

It was a hoarse whisper, and made her throat hurt. But she was glad to hear him speak. She smiled, and since no one was there to see it, she took his hand.

"Yeah. How are you feeling?"

"I had a dream."

"Yeah?"

He nodded and his hand closed around her fingers.

"Aliens dressed like Marines kidnapped us and took us into spaceships and did terrible things to us."

Her smile widened and she chuckled softly.

"It wasn't aliens."

"Yeah?"

"It was the National Guard."

"You had the same dream?"

She let go of his hand and ran a finger along his jaw, amused.

"Go to sleep, Castle. You'll feel better in the morning."

He didn't argue, proving that he wasn't really up to much of anything. Instead he closed his eyes and was asleep in moments. Beckett watched him for a minute or two longer, and leaned over and brushed a light kiss against his bruised cheek. He looked so miserable, even asleep, she couldn't help herself. Then she went back to her own bed and allowed herself to drift back to sleep as well.