"The streets of New York are a little safer this morning," the reporter said with a smile pasted on her perfectly made up face. "With the release of Detective Kate Beckett from the hospital, we can all breathe a little easier knowing that she will be back on duty probably at the beginning of next week."

The scene changed from the reporter to the front of a hospital, where a large crowd of people were standing in the rain, watching as Captain Montgomery pushed a wheelchair with Beckett sitting in it out the front door and right up to the waiting door of an unmarked patrol car. A dozen police officers stood ready guard to keep the onlookers from getting too close to the scene, but the TV cameras had no trouble at all focusing on Beckett as she got out of the chair and smiled an awkward acknowledgement to all the people gathered before getting into the car.

It made Castle smile, as well, although a quick look over at the empty bed beside him made him sigh. He was already missing her - and stuck in the hospital like he still was, it wasn't like he could just head on over to the precinct to see her whenever he wanted to. Of course, she wouldn't be there, anyway. Not until later on in the week when she was officially cleared for duty.

The reporter continued with the new report.

"As most of you already know, Detective Beckett was a passenger in a small private plane that was heading to Buffalo, New York for a Detective convention with famous mystery writer Richard Castle when their plane crashed into the wilderness area of the Allegheny National Forest of Pennsylvania. The FAA is still investigating -"

He turned the TV off, feeling moody and annoyed at the reminder that he'd crashed their plane and they'd never made it to the convention. That would have been so much fun! Before he could really start to spiral into a bout of depression or self loathing, however, the door opened and Alexis came in, holding a large blue and silver gift bag in one hand and wearing a very smug expression.

He brightened instantly.

"Hello, Daughter."

"Hello, Father."

"Why aren't you in school?"

"Because it's the weekend."

"Oh."

"Who's your friend?" she asked with a grin, pointing at the giant bear that was nestled on the other side of him, sharing the bed.

"Beckett left him to keep me company," Castle told her with a negligent shrug. "He's kind of cute - and he doesn't eat much."

Alexis smiled.

"Detective Beckett told me you might want some company, so I am here to keep you from being lonely – and I come bearing gifts."

He smiled.

"From whom?"

She came over and he scooted over in his bed so she could sit on the edge of it.

"Detectives Esposito and Ryan."

He reached over and took it from her, surprised at how heavy it was.

"Stripper?"

She smirked.

"Probably not. They said it'd keep you occupied, though…"

"Two strippers?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Open it and see."

He did, and smiled in delight as he pulled out an X-Box.

"Nice!"

She nodded her agreement.

"I have the rest of the stuff for it out in the hallway. It wouldn't all fit in the bag. Shall I hook it up?"

"By all means. I hope they sent some games along."

It didn't take her long to hook the game system up and the two detectives had sent along a basketball game and a fighting game, so he could play Alexis head to head, or play alone later on after visiting hours were over.

"Make sure you told them I said thanks," he told her as they started playing the basketball game.

"They said they'd be here sometime around lunch time so you wouldn't be stuck eating hospital food."

He smiled, and leaned back into the pillows. It wasn't going to be such a terribly lonely day, after all, he realized.

OOOOOOOO

It wasn't a lonely day at all. Alexis spent the morning with him – joined by his mother, who declined to play video games with them, but had brought him a cup of good coffee and a crossword puzzle book for later. They didn't have any serious discussions while they played – it's hard to hold a serious conversation while killing zombies – but they had a good time, and he had a chance to spend time with both of them.

When they left around lunchtime, Esposito and Ryan arrived with a bag of cheeseburgers and fries – and more coffee. He welcomed the food and the company equally, and the guys kept him entertained with stories from their latest busts while they worked their way through lunch, and then spent several hours playing the basketball game.

They were shooed away just before dinner, but Esposito mentioned to him that their next stop was Beckett's, and asked if he wanted them to pass on any messages.

Castle could think of several things, but none that wouldn't garner him odd looks, so he shrugged and told them to tell her to get better and that he'd see her when he got out. Ryan promised they'd tell her, and they left as one of the nurses came in to ask Castle what he wanted for dinner.

He wasn't hungry enough to eat, though. The nurses, well aware that he'd overindulged at lunch, weren't concerned about the lack of appetite. One of them left him the small menu and told him that if he changed his mind he could always push the button that would call them. He appreciated it – and all the attention and help the entire staff had been – and told her so. She had smiled and shyly asked him for his autograph – something she told him she wasn't really supposed to do.

Castle grinned, and asked if she had any of his books.

"All of them," came the ready reply.

"Bring them in and I'll sign them for you," he offered. "And we can take a picture or something."

Which had earned him a squeal of delight that had made him smile even broader. He loved fans, and it was very little effort to do something for her. To keep her from getting in trouble, he told her to spread the same offer to the rest of the staff. It'd give him something to occupy himself later on, and would definitely give them some entertainment as well.

He managed to shave and make sure he looked a bit more presentable before they started taking him up on his offer, but then he had to admit that he had a very enjoyable evening. The offer hadn't been extended to the press, so only those with hospital ID badges managed to get by the police officer that was still guarding his door, and that made the conversation as relaxed and as casual as he could get it. He signed books or papers, let them take pictures with him and joked with the janitors as readily as he did with the doctors and nurses.

By the time everyone had all that they wanted from him, he was forced to admit that he was pretty tired and was ready for them to turn off the light for him and let him get some sleep. He sighed, sleepily, tucked Beckett's giant bear in beside him and drifted off feeling pretty pleased with his day.