Just when Kate calmed down and fell asleep, someone knocked the door. Castle opened it quickly, and saw Jim Beckett with this worry-look that made Castle's heart turned into sympathy.
"."
"Hey there,Castle. Call me Jim. Where's my little Katie ?" Jim's eyes widened as he saw a big,big room – so different from the room Kate used to recover from her bullet.
"She's asleep, but if you want to wake her..." The picture of Kate had a nightmare flashed to Castle's mind.
"...No. Don't. She was just having a nightmare." He corrected his words. Oh. This is going to be awkward.
Jim patted Castle's shoulder. "I won't wake her."
Castle sighed in relieve. "Okay. Please have a seat." Castle lead him to the sofa beside Kate's bed.
"Son, don't make things between us awkward, okay ? Please. Relax. Treat me like I'm your own father."
Ah. Father.
"I – I don't have any father. What about friends ? Good friends ?"
Jim is frowning at the moment he told him that he had no father and felt sorry for him. "Sorry, I don't know. Good friends ? Perfect."
Castle smiled.
"So Rick, tell me what's wrong with her."
Castle told Jim what happened. They talked a lot about the disease. Jim told Castle how Kate's grandmother had Hepatitis C and died. But then...
"Kate said you two were finally together... the day when Alexis graduated. What happened ? You two..broke up or what ?"
"We broke up, but not like that." Castle nodded in agreement.
Don'taskaboutwhywebrokeup.Don'taskaboutwhywebrokeup.
"You broke up with her, or she broke up with you ?"
Castle bit his lip. "I broke up with her."
Jim's eyes widened.
This man is crazy about her. How in the world he's letting her go ?
"How ?"
God.
"This is about your wife's case. There's someone I trust about the case, his name is Mr.Smith However, he murdered then. Kate was resigned , so she had no right to run the case. So was Javier Esposito, he was suspended for two weeks. So the leader of the case was Kevin Ryan. The CSU found a letter , it's for me. He said, I am the dragon's next target."
Jim let Castle continue. "I swore to God that I will protect Kate whatever the risks are. So I had to put Kate away from me, being her partner like usual, since Gates didn't let her go from her squad. But I'm still allowed to – ehm – kiss her,take care of her... I mean – We don't have to be in a special relationship to loving each others, right ? I love her, Jim. I hope you understand." Castle explained, ready for the judgment.
"Do you love her ? Really, really love her ?" The older man crossed his hands.
"I do. I do, with all my heart. I love her. She means...she means the world for me, apart from Alexis. The best thing that ever happened to me after Alexis." Castle answered with no doubt.
Jim smiled. "Okay then. She's all yours."
"Thank you. That means so much to me." Said Castle when his alarm ringed.
Jim frowned. "What's that for ?"
"She has to take some pills."
Jim stood up. "I'll give you both some times. I have to go to the bathroom." Jim patted Castle's shoulder.
This good-friends things are awkward.
"Actually, you don't have to. We have our own bathroom." Castle's finger pointed to the bathroom's door.
"Yeah, right." Jim raised his eyebrows.
"Thank you, dude."
"You're welcome."
Dude ? God, this is creepy.
He tried to think how to make things between him and Jim comfortable, but he decided to focus on Kate's health – one of the most important things in his world.
Castle took a glass of water and the pills,put it on the nightstand, and then sat on the edge of the bed. He surprised when his move woke her already. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hey you." Kate looked at the clock. "Dad's here ?"
Kate snuggled to Castle's lap. He kissed her hair, liked what it smelled.
"He is."
"Want to see him."
"But you have to take the pill first , okay ?"
"Mmmkay."
She lifted her face to look straight at Castle's. Castle put the first pill on her tongue and handed her a glass of water. Her face turned green as soon as she swallowed it.
"What is that, Kate ?"
"This one is dissolving in my tongue. I don't like the taste."
"I know. But you did it anyway. Proud of you." He kissed her forehead one more time before he leave her and her dad alone.
Kate and her father talked a lot about Castle and his family. They talked about job, their old memories, and...Kate's future.
"He's my one, Dad. I know you can't believe this and this might sounds like I'm creepy or what...But he's my angel. He can wipe all my tears with his smile. I believe in everything he said. I believe in him. He's my one and done."
The next 2 days was the hardest for Rick. He had to go to the meeting with Paula and he couldn't leave Kate. She's getting better ? Yes. Her fever was down instantly, and she said that she felt a lot better. But her problems with her nausea ? He can't even think about it.
She puked a lot and didn't want to eat, that makes her loss 6 pounds of her weights.
He won't leave her side. He loves being near her, he loves taking care of her, and he didn't want her to be alone. So he pretended to forget...until Alexis called him.
"Dad, you really have to come. Gina called me a hundred times." She protested.
"Pumpkin, I can't." He walked towards Kate's bed.
"I want to be here for Kate." He continued.
Alexis shook her head. "I know, Dad. But at least talk to Gina and make her shut up. But in my opinion ? You have to come. I'll take your position and take care of Kate."
"Lex, it's not that easy. You have to understand that-"
" 'that'? 'that' what ? That you love her ? This is about your Nikki Heat contract, Dad. If you love her, if you want to be there for her, if you want to follow her until death do you and Kate apart , come to the meeting. Like I said, I will take care of her. End of story."
He sighed. "Lex, I need your favor right now. Just do it my way."
"Why don't you just trust me, Dad ? Even since the shooting – you barely trust me about things with Kate. You want her all to yourself. Not that it's my fault that I don't have any proper mom before." Alexis disconnected her call. Castle stared at his phone unbelieve.
Not that it's her fault that she don't has any proper mom before.
The words keep playing in his head. And hell, he can't delete Alexis' broken voice from his mind. He really screwed it up, didn't he ?
I want her all to myself.
That part was true. Really true. He just didn't know what to say anymore. It's true.
He was too selfish. Alexis wants Kate too. Shouldn't he has to be happy ? No ? Yes ?
So he dialed Alexis' numbers.
"Yes, Dad ? What can I help ? Lying to Gina ?"
"No. I'm sorry, okay. You're right. You love Kate, and that's what the matter. You love Kate, and she loves you too. She dreamed about you , you know ? Come here. I'll come to the meeting, you take care of her. I'm sorry."
"Yeah ? You know what Dad, I missed her. And her pancake is better than yours." He could hear the excitement in her voice.
A/N : I'm not so happy with this chapter, but drop me some reviews, please ? Next chapter is full of Kalexis...and Rick too,of course.