Author's note: This chapter is short, and I don't love how it turned out. I just needed to express this scene. Happy reading! :)
Rick Castle looked up as Detective Beckett walked past him. She was bundled up in her jacket and scarf and was juggling a shoulder bag, some files, and the handful of tissues she hoped would last the ride home.
"So you are going home," Castle stated.
Beckett nodded whilst coughing. As she unfolded a tissue, the files slipped from under her arm. Castle caught them and held them out to her. She stuck out a finger to say 'hold on' as she continued to blow her nose.
Kate tossed the tissue in a trash behind her. She turned back to Castle, with her hand out to grab the files. Instead, Castle squirted hand sanitizer on Kate's hand. She rubbed her hands together, but had excess. She wiped it on Castle's shirt as payback for reporting her cold to the Captain. She didn't have the energy to punish him any more than that. For now.
Castle stepped back and rubbed his hands on his shirt and said "Hey!"
Kate shrugged and picked up the files from where Castle had put them down.
"Feel better," Castle said. He studied her face. She looked weary; more tired than he would have expected.
Kate adjusted the bag on her shoulder, but it slipped. She managed to catch it, and hoisted it back onto her shoulder.
As Kate walked to the elevator, Castle said goodbye and wondered what
he would do for the rest of the day.