A/N: Thank you so much for your incredible support, guys. I've been having so much fun writing this and the fact that you guys are enjoying it just makes me want to write faster and better. Special thanks to all the new readers who have just caught up.

Disclaimer: Castle is not mine, for the millionth time.

Someone Like You

Chapter 6

Had lunch yet?

Rick typed and debated with himself for a moment if he should send it or not, his finger hovering over the send button. It was a Wednesday, he was bored (writer's block, really, but he would never admit that to anyone) and no one was home. Alexis was at school and wouldn't be home for a few hours and his mother was at rehearsal for her current play.

And it had been four days since he had last seen Kate. He missed her and he was well aware of how pathetic and clingy that sounded even in his own head. He had no idea why she hadn't run away from him screaming yet because this level of… he didn't even know how to describe it, but it wasn't normal. They were not normal. No ordinary couple dove in this quickly after knowing each other for so short a time.

Granted, they were not a couple (yet, his mind added), but he craved her company now. They had decided that Saturday night that whatever was happening between them could wait, so they wouldn't jeopardize their friendship and their children's as well if things just didn't work out in the end. He wasn't sure if things were better now that it was all out in the open. On the one hand, it was nice to know that he wasn't suffering through this thing alone and that it wasn't one-sided. On the other hand, however, this whole you can look, but you can't touch thing was just so not cool.

Not that they didn't touch. They did plenty of that, actually, but all in a very friendly way. There was nothing wrong with cuddling with a friend on the couch while watching a movie with their kids, right? After they had talked in the kitchen that night, it felt like he just couldn't stay away from her for very long. That hug had shattered all his defenses. He had gotten a taste of what it felt like to have her body pressed against his (however innocently it was), so he couldn't help himself afterwards. They couldn't help themselves, it seemed, as she initiated the contact a few times too.

He sighed, scratching his chin and then decided that he didn't have anything to lose. Pressing the send button, he tossed his phone on his bed and made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower. When he came back out a few minutes later, her name was flashing on his screen, indicating a new text message.

Not really. Unless you count too much coffee and a couple of M&Ms as lunch.

He smiled at her message, toweling his wet hair dry, before texting her back.

What do you feel like eating, my dearest detective?

He pressed send and went about the room looking for something to wear. After deciding on a light blue button down and jeans, he heard his phone chime again. Pulling his clothes on quickly, he checked her new text.

I don't know, what do you feel like eating, my dearest mystery novelist?

He laughed at that and dialed her number, holding his breath as he waited for her to pick up.

"Beckett." He heard her voice, a smile immediately blossoming on his lips.

"You're not making me choose, you know. I asked first." He told her and delighted in her quiet laugh.

"Hello to you too, Mr. Castle." She teased and he chuckled.

"Why, hello, Detective Beckett. How are you this fine morning?"

"I'm very good, Mr. Castle. How about you?" her voice carried that joking tone and he grinned while running around his room grabbing his wallet and keys.

"Well, I'm hungry and really craving your company. Want to grab some lunch?" he decided to cut right to the chase. No use stalling when they both knew that he just wanted to see her. She was silent for a beat and he could just picture her biting on her bottom lip, thinking.

"Sure. Would you mind waiting until I finish something here, though? Then we can go." She told him, sounding shy.

"No problem at all, Kate. 12th Precinct, right?" he asked, locking his front door and making his way to the elevator.

"Yeah, know where it is?"

"Yeah. Be there in ten minutes."

"Alright, see you then, Rick." She said and he hung up, entering the elevator.

He couldn't wait to see her.

Kate hung up and stared at her phone for a moment, trying to decide if this was a good idea. They hadn't seen each other since Saturday night – when things had gotten a little intense and scary – and she wasn't sure if being alone with him would be the best move on their part. It would be the first time that they would be alone, just the two of them without the kids. Add that fact to the conversation they had the last time they had seen each other, when they basically admitted that there was something happening between them, and you had a potentially (deliciously) dangerous situation.

"Hot date, Beckett?" She turned around to find Esposito grinning at her and rolled her eyes.

"Anyone ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop on people's conversations, Esposito?" she glared at him, but he didn't seem fazed by it.

"What, I was just walking by and couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Did you know that you twirl your hair a lot when you're talking to whoever that was?" He smirked at her and she sighed. She just couldn't have a private life with those two goons of partners hovering over her.

"I'm just having lunch with a friend, if you must know, you nosy bastard." She told him and turned back to the report she had to finish before Rick arrived.

"Friend, huh? Are we going to have to rough him up, tell him to take very good care of you?" he lifted an eyebrow and she felt herself blushing slightly. It was sweet, really, that they looked out for her like that in their bullheaded, annoying brotherly way.

"No, because he is just my friend. Now get outta here, I have to finish this." He shoved him lightly and chuckled when he tripped over his feet and glared at her.

Turning back to her task at hand, she concentrated on recounting the details of the murder scene of the case they had just closed. She was so focused on putting some sort of order to her notes, that she jumped, startled, when someone touched her shoulder.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." She turned around when she heard his voice, hitting his arm.

"God, what are you, a freaking ninja? Make some noise next time." She tried to glare at him, but a smile won out in the end. "Hi."

"Hi." He said softly, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She blushed, well aware that Esposito and Ryan were most likely watching their interaction. "Ready to go?"

"Almost. Give me two more minutes?" she asked and he nodded, sitting down on a chair that was conveniently right beside her desk. Barely a minute had passed before his voice interrupted her thoughts again.

"You know, I can't decide if I should be flattered or scared, the way those two are looking at me." He whispered and she looked up to find her two partners looking at them with barely concealed interest.

She snorted and rolled her eyes, when they quickly tried to look busy after realizing she had caught them staring.

"Ignore them. They just want to look tough because you're new." She told him with a shrug, and then groaned inwardly when she saw both of them walking over to her desk. "What?" she narrowed her eyes at them, but they studiously ignored her.

"Hi, I'm Detective Ryan and this is my partner Detective Esposito." He reached out his hand to Rick, who shook it with a smile.

"Rick Castle. Nice to meet you guys." he said nicely, now shaking hands with Esposito. Kate wanted to shoot both of them. "I've heard a lot about you from Kate."

"Really?" Esposito said slowly, turning to her with a smirk.

"Just about how annoying and nosy you both are." She glared at them, but ended up shaking her head with a smile when they just grinned at her. "Rick, these are my two partners, who obviously don't understand the concept of privacy." She narrowed her eyes at them and they looked back at her innocently. "Guys, this is my friend Rick Castle."

"What, we just thought we'd come by and say hey. Since you never introduced us, you know." Ryan told her, his blue eyes sparkling as he fought hard to contain a grin.

"Yeah, that was very rude, Beckett." Esposito added and she sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Well, now that you've all been introduced to each other, how about you go back to work? I know that pile of paperwork over there has both your names on it. Scram." She shooed them away and turned to Rick, who was watching the whole exchange, amused. "What?"

"You're blushing." He grinned at her and she groaned.

"Shut up. Let's just go before they get any ideas." She stood up, putting on her coat and grabbed her purse. "Come on."

He followed her to the elevator and she felt his hand touch the small of her back as they waited for it. She was well aware that her boys were watching their every move like hawks and had every intention of stepping away from Rick's touch, but he caressed her hip gently and whispered in her ear.

"They're just trying to get a rise out of you. Ignore them." She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a sigh, relieved, when the elevator arrived. When the doors opened, Lanie stepped out and Kate almost felt like screaming. Clearly, today was not her day.

"Hi, Lanie. Bye, Lanie." She told her friend quickly and entered the elevator with Rick right behind her. Lanie looked at her confused, then looked at Rick, understanding dawning on her.

"Wait, is that…?" she started to ask, but the doors closed and Kate slumped against the back wall with a sigh. Rick laughed.

"Well, that was interesting." He commented and she chuckled, nodding.

"Sorry about that. This is their way of being protective." She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She had to hand it to them, though. They had managed to be friendly and threatening at the same time, those two idiots.

"It's good to know you've got friends like them looking out for you." He tucked her hair behind her ear and she smiled at him.

"Yeah, they're good guys. Absolutely no respect for my private life, but still really good guys. Tyler loves them." She explained with a small smile and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him and sighed. They were pathetic.

"I can see why." He mumbled against her hair, where he placed a tender kiss.

The doors opened and they stepped out, his arm falling from her shoulders. She immediately missed his warmth and looked at him hesitantly as they walked through the precinct's door and onto the street, where snow was falling lightly. She debated with herself for a moment, but decided to throw caution to the wind (well, kind of) and took his hand in hers. He looked at her, surprised, for a second, but when she didn't release his hand as they braved through the busy New York sidewalk, he gave her a warm smile, threading his fingers through hers.

She smiled back a little shyly and he pulled her closer. She quickly saw the wisdom of his action; if they walked closely through the throngs of people, it didn't even look like they were holding hands, which wouldn't give those paparazzi bastards any opportunity to take their picture. They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"Where exactly are we going, Rick?" Kate asked, after realizing she had no idea where he was leading her to.

"I discovered this little Italian place the other day and it's just a few blocks away from here. Is Italian okay? I forgot to ask, sorry." He smiled sheepishly and she nodded, running her thumb on his skin. "So yeah, it's really good. They make this lasagna that is just the best thing ever."

"Lead the way, then, Mr. Castle." She told him with a grin.

"When do you have to get back to the precinct?"

"In about an hour. The boys would call me if something came up, though. Let's just hope no body drops in the next hour." She explained and he nodded, reaching up to brush the tiny flakes of snow that were clinging to her hair.

Her phone chimed in her pocket, indicating a new text message. She pulled it out and rolled her eyes when she read Lanie's message.

"What is it?" he asked curiously and she showed him the text displayed on her phone.

Was that your writer boy? What was he doing here? Dirty details later, young lady!

PS: He is a lot hotter in person too.

Rick laughed out loud after reading it and Kate rolled her eyes again with a small grin.

"I really like your friends." He told her after a moment and she lifted an eyebrow at him. "Do you agree with her, Detective Beckett? Am I a lot hotter in person?" he smirked at her devilishly and she blushed.

"I plead the 5th." She said and looked away, willing herself to stop blushing near him. When she looked up at him again, he was still grinning at her widely, looking very pleased with himself. "Oh shut up, Rick." She elbowed him lightly, but he kept grinning all the way to the restaurant.

They ate the delicious lasagna Rick had mentioned, while discussing their plans for the following weekend. It was going to be Alexis' birthday and Rick was planning a small get together at the loft. When they were done, Rick paid for their lunch – completely ignoring her protests – and they started the walk back to the precinct. He took her hand in his again, immediately intertwining his fingers with hers. Kate tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.

"I just want this to be special for her, you know?" he told her and she nodded. "She said she didn't want anything big, but we've been through hell these past couple of months. I want her to have a good birthday after everything."

"Does this have anything to do with why you guys were in the hospital that day?" she asked gently, praying that she wasn't asking too much.

"Yeah." He sighed and she bit her lip.

"What happened? I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to talk about it." She added quickly when his look darkened slightly.

"No, it's okay." He offered her a small, sad smile. "Like she said that day, she fell off her horse. She begged me to have horseback riding lessons for months last year. In July, I finally gave in and she started her lessons. She was so happy, Kate. She loved being out there, loved the horses." He smiled at the memory and she squeezed his hand encouragingly. "Then one day in November, I was busy. Had to finish the book and I had already missed my deadline, so I stayed home to write. My mother took her to her lesson. To this day, I don't know what really happened. All I know is that something spooked the horse she was riding and she couldn't hold on." He took a deep breath and Kate could see this was difficult for him to talk about. The fact that he was willing to tell her meant a lot. "She hit her head on the ground and broke her leg. At first, it seemed like she just had a broken leg and a bump in her head. But then she passed out when we got home and we rushed her back to the hospital."

They stopped in front of his car, near the precinct and he leaned against it, facing her. She held onto his hand, trying to give some sort of comfort. He sighed heavily before continuing.

"She was bleeding into her brain and they didn't catch it when she was first brought in because it was really minor. But she needed surgery immediately to stop her brain from swelling and after that she was in an induced coma for about a week."

"Oh, Rick, I'm so sorry." Kate said, her heart breaking for him. She couldn't even imagine what it was like to not know if your child was going to survive. She didn't want to.

"She stayed in the hospital for about a month. They released her right before Christmas so she could spend it at home." He smiled sadly. "She was so happy to be home. She didn't even want any presents. Said her present was to be back home."

"But she's okay now, right?" Kate asked, pulling him in for a hug. He definitely looked like he needed it.

"Yeah. She still needs to go back to the hospital for a checkup every month for the next six months, but she's fine now. Thank God." He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her neck, breathing her in. "The worst part was that her mother just deemed it necessary to come to New York only a week after the accident and flew right back to LA when Alexis moved to a regular room."

Kate pulled back to look at him and framed his face in her hands.

"Alexis is so lucky to have you, Rick. You're such a good dad to her." She whispered to him and he closed his eyes. "Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

He nodded and she hesitated for a moment, before leaning in touching his lips with hers.

A/N: Let me know what you think?