"What?"

"I can't get myself out of the bathtub."

This time the voice was even more chagrined, and Beckett couldn't help but grin – especially since she was on the other side of the door and he couldn't see it.

"Really?"

"It's not funny, Kate."

He might not have been able to see her, but he'd had no trouble hearing the amusement in her voice.

"The guys should be here in a little while. One of them-"

"Do you know how much crap I'll get from them if they have to help me out of the tub?" he interrupted. "Come on. Help me out, here."

"I'm not going in there."

"Please?"

"No. Castle, you're in the tub and I'm not-"

"I'm covered up," he told her. "Please? I'm getting wrinkly."

Beckett sighed, and cracked open the door but didn't look in.

"Fine. Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes or I won't help you out of the tub."

"Why do I have to close my eyes?" he asked, "I'm the naked one."

"I'm not going to let you see me see you naked, Castle. Close your eyes or I'm not coming in."

It was his turn to sigh.

"Fine. They're closed."

Only when she'd peeked around the door and saw that they really were closed did she actually open it and enter the bathroom. The tub was still mostly full of water and the floor around it was wet from him splashing. A glance showed her that a washcloth had been strategically placed in his lap, so he wasn't completely naked, but she made sure to look everywhere but there as she tried to figure out how she was supposed to lever him out of the tub.

"Drain the water out of the tub, Castle," she told him, not at all willing to reach for the plug herself.

He did what she told him and they both listened to the gurgling sound as the water emptied.

"Now what?" he asked, when he felt the water level lower and heard the gurgling stop. It was really hard to keep his eyes closed in such a vulnerable position, and only the fact that he trusted her completely (and really wanted her assistance) kept them tightly closed.

"Just hold still a moment," he heard her say. A moment later he felt a towel drying his shoulders, back and the area under his arms. "And keep that towel in place."

He checked blindly to make sure that the washcloth hadn't moved, and felt her hand on his shoulder supporting her as she stepped into the tub behind him.

"Um…"

"Just lever yourself up while I pull on you and between us we should be able to get you out."

"I'll give you anything you want," he promised her gratefully. "Jewelry, a car – a pony?"

"Just get ready," Beckett told him, still amused enough not to be annoyed. It had been a long time since she'd wanted a pony.

She wrapped her arms around him from behind, counted aloud to three and then heaved while he levered himself as much as his shoulders would allow. It was enough to get his legs under him and a moment later he was standing – and she let him go as soon as she was sure he wasn't going to slip and maybe fall.

"Lost the washcloth," he told her, his eyes still tightly closed – which was a good thing because she could hear the amusement in his tone and knew there'd have been an equally amused gleam in his eyes – and maybe a challenge as well.

"I know." She stepped out of the tub and reached for the bath towel he'd hung next to hers and put it in his hand. The one that hadn't taken the place of the washcloth. "I'm out of here."

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it," she told him as she closed the door behind her. "Ever." she muttered, much softer.

"I heard that."

Beckett smiled and shook her head. Awkward moment aside, she was glad that he seemed to be feeling a little better. And a little voice in her head pointed out that he had a cute rear. Before she could follow that particular thought any further, there was a soft beep from the perimeter alarm that derailed that particular train of thought. She looked at the screen and saw that Esposito's car was pulling up the driveway.

"Castle, the guys are here."

There was a grumbled curse from the other side of the door that made her smile again and she went to start another pot of coffee.

OOOOOOOOOO

By the time Ryan and Esposito had entered the house and settled at the kitchen table with a cup of very fresh coffee, Castle came out of the bathroom dressed and looking ready for his day. Of course, none of them knew what the day was going to bring.

"Morning Castle."

The writer nodded at both of them and then looked at the small file that was sitting on the table.

"Did you find anything?"

"Still no ID on the dead guy with your wallet," Ryan said. "The woman is Linda Swartz and the people we've canvassed think that the missing boyfriend is named Andrew. We don't have a last name, yet. Still waiting to hear from the property management company."

"No." Castle opened the file and found the picture they'd taken off the dead woman's cell. "His name's Jeremy."

"No one mentioned that name," Esposito said. "And we didn't find that name in her contact list on her phone."

"Didn't find an Andrew in her phone, either, though," Ryan added.

Beckett looked over at Castle.

"How do you know his name is Jeremy, Castle? Do you remember?"

Castle frowned, his eyes going blank as he tried to get information from a mind that was normally so cooperative. Finally, he just had to shake his head.

"I don't know. I heard it, I think."

"Did you hear the dead woman call him that?"

"I heard it," he repeated. "I can't say who said it, because all I remember is that damn room. I don't remember going there, and I don't remember leaving it, but I know I was there, and I know I heard yelling."

"We're going to confirm that you were there," Esposito said. "But it definitely seems like you must have been."

"Why would someone kidnap you and not ask for a ransom?" Beckett asked.

Castle shrugged.

"Too bad we can't take you back to the scene of the crime," Ryan said. "Maybe it would jar something."

"We can't do that," Beckett said, immediately. "Not until we know who shot at us and make sure it doesn't happen again…"

"Right."

"But we can put you to work looking through mug shots and see if you can find this guy with an actual name we can confirm," Esposito added. "If you're willing to try."

"Sure."

It would give him a chance to feel like he was contributing.