Author's note: Happy Easter!

OOOOOOOOOO

Castle didn't stay awake long. It had been a long day and he wasn't much healthier than Beckett was, after all. His body was screaming for sleep and a chance to heal a little more, and the room – like all hospital rooms – was peaceful and dimly lit in order to encourage rest. He wasn't immune to it. He dozed off in the chair, his head cushioned by a pillow and Lanie draped a blanket over him to make sure he was warm enough. When Kate finally opened her eyes and looked around, blankly, it was Lanie who was there to give her the reassuring smile she needed.

"Hey…"

"Hi."

She didn't seem up to too much conversation, which wasn't all that surprising. Lanie held a straw against her lips so she could have a much needed drink of water.

"How do you feel?"

"Really sore."

"I bet."

Beckett had noticed Rick sleeping in the chair by the bed by then.

"Is he okay?"

She couldn't remember anything bad happening – beyond all the bad things that already had – but she had to admit that the ache in her side was making it hard for her to concentrate completely on him.

"He's fine," Lanie answered, looking over at the sleeping writer. "Well… not fine…" he was bruised and beat up and looked terrible, but no worse than he had that morning, most likely. "He's going to be okay," she told her.

Beckett was quiet, but continued to watch him sleep, and Lanie smirked – despite her friend's injuries.

"Should I ask them to get you a bigger bed and have them put him in it with you?"

Kate flushed, which made Lanie's smile broaden. Which made Beckett give her a tired scowl.

"What?"

"You slept with him, didn't you?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb, girl," Lanie practically crowed with amusement, and only the sleeping writer's presence kept her from doing just that. "I know the medication they gave you isn't that strong." She leaned over and now her voice was barely a whisper. "You and Castle finally did it – didn't you?"

"What are you, ten?" Kate asked, more amused than annoyed – and just a little embarrassed. "We didn't do it; we-"

"Call it what you will," Lanie said. "You did, though, right?"

"Yes."

There wasn't any reason to deny it and she'd never have been able to hide it from her best friend anyway. Lanie grinned again, but she opted not to make too much of a fuss – at least just then. Kate was hurting, and that wasn't the best time to tease your friend.

"From the looks of things, I'm going to be taking both of you home with me tomorrow."

"His mom and Alexis will be home tomorrow."

"Then I'm going to miss the chance to watch you guys cuddling?"

"Lanie…"

She smiled, not at all repentant. Besides, she would have liked to see them cuddle – it had only taken them years to get there, after all – but she let it drop. Again. She touched Beckett's arm lightly.

"I'm going to go let one of the nurses know you're awake so they can give you something for the pain."

The teasing was over, and Beckett was grateful for it. Not that she minded Lanie picking on her, but the more awake she was, the more she ached.

"Thanks."

Lanie left and Kate turned her head again and watched Castle sleep. Before anyone could return, though, the room worked its magic, even with the ache in her side, and she drifted off.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Hey…"

The voice was a whisper, so soft that it was almost certainly a dream. The whisper was accompanied by a gentle touch; fingers brushing against her cheek. Beckett might have ignored one or the other, but not both. Especially once her sleep-fogged mind realized that she recognized the voice. She opened her eyes and found herself looking into Rick's. He smiled when he saw she was awake, but he didn't say anything, perhaps to give her a chance to wake up a little more. He looked as tired as she felt, and the bruises around his eyes and nose were still vivid, making him look even worse. But there was no mistaking the look in his eyes as anything but love. Automatically she reached out her hand and touched his cheek.

"Hi…" she frowned, wondering why he'd woken her. "Everything alright?"

"Everything is fine. The doctors say you look good for someone who was shot."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Beckett shifted so that she could sit up, and was surprised that it didn't hurt worse than it did when she moved. She figured it was probably a painkiller keeping the ache away, which was fine with her. The upright position made her lightheaded – but only for a moment – and now she was able to look around a little. Castle had shifted his position when she'd sat up and now he was perched on the edge of her bed. Other than himself, the room was empty, but there was a tray on the rolling table by her bed that smelled pretty good. Her stomach growled, and he grinned.

"Hungry?"

"Yes."

He pulled the table over and positioned it so she could reach the tray. She removed the lid and found a typical hospital breakfast; scrambled eggs, an English muffin, a couple of sausage links, and fruit.

"It's not waffles," he told her, unwrapping her silverware for her. "But it'll fill you up."

"No coffee?"

"Not until they get all their tests done. Water only."

"Awww."

He grinned to hear her use one of his favorite complaints, and tucked her napkin into the neckline of her hospital gown.

"You eat, and I will let them know you're awake."

"I get to go home?"

"You can be released if someone is available to keep an eye on you."

"Lanie said she'd take me home with her."

At least Beckett thought she remembered her saying something like that.

"I know. She told me." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I have a better idea, though."

Before he could tell her what that idea was, though, he got off the bed and headed out the door. Beckett frowned, but curiosity could only compete so long with breakfast when someone was hungry, and she was hungry enough to let it slide for then. Instead, she turned her attention to her breakfast.