Chapter 9
Note: I love all your wonderful reviews! I'm glad everyone seems ok with the way I'm using the cast as basis for characters. Reminder again these are my characters based on the cast. They are no way implying that the true cast would behave in this way. Now, on with the show!
Nathan stood there, shocked, heart pounding out of his chest. Now what the hell do I do? If I say no, she's going to feel like her boyfriend is rejecting her, and I don't want to hurt her. If I say yes, well, shit that's not even an option. That would be like sleeping with Stana against her will, I know neither Stana nor I would do this for real, and I'm not gonna do anything we'll both regret when this is over. But god, I don't want to hurt her now either.
"Did you hear me, Castle?"
"Um, uh... Yeah. I just... Are you sure you aren't hungry? You didn't eat much today."
"I'm not hungry, Castle. Please, just come here."
He slowly walked towards the bed and stood about a foot from the side looking down at her, mind racing trying to figure out how to get out of this one.
"What's with you, Castle?" Kate asked, slowly sitting up in bed. "Since when are you afraid to be near me?"
"I'm not afraid, Sta-Kate, I just..."
"Just what?"
"I just know you need to rest, and you sometimes don't get to do that when we're too close, ya know."
She smiled her flirty smile at him. "Yeah, we don't always rest well together, do we?"
"No, we don't." Wow, maybe I can get myself out of this.
"Well, I don't think I'm quite up for that tonight anyway. My head still kinda hurts, but I do want you here with me. Now get over here and cuddle with me Writer-man."
He stood there staring at her. Cuddling, could he do cuddling? He'd hugged Stana many times. They were friends, as long as it was just lying with her, fully clothed, it would be ok right? Just a hug laying down. He took a deep breath and moved towards the bed. If she needed the warmth of a friend to feel better tonight, that's what she would get. He would never do anything with her that he wouldn't do with Stana. He respected her too much for that. But a friendly cuddle he could do.
He laid down behind her and she snuggled back into the warmth of his chest. Her under the sheets, him on top. He wrapped his arm around her and held her. Praying that wherever Stana was in there, that she would come back soon and reassure him that this was the right thing to do.