A/N: 20 faves makes me happy. 60 followrs makes me even happier. Over 7000 views makes me super happy. But do you know what makes me happiest? 13 reviews! 13! Thankyou!

Wow, Adults are reading this series. I feel like I have to make it all meaningful with substance and stuff. So much pressure. Special mention to Jud98 who rather than actually reviewing thefic simply responded to something in the Author's Notes. I'm not being sarcastic (or ironic, hehe), I'm genuinely grateful because I do the exact same thing.

I held out as long as I could. This one's just a bit angsty, set after the Dragon's been caught and assumes a lot of stuff happened with that which they're still getting over but doesn't go into details. Short and hopefully sweet. Hope the chapter name isn't too misleading. Like everything I've written so far, it's set post-season 4 finale, but other than that it has nothing to do with it.

Upload Date: (21 August, 2012)

Chapter Rating: T (Very mild sexual references, mentions of rape and murder, reference to violence)

Chapter Summary: After a particularly difficult case, Beckett looks for comfort in the arms of her man. Being the awesome man that he is, Castle's only too willing to comply.

#6

Every case took its toll but there were certain kinds of cases that were especially difficult. Generally, Beckett, Esposito and Ryan were pretty good at handling the grittier aspects of the job, thanks in no small part to Castle's lighter approach, but there were cases even he couldn't find the funny side of. They didn't usually handle sexually based murders, but it had turned that a case they were already working on was linked to a series of murders and rapes. Having already put so much time into the case, and with so much knowledge of the details, they had been asked to assist. The case had put a slight strain on Beckett and Castle's relationship. Neither had exactly been in the mood to be intimate in the last two weeks, which was unusual for them; but what was even more unusual was the fact that neither had spent the night in each other's home – or in fact, much time with each or at all outside the precinct – in the same period. Beckett had been the one to put the "Shields Up", so to speak. She hadn't said it aloud but Castle had gotten pretty good at reading her signals, had understood her need for him to back off for a bit without asking for an explanation. But the case was closed now. They'd caught the guy. She was working on paperwork late into the night and as he had every night, Castle stayed with her. She smile and rubbed her eyes when he brought her third cup of coffee of the evening.

"I think it might be time to retire for the night."

She stared at him as she took a sip.

"All this paperwork will still be here in the morning. How much sleep have you gotten in the last two weeks?"

"Enough."

"Enough for a Giraffe, maybe."

She rolled her eyes and placed her hand on his arm. He stared. She couldn't blame him for being surprised.

She hadn't been one for physical contact lately. Damn it, that had been stupid.

Yes, she had needed her space; yes, cases like this made touching another person the last thing she wanted to do; but his arms were the warmest, safest place in the world as far as she was concerned and she had missed it, had missed them.

"Just let me finish my coffee."

"Of course. And then, you'll go home?"

"Depends on whose home you mean."

He furrowed his brow in confusion.

She smiled between sips. "Is it ok if I stay at the loft with you?"

"'Is it - ?' Of course it's ok." He tried to hide the way his face lit up at her words and she shook her head at the adorableness of it.

She sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can finish this."

"That's ok. You're gonna be sleeping soon anyway, if I have anything to do with it."

"You're not the boss of me," she teased. She looked down n at the coffee wistfully. "I can't remember the last time I didn't finish one of your coffees."

"I forgive you."

She sighed as she grabbed her stuff and got up, walking around to where he was sitting and wrapping the hand carrying her jacket around him, pressing her lips to his head.

"Let's go home, Castle."

Four Hours later...

"Kate, shh, Kate, it's ok. Wake up."

Kate woke up with a start in a cold sweat, breathing heavily.

It took her mind a few moments to transition from the world she had been imprisoned in just moments earlier to the real world.

Lying here, in Castle's bed, in his arms, safe, was such a stark contrast to the nightmare she'd been having that she became overwhelmed with emotion and tears started streaming down her face.

"Oh, God, what did you dream about, Kate?"

"Everything," she breathed. "This case, the victims, my Mom, Maddox... him."

They never said his name.

"You hanging from that rope. When I thought..." her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't finish. When she had thought that he was dead, that she had been staring at his lifeless form.

"It's ok, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

She clung to him, her lips seeking his for reassurance. The damn burst and suddenly they were covering each other in urgent kisses, two weeks without contact fuelling an overwhelming need that was physical, but not sexual, in nature. It ran so much deeper than lust, than the need for release. That was not what they craved from each other now.

They'd seen each other almost every day; yet they hadn't felt so far apart since they'd gotten together. Eventually they slowed, savouring each other's touch with softer, more indulgent kisses. After a while, they lay back down together.

She inhaled and exhaled slowly.

"Thank you," she whispered in his ear.

"What for?"

"For everything. For giving me my space, for being here when I needed it, for being you. Just... thank you."

"Always."

She looked up at him through the darkness, trying to make out his face. Slowly, she reached out and touched his hair.

"I love you, too, Castle."

He looked down at her. "Wow."

"'Wow'? You didn't already know? Kind of slow on the uptake, aren't you?"

"No, I knew," he said, tracing soft circles on her back. "Just... wow."

She snuggled up even closer to him, a lazy smile on her lips.

Then, there was no more talking as sleep took over them both, each dreaming only of each other.

I know that's a pretty sappy ending but I think they've earned their share of sappy endings, don't you? Sometimes in a relationship, one or both parties need space. Castle gets that and respects it, which is one of the many reasons she's so crazy in love with him. Writing makes me happy.

If my writing makes other people happy, I get even happier. I hope this made you happy. I'm sorry if it didn't. Thanks for reading either way!