This is sort of a Part Two from the last chapter. This chapter will again just be Castle and Beckett, and how they are going to deal with her return. Last chapter went long enough, and I didn't feel like he would physically be able to stay up for a round of fighting. So, to those who were concerned they'd make up too quickly… enjoy! It's going to get worse before it can get better.

After a few hours of drug induced sleep for Castle, intermittent naps for Kate, they both found themselves awake in the early morning. A nurse had come in to check on Castle, help him shift, and change the bandages at the wound site. The pain was excruciating despite the good meds they had pumping through his veins. There was absolutely no way he would be able to sleep at this point.

Kate was anxious to talk with Castle. She had studied him while he had slept. She wanted to respect his earlier request for her to leave, but she 1. Promised Martha he wouldn't be alone until she returned and 2. She wanted to selfishly stay with him for as long as she could. So, she purposely ignored his request and knew the time for the "discussion" would happen soon.

They were both wide awake. Castle from the pain, and Kate from her thoughts. Neither one wanted to break the quiet that had settled in the room once the nurse left. It felt like the calm before the storm. The longer it was ignored, pushed away, the longer they wouldn't have the inevitable fight. It wasn't going to be pretty, but it was guaranteed to be painful. For both of them.

She decided to give in first. "Rick, how are you feeling? Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine" he replied. It was clear his thoughts were still off in whatever recess of his brain they had traveled to. The drugs didn't help with his ability to regain his focus as quickly as he normally would.

"Fine… you sound like me, Castle" she tried to joke. "I know how it feels to get shot. I will leave you alone if you'd like, but I also know that it is so far from fine."

"Why do you care, Beckett? You left 4 months ago and I don't expect your pity right now. Thanks for showing up, but I don't need your help." Why won't she just stop making this worse? He can't look at her anymore.

"I'm not leaving." Kate spoke with a lot more strength then she actually had. Her heart broke even more… if that was even possible.

"You don't get a choice! Actually, Beckett" he spit out "you had a choice. It was a simple yes or no question. You decided it was a no and then moved the hell away from me. So, no you don't get to tell me what to do anymore."

"Rick, I promised your mother when I had to call and tell her that her son was shot and in the hospital that I wouldn't leave his side until she could be here with you. I am going to keep that promise to her and to your daughter."

They sat there glaring at each other, neither knowing what to say next in this stand-off. She realized that she shouldn't push him, especially if she hopes to earn his trust back, but she really didn't want to break her word to Martha. Yup, she is going to continue to use the promise to keep herself there. Selfish as always. Castle knew that Kate would keep this promise to his mother. She had always respected his family, and despite the end of their partnership, he knew she would always protect and respect them.

"Fine," he eventually says. "You can stay, but I have rules. You don't get to talk to me about leaving, or DC, or how sorry you are. I can't deal with it right now. I don't want you to touch me, and I really just want to be left alone. Can you respect that?"

"Ya, yes… that sounds good Rick" she responded to eagerly. "Thank you."

"I do need you to do two things for me. " He waited for her to respond, and with her short head nod he continued. "First, can you tell me who the hell shot me?"

She knew that sometimes, in traumatic instances, that the brain chooses to block the memories. Her brain, well… hers held on to every single second. He seemed to generally not remember anything from the past 24 hours. Luckily she had the information he was asking her for. She related the story, from the beginning, up until the point Esposito knew. It was unclear why Castle had decided to go to the park without back up. (It seemed oddly refreshing, and cute, that she now thought of cases as stories, not cases.)

Castle had begun to remember the case once Beckett started to go over the details. It was interesting to hear the case from her perspective again, and he briefly wondered who had filled her in on the specifics. It sounded detached and clinical, which he could now appreciate. Before he liked to spice up the story, embellish it. When it's your own case… well, it isn't so fun anymore. When Kate reached the part in the park he could feel her hesitation in relating the rest of the story, and he felt himself wince for what came next. She quickly spoke of the details of the shooting and how he was discovered.

"Castle, why didn't you call someone to go with you? It's not like you to go into a crime scene without back-up anymore" she finally asked.

He looked at her with such a cold stare it took her back. She almost didn't hear him say, "I don't have a partner to call anymore."

Shit.

The room filled with tense silence once again. He wasn't going to feel bad for hurting her, because he knew he hurt her with his words. It wasn't his job to sugar coat the truth anymore. She doesn't deserve it.

"You um, had another request…" she said with a shaky voice after she recovered.

"Right… can you hand me my cell phone and give me a few minutes alone."

"Oh… ya, sure. I'm just gonna… go find some coffee. Would you… like anything?" There was a time when all personal and professional calls could be made with each other in ear shot. No secrets. Those times were clearly over. Another reality slap to the face for Kate Beckett.

"I'm fine, Beckett." Leave.

She looked into his eyes for a moment when she handed him his phone. His eyes are always so expressive and open to her. She forgot how easily it was for her to read him, just from his eyes. All she could see right now was hurt, anger, and a coldness she had never experienced from him. With a quick nod, Kate left the room.

Castle let out a long sigh. He was just so pissed with ever thing that was happening. He felt his control slipping and felt like he was going to crash and burn. He felt humiliated and angry that he was stupid enough to return to a crime scene alone, pissed beyond belief that he was in the hospital and potentially crippled, and freaking out that Kate Beckett was at his side. He was NOT having a good week. At all.

He didn't actually feel like talking to any one at the moment. Although he did need to contact the team to let them know he was ok, and get an update on their suspect. He decided a text to the boys was just as good as a phone call. He also texted Lanie a quick "I'm fine, don't worry about me, but I'd love it if you'd tell me what the hell to think about my current roommate situation."

He held his phone in his hand as his eyes began to grow heavy again. He hated that he couldn't control his constant tiredness and the way the drugs made him feel. Perhaps he should just close his eyes for just a minute…

To Be Continued

(Side Note: Reviews are very appreciated. Haha)