Hey Guys! First off i want to thank you all for the reveiws. This is my first published Castle story so any critiques are a big help. After going back and looking at this last chapter i found it to be less than ideal, and so i have gone back and rewritten some of it. Thank you all again and any future reveiws are always a help!
xxx The Shadow Author
Back inside the apartment Kate waited until she was sure Lanie was gone before picking the wine bottle back up and taking a long draw on it, strait from the bottle. She took it with her as she made her way back into her bedroom and quickly changed into her most comfortable pajamas, finishing off the wine without much thought. The whole time her mind played back her conversation with Lanie. Was she right? Should she tell him? No, no, no. She couldnt tell him. Castle was a play boy. He was always trying to pick up anything female that breathed. She wouldnt be one of them, no matter how big of a crush she had for him, even before she met him. But he's changed part of her whispered. Kate shook her head as she tossed the bottle to the side and crawled into bed. Maybe he has, but why chance it? And what if he didnt fel the same way? She sighed. She hated to admit it, but she would be heart broken. Yeah, better to cut her losses while she could. That was her last though before she drifted off to sleep.
The next day found Kate Becket striding into the Bull Pen once again. SHe didnt think twice when she didnt see Ryan or Esposito at their desks. She didnt even notice the looks everyone seemed to shoot her as they hurried by. She simply concentrated on her computer and the cursed paperwork it held. She finally looked up when Castle came up and set her coffee on the desk beside her. She smiled at him, one which he returned.
"Good morning Detective", he said casually.
"Morning Castle", she returned, picking the warm cup up and cradling it for a moment before taking a relished drink of what had become her Life Blood.
"Any grusome murders this fine morning?" He asked, eyes sparkling. SHe gave him a look, but couldnt hold back a small smile.
"Only paperwork", SHe said, making him frown in disappointment. When neither said anything else, she went back to her work, sporadically drinking her coffee and ignoring Castle stares and comments. It was almost half an hour later that Esposito and Ryan walked up, talking amongst themselves.
"Where have you two been all morning?" Castle asked, bringing the two to Beckett's attention. SHe looked up just as the two froze, looking like they had been caught red handed. When booth continued to stare, Beckett crossed her arms, giving them an expectant look.
"We were uh", Ryan started, looking to Espo for help.
"We were talking to Lanie", he finally said, giving her a cautious look. Beckett's espression fell as Castle just shrugged. She sent him a look, knowing that she couldnt ask what they had talked about without bringing up sucpicion from him. She gave the boys a warning look before going back to work. Both sighed in relief and hurried to their desks. She watched them carefully, eyes narrowing whenever they leaned in to whiser something, casting her looks the whole time. Her phone ringing finally pulled her from her reveiry. She picked it up without looking away from the two. Both ha looked up with expectant looks. She listened for a long moment as Lanie told her about some weird body she had and if she could come down and take a look. Her sucpicion grew, but she couldnt call her on it, not yet.
"Sure, ill be down in a few", she said and hung up. She stood and grabbed her jacket, concious of Castle's curious look.
"Body?" He asked hopefully, but she shook her head.
"Lanie wants me to come look at some weird case she has", she said casually. The nine year old excitment appeared as he leapt up and grabbed her jacket. She rolled her eyes with a fond smile and headed for the elevator, Castle close behind.
Beckett sighed as they were caught in traffic once again. Beside her Castle rambled on about his idea for his next Nikki Heat book. He had just gotten to his idea for an undercover Nikki chapter when the sound off screeching pulled their attention. Beckett cursed as a car, only a few spaces up from theirs, was side swipped by another car. It was the domino effect that got them. One car hit another, reaching back to theirs and slamming them backward. Beckett was thrown forward, head hitting the steering wheel. She cursed, head beginning to pound. Her ears rang, the only thing she could tell was that someone was yelling. After a long tense moment, her ears stopped ringing, but she winced as Castle continued to yell for help.
"Castle Shut up", she groaned, instantly making him stop.
"Beckett, your bleeding", he said. She rasied a hand and felt her head and jsut as he said she felt it was cover in something warm and sticky. "We need to get you to a hospital" he said, making her shake her head frantically.
"No,hospital. Lanie can take care of it. Im not going to the hospital", she growled. She couldnt go into a hospiatl without having flashbacks of her shooting. She wasn't going to go if she didnt have to.
"You're bleeding, it could be a concussion. You need to go-", but before he could finish, Beckett finally opened her eyes and looked at him, all the fear leaking through. Castle stopped and sighed. "Okay, fine, ill call Lanie, but if she says its anything serious im taking you to the hospital", he said and Beckett nodded.
"Is anyone else hurt", she asked, finally looking around. They shared a quick look before getting out, Beckett doing so with more effort than she usually needed. Castle was by her side wuickly, helping her the get her balance before letting her move down the line of cars. Keeping a close eye on her her pulled out his phone and hit speed dial five. It rang twice before she picked up.
"Castle where the hell are you?" She asked sounding annoyed. Castle began to walk, only half paying attention to the call.
"Theres been a wreck, only half a block from you. Beckett hit her head but wont go to the hospital", he informed her, hurrying up when he saw Beckett find someone stuck in their car.
"Of course she wont", Lanie said with a curse, "Im on my way, dont let her go crawling into anymore cars till i get there." Castle could only shake his head as he looked up to see her doing almost that exact thing. Quckly he hurried over and pitched in, subtly pushing her back a bit to keep her from any more heroic tricks.