Hey guys! Sorry I took so long to update it, I was having writer's block... It's pretty short, but I promise the next one will be longer. Thank you for reading :)

Chapter 4 - The Recovery

The week went by and Castle was making a quick recovery. His brain was intact, without amnesia, he took a little time to talk again, but he was now talking normally. The doctors were thinking he would make a total recovery and could go home to his family by the weekend.

Beckett decided to let Castle stay with his family on the week of his recovery, partly because she didn't want to take him from his family, and partly because she didn't know what she would say when she saw Castle again. She opened herself to him, but it was different, he wasn't awake, staring at her with his blue eyes, with his boyish smile that made her knees feel weak. Lanie let her go back to her place and she could work normally at the precinct again.

After the news about Castle, Ryan, Esposito and Captain Montgomery were cheerful, and expected to see him soon.

Beckett went to the precinct, but discovered there was only paperwork for her to do. While doing paperwork Beckett got lost in thought. What would she do when she saw Castle again? What would she say? How would he react? She didn't know exactly, but couldn't stop thinking about it.

She had to let it go, but couldn't concentrate on anything else. She was interrupted by daydreams and it took her a long time to do paperwork. The week went on really slowly, Beckett would turn and turn before she slept with her mind full of thoughts.

Then the time came, it was a Monday evening and Beckett was at her place finishing a bubble bath. She hadn't heard about Castle in days and figured she should call his place some time. She wrapped herself on a towel and went to her bedroom to get dressed. That's when she heard a knock on her door.

"Who would that be?", she thought. It wasn't like she was expecting anyone. She putted on a robe and went to get the door. When she looked through the peephole butterflies formed on her stomach. It was him, Richard Castle.

Oh great, now what? She could pretend she wasn't home, but that would be too childish. No, she wasn't going to do that, she opened her heart to this man, almost losing him made her realize she didn't love anyone else, she loved him, she needed him.

Beckett opened her door and saw him. He looked normal, but in his shirt there was some sort of bump, probably a bandage. She couldn't believe her eyes, she got to think she'd never see him again, and there he was, staring at her with his deep blue eyes.

When he saw her, a huge smile appeared in his face. The kind of smile that made her knees feel weak. Their height difference was bigger, because she was barefoot.

"Castle", she said almost in a whisper, and before she knew she was hugging him.

"Beckett", said Castle, slowly closing his eyes, inhaling the scent of her hair.

Beckett didn't think she'd have the chance to do what she was doing right now, so she took the chance and hugged him as tightly as she could and buried her face on his chest. She began to tear, out of joy, happiness, and sadness from what she suffered through the last days. She could feel his heart beating, the heat emanating from his chest and his scent… It felt like nothing she ever felt before, she felt somehow safe, there in his arms, like nothing could touch her.

"I missed you", said Beckett against his chest.

"I missed you too", said Castle, kissing the top of her head softly.

Castle could feel his shirt soaking with Beckett's tears.

"Hey, hey, what's the problem?", he asked softly, clearly worried.

"I-I didn't think I'd be able to do this", said Beckett against his chest.

"Shhh, Kate, I'm here! I'm okay!", said Castle, as he felt her tremble and his shirt soaking more and more, starting to caress her head.

Just by looking at her, he could see that the walls she built during their years together were collapsing, she didn't avoid contact, she didn't use sarcasm and irony… She was just a relieved and somehow happy, Katherine Beckett.

They stayed like this for some time, "You okay?", asked Castle, still caressing her head gently.

Beckett sniffed, "Yeah, I-I think so", she said lifting her head from his chest.

He looked at her, even though she'd be crying and had her face a little swelled, she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He wiped a falling tear from her face with his thumb and looked at her. Her eyes were gleaming, because of the tears. He gave her a smile and she smiled back a faint smile.

"So… How much did you hear?", asked Beckett picking up a strand of hair and curling it with her finger.

"Hum…. Pretty much everything", said Castle.

"Oh…", said Beckett, starting to blush and looking down.

"Katherine Beckett is that shame I see in you?", said Castle playfully.

Beckett could feel her face getting warmer and warmer, she just bit her lip, kept looking down and hoped Castle wouldn't notice.

"You're cute when you blush, did you know that?", he said with a smile.

Damn it, he saw it, of course he saw it, her face was burning, it was obviously really red. She heard Castle chuckle, he was certainly enjoying himself.

"I love you Kate", said Castle softly.

The shock made Beckett's head lift. Had she heard it right? Did Castle just tell her he loved her? She could hear her heart beating, her ears were like "thump-thump".

Aaand, cliffhanger! I'll try to update the sooner I can guys! ;)