Rated K and I don't own anything. Someone requested Castle and Beckett taking care of each other when they're sick and I was more than happy to oblige. :)

Castle nearly ran into Ryan and Esposito as he rounded the corner near the bullpen, a cup of coffee in each hand.

"Who are you spying on and why wasn't I invited?" he asked in a mock-whisper. Ryan didn't move as he answered.

"We're not spying. We're planning."

Castle followed Ryan's gaze out into the bullpen, coming to rest on Kate's desk. She'd established a perimeter in yellow crime scene tape.

"Was there a homicide at Kate's desk I wasn't aware of?" Castle sipped his own coffee, grimacing when he burned his tongue.

"That's what we're trying to prevent. Beckett's got a cold and refuses to go home." Esposito turned around and sighed. "And I'm certainly not going to be the one who tells her to go home. Even a man like me has his limits. Bringing down the wrath of a sick Detective Beckett is not something I wanna do today."

Both Ryan and Esposito looked at Castle, giving him their best pleading stares. Ryan spoke up. "C'mon, Castle. She listens to you.. sometimes." The look on his face reminded him too much of Alexis and how he could never say no to her when she was litt… well, he rarely could say no to her, period.

Esposito pouted a little, sticking out his lower lip. Castle rolled his eyes and pushed past him. "Esposito, you're too manly to pout. Leave that to Baby-Face Ryan next time."

Ryan was about to object, but Esposito put a hand up to stop him. "You got carded a week ago when you went to buy beer, bro. He's right." Ryan sighed and they returned to their desks.

Castle cautiously approached the yellow tape around Kate's desk and placed her coffee next to a box of tissues. "Good morning, Detective Beckett."

Kate glanced up from her computer, giving him a weary smile and picking up the coffee. "Thanks, Castle." She took a sip and leaned back in her chair, her normally rigid posture slumped. Her nose was red and sore, her face was pale, and while she looked as beautiful as ever, she definitely looked sick.

"Been a productive morning?" Castle asked innocently as he sipped his coffee, climbing under the tape and sitting in his usual spot. "Or are you too busy trying to stay awake?"

"Look, Castle. Just because I've got a cold doesn't mean I can't work." She put the coffee down and spun her chair around, facing her computer again. "I'm fine."

"Okay, if it's just a cold, then what flavor is your coffee? What's the actual temperature in here? How many boxes of tissues have you gone through?"

Kate sighed and paused her typing for a moment, but didn't turn around. "The coffee is the same as always, it's seventy-two degrees in here and this is my second box."

"You knew I was going to ask that, didn't you."

"Yep."

Castle nodded and finished his coffee while Kate finished typing a report. "So, what's on the agenda for this morning, then?"

Before Kate could answer, Esposito appeared. "Report of a body in Central Park. Beat cop came across it during rounds early this morning."

"Alright, let's go." Kate stood up and wobbled slightly, steadying herself on the desk. She glared at Castle, Esposito and Ryan, who was putting his coat on. "Anyone comments on that, you're on desk duty for a week."

All three men held up their hands and didn't say a word. Ryan and Esposito waited until Kate walked away before the interrogation began.

"Have you said anything to her?"

"She's not honestly going to a crime scene feeling that way, is she?"

"C'mon, Castle, you have to convince her.."

Castle raised a hand, silencing them both. "Leave it to me. You guys take your own car, we'll take ours. But we won't show up at the crime scene. Got it?"

Ryan grinned and Esposito held up his hand for a high-five. "Genius. But I'm so glad I'm not the one kidnapping Detective Beckett. Good luck with that."

"I'll need it," Castle muttered.

He knew how sick Kate actually was when she didn't realize they weren't going to Central Park and didn't know they were headed to her apartment building until they rounded the last corner.

"Castle, why are we in front of my building?"

"You're too sick to be anywhere but your bed, Kate, and you know it."

"I told you, I'm fine.."

"I looked at the report you wrote this morning, and your spelling was worse than.."

"Finish that sentence and I'll deck you," Kate said, her voice sounding incredibly hoarse.

"I don't need to finish it, Kate. You belong in bed, not walking around like a zombie. No one questions your dedication or strength, so let's just.." Castle glanced over at her, seeing she'd fallen asleep with her head against the window. He shook his head. It was just like Alexis when she was a baby. When she couldn't sleep, all he'd had to do was drive her around a bit and she'd fall asleep in no time.

After he'd carried her upstairs, he fished her keys from her coat pocket and managed to get the door open. With her long legs, it was difficult to maneuver and he'd nearly knocked over half the contents of her living room on their way to her bedroom. Putting her down on the bed, he removed her coat, boots, scarf and hat before covering her with another quilt. As he turned to leave, he heard a sleepy 'thank you'.

"You're welcome," he replied softly, closing the door behind him.

When she woke up a few hours later, she mustered the strength to change into some more comfortable clothes and put her hair back up. She wrapped herself in the quilt and staggered out into the hall. Castle was in the kitchen in front of the stove, stirring a small pot of soup.

"How was your nap?" He turned and smiled at her appearance.

All Kate could do was nod; her throat was too sore to talk. She peered into the pot and mouthed, "What's this?"

"Tomato rice soup. I used to make it for Alexis all the time. You hungry?" He turned off the burner and turned around. Kate was already holding a bowl, ready for him to fill it. "I take it that's a yes." She shot him a small smile over her shoulder as she sat down at the table.

They ate in companionable silence and when Kate finished, she put her hand over his and squeezed, whispering a thank you. She stood up and went out to the living room, the blanket trailing after her. Castle couldn't help but smile; while he'd never tell her this, she was absolutely adorable when she was sick.

After he cleaned up the mess he'd made, he wandered into the living room to find Kate asleep on the sofa with one of his books open in her lap. He watched her for a moment before gently lifting her feet and sitting down on the sofa, putting her feet in his lap and tucking the quilt back around her. He'd read to her when she woke up, but he wouldn't miss the opportunity to watch some awful daytime TV.

He could easily get used to this.