Chapter 5

Kate woke up sometime during the night to find her throat dry, her head a little sore, and the wound in her chest starting to ache dully. Time for another pill. She fumbled, but it was too dark to find anything.

Twisting to turn on her light, she accidentally knocking her hand against her bedpost. "Ouch."

As she clicked on the light, her door suddenly flew open and Castle was in the doorway, hair messy, face tense. "Are you okay?"

"Calm down, Florence Nightingale. I just hit my hand."

"Oh." He seemed to deflate a little. "Sorry."

"It's okay." She reached for her water glass, taking in a slight breath at the stretch in her stomach muscles. Still sore. "Sorry to wake you."

"I wasn't asleep."

She eyed him over the rim of her glass. He was still watching her with an intensity she rarely saw from him. The initial tension had left him since he'd discovered she was okay. But he still looked –

"Out with it, Castle."

"Huh?"

"You're staring at me like I'm a ghost. I told you, I'm fine. What's going on?"

"I just –" he twisted his hands – "can I – um, can I sit?"

"Of course." She patted the bed beside her. Castle quickly settled himself beside her, turning to face her in the half-light from the lamp.

"You know, I used to watch Alexis sleep when she was little?" Beckett smiled. That sounded oddly Castle-like. The man worshipped his daughter. "It was so soothing. I know I've always been overprotective, but you know, I just needed to see that she was okay. Even though I knew she was."

"It's okay. You're a dad."

"I know. The first time she rode her bike without training wheels, I ran beside her for almost half a mile. She never fell once, and besides, she had more padding on than a linebacker, but I still think I had a small heart attack."

"My dad did the same thing," Kate laughed. "I still remember Mom. She had to keep telling him to let go of the bike. He didn't want to."

"Yeah." He fell silent for a while. "It's hard to see someone in danger."

"I understand."

"I know you do." He smiled at her, the smile he'd been showing her a lot recently. The genuine Castle smile, where his whole face softened and his eyes crinkled up. The smile that kept her from shooting him most of the time.

As she reached for her pill bottle, she saw Castle's eyes sharpen, scanning her again. "Do you need something?"

She swallowed her pill and set her water back down. "No, I'm just a little sore. It's not too bad."

Kate reached her arms behind her head, stretching gently. But as her comforter fell away from her torso, Castle swallowed hard, his face going a little pale. "Beckett – your stomach –"

She looked down to discover a dark patch in her t-shirt.

"It's okay, Castle. I think the bandage just needs changing. Just calm down, okay?"

He helped her to the bathroom, where she settled on her toilet seat as he pulled out the bandages. She felt the old bandage under her shirt, and sure enough, her fingers came away wet and sticky. The pain wasn't bad, but she was still a little stiff, and when she tried to peel away the bandage, it was stubborn. She could feel her hands shaking a little. She hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to ask.

"Can you help me with these?"

"Sure."

To his credit, Castle was remarkably restrained. She folded back the bottom of her shirt as he carefully peeled off the tape and pulled away the bandage. As it came off, she saw the sudden shock in his eyes. He stared in horror at the still-healing bullet wound, the dark hole surrounded by a small collage of purple, yellow and green bruising in various states of healing. It was fading, but still distinctive, spotted with a thin ooze of dark blood.

Oh, right. She hadn't counted on the fact that he'd actually have to look at it. The poor man looked a little sick.

"Beckett – oh, my God –"

"It's okay. Hey, look at me. It's okay, Castle." She tugged at his hand. "Here. See? It's not as bad as it looks." He sucked in a long breath as she gently placed his hand on the scars. His fingers ghosted over the bruised skin, setting her sensitive flesh tingling, just a whisper away from pain; she held her breath as he cautiously traced the edge of the bullet wound with warm hands, pressing an old towel against it carefully to blot away the blood.

"Does that hurt?"

"No."

"Okay." He held his breath, then paused. "But you'll tell me if it hurts?"

"I'll slap you if it hurts."

"I would appreciate that."

The wound re-bandaged, Castle was about to help her back down the hallway until she glared at him. So instead, he hovered behind her as she walked by herself, and pulled her covers back so she could climb into back into bed.

"Do you want to stay?"

"Oh, I wasn't going to –"

"As usual, you were not asking very loudly."

He grinned sheepishly. "I do that sometimes."

"Yes, you do. But you can stay."

"Thanks." He smiled. "Besides, I was beginning to feel really creepy having to silently open your door to watch you every few minutes." She shot him a look. "Kidding. Kidding."

"You'd better be. I still sleep armed."

"I kind of figured." He paused, half-turning to the door. "You know, maybe it would be better if I just –"

"Castle, come here." Obediently, he came to her bedside. Kate reached toward him, catching his hand. "Come here."

"I'm right here." But again, he obediently shuffled closer, letting her tug at his arm to pull him down closer to her level, steadying himself with a hand on the bed. He wasn't even paying attention until suddenly her lips were on his.

It was over before he could register the word kiss, her big eyes looking up at him with an expression he couldn't quite understand. "That – I – I didn't expect that."

Her lips quirked into a slight smile. "Honestly, Castle, if that doesn't explain, I'm not sure what will."

"Um – " he was still staring at her, wide-eyed – "okay, um – now what?"

"Now I'm going back to sleep."

"Okay." He looked a little confused.

"You're staying right here."

"Okay." That made his eyes brighten, and she saw the beginnings of a smirk. "You try anything, you're sleeping on the floor."

"Acknowledged." He was still smiling, eyes twinkling as he sprang over her to the other side of the bed, pulled back the covers and nestled himself beside her, punching the pillow a few times before settling down.

"Here." She set his hand gently on her stomach, spreading his fingers so it covered most of the bandaged area. "You can be my heating pad."

He chuckled. "Your wish is my command, my lady."

"Thanks." His hand was warm, and she sighed, feeling the soreness slowly dulling. "And can we agree to not mention this to anyone?"

"Again: your wish. My command."

"I need that on recording."

"Don't hold your breath."

She sighed noisily and closed her eyes.

"Detective Beckett?"

"You're in my bed, and you're calling me 'Detective?'"

"Fair enough." A pause. "Your Highness-ness?"

She rolled her eyes. "I've seen Star Wars, Castle. What?"

"May I kiss you goodnight?"

Kate opened her eyes, seeing Castle propped up on one elbow, watching her innocently. "You want to kiss me?"

"You did kiss me first."

Her face broke into a smile in spite of herself. "Alright."

"You're sure?"

"Ask again and it'll be 'no.'"

"Understood. Prepare yourself."

"Castle, honestly –"

Before she could finish the thought, he leaned in and whatever she meant to say got lost under his lips.

He let her go, and she took a deep breath. "I –"

He kissed her again, tugging gently at her bottom lip before letting her go again. She tried to feel annoyed, but succeeded only in smiling like an idiot. Richard Castle was a damn good kisser. "You can't just do that to shut me up."

He shrugged, re-settling his hand on her stomach. "I can't stop thy mouth with a kiss?"

"And you can't gratuitously misquote Shakespeare at me."

"Fair enough." He grinned smugly. "At least you recognized it."

She rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, Rick."

"Sleep well, Kate." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, but she didn't hear him silently mouth I love you into her hair.

Author's Note: T minus 2 days to TEH KISS. Let me hear you make some noiiiiiiiiiise!