He stared at the page with unseeing eyes while the cursor blinked mockingly. It was 2am and he couldn't sleep anymore. So, rather than waking Kate and Lizzy with his tossing and turning, Rick got up, burning with the need to get everything he felt and feared out onto the page. Only problem was that he didn't have any words to express himself with.
No paint for the canvas so to speak.
His mind was unable to weave the sentences together because he kept hearing Ryan's quiet and solemn voice. He closed his eyes and fisted his hands, jaw stiffening at the memory. Rick rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. He just needed to get over it. Soon. It's not like he can follow Kate around anymore or ask her just to do paper or do the unthinkable thing like quitting. No. No, he doesn't want that. He never wants to ask her to do that.
But.
But what if-
"Rick?"
His head jerked up at her soft, weary voice. She was leaning against the door frame, arms folded, watching her husband closely.
He started to get up. "Hey, do you need something?" He asked, brow furrowed in concern.
She shook her head and waved him off, walking over to him.
"I'm fine. Just woke up and realized my husband had gone AWOL," she said, a smile ghosting over her lips.
He sat back down and huffed out a soft laugh, scrubbing a hand tiredly over his face. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep anymore." He frowned. "Lizzy?"
"I put her back in her bed," Kate replied, sliding into his lap, her arms winding around his neck. "Wanna tell me what's going on in that head of yours, Castle?" She asked quietly, brushing a hand through his hair.
He exhaled and dropped his head to her collarbone, placing a kiss to the exposed skin there.
"Nothing. Just couldn't sleep anymore."
"You're lying," she murmured, still brushing a hand through his hair. He sighed again and lifted his head to look at her.
He pursed his lips. "I keep hearing Ryan's voice. . . Keep hearing him telling me that you were hurt."
Her hand stilled, eyes locked onto his. They were bleeding with vulnerability, leaking out all of his worst fears. She sucked in a breath, not fully realizing how much it truly affected him.
"Oh, baby." She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him closely. "I'm sorry," she breathed into his ear.
"Not your fault, Kate," he murmured hoarsely, brushing a hand down her back.
She pulled back. "I don't want you to worry like this."
He returned a sad, lopsided grin and shook his head. "I'm always going to worry about you."
He pulled her closer and pressed his mouth to hers, no intention of deepening the kiss. His wife, however, had other ideas. Kate pulled him closer, prying his mouth open and slipping her tongue in between his lips, stroking the roof of his mouth. Before he knew it, she was straddling him and turning him into a mess of hormones and lust.
When she started pulling at his shirt, he broke away slightly, panting and heady with arousal.
"Kate, your head," he said, his tone gruff.
She sat back, eyes dark and eyebrows lifted. "Castle, your wife is sitting in your lap, horny as hell and willing to screw you senseless in this chair or any other surface for that matter. So, tell me again why we are not doing that right now?"
He swallowed, his body rebelling against his sensible mind. "I- I... just your head, Kate. I don't want to hurt you."
She softened, eyes tenderly regarding him as she leaned in to brush her mouth against his.
"I'm not going to break, Rick," she whispered before sitting back and slowly starting to remove her shirt. He gripped her hips tightly, blood sizzling in his veins while his eyes remained transfixed on the nimble fingers teasingly undoing each button to reveal more skin and that oh-so-sexy, navy blue, lacy bra. After a few moments, the blue button-down fell to the floor.
His eyes stayed glued to her chest.
"Like what you see, Mr. Castle?" She asked, laughter in her voice. When he returned his gaze to her face, her saw the playful glint in her eyes.
He wrapped his arms around her possessively and roughly pulled her against him, chest to chest.
"You have no idea."
She smirked, lower lip caught in between her lips as she quickly rotated her hips on top of his lap. Rick moaned and dropped his head to her shoulder, arms squeezing her tightly.
She sucked on his earlobe, her voice velvety, smokey and oozing sex.
"Oh, I think I get the gist of it."
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She was furious. Absolutely livid because the man was a complete and utter idiot. Kate stalked up and down the small examination room, unable to look at what the doctor was doing.
Finally, she came to a stop. "Castle, what the hell were you thinking?"
The man in question let out a sigh as the young doctor - probably an intern, his mind supplied - stitched up the nasty cut close to his hairline. His cheek was bruised and his lip busted. Luckily, no black eye.
"I wasn't really thinking."
She snorted. "No shit, Sherlock."
He cut his eyes to hers, suddenly blazing with anger. "Well, I'm sorry for not wanting you to get pummeled by a three hundred pound criminal, Kate."
"So, you got pummeled instead," she pointed out flatly. She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Castle, I'm the cop here. I was trained for this. You-"
"-Yeah, I know," he interrupted hotly. "I'm not a cop. I just have to standby and watch, right?"
Kate's jaw stiffened at that and she took a breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Calm, calm, calm. Before she could say anything, the young doctor smiled and peeled off her gloves.
"Well, there you go. All done," she said brightly as if being deaf to the rather personal conversation she had been privy to. "Now remember, don't get these wet. They will come out in a week or two's time."
Rick smiled tightly. "Thank you, doctor."
"No problem," she said with a wink. Kate wanted to roll her eyes. "Good luck." With that she was out the door.
The two remaining occupants stared at each other.
"Rick-"
"Don't worry, Kate, next time I'll just sit on the sidelines." He got up from the bed, pulled on his jacket and started walking towards the door. "After all, I'm just a useless writer," he said bitterly, brushing past her.
She grabbed his arm and yanked him back before he could get any further. He could feel in her grip that she was a little angry.
Or more like pissed.
"That's bullshit and you know it! This isn't a damn pity party for your ego, Castle." She pushed him away from the door and invaded his personal space. "This is your life we're talking about here. And you were pretty damn reckless out there today." She pursed her lips, eyes hard on his. "You weren't being my partner, you were trying to be a hero."
Rick stared at her, mouth opening and closing. He had no counter-argument, no rebuttal because, well, she was spot-on. He did try to be the hero.
He let out a breath and dropped his head into his hand. "I'm sorry."
Kate immediately wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face into his neck. "Just. . . just don't scare me like that again. Okay?"
He wrapped his arms around her and let out a soft laugh. "I'll try not to." He pulled back slightly to frame her face within his large hands. "Only if you do the same."
Her mouth slid open into a smile, tongue caught in between her teeth. "I'll do my best, Rick."
[][][]
"Do you have to go in tomorrow?"
She sighed. "No. Montgomery gave me a few days," Kate mumbled sleepily, her head pillowed on his chest. They were sprawled out on the office couch with only a thin fleece blanket and body heat keeping them warm.
"Good," he murmured, continuing to trace hypnotizing patterns with his fingers on the bare skin of her shoulder.
"What time is it?" She asked, her eyes already closed.
He brushed a hand through her hair and smiled. "Don't know. I guess around three."
"Mmm."
There was silence for a few moments, the only sounds their breathing. Rick was wide-awake, his body still buzzing and mind alert. Kate, on the other hand, was fading fast.
"Kate?" No answer.
He jostled her lightly.
"Nah-uh," she whined sleepily, sounding like a petulant child. He had to bite his lip not to laugh.
"Kate, honey, come on." He sat up with her still in his arms. "Let's go to bed." She blinked a few times and yawned widely, a hand covering her mouth, her eyes a little dull and hair tousled.
Rick cocked his head, wearing a soft smile while sliding a hand through the long tresses draped over her shoulders.
"You're adorable."
"I was going for sexy actually." She go up and started to gather her clothing off the floor with her husband openly ogling her.
"Well, that too of course," he replied with a grin, getting to his feet.
She grinned, pulling his t-shirt over her head. "Smooth talker," she murmured, pushing past him, clad in only her panties and his shirt.
He gently grabbed hold of her wrist, pulling her to him and kissing her softly.
"Thank you."
She lifted an eyebrow, lips pursed in an effort to hold the amusement from spilling out. "For what? The sex?"
He barked out a laugh and rolled his eyes. Jeez, her mind was constantly in the gutter these days.
"No. Even though I am truly thankful for it." Rick wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. "Just thank you. . . for coming after me."
Her face softened, mouth lifting into a smile while she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Anytime partner."
Always.
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When we were children we'd play
In the streets just dipped in fate
When we were children we'd say
That we don't knowing the meaning of fear
Fear, fear, fear
Fear, fear, fear
We don't know the meaning of
Title and lyrics at the end are from the OneRepublic song, "Fear".
Hi, are you going to keep posting?
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