220. Chapter 220

After An Embarrassment of Bitches, Yet Again

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: Someone would bitch if I claimed to own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

Royal sat equidistant from Kate and Rick. Each was calling to Royal, telling him to come here. Royal looked from Kate to Rick and back again. Then, Royal moved towards Rick, but stopped a few feet from Rick. Then he turned and looked at Kate, who was still calling to Royal to come to her. He turned around and walked over towards Kate, but, again, stopped a few feet from her, looked at her, and then went back at Castle. Both continued to call to him. Finally, Royal made a decision. He walked over to Castle, and took the sleeve of Castle's jacket in his mouth and pulled Castle towards Kate. Rick stood up and followed Royal over to Kate. Once he was standing next to her, Royal let go of the man's sleeve and sat.

"I think Royal has made his decision, Beckett. He wants to be with both of us."

Kate nodded and then smiled. "It seems that he has. So, we'll have to figure out how to share him."

….

Royal ran to Rick's door, wagging his tail and sniffing at the door.

"Is that Kate, boy? Is that your mommy coming to get you?" Rick asked.

Royal barked and Rick walked over to the door, opening it just as Kate was about to knock. "Royal heard you coming. Come on in. You're kind of late. How's the Shelby case going?"

Kate came in and took off her coat, then frowned. "It's a bitch. The three of us have been working our asses off on the damned case."

"What?" Rick was surprised. "That was the slammiest slam dunk I've ever seen. She couldn't possibly get away with it."

Kate just shook her head. "Her lawyers have decided that the best they can do is to bury us in endless appeals and motions until we offer a plea deal more to their liking. We're hoping the DA won't buy it, but in the meantime, it's a bitch. So, how have your last three days been? And how's Royal?"

Hearing his name, Royal perked up and nuzzled Kate's leg.

"Fine. I've gotten that chapter finished to my liking, at long last. And, I'm starting on the next chapter. Have you eaten yet?"

"I had a couple of energy bars and a bottle of water earlier. I'm fine."

Castle looked at her carefully. "You don't look fine. You look tired. Very tired. And underfed. And, I have just the thing. I order from the Jade Pavilion tonight. There's plenty left over. It'll only take a second to heat it in the microwave."

"That's okay, Castle. I'm not that hungry?"

"I insist." Castle busied himself pulling food containers out of the refrigerator and putting them in the microwave. "Wine to drink?"

She shook her head. "Not now. Maybe some coffee?"

Kate sat at the kitchen island and watched Castle busy himself with the coffee maker. Very quickly a hot cup of coffee and a meal were in front of her. "Honestly, I'm not really that hungry." She ate the food slowly.

"You look hot."

She smiled. "You look pretty good yourself."

He put his hand on her forehead. "No, hot as in feverish. And you are. Kate, I think you have a fever." He left her and went to the bedroom.

"I'm fine, Castle." She called out to him, but he was busy in the bathroom.

He came back out with some bottles and a thermometer. "Here. Put this under your tongue for a second." He slipped the thermometer under her tongue before she could object. He pulled the thermometer out and frowned at it. "You do have a temperature. 101.7, Kate."

"It's nothing. I'll get a good night's sleep tonight and I'll be better tomorrow. I have the weekend off. Don't worry about it."

He poured a glass of water and handed her two pills. "These are cold pills. Take them." He insisted. Rather than argue, Kate took them.

She stood up. "Okay, Castle. I'm fed and medicated. I'll take Royal home with me now, okay?" She took a step but lost her balance and fell. Castle grabbed her and held her up. "I'm fine."

He frowned at her. "No you are not! Kate, we've been over this before. You always say you're fine when you're not. And, because you're stubborn, you'll refuse to take care of yourself and you'll get worse. I'm not letting that happen." He picked her up in his arms and carried her towards the stairs.

"What are you doing?" She said, glaring at him.

"I'm taking you upstairs to the guest bedroom. You're staying here tonight and if you're not better tomorrow morning, I'm taking you to the doctor."

"Castle…"She began. But, she was starting to feel nauseous and achy. Staying at Castle's for the night sounded better and better to her.

Upstairs, he put her down gently on the bed. "I'll get you something to wear to bed and a robe. Be right back."

Kate sat on the bed with Royal right beside her. "He's right, boy. Castle takes care of both of us, doesn't he?"

Castle came back with an oversized Yankees tee shirt that came to her knees and with a brightly patterned bath robe. "The robe is Alexis' but I don't think she's ever worn it. Now, go to the bathroom and get ready for bed."

Kate wasn't feeling well enough to argue and went and took her makeup off and changed. She came out wearing the tee shirt and carrying the robe.

"Okay, there's a glass of water on the nightstand and a box of tissues next to it. If you need anything, just let me know. Okay."

She smiled at him and slipped under the covers. He turned the lights out and left. Royal hopped onto the bed and snuggled next to her. He is good to me. She thought. When I first met him, if he'd suggested I spend the night in the loft, I'd have broken his arms. I was wrong about him. He's a good man. He's good to me. He's good for me. I wish…I wish…

She fell asleep.

For a split second when she woke up, she didn't know where she was. Then she remembered. He's taking care of me. He's always so good to me and I haven't always been so good to him. One of the things I need to work out with Dr. Burke is how badly I feel about the way I've treated him. Kate swung her legs out of bed. There are times that I'd love to take off this tee shirt and go downstairs and drag him into bed. And then I become terrified of what that might, or might not, lead to. So, not today. But, one day. One day. I have to do this. I have to.

Then, she smelled coffee brewing. She got up, pulled on her robe and went down stairs.

"Ah! Doctor Castle's patient has survived!" He started pouring a cup of coffee. "See, Royal! I told you that Doctor Castle's Magic Elixir would cure Detective Beckett. And you didn't believe me."

Kate looked at her wrist and discovered she had left her watch upstairs. "What time is it?"

Castle checked the clock on the microwave. "10:27. How do you feel about breakfast?"

"Breakfast? Castle, why did you let me sleep for so long?"

"Because you're sick, remember? I'm taking care of you."

"I'm a grown up, Castle. I can take care of myself." She grumped.

"So you say." He pulled out the thermometer. "Again." She let him slide it under her tongue. When he pulled it out, he smiled. "99 degrees even. Almost normal. So, what about breakfast?"

Kate suddenly felt ravenous. "I'm ready. What do you have?"

Castle whipped up a breakfast that started with pancakes, then bacon, eggs, hash brown potatoes, two kinds of sausages, hot cereal and orange juice. When she was done, she was full and very content.

When she got up, Castle smiled at her. "Now, if you promise to be a good girl and take care of yourself, I'll drive you home. And remember, Royal will be keeping an eye on you for me. I speak fluent dog, you know."

She went back upstairs to get dressed and came back quickly. Castle and Royal were waiting for her. He helped her into her jacket and opened the door for her.

"Castle, I don't like being fussed over, or spoiled, or coddled. But it's nice to know that there's someone out there who cares enough about me to fuss over, spoil me and coddle me. Thanks." She smiled.

He smiled back. "Always."