368. Chapter 368

AU After Pandora

Episode 4.15

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: I'd tell you whether or not I own Castle, but I'd have to kill you. Rating: T Time: See above and below.

Author's note: It should be obvious that this takes place during Linchpin, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.

Kate Beckett got to her apartment with Castle's help. Swallowing half of the Hudson River had done her no good.

"Are you okay?" He asked, once they were inside.

She nodded. "Lanie checked me over and gave me a shot of antibiotics that should keep anything I've swallowed at bay."

"Considering how polluted the Hudson is, I think that she should have used a bucket of antibiotics on you, not just a needleful."

Kate smiled. "I'm fine. Castle, really I am."

"Yeah. Like you'd tell me if you weren't." Castle said quietly.

Kate recognized how true that was. She reached up and stroked his cheek. "No, this time I'm really okay. Aside from the fact that I'm standing around dripping cold water on my floor."

"Right. I'm sorry. We should get you out of your clothes and…" He stopped and frowned. "I am so sorry, Beckett. That did not come out at all right."

"No, it's okay. I just need a good, hot shower and I'll be okay."

As she started to head for her bathroom, he took her hand. "Kate, I'll understand if what happened was just…due to panic or something."

Kate moved back to him and rested her head on his chest. "No, Castle. If I think the two of us are about to die and I tell you I love you, I mean it. Believe me, that isn't the time that any woman is going to be saying that in panic mode." She smiled up at him. "Besides, I wasn't panicking. I knew you'd get me out."

Castle raised an eyebrow. "I'm glad one of us was so confident."

"Let me just take a shower and I'll be right back." She kissed him and headed for the bathroom. She stripped off her sodden clothing and started the shower, letting it get good and hot. Then she stepped in and stood there, letting the hot water wash over her. I finally did it. I told Castle the truth. I love him. I knew we were dead. We were going to drown in the Hudson River, killed by a rogue ex-CIA agent. I knew I'd never see Castle again. That they'd find his body under the dashboard where he'd drowned trying to find my weapon because he'd rather die than leave me. I wanted him to know how I felt, so I began screaming that I loved him. "Castle I love you." Over and over. And then he was sitting up beside me with my pistol in his hand and this goofy expression on his face. Really! I almost laughed. He shot open my seatbelt and then blew out the back window. I guess he got me to the surface, but I don't remember any of it. The next thing I remember is us standing on the wharf, holding each other and repeating" I love you" over and over to each other. Then my team arrived and then Sophia Turner arrived. CIA or not, I don't trust her. She has no interest in justice. If she can somehow turn Gage, he'll disappear and go back to being a killer for the CIA.

Kate realized that she hadn't started washing yet. She got a bottle of cherry scented body wash and a sponge and began to clean herself off. I'd like to know more about Castle and Sophia, though. But I won't ask. I'd hate to have to tell Castle about my times with Tom Demming or Josh. Although I'm sure Castle would love to hear how jealous Josh became of Castle. For that matter, he'd want to hear how jealous I've been of Sophia. Sophia? I am as well admit to myself, if no one else, I've been jealous of every woman he's been with, both before and after I met him..

Kate finished by shampooing her hair. When she stepped out of the shower, she felt queasy. Then she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She barely made it to the toilet before she vomited.

Castle heard the sounds of Kate throwing up and went to the bathroom door. "Kate? Are you okay?"

"No. I'm being sick. Help me please."

Castle opened the door and saw a naked Kate Beckett kneeling in front of the toilet. He took a step backwards and closed the door. "Beckett! You're naked."

"I know. I need your help." She vomited up more Hudson River water.

"Do you want me to hand you a robe or something?"

"No. Just come in. Hold my hair back."

He had just grabbed her hair when she vomited again. By now, she was only vomiting stomach acid and all the river water and food in her system was gone. Finally, she stopped.

"Castle, help me up, please."

He carefully put his hands around her waist and lifted her up. Suddenly, he found her wet body pressed against him. "Kate…" He began. He couldn't quite figure out what to say.

"It's all right. We're in love. You're going to see me naked. In fact, I'd like you to see me naked a lot."

He put his arms around her and held her close. "Okay. And you can see me naked, too."

She laughed. "Well, I hope so." After a few seconds, "Can you dry me off? The towels are behind you.

Castle got a large bath towel and began to towel her off.

"I need another towel for my hair. I shampooed it."

He handed her another towel. "Anything else?"

She took a deep breath. "I really need to brush my teeth and rinse with mouthwash. Two or three times, I think. Even then, I wouldn't recommend kissing me."

As soon as she said that, he leaned over and gently kissed her. "You're right. Toothpaste and mouth wash."

She came out in a few minutes, wrapped in a robe and sat by him.

"I made some Irish coffee for you. Well, coffee with some whiskey. You didn't have any whipped cream. I'll get you some tomorrow. And some Irish whiskey."

"Castle, I don't like to be spoiled and coddled." She stopped and looked at him. "I should expect to be spoiled and coddled by you, shouldn't I?"

"Constantly. I plan on unleashing my very best spoiling and coddling on you."

She rolled her eyes. "Just not in front of Ryan and Esposito, okay? I'd never hear the end of it."

"I wouldn't dream of it." She snuggled next to him. "Kate, I want to tell you about Sophia."

"You don't need to." She said quickly.

"I didn't say I needed to, I said I wanted to."

She just nodded.

He went on. "She was my only other muse and as far as that job goes, you have it for as long as you want it. And her museship..." He stopped. "Is that a word?"

"It is now. I expect to see it in the next Nikki Heat." Kate teased.

"Any way. Things were different. I was an observer. I saw how the CIA worked. I sat in on classes for new agents, about cryptography, languages, communications, tradecraft. In fact, that's where I first learned to shoot. I got to ask questions and sometimes Sophia got permission to answer them. But that's all I ever was to the CIA, an observer."

Castle took a deep breath. "Yes, we did sleep together. And no, I was never, ever in love with Sophia. I am in love with you."

"And I love you." Kate replied.

"Things have been different with you, aside from how we feel about each other. I'm your partner. We go to crime scenes together, we interrogate suspects, we build theory, and we catch bad guys. That is infinitely more satisfying than anything I ever did with Sophia. You are infinitely more…everything …than Sophia."

Kate snuggled against his chest. "Sophia never made you wait for years and years."

"Sophia wasn't worth waiting years and years for."

"I'm sorry, Castle. I shouldn't have made you wait. I feel awful."

"Just so you know that you have no reason to worry about me and Sophia. There's just me and you."

Kate sat up. "Is there some reason we have to talk about some old girlfriend of yours?"

"No! Not at all." Rick said quickly.

"Good. Because I think we should go to bed." She stood up. "Coming, Castle?"