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shmaptainwrites · 4 months

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Pay It Forward [Richard Castle]

Pairings: Richard Castle x GN!Reader

Characters: Richard Castle, (mentions of) Kevin Ryan, Javier Esposito, Kate Beckett, Martha Rodgers, Alexis Castle

Summary: Reader jumps in between Castle and a suspect before a fight and ends up spending the night confronting her feelings for the bestselling author

Warnings: descriptions of injury (non-graphic), insecurity, hospital mention

Note: And yet another Castle fic, again honestly most of this was written a few consecutive late nights in a row so I don't really know if the progression makes much sense, but I like it so who cares ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ this has been in my drafts for months wtf is wrong w me

Getting hurt in the line of duty was something in the back of the mind of every law enforcement officer. Even author Richard Castle suspected there would be an occasion or two where he’d bite the bullet (figuratively and literally).

What he didn’t expect however was when following a lead an officer would jump between him and a suspect right before an altercation began.

To be honest, you didn’t expect to do it either, but there was something about reflexes that you just didn’t have any control over.

Castle tried to get in and give you a hand, but you yelled at him to stay back even though you knew you were in over your head. Your body was hopped up on so much adrenaline that it took you a moment to register when you were down.

It wasn’t the worst you had been hurt, but you knew each of the small injuries added to one another would mean you’d be benched for the foreseeable future.

“Shit!” you cursed as the suspect managed to get away. “Castle, call Ryan and Esposito I’m in no shape to go after this guy, make sure-ow,” you gripped onto your side as you sat up. “Make sure they have uniforms canvassing all the spots he might have gone to.”

Castle nodded and quickly made the call for you before hanging up and putting his phone back in his pocket.

“Hey, you don’t look too good,” he bent down next to you, noticing your split lip and a few other cuts you had around your face. Not to mention what looked like it could be a sprained ankle and a few bruised ribs.

“Been through worse, Castle,” you tried to push yourself up without much success.

“I should take you to a hospital.”

“No hospital,” you shook your head adamantly. “I’ll be fine.”

“Like hell you will be,” he placed a hand around your back and helped you up, confirming his suspicions of a sprained ankle when you winced at the pressure you placed on your right foot. “If you won’t let me take you to a hospital, at least let me patch you up. I must have some things lying around at home we can make use of.”

“Castle-,”

“Don’t even try arguing with me on this,” he gave you a stern look. “I signed my papers, you didn’t have to jump in like that.”

You sighed, “I know, it just sort of happened.”

“It’s okay,” he assured you. “Just let me pay it forward.”

You nodded your head and Castle supported you as you limped to the car.

During the ride to Castle’s place, Ryan and Esposito called to inform you that just as you had suspected your perp had gone to one of his usual hideouts and had been intercepted by uniformed officers. Not without a fight, of course.

“Glad that’s over,” you let out a breath and massaged your wrist. You had used it to break your fall when he had knocked you down, but you figured it was nothing that some ice and a tensor bandage couldn’t fix.

Castle agreed with you as he pulled into the parking of his building and got out to give you a hand. You knew it was better not to fight him right now so you let him. You sent out a silent thank you to whoever invented elevators knowing your trip up would have been much more uncomfortable without it.

As you entered Castle’s apartment, you noticed it was quieter than usual. You sat down on the couch and looked around,

“Where’s Alexis?”

“She’s staying at a friend’s house tonight,” Castle said while bringing the first aid kit and two ice packs to the couch.

You stayed quiet as Castle examined the cut on your forehead, his fingers carefully brushing the skin next to it.

He then grabbed an alcohol wipe and gave you the time old warning about it stinging. You scrunched your nose as the wipe made contact with the wound, but as soon as it started it was over and he placed two steri-strip bandages to keep the wound closed.

“You seem like you’ve had a bit of practice with this,” you said.

“Nope,” he shook his head. “First time.”

You chuckled a little to yourself, “Happy I could be your first something, Castle.”

That made him break his concerned face with a small smile before turning his attention to your wrist that was already on ice.

Similar to your own thinking he used a tensor bandage to wrap it,

“Are you gonna tell me why you didn’t want to go to a hospital?” he asked.

You shrugged, “I’ve been ignored in one enough times to know when I can try my luck outside.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he said while wrapping up your wrist. “I think by this time you know my door is open if you ever need anything.”

“Yeah, I do,” you smiled. “Thanks, Castle, really.”

He lifted your hand up to examine his work with a smile at a job well done before pressing a small gentle kiss to the back of your hand.

“So it can get better, of course,” he winked and you shook your head with a light laugh at his antics. “Your ribs,” he pointed to your chest. “He hit you pretty hard there, do you mind if I take a look?”

“Castle, I thought you were a writer not an MD,” you crossed your arms over your chest.

“Okay, you’re right I’m not a doctor, but I’ve hurt myself before. Many, many times. At least maybe I can tell you if it’s worth seeing someone about it. Hey, I mean Lanie went to med school you could probably just go to her if you need to.”

“And deal with Perlmutter if she’s not in? That’s my nightmare,” you shuddered.

“Come on, just give me a look. I promise no funny business,” he assured you and crossed his heart.

You sighed deeply and winced a little, only prompting Castle to send you a pointed look which you acknowledged.

“Fine, but not a word of this to Beckett, Esposito, or Ryan. They’ll chew my ear off if they hear I took my shirt off in front of you.”

“Mum’s the word,” he nodded and with Castle’s help you slipped your shirt off. When you finally caught a glimpse of Castle he wasn’t even looking at your ribs, but instead right at you.

“Castle, come on you said no funny business,” you whined.

“No, no,” he shook his head. “I wasn’t-,”

“Then what were you thinking about?” you raised your brows.

“Nothing,” he shook his head. “Not important.”

He then turned his attention to your newly formed bruise and tilted his head a little, curiously examining it.

“I think you should get this one looked at. Doesn’t have to be tonight, but that’s a nasty hit if I’ve ever seen one.”

“Whatever you say Dr. Castle,” you sighed and laid back on the couch.

You looked straight ahead for a while before turning back to look at him, only to see he was staring at you again.

“Castle, you’re really bad at pretending not to stare,” you chuckled humourlessly. “Honestly, right now I don’t think I could care less.”

“You make it kind of hard not to stare,” he retorted.

“Oh yeah, how so?”

“I just can’t seem to wrap my head around how someone who just got their ass kicked can still look so beautiful.”

You snorted, “Really, you’re a writer, Castle. I expected more from you.”

“I’m not lying,” he handed you your shirt back. “Shirt on or off, ass kicked or not.”

“Tell me why I don’t believe you then?” you took a moment to slip your shirt back on with a little bit of difficulty, but you managed it nonetheless.

“Maybe I haven’t given you much reason to,” he shrugged. “Can’t blame you there. Or maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

“You can’t see it yourself.”

“Can’t see it-Castle, what are you talking about?” you frowned.

“I’ve been working with you guys for over two years, it’s kind of my job to notice things,” he started.

“And what did you notice about me?” you ventured asking.

“You have the capacity to do your job and excel at it like no one I’ve ever seen,” he said. “But not once do you believe maybe your hunch is right. It’s always, no, let's do Beckett’s idea that seems better, you even indulge me more than you indulge yourself.”

You chewed on the inside of your lip, he wasn’t wrong.

“I just hope that mentality doesn’t find its way into the rest of your life too.”

You nodded your head, lips pressed tightly together, what he had said struck a chord with you. Resonated deep inside your heart where you knew he was right.

“And why do you care so much about me, Castle?” you dared to ask him. “Why did I jump in front of you to just get my ass kicked by our suspect? Do you have an answer to that too?”

“I might, but I don’t think you’re gonna like it,” he chuckled lightly.

“Maybe we should save it for another time then,” you whispered. “I think I um…I need to get back home.”

You pushed yourself up off the couch, but Castle blocked you before you could leave.

“Just stay here,” he said. “It’s late, you’re hurt. I-I don’t wanna leave you alone.”

“Castle, I know your mom’s living with you again. I don’t wanna impose-,”

“It’s not,” he shook his head and put his hands on your arms. “I swear it. You take my bed, I’ll sleep in Alexis’ room tonight.”

You had almost already had one foot out the door, you were so ready to get the hell out of there, run away from your feelings, but before your mind could catch up your hearts words made it to your mouth and you said,

“Okay…I’ll stay.”

Castle smiled and nodded his head a few times, like he was taking in the fact that you had just agreed with him, to be honest, so were you.

“Just give me a sec, I’ll grab you some stuff to take up with you,” he said before walking off to the linen closet to grab you a towel, a pillow, and an extra blanket. He came around to the stairs and motioned for you to follow him which you did

The door at the end of the hallway upstairs was the one that he led you to, pushing it open and allowing you to enter the room while he placed the things he had grabbed for you on the bed.

“Um washroom is over there,” he pointed, “Alexis’s room is the one by the stairs. D-Do you need something to wear?”

“Uh, no I think I can manage in these,” you looked down at the t-shirt and joggers you were wearing, thankful you had changed into your civvies before going out of the precinct. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, no worries,” he nodded, walking back from his bed and coming past you. “If you need anything, I’m just down the hall.”

You nodded your head.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” he pulled a package out of his pocket. “Toothbrush.”

You smiled as he handed it to you. clearly having thought of everything.

“You sleep well,” he placed a hand on your shoulder and leaned in to press a kiss to your cheek. As he began to pull away, his eyes met with yours and before you could control your actions you could feel yourself reaching out to him. An arm wrapped around his neck, toothbrush still in hand, one hand holding his face, and before you knew it you had pulled him fully into you, your lips pressed gently against his own.

At that moment, you didn’t care anymore, you didn’t care about fighting your feelings, about whether or not this would end terribly and whether it was a good idea in the first place. All that mattered is that you knew what you wanted, and you were going for it.

Castle pulled away after a moment, looking again into your eyes almost asking permission. Giving you a chance to back out in case this was all some mistake.

But when you leaned in again, he took his cue and met you in the middle.

His hands were wrapped so gently around your waist, careful not to squeeze or press too hard, avoiding your sore spots.

The second time you pulled apart it was for air, your foreheads resting against each other, the only sound in the room was your breathing.

“Would you…would you stay with me?” you asked.

He pressed another kiss to your lips and nodded.

“Anything you want,” he whispered, and he meant it.

You unwrapped your arm from his neck, looking down at the toothbrush in your hand with a small smile.

“I’m gonna go…” you looked to the washroom and he nodded saying something about getting changed.

After you finished brushing your teeth, you came back into the room just as Castle was about to slip on a t-shirt.

“Now we’re even,” he said. “And not a word to Beckett, Esposito, and Ryan,” he teased you.

“Come on, we both know you would love it if they knew,” you rolled your eyes and made your way closer to his bed.

“Nah,” he shook his head and slipped on his shirt. “I think I’m okay keeping this one to myself.”

When you sat on the edge of the bed, Castle stayed where he was, that same knowing look in his eyes.

“What are you staring at?” you asked, pulling your legs up and sitting cross-legged.

He just shrugged and came to the other side of the bed, it was odd how you’d never noticed that look. Had he always looked at you that way?

“Rick,” you said quietly and he nodded, showing you had his attention. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

He chuckled a little, “I-Well I always thought you kind of hated me.”

“I kind of hate everybody,” you leaned back against the headboard. “I hate you a little less.”

He laughed and you did too, until you felt the ache in your ribs, prompting you to stop.

“I’ll take it,” he reached out to hold your hand and you took it, pulling him closer until this time he took the lead and cradled your face, kissing you again.

“You know,” you mumbled in between kisses. “You don’t have to not say things on my account, ever.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he assured you. “And you know you’ll always have a place here.”

“I could get used to that,” you nodded, holding his face in your hands and pulling him in even closer, until there was barely any space left between you.

He used the proximity to wrap one of his arms around the side of your waist that wasn’t bruised and pull you over more towards him, having you practically lean into his chest, until you both sunk down into the plush mattress.

“I don’t think I’m doing your lip much good,” he murmured while brushing his thumb across where you had split your bottom lip.

“It’ll heal,” you kissed his thumb which was still resting against your mouth.

“And so will you, but not if we stay up all night.”

You let out a small chuckle, “Alright, Doctor Castle, I’ll rest,” you conceded, letting your head rest against his chest, just high enough that he could bend his neck and press one last kiss to your forehead.

Closing your eyes, it felt nice to know that someone would be there to hold you when you woke up.

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