Notes: I don't know what brought this on, but here it is.

Disclaimers: I don't own Castle. :/

"I can walk."

"I don't care what you think you can do. I saw your ankle roll. I saw you nearly collapse when you tried to put weight on it. Get. Comfortable," he demanded, hitching the detective up higher on his back. "This wouldn't be a problem if you didn't insist on wearing those deadly weapons to work."

"Really? You're blaming me for a perp getting the drop on me?" Kate whacked him once on the chest, hard.

"He heard you coming."

"No, he heard you coming, Chatty Kathy. Put me down."

"I will. In the passenger seat of your car," he retorted, heading down the final flight of stairs in the building. The other officers had long since cleared off with their suspect. He was smart enough to know he'd never survive if her coworkers got to see her suffer this particular indignity.

"I hate you," she sighed as she buried her face in her left arm, "so much."

"Of course you do. Where are your car keys?" he asked, coming to a stop next to her car.

"Put me down."

"No, you'll try and walk again."

"The keys are in my pocket, which I can't get my hand into, not with the way you're holding my legs."

"Oh, okay. Sorry," he apologized, turning around and gently lowering her onto the hood of the car.

"Yeah, whatever. Here," she said after digging the keys out of her pocket and shoving them in his direction.

"So," he began, taking the keys and unlocking the door, "I'm just gonna tell people you did this trying to teach me some of your mad ninja skills. I became a useless lump and took you out." He scooped her up, one arm behind her back and one under her knees. "What do you think?"

"They'll hassle you. A lot," she teased, holding on tightly as he moved around the car door with her; only letting go once she was settled.

"Yeah, well, better me than you."