Comfort

Beckett is lost after a night full of nightmares and Castle can't help providing a little comfort.

A/N: Ok, guys, this is my second attempt to fanfiction, and the first one in the direction of a story and not just a scene. Please forgive my mistakes and be gentle with me. This little thing here bugged me since 4x13 when I saw Beckett with her light grey blazer and the longing look on her face.

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, just my imagination.

It was a few weeks after we had our little escapade into the world of a celebrity starlet and after we both fell in love with the adorable royal.

To me it felt like something had changed within the way she looked at me, the way she frequently touched me, brushed my fingers when I handed her the coffee in the morning or touched my shoulder with hers when we were sitting in front of the murder board.

And today it was even more than lately. Something felt odd, but I could not quite place it. The only thing I could think of constantly was the way she drove me crazy with all those gentle touches and those adorable smiles she shoot at me. One day this woman would be the death of me.

It definitely was a bittersweet torture.

And darn it, she wore the same light grey blazer again today. Instead of the dark turtleneck she had worn back then she wore a thin, black sweatshirt and said blazer. The view drove me crazy, she looked just too beautiful. I did not know how long I could keep my hands to myself.

And still, we were at the bullpen and there was absolutely no way I could wrap my arms around her, let alone kiss her.

It was probably better this way, at least as long as she had her gun with her.

I definitely wasn't myself today. But after another night of nightmares full of blood and gravestones and dark shadows hunting me and my writer – wait, since when have I started to call Castle my writer? – anyway, after such a night I was unconsciously searching for a little comfort, I think.

And who could better provide it to me than him? Him, who was always there for me, always at my side as long as I let him be. Who knew me so well, sometimes better than I know myself.

It would be no surprise if he had already found out, why I was behaving differently, that I wanted to try to give us a chance and move past my worries. That I gave my best to tear apart the wall surrounding me, brick by brick. Awfully slowly.
By the look he shoot me a few minutes before, full of longing, he already knows what's going on.

As always.

"Let's call it a day, boys. I don't think we'll be getting any further tonight. Let's start fresh in the morning." she said at about half past 10 p.m. and Ryan and Esposito did not need to be told twice. They put their cups of coffee into the sink in the break room, took their jackets and were already heading off towards the elevator.

The whole bullpen was quiet and empty now, almost everyone was home already, except for a few silent figures walking through the corridors. And there it was again, the look on her face, the silent need for comfort, the loneliness in her eyes. It made my heart ache and my brain go nuts. It made me ask her out to Remy's for some comfort food after this long day. She agreed, a little too quickly for the Kate Beckett I know. But why would I complain? I helped her into the light black jacket she wore over her blazer as it was early march and quite chilly outside. I couldn't help to stare at her, the way she looked so stunning beautiful and so forlorn at the same time.

When we reached the elevator and stepped inside I was getting nervous. I knew what I wanted to do, what I had to do, but I didn't know how she would react. If she was going to shoot me or push me away or just run away from me again.

But I just could not help myself.

And as soon as the elevator doors closed I turned towards her and let my hands glide under her jacket and her blazer, feeling the soft material of her shirt against my palms. I took one step closer and put my arms around her slim waist, just holding her there.

Not pushing any further, just enjoying the contact, providing comfort and closeness as long as she wanted to have it.

Thoughts?

If anyone likes to beta this little piece, please pm me! English is not my first language - I just learned it at school – and I would be very thankful for a little help here.