So, my very good (scary? but loving) friend/beta, upon request, sent me prompts for a story – way back in about August but that's totally not the point. This story took a long time to get off the ground and I don't even really know why.

Said friend/beta, when asked what the nickname of this story should be, suggested "I can't get wet!" as that was a very bad line from a book she recently read as part of her course work (The Reluctant Fundamentalist, in case you're wondering). I vetoed, naturally, as that's rather a mouthful (I wanted to call it Terry, but whatever). Eventually we settled on Moist...and here it is.

Upon asking/demanding updates, as she often does (in very loud writing with maybe slight over use of CAPS), she's been known to ask "do you have any moisture for me?" which I think she's enjoying more than she probably should, but ok. It makes me laugh.

Oh, and she is and always will be the creator of Castle's magic potion. I take no credit, I'm just borrowing. Well, I take a bit of credit for giving it actual constituents instead of listing it as made from "the necessary ingredients".

The first prompt, and what is necessary for you to know right now, is that this takes place basically immediately post Countdown (S3E17) and that I was required to include the line "I can't get warm" with no specificity as to the speaker.

You don't have to have seen Countdown for this to make sense but it's gonna help.

Rated for language (which I apologise for but it's a natural part of who I am and I tend to project that); and eventual elusion to ~sexytimes~ with probably no graphic detail.

I'll post sufficient warning for any chapter that may be borderline M but I'ma try keep it T.

"Beckett?" Castle said as he stepped off the elevator and headed towards his loft. He had one foot halfway off the ground and his brow creased with concern. Beckett turned suddenly at the sound of his voice, looking up at him from the position she'd nestled into on the floor. She was sitting beside his front door with her back against the wall, knees drawn up and arms wrapped around her legs. "What's wrong?" He asked taking the remaining steps along the hallway and crouching beside her. "You're shaking."

"Th-thank you, captain obvious. I can't," She stuttered with the violent chills running through her body, pausing and swallowing hard before she continued. "Can't get warm," She managed, shaking her head and licking her lips. "Castle," she almost pleaded. "Can't get warm," She frowned. "Please help me, so, so cold."

"Come inside," Castle said rising to his feet and almost tripping over himself to get the door unlocked. "Come on, Beckett," He said crouching again and helping Beckett to her feet. "Jesus Christ, I can feel the chill of your body through your clothes."

"Sorry," Beckett mumbled, teeth chattering.

"Oh, please," He said rolling his eyes as he ushered her across the loft towards the fireplace. "Sit down," He instructed guiding her to sit on the couch before leaning past her to pull a thick rug from the back of the cushions. He ensured the rug was wrapped tightly around her before turning towards the fireplace. Beckett pulled her boots off and tucked her legs up onto the couch, beneath the rug, as she watched Castle make short work of stoking the smouldering embers to create a blazing fire again. He then rose to his feet and Beckett turned slightly to track his movements as he headed towards the kitchen.

He returned a moment later with a mug of steaming liquid. "This should help," He said crouching down and holding the mug out for her. Beckett untangled her arms from the rug, still holding it as close to her body as possible, and took hold of the mug with both hands.

"What is it?" She asked, eyes wide and body still trembling.

"Magic potion," Castle smiled, wrapping his hands around hers and the mug at the same time, steadying it while Beckett sniffed the liquid. "It's hot milk with cocoa and malted barley powder. I added some hazelnut coffee whitener because it makes it creamier and the taste is nice and there's some cinnamon sprinkled on top. Plus my secret ingredient, of course," He added as Beckett took a small sip.

"Brandy?" She said wrinkling her nose slightly. "Your secret ingredient is brandy?"

"Um, well, the secret ingredient is ah," He cleared his throat almost nervously. "The two marshmallows, but the brandy doesn't hurt. It's Cognac, actually,"

"Naturally," Beckett said taking a large swallow of the hot liquid.

"It's not much, I promise, but it will help warm you up." He insisted. "And it will help you sleep, too." He said lifting one hand from Beckett's and cupping her cheek, running his thumb along the dark smudges under her eyes before lowering his hand back to help her hold the mug steady.

"Hell of a day," Beckett sighed, taking a sip of the steaming drink.

"Hell of a day," Castle nodded.

"Where were you so late at night?" Beckett asked, frowning slightly and Castle's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Sorry, none of my bu-business." She mumbled taking another sip.

"I was at your apartment." Castle said.

"What?" She asked, her eyes snapping to his. Castle shrugged nonchalantly.

"We probably went right by each other in the street somewhere. I wanted to see you, I needed to." He sighed. "Jesus, Kate," He said shaking his head. "I just can't stop thinking about it, you know? I can't stop thinking about what would've happened if pulling those wires hadn't stopped the bomb."

"You d-d-don't need to worry about it." Beckett said. "It did, did work,"

"I know," Castle nodded. "But still, what if it hadn't?"

"You still wouldn't need to worry ab-about it." Beckett said taking another sip of Castle's magic potion, drawing a deep breath to try and calm her shivers. "If it hadn't worked we wouldn't e-e-even have had time to register it. We would've been va,"

"Stop," Castle said holding up one hand. "Stop, you don't need to, there's no, my writers imagination supplies the details from there." He stumbled slightly. "That's the problem, I guess. I can't stop thinking about what would've happened to us and to the people who weren't, you know, turned to dust," He said dropping his voice to a whisper as he shook his head again.

"I know," Beckett nodded.

"You're still shaking," Castle said squeezing her hands gently around the mug.

"I'm fr-freezing,"

"Are you feeling any warmer at all?"

"A little bit." Beckett answered. "I think."

"Maybe we should take you up to the hospital." Castle said.

"No," Beckett shook her head before the words were even completely out of Castle's mouth. "No, I don't need that. I just want to be warm, Castle." The plea was back in her tone. "Please,"

"It's so unfair that you turn that puppy dog face back on me," Castle said shifting to sit on the couch on Beckett's left. "You're using my own tricks against me."

"Not a trick," Beckett said, pouting slightly and shaking her head, turning wide green eyes towards Castle. "Please, Rick, I just want to be warm." She whispered.

"Don't bullshit me, Beckett," Castle said pulling the rug around them both. "You just don't want to go to the hospital."

"I hate hospitals,"

"I know," Castle nodded. "Just get over here." He said taking the mug from Beckett and holding it while she made herself comfortable.

"I almost had you," Beckett said turning slightly and adjusting her feet underneath her.

"Almost," He conceded. "Although, technically, you did win because we don't appear to be going to the hospital."

"You big softie," Beckett smiled, still wiggling herself into a comfortable position, her knees now lying across Castle's lap as she tucked herself against his right side.

"Finish this up," Castle said holding the mug back for Beckett and waiting until she took it in both hands before tucking the blanket more securely around her.

"Thank you," Beckett said taking a large mouthful of Castle's magic potion and peering into the almost empty mug. "How do you get the marshmallows to melt like that and not get all stuck to the sides?" She asked looking up at him. Castle smiled, his face mere inches from hers.

"Magic," He whispered.

"My," Beckett stopped and drew a slow deep breath. "My mom could always do that, her marshmallows never went gooey and stuck to the sides of the mug."

"I guess it's parent magic," Castle shrugged.

"Maybe," Beckett nodded downing the last of her drink, including the marshmallows. Castle took the mug and leant forward to set it down in front of the couch.

"Warmer?" Castle asked as he settled back on the couch.

"Yes," Beckett nodded, resting her head against Castle's chest and curling her hands in her lap. "Thank you," Beckett said again.

"You don't need to keep thanking me, Beckett, you did ask for my help. You and I both know despite the tough front I can't actually refuse you anything when you ask for it."

"I know," Beckett nodded. "But that's not what I meant." She said turning to meet Castle's eyes. "I meant thank you for saving my life today."

"With your hand in mine I could move mountains, Kate," Castle smiled pressing a sweet, chased kiss to her forehead and wrapping one of his large hands around both her smaller ones.

What I've called Castle's Magic Potion here is, in my world, a drink I make for a 5yo when he can't sleep or when we're slumming in our jammies for the day or basically whenever we feel like it because we are awesome and we are bester friends than anyone!

It's true!

Except our version doesn't have any brandy in it (I do not give the 5 year old brandy, I promise) and sometimes they only have regular coffee whitener and not hazelnut in the supermarket (it's still good). It's called Spunky & Ra's Special Mega Creamy Hot Chocolate with Floaters or just "special hot chocolate".

And, yes, I can make it without the marshmallows going goo-y and sticking to the side of the mug. Don't be jealous, it's my superhero power. ;)