Arson

Chapter Twelve

Alexandria's P.O.V, a few hours later...

UGH! MICRO, HURRY UP!

I frantically poured a bag of ice into a large flood bucket, discarding of it as soon as their was no more ice to pour. My back ached and burned from the wound, but Micro stitched it to the best of his ability.

It was enough.

Once we had gotten back, Frank had taken a turn for the worse. He had a serious fever, and with the combination of blood loss, he was headed for a serious decline.

Maybe even imminent death.

Micro said he knew someone who could help, a friend of Castle apparently. One of the only people who knew he was alive, actually.

Curtis Hoyle.

He was experienced in the medical field...I was just praying that he'd somehow be able to help Frank.

Touching the freezing bucket, I hoisted it up into my hold, and quickly carried it to Frank's living quarters. It wasn't anything special like my room, just a room with a cot and some essential things.

"I have the ice!" The bucket hit the concrete floor, ice sloshing around in the hallow pit.

No response.

"Frank...?" I pressed a hand into his arm, shaking the man gently. My heart was pounding in my chest, worry and paranoia coming down on me in waves.

He looked like he was...dreaming. From what I could tell, it was one heck of a dream. Or...a nightmare.

I didn't want him suffering any more than he already was, so my hands went into the ice. It was freezing, so much so that it prickled in a pins and needles effect.

Holding it over him, I took in a shaky breath...and then dumped it all over him. His incoherent mumbles morphed into a distorted scream, jolting awake from the sudden drop of temperature.

"Welcome back to reality." I chuckled darkly, and went to scoop up another handful of ice.

"Don't. You. Dare," He snarled viciously. "I like you livin' better than dead."

"Castle, you're burning up!"

"I know. I'm drenched in sweat, and meltin' the ice you just dumped on me faster than it's supposed to..."

"Will you at least let me put a cold towel on?" I grabbed the nearest rag I could find, now swaddling the ice in its fuzzy layer.

"...I'll allow it." He rasped out.

The cloth was positioned over his head. The relief was immediate on Castle's face, muscles untensing and all.

"You're such a baby." I teased.

"Hey, you poured that ice on me with no warnin'-...oh that doesn't feel great." He cut himself off, eyes now wide as he gasped. Another heatwave, I presumed.

His gaze shut for a moment, before shifting towards me. I don't think he was as optimistic as I was.

My hands went into the ice again, and just as I was about to lift them up again, a sudden pressure on it made me freeze.

"Don't...no more ice."

"Frank?"

"It seems your hands are plenty cold..."

The heat was now sweltering in my face, a hazy blush forming.

"C'mon, you're gonna kill me with that ice. It'll be somethin' less shockin'."

The ice slipped through my fingers.

"W-Where's it the hottest?"

"My face." He winked.

"Frank, I'm serious." My hands went into the bucket again.

"So am I. Mostly."

"Well, I'm gonna put some more ice on you. To keep you awake...but," I sprinkled some recently retrieved ice over his chest and abs. He sucked in some air, like an inverted hiss. "If you insist."

The water rolled from my hands, and trickled across his skin. He winced slightly once they were placed on his face, but...once he got used to it, his expression made a complete 180.

It was seriously focused, that familiar fire burning through his vision. His mouth persed, no longer a devious smirk.

"Is that better?" A hand slipped down the neck, now resting at the base.

He stayed quiet, just...leaned into my touch. Every fiber in my being told me to stop, to tear myself away before he broke me down any further...but it was too late.

Frank slipped a hand over the back of my neck, bringing me down to his level.

"You know...I did save your life. I think that entitles me to a small reward."

"In your dreams, Castle..."

"I don't see you pullin' away."

"...You don't want me, Frank. I'm damaged goods, and you're probably just delirious."

With another tug, our faces were now inches apart.

The hand I had on his face grazed up into his hair, smoothing it the wrong way.

"Yeah. And what I want ain't ever comin' back."

A sudden realization dawned on me.

He was still mourning the people he lost. I couldn't replace that void in his heart...never.

"I can't do that to you," I whispered. "I can't be what you really want, or really need. I'm sorry..."

A pressure was now on my waist.

I shuffled uncomfortably, wincing as the wound on my back began to ache. He lightened up on the weight, but still kept his hand relatively close to that area.

"You're still hurtin'." The subject got changed quickly. If he didn't want to talk about it, then I wasn't going to force him to.

"You're worse! I'm actually surprised you haven't fainted...again."

"Hey," He relaxed all of the grip he had on me. "Go and take care of yourself. I wouldn't trust Micro with a needle and thread very much..."

"Are you sure? You're not going to go and die on me, are you?"

"No promises."

"Frank..." I whimpered.

"Alright, alright! I'll stay awake for as long as I can. Just - ugh, stop lookin' at me like that! I'm startin' to feel a little guilty..."

"Good. And..." Before I grew apart from him, my lips pressed into the side of his face. Just a thank you. Nothing more. "Thank you, for taking that arrow."

"Anythin' for my Phantom."

...My? What did he mean by my?

I glided my touch down his chest, now sliding off of the cot. Leaving already...

Just don't die when I'm away, Frank. I won't survive without you.

Not anymore.