Hello there guys!

A lot of you guys told me that you enjoyed Braden in The Castle's Guide to Camping and you wanted to see more of him. Well, here you go! :) I've had a blast writing this and I hope you have a blast reading it! (Takes place August 2019)

Disclaimer: Castle is not mine :/

[Chapter 1]

August 27th 2019

The morning light streamed through the windows, creating a yellow glow that covered the room like a massive blanket.

Rick slowly came out of the haze that sleep caused, his eyes straining against the harsh light. Raising a hand, he covered the sun with his palm and stood up, trudging to the window and shutting the curtains. He could now see, the bright light of the sunrise no longer in his eyes and practically blinding him.

He stretched his arms above his head, bones cracking and popping as a big sigh of relief left his lips. Glancing over toward the bed, Rick couldn't help the small smile from forming on his lips.

Kate was facing him as she lay on her side, fast asleep. Hair was strewn about her pillow, creating a halo of gorgeous curls around her head. She looked like an angel. Her arms were wrapped around a little bundle beneath the covers and that was when Rick remembered that they weren't alone.

Braden had come in, crying his eyes out at two in the morning because he wasn't feeling well. Kate couldn't stand to see her little boy sobbing, so she allowed him to sleep with them in their bed. The boy was out as soon as Kate hugged him to her chest.

He didn't have a fever last night but that didn't mean he didn't have one now.

Rick tip-toed over to the bed, leaning over and pulling the covers off of Braden, revealing the four, almost five-year-old as he snuggled against his mom. His nose was red and he looked ghostly pale, poor little guy. He placed the back of his hand on Braden's forehead, checking his temperature.

He was burning up.

Pulling his hand away, Rick stared at his son and wife. Braden was definitely staying home from preschool today.

Silently leaving the room and entering the living room, Rick picked up the phone and called Braden's school to let them know that he was sick and that he wouldn't be going in. His teacher, Miss Amy, was more than understanding, wishing Braden well. Once that was over, he headed back to his bedroom only to run into his wife as she was closing the bedroom door. She embraced him in a hug and pecked his lips.

"Braden's still asleep and he has a fever," she mumbled against his navy v-neck shirt.

Rick nodded. "I know. I just called the preschool and let them know what was going on."

"Oh good," she breathed. He was on top of things, thank God.

Rick kissed the crown of her head. "I'm going to stay home with him today," he told her as she hummed in understanding. "And if he gets worse, then I'll take him to the doctor's just to double check everything. But I think it's just a twenty-four hour bug that's been going around recently, so hopefully he'll feel better by tomorrow."

It was silent for a bit as they remained standing in front of the bedroom door, arms wrapped tightly around one another.

Kate spoke up. "I'll stay home, too then."

"No. You should go to work and put the bad guys away," he told her as she chuckled. "Plus, the boys'll need you. Just think about how lost they'll be without you there to tell them where to go and what to do," Rick teased.

"I'm sure Ryan and Esposito will be able to handle themselves quite well. Gotta let them grow up sometime," she smiled. "Besides, we don't have an on-going case at the moment, so I'd just be stuck at my desk all day. And I'd rather be here with you and Brae than be by myself, reading files and filling out paperwork."

She could afford to miss one day of work, it was just paperwork which she would probably put on hold anyways. She also had plenty of sick days that transferred over, and she wanted to spend some much deserved time with her family.

And Rick knew better than anyone that once Kate made up her mind, there was no changing it. She was a stubborn woman.

"Okay," he smiled, giving in.

Kate kissed him on the lips. "I'm gonna go call the Precinct. Go check on him, okay?"

He kissed her once more as they went their separate ways. He slowly opened the door and peered inside to find Braden curled up in a small ball in the middle of the king-sized bed. The covers were up to his shoulders as he held onto them tightly in his little hands. A small snort would escape every other breath, causing Rick to smile sadly as he entered the room and moved toward the bed.

Sitting on the edge, he gently rubbed Braden's shoulders, trying to wake him up. The boy's eyes slowly opened as he caught sight of his dad. "Hi," he croaked, his voice rough as he gave a little wave.

Rick smiled and waved back. "Hey, buddy," he whispered. "How are you feeling?"

He sniffed, wiping at his runny nose. "Bad."

Poor kid, he was worse now than he was last night.

"Tell me what hurts," Rick instructed, rubbing a hand up and down his son's back in a soothing rhythm. Braden pointed to his stomach and his head. Rick understood immediately. "Mom and I are gonna stay home with you today, so no preschool." The boy nodded in understanding, not wanting to leave the confines of the bed.

"Mom staying?"

Rick nodded and just like clock-work, Kate peeked her head in the bedroom door. She noticed that he was awake and walked over, sitting down by Rick. "Hey, sweetie."

"You're staying?" Braden asked, seeing if what his dad said was actually true.

She ran a hand through Braden's hair. "Yes, I'm staying home with my boys today."

"Me and Dad are your boys, huh?"

She laughed, looking between her son and husband. "Yes, you are. My handsome boys."

Rick reached for Kate's free hand, covering it with his large one and giving it a squeeze.

She winked at him before turning back to Braden. "Do you want to sleep some more? Or are you getting hungry?" He merely shrugged his shoulders in response, unsure of what he wanted. Kate sighed, looking at Rick with questionable eyes.

"Brae, how about we go out to the living room? That way we're not in here all day," Rick suggested.

He shrugged again.

"We can build a fort, so you're all nice and comfy," Kate added in, trying to think back to what she used to do with her parents when she was sick. "That sound like fun?"

And this time, he didn't shrug. Braden slowly sat up and held out his arms. He wanted to be carried. Rick stood and picked him up, bringing him to his chest. Braden immediately wrapped his arms around his dad's neck and hugged him close.

Then the coughing started. With wide eyes, Rick stared at Kate. He hadn't been coughing before. This was new.

Kate rubbed the boy's back as his tiny body shook with each cough. After the small coughing fit ceased, he took a deep intake of breath. "You all right, Brae?" Kate asked her voice gentle and caring.

Sniffling, Braden nodded and buried his face into Rick's neck.

"Come on, buddy," Rick cooed, turning toward the door. "Let's go make a fort."

"'Kay."

Kate grabbed some blankets and pillows off their bed, her arms full as she followed them to the living room. Rick gently placed Braden on the couch before he knelt down in front of him.

"You need anything, bud?" Rick wondered. Another shrug. "Want me to go get Teddy?" Braden nodded. Teddy was a stuffed bear that Alexis had given Braden the day he was born. He's had it ever since, the bear now a tad worn out from the many years of love and adoration. Rick smiled, "I'll be right back! Teddy can help us with the fort." He rushed upstairs, running in Braden's room to retrieve the stuffed bear while Kate plopped the blankets and pillows down on the floor. She went to the front hall closet, grabbing several more blankets.

Setting those down, she joined Braden on the couch. "How you doing, Brae?"

He looked up at her with a pout on his face. "Bad."

Kate's heart broke. She hated seeing her normally cheerful and happy boy all down and depressed. She pulled him into her lap and kissed the top of his head before she began to softly sing a song that her mother used to sing to her. Her voice was angelic and beautiful.

Rick barreled down the stairs, Teddy in hand, only to be stopped half way as he listened to the sound of Kate's voice. He watched as she slowly started to rock back and forth while she sang, Braden curled up on her lap. The sight made his heart clench. He didn't like to see his family hurt or upset, it was heart breaking.

Descending the stairs, he came up and took up the spot Braden previously occupied. "Here you go, buddy," he whispered as he handed over the bear. Braden clutched the stuffed animal to his chest, a small cough erupting out of him.

Kate kept on singing as she slowly rocked Braden. Rick sighed as he watched his son burrow his head further into Kate's chest, the sound of her voice lulling him back to sleep.

As soon as Braden was asleep, Kate laid him down on the couch. She placed a pillow behind his head and covered him with one of the blankets. Kissing his forehead, she stood up and headed toward their bedroom.

"Where you going?" Rick asked, his eyes following her every move.

Over her shoulder, she answered, "Gonna go see if we have any Children's Tylenol in our medicine cabinet. I know we have some somewhere." She disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Rick alone with Braden.

Deciding that he should get breakfast going, the writer stood up and walked to the kitchen, and started grabbing everything he needed to make some toast and soup. Kate emerged quite a while later, bottle of Tylenol firmly grasped between her fingers. She held it up, intending to show Rick. He smiled when he caught sight of it. Kate made it to the kitchen, a small huff of air leaving her mouth as she took a seat at one of the stools.

"You hold up?" Rick mused, keeping an eye on the boiling water. He hadn't even looked up to know that she wasn't okay, he already knew.

"I just want my son to feel better," she admitted. "It's never fun being sick."

Rick cocked his head to the side so that he could see her. "That's why we've got to try and make sure he is as comfortable as possible. I think your fort idea is brilliant because it's going to do just that."

She didn't say a word; she just sat there watching Rick as he stirred the soup. He was right of course; they had to try to make Braden as comfortable as they possibly could.

Standing up, Kate took the small journey from the counter to Rick, and wrapped her arms around his middle. With her head resting on his back she peppered a few kisses there. "I love you," she murmured.

He turned in her arms, his own tugging her closer as he rested his hands on the small of her back. Leaning down, Rick attached his mouth to hers in a sweet and gentle kiss. "I love you, too," he returned, lips ghosting over one another. "And Braden will be just fine."

"I-"

He cut her off with a quick peck. "He will get better in time, and with medicine and some rest, I promise. You need to stop worrying so much, sweetheart. He'll be okay."

She nodded slightly. "I know...it's just- I'm his mother. I get all flustered if he has a paper cut. And now, with him being sick, it's making me freak out even more. Even more than when he got sick as a baby, I was a wreck then and I'm a wreck now."

He knew where all of this was coming from. He knew all too well.

Rick went through this when Alexis was younger. He would have a panic attack if she got a scrape on her knee or arm, so the whole being sick thing really threw him for a loop. But he eventually learned that it happens; kids get sick.

"Kate," he began, hands moving up and down her arms as he attempted to get her to relax. "Take a deep breath, all right?" She did, shutting her eyes. "Feel better?" He questioned a minute later, bringing her in for a hug.

"Much. Thank you," she smiled, kissing his stubble-covered chin.

He gazed down at her, love in his eyes. "Always."

Their lips connected once again, but the sound of a small voice broke them apart.

"Mommy?" Braden called, his head poking out from behind the couch.

Kate removed herself from Rick's embrace and arrived at the couch. "Yes, baby?"

He coughed and then sniffled, eyes locking on the blankets and pillows before turning back to his mom. "We gonna make a fort?"

And there you go!

Please leave a review with your thoughts! They are always welcome! :) Will try to update when I can! Until next time!

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