Author's Note-This has been sat on my computer for a while and seeing as I wrote half a chapter in one sitting today, I figured it was time to start uploading it. It will be longer than Secrets, as will the chapters bar this one, but I don't know how long it'll be yet. For now, strap in and enjoy the ride. NYLF xx
Kate held her little boy into her chest as she rocked them back and forth. They were sat on the kitchen floor, her legs crossed underneath her to help support the five year old, trying desperately to cry quietly.
Rick had been up writing all night, a deadline coming up just a little too fast, and had come to bed only fifteen minutes before Kate had gotten up. She couldn't wake him, not just because she couldn't cope, because, something that happened anywhere up to twenty times a day, had finally broken down her composure, causing her to tremble against the kitchen tiling in an attempt not to cry.
Her poor broken little boy.
"Shhh." She whispered softly, rocking with Charlie's tiny body as he convulsed. "It's okay baby boy. It'll be over soon." Kate turned when she heard a sigh from the edge of the kitchen.
"Oh Kate." Rick murmured as he crossed the room to sit beside her.
"I'm sorry." She murmured tearfully. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Rick shook his head, cupping her cheeks and stroking his thumbs along her cheek bones, catching the falling tears. "Kate, sometimes this gets to you, I don't blame you, and I don't ever want you to feel as though you have to hide it."
Kate nodded slowly.
"When did it start?"
"He came down for breakfast about ten minutes ago. He was happy and eating and chatting away to me and then it all just stopped. I caught him before he fell but he's been like this for a whole minute already."
Rick hummed as he carefully stroked a strand of hair from Charlie's forehead. "He'll come out of it soon Kate. It'll be okay. Give him at least another thirty seconds or so and call Dr Sheppard if you're worried."
Kate sighed.
"Baby I know how hard this is for you to watch, but it happens and we need to accept it." He leaned in and gently kissed her forehead. "I'll phone the school, let them know he might not be in, then I'll phone Gates."
Kate shook her head. "I'll phone the Captain." She corrected softly. "Phone the school, go back to bed."
"Kate..."
"Rick you've been asleep for half an hour at most." He gave her a look before his attention was drawn down to her lap.
"Hey little man." Castle murmured, resting a soothing hand on Charlie's cheek as he stopped jerking and his bright blue eyes fluttered open.
He watched him vacantly for a moment before his face lost all its colour.
Rick scooped him up and made it to the sink in time for him to lose his breakfast as tidily as possible.
"It's okay Charlie." Rick soothed, smoothing the hand not holding him, up and down his back. "We're right here, it's okay."
A few moments later, Charlie dropped his head into Castle's chest.
"Here baby, sip this." Kate murmured, gently holding a cup of water to the boy's lips. He sipped for a couple of seconds before leaning back into Castle.
"Phone the Captain Kate, I'll put him back to bed and call the school." He laid a gentle kiss on her still damp cheek and made his way round her, stepping slowly up the stairs, holding her son close.
Kate sighed deeply before reaching for the phone. She stopped at the last moment though and rested her hand on the tiny swell of her abdomen instead.
"Oh sweetheart." She whispered. "Please be safe. Please just be okay." She ran her hand in a slow circle around her bump before reaching again for the phone.
She'd have to take at least a few hours off to let Rick sleep. He wouldn't let her take the day, insistent that he could watch Charlie; he could deal with his fits better than she could really.
She just hated to burden him with it.