This is a quick 2 shot based of a prompt on Tumblr: Beckett breaks Castle's hand during labour. I went with finger.

Chapter 1: Pain

He knew his wife was strong but this was on a whole new level. She was breaking his hand, granted she was in labour which is probably the most painful natural experience there is. He used to believe it, for him at least, was getting kicked where the sun doesn't shine. Now though any life that was remaining in his hand was surely dwindling. He had being trying to avoid asking her but their child was clearly as stubborn as their mother, deciding to make this labour as long as possible. She was already in the eighteenth hour and even he could see that she couldn't last much longer.

They were aware this was going to be a big baby and all she could think right now is that it was tearing her to shreds. Her downstairs area was never going to be the same again.

Next break between contractions is when he begged her, "Kate, I love you and I know that this is really hard but could you please ease the pressure on my hand?"

"CASTLE" Kate screamed in agony as the next contraction hit. She squeezed his hand even harder and he was sure that he felt a bone break, his little finger on his right hand. He yelped in agony too, which had the odd nurse or so looking at him.

"The head is crowning." The doctor told Kate. As if she wouldn't be able to feel it. Hell she had gone through the whole labour with no medication. Just a few more pushes and maybe his hand will just remain with one finger broken.

The moment their screaming baby is placed in her arms he lets out a sigh of relief. Just the one finger broken but she is happy for now, he'll ask a nurse to look at it while he is able to without Kate overhearing. When he goes to cut the cord he sees the tears on her eyes, he'll not ruin this moment. Judging by the cries their son is making, he has a hell of a set of lungs.

Ah, Kate tells him to go with their son while she delivers the placenta. Part of him wants it to take a while but most of him not. She's had enough and deserves some time.

As one nurse has just finished with their son, leaving another one to complete he asks her if she can check his finger.

"Well, Mister Castle, your wife is an incredible woman. She even managed to break a bone. It's not a bad break so we can just buddy tape it. Just a word of warning, don't moan about it in front of her." The nurse told him before tapping him up.

Maybe in a few years they would look back and joke about it. Given the current look on her face it might be many, many years or never.

Three hours later though, he had already failed to heed the nurse's advice.

"Kate, you broke my finger."

"Oh, my bad." Not. "Castle, I just pushed an eight pound eleven baby out of me with the biggest head the midwife has seen in years, you have no sympathy from me right now."

"But Kate-" the glare she gives him makes him stop before he goes any further.

She's made her mind up, as soon as she can she will sign him up for the experience which men can be shown how labour feels. She'll pay whatever and will film it just to show him what a wuss he's being over a sodding broken finger.

She's got stitches because the baby managed to tear her. But they now have a son, with a head as big as his father's. She wants a girl next...what...wait, where did that come from?

She's just glad for now the nurses have left her alone for now and there's nobody poking her down there anymore she needs a rest and is determined to get a snooze.

Next chapter will be up tomorrow hopefully.

Thanks for reading.

Tumblr: Sheffield93