Kate sat on the stool at Rick's kitchen bar, drinking a glass of water after she took two aspirin. She couldn't sleep and didn't want to keep Rick up with her restlessness, knowing he hadn't slept in days.
She hadn't slept in days either, but she was used to it. There were weeks that went by when she slept for ten hours over seven nights. Sometimes it was five. Sometimes three. Sometimes it was only quick power naps at the station.
Her head snapped up when she heard a noise upstairs, then a scream. She rushed up the stairs to Alexis' bedroom, pushing open the door to find the young woman asleep, hugging her pillow and crying. "Leave me alone," she whimpered, making Kate pause as she crossed the room to her bed, wondering if she had woken up and really did want to be left alone. She started kicking her legs under her blankets as if she was trying to run away.
"Alexis? Sweetie, it's me, Kate." She touched Alexis' shoulder, barely touching her but startling her awake.
"Don't!" she yelled, bolting upright. She blinked, momentarily disoriented until she saw her father's girlfriend sitting on her bed. "Kate?"
Kate nodded, smoothing Alexis' hair back. "It's ok. You were just dreaming. You're home."
"Where's my dad?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"He's sleeping. Do you want me to get him?" she asked, rising from the bed, but Alexis' hand gripped Kate's shirt.
"Don't leave," Alexis pleaded, her eyes looking like a little girls. "Please."
Kate nodded, settling back into Alexis' bed. "Come here," she said softly, pulling the girl into her arms, her head against her chest. "Just try to sleep, ok? You're safe now."