Rick carried Kate's case upstairs to the guest bedroom before helping the shaking young woman over to the couch.

"I'm going to make you a drink Kate, okay? Were it me, I'd have scotch, but given the circumstances, and your age, maybe tea?" He asked softly. She nodded.

"Tea would be great Rick, thank you." Rick smiled and squeezed her shoulder before disappearing into the kitchen.

Kate leaned against the seat cushions, urging her body to relax. She'd been on stupidly high alert since they had left her dad's and it was exhausting her. It was also probably why she jumped when the cushions beside her dipped.

"Hi." Kate opened one eye and found a tiny face watching her. Alexis smiled and waved, making Kate smile back and force her eyes open.

"Hey Alexis, feeling better?" The little girl didn't look any less pale but Kate realised that much of that was probably her natural complexion. She did however, look less green around the gills and that made Kate glad.

"Daddy gave me yucky medicine to bring down my fever and I feel better now. I'm supposed to be napping but I woke up and heard voices, so I came to investigate and here you were." Kate smiled gently.

"Investigate is a very big word for such a little girl." Alexis giggled.

"Daddy's a writer. He teaches me big words." Kate smiled. "Are you okay Kate? I didn't make you poorly did it?" Kate shook her head, gently smoothing a lock of flame red hair behind the little girl's ear without much conscious thought.

"I'm not poorly. I'm just tired." Alexis nodded before dragging the blanket off the back of the couch and dragging it across Kate's lap, before snuggling into her side.

"Is this okay?" She asked shyly. Kate smiled and slipped her arm around the girl's shoulders, holding her closer.

"It's perfect Alexis, thank you."

When Rick came back with Kate's tea, his heart nearly burst with love for the scene before him. Alexis, obviously giving up on napping in her bed when she'd heard them come home, was snuggled into Kate, leaning her head against Kate's ribs, her arm slung over her lap, fast asleep. But it was Kate that made him smile. She had wrapped herself around his child protectively, her arm wrapped entirely around her tiny back to rest her hand on her tummy. She was leaning towards her, her head resting on the back of the couch above Alexis', just as soundly asleep as the four year old. Rick smiled and softly put the tea down to grab his camera from the kitchen. Once he'd taken a couple of photos, he gently tucked the blanket more securely around them, kissed both of their foreheads, and left them to their nap.

"Hey baby girl, you gotta get up or you won't sleep tonight." Rick murmured, gently trying to disentangle Kate's hand from around Alexis so he could pick her up. Kate murmured in her sleep before tightening her grip on the little girl. Rick chuckled as Alexis snuggled tighter into her side, thus making it impossible for him to get to her. "You can't gang up on my after two days guys, not fair." He shook his head before moving to the other side. "Kate?" He murmured, gently touching her shoulder. "Kate you gotta get up." Kate's eyes fluttered open slowly before meeting his. She looked so adorably confused. "Hey there sleepy head."

"Rick?" She asked slowly. He smiled.

"You fell asleep while I was making you tea. I tired to wake Alexis without waking you but apparently you two subconsciously decided to gang up on me." She looked confused again and Rick chuckled. "You need to let go of her so I can get her up." He explained slowly. She looked down at the tiny redhead and startled when she realised she had her arm around her.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She started, moving her hand as if burned. Rick shook his head.

"It's okay. Neither of us mind, I just need to wake her so she sleeps tonight." Kate nodded slowly and carefully slipped her arm from around the child. Rick smiled and gently picked her up.

"Hey Pumpkin, you need to wake up." Alexis' clear blue eyes found her daddy and gave him a sleepy smile.

"Hi daddy. Where's Kate?" She asked, looking around until she found her. Kate waved, making Alexis smile.

"She's right here. How about you go use the bathroom and wake up a little and I'll make you some lunch okay?" Alexis nodded and waited until Rick put her on the floor before dashing up the stairs. Rick smiled after her before turning to Kate. "I'm kinda really proud of my kid right now."

"How come?" Kate asked, rubbing her eyes with her fists in a way that made her look younger than Alexis. Rick smiled.

"Because she didn't know what was going on but knew you needed a nap and a hug and she made you take them." Kate smiled shyly. "Do you feel better?" She shrugged.

"A little. You know, this isn't the first time I've found him like that Rick. I'm a big girl, I'm sure you have better things to do than babysit me." Rick sat on the edge of the coffee table and gently rested his hands on her knees.

"Kate. Let me help. I'm not doing this because I have to, or because I want anything in return. I'm doing this because I care about you. I've cared about you since the moment I first saw you in that library. So please, stop acting like you don't need anyone, when you clearly do. I don't know how you manage to stay so strong, and don't get me wrong, I'm so incredibly proud you can, but Kate, you don't need to be. If you wanna cry, cry. If you want to lash out at me, do it. No one would blame you." Kate's smile was watery but strong.

"You're a really good man Rick." He smiled and squeezed her knees.

"So how about we try that tea again and you can come keep me company while I make some lunch for us hmm?" Kate nodded. Rick stood up and reached out his hands to help her. She took them with a smile and stood in front of him. He was just about to move to the kitchen when Kate rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You okay?" He asked softly, slowly running his hand up and down her back as the other held her head to him. He felt her nod.

"Could we just, do this for a bit?" Rick smiled and planted a small kiss on her crown.

"Of course."