Author's Note-Seriously, so long since I last updated this, but I've been working twelve hour shifts a lot so not really had the time to write. I have a few comments about the reviews from my last chapter however. 'Emily' while I appreciate the tips, it's a little disheartening when your first review is literally just telling you the things you did wrong. And for my 'Guest', I am well aware that twilight is dusk, I was being poetic, not literal. But thank you, for giving me a detailed description on when twilight should be. Enjoy this chapter though guys, NYLF xx


Rick adjusted Zach on his hip as he made his way through the hospital entrance.

Alexis had been helping him translate for the boy all morning before he got a text from Kate saying that she was being discharged soon.

Zach had been fine with waking up at Rick's, once Alexis' signed and Rick's written explanations had told him what was going on, but was now anxious to see his momma, to make sure she was okay.

Rick made his way through the hospital quickly, already knowing where to find the detective thanks to her instructions that she had texted to him that morning.

He could feel the anxiousness flooding through Zach's system, knowing enough from his daughter to know that he was signing for his momma over and over again.

Castle took a deep breath once he'd reached Kate's closed private room door. He didn't really know what he was about to walk into, despite his extensive research on rib injuries this morning. But the trembling little boy in his arms pushed him forward.

"Kate?" He asked gently as he pushed the door open slowly.

"Hey, Rick." She replied, cheerful enough despite the hoarse crack in her voice, the hitch at the end of every breath she fought to keep normal.

Zach was suddenly very very still.

"Hey, baby." Kate signed stiltedly, keeping her arms close to her chest. "I'm okay Zach. It's okay." Rick watched as Zach ever so slightly relaxed. "Rick?" Kate asked aloud, startling him slightly.

"Hmm? Yeah?" He answered ineloquently when faced with the sight of her, so fragile and tiny in that hospital bed with her polyester gown swamping her slender figure.

"You can come closer you know? I won't bite." She granted him a very shy smile before ducking her head slightly, an adorable-in-any-other-circumstance blush covering her cheeks. "Or break."

He granted her a quick smile before closing the distance between them. She just looked so tiny, like a child playing dress up in their parents' clothes, the fabric far too big around her slim frame.

"How are you feeling?" Castle asked quietly, hovering by her bed, unsure where to put himself.

"I'm okay. Sore and tired. Breathing kinda hurts, but I'm okay."

Rick's own breathing stuttered. "Jeeze Kate." He whispered softly.

"I really am okay though." She assured him quickly. "Thanks for taking Zach for the night. Was he alright?"

"Yes, yeah, no he was fine. Asleep when I picked him up, awake by eight, a little disorientated but happy enough once Alexis and I explained what was going on."

"She's pretty good at signing now. I'm impressed." Kate smiled softly. She shook her head slightly before nodding to the edge of her bed. "Are you alright to sit down?" She requested timidly. "Hurts to look up at you at this angle."

"Right, sorry." Rick sat down quickly, jumping up again when he rocked the bed making Kate wince. "Sorry, jeeze Kate I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. I'll go get someone."

"Rick!" She called halting his ramblings. "Rick, calm down would you?" She murmured, cupping her left side with her palm. "Sit down slowly. It'll be fine. Just, gentle."

Rick nodded slowly before sitting down very slowly, carefully adjusting a very confused Zach so he was sitting comfortably on his lap.

"Uncle Rick is just being silly Zach, don't worry so much baby." Kate signed in explanation, causing her son to look up at the man with a bemused head shake, making Castle laugh. "Rick, you don't need to be so awkward around me. I mean, it's not like I went through your underwear drawer."

Castle blushed scarlet and ducked his head. "Lanie told you about that huh?"

Kate nodded, smiling. "Thank you."

Rick's head snapped up, that wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting. "For going through your underwear drawer?" He asked confusedly.

"For caring enough to ask. For knowing that I'd need it, appreciate it. For getting through your embarrassment in order to help me." She smiled quickly. "For being my friend."

"You don't need to thank me for that Kate, any of it. I was so scared when I got that phone call. I would do anything to make this easier for you Kate. Anything."

Kate smiled softly, her eyes still a little tighter than they normally would be due to her pain levels slowly rising. "How about we start with getting home? That would be really helpful right now."

"What, to your four storey walk up with a four year old and cracked ribs, nope."

Kate looked concerned and confused. "But, then..."

"Kate, I have a ground floor bedroom, a spare bedroom for Zach and a home with people who care about you. Stay with me for the next couple of days, just until your ribs heal. You don't have to do everything by yourself y'know? You can accept help."

Kate shook her head. "Rick, honestly it's a wonderful offer but I couldn't."

"You can Kate. It isn't my place, and I'm aware of that, but you're gonna need help for a few days to even dress yourself, let alone do other things. You can barely move enough to sign. Let Alexis and I help you? Please? It isn't a bother."

Kate smiled softly. "Rick. I, I appreciate the offer. Really, truly I do. But I just want to go home and rest and really gently hug my kid. I don't want to have to be sociable or company ready..."

"Kate, you do know this is a 'no strings' offer right? I'm not asking you to come over and entertain our children, or me, or even see us if you don't want to. All I'm asking is that you give yourself sufficient time to heal with someone there to help you if you need a hand."

Kate sighed. "You're sure it won't be a problem?"

Rick shook his head softly, giving her a tender smile. "Not even a little one."

"Okay." She smiled a little weakly, exhaustion hitting her abruptly. "Then that would be nice. Take me home Rick."


Update: I would like to humbly and entirely apologise to my guest reviewer. I didn't mean for that to come off quite so harshly. But I was wrong to call you out on something you thought was helpful and I'm sorry. There are no excuses for making a person feel bad, especially someone who was only trying to help anyway. And I'm sorry. I hope with everything in my heart that you still read this story and will read this apology because I feel truly awful now and really hope that you, even if you don't forgive me, at least accept my apology. I was wrong, and I'm sorry. NYLF