A/N: Sorry for the super late update. Life got in the way. I hope you're still enjoying this story. Thanks for reading as always. Xo

Thank you to Sofia for editing this story. 3

Disclaimer: I still don't own Castle.

Kate had been rushed to the emergency room. Rick was frantically trying to calm her down as she was being wheeled down the long narrow hall.

"Kate honey, everything is going to be okay. Just hang in there."

Kate shot him a death glare and even the nurse wheeling her couldn't help but snicker.

"Don't call me honey and don't tell me what to do Castle! Do you know how much this hurts?" She let out a scream and Rick flinched.

"Actually one time I stepped on a nail and it went all the way…" Kate gave him a look and pinched his hand. "No, you're right. It wasn't as bad as this." He smiled down at her. Rick had seen shows where pregnant women hit their husbands when they were in pain and he found it hilarious, until now that is. Kate could pack a punch but he was so happy that none of it mattered. He loved that he was getting a chance to dive into it with Kate.

"Honey, you're breaking skin here..." Rick pulled away his hand and flinched.

"Good! Don't ever compare giving birth to something that stupid Castle. It's like the babies are firing missiles at my uterus." She stopped squeezing his hand and looked ahead. Castle could tell that she was overthinking again.

The nurse opened the door and stopped to talk to Castle. "This is as far as you go until we've determined the severity of her condition. If she is in fact in labor, you can go to the delivery room but most likely she'll need a C-section. Once the Doctor informs me, I will inform you."

Castle was ready to argue but Kate put her hand up and stopped him. "Do as he says and call our families to let them know what happened." She saw that he was ready to argue again. "Rick, it will be fine. I'm in good hands."

Rick kissed her forehead and looked at the nurse. "If she does need to have a C-section I want to watch through the window. In case of complications, God forbid, I want her life to be above everything else." He looked at Kate. "I love these babies but I can't lose her. So, do everything you can to keep all four of them, but if you can't, keep her alive."

"Castle…"

"No Kate. I love these babies. I do, I really do. But we can have more kids. There won't be another you and there's no way I'm losing you."

Kate squeezed his hands and motioned for him to come down so she could kiss him. "Alright. It will be fine Rick. We'll make it through."

"Okay. We need to go. You can wait in the waiting room." The nurse wheeled Kate away to be checked by the Doctor.

Rick called his mother and Alexis then Jim. Alexis ended up calling Lanie and the boys. Twenty minutes later they were all in the hospital. Rick and Lanie were pacing up and down the waiting room while Alexis, Martha and Jim went to get coffee.

Ryan stood up and put his hand on Rick's shoulders. "If you keep this up, you'll have to pay the hospital for new floors." He tried to lighten the mood.

"I'm sorry. It's just… It's been over a half an hour. Why haven't they come out with news yet? If she was fine it wouldn't take this long."

"Castle, it's taking longer because there are three babies. Don't panic. I'm sure everything is fine. She'll be alright. Plus, since when does Kate let things like this defeat her? She survived a bomb, almost drowning, nearly freezing to death and many more. You've been there; you know Kate won't stop fighting."

"I know. It's not Kate that I'm afraid of giving up. It's the babies. They are so weak at this point and Kate has never had to fight for three babies and herself all at once. So, I'm scared. I'm mortified."

Ryan hugged him because he was scared too. They were like family to him and he couldn't stand seeing them fall apart. He let go of Rick and looked over to Lanie. "I'll go get you guys some coffee. You both look tired."

Lanie stopped pacing long enough to thank Ryan. Javi took her by the arms and sat her down on the sofa. "You both need to stop pacing. You're making me nervous."

Rick looked over to Lanie and walked over to the sofa. He kept playing with his fingers and kept his head low.

"It would be nice if you guys talked. It will help the stress." Javi grabbed Lanie's hand. "No seriously, talk. Talk about anything."

"Javi, I just…there's so many things going through my brain. I am a Doctor after all. I know the chances. I know the possible outcomes and I'm beyond mortified. I know I should be calming you guys down because I am the Doctor but she's my best friend. I couldn't bare it if something happened to her."

Castle looked up and saw a very tearful Lanie. He moved closer to grab her other hand. "I wish I could say something to help. A joke maybe. But I have nothing left." He gave her a regretful look.

"It's okay. I wish I could help you. I wish I could go in there and see what they are doing or at least help them!"

"Lanie, you're an M.E." Rick gave her a small smile.

"I know, but I still know how to deliver babies. You learn a lot in Medical school." Lanie let out a smile laugh. She stopped when she saw the same nurse that took Kate in opening the door. She got up, along with Rick and Javi and rushed to the door.

Rick and Lanie spoke so fast that Javi had to stop them both and address the nurse himself.

"I'm sorry. They're anxious. What exactly is going on?"

The nurse had this somber look on his face. Like he had to tell them something unpleasant and Rick quickly read too much into it.

"What is it? Why do you look like you have just seen death?"

"Mr. Castle, please take a seat. Actually, all of you take a seat."

They all took a seat; no one was in a mood to argue. "Miss Beckett had a bit of bleeding. It was too much pressure on her uterus and her overall body. She's a small woman even though she's quite tall. It's under control for now but Dr. Khumbchandani would like to operate as soon as possible. However, the babies are not nearly as far as long as we would like, which is an obvious concern. The plan is to have a C-section and keep the babies on a ventilator until they are properly matured. But even then, there is no guarantee that all the babies will survive and the mother is in great risk too. I am aware that you have expressed that if something should happen we should save Ms. Beckett's life but she has expressed otherwise."

"What do you mean? She couldn't mean..." Rick was mortified. Kate couldn't do that to him.

"I'm afraid she did. She wants us to save all the babies even if it means that she might lose her life."

"No. No. She can't. Don't do that! Save her life even if it means losing one of the babies. Please, save her."

"I'm afraid we have to respect her wishes. But I assure you that we will do everything in our hands to save all four of them."

Rick got up and walked out the emergency room. He needed to clear his head. The possibility of Kate dying was one that has crossed his mind a lot of times due to her line of work but he refused to let her die if she didn't have to. They had to choose her over the babies. He couldn't live without her and he couldn't raise three kids without her. There was no way.

After 15 minutes of cursing his faith he walked back in to find everybody sitting down. They had all returned and heard the news. The nurse was now getting the paperwork ready for Kate to sign. He looked up at Castle and walked over to him. "Do you want to go see her?"

Very quietly he said yes. They could all tell he was defeated.

AN: Thoughts? xo