Rick was back at her side a few moments later but Charlie was still out of it.
"Is, this is longer than he's normally out Kate." Rick fretted.
Kate sighed but he wasn't wrong. "Did he hit his head?"
"No. That's mostly how I think I managed to break his arm. He fell quickly and I pulled him up so his head wouldn't hit the floor, I'd already heard the snap though so, I don't know Kate, I don't think he did." Rick shuddered, prompting Kate to lay her hand gently on his knee.
"It's okay." She murmured softly, her thumb drawing small soothing circles on his joint.
"Then why isn't he awake?" He tossed back.
"I don't know Rick, okay? You always seem to think I have all the answers but I don't okay? I know about as much as you do, not even that some days. He didn't fit when it was just the two of us, it's not like I've had years of practise at this Rick. Hell, I was the one who put him on that medication that nearly killed him so don't look at me like I know everything because I don't." Kate finished tearfully, dropping his gaze to watch her tiny angelic boy's chest rise and fall.
"I'm sorry." Castle whispered, pressing his lips to her temple softly. "I'm scared Kate, I shouldn't take it out on you. This isn't your fault."
Kate nodded silently, tracing her baby's uninjured arm in slow gentle strokes. "If, if he doesn't wake up in the next few minutes, is it irrational to call his paediatrician?"
Rick smiled softly. "No." He assured her. "In fact, it may be a good idea."
Kate smoothed her hand over her tiny bump slowly.
"It's gonna be okay Kate." Castle assured her quietly.
Kate shrugged. "I just feel like we're always fighting. We never get a moment to just enjoy him because he's always in so much danger. How are we gonna do this with three newborns?"
Rick opened his mouth to answer her, assure her, something, but he was interrupted by the small mewl of pain from the boy between them.
"Hey baby." Kate's voice floated softly into the room as she carefully cupped the side of Charlie's head, looking him in the eye, searching for any signs of concussion. She trusted Rick impeccably, if he had, for sure, been certain that Charlie hadn't hit his head, she would take his word, but his uncertainty had her checking, just to make sure.
"Momma?" He asked quietly, confusion clear on his young features. Daddy had been dressing him just a second ago and momma had still been asleep. He must have…oh. "How long?" He asked dejectedly.
"A few minutes Charlie." Kate murmured, not a trace of anything that could be misinterpreted as sympathy or accusation. Her son was a Beckett through and through. He wouldn't take kindly to either. "Baby, how are you feeling?"
"Umm," Charlie started as he took mental inventory, "oh, my arm hurts mommy." He replied surprised and in pain. "Why does my arm hurt? Did I land on it?" He asked innocently as he looked from one parent to the other. The shame on his daddy's face confused him and, if he was honest, made him a little nervous.
"No Charlie." Kate continued softly before Rick interrupted her.
"I was holding on to you when you fell. I'm very sorry Charlie. Mommy and I are going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out, but I think I broke your arm and I would like to very seriously apologise for hurting you."
Charlie considered his step father for a long moment, just long enough to kick Rick's heart rate up a few notches before smiling, the expression barely betraying the pain he was in.
"It's okay daddy. I accept your apology and forgive you." He responded, remembering what they had taught him about being gracious if someone apologised and truly meant it.
"Thank you." Rick breathed unsteadily, pressing a kiss to Charlie's head. "Thank you very much."
Kate smiled softly, couldn't help the relieved breath that left her lungs silently. "Okay baby, we need to finish getting you dressed so we can get you to the hospital." Charlie looked apprehensively at his hoodie.
"Do I gotta wear it momma?" He asked quietly, fearful in a way she'd heard barely a handful of times in his whole life, most of those in the presence of Will; she refused to call the man his father, biology be damned.
"Not if you can't baby boy." She assured him. "But it's cold so we'll wrap you up okay?"
He lifted his wide eyes to her, pleading in their depths.
"I'll be careful honey, I promise."
"Okay mommy." He murmured, leaning against Rick's chest. "Can you help me get dressed daddy?"
Rick smiled tenderly and straightened his legs out before him, pulling Charlie carefully onto his lap before leaning around him to get his jeans on, the whole time avoiding the arm Charlie was cradling to his chest.
Kate, meanwhile, knowing that her baby was in good hands, excused herself to the bedroom to call Gates.