Chapter 12- Discharged

Weeks have passed and as much as she protested, Castle hasn't left her side. For a week now he has been by her bedside, cheering her up when she needed it and learning more about him that she could possibly imagine.

Much to her dislike she is still in hospital under supervision and every day she wishes to be able to go home.

"Today is you your lucky day Miss Beckett." The nurse said as she walked into the hospital room where Castle was sitting next to her tracing his fingers up Kate's arm.

"How so?" Kate asked trying to ignore the tickling sensation going up her arm, biting her lip by holding back the laughter.

"You are being discharged." A smile spread across Kate and Rick's faces as they looked at the nurse in disbelief.

"Really?" Rick said to get confirmation.

"Aha, but on a few conditions." The nurse said.

"Anything." Kate said shaking her head in excitement to going home.

"Well," the nurse started. "Firstly you need someone to take care of you…"

"You can stay at mine." Castle interjected and then looked at the nurse apologetically for interrupting her, but she just swatted her hand as in saying 'no problem'.

"That's fine, which brings me to the second condition, no physical activity, no running, no sport and no other physical activity." Kate's face went red as the nurse looked between Castle and Kate.

The nodded embarrassed. "And the third point?" Kate asked.

"Don't go back to work to soon you will need probably six more weeks of sick leave before you go back to saving the city from murderers." Kate and Rick smiled at the nurse who reminded them a lot of Lanie. "Have we got a deal?"

Kate nodded with a big grin on her face.

The nurse smiled at them and told them to get ready and she would get the doctor to sign the discharge papers and left them alone in the room.

"Are you sure that you want to look after me?" she asked quietly. "I don't want to impose."

He moved his chair closer to her bed and moves a strand of hair out of her face to look her in the eyes. "Of course, you're a part of the family now, you won't be imposing." He smiled at her and she smiled back at him. He got up and kissed her on the head.

He stayed standing for a bit when Kate had a sudden realisation. "I don't have any clothes."

"That's fine, I'll get Alexis to swing by your place and pick you up a few clothes." He said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"Thanks." She whispered.

"No problem." He said as he bent down to kiss her before he left the room to make the phone call.

When he leaves Kate waits for the door to close before she pulls the hospital blankets off her and swings her legs of the bed. She sat on the side of the bed biting her lip in pain.

She takes a deep breath and grips on to the I.V stand and slowly pulls her self of the bed. She stands there for a moment as she waits for her breathing to steady.

She tightens her grip on the I.V stand as she feels the sharp pain in her stomach. The pain to her is unbearable. She can feel the pain taking over her body as she struggles to remain standing.

Her head pounding she tries to sit back down when Rick comes running to her side. He puts an arm around her back and holds her hand as he sits her back down on her bed.

"Are you okay?" he asked still holding onto her although she is now sitting on the bed.

She nods her head while biting her lip, still feeling the excruciating pain in her stomach and her pounding head.

"It looked like you were seconds away from collapsing. What were you thinking?" he said in a panicked and shaky voice.

She took a deep breath before answering. "I was just trying to walk. I need to be able to stand at least." She said desperately with a tear rolling down her cheek.

Castle wiped away the single tear with his thumb and pulled her into his body, giving her a comforting hug and whispering into her hair, "You have to take one day as it comes, you can't push yourself too hard or you might not recover."

"Yeah, I know, it's just if I'm being discharged don't you think I should at least be able to stand let alone walk?" she said pulling away to look at him.

He looks at her and gives her a sympathetic look. "Just don't try anything without help okay." She looks away. "Please?" he pleaded.

"Okay." She gave up and gave him a weak smile.

He hopped off the bed in what looked like a split second and turned to face her. He took her free hand and the hand that was still clutching the I.V stand. Once he had her hands in his he slowly walked backward as she slid off the bed and stood up.

She winced at the pain. He stopped for a minute and put his arm around her waist helping her stand up.

"Thank you." She whispered once she stood up strait.

"Always." He said as he slowly sat her back down.

A couple of minutes later Alexis came in with a duffel bag in her hand. Her dad turned to face her and smiled sweetly at her.

"Hey Alexis." He said as he slowly hopped of the bed.

"Hey." She said back. She went around the bed and her father met her half way. "How are you feeling?" she asked as Kate turned to give her a painful smile.

"I've been better." She breathed.

"I just caught her trying to stand by herself. I caught her just before she collapsed." Rick said looking between her and his daughter.

"Are you allowed to stand up by yourself?" she asked concerned for her father's girlfriend.

They both shook their heads. Kate hung her head and hid behind her hair, embarrassed of her incapability's. Alexis placed the duffel on the end of the bed ant walked around to stand in front of Kate. She kneelt down in front of her and place her hands on Kate's hands.

"Don't push yourself; we need you to be all in one piece when you come home with us." She smiled.

Kate smiled back at her and mouthed 'thank you' to her.

Alexis just gave her a wink and smiled at her.

Rick couldn't help but grin when he saw his girls getting along so well in a time like this.

"I'll leave you to it." Alexis said as she popped back up. She gave her dad a smile and left the room.

Kate turned slowly and reached for the duffel to find her clothes. She half smiled and she looked to Castle.

"Ooooh, right, sorry." He went to leave before she called him back.

"Rick… I might need help" she said embarrassed.

He turned around with a smile on his face. "No problem."

Alexis was waiting outside when the nurse came around with a file in her hand.

"Hi." The nurse said bubbly.

"Hey." Alexis said back.

"Why are you waiting out here?" the nurse asked warily. "If I walk in there I won't be surprised by anything will I?"

Alexis just laughed and shook her head. "No, he's just helping her get dressed."

"Oh." The nurse said laughing. "So, how do you know Ms Beckett?"

"She's my dad's girlfriend." Alexis replied.

"Oh." The nurse repeated. "So, Richard Castle is your father, what's that like?"

"It's interesting," she said "Sometimes it's like raising a nine year old."

"Tell me about it." They turned to hear breathless voice coming out the door. Kate was walking out with Castle supporting her. He gripped her tight just in case her legs gave way.

Alexis and the nurse laughed while Kate smiled. Rick was smiling but was focusing on holding Kate.

"I have my moments." He said.

They stood there for a moment then the nurse suggested for Kate to sit down in one of the chairs so she could sign the discharge forms.

A few minutes later the papers were signed and the nurse got a wheel chair for Kate. Before they knew it they were out of the hospital doors and Rick was helping Kate into the car ready to go home.

They arrived at the loft and although that was one of the few times Alexis had driven she was just glad to be home.

She got out of the driver's side of the car and walked around to see her dad opening the back seat door. He quickly got out of the car and went around it to the other side to help Kate out of the car.

She grabbed his neck and pulled herself up. She winced at the pain rushing at her from her stomach. He put his arm around her waist as he walked her into the lobby of his loft's building. They all smiled as the doorman said hello.

Minutes later Kate was leaning on Rick as Alexis was opening the front door to the loft.

Rick had a minor thought so they could have a little laugh. As soon as the door was open he bent down and picked Kate up.

She protested as much as possible. As Alexis laughed as she kept the door open.

"Rick! Put me down!" she let out, he wouldn't though. So she gave up and rested into his chest.

He finally put her down on the couch and gave her a gentle smile.

"There you go." He said with a slight giggle.

"Thanks." She said sarcastically.

"Would you like a drink?" Alexis asked Kate. Kate just nodded.

"Water please." She said quietly.

"Well, welcome home." Castle said looking at her sincerely.

She smiled back at him and leant up, ignoring her pain, and kissed him. "Hmm, I like the sound of that."