Love You Through It
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: SnowKing1701 PROMPT REQUEST - They get together early in the series and a health scare tests their love, but not separate them. We may take liberties with the events and timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, Warning THIS IS AU, with only brief flashes of Canon. MAJOR CHARACTER ILLNESS, NO DEATH PROCEED WITH CAUTION, SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTER
Thanks for the Prompt SnowKing1701, I hope I do it justice.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Previously
"Rick, I know I have depression, and I know you have a psychologist lined up, just waiting for me to throw my typical temper tantrum, then accept the help, Babe, no tantrum, I think I need it, but can I ask you something?"
"Anything Kate, say it and it's yours, you know that"
"Will you go with me to the sessions, even when I get out of here, I mean I don't have the right*
A gentle kiss stopped her, "Of course I will, Always. We need to talk to Marlene and figure out what is best if we stay here for the first treatments, especially with nausea, we can't have you popping a stitch when you're retching over the toilet.
"We don't know how you're going to react, and Kate, I know how much you hate hospitals, so Thank You for being such a trooper this time. You know Alexis and I will be right here, right by your side."
"Rick, I don't mind being anywhere, just as long as I have my family with me, that's always been the missing ingredient, I missed the one, I loved so very much ************************************************************************************/
Chapter 15
Mt Sini Hospital
New York
Three Days Later
Kate, Rick, and Marlene or Gayle her partner nurse had gotten the bath routine down to a science. It also gave her more initiative to walk, and build herself up, before she began the Chemo and Radiation therapy treatments tomorrow. Today was going to be a mini celebration, the first time she actually saw her Dad in person, and all the gang from the 12th. Jim hated hospitals more than Kate did, and even though he spoke to her daily at least twice on Face Time or SKYPE, it didn't replace his touch.
Rick had just taken her breakfast tray away and handed her the warm washcloth to freshen up, when there was a knock on the door, and in stepped Jim Beckett.
"I'll be back, you two catch up," Rick said, as he kissed his wife, and walked out leaving the two to talk in private.
"There's my Katie Bug, how are you, Rick's been keeping me posted of what's going on, how you feeling?" his smile was genuine, Kate's color was back, her hair was combed, and looked like she was just lounging after a tough day at the precinct.
"Dad, you came, I know how much you hate these places," she said a tear in her eye.
"Well, I would have been here sooner, but I was out of town on a case, Rick assured me you were in good hands, and that your hospital room didn't look anything like I could imagine, he was right. This is more of a luxury suite at a hotel," he grinned
"Well, it doesn't hurt when your husband has a wing in Pediatrics named after him," she smiled as he gently hugged her, careful of her stitches, and kissed her on the cheek.
"I'm doing great Dad, I know, I know, I'm usually clamoring to get out of here long before I'm physically ready, but with Rick, Alexis, and even Martha has stopped by a few times, it really doesn't seem like a hospital, well once I got the OK for good food." She laughed,
"Rick and Alexis can stay in your room, 24/7?" Jim asked,
"Well not my room, but look through that window, that's the family suite Rick had built when they upgraded this wing, it allows the family to be close. I haven't been without someone since I woke. I have three great private nurses, Marlene, Dad, don't mess with her, she looks sweet, but she will clean your clock if you piss her off, and Gayle her partner. The third nurse works the swing shifts to give the other two some days off, her name is Joanne." She shared
"Well, I see, wow, another Hotel Suite attached, no wonder Rick told me it wasn't hard to stay here all the time, hell, he held out on me" Jim laughed,
"Well, you're welcome to pack a bag Dad" Kate shot him that devilish grin, knowing he would rather be anywhere but a hospital, regardless of what it looked like.
"OK, I hear it, just like your Mom, can't pull a thing over you, but seriously Rick said he wanted to see how you tolerated the treatments before you moved back to the Loft, but your nurses were coming with you."
"Yeah, we want to make sure nausea can be controlled, they never know how the drugs are going to impact us, everyone is different, I guess that fun starts tomorrow," she looked into her lap, sad eyes filling with tears,
"Hey Katie that's tomorrow, we have today so let's just enjoy the time we have. I talked to Michelle, the nurse who had some paternity issues with Dr. Davidson, and you were right to give her my card. We started the preliminary work on that, blood tests, DNA matching, and that technical data, from early reports we have him dead to rights. All we have to do is get a court to make the decree and then we file for child support, past, present, and future." He blushed as he mentioned the doctor he had always hated,
"Thanks, Dad, I know you were right, you didn't like him or trust him from the start, but I was too stubborn to listen, I'm sorry.
"I should have learned with the Dead Poet boyfriend you had in High School, when you ditched your prom, even though you were in the attending party to the queen, to go to some poetry slam with a guy that smelled like wet flannel mixed with camphor. God, what the hell were you thinking, and then you rebelled again with that pompous ass dressed in the medical scrubs. I guess I should have learned and you wouldn't have fought so hard to prove your friends and I wrong, like your Mom would say, *"
"I told you so Katie, I know Dad, I can hear her words to this day, and what the worst part is, she was usually right,"
Rick came back with two bags of food, Chinese, and invited Jim to have lunch with them before he left, he had already talked to him by phone earlier with the updates about Josh and didn't want to spoil anyone's appetite mentioning the low-life.
He wasn't surprised when his father-in-law begged off and made an exit, he hated hospitals and he was just glad he could talk him into today's visit. Kate was both surprised and happy, she understood her Dad's fear all too well, and it meant a lot to her for him to come, even for a short visit.
"Hey Marlene, why don't you join us, my husband, bought enough to feed an army, as usual," she laughed, but inwardly felt giddy being able to call the man next to her, her husband.
"You Sure, I mean, I don't want to intrude,"
"Nonsense Mar, come over and join us, besides did you see the menu in the cafeteria today, meatloaf, which means everything that didn't sell the last two days" Rick made a face and the ladies laughed out loud.
"He has a point Kate, that is the most disgusting dish I have ever attempted to eat here", she laughed,
They all traded small talk and thirty minutes later they were all full, barely making a dent in the pile of food Rick had bought. That's when the knock on the door came and Kate looked up to see some familiar faces,
"Hey Boss, you miss us, hey Ryan she's bought us Chinese, just like at work" Espo kidded,
"Espo, you're an idiot, we didn't come to visit for you to mooch food, God we can't take you anywhere, Hey Kate, you look good, we do miss you," Ryan said as he shuffled in,
"Hey Kate, how's it going, you didn't think these two could go anywhere without supervision did you," Karpowski asked,
"Yep, that's what Roz and I are here for, Hi Kate, we won't stay long, just wanted to stop by and tell you how much you are missed, you do look good though, we have candles lit for you at our church," Ann Hasting said shyly,
"Wow, what a surprise, thanks I'm glad you guys came, and Thank You," Kate said, almost moved to tears her friends thought about her,
"Espo, there's plenty leftover, you guys go ahead and eat, while you visit, no sense it going to waste" Rick said,
Kate looked at him with that look and he caved, "Rick?"
"Yes Babe?"
"Something you might want to tell me?"
"Like what?" Rick wasn't volunteering any information
"Like you knew about this visit, I could have put on some makeup, I must look terrible," Kate admonished him,
"You look beautiful like you always do my wife, and yes I knew but someone made me promise not to say anything" Rick looked to the floor
"Who would that be Rick? Remember truth, always right?"
"Well, that would be me if you need to know Missy, I asked Writer Man not to say anything in case we got called out on a case, so this time I have to stand up for him," Lanie said, as she went directly to her bed and hugged her
Kate held her friend for a moment, whispering, "Thanks Lanes, it's good to see everyone before I start chemo and radiation treatments tomorrow,"
Lanie pulled back and looked at her, "I know, they have been wanting to come for over a week, but I told them you had to rest, so this was the first time we could get together. YOU need to stay in bed, and we put a half-hour limit on the time, you need your rest. Did you hear that Javi, it's 30 minutes, not all you can eat," as the rest of the group howled in laughter at Espo's hurt face, still chewing on an eggroll?
Rick was content to sit back and let Kate visit with her team and work friends, she needed to know they cared, and have contact with more than just her family and nurses. He knew the rough days were coming, and hoping that the memories of her friends and that they cared would help get her through any dark days she might have.
It seemed that they had just arrived when it was time for them to leave, Kate had an appointment at 7:00 PM to have her PICC Line (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) placed in her arm for her transfusions this coming week, something she was definitely dreading. Lanie knew how tiring and sometimes painful this procedure could be so she started herding them out exactly at the thirty-minute mark of the visit.
Ann Hastings had tears in her eyes as she leaned down and hugged Kate gently, "We say a prayer for you each Sunday Kate, I'll keep the candles lit till you get out of here"
"Thanks, Ann, that's so very sweet, I appreciate every thought, and especially prayers, thanks for coming"
Next was Roz, "OK, Ann is the religious one, for us both, but what she said, hurry up and get well, these two numbskulls are lost without you telling them how to investigate a case," as she pointed towards her boys.
"Thanks, Roz, they try, and they do their best, cut them some slack, they are worried about me, so go easy for a bit, if you will" Roz smiled, fully expecting Mother Hen to protect her flock,
"OK, but only till you're better, so hurry up and get back to us. We'll visit again, in a few weeks if you are up to it," she smiled and backed away
Javi stepped forward, and hugged her gently, "Kate we miss you but take all the time you need, don't listen to Roz, she's still jealous our squad is kicking her ass, even down you and Castle. You take care, and holler at me if you need anything," he kissed her on the cheek and quickly turned away before his macho image fell completely apart.
Kevin stepped up, hugged her, and said, "We have you on our prayer chain as well Kate, Jenny and I both lit candles for you, and well, you look so much better, keep it up, as Javi said, we got this," and he turned, but not before Kate saw the soft-hearted Irishman wipe a tear from his eye quickly,
"Well you two, behave yourselves, Roz is pulling double duty so help her all you can, or I'll make you sorry when I get out of here, Don't let me down now, keep our closure rate up there where it belongs, and I'll see you guys at home in a few weeks,
Lastly, Lanie stepped in and hugged her, "I'll be back tomorrow, and girlfriend you better have behaved when they put, the PICC line in you in a few hours, those are not funny, so do exactly what you're told, promise?"
"I promise Lanes, I'll see you tomorrow,"
"Thanks, guys, all of you, it was really good to see you, I appreciate you coming over to see me."
Rick stepped in, "Appreciate it guys, we'll keep you posted when we can tell everyone else at the precinct we'll see them soon," as they trailed out of her room, leaving Kate, Rick, and Gayle who just came on duty to relieve Marlene.
Gayle came over fluffed Kate's pillows, and asked, "Can I get you anything Kate, perhaps some fresh water, you need to drink to keep your veins up so the PICC Specialist won't have to dig so hard to place the line. The good news is, they are putting three lumens, or small trees onto the main catheter, so you won't have to feel that awful blood draw, they do it from there after the get it in place.
"Thanks, Gayle, could I have a ginger ale, mixed with water and a lot of ice, it seems to kill the taste of the water here," she said, as Gayle smiled,
"Not a big fan of chlorine I take it, the ICU double sterilizes the water, including adding chemicals to keep it at twice the safe drinking levels. It's actually reduced infections by 20% over a year." She smiled
"So that's why the water tastes so God awful by itself, thanks Gayle, I appreciate you telling me, maybe I'll just keep a couple of cans of ginger ale to add each time I have to drink a glass."
Gayle busied herself with other tasks as Rick assumed his seat next to Kate, her hand in his.
"Thank you, Rick, that was very sweet of you, I know you arranged it all, Lanie confessed" she said looking deep into his eyes with all the love she could show,
"Hey, I know I'm not the best company, you've listened to me drone on and on for three-plus years now so I thought you'd enjoy seeing the guys. Ann and Roz just jumped in right away, so you have more friends than you know. LT is out of town for a family birthday or he would have been here." He leaned in and kissed her gently, she responded and demanded control. The kiss was passionate, and told Rick what she wanted to say without words, as he pulled back, he just whispered, "Always Babe, Always"
Xx
The knock on her door, meant it was time to go the lab for her PICC Line placement,
"Mrs. Castle? The nurse asked?
Kate looked shocked, till she saw Rick smiling, "I changed your records after the press release Babe, I'm surprised you didn't wake up when Gayle changed your wristband"
"You are going to get it Buster" she laughed, then turning to the nurse holding up her new wristband she noticed her name now read Kate Beckett-Castle,
"Time to go get the PICC line, your husband can accompany you to the lab, but not into the procedure room, it should take about 25 minutes or so, are you ready?" she asked,
They took the elevator to the other side of the hospital and then to the 4th floor, where there was a huge waiting room, but only one other person sitting in it.
"You may wait here, and we'll get your wife back to you as soon as we can," she said, not mentioning any last names in front of other patients or staff.
They entered the lab and Kate sat in a chair, much like she had when she had blood drawn as an outpatient, a moment later a young lady walked in and smiled,
"Hi, you must be Mrs. C, I'm Fran, I'll be inserting your PICC line, tonight. Any questions for me?"
"Other than what the hell it is, not many" Kate smiled,
Fran laughed and then started her speech which she must have given a million times.
"PICC is an acronym for a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter, and it is, in essence, a long IV line. It is usually inserted in a smaller vein in the upper arm (peripheral) and terminates in a larger vein in the chest near the heart (central). "Catheter" is just another name for "tube" in the medical lexicon. If you haven't noticed yet, we tend to talk in code so people think we are smarter than we really are" she laughed,
Kate laughed and was immediately at ease with the young lady,
"OK Kate, I'm going to use this ultrasound machine, and if I need to take an X-ray, it's important we get the line in the right position so one, you can receive medication without it backing up into your arm muscle, quite painful, two, so we can draw blood without having to stick you every time, that's why I put these little tree branches with the sterile caps on, we call them lumens, again another word to make us sound smart.
"Dr. Gupta has order three lumens meaning she may want to infuse, a fancy word of saying you sit while an IV bag drips into your arm, two different medications at the same time, we see it all the time, so it's quite normal."
Kate hadn't realized but Fran the chatterbox had distracted her by her talking and the line was already in place. Fran started the ultrasound and infused some saline solution and tracked it's progress, finally muttering under her breath, "Perfect, couldn't have asked for better.
"Kate please keep an eye on this area, alert the nurses to any severe pain, or redness, we have to watch for infections, carefully, any questions?"
"Yes, my husband, well I have a bathtub, can I still take baths?" Kate asked shyly
"OMG, you're Richard Castle's wife, it's all over the hospital how much that man loves you, your own portable bathtub, to answer your question yes, on days you don't receive chemo, BUT be sure you protect it as you do your other wounds, Marlene and Gayle know what to do, so you're in good hands." She smiled, as she assisted Kate back to the wheelchair, and out to see a smiling Rick,
"Hey, you OK Babe?" he asked with a quiver in his voice,
"I'm fine, let's get back to our home away from home, OK?"
"Anything you want, Kate, Always,"
TBC
