Thanks a lot to all your reviews and especially for the insights on birthday parties. A friend who has family in New York told me that they had to invite all the other kids from daycare or preschool plus their parents and siblings.

In Germany most parents tell their kids that they can invite as many kids as they are old (so Claire would be allowed to invite 5) and the parents usually just drop them off and then pick them up or if the kids live close by they'll be brought home. Unless the kids are very shy. Then the parents are invited too but that's rare.

The birthday party isn't until one or two chapters away though since something else wanted to get written first

Somebody asked why Josh's parents can't help with Claire. I'll answer that somewhere in the next few chapters.

o-o-o-o-o

„Hey Kate" Rick rasped into his phone, his throat feeling like sandpaper even with only those two little words. He swallowed in an attempt to make his voice sound better but even that hurt.

Alexis had been very sleepy the last three days, a little grumpy too and had a fever one evening but she'd recovered fast and was now all well again. But now it seemed that he'd caught the little cold his daughter had had. Only that instead of being a little sleepy his throat felt like a fire was burning there, his head hurt like hell and all his muscles felt sore. He hadn't felt this sick in years.

„I'm so sorry but I can't watch Claire today" he continued. Alexis would be so disappointed. She'd looked forward to finally be able to play with Claire again. The last four days she was not allowed to because they didn't want to pass the cold to Claire.

To be honest Rick had missed them too. He'd missed Kate. Since he'd realized his feelings for her they'd only grown stronger. They'd talked on the phone but that just wasn't the same then seeing her in person. He had enjoyed though listening to her telling him about her work and what Claire was doing. He was so awed how she managed to be a great detective and a fantastic mom. She was just so fascinating. All about her.

„I think I've caught Alexis' cold." He had to cough and held the phone away so Kate wouldn't hear the ugly noises up close. „Sorry" he said when he was finished.

„Nothing to be sorry for, Rick" Kate said. Her voice was gentle and Rick could make out that she was concerned about him. „But who's watching Alexis then? I thought your mother is away for a show this week?" During one of their daily evening phone calls he'd told her that his mother was going away for a few days because of some theater thing across country.

„She is" he said, his voice ugly and raspy, every word hurting his throat. „But Alexis will just watch TV or something like that. Sorry, that I can't watch Claire though. I know you need to go into work today. But I'm really not feeling up to watch two kids today." He felt bad. He'd told Kate he could watch Claire when she'd told him that her team was on shift today. And since it was Saturday she couldn't bring Claire into school of course. Lanie too had some kind of plans she couldn't cancel.

„Yeah, no of course not. I totally understand. I'll call later and please feel better" Kate told him, already running through her options in her mind of what to do with Claire instead.

„Thank you" he said and slumped back into his pillows for a few moments. Alexis would come downstairs soon so he had to get up. He slowly pushed the covers back and shivered. He was cold. He put on his robe and dragged himself to the kitchen where he made himself a cup of tea, hoping it would soothe his throat.

O-o-o-o-o

Rick lay on the couch while Alexis sat on the floor in front of him, her eyes glued to the TV.

Rick faded in and out of slumber, he was tired and exhausted despite the fact that he'd gotten up only an hour ago. But he couldn't really sleep because his aching throat and stuffy nose woke him all the time. And he didn't want to take anything that would help him sleep because that stuff always knocked him out completely and he didn't want to sleep that deeply while he was alone with Alexis.

His daughter of course was an angel. When she'd come down he'd given her a bowl of cereal and had explained that he wasn't feeling all that well and would have to take things slow today. She'd immediately remembered all the things she had to do and the things she weren't allowed to do when she had been sick and had told him he should lay down then and try to sleep. His sweet daughter. So after she had finished her breakfast they'd gone to the living room and he'd put on the TV for her so she wouldn't get bored.

The cartoon Alexis was watching made his headache worse though. His head was about to explode. He had taken something against the headache already but it wasn't helping yet. He guessed only real sleep would help. The pills had only made him feel sick in his stomach since he hadn't been able to eat anything. The only thing he felt like eating was soup but he couldn't stand up long enough to make some. Every bone in his body was hurting with every slight movement he did. So he would just stay on the couch and only get up if Alexis needed something. For his daughter he would find the energy.

After some time there was a knock on the door.

„Shall I get it, daddy?" Alexis asked, looking at him worriedly. She looked at him whenever he needed to cough and was very worried. Daddy's coughs were so loud and he looked very bad. She didn't like seeing her strong daddy being almost knocked out. It made her feel very uncomfortable. What if he felt even worse? What would she do then?

He shook his head. „We'll just ignore it." He really didn't want to get up but he wouldn't let his four year old daughter open the door alone when he had no idea who it would be.

Alexis looked at him even more worriedly, a slight fear in her eyes. Her father was always curious. He never not looked who was at the door.

But the knock came again, so he slowly got up, careful not to move too fast since every movement hurt.

He looked though the peephole and was surprised to see Kate. He opened.

„Hey" he rasped.

„Claire!" Alexis cheered behind him, having noticed her friend, holding her mother's hand.

„Hello Alexis" Claire greeted equally cheerful.

„Wow, you really look like hell" Kate said, taking in his appearance. He had dark circles under his eyes, his nose and lips looked sore and red while the rest of his face was awfully pale. His eyes were glassy, his forehead and neck seemed sweaty.

„Thanks" he huffed, having to suppress a cough. „But what are you doing here?"

„Well, since you couldn't watch Claire today I took the day off and thought I would relieve you of having to watch Alexis and take her out with us so you can get some rest."

„Oh wow, thanks Kate" he said, trying a smile. „That would be so great" he rasped, barely a tone coming out. His voice was getting worse with every word he was trying to push out. And his expression contorted in pain every time.

„Enough" Kate told him sternly. „You are not going to speak until your voice is better. Now give me a key and go to bed"

He opened his mouth to say something but closed it when Kate shot him a stern look. He just nodded then and went to his office to get his spare key to give it to Kate. Alexis was happily chatting with Claire and he was glad that she didn't have that worried look anymore. He hated to worry his little girl.

O-o-o-o-o

„What are we gonna do, mommy?" Claire asked. She was very happy that her mother had taken the day off and promised they would pick up Alexis to go somewhere.

„First, I'm gonna see if Rick needs anything. But the two of you can do something in the meantime to prepare for our day out" Kate told her daughter, then she turned to Alexis. „Do you know where your sun hat is? It's very sunny and hot outside. Think you can find something to dress that covers your shoulders so you won't get sunburned there?"

The dress Alexis was wearing was very cute but it had only thin straps and Kate could already see her pale skin turning red from the sun despite the fact that they of course would put on sun lotion.

„I know where the hat is and I can look for something else to dress" Alexis said proudly.

„I'm gonna help you choose something" Claire declared. „Do you have a light blue shirt like mine?" she asked as they went up the stairs.

A few minutes later Kate came out of Rick's office. She'd gotten him tea and water to go with the medication he was taking. Alexis and Claire were already waiting for her. Alexis had found a turquoise t-shirt that resembled Claire's slightly and dark blue shorts that looked almost identical.

„So, how about we go to the zoo?" Kate asked and laughed when they both cheered in excitement.

O-o-o-o-o

Rick woke up to a soar throat and a stuffy nose. He took a tissue and blew his nose. It was ugly and he had to use a second and third one all of which he threw to the floor beside his bed. Then he sank back to lay down again. Even just blowing his nose was exhausting.

A soft knock was heard on his bedroom door before it quietly and slowly opened. Kate's head poked in. When she saw that he was awake she opened the door further.

„Hey" she said softly „How are you?" Her smile was so gorgeous. He felt a little better just seeing it. He smiled back, though he was sure that he certainly didn't look good right now.

„A little better, I think. Though my stomach hurts now too. I think I'm hungry" he told her with a still hoarse voice. „Would you mind ordering some soup for me?"

„I've got something even better actually" she told him. Then she went out of the room and came back a few minutes later with a bowl of a steaming hot liquid. He wondered what it was and assumed he couldn't smell anything because of his stuffy nose. „I made you soup" she said and walked over to the side of his bed, putting the bowl on his nightstand.

„You made me soup?" he rasped. He looked at her in was… that was very kind of her. Very thoughtful. She'd taken the time to make him soup. He didn't remember the last time somebody had made him soup. He remembered his nanny making him soup when he was a child and got sick and his mother couldn't take time off because money had been really tight at that time.

„It's the least I could do" she told him with a shrug. „You help me out all the time with Claire. I'm glad I can return something to you. Though I'm sorry that you are sick."

„Where are the girls?" he asked. He wondered how long he'd slept.

„Upstairs. Getting ready for bed hopefully" Kate told him.

„Bed?" he gasped. „What time is it? How long did I sleep?" He looked around frantically for his watch. He tried to get up when he couldn't find it. Kate gently pushed him back.

„Relax. I've got everything under control" she said. „It's seven. After I picked Alexis up this morning we went to the zoo and came back around noon. On the way we picked up some groceries. I thought you might be in the mood for soup. We weren't though since it's pretty hot outside so we had sandwiches. They played in Alexis' room all afternoon and for dinner we had pasta with vegetables. I read in your living room and checked on you occasionally. You were fast asleep though"

„Sorry, Kate" he mumbled. „I didn't mean to sleep this long"

Kate shook her head. „Don't worry. You needed it."

„Thanks" he said and gave her a smile that warmed her insides. She smiled back at him. Something in his eyes was shining. And it wasn't fever. Though she could see fever shining in his eyes too. But underneath was something else. An emotion she couldn't read.

„I thought Claire and I would sleep here, if that's okay with you" Kate asked. She'd figured it would be the easiest thing. Rick didn't seem to be that much better so Kate figured that he wouldn't be too sad if she watched his daughter tonight too. She would have taken Alexis home with them of course but Alexis' hadn't wanted that before and she probably didn't want it tonight when she was worried about her dad. Plus Kate wouldn't be able to look after Rick then. Of course he was a grown man and could care for himself even while sick but he didn't seem to mind being cared for.

„Of course that's okay" Rick said with a smile and she smiled back.

o-o-o-o-o

„Daddy is gonna be okay again, right?" Alexis asked when Kate pulled up the covers over her and Claire. She'd already read them a story and was about to tell them goodnight.

„Of course he is" Kate immediately reassured her. „He just has a cold. He will be perfectly all right in a few days. He will probably feel better tomorrow or the day after if we let him rest and make him soup and tea."

„Okay" Alexis said and pulled her stuffed animal, a monkey, closer to her chest.

„If you need anything call for me" Kate told them. „I'll be downstairs for a bit but I'm gonna sleep in the bedroom next door. So when you wake up tomorrow you wake me, okay?"

They agreed and Kate told them goodnight before she left the room and went downstairs. Kate was putting the left over soup into the fridge and had just finished cleaning the dishes when her phone rung. She glanced at the caller's ID and was surprised to see that it was her father calling.

„Hi dad" she said carefully when she picked up. It had been a few days since she'd been at her dad's place and she really hoped he was better. Calling her though was most times a good sign.

„Hello Katie" Jim said and he sounded sober. Kate sighed in relief.

„I've got the invitation to Claire's birthday party and I just wanted to tell you that I'll try to make it" he told her. Kate hoped for an apology for the other day but if she were honest with herself she already knew that it wouldn't come. She was pretty sure that her father couldn't remember her visit at all.

„That's great, dad. Claire would be very happy to see you there. I would be too" she told him honestly. „But since we are already talking now anyway, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a few weeks, dad."

„What is it, Katie" Jim asked. He sounded normal. They were having a normal conversation. That was so rare Kate almost wanted to cry in relief. And in grief. Because good days only reminded her of the fact how rare they were.

„Josh and I broke up" she told him and shoved her thoughts away for the moment.

„Really?" Jim asked and Kate could hear the relief in his voice.

She rolled her eyes „Don't sound so sad about it."

„Sorry Katie" he said honestly now. Jim Beckett had never liked his daughter's boyfriend but he didn't want her to be broken-hearted either. „How are you?"

„I'm good actually" she replied. „It's been hard at first but I'm good. Claire is too." For a moment Kate thought about telling him about Alexis and Rick because they were the main reason they felt good in spite of the break-up. But she decided against telling him on the phone. But…

„There's someone I want you to meet though. A friend" Kate said hesitantly.

„What kind of friend?" Jim asked and the teasing tone he used reminded Kate of earlier years. Or maybe not. Because he hadn't been amused by her dating back when her mother had still been alive. Not that she was dating Rick. But that was clearly what he thought. „A boyfriend?"

„No, dad. Not a boyfriend" Kate said, her eyes rolling. All the while she wished that this would be a regular occurrence, her dad teasing her about something, not feeling like he was stepping on egg shells. Or being to drunk to really listen to her and have a decent conversation. „Just a very good friend."

„All right. When do you want to meet?" he asked, the teasing tone gone.

Then they scheduled a date where they would get together at a coffee shop with Rick. Kate told her father though that she would need to check in with him first. Not to mention him being sick but Kate was confident that he would be better by then. Otherwise she would just go without him, maybe take Claire.

Rick though wanted to meet her dad too, Kate knew. After their first conversation about her father he had brought it up a few days ago on a phone conversation and told her he was ready to meet her father whenever she felt like introducing them.

O-o-o-o-o

Kate had found a very interesting book in Rick's collection. She was absorbed in it and was eagerly turning the pages. It was past the time she'd wanted to go to bed but she just couldn't put the book down. So she was still sitting in the living room when bare feet tiptoed down the stairs.

„Mommy" Claire called when she was halfway down.

Kate put the book down and got up to get to her daughter.

„Hey baby, what's wrong?" she asked. Claire was rubbing her eyes. She was clearly sleepy so Kate knew she hadn't had a nightmare. She was always wide awake when she had one.

„Alexis is crying. She wants to go to her daddy" Claire explained, a yawn interrupting her explanation.

„Let's see if I can comfort her" Kate said and walked up the stairs with her sleepy daughter. When they got back into Alexis room the girl was sitting in her bed, crying. Claire climbed back in and looked at her still crying friend worriedly. She'd woken up because Alexis had been crying next to her so Claire had of course asked her what was wrong but when she hadn't been able to comfort her friend she'd gone to get her mommy. Kate sat down on the edge of the bed beside Alexis. Claire relaxed a little. Mommy was going to take care of Alexis. She didn't need to worry anymore.

„I want to go to daddy" Alexis cried, Monkey Bunkey cradled against her chest.

„What's wrong, Alexis? Why are you so sad?" Kate asked gently.

„I dreamed that daddy was in the hospital and I couldn't go there with him" Alexis sobbed.

„Hey, hey" Kate soothed. „Don't cry. You want to go see him?"

Alexis nodded.

„Come here" Kate said and took Alexis up in her arms. „We're just gonna peek into his bedroom so you can see him, okay?" Alexis nodded. Kate told Claire that they would be back in a few minutes and then carried Alexis downstairs and through the office. Kate shifted her to one arm and then opened the door to Rick's bedroom quietly.

„He's still there" Alexis said when she saw her dad, already much calmer. She'd stopped crying on the way down.

„He is" Kate confirmed. „You ready to go back to bed now?" She asked after a few more moments. Alexis nodded.

On their way up Alexis put her head down on Kate's shoulder, relaxed now. She snuggled tiredly into Kate's neck while her arm hung loosely over Kate's other shoulder.

When Kate put Alexis down on the bed Claire was already fast asleep on the other side of the bed.

„Can you stay here until I fall asleep?" Alexis asked in a small voice, pulling her monkey towards her chest again.

„Of course" Kate agreed. She sat down on the edge of the bed but when Alexis scooted further to the middle and looked at her expectantly she laid down beside her. The little girl laid her head on her shoulder.

„Do you want me to sing?" Kate asked quietly into Alexis' hair.

The little girl nodded so Kate sung for her. Just a few lines into the song Alexis fell asleep with her head on Kate's shoulder and her hand splayed around Kate's stomach.