Castle entered the room and dropped to the floor beside Kate. Without a word, he pulled her trembling frame into his and began to trace soothing circles into her back. He cast his gaze toward an unconscious Emma. The forlorn sight supplying perfect clarification to Kate's distress.
"Kate, this isn't your fault."
Kate fought to bridle her despair, "I know, but I can't escape the feeling that it is."
"She watched as her husband bled to death only to have the devil himself drag her away to hell on top of it all. Can you blame her for reacting this way?" Castle replied desperate to ease his wife's troubled mind.
"No. I can't," Kate conceded, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. How I would cope."
"For that I'm grateful. We found our way back to each other," His hand dropped to ensconce hers, his lips brushing her forehead.
Kate hadn't noticed until his hand found hers that she'd rested it over her abdomen. As if her first instinct was to protect their child. Her thoughts returned to Emma and the dream of a child lost. Her heart ached at the thought of such a loss.
"No…no…" Emma mumbled as she struggled against the restraints.
For a moment Kate and Castle thought she'd come to. Both rose to their feet and saw her still asleep, but struggling against the restraints. Her head whipped back and forth as if to ward off an unseen demon.
"Wyatt…Please…" Emma implored in desperation.
Kate watched Emma's thrashing decline as deep sobs converged upon her. She wrestled with her strong inclination to wake Emma and save her from her torment. She couldn't bear to watch a moment longer and moved approach the troubled woman. A gentle hand seized her arm beckoning her withdraw.
"Kate, no. Not yet," Castle pleaded, "She needs to face her demons. They won't go away until she does."
"I know," Kate frowned reluctant to accept the truth in Castle's statement.
Emma's cries only fueled Kate's agitation. Each prompting her mind to retreat further into the darkness of their captivity. Kate pulled away from her husband, eager to reach the door.
"I can't do this, Castle. I can't."
"Kate?" Emma's broken voice left Kate frozen.
She felt the blood drain from her face and her knees weaken. She'd wanted to see Emma for quite some time. But now realized her immense fear in confronting everything that had happened. Somewhere amid her panic she felt Castle's supportive arm curl around her slender waist. Her troubled eyes connected with his and he presented an encouraging nod and smile.
Kate pivoted and began to approach Emma. Her heart palpitated harder with each step until she reached the chair at Emma's bedside. She noticed the accentuated dejection in her weary eyes, her disheveled appearance troubling.
"I'm here, Emma," Kate soothed, placing her hand on Emma's wrist, "How are you feeling?"
Kate realized that her question was rhetorical as soon as the words escaped her lips. But she didn't know what else to say. No words or pleasant company could comfort Emma.
"As well as one can expect," Emma replied. Her response an effort to ignore the evidence of her obvious meltdown.
Kate struggled to dispel the ball of emotion caught in her throat, "What can I do?"
Emma's eyes welled with tears and her voice faltered, "Unless you can bring my husband back to me…"
"I'm so sorry," Kate whispered, a lone tear flowing down her left cheek.
"Anyway," Emma said in an attempt to divert the conversation, "How are you doing?"
Kate hated talking about herself and this occasion proved no exception. Given the circumstances she felt Emma's wellbeing and state of mind superseded her own.
"I'm recovering well," Kate answered breaking eye contact.
"Good," Emma countered with a genuine grin, "May I ask you something?"
"Of course. Ask me anything."
"Do you know the gentleman who was in here earlier?"
"Gentleman?" Kate asked, bemused by Emma's inquiry.
"Latino, mid-thirties, attractive. He had a gun and badge, so I assume you know him," Emma continued matter-of-factly.
"Espo," Kate whispered.
"What was that name?"
"His name is Javier Esposito. We work together. He's more a brother than a colleague."
"The nurses tell me that he's barely left my side since I arrived," Emma continued, "He was here. Where you are now, asleep when I first came to."
Emma's revelation surprised Kate. But added a strange clarity to Espo's presence when she and Castle arrived.
"Will you excuse me for a moment, Emma," Kate said rising from her chair to seek out Espo.
She found him sitting in a chair just outside the room, his elbows propped up on his knees. His anxious knees bouncing as he stared at the floor lost in thought.
"Hey, Espo," Kate cut in, occupying the seat beside him.
"Hey, Beckett. How is she?" He asked, eyes hinting at sincere concern.