A.N. Sorry it took me so long but here is my next chapter. I know it's not particularly great but it's winding up to a really important part.
Previously in IVF Backfire:
"I've got you your water. You need to sit up a bit." Castle then proceeded to carefully arrange the pillows behind her to allow her to be supported as she sat up before he tentatively put his arms around her back and assisted her sitting upright.
"Thanks Castle." She mumbled sleepily, gently rubbing her eyes as she let out a breathy yawn. Castle smiled at her as he turned and picked up the glass of water, handing it to her, watching as she took a small sip appreciatively.
"I also got you these." He told her, opening his hand to reveal two small brown tablets. "They're actually motion sickness tablets but they will help with the nausea." The face Kate made encouraged Castle to continue with explaining what they were. "When Alexis was little, she used to get car sick and air sick all the time and I was really worried about giving her medication to help with until I found these ginger tablets. They are harmless and I don't think they will make you feel worse…"
"Shhh!" Kate told him gently, carefully taking the tablets from his offered hand, putting them in her mouth and taking a swig of water and swallowing in a big gulp. Handing the glass of water back to him, she quietly thanked him before settling back into the plush softness of his pillows.
"You're welcome." He whispered back.
Later that evening, Castle woke up with a start to hear someone heaving violently. He quickly put his laptop on his desk and ran into his bedroom to find Kate curled up on the bathroom floor, having just spewed anything that could have possibly been in her stomach into the toilet bowl. With a heavy sigh, Castle cautiously stepped onto the tilled floor, crouching down next to the shaking Kate. He placed a kind hand on her shoulder and slowly rolled her over onto her back. He then carefully wrapped his arms around her midsection and pulled her against his chest, placing a light kiss in her hair.
To his surprise, Kate backed herself further into him and nuzzled into his neck.
"Come on, Kate." He whispered softly. "You should have a bath."
Kate looked up at him, near panic in her eyes as she shook her head lightly. "Don't worry." He assured her. "I'll be right outside the door if you need me."
"Ok." She replied drowsily.
After filling the bathtub adequately with hot water and lots of bubbles, Castle walked back into his bedroom to find Kate donned in the robe he left her and her previously worn clothes folded on the bed next to her.
His throat tightened a little at the thought of Kate completely naked under the robe but quickly shook it off.
'I'm here to help, Kate. Now is not the time to have my mind in the gutter!' He berated himself.
"Come on, Kate. It's all ready for you." He told her, taking her hands to help pull her up and placing my hand lightly on the small of her back to guide her into the bathroom.
"I filled it up with lots of bubbles 'cause I know how much you like your bubble baths. And it also covers you entirely in the event of me having to rush in to help you."
"Thanks Castle. You know you didn't have to do all this." She told him softly.
"I know." He replied confidently. "But you would have done the same for me." He thought for a moment and shrugged his shoulders. "Or something there abouts." For that, he earned a small smile from Kate.
"There's the smile I've been looking for!" He smiled, looking at her adoringly. "Ok, I should probably leave you to it. I'll just leave the door open a crack and I'll be in my office if you need me."
"I'm sick, Castle. Not incapacitated."
"You're so sexy when you use big words!" He groaned playfully. Turning on his heal, closing the door over behind him, Castle walked into his office, retrieved his laptop and continued where he left off.
When the bath was drained, Kate quickly dried herself and pulled the fuzzy robe back on. She reveled in the rich smell of him smothering the soft fabric as she made her way back onto his bed.
With a now clear head, Kate couldn't believe all of the things she let him do for her.
'Why am I letting him do all of this?'
'Because you love him.' A voice in her head replied in Castle's voice. The thought scared her so much she jumped slightly and bumped into his bedside table, making a soft thump.
"Kate? Kate! Are you ok?" Castle called from the other room, rushing in to check on her.
"I'm fine, Castle." She assured him. "Just bumped the table." Regardless of her claims, Castle came around the bed to Kate and insisted on checking himself. Carefully parting the robe, making sure not to expose too much of her, he caught a glimpse of her shin, slightly red with a shallow dent in the skin over the bone.
"I told you it's fine." She sighed.
"I know." Castle smiled softly at her. "But you have a tendency to play things down sometimes so I felt obligated to check with my own eyes."
"I don't..." Castle gave her a disbelieving glance, Kate sighed and closed her mouth. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." She argued defiantly.
"I know you are, Kate." Castle soothed, standing back up before her, hunching down to her level slightly. "But there is nothing wrong with needing a little bit of help every now and then." He told her gently, tenderly rubbing his hand up and down her upper arm.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward and tense.
"So, um..." Castle started awkwardly, sensing Kate starting to fidget uncomfortably. "Do you want anything to eat before you go to bed?"
"Is it that late already?" The disbelief at the loss of time was saturating Kate's voice.
"You were asleep for a solid eight hours." He told her flippantly.
"Eight Hours!" Kate's jaw all but hit the floor. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You obviously needed the sleep." He replied, shrugging his shoulders.