"Okay, yeah - um - okay, you two," Kate says, pointing to Ryan and Esposito, " you go and find out where he was that night. See if we can use it to bring him in."
Her hands pull her chair closer to her desk, getting ready to begin typing. Castle is next to her, as usual. He hasn't moved in the past couple of weeks - hasn't gone on any trips with the boys to bring someone in or collect evidence. She was beginning to show - everyone knew about the baby, so it was simply desk duty for her, but it didn't have to be for him.
She brings her hand to her forehead to try to rub away the headache that had pestered her all day.
"You can go with them, you know."
He looks to her, breaking his trance from the words on the page.
"What?"
"You can go with them to bring Mr. Austen in."
"Oh - no. It's okay. I can stay."
"Castle, go -"
"No, I'm -"
"For me. I'm going crazy already and we have at least four, probably five, more months of this and I need a play-by-play. One that I understand and that doesn't involve simply the details about the suspect. I need something interesting to keep me going."
He looks at her, surprised - confused - but willing. He has sat in this chair beside her desk for too long and the opportunity to leave the precinct and do real police work seemed like heaven.
"Okay, I'll go," he replies, standing up, "do you want anything?"
"No, I'm good."
Castle kisses the back of her head and walks towards the elevator.
"Okay, maybe something to eat - something good."
They return much later, giving the sun enough time to set and disappear. Kate had ordered lunch - and was about to order dinner - when the smell let her know that they were back. Although she had been dying for whatever he brought back, she felt off. Her headache had turned into drowsiness and her body was succumbing to its overtake.
"Hey, Kate. We got burgers," Castle says, setting the back down in the meeting room.
"Okay, great. But I think I'm going to hold off for a little."
"Why, did you already eat?"
"No, but I just want to wait a little."
He brushes it off as nothing as he and the boys begin their dinner.
"Hey, Castle, can you come here."
Kate remained at her desk while they ate dinner - tossed it up to nausea because they would believe it.
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"I'm not feeling good, can we go home? I think they can handle the rest, and even if they can't, I don't think I'm going to last another -"
Her words get cut off by a sudden coughing attack that she had felt building in her chest for a while.
Castle rubs her back and waits for it to diminish.
"I'm fine, just a cold," she says, still coughing sporadically. They enter their loft, putting her work keys on the table and her coat in the closet.
"Okay, but go get in bed, I'll bring in something that you can eat - maybe."
"Ugh - no food. Please."
He walks further into the living room, fishing through the mail.
"Okay, maybe in a bit. Go lie down."
She walks towards the bedroom, feeling light headed from the congestion.
"I'm going to call the doctor, just in case," he shouts from the kitchen.
Kate waves a hand, brushing off his suggestion because she knows it's the best decision and, if he calls, she doesn't have too.
"Okay, so I wasn't able to get a hold of your doctor, but I got the nurse and she said that we need to watch your temperature and see if it goes over 101. Otherwise, it's a cold, possibly the flu."
She shakes her head, pulling an over-sized shirt over her body.
"Why don't you get a shower - better yet, take a bath?"
"I don't think I can stand long enough and, really, I just want to sleep."
He agrees and pulls back the sheets so she can slide into bed.
"Try to sleep as much as you can before the congestion sets in."
They made it through the night. She suggested he sleep in his study - or one of the other bedrooms so he wouldn't get sick, but he didn't want to. He wanted to check her fever in case it did go up. The coughing didn't become too bad - not until morning.
Castle was forced awake by sound of sniffling next to him - she must not be able to breathe through her nose at this point. He rolls over, finds that her back is to him, but she is still asleep. Trying not to wake her - because she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep - he rubs her back and brushes his hand over her forehead. Her fever doesn't seem as bad as it could be, so he lets her sleep. But Kate's back arches forward, her knees coming up closer to her.
"Castle," she whispers.
"You're okay," he guides her to sit, "it will pass."
A coughing spell has her hunched over, clutching her stomach. It's only a handful of seconds, but it's enough to leave her throat scratchy and take her energy. Kate breathes heavily, jaw clenched, as she finds her rhythm again. She's awake now. Not being able to take anything to knock her out puts a hinder on the "rest" part of her treatment.
"How are you feeling?"
"My head hurts. And my legs."
"Well, I felt your head and you have a bit of a fever, but I don't think it's anything. We can take your temperature," he suggests, motioning to the thermometer next to her.
Kate takes it, puts it in her ear, and waits for the beep.
"100.3"
"Nothing too bad. But you're not going to feel well."
She shakes her head, closes her eyes, but doesn't lie back down.
"I can't breathe through my nose and my throat hurts when I breathe through my mouth."
He slides next to her, wraps his hands around her wait.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what to do. You can take a bath?"
"Can we just sit in the bathroom? With the water running. I really don't want to get out of my clothes. It's too cold."
"Whatever you want."
"Wait, I'm getting tired again. Can we do that when I wake up?"
"Sure, Kate. Go back to sleep."
She's once again awakened by a spasm that makes her throat hurt more than it should. Her voice is hoarse, meaning that her throat has given in to the endless coughing.
"You're fine," Castle says, running in from the living room. He grabs her hands as she leans into him, coughing into his chest. Her head is under his chin, and it bumps him every time she wheezes. She coughs here and there, but these rare fits hurt her more.
"Castle –" she tries, "lets sit in the bathroom now."
She stands, light-headed from the toll that the fever and the coughing are taking on her – and the lack of food. He guides her to the floor next to the tub, leans her against it for support. He turns on the shower to as hot as it can go and shuts the door. Within moments the steam begins to come out of the top and fill the room. He looks at it, making sure that it's doing its job, and sits down next to her.
Kate's head slides to his shoulder and her hand around her stomach – clutching her baby or her aching sides; either one.
Time passes, and Castle thought she was falling asleep – the silence of her breathing indicating that the steam was working – but her head rolled up, looking at him.
Kate gave him the smile that he loved, knowing that it had been rough between them. The past three months have been difficult. Finding out they were pregnant only to succumb to her depression. But he tried, he really did, but after enough berating on her part, he did snap. And they fought.
But now they agreed to be civil. They still love each other. Very much, he had reminded her. But they were struggling.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He opens his eyes and looks down at her, a hand brushing hair away from her face. Moisture has dampened the ends of her hair and it's sticking to her face.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. About everything."
He turns her so she can sit up to face him.
"Kate, we're okay."
"No, I want to say this – because I've been unfair to you."
"No you haven't, let's just sit here."
"Rick, no. I've been mean. Ever since Josh left, I haven't thanked you – or"
"Kate, I didn't expect a thank you. God – you – simply being in this room, sitting next to me. It's thank you enough."
She smiles, her hand running against his jaw.
"I am sorry."
"Apology accepted."
"Are we good then? Can we go back to normal?"
"We're good."
He moves into her, picks her up to sit on his lap. She curls into his neck, getting ready to fall asleep. His fingers lift her chin up to see his face.
"Don't," she stops him, "you'll get sick."
"I don't care," he says with a smile.
He kisses her.
He kisses her like he did before they were pregnant. Before this whole emotional conundrum exploded on their front door.
And somehow, it fixes them.
Once again, sorry for the lateness of the update. My classes started up and - inspiration for this - I got the flu.
Thoughts?