A Big thank you! Goes to Robert Nielsen, my brave Beta. He needs a super hero cape with Beta stitched on it! I know the reader appreciates you too.
As always, thank you for reading.
Diane
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Rick and Kate didn't mind the narrow confines of the hospital bed one bit. The author, and his muse rested in the 'large' size bed but still it was a tight fit. The couple instinctively melded into one form. Rick's hand found its way under Kate's shirt, he needed to touch her skin, assuring him that she was really here. His large hand splayed across her mid-section, gently rising and falling with each of her breaths.
Kate woke with a warm hand resting on her stomach, she'd missed this. It felt so good to be loved and cherished. When she'd found out he was sick, she rushed to his side, she knew he would do the same. Things were different now. It wasn't a choice, Kate felt compelled to be with him, she knew he needed her with him.
When she'd discovered how sick he was she wanted to pummel his publicist, physically inflict pain. Where is this coming from? Kate was grateful Paula left when she did. Her primary focus was on Rick, and assessing the situation. Seeing him ripped her to pieces. She couldn't lose him, she wouldn't lose him, and she would stop anyone from interfering in getting him well.
She'd never wanted anything bad to happen to him in the past, but now she felt like it was her mission to keep him safe, and happy. Kate Beckett would not fail.
The nurse came into the room.
"Mr. Rodger's I need to take your vitals."
Kate began to sit up, Rick pulled her to him.
Kate touched his hand; she reassured him she was here. "Babe, the nurse is here. She needs to check on you." Kate reluctantly removed herself from the bed.
The nurse lowered the side rail and Kate slid off the bed, as soon as she was off the nurse took over. She adjusted the bed and placed the thermometer in Rick's mouth, as she checked his pulse she watched his breathing. With those tasks completed she checked the readings on his monitor and fired up the computer and entered the information.
"How are we feeling?" The nurse asks him
Why is it, as soon as they stick something in your mouth they ask you a question? Rick was beginning to feel better; at least he wasn't coughing up his toenails anymore. His eyes drifted over to - Kate, she came. He stopped his smile when he felt the thermometer slip.
The nurse came over and plucked it out of his mouth, impassively recording the reading in the computer.
"Better" Rick answered, now that he could talk without losing the instrument. He noticed the nurse's eyes cutting over to Kate as he talked. The nurse remained professional, detached. Rick thought she'd make a hell of a poker player….ooh I know, she's an assassin, He switched his focus to Kate, she would make a wonderful naughty nurse. Images flooded his brain, Kate straddling him in thigh high stockings, speaking Russian…
"Rick, "it was Kate's voice she wasn't speaking Russian. Rick cleared his throat guilty…he was sick, he wasn't dead, he couldn't help it. Having her near him, she did things to him and he'd missed her.
"She was asking if you needed anything," Kate repeated
"No, I have everything I need."
Kate shook her head, Rick's goofy grin lit up his face. In that moment he looked more like the partner she'd grown to love.
The nurse nodded and left the room.
"Hey."
"Hey, when did you get here?"
Kate looked at her dad's watch, about three hours ago.
Rick listened and nodded. He was still grinning.
Kate lowered her head and admitted, "I had to tell the captain about us. He gave me a couple of weeks off, and he said if I need more to let him know, he also said it was about time." She raised her head and look at the relief on her partner's face.
That information eased the writer's mind, she wasn't going to get in trouble because of him, and he wasn't kicked out of the precinct. Rick's smile faded as a look of terror crossed his face. "I don't know if I'm contagious."
Kate picked up the note left by Dr. Casey, she held it up for him to see. "Your doctor's number, with instructions to call. Let's find out." Kate dialed the number
"Hello" a pleasant voice answered.
"Dr. Casey, this is Kate Beckett I received your note to call. Rick Cas-Rodgers is your patient."
"Yes, I remember-actually I'm still here at the hospital." She paused and added "Give me ten minutes and I'll meet you in his room."
"Great" Kate hung up. "Dr. Pepper is coming to your room to talk to us."
"Dr. Pepper, my doctor's named after a soda? He asked amused. If he wasn't so tired he would come up with something brilliant, right now I got nothing.
"…um no babe she uses her first name Casey, she goes by Dr. Casey"
Kate sat on his bed. He pulled her to him. Her head rested under his chin.
"Thank you for being here." He whispered, his voice captured by her hair.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be, besides you'd be here if it was me."
"That's true." He gently inhaled, he didn't want to start coughing but he'd missed the hint of cherry and floral fragrance that uniquely her. Her scent faded from the shirt he clung to at night.
Dr. Casey appeared in the doorway, she was carrying a file.
"Well you are certainly looking better," Dr. Casey read his case file before she came in. She walked over to his bedside. I'm Dr. Casey Pepper I go by Casey for obvious reasons.
"Rick, pleasure to meet you and this is my partner Kate Beckett."
The doctor nodded at Kate. "I came in earlier but you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you." Judging by the way the two were intertwined earlier she felt safe to update his condition with her present.
Casey opened the file. "Your temp is down, blood pressure normal. O2 Sat is good. I'd like for you to wear the cannula at night, during the day it's your choice, as long as your O2 level remains steady. The lab work is back. You tested positive for flu, and the scans we took confirmed pneumonia. The lab reports show you have a bacterial pneumonia not viral, incidentally it's not as contagious. I believe you started off with the flu." The Doctor raised her eyes from the report and looked at Rick directly, "left untreated it turned into more. I'm running saline with electrolytes, you were also dehydrated. It's a good thing you came in when you did Mr. Castle. The antibiotics should clear up the pneumonia. Do you have any questions?
The detective noticed the doctor used Castle not Rodgers, she knew his true identity. Kate asks "How long will he need to be here?" She paused and added quickly "I want him to stay as long as necessary, I...I promised his mother and daughter I'd call with information."
Dr. Casey smiled. I would like him to stay until Sunday, which will give us four days of therapy, I'll release him only with the stipulation he go home and rest. I've ordered respiratory in to start breathing treatments. It will help with the inflammation. Some of current medication may make him sleepy, and a little wobbly. He should be escorted to the bathroom, helped with a shower. The nurses are able if you need them. Casey turned to Kate "Did you take a flu shot this year?"
"Yes" at work, 'Worksmart' came in and gave us the shot. I think Rick here stayed home writing that day." Kate's eyebrow shot up.
"I was working on a chapter." Rick said as bravely as possible. He didn't like needles. Looking at his present situation, he decided he would take the shot next time.
"I think it would be a good idea for you to take 'Tamiflu', as a precautionary measure" Casey wrote a script and handed it to Kate. "The hospital pharmacy can fill it for you."
Thank you, Kate pocketed her prescription. She would fill it as soon as she updated his mother and daughter.
Dr. Casey turned and left the room.
"She's a fan" Kate commented
"Really, how could you tell?"
"She called you Castle, and she came in personally to give you an update."
"-but she's my doctor, isn't that what she is expected to do?"
Kate rolled her eyes, and grabbed her phone. She could tell by his pouty face he wanted her near him. She sat on the edge of his bed. She noticed his pouty face changed into a happy one.
She'd dialed Alexis's number first.
Alexis saw Kate's name pop up on her screen she grabbed her phone anxiously "Kate, how's my dad?"
Kate heard her panic, she spoke reasurassinly "He is going to be fine. He tested positive for the flu, and it turned into pneumonia. The doctor wants to keep him until Sunday, she is giving him IV antibiotics and wants them to continue for a few days."
"Oh, he's going to be okay?"
"Yes, hang on" Kate handed her phone to Rick.
"Hey, pumpkin."
"Dad, you sound awful." Alexis was worried.
"I'm fine, I even have bendy straws." He was trying to comfort his terrified daughter. He knew how upset he was when she was ill; When she was little she believed she couldn't recover from her illness without bendy straws, and of course Monkey-Bunkey.
"I'll be home on Monday. Is Gram offering to cook?"
Alexis laughed, "Yea, but I convinced her I didn't have time for her to make pancakes this morning."
"Good girl, I don't want you in the hospital too." That's why I learned to cook, because mother was a terrible cook.
"Dad, are you sure you're okay?"
"I promise I will be home by Monday at the latest, pinky- swear."
"Okay, -Dad tell Kate thank you from me. I love you Dad."
"I will, I love you too Pumpkin." Rick handed Kate the phone.
"Alexis is Martha home?"
"No, she is on her way. She stopped to pick-up the pizza."
"I told her I would call and update her."
"I'll give her the update and have her call if she wants to ask anything else."
"That would be great. Thank you."
"Kate, I told my dad to tell you, but I really appreciate you taking care of him. It means a lot to me."
"Me too. Bye, Alexis."
"Good night, Kate."
Kate thought to herself. She is a Castle she can't just say goodbye.
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Rick took off the cannula and began to get out of bed.
"Where do you think your going?
"-um the bathroom?"
"Not by yourself mister, doctor's orders"
He knew that look, Kate was giving him the just try it look. He conceded "Okay, we are going to the bathroom, unless you want me to get a nurse?"
"Let's go." Kate came over and unplugged his IV pump, "It will run for an hour and a half on the battery power." She guided his pole and wrapped his arm around her neck for support.
Standing up made him dizzy, he had to wait a moment to regain his balance.
The years she'd spent assisting her drunken father were paying off. She had experience guiding staggering men to the bathroom and then to bed. She tried to get her dad into the bathroom before he threw-up, she wasn't always successful. She hated cleaning the mess up afterward, but she did it time after time, all the while listening to empty promises of him never doing this again. That was then this is now.
"Ready, babe?"
He nodded, and they began the trek to the bathroom. He was glad for the support, he didn't realize how weak he was, his legs felt like rubber. He stopped when they reached the toilet. "Kate, I can…
Kate shook her head adamantly. "I'm not leaving need I remind you I've seen your stuff?"
"True." He relieved his bladder without further ado, and then she helped him back to bed. She placed the O2 back into his nostrils.
"You need to sleep." Kate voice was soft and her eyes shone with love. She pulled the covers over him and kissed his forehead." I love you."
Rick took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. His large hand patted the air, not realizing he wasn't making a connection. I love you too, um my monkey-bunkey. He was asleep.
Kate leaned over and gently stroked his cheek. He'd just called her Alexis's favorite comfort item 'monkey-bunkey'
She knew in that moment, he trusted her just as she did him. She sat down in the chair beside his bed, and watched over him. She relaxed for the first time since she'd received the call.