Author's Note-I know it's short, but I have plans for the next chapter which I wanted to put on their own. Also, there may be a slight gap in posting on this now. I'm having an operation next Wednesday and probably won't want to write a whole lot post-op for a while. It's a minor operation and I'll only be in hospital for three days maximum but I thought I should warn you all. This is nowhere near finished and I am still planning and writing it, I just may not be able to upload for a week or so. NYLF xx
They had been home for a few hours.
Kate had spent the entire time glued to both her cell and Castle's while she sat beside the landline.
Rick had tried to keep himself busy. He'd pottered around, folding and re-folding the meagre possessions that had collected for Nevaeh, swearing that he would buy her everything her little heart desired the moment she was home.
Alexis had called, saying she had to stay for her exam in the morning but would be finished by ten and would be home as soon as she could after. She hadn't even met the girl yet but hearing her father talk about her was enough to make her want to help the girl. Martha was out of state at a spiritual retreat and couldn't be contacted until the weekend. Kate was yet to hear back from her father.
It was reaching ten by the time Rick came back down the stairs and found Kate pacing. He sighed.
"Kate?" She shook her head, one cell in each hand, pacing a groove in the living room carpet.
"I'm fine Rick. They should have called though, by now. I mean, how far could she have gotten in the thirty seconds that Ryan can't account for? How far could someone take her in that time? I can't walk from one end of the precinct to the other in thirty seconds and I'm not carrying a fighting seven year old." She swallowed hard. "I mean, why haven't they called yet?"
"Kate..." she continued pacing as if she hadn't heard his attempted interruption.
"Maybe they haven't called because they have found her but she's already dead and they don't want to tell us? Maybe they haven't found her but they've found something that makes them worry about telling us? Maybe the Captain decided to keep us out the loop because she doesn't actually care and everything she said was just a lie?" She carried on a little manically. Rick sighed.
"Katherine!" He shouted over her. Kate came to a stop and looked at him. The cocktail of concern, fear and frustration she found in his eyes knocked the wind from her metaphorical sails.
"I'll stop. Sorry, you're right, I'll stop, I'm sorry." She murmured.
"Come to bed. You're no use to anyone if you're dead on your feet." Kate sighed softly.
"I'm just so worried Rick." She told him tearfully. "I've only ever been this worried about someone once in my whole life." Rick nodded understandingly.
"Your dad, when he was drinking, right?" Much to his surprise, Kate shook her head. "Then who?" Kate sniffed, turning to him with wide fearful, tear filled eyes.
"You. When you were arrested for murder." Kate looked down as the first tear fell.
"Oh, Kate." Rick whispered. He closed the distance and bent slightly, looping his arm under her knees while the other came around her back. She clung to his neck as he pulled her into his chest, bridal style. He had barely made it to the bed when she started sobbing with a vengeance. Rick leaned against the headboard and held her, gently rocking her, whispering into her ear as she shook with tears.