Castle let himself back into Kate's room and flashed a smile at Esposito before taking Kate's hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
"Hey." He murmured gently. "I called your dad, let him know you're both safe. He says he'll be down in a couple of days." Kate nodded. "They're coming to discharge you in a minute Ryan text me, saying that Navi's asleep and he's happy to stay with her while we go home and get you cleaned up. You need a decent night's sleep tonight and then we'll come up in the morning, get your cast changed if the swelling's down, and collect her, yeah?" Kate nodded again slowly. She hadn't said a word since the ambulance had arrived. Not that anyone blamed her; she'd had quite the shock to her system after a horrendous couple of days.
"I'll relieve Ryan." Esposito assured them. "We'll take it in turns, make sure your girl's happy and safe." Castle clapped his shoulder as he smiled.
"Cheers Espo." The Latin detective smiled and kissed Kate's temple before leaving the room. "Come on." Rick turned to Kate with a soft loving smile. "Let's get you ready to go."
Rick gently helped Kate down on the closed seat of the toilet he'd padded with a towel, and hovered for a second to make sure she could hold herself up, before leaning her crutches against the wall and making his way across the bathroom.
Putting the bowl he kept in the bathroom for emergencies under the sink taps and running them both, he grabbed a soft clean flannel, the medical kit and her hair brush before finding a hair tie and slipping it onto his wrist.
He quickly flicked his gaze back to Kate as he set the items down beside her- his heart breaking as she stared into the middle distance, tears trickling down her cheeks- and turned off the taps, carefully lifting the bowl out and setting it on the other side of Kate.
She didn't move and he didn't say a word.
He kneeled down in front of her before carefully undoing the buttons on her shirt and pushing it off her shoulders, tossing it into the bathtub once it was off. He'd put everything in the wash later.
He then opened the front clasp of her bra and slipped the straps down her arms, tossing it in to join her shirt.
Since her jeans had been cut off in the ER so they could get to her leg, the scrub pants they'd given her came next. He'd replace her jeans. He'd give her anything she asked if it meant she spoke to him again.
He gently wrapped one arm around her waist, lifting her just enough to work the material down her hips and over her bottom, leaving her panties where they were, before he set her down and pulled them the rest of the way off, careful not to let them catch on her soft cast.
He flashed her an unreciprocated smile before turning to the matter at hand.
He submerged the flannel in the warm water, watching for a moment as lilac turned to royal purple before wringing the excess water out and gently brought it into contact with her right foot.
He gently smoothed the material around her toes, up under the arch of her foot, around the top and circled her ankle before returning the flannel to the bowl.
He repeated his gentle motions across her body until he reached her face.
Kneeling up so he met her eye line, he wrapped one finger in the damp cloth and gently worked it around her delicate features, careful not to apply too much pressure to the minor cuts ER had left to heal themselves, but still wipe away her tears and the dried blood clinging to her skin.
Her eyes slipped closed, the first movement she'd made unassisted in more than an hour.
Once he was satisfied, Rick put the cloth back in the bowl and put it to one side before reaching for the medical kit.
He rummaged for a moment pulling out antiseptic cream and band-aids before sitting the box down.
"This might sting." He warned softly, his voice sounding far too loud in the wake of the silence they'd created over the last hour.
She didn't acknowledge him, not that he expected her too.
He squeezed some of the cream out, rubbing it between his finger and thumb to warm it, before gently spreading it across the cut on her forehead; she didn't even wince.
He repeated the process on her cheek before wiping his fingers on the flannel and drying them on the towel.
Once he had smoothed band-aids over each cut, he reached for her clean nightshirt.
He carefully slid his t-shirt over her head, making sure to not to disturb his first aid work and gently teased her arms through it.
He smiled at her again before tenderly turning her in a half circle.
He moved to kneel behind her before cautiously running her brush through her hair.
After delicately working out all the tangles, he parted her hair into three and braided it quickly, securing the tie from his wrist around the end.
"All done, Kate." He murmured softly.
He tipped away the water, leaving the bowl in the sink and tossing the cloth in the tub, put away the medical kit and set her hair brush down on the counter before returning to her side.
"Ready for bed?" She closed her eyes and nodded ever so slightly.
Rick smiled. "Okay."
He deftly slid his hand under her legs, lifting her off the seat and secured his other arm around her back.
She leaned into his chest, sighing softly, feeling safe in his arms.
He pulled down the sheets and set Kate down, before rounding to his side and getting in, tucking the sheets around them both before extending his arm in silent invitation.
Kate rolled into him without hesitation and snuggled into his body, her head resting on his chest, right arm and leg slung across him, holding him close.
Rick curled his arm around her, his hand settling on her hip, before pressing a kiss to her crown.
"Try to get some sleep, okay. I'm right here, Kate. I've got you."
She nodded against him, settling quickly into sleep.
Once her breathing evened out, Castle sighed in relief, whispering his love for her into the darkness before succumbing himself.