Kate put Nevaeh to bed later that night while Rick cleaned up from dinner.
"Now, if you need us, don't be afraid to come get us okay?" Kate asked for the third time.
"I know Kate. I'll remember. But I'm okay." Kate smiled from her place perched on the edge of the bed and gently stroked the girl's hair.
"I know. We just had a fright didn't we, and I don't want you to be afraid of waking us if you have a nightmare." Nevaeh yawned as she nodded.
"Okay. I'll come get you." Kate smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Good girl. See you in the morning. I love you." Nevaeh smiled sleepily, snuggling down under the covers.
"Love you too Kate."
Rick lay in bed while Kate was curled into his side, her head wedged beneath his armpit, her knees tucked into her body, resting against his hips, her elbows wedged tightly between her thighs and her chest.
She was trembling, but not from cold.
It hurt Rick's heart to see her like this: as if the complete and justified terror of earlier was still plaguing her even in sleep.
And she was asleep, he knew that much, but her breathing was quicker than when she was normally even awake, her eye lids fluttering frantically.
She was having a nightmare and there was very little he could do to help her.
He slowly moved his arm so she wasn't underneath it anymore, his heart breaking for her when she whimpered at even that slight loss of contact from him. Her trembling increased and her fingers started twitching where they rested at the base of her throat, as if she was reaching for him without moving.
Rick shuffled down until he was level with her and turned onto his side, resting his head on one of his bent elbows while his other arm wrapped around her back and gently pulled her into his chest. She whimpered his name, still very much asleep and trapped in her own head.
"I'm here Gorgeous, oh Kate, I'm right here." He soothed gently, stroking her back in long firm lines. "You're safe here. I won't let them hurt you here." He promised.
She mumbled something incoherent and tearful, her breath quickening to the point where he worried she would start to hyperventilate.
"Baby? Please Kate you're safe, I've got you."
She mumbled again, cried out in her sleep. Rick sighed painfully before dropping his arm from around her and moving to slip out of bed.
Maybe if he wasn't there she would relax, not feel the need to protect herself.
Seeing his girlfriend curled into the foetal position, whimpering and shaking even from within the depths of sleep hurt too much.
He had barely moved an inch before her hand shot out and fisted around the collar of his t-shirt.
"Kate?" She didn't move, save her thumb which started to slowly stroke the material in her hand.
"Okay Kate." He soothed, bringing himself closer to her. "I'll stay. I'm not going anywhere."
Kate's breathing slowed down gradually as her eyes stopped moving beneath her eye lids. Moving so slowly he almost missed it, the tension drained from her posture as she unfurled herself.
Once she was laid straight, she slowly moved until her head rested more closely beside his. She shuffled her body so it pressed against the long line of his, her hands fisting the fabric of his shirt loosening slightly, until it was a comfort for her, rather than a need to keep him close.
As soon as she was tucked into his body, she sighed in her sleep and settled.
Castle let out a sigh of relief and tucked his spare arm around her, holding her close. He eventually drifted off, comforted by the sound of her gentle relaxed breathing.