I know, I know, you all hate me because I'm terrible at updating. Well, here is chapter 29. Here goes nothing.
Disclaimer: Hangs head in shame.
Previously on Help Me:
"What the hell Rick?" Kate all but screamed at him. Rick was laughing through the searing pain in his abdomen, "I'm sorry," he said through his fit of laughter, "I just couldn't help myself." She smacked his arm and walked out, the other three women following her, leaving Rick to laugh by himself.
The next day, Kate was standing at the foot of his bed looking at him. When he opened his blue eyes, he looked around, finally settling them on the woman that he knew as his fiance. "You know, I now understand why you say that me watching you is creepy." he said, taking in her appearance. Smudged eyeliner, purple rings beneath her eyes, red and tearstained face, puffy eyes, and rumpled hair that was pulled back into a ponytail.
Kate didn't blink. She didn't do anything. She just stood there, watching him.
Rick's expression softened from amused to concerned. Normal Kate would have at least scoffed at him.
But this Kate...she was emotionless, hard, and calloused. "Are you still mad at me?" he asked. She didn't move, "How long have you been standing there?".Once again, she didn't do a thing. He tried again, "I can tell that you didn't sleep last night." She blinked, once. "Do you want to come lay down?" he offered. She leaned forward slightly, and it looked like she was about to take a step toward him.
He anticipated for her to fall into the lumpy hospital bed with him, but instead she turned on her heel and strode away, Stilettoes clicking on the porous tile.
He sighed, "What did you get yourself into Ricky?" he asked himself. He had really screwed up. Not only had he pissed her off royally, but he offended her, shamed her, made her look like an idiot, but most of all, he had hurt her feelings. And that hurt him.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Nurses came in periodically to check on him, bring him food and a drink, but that was it. They never stayed a minute to chat, they never asked him any new questions, they did nothing to mentally stimulate him.
He was a writer, he was curious, he needed conversation, he needed people. He needed Kate.
The next morning, Rick woke to a sleeping brunette near his left hand. He smiled, Kate had forgiven him. He shook her just a little bit, attempting to wake woman sat up quickly, revealing to him a face that he wasn't expecting, nor wanting, to see.
He gasped out the name, "Meredith!"
She smiled, "Kitten, I'm so glad you're awake." Meredith yawned, "I'm sorry I fell asleep, I was just so tired."
Rick was so confused, "Why are you here?"
Meredith scoffed, "To see you."
Rick took a really good look at her for the first time that morning, "Wasn't your hair red?"
Meredith nodded, "It was dyed for a play."
"Of course it was." Rick looked at the clock, it was ten o'clock, so it was early for Meredith. He looked at the redhead-gone-brunette,
"So tell me, why are you really here?"
"To see you. I heard you were in the hospital."
Rick drew in a breath, but a sharp pain told him he took in too much too fast, "Well, I'm fine, so you can go back to L.A. There's no need for you to stay here."
Meredith shifted in her chair, "Oh, but there is."
Rick wanted to wring her neck, "Like what?"
Meredith squinted at him, "Our daughter," she answered.
Rick scoffed, "If you were really here for her, you would know that she isn't even here."
"What do you mean she isn't here? Of course she is."
Rick grinned, he had her right where he wanted her, "No, she's not. She's in D.C. with some of her friends." That would really get her, "Now, if you don't mind, i would like you to leave. Kate is due here any minute."
"So you two are still together then?"
"Yes, very much so. We are actually engaged."
"Really?"
"Yes, we are. Kate is working with Alexis on plan..."
Meredith lunged forward, "Shut up," she jerked him toward her, and sent her lips crashing against his. Rick didn't realize what was going on until she was already on top of him, trying to make him open his mouth. Rick was trying to push her off of him, but the pain rushing through his abdomen was making it increasingly difficult. The door opened and the click of heels on the tile told him that he was screwed.
"What the hell is going on?" Kate practically screamed.
Meredith pulled away, slid off of Rick, and managed to elbow him in the sternum.
Rick's eyes met a very pissed off Kate's. She turned her attention to the brunette that was draped over her fiance not five seconds ago. She grabbed the woman's shoulder and spun her around, "And you!" Kate exclaimed.
Kate was taken aback when she was met with the face of Castle's first ex-wife. "Go! Get out!" the fury in Kate's voice was enough to send Meredith scrambling toward the door.
Once she was out the door, Kate turned on Rick, "You, I can't believe you." her voice was low, but Rick could tell that she was past her limit. He looked at his fiance, and the look on her face was enough to send him scrambling for words.
"Kate, I-I can explain..."
Kate shook her head, "Save it,"
She turned on her heels and strode away, leaving Rick confused. He couldn't believe what just happened.