Author's Note-It's my sister's birthday, so I thought I'd treat you all :D NYLF xx

Later that night, Rick woke to the sound of his cell ringing.

"Lo?" He croaked, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Hey, Rick." Kate's shaky voice filtered down the line.

"Kate?" Rick sat up, suddenly a lot more awake, his attention drawn to the tears in her voice. "Is everything okay?"

"You, uhh, you said I could call." She reminded him timidly. "Was I wrong to do so?" Rick shook his head.

"No, of course not. Kate it's," he paused to check the red digits of his alarm clock, "four o'clock in the morning, what's wrong?" A quiet sob floated across the line. "Kate?"

"Could you, umm, could you do me a favour?" She asked shyly.

"Of course, what is it?" Rick asked, already forming a plan to ask the neighbour to keep an eye on Alexis if he had to go and pick Kate up.

"Could you, could you leave the line open?" Her hesitant request stopped his thoughts in their tracks.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand." Kate chuckled a little hysterically.

"Just put your phone on speaker, on your pillow and forget about it?"

"Kate, I could send a cab, bring you back here?"

"No, I can't leave, I..." she filtered off, her voice breaking. "This was a stupid idea." She muttered self-deprecatingly.

"No, Kate, I'll do it. Do you want me to talk to you until you fall asleep?" He asked, laying back down in bed and putting his cell on speaker, resting it on the spare pillow.

"No, thank you. I just, it'd be nice to know someone's there." She murmured. He heard her rustling and presumed that she was getting comfy and placing her phone nearby. "Thank you for this, Rick."

"Anything Kate, anytime, always." He murmured softly. "Try and get some sleep, okay? I'm right here. Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." But her breathing was already evening out.

"Night, Rick." She murmured. Rick smiled softly.

"Goodnight, Kate."

The call was disconnected by the time he woke up at nine the next morning. He sent her a quick text telling her good morning and that he'd be at home all day if she needed him and then went to wake and check on Alexis.

He didn't get a text back until two.

Hey Rick, sorry for last night. I shouldn't have woken you. K x

Rick shook his head as he read her words. He wanted to call her, tell her he was there for her in tears and smiles, but he didn't want to spook her, so he settled for a text back.

Don't be silly. I told you to call. If there's anything I can do, just let me know. R x

She didn't reply, but he chose to believe she had read it and taken what he had said to heart.

In fact, it was a week before he heard from her again.

He was in the library, looking for inspiration, her, and had been there for over an hour. He was just turning to leave when she swept in.

She looked terrible.

Her hair was dank and lifeless, her cheeks red raw and tear stained. She was wearing what must be the baggiest jumper she owned and what looked like very soft denim jeans, with flat ballet pumps on her feet and sunglasses on her eyes, despite the dismal weather.

"Kate?" She visibly jumped at the sound of his voice. She turned to look at him slowly. "Kate, what's happened?" Her lower lip trembled lightly as she fought tears. "Kate, Sweetheart, it's okay." He gently wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the building away from prying eyes.

"I'm sorry." She murmured brokenly. Rick gently pushed her sunglasses into her hair and cupped her cheek.

"No. No more apologies." He told her firmly but kindly. She nodded. "Now, what happened?" She leaned into his hand as if it was the only thing keeping her grounded. "Kate? Talk to me, Honey." He murmured, resting his forehead against hers.

"The night I called you?" He nodded. "I found my dad on the bathroom floor. He'd collapsed." She shuddered at the memory. "I uhh, I had to drag him to the shower and clean him up." Rick's imagination filled in the bits she wasn't telling him. No child should ever have to find their parent in their own vomit. "He never woke up, Rick. I dragged him into the shower and used the coldest water I could bare and then dragged him to his bed. And he never even opened his eyes." Rick gently caught the tear trailing down her cheek with his thumb.

"Oh, Kate." He sighed.

"I couldn't leave him Rick. He's, he's my dad, or at least he was. I'm not sure who he is anymore." She whispered.

Rick gently brought her into his chest, his heart breaking for her when she looped her arms under his and up onto his shoulders, holding him as close as she could.

"I can't do this anymore, Rick." She whispered, devastated. Rick gently kissed the side of her head.

"You're staying at the loft tonight." She started to protest. "No, Kate. No arguments. I cannot see you in this much pain without doing anything, it's killing me. And tomorrow, we'll research rehabs together and get him in one, ASAP." Kate shook her head.

"I can't afford it." Rick shook his head.

"Money's no issue, Kate. I'll spot you." Kate shook her head.

"I can't ask..." Rick pulled back and looked her dead in the eye, the look he was giving her leaving no room for argument.

"You aren't asking. Now, do you need anything from home so you can stay the night?" Kate nodded. "Right, I will take you there, I don't care what you say Kate, I don't feel comfortable sending you back there on your own, and we'll get some of your stuff and then you can stay with me." Kate nodded slowly, leaning back in to rest her head on his chest.

"Thank you Rick." He gently kissed her temple, squeezing her gently.

"It isn't a problem Kate."