Rick hovered in the doorway to his bedroom as he watched Kate get dressed while Alexis sat, fully clothed and cross-legged in the middle of their bed watching the young woman.
No one said a word.
Kate threw on clothes so fast he was surprised she didn't hurt herself or tear the material.
Once she had gotten herself dressed, she let out a ridiculously shaky breath and turned around to say something to Alexis but her eyes caught on Rick first. He felt his heart trip in its rhythm when he saw the tears brimming in her eyes.
"Kate..." he started but she dropped her eyes to Alexis on the bed and held her arms out to her. The four year old crawled to the edge of the bed before Kate picked her up and skirted past Rick towards the foyer. He followed silently, seeing where she would go from here.
Kate knelt in front of Alexis, threading her arms through her jacket as she stood beside the front door.
"Kate, what are you doing?" Rick asked quietly, fighting to keep his tone level. Kate zipped Alexis' jacket and smiled weakly at the girl before standing and taking her hand.
"'Taking the kid out for an hour or two'." She told the door bitterly. "You have a nice morning with Meredith and I'll go entertain your daughter. Text me when it's safe to bring her home." She moved to unlock the door but Rick's gentle but firm hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.
"Kate, I sent her away. I would never do that to you. You know what happened between Meredith and I. You really think I'd do that? To, or with, anyone let alone to you with her." His steady quiet voice did nothing to calm her jittery heartbeat nor to stem the stream of tears now making it's way down her face. "Come on, we'll sit and talk about this Kate, just don't leave, not like this. Not over something as silly as my ex showing up." Kate shook her head as she dropped her chin to her chest.
"Kate, you're hurting my hand." Alexis' hesitant voice broke through Kate's defences and had her immediately dropping her hold before she sank to her knees beside the girl.
"I'm sorry Little Red." She whispered, gently taking her tiny hand between both of her bigger ones and pressing a kiss to each of her fingers in turn. "I'm sorry Baby, is that better?" She asked, attempting a smile. Alexis frowned as she tilted her head to the side.
"Did daddy make you sad?" Kate breathed shakily for a couple of breaths but it seemed to be enough of an answer for the child. Alexis turned to her father with her piercing blue eyes flaming. "What did you do?" Rick opened his mouth to explain but Kate beat him to it. She gently cupped the girl's cheek in her palm and turned her away from her father.
"Hey, Baby, don't be mad at daddy." She murmured thinly. "It's not daddy's fault. Why don't, why don't you..." she hesitated before turning her head in Rick's direction without lifting her gaze to him. "Rick?" She asked hesitantly, needing his guidance.
"Pumpkin, go play while I talk to Kate. Then we'll sort out our plans for the day." Alexis stepped back from Kate when she slumped further into herself.
"Don't make her sad again." Alexis warned with a stern expression before leaving to go play, patting Kate's arm as she left. Rick shook his head at his daughter before turning back to Kate.
"Hey, Kate?" He asked softly. When she didn't move, he sank to the floor beside her, leaning against the door and laying his hand out between them, ready for her to take if and when she wanted to. "Kate, I'm with you. I would never stray from you, especially to sleep with my ex wife." Kate still stared at the floor from her place on her knees. Rick sighed softly. "Kate, please Honey, say something." He pleaded. Kate didn't move, save the water droplet that fell from her cheek to her knee.
"I wouldn't entirely blame you, you know." She murmured heartbrokenly. "I mean, how long has it been for you, Rick? And now you're with someone who refuses to put out? I get that you'd have to give in at some point." Rick stared at her, open mouthed and incredulous. "Would it, it would help if I slept with you, right?" She shook her head to herself. "Of course it would, what am I thinking? But, uh, I can't promise I'll be as good as her, I mean you'll be my, what? My third sexual partner?" Kate shrugged self-consciously when he still offered no comment. "Late bloomer."
"Kate..." her name was strangled in his throat. "You do not now, nor will you ever, have to sleep with me to ensure my fidelity to you." She slowly raised her head so she could look at him. Her breath faltered at the indignant fury written all across his face. "If I have ever unwittingly given you that impression, not that I believe I have, then I am sorry. Terribly sorry. Kate, I told you I would never push you and you seemed happy to take me at my word. Why do you now suppose that my word depends on whether or not we're having sex?" Kate dropped her eyes to watch her hands twist nervously in her lap. "Kate, are you saying that you'd be happy for me to sleep with other women until you were ready?" She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut to keep in the tears but also to block out the images of him in bed with anyone but her.
"No Rick." She choked. "I wouldn't be happy." She insisted tearfully before shrugging. "I just, I wouldn't blame you." Rick sighed, bored of going around in circles.
"Kate, if you want to sleep with me, we will talk about that and take it slowly. If you are doing it to keep me, I'd rather never sleep with you. I never want you to feel as if you have to do anything, let alone do something that will make you so vulnerable. I won't sleep with you to prove a point or make a statement, nor will I do it if you aren't entirely sure. I would never take advantage of you like that Kate." He stood and gently squeezed her shoulder before going to find Alexis, knowing her mother's appearance, and hasty departure, would have affected her more than she'd let on in front of Kate, still desperate to impress her.
Kate didn't move to follow him, if it wasn't for her entire body trembling with the force of her tears, she wouldn't have been moving at all.