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Chapter 8: Development

By the time Rick arrived back at the loft that evening Jim had managed to get exactly what was needed and probably more. Rick had a proper shower before getting started, nothing beats your own facilities.

Everything sorted and laid out on the paint mats with the furniture protected both men gazed once more over the task that was upon them. Coffee and biscuits were at the ready. They'd need the coffee. Jim hoped that once they were in the swing of things that the tiredness would disappear replaced by the excitement of completing it. Or at least getting as much done tonight as possible. They both needed to get at least a bit of sleep otherwise Kate would be suspicious, especially of Rick who planned to be at the hospital as soon as visiting hours began.

"Okay, Rick." Jim said, "let's get this nursery sorted."

"We've got a lot of work to do." Rick realised, he had a plan but now he was here it was becoming a bigger task than he had envisioned. Not to mention he really wanted a sleep in his own bed. Visiting hours weren't until 11am so there would be time for both. Hopefully.

"Katie isn't getting discharged tomorrow so we've got at least another night before she has the opportunity to see this. Even then she won't be climbing the stairs."

"Right, I just hope that she likes it."

"The only thing she may not like is not having been in control but there's always the Hamptons house and this baby needs a room." His daughter always the control freak and they both knew it.

"Kate certainly won't be up for much, she sleeps a lot."

"She's just had surgery, major surgery." Jim recalled how his daughter was when she had been shot. She spent so much time sleeping it was unbelievable at times. Granted this time it wasn't as major though she still would need lots of rest and help with recuperation.

"Hopefully she won't notice if I drop to sleep then tomorrow." Rick joked.

"We'll see."

"Paintbrush for you," Rick says passing one to Jim, "and one for me. Let's get going."

Three hours of painting and wallpapering later the two men sat on the chairs in the centre of the room looking at the work that they had done. Drinking coffee that Martha had kindly brought them ten minutes ago. It was a good stopping point. The original coffee, even the coffee pot had long since been consumed.

"I must say, I'm very impressed." Jim stated,

"We've done a great job. Who knew that decorating was such hard work?"

"Ha, when was the last time you decorated like this?"

"I have no idea, you?"

"The cabin, a few years ago." Jim deliberately failed to mention that it was when he and Kate were staying up there after her shooting.

"Ah. Thank you, Jim, I couldn't have done this without you."

"No worries, anything for my grandson."

"Hmm…I tell you what, how about we get some proper food? I'm famished."

"I couldn't have suggested anything better."

They took their coffees back to the kitchen, searching through the fridge they found sausages, eggs, beans, tomatoes, and bacon. Nothing like a full English breakfast in the middle of the night.

By four in the morning, both men were struggling to stay awake coffee just wasn't enough anymore. The room was nearly done, the last bits of furniture and other bits and bobs that would arrive today would help to finish it off. They each retired to bed more than satisfied with what had been accomplished in the hours that they had spent at it.

Come visiting hours Castle was back at the hospital with Kate. She had had a short nap and when she woke she expected to see Rick awake and staring at her. However, it wasn't so. "Castle" Kate said. Not getting an instant response she tried again. "Castle"

"Hmm" he murmured in response.

"What's up with you? You're barely awake." Kate asks as she's shifter to lie on her side facing him.

"Sorry, didn't sleep much last night." He apologises as he shifts in the chair to sit up straight.

"You didn't have nightmares again?"

"No, no it wasn't like that. It's just you and James were both here and I wasn't, I was just nervous because I felt so far away and still so useless." It was partially true but he didn't want to tell her the whole truth just yet.

"No, Castle, you aren't useless. You're able to go see James whenever you want, I have to be taken."

"You'll be out of here soon though, tomorrow or the day after the doc said." He reminds her, not that she needs it. She hates being cooped up in this bed but with her son, who will remain in the hospital for a week at least, here it makes is want her to stay with him until he's released.

"Yeah, I'd say that I can't wait to get out of here but James will still be here for probably another two weeks. We can't stay with him."

"No but you need a good night of sleep, perhaps in a bed away from here might do you good. There's nobody going to come in to wake you up or beeping machines." It was one of the things that bothered him so much when he was in hospital, drove him nuts the beeping machines.

"You'll be checking on me every 5 minutes." Kate said.

"As long as I can hear your breathing every 10 minutes should be fine." Rick joked trying to lighten the mood.

Kate rolled her eyes in a classic Beckett eye roll fashion, "I'm serious though, I'll need help getting here. I'm not superwoman." He and Jim had joked about a stair lift but that was never going to happen, Kate would rather risk hurting herself than taking anything like that.

"No, I will be wide awake and taking notes when the doctor gives her discharge instructions." He had already been researching on how to look after new mothers who had had experiences like Kate had. Getting lists of what other things that would be needed to take care of her and for their premature baby also. Clothes of much smaller sizes had been bought even though the staff had said he was of good development for his age and would have been a larger baby.

"One of us needs to be." Kate joked in response. Rick yawns once again showing his real tiredness. "Hey, Castle, come here." Kate said as she patted the bed. "You need a proper sleep too."

"I'll be fine here, I don't want to hurt you."

"You'll know if you're hurting me, for the meantime let us get some proper sleep."

"Are you sure?" He asks apprehensive of lying beside her.

"Yes, now get your arse here." Kate admonished. Rick got up and laid next to her on the edge of the bed. "That's better."

Within minutes the couple were both fast asleep. Even though Rick hadn't told her the full truth about why he was so tired, it was true. He was continually thinking about Kate and James at the hospital. He knew that he would be informed if there was any change but he felt better being there.

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