Patience Test
Sometime after everyone found out of Lanie and Espo's impending parenthood, Castle ended up with a lot on his plate one day. Beckett and all four kids were sick. Castle was the only one who wasn't sick and it was just him that was able to take care of them. Alexis and Jake were in Tennessee at Jake's cousin's wedding. Martha was off on a date.
So with a wife who was sick with the flu and four kids; all under the age of ten, had the chicken poxs. The loft was a veritable breeding ground for germs. That and Beckett would likely go stir crazy since she was staying home from work while she was sick. The 54th was left in the capable hands of Ryan and Esposito since they were the highest ranking detectives beside her. It was just like that time when Beckett was left in charge when Gates went to a conference back in 2014. As Castle was taking care of his wife and kids; his mind drifted off to a memory.
"Your throat feel any better?"
"Why'd I have to get mono?"
"Well, it's called the kissing disease for a reason. I assume you and Max were… I'm going to stop right there."
"I think that's best."
"How are you feeling?" Castle asked.
"Miserable; babe."
"Well; drink this; it should make you feel better." Castle said as he handed Beckett a mug of green tea.
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
The kids were calling for Castle.
"I'll be right up."
"Hurry Daddy; we're really itchy." Johanna Martha called back down on her and her siblings' behalf.
"Okay don't scratch; I'll be up in a few minutes. I've got to give Mommy her medicine."
With that the kids went back to their respective rooms as Castle gave Beckett the medicine.
"Go take care of the kids; babe. I'm gonna take a nap."
"Okay."
After that Castle washed his hands in the kitchen sink before he head upstairs to take care of the kids. He didn't want to transfer any of the germs he may have picked up from Beckett to the kids. Castle did the same whenever he went from taking care of the kids to taking care of Beckett. Once Castle had dried his hands; he grabbed the bottles of calamine lotion on his way up. Castle would give each kid a cool bath before he put the calamine lotion on them.
Having all four kids and Beckett sick was going to definitely test Castle's patience as he nursed them back to normal.