Ruby's PET scan results were a mixed bag. She had been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, liver cancer, which is a fairly treatable pediatric cancer. However, the scan had identified mets not only on the liver, but in other areas of her abdomen as well. The oncologist immediately started Ruby on a radiation therapy to target the impacted organs and shrink her tumors. Depending on how she responds to the treatment, in a few weeks, Ruby could either have the remaining cancer surgically removed, or she would undergo a round of chemotherapy. Radiation was certainly the less taxing treatment option as opposed to chemotherapy, but it also meant that Kate wasn't able to visit Ruby in person. They attempted to fill the void with daily video calls and lots of visits from other people, but it wasn't quite the same as having your mom by your side.
"Castle, this fucking sucks," Kate sighs as she joins her husband at the table for breakfast.
"Yes, it does, honey, all of it does," Rick agrees.
"Just hug her extra tight for me, okay? Promise?" Kate pleads.
"Of course I will," Rick says. "And she will have lots of other visitors to keep her spirits up."
"I know, I know, I just...I know that the one person I would really want to be by my side for this is my mom and I know she says she understands...but..."
"It's better to be as safe as possible," Rick says. "Ruby gets it. She really does, Kate."
"It's stupid, but I just feel like I'm failing her by not being there," Kate sighs. "Like I'm choosing one kid over the other."
"Kate, that's..."
He veers away from saying "crazy", but he and Kate both know that's what was coming next. "You're not choosing anything. It's against hospital policy for patients undergoing radiation therapy to be visited by children and pregnant women. You're just adhering to the rules."
"Yes, because historically we're such rule followers," Kate tries to joke.
"You know what I mean. Plus, it's only for a few weeks and she'll be safe for you to be around again," Rick points out. "And in the meantime...I'll be there to hold her hand.
"Do you remember a few years ago, before we got married, I got that terrible flu?" Kate recalls.
"Yeah, I remember that," Rick says with a nostalgic chuckle. "I never really saw you sick before. I thought you were..."
"You thought I was what?" Kate asks.
"Pregnant. I even bought a test for you and almost ordered a crib online," Rick admits. "I was secretly so excited, except for the fact that you were like really sick that week."
"You never told me that," Kate smiles.
"Yeah, well," Rick shrugs.
"That's really sweet, babe," Kate says as she reaches for her husband's hand. "And it kind of proves what I was just about to say..."
"That I'm really sweet? Tell me you've got a sweet tooth," Rick chuffs.
"Sure," Kate retorts. "But, no, um, I'd seen how kind you can be, how protective you are of the people you love. But that week, you were so patient and nurturing in a way I'd never seen before. You were so compassionate yet so strong. It's what really opened my eyes to what having a family with you could be like."
"See, and I thought it would have been my RhD that would have opened your eyes," Rick chuckles.
"RhD?" Kate asks, acting oblivious.
"Ruggedly handsome dad? Kate, c'mon," Rick protests.
"Yeah, I mean, seeing you with Alexis did always remind me of how good of a dad you are," Kate admits. "But it was the way that you made me feel better just by being there that just clicked something into place for me."
"Made you want me?" Rick asks slyly.
"No, ew," Kate rolls her eyes. "You just always have to open your mouth and ruin it, don't you?"
"It's my specialty," Rick states defensively.
"Hey," Ruby says as her face appears on Kate's phone screen. "Is dad home yet?"
"No, he's not, why?" Kate asks.
"Just wondering," Ruby shrugs. "He left here maybe half an hour ago so I thought he would be."
"He said he was picking up some groceries on his way home," Kate elaborates. "He'll probably be here any second."
"How was your day?" Ruby changes subjects.
"It was good, I guess ," Kate shrugs. "How about you? How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Tired. The usual," Ruby yawns. "What did you do today?"
"Not a lot," Kate admits. "I did do some work though. I filled out paperwork for a few cases that Kevin and Javi just closed and answered a call from my boss. Riveting stuff."
"Sounds like it."
"What did you do today?" Kate asks.
"You know, the usual," Ruby sighs.
It was a mundane conversation, sure, but Kate was so grateful to be looking at her daughter's smiling face, even if it was through a phone screen.
"Did you get any interesting visitors today? Besides dad, of course."
"Yeah, dad's interesting alright," Ruby rolls her eyes. "And actually, I did." Ruby taps the screen and the camera lens flips around to show Kate Ruby's view from her hospital bed. On the ledge by the window sill sat a beautiful bouquet of flowers floating in a glass vase.
"Oh, he didn't tell me he'd be coming by," Kate smiles when she sees the kind of flowers they were, which was a dead giveaway for who brought them.
"I didn't know he was either, so that was a fun surprise. Although he's not the biggest conversationalist," Ruby says.
"No, he's not," Kate agrees. "What did you two talk about?"
"Well, aside from the flowers, he also brought me some soup for lunch and that was really good. And then he just showed me pictures from his last trip to Europe. Ireland looks so beautiful," Ruby says. "We should go there someday."
"You just say the word and we'll go," Kate smiles. "You would absolutely love it there. It's the perfect place for a writer and a reader."
"Is it safe for you to fly?" Ruby asks. "Cuz of the baby?"
"Yeah, it's only a bigger risk later in pregnancy, so not for another three or four months," Kate explains.
"How is Bean treating you today?" Ruby asks.
"Well, I still feel a little sick when I'm eating, but other than that I can't complain," Kate says. "How are you feeling?"
"Mostly just tired," Ruby answers. "A little nauseous sometimes, too, but not too bad."
"Good, good, I'm glad you're doing okay," Kate says. "What kind of soup did Grandpa Jim bring?"
"Chicken noodle from the shop by his apartment," Ruby says. "He told me it was your favorite as a kid."
"It's probably still my favorite now," Kate chuckles.
"Yeah, it was really good," Ruby agrees. "And the flowers are really pretty. He said those are your favorites, too."
"I do love lilies," Kate agrees. "But I like them more because they remind me of my mom. They were her favorite, so my dad would buy them for her all the time. Our apartment always had fresh lilies."
"That's really nice," Ruby smiles. "You know, I think that would be a really good name."
"What would?"
"Lily," Ruby clarifies. "For Bean, if it's a girl."
"Wow, is this a genuine suggestion I'm hearing?" Kate asks jokingly.
"Yes, but Ruby Jr. is still my top choice," Ruby laughs.
"I really like Lily. I think we'll definitely have to add that to the list," Kate smiles.
Ruby yawns as she sets the phone down momentarily flashing Kate a look at the ceiling.
"Well, I think I should let you go so that you can get to bed," Kate says as she subconsciously yawns too. "I love you."
"Love you, too, Mom. I'll call you tomorrow," Ruby smiles.
"Sounds good, Rubes," Kate says as the FaceTime call disconnects.
Almost immediately after hanging out with Ruby, Rick walks through the door with his bag of groceries. He unpacks the bag and then comes into the bedroom to greet his wife.
"Hey, babe," Kate smiles when she sees him.
He peels off his clothes and puts them in a separate laundry basket to ensure that Kate doesn't touch them. Although tertiary radiation exposure was extremely unlikely, safer rather than sorry was the motto these days.
"How was your day?" Castle asks as he continues to strip.
"Uneventful. You?"
"Same. I'm about to hop in the shower. Join me?" He asks.
"You're supposed to wash off before I can touch you," Kate points out. Again, safer rather than sorry.
"Right," Rick remembers. "How about I hop in the shower and you come join me in ten minutes after I've already exfoliated and shampooed?"
"You just want shower sex," Kate responds.
"Arrest me," Castle retorts. "See you in 10?"
Kate nods and then watches the clock as she counts down the minutes before removing her own clothes and joining her husband in the shower.