Castle: Beating the odds

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Kate eyes flew open and she glanced at the clock. 2am. Anna had rolled off of her sometime after she had fell asleep. She carefully got up and pulled the covers back over Anna, placing a light kiss in her forehead. Smiling Kate left her room quietly and went to check on Jacie. She was sound asleep with her teddy bear clutched to her chest. Next she stopped in Collins room and he was passed out too. Batman pjs on and his covers pushed to the end of the bed. Kate quietly entered and covered his cold body. He shifted but didn't wake and Kate snuck out like nothing happened. Lastly she checked jacks room and he was sleeping too Rick had out a monitor from when he was a baby at his bedside, the other must have been in their room. Not wanting to wake him, Kate quietly left cracking his door letting only a sliver of light in. When she came down the stairs all the lights were on and she stopped in the kitchen getting some water. Going through the office she found Rick setting in his chair, feet up on his desk and laptop in his lap, fingers flying across the keys. Deciding it was time for both if them to retire, Kate walked up behind him and snuck her arms around his neck, placing a kiss in his head. "Babe, I think it's time for bed." She said gently smoothing her hands down his chest, still standing behind him. He sighed and brought his hands to his face, rubbing it, then turning to face Kate bringing her to sit in his lap. "I'm sorry, I just had to-" Kate shook her head, "I get it hon. Just let's change and go to bed." She got off of him and turned the lights off in the living room and met him in their bedroom. He was in the bathroom and the shower started. Kate just shook it off and changed into his t-shirt that she often stole to sleep on and a pair of his boxers. Feeling comfortable, she got settled on her side of the bed and waited for him. But when sleep came too much to handle she sunk down and her eyes fell heavy. Rick found her 15 minuets later, sprawled on his some of the bed. He smiled and shut the lights off and carefully moved her over. When she curled into him, Castle wrapped his arms around her holding her sleeping form close to him. He, too, finally let sleep claim him and he drifted into a dreamless state.

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"Rick-" he felt something or someone elbow him in the ribs again. "No, stop." The soft but fearful moan caused him to shoot up. Kate was having another nightmare, she hadn't had one in a while and it scared Rick. "Sweetheart it's just a dream com back to me." He soothed and he ran his hand down her side. When she shot up, chest heaving, she looked around for Rick. Her eyes finally adjusted and he held his arms open and she began to sob. "Kate, I'm right here, you're safe." Castle held her to his chest and rocked slightly. She hadn't had a dream like this in a while, nor this bad. "He- he was chasing me." She broke between sobs. "I know, sweetie, your safe, I've got you."

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A/N: ahh! Cliff hanger! Next chapter you'll find out why she used to have nightmares!