Kate struggled to open the door to Rick's apartment, supporting his weight against her side. "Ok, easy," she told him as she led him inside. He was jumping on one leg, he'd taken a nasty spill while out on a case and hurt his ankle. Ryan thought he'd heard something snap but Castle insisted he was fine and just had to home to rest for the night.

She helped him to his couch then gingerly took his shoe and sock off. His ankle was badly bruised and swollen to twice its normal size. "Oh, Castle I think we should go to the hospital. This looks really bad."

"I'm fine. It doesn't hurt that bad. Besides, Lanie said it might just be a sprain." He let out a low groan as he laid down on the couch, tossing a throw pillow to the other end to prop his foot up with.

"Might be," Kate stressed, adjusting the pillow for him. "She also said you should get x-rays just to be sure."

"I'll be fine."

"What if it's broken? If it is and it's left untreated, it can cause an infection and you'll be dead in a week."

"A week, really? That's it?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Fine, joke." She walked into his kitchen and yanked open his refrigerator. "The idea of you dying from a broken ankle is freaking hilarious."

"I won't die from a broken ankle. Don't you think if it broke, I'd know?"

"Ryan said…"

"Ryan said he thought he heard a snap, I know. That was also after Espo stepped on a twig."

Kate sighed. "What kind of sandwich do you want?"

"You're gonna make me a sandwich?" he asked with a smile, sitting up slightly.

"Yeah, well… don't get used to it. I'm not gonna play nurse forever." She took an icepack from his freezer and put it on his ankle with a bit more force than necessary. "Sandwich. Do you want one or not?"

He winched as he repositioned the ice. "Turkey?"

"Mayonnaise?"

"Naturally," he said with a smile.

She made his sandwich and put it on a plate, cutting it through the middle before she brought it to him, sitting on the edge of the couch near his legs.

"What, you're not gonna feed me?"

She smiled and shook her head, rolling her eyes. "Just eat." She looked at his ankle again as he took a bite of his sandwich. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"I told you a million times, I'm fine," he said with his mouth full. "Can you get me something to drink?"

"Yeah, you're fine. Just milking this for all it's worth." She went back to his fridge and got a bottle of beer for him.

"That or I just don't want you to leave."

"As if I'd go anywhere when you need me."

He smiled at her as he finished his sandwich, placing the plate on the coffee table. "Then you should stay forever."

"I'll think about it," she said with a grin. "But I am staying overnight. If your ankle doesn't look any better in the morning, we're going to the hospital."

"Yes, ma'am. What are you going to do it I need crutches?" he asked with a playful pout. "I can't possibly take care of myself. This is such a big apartment and those stairs…"

She rolled her eyes. "Your room is on this floor. But if you need me, of course I'll be here."

"Good. Maybe we can talk about getting one of those sexy nurse outfits."

"Ok, we can talk about it." She leaned over to kiss his lips quickly.

"Really?"

"Really. I'm sure your mom would love to wear it."

He shuttered.

She laughed. "It would get you back on your feet quicker."

"Yeah, I'd hurt my other ankle trying to get away."