Down for the Count by Castlefan6
Authors Note: This is my AU version of events immediately following the end scene of Countdown where Kate is in the arms of Josh watching Castle walk away after several near-death experiences. He believed she had almost confessed she loved him, but she lost consciousness one second too soon. This story is dedicated to Norman, hope it is close to what you wanted my friend. We both had severe anxiety when Beckett just watched as Castle walked away watching her in the arms of Dr. Motorcycle Boy.
I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 1
Previously
The gang is sitting in the break room, drinking beer, laughing good natured, just glad that the events of the day had unfolded as they had.
"You should have seen his face, he turns to me, then grabs the wires, all of them and just yanks" Kate exclaims
"All of them?" Ryan asks with almost hero look on his face
"I figured one of them had to be the right one, besides we were out of options" Rick smiles
"You know the Mayor wants to give you two a medal, I didn't have the heart to tell him you had no idea of what you were doing" Montgomery laughs
"Captains right, you two don't know how lucky you really are" Espo sighs
"Actually, (Rick gazes deep into Kate's eyes), I do Espo"
Castle and Beckett step outside to give Special Agent Fallon the final debrief before he goes back to DHS, and as he walks away, Castle sighs "Been a hell of a day, ugh,"
Hell, of a day Beckett responds"
Rick is smiling till he notices movement coming towards them,
"Think I'll head home, get some rest, Good Bye Beckett"
A puzzled look comes on Kates face till she feels Josh's arms around her, she looks over his shoulder to see a very despondent Castle stare at the ceiling as he waits for the doors to close. (We go AU from this point)
"Josh, what the hell are you doing here, I told you I would call you when we had things under control and I could come home."
"It looked like you had things under control from my vantage point, all but that writer tag along still poking his nose and worming his way into our lives"
"Why must you start every conversation with a slam on my partner, who by the way saved your Ass and many more people than the number of patients in the entire hospital today, we just finished debriefing DHS and you shouldn't have come here."
"Get serious Kate, the writer saving more lives than a surgeon, what drugs do they have you on?" "I just thought we could spend some time together, I gave up the trip for you the least you could do****"
"Oh, so because you gave up a trip for Doctors without borders for me, I am supposed to fawn at your feet and spread my legs for a thank you fuck, before you fall asleep and pass gas like you usually do?
"I get it, you think your job is more important than mine and everyone should hail the conquering hero walking to the precinct to mark his territory like a dog in heat". Kate interrupts
"Kate, I never said anything like that, and besides why do you have to defend the writer every time I point out that he is not a real partner'? Josh barks back
"Josh do I come into your operating rooms and rate your nurses, residents, or other doctors? No, because I am not one, just like you're not a cop and have no idea what happened today, but you are quick to take jabs at Rick? Why is that?"
"He is more a Real Partner than any I have ever had who were true cops, today alone he saved my life twice, and I won't have you stand there and degrade him."
Kate's mind flashes back to the freezer and how if she could have held on for just a second longer she would have finally told Rick how she felt.
She remembers his face, his embrace and his joy when the bomb was disarmed with zero seconds on the clock, and she remembers as they stood in front of the bomb her thoughts were all on Rick.
Her regrets were that she hadn't told hm how she felt, but she felt gratitude that if she were about to be blown to smithereens, at least the last face she would see, the last hand she would hold would be of the man she loved, Rick Castle.
Josh had been talking but at this point Kate had heard all she needed, "Josh, (babble babble babble) Josh, Shut up so I can tell you something" Finally the God of Surgeons had shut his trap, "You should go to that foreign assignment, in fact you should go anywhere but near me, we are through, finished, done! We both know this hasn't been working for a long time, and I can't take your High School Behavior, Good Luck Josh, as she has motioned for L.T. the huge patrol officer to escort him off the grounds
"You'll be sorry Kate, he is going to use you for a quick romp and then dump you like all the rest, I thought you were smarter, but I guess deep inside you are nothing but a groupie like those getting their chest signed."
"Go save the world Josh, I am sure there is some first year Med Student you can use your BS to get into her pants like you have been with your receptionist, you are a cheating bastard, now get out of here before I send you to the hospital for treatment rather than work."
Outside the 12th Precinct
30 minutes later
Rick is still walking through the park, no apparent course or destination, but if he stopped the cold would return and seep deep in his bones. At least walking beat the alternative, staying at the 12th watching Kate and Boy Wonder go all ga ga over each other. The only other alternative would be almost as bad, returning to the Loft and having to explain today's activities via Skype with Mother and Alexis.
One thing is certain, if today's life altering, near death experiences didn't provide her the certainty and courage to confess her feelings for him as she was about to do, he was almost certain she was going to say love him when she passed out, then nothing would, and he needed to find a plan to stop putting himself and his heart out there to be trampled,
Finally the weariness of the day begins to catch up and Rick hails a cab to the loft, to continue planning alternate courses to keep from getting chewed up and spit out, My God, Kate was a fucking detective, you think she could pick up how much he loved her by the clues, the coffees, the little gifts, the bear claws, providing shelter for her when she was homeless, guess NYPD's greatest detective has got a block when it comes to me he thinks.
Castles Loft
8:00 PM Same Day
Finally, he is home, he cranks the heat up full blast, and defers the cold beer for a Hot Chocolate. Perfect timing as Alexis face comes up on the Skype screen, "Hi Dad, are you OK? You look like hell."
"Yes pumpkin, I am fine just had an extended stay in a cool place that has me still feeling a chill, how are things with you and Grams?
"We're all good, just wondering why you made us come out here, and Dad I know it was serious, I won't ask what, but can we come home in the morning.
"That would work out great Pumpkin, and thanks for not pushing for details I can't disclose. Maybe you could teach your Grandmother that trait. I'm going to head to the sauna, and whirlpool to let the heat bake in and then turn in, I love you and I'll see you tomorrow"
"Good Night Dad"
Good Night Sweetie,"
Rick finishes off the Hot Chocolate and heads for his Sauna and aaahhhh yes there it was Heat. Finally, he began to feel the chill leave his body, He had to be careful when he first installed it, he almost fell asleep which could have serious impacts.
At the first twinge of sleepiness, Rick moves over to his jacuzzi tub, and again turns the heat on high and bubbles on medium. He finished off with a hot shower and the electric blanket turned up and he was ready for bed, at least his body was, his brain was working overtime.
He had said Good Bye today at the precinct, rather than his normal Good Night, or Tomorrow, so was he already willing himself out of a situation that was sure to cause him additional pain? It was strange and disheartening that there was no acknowledgement back from Beckett. Perhaps she would be happier with Rick gone, less stress with DR. MB
Rick's mind flashes back to the freezer and how if she could have held on for just a second longer she would have finally told him how she felt.
He remembers her face, her embrace and his joy when the bomb was disarmed with zero seconds on the clock, and he remembers as they stood in front of the bomb his thoughts were all on Kate.
His regrets were that he hadn't told her how he felt, but he felt gratitude that if they were about to be blown to smithereens, at least the last face he would see, the last hand he would hold would be of the woman he loved, Kate Beckett.
He still wasn't sure of his next course of action yet, but one thing he did know he had to stay away from her for merely self-preservation. The heart wants what the heart wants, but what does it do when what it wants could care less about it?
Short term, for the next couple of days he could always blame writing deadlines, but he needed a plan to break from the 12th, from Kate before he completely lost his mind.
A/N We are going to stop here, I had severe problems with Rick being super hero for 45 of the 47 minutes of the episode, then have him walk away so sad, when Kate fell into the arms of Josh. I could have lived with that IF she had not almost confessed her love for him in the freezer, mixed signals and no communication again!
Norman this one's for you, hope we do it justice.