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
A/N I addressed the review via PM BUT I designed KB to go OOC to have the argument in public, if that didn't happen Montgomery's lines would not have made sense when he sent her home
To the guest who was upset about this being a Beckett Bashing, Big Difference in holding one accountable for actions than bashing, and you can report anything I write. You are welcome back when you are mature enough to leave respectful reviews.
Chapter 4
A/N
Response to a review about RC going to LA to have sex with bimbos
Not sure where you read Sex with bimbos, Rick's still on a plane at this point in time, appreciate your review and time, but this is not going to be an easy reunion for Kate and Rick, there is Angst and loads of it, if you are done, Thanks for trying it
Previously
"Yea Javi gave me the blow by blow with you and your Doctor, not pretty I take it."
"Tell Javi to keep his big mouth shut or he will be back in traffic within the month" Kate spews,
"In fact, WHO the hell gave you the right to criticize and discuss my personal business, Lanie? The last I looked we were friends, you aren't the fucking Dorm Mom and We're not still in college where you started this shit"
"I don't need someone to tell me who to date and who not too. How is your own love life going Lanie? Stick to keeping that blabber mouthed boyfriend of yours quiet and out of my sight"
JFK Airport
4:40 PM Same Day
Rick leans back in his first-class seat and takes in the sites. He was sure the flight crew working the flight had worked a recent flight he was on. A beautiful blonde, in her mid-30's with a body that she could show off in a men's magazine walked up the first-class section asking if anyone wanted anything to drink, until she got to his seat. She quietly put down 4 bottles of Ricks favorite single malt (don't call it Scotch) whiskey with a glass of ice.
"Nice to have you back with us Mr. Rogers, anything else I can get you? "Thank You" (as he stared at her chest, then caught the name tag just seconds short of being classified a pervert), Jacinda. How have you been?"
"I've been well Rick, that's what you asked us to call you on our trip home from London, may I still call you that?"
"Of course,". You'll have to forgive me, I remember the flight, but **
Jacinda breaks out in deep laugh, "My friend and I was searching for a table to have lunch before boarding the plane, the airport was a zoo and you shared your table with Courtney and I, then we chatted on the flight home while others slept. By the way how is Alexis and Martha, anyway?"
Just then a beautiful, smaller, African American Flight attendant, walks up, "Welcome back Rick, remember me, I'm Courtney"
"Now I do, how are your Courtney."
"You were right Courtney, we could have convinced Rick that things happened last time," Jacinda laughs.
"I wanted to bring over your Mile-High Club membership with two stamps on it, one for me, one for Jacinda, but she outranks me and wouldn't let me" Courtney laughs
"Hey, it's a 5-hour flight so if we have time, I would love to chat, you shared with us your occupation, and I'd love to get an autograph for my niece, if you wouldn't mind, we will keep in on the DL (Down Low)" Courtney promises
"I'd like that, always appreciate the fans, so I would love to, Thanks for asking" Rick smiles
Jacinda just shoots him a sweet look that would melt most men, God was she beautiful, maybe Paula was right, just get out there and start riding the bike again, Rick thinks as he returns the smile.
Beckett's Apartment
6:30 PM Same Day
Kate has tried everything since the call from Lanie ended in disaster to get her mind off Rick, Josh, the fight, and Lanie butting in, but the more she thinks, the more unsettled she becomes. Ricks face, depicting utter agony refusing to look anyway but up as he left the precinct, just will not stop playing over and over in her mind.
She retrieves her phone and types out a quick text,
"Hey, finally got warm, hope you did too, call me if you're not doing anything KB" 6:30 PM timestamp
"I'm sorry we got interrupted at the station when we were talking, give me a call KB" 7:01 PM timestamp
Rick, I know you were upset, I didn't ask him to come, and I'm sorry it upset you, please call me KB" 8:14 PM timestamp
"Rick, Are you OK? Nothing is wrong with Alexis or Martha is there, I'm worried, please call me OK? KB" 9:01 PM timestamp
Kate had alternated from pacing to reading the same 10 pages in Patterson's book, of which she couldn't tell you a thing she read, by 9:30 PM she is in a cab and on her way to Castle's Loft.
Eduardo waves and smiles as always when he sees her, and she really doesn't begin to second guess herself till she's just outside the Loft, Oh God, what if he's entertaining and doesn't want to be disturbed, she is such an idiot, of course he is stuuucking some chic, she wavers back and forth until she hears a voice behind her,
"Detective Beckett, Can I help You?" Alexis asks politely as she opens the loft and walks in past Kate.
"Hi Alexis, I'm sorry to bother you but I've been texting your father for over 3 hours, without any answers, and no matter how mad he is at me he always gives some response, I just got worried"
"He's probably still in the air" Alexis responds
"I'm sorry, in the air? Where did he go?" Kate asks totally shocked
"Won't you come in Detective and have some coffee, tea, or water? I'm sure you don't want to have this conversation in the hallway, do you?"
Kate shakes her head no and follows the young lady into the loft and to the counter.
"Is water OK Detective? Grams isn't home, and I'm not supposed to touch the alcohol, especially in front of a cop" she laughs
"Good Call, and water is fine Alexis Thank You," Kate smiles
As soon as Kate has taken her first sip, the mood changes, and quickly.
"Detective, I don't know what you or your boyfriend did to my Dad, but he was home alone, and sounded so down, Grams and I came home the very next morning rather than spend the day in the Hamptons. All he would say was that everything was good, the danger had passed"
"Then he told me he was going to the Nikki Heat film site for a week, he said the producers called, but I talked to Paula and she said he arranged it right after he got home from the precinct and whatever the threat he worked on with you was stopped."
"Alexis, I can't tell you about that, but it was very stressful to us all, and your Dad was a hero, he saved a lot of lives, including mine" Kate says sincerely,
"It wasn't the incident that was bothering him, even Paula talked to him and she agreed, something happened at the precinct that just sent him into a tailspin." "Paula said when she said something about you and he jumped all down her throat, so I thought you two had another disagreement about something stupid like you always do." Alexis slings, she's not holding back tonight
"Alexis, I know your Dad wasn't happy to see Josh come to the precinct when we were talking, he left rather abruptly, and I was going to call him but things got crazy and so I just sent him a text. He seemed like himself or maybe I just assumed he was OK."
Alexis is beginning to read between the lines now, "Detective do you mind if I read the text you sent and his reply?"
Kate looks rather sheepish, being interrogated by a teenager but finds the text and response and shows it to Alexis.
Alexis reads, then turns her nose up a bit, "Detective you've worked with my Dad for almost 3 years now, and you thought this response, see you in a week was a normal response?" "You just basically told him to go screw off for a week while you got your groove on with Medicine Man, and his response explains why he is California and not here, he did what he always does for you, Step Aside"
"Alexis, I don't think you know the wh**"
"Bull Shit Detective!" Alexis interrupts. "I'm his daughter, I know when he hurts, and I now know why, I asked him about you when he told me he was leaving, he responded that your Boyfriend had come back, and you had the week to rebuild your relationship, I think he quoted you as saying mm'hmm we have a chance. "
"Read your text again Detective, think how Dad would interpret your words, because it sounds to me like you want to be left alone and you would make time for him next week when you returned to the Precinct."
"It appears by this, that you are going to be rebuilding, if that's what it's called in your world now in bed, what else was he supposed to think?"
"No No, Alexis you have to believe me, Josh and I broke up, and I never intended to hurt your Dad, he saved my life three times, and I****"
"You let him walk out of the Precinct while you were in the arms of a man, your boyfriend, to which you are now broken up with, but you never intended to hurt my Dad? Detective I may be young, but even at my age, it's easy to see You Are Fucked Up, and need help.
"I hope my Dad never talks to you again, all you ever do is hurt him, and make him feel worthless, nothing he does will ever be good enough for Super Cop Beckett, no wonder he is depressed."
"Right now, I think it's best you leave" as she begins heading to the door,
"I know my Dad would make me apologize for crude language, which for that I apologize, but I won't apologize for defending him for what appears to be a cold heartless monster, now leave please."
Kate is in shock, she just got her ass handed to her by a teenager who nailed her dead to rights. "I'm sorry Alexis and if you would or can please tell your Dad, I would like a chance to explain and apologize to him as well."
"Yes, I'm sure he's heard them before so many times he could probably recite them with you as you go through the motions." "You may not know the number of times your crude or cutting remarks have hurt him, oh gee it's only Castle, he can take everything, BUT he's not your personal punching bag Detective, when he hurts this family hurts. Good Night as the door is closed in her face.
A/N We'll let the plane fly a bit, stopping this here, Again, Alexis is over mature for her age, I didn't specify since this is AU but for frame of reference figure 14 or 15 would sound about right. Again, this is NOT a Beckett Bash Fest, it is a story in the AU world where I think the writers wrote with Rose Colored glasses for certain characters.