Unexpected Detour

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version to a different outcome from the RISE episode in Canon. Kate left to deal with her demons, perhaps she wasn't the only one needing to come to terms with what life brought them all. This is a LONG Road but initial plan is to wind up CASKETT, don't push too hard it will take some time to develop plot points.

I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only

Chapter 4

Previously

Kate's hands are shaking by the time she finishes the short note, Gone? Did Eduardo say he had been gone for three months? Why the hell didn't someone at the precinct tell her about her partner? Now, blocking entrance to the entire team not only from his loft, but the entire building, who knew he owned the damn thing anyway.

Worse he had left instructions for Eduardo to call the 54th Precinct Captain, another guy he must know so he was serious. He had even anticipated her reason to come to see him, the file and had made arrangements to return it to her personally thru Paula.

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Later the Same Friday

Becketts Apartment

Kate was still in a state of shock as she entered her apartment, functioning on auto pilot when she finally arrived inside her apartment. The words, Castle's gone, kept ringing in her ears, on a constant loop. It was almost like a bad dream she couldn't wake from. Where did he go?

"He's been gone almost three months", hell that was right after she was discharged from the hospital and went to her Dad's cabin. Maybe it's just the Hamptons, where else would he go, and where the hell was Alexis and Martha? Something was wrong, very wrong, she never had felt the wave of cold fear wash over her as she just did.

Pulling her cell phone out, she hit the speed dial for her partner, only to hear

"I'm sorry the number you reached is not in service, please check the number and dial again. If you believe you reached this message in error, please contact a customer support representative" She pushed the end call button and immediately called his land line.

Once again, the phone rang 4 times then she heard the answering machine come on, but it wasn't Rick's voice, but Alexis's youthful excited tone. "Thanks for calling, you've reached the Castle residence, we're sorry but Alexis is at Stanford University, Grams is on European tour, and Dad is off the grid, if you need to contact him please call Paula Haas at 555- 345-1234. Leave a message if you like, and someone will return your call, eventually. Bye"

Kate copied the number for Paula quickly on her blackboard on the fridge, wanting to be sure that she had the right number. She decided to go for it and leave a message knowing the chance of Rick hearing it were slim, if at all.

"Rick, this is Kate, eh Beckett, I know it's been a long time, hey I'm sorry I didn't call you like I promised, but I'm back in New York, actually back to work, and eh I just wanted to talk to you. Look I know you're pissed and you have a right, but please just give me a chance to explain, call me, Please?"

She listened to her options and chose the send button afraid she would chicken out if she heard what she had recorded, Hell he probably would never hear it anyway.

She dialed the next number and on the third ring heard "How can I help you Detective Beckett," in Paula's nasal tone,

"Hi Paula, yeah it's Kate Beckett, look I'm a little shocked, I just got back from Castle's loft, and Eduardo intercepted me and informed me that Rick wanted no contact with me or my team. Even bigger shock that he had been gone for three months. I don't know what's going on but I need your help to speak to him."

"WHY?" A one-word simple question was all Paula offered.

"I'm sorry what? Why do I need to speak with Castle? Well I've been away and I wanted to catch up with him, and to make sure he was all right"

Once again Paula offered the same one-word question "WHY?"

"Look Paula, I know I screwed up but I need to apologize to Rick, not through a third party, can you give me his cell phone number please?" Kate is getting annoyed, but tried hard to keep her cool

"OK Detective, let me get this straight, you get shot, Rick threw himself in front of the bullet, but is a hair too late, his daughter and Mother looked on in horror, as did others who truly love him.

He professed his love loud enough for New Jersey to hear, and applied direct pressure to the wound in your chest. He rode with you in the ambulance where you coded not once but twice.

He kept a vigil at the hospital, even after your Boyfriend assaulted him in the Emergency Room, blaming him not only for your shooting, but also for Captain Montgomery's death as well.

Rick ended up with two broken ribs and a concussion from your Boyfriend shoving him so hard he hit is head on the concrete wall. The jackass refused treatment even against medical advice from Dr. Parrish as well until you were safely out of surgery.

He then went to treatment as your Dad and Dr. Wonder boy were allowed to see you after surgery. He was told to go home, but he didn't leave the hospital for three days. Alexis brought him clothes, he changed and showered in the staff locker room, he had a way with the nurses, surprise, surprise, all just to be sure you were out of the woods.

Once he knew you were going to make it, he hired additional security for your room, yeah Kate, NYPD had a budget crunch, so Rick hired them, and worked the case with the team until he got the call you wanted to see him.

I have never seen him so excited, he changed blue shirts three times before he finally left with a bouquet of flowers to see you. I guess you know better than I what happened next. All I know is I watched him, walk around with that damn phone in his hand, trying to will it to ring, for weeks. He had been banned from the precinct, and he had no one, I mean NO ONE to talk to Kate, he worried me, and yes if you haven't figured it out, I LOVE him, unlike you I'm not trying to use him.

Worse than that, Alexis heard him cry, sure he had drunk more Scotch than he should, and some nights, she or I would help him to bed. Finally, Alexis had enough and put her foot down, she took the early graduation and scholarship to Stanford and forbid him from talking about accompanying her until he remained sober for two consecutive weeks.

The timing of her leaving worked out to be within days of your discharge from the hospital, I guess you forgot or didn't have time to call your Partner as you described him, as you had promised. Two days later he received a call that you had been discharged two days earlier when one of your team had a question and called him, just like always only when they need something from him.

That was the last he heard from anyone from the 12th. All I know is he said you had your Boyfriend with you and he had to forget and move on. If you had wanted to talk to him you would have found two minutes in the month you were in the hospital.

Alexis and he talked a great deal, and he finally agreed, he needed to take care of Rick for a change, so he's off the grid, not only to you but EVERYONE. If you think you are getting a way to contact him from me after your pitiful excuse of friendship you're mistaken. Hell will freeze over before I ever help you contact him."

Kate is reeling, half angry, half ready to cry for the things Paula had pointed out. She hadn't known that Josh had treated him so badly. Paula was right, a two-minute call would have been all it would have taken to keep his friendship, now he hates her, Hell she hates herself.

She knew how this must have hurt Alexis for her to put restrictions on her father, he was her world as she his, so now she finally realized she had hurt more than just Rick. Even if she could wave her wand and get him back, Alexis would never forgive her for the hurt she caused her Dad.

When Paula said that Alexis had heard Rick cry, and had to help him to his bed some nights, the horror of her own Dad and her struggles flashed in front of her face. The bigger picture began to come into focus for her, and it was a horror show of the worst kind.

"Detective Beckett, Detective Beckett, are you still there," Kate heard finally

"Sorry, I'm here Paula, what did you say, I zoned out for a minute."

"I said if you want to see the file Rick worked on last, I will email you the directions and the pass code to retrieve it. Rick has it stored in a digital Safe Deposit Box knowing you would have to see it for yourself, or at a minimum return the file to NYPD."

"Yea, that would be fine, thanks. Paula, when you talk to Rick, please tell him I'm so very sorry for everything, I know it won't mean much, but please tell him,"

"Kate, I'm not going to lie to you, I won't call him for you, but if he calls me, I'll relay the message, what he does with it is up to him. I think you have a pretty clear understanding about how Alexis is going to take all this, and right now, you are just a bad memory to her."

"Thanks Paula, that's fair, and I owe you an apology as well, I knew you cared, but I never knew you loved him. I'm sorry for all or any of your hurt as well,"

"Kate, believe me, it is and always has been a one-way street, I've loved him since the third year we worked together, but to him I am non-existent. That's one of the reasons I knew just how badly he hurt with you, it's the same for you and him. Either you are sincerely the biggest Bitch in New York or you pulled off an academy award winning performance of not giving one damn about him. Good Bye Detective, expect the email within the hour."

Flashback

Rick was shocked with the sweetness of Mandy, at a different time, under different circumstances she would be perfect, but his heart was still in a million pieces. She seemed to value a friendship more than a relationship. He was jealous a bit about how two people could have the type of love that would sustain them even 14 years after the death of the other.

Just as he was about to go down another replay his phone rang, Skype call with his Pumpkin. "Hi Alexis, how are things going today" he asked cheerfully

"Terrible Daddy, it's prank a freshman day today so every time I ask for directions, I get sent on another wild goose chase. I am so tired of walking, I've been late to every class, it's just good that the professors understand." She almost was in tears

"I see, well how I got past that when I was in school, I found an upper classman that needed something I had and traded it for a personal guide for the first few weeks, it saved me from a lot of as you say, Wild Goose Chases" Rick tried to be encouraging yet sympathetic.

He saw Alexis smile pop out big and bright,

"Daddy, you're a genius, there's one girl who is repeating Freshman Chemistry, I could trade tutoring for guide service, that would solve both our problems."

"Well Sweetie, genius, no, Experience yes" he laughed "Some things never change it's always pick on the newbies regardless if it's college, boarding school or just the neighborhood.

"Thanks Dad, that will solve a big problem, so speaking of problems what did you get into today, you sure you don't need bail money yet" and she was back to his little girl laughing once again.

Rick explained Mandy and how wonderful the day had been, she was now a friend, and shared something he did, hurt so she was there to talk to. Something he had missed for a long time.

"You sure it's just talking Daddy, she sounds perfect, beautiful and sensitive with a sense of humor, plus a son almost my age who is a hot looking Marine. Who know Dad, maybe we could work out a package deal, then she started laughing, only kidding Daddy? You should have seen your face; I needed that today."

"Ooh I owe you one for sure now Pumpkin," as he laughed, and the sound of both laughing was the medicine both needed.

"So, what's next you staying another day with Mandy, or are you leaving for another spot tonight?"

"Not tonight pumpkin, but early in the morning, I'm going to double back and take the scenic route North and again just play it by ear. The coastline should provide a beautiful backdrop to drive. Mandy even asked me why I was in such a hurry to go no place in particular, to slow down and enjoy the sights. She's right so that's the plan."

"I'm glad you listened to her, she sounds very sweet and she's right. Take the time you need to heal Daddy, it won't come quickly, but you deserve to be happy and it starts with you making yourself happy, that's what you told me when Russell Pedersen broke my heart in 7th grade."

"7th Grade? And you still remember?"

"It was some of the best advice you ever gave me, so of course I remembered"

"Thanks Sweetie, I'll remember. I'm telling myself each day that it's going to be a good day then work like hell to make it one, that by the way is from Mandy, but she told me to use it" he laughed.

"It's good to hear you laugh again Daddy, I thought I would never hear it again, so I'm so proud of you, I know it's hard but you're doing great. I gotta scoot to get to a bargaining session with a particular upperclassman about a barter arrangement" she laughed. "I love you Dad, talk to you tomorrow if you can get the call, OK?"

"Can't wait baby, have a good night, and Alexis, Thank You, I love you."

"Love you to, Dad, talk soon" as the screen went blank.