Truth or Exodus by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of events as the show picks up with Episode 4-01. Dr. MB has already been sent packing just days before, Rick picks up on Kate's lie, she remembers, and he calls her on it. Some Angst, some canon but mostly AU. Dedicated to one of my followers Cece AKA Dreamwriter08. I hope I deliver what you hoped for, cover the period of time that is treated as a 3 months later in the script. This topic has been covered extensively, but I hope to put a spin on it.

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

Chapter 10

Previously

"How Lanes, I mean he hasn't even texted in 8 days. What does that say about how he feels, tell me?"

"Kate, you're not going to like to hear this, but I'm going to say it anyway, how many times have you reached out in the last 8 days? And don't give me the crap about that's different, and it's difficult, we have all heard that bull shit for the last 4 years, and the only one making it difficult up to this point, was you.

New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
525 East 68th Street
New York, NY 10065

Beckett's Room

Later the same day

Kate is sitting with her head in her hands trying to remember when she had been this conflicted over a man, any man and she could not remember any. Hell, Will up and moved to Boston, and she barely shed a tear, Josh, well he was never here and she only used him to prove to Castle that since he got back with Gina, she could get a man as well. The only consistency was the train wreck she seemed to leave in relationships, holding on to those who didn't matter and pushing away the one who would die for her.

The countdown was fast approaching, move to Castle's apartment, OK, not the loft, but he still owned it and was providing it for her rehab, sticking his nose in her busin** wait that wasn't fair, she heard the story from the Mayor himself.

She was sure that she had to talk to him before the move, if not for her sake, at least his. IF he chose to move on, it would hurt like hell but after the last 3 years of her walls and non-commitment, or worse yet, her treatment of him she couldn't expect him to be there.

His phone had not proved fruitful, he either deleted her texts without reading them or never opened her voice mails, who could blame him really, so that left her with one choice, a letter, which she hated more than anything to write but that was the only avenue left. She would send it Registered, Return Receipt Required, and do it from her attorney's office, at least he would see it before he threw it in the trash.

She pulled out her pen, and yellow pad, she knew there would be a ton of revisions, so she would save the good stationary to copy the final version on. Just as she started, a knock on the door and there was that damn Physical Therapist, smiling

"Good Morning Detective are we ready for our therapy this morning?" she said so cheerfully, as if she took pleasure in other's pain.

"What the hell are you so happy about, you enjoy seeing your patients sweat and in pain?" Kate snapped.

"Oh is the detective feeling sorry for herself, now isn't that too bad, gee I feel so sorry for you," as she pulled up the legs of her scrubs to reveal not one but two prosthetic legs and feet.

"I was cut almost in half when a car crushed the Motorcycle my fiancé was riding with me on the back, I lost both legs and feet, he lost his life, now what do you have to be sorry about?"

Kate once again hung her head and mumbled "I'm so very sorry, I didn't know"

"Yeah well how would you Detective, you see I don't go around projecting my pain, anger and stupidity on others like you. I have two choices each morning, make it a good day and be thankful for what I have, or curl up in a ball and say oh woe is me and how unfair life is to me. Guess which one you are? Now get your ass out of that bed and into this chair, I have patients who want to get better"

Dee, the therapist is very quiet as she wheels Kate to the workout area, "Dee, I am so very sorry and you're right, I have been wallowing in a sea of self-pity, don't give up on me, please, let's get me discharged in a few days so the next therapist won't be disappointed."

"Oh she won't be Kate, I know that for a fact" Dee says smiling, "you got stuck with me with your home therapy as well and Mr. Castle has installed every piece of equipment we have used here to make it seamless"

"He did what?" Kate exclaims,

"He met with me 3 days ago to outline the therapy program, and what would be needed for your continued rehab. Later that day he texted me to stop by and asked me to inspect if the equipment was installed correctly and if there was anything missing, I thought you knew, you know that equipment costs a fortune so he cares about you a lot."

"Well he used to Dee, but I blew it, big time."

"Kate, no man spends that kind of money on someone he USED to care about, maybe it's time to put his needs ahead of yours as he seems to have done for a long time with you."

"You're right, I've been a selfish bitch, worse than that I have treated him cruelly, and said hurtful things, know they weren't true, but now he won't answer his phone, and deletes my texts. I was going to write him a letter just as you came in, probably why I was so cross with you, again I'm sorry."

"Well Kate, if it's any light in your dark tunnel, he actually asked me how you were doing, and if there were anything we could add to make you more comfortable, special bed, handicap racks to steady yourself to keep from falling, I mean he had done his research.

Guys that don't care don't do any of the things he is doing, so my advice, OWN what you did wrong, you can figure out the why when you talk to Dr. Burke. The FIRST thing I think he is looking for is are you truly trying, and are you accepting your Fuck Ups as yours, no one else's.

Just my advice read the letter you write, it shouldn't have anyone's name other than his and yours, and Kate, Stop calling him Castle for God's sake, that hurts him when Tom, Josh and Will were all called by their names, may sound petty but hey he's hurting, and hurting bad."

By the end of the workout, Kate had garnered a new-found respect for Dee, both as a therapist and as a new friend, if she could overcome the blow that life dealt her, so could she. As she returned to her room, she had Dee stop for a moment by the whiteboard for a moment, the day, date, and nurse was always listed, but there was room for an inspirational quote, so Kate wrote,

"Live without pretending, Love without depending, Listen without defending, Speak without offending." – Drake

She had underlined the listen without defending line and speak without offending since that seems to be all she has been doing lately for both. Dee just winked at her as she left the room, "See you tomorrow, Kate"

"Thanks Dee, for everything, I really mean it"

Dee just smiles and whispers, "I know dear, it wasn't too long ago I was there, and someone cared enough about me to whip me into shape, get some rest then the letter," then she is gone.

Castles Loft

7:30 PM Same Day

Rick is meeting with Roz, Gina, Paula and going over the do's and don'ts of what can be shared during the publicity interviews Paula was arranging. Rick wanted to be sure that none of the cases could point back to the NYPD, especially Roz and also none seemed remotely close to those he had used with Beckett in the Heat novels. Precisely at 7:25 came a soft knock, Rick knew would be Roz, she was always 5 minutes early for everything. As he opens the door, he is surprised to see Roz in street clothes, a very fashionable skirt with crème top, cropped in some strategic locations showing enough to get attention, but not enough to be considered slutty.

"Wow Roz, you look, eh a "

"Different in my civilian clothes Rick?" she says

"No, uh I mean yes but you look gorgeous, Wow, just Wow."

"Thanks Rick, but you have your ex-wife and her designer clothes coming over, so I couldn't show up as the step sister in rags before the ball" she laughs.

"Rick, before the others get here, I wanted to let you know I visited with Kate yesterday, it went better than I expected, but she is really hurting for you to at least to answer a text or voice mail.

Look I know it's none of my business, but this isn't the Rick Castle I know, the kind generous man who always puts other's feelings first. I'm not asking you to forgive her, but I'm asking as a friend, to at least have the courtesy of responding, and Rick, please don't treat it like she never meant anything to you, that would make you a bigger liar than she has been."

Rick looks angry for a moment, then as the breaths go inward and outward, he regains his calmness.

"Roz, thanks for you insight, and you do raise some good points, I have been acting childish, so I should at least offer her the benefit I would any one I worked with, and had to either halt temporarily or permanently, an explanation. I'll take care of it today."

Roz looks relived that she is not bouncing out of the loft, so she reached over and pulls Rick down for a sweet short kiss, "That's the Rick I know, believe me it's hard, I know rejection first hand twice with her so I am so very proud of you"

The rest of the afternoon is consumed in planning as well as Rick approving the dedication page, the printers had to have it today to meet deadlines at the collating and assembly plants for the tour.

"Hey Roz, I need to see you in my office for a second, please" Rick asks

"Sure thing" as she follows him in and closes the door behind her. "What's up Rick?"

"You said you saw Kate yesterday and she had figured out that you were my inspiration for this book, which means she'll tell Lanie and_"
"Lanie will tell Espo and that asshole will tell the world, so you want to know how I feel, right?"

"Yes, it's kind of important, you see I need, you to approve this dedication or I go with a generic one,"

Roz looks down and there is in script, the dedication,

"To Roz, who was a friend when I needed one the most, forever in your debt sweet soul that you are, RC"

Roz breaks out in tears, something Rick has never seen before, "Roz, I didn't mean to make you cry, I can use the**"

"You change one word of that and you'll be sorry, I'm crying happy tears my loving Jackass that you are, then she does pull him in for a kiss, sweet short and enough for him to remember for a long time,"

They come out of the office and Rick directs Gina on the dedication, and she makes a call, she knows somewhere soon there is going to be one very unhappy NYPD Detective.

A/N Stopping here for now, Love all the reviews, reads, follows and favorites, Keep them coming. Tim