A Long Way Home
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Another What If based on the episode, COUNTDOWN, what happened if Rick didn't return to the precinct after leaving after seeing Kate in Josh's arms? It starts with Canon dialog, courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com, then goes quickly and completely AU. The journey continues with a new Kate and Rick, hope you enjoy!
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
A/N This may or may not end up as a Caskett fic, if that bothers you, please wait for updates to see which direction the story goes. Respectful comments are always welcome, trolls will be deleted.
Also, we may take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Previously
"Rick, I really would love a chance to talk to you, I promise no funny business, but if you could give me just a little time, there are things I need to say to you and well, as she turned her head to see Espo leaning in to hear, as you can see these aren't the most private conditions"
"Excuse me one moment, I need to say something to Bob, I'll be right back,"
He walked over to the mayor, shook his hand then pulled him into a Bro Hug, then turned and walked over to Gina and Alexis, from the look on the younger Castle's face she wasn't happy, but Gina said something and she seemed to relax, Rick kissed them all, Gina, Alexis and Beth on the cheek and walked back to her.
"OK, let's get out of here, anyplace you have in mind, the loft is out, not sure where you want to go?"
***************************************************************************/
Chapter 18
Castle's Loft
10 Days Later
Rick was happy that he finally had the face to face with Kate, they had a great lunch, she even accepted and thanked him for setting up the scholarship in her Mom's name. She asked him to thank Alexis as well, knowing she wasn't the most popular with the young lady now. Rick made it crystal clear, although he had forgiven her, it didn't mean he trusted her not to fall back into the same old person. He was protecting his heart, from her, from everyone for a while.
FLASHBACK TO REMY'S
When she inquired about the status of Nikki Heat, he answered her truthfully, and as gently as he could, without giving plots away.
"Nikki is over Kate, I have three books that are in the final stages, and the finale will end the partnership of Rook and Nikki for good. Don't worry I didn't make you out to be the Goddess of Evil, but I thought it best if I ended that chapter of my life, hard to move on when you're writing about it day in and day out. Gina's handling when to release them between my current project, and you'll receive your pre-production copy as always."
"Are you back to stay now Rick?"
"Not hardly, Beth and I have to be back in the UK in about 3 weeks."
"Oh yeah, I forgot, does Beth go everywhere with you Rick?"
"Why do you ask Kate? She's a very important part of the team, of course, she goes everywhere, what are you trying to ask, just spit it out, and if it's any of your business I'll answer."
"I'm sorry Rick, once again I hear my same smart-ass words come back to bite me in the ass, words I wish I never had said, but I can't take them back now, no matter how much I want to. Look I don't tell every man I date, I love them, I've never told any man other than my Dad those words, so maybe they don't mean anything to you, but they mean everything to me.
"I understand why you doubt me, I really do, and I don't blame you, but please, if you know I love you, you have to know what it's like watching you with another woman."
"Oh Kate, that part, I understand all too well, and I also understand the hurt, but the difference is, I tried to move things to the next level with you, over and over, and I got some smartass remark, then a new man paraded in front of me.
"The new men in your life weren't work associates, they were your flavor of the month. Yes, I understand the hurt, BUT I work with her and I'm not changing anything because you are upset, and if you want to use your words, it really isn't any of your business."
Kate looked down, shocked in some regard at this version of Rick, but he wasn't pulling any punches, it was she that wanted to talk, and he warned her there would be things she didn't want to hear. After a few moments of silence, her playing with a french-fry on her plate, she looked up and said,
"You're right Rick, I deserved that, I'm sorry for asking, it isn't any of my business, but it still hurts like hell regardless. I think I know how you felt, finally and I'm so sorry to have put you through that. I guess I never thought, well believed anyway that you cared for me, at least like that."
Rick looked at her, with a look like WTH, "Really? Do you care to rephrase that because it's a lie, I talked to Lanie to, whose exact words were something like the John Doe on table 2 could have told you how Rick felt, so once again, want to try that again or end this on yet another lie."
Once again, her face turned red, she had been caught in what Rick hated more than anything, a lie.
"You're right Rick, I knew, I just couldn't believe it,"
"There's a big difference in those two statements Kate, but back to your original question, there's nothing going on with Beth and me, or anyone else for that matter. I know I'm in no position to start something, so that won't happen till I have healed completely."
"Rick, does that mean*"
"Stop Kate, let's leave it there, we both are going through some changes, both need time, just leave it there, for now, no promises, no innuendo, I'm so fucking tired of trying to figure out what you really said, no more."
When they finally left Remy's, Kate was hoping Rick would do as he had in the past, walk her home, or share a cab, he didn't he hailed a cab, assisted her into it, paid the driver and gave him her address,
"We'll talk later Kate, this has been a lot for us both, Goodbye" and tapped the top of the cab to signal the driver and they pulled away leaving him on the curb.
Present Day
6:30 PM
Rick was busy working in his office when his cell phone rang, it was Roy Montgomery. He had talked to him briefly but hadn't had time to thoroughly catch up with him. It was strange, Roy seldom called this late, he was usually out the door at 5:45 PM Sharp, so it was unusual he was calling this late.
"Hey Roy, what's up, sorry we didn't get a chance to talk much, Beckett wanted to get some things off her chest, how are things"
"Well, it's good to hear your voice, things could be better, but I was wondering if you had about an hour you can spare, Evelyn and the girls are out of town for the week, so my place is quiet. I would really appreciate it, Rick, there's some things going down you don't know about but should, so please?"
"You want to meet at your house, Roy? You sound desperate, are you OK?" Rick asked,
"Well, I will be if I get to talk to you soon, really soon" Roy panicked,
"OK, OK, I'll be right over, you need anything?"
"No Rick, I got everything I need, see you in twenty minutes."
Rick arrived and noticed that the house was dark except for Roy's office in the front left corner of the house, he started to knock but Roy opened the door,
"Come on in Rick, I have some things I have to tell you, and not a lot of time" Roy had a look on his face Rick had never seen,
"What's going on Roy, level with me"
Roy pushed the bottle and glass towards Rick, it was the 100-year-old Scotch they had recovered in a case last year and the mayor had given each a bottle in appreciation.
"Well, you probably heard about how Espo almost got himself and Ryan killed, Beckett pulled a diversion and got their asses out of the jam, arresting three, well two were killed before they even made it to jail. John Doe #1 was the only one sent to Rikers, well he escaped two days ago."
"Yeah I heard the old joke that Royce told about show them your boob has new meaning now, she actually saved their asses with that diversion."
"Beckett and her team have been on him, Beckett was in court when fake guards threw a smoke bomb and made their way to a waiting helicopter, Kate shot and hit the chopper. We located it, but nothing else."
"OK so that sounds like a great case Roy, but what's that got to do with the sense of urgency you mentioned?"
"How much have you spoken to Ryan or Espo? Did they tell you about the three cops, Raglan, McCallister and some mystery third cop yanking crooks off the street and holding them for ransom?"
"Yeah Kevin told me about it, somehow they could never locate the third cop, all the paperwork is gone, and now digital, so probably never will"
"Rick, I'm the third cop, it's not something I'm proud of, I was just a rookie when it all went down. The night that the agent was shot, it wasn't Pulgatti that killed him, it was my gun that one of the perps was struggling with me when it went off. The Assistant DA at the time was William Bracken, the SOB found out, and instead of prosecuting us, he took most of the money to finance his campaign to higher office.
"Kate's Mom was getting close to exposing him so he had her killed, and I had to stay silent or my family would die. Well that all ends now, they're coming for Kate at the hangar, to assassinate her, but I'm not going to let them. I need you to be there to pull her out, she won't leave unless you force her out."
"Roy, you got a lot of nerve, after what Beckett put me through, you want me to throw myself right back into the mix with her, go to hell, I've already had enough pain in my life from her" he started to walk away when he heard Roy's words that stopped him in his tracks,
"Then we'll both die tonight, the only difference is her blood will be on your hands, you can stop her from dying, but if your pride is that hurt, then leave, go on. She probably will hate me more when she finds out I tried to protect her anyway, I can live with what I'm about to do Rick, Can you?"
"You Son of a Bitch, you dump this in my lap after being a fucking coward all those years, you could have done something Roy, you could have, should have went to the Feds, ones you trusted, so don't give me that crap, her blood will be on my hands. I haven't talked to her in months, what about Ryan, or better yet, Special Forces Esposito?"
"You know as well as I do, they can't control her, no one can but you. You still don't see how much she loves you, do you? Yeah, she fucked up, but you've had your share as well, is that worth her dying for Rick, so your conscience is clear, even if you did nothing wrong, she'll still be just as dead.
"You're right, I was a coward, but tonight I make my stand, the only question I have for you is do you still love her enough to save her life, if so meet me here in a half-hour, if not, well, I'm sorry I disappointed you, everyone but I'm trying to make it right.
"There's a package of evidence on Bracken sent to your UK Office disguised as a manuscript, another copy sent to a good friend, and a third copy sent to the FBI, Jordan Shaw. Hopefully, among the three copies, Bracken will get what he deserves, now make up your mind I have things I have to get done."
Rick picked up the address Roy had thrown down on his desk, still not certain what he was going to do as he left the house. God Damn him, why did he put him in this mess, shit, what the hell was he going to do.
Xx
Espo and Ryan were headed to a bar owned by a retired cop, Mike Yanavich, who graduated with Raglan and McCallister, to see if they could get any information that seemed to be hidden in the archives. It didn't take long to see the picture of the three cops, but wait, the third cop, it couldn't be, but there it was, in living color, Roy Montgomery was the third cop. They left the bar angry and upset, and sent a text to Beckett, it read simply, "3rd Cop is Montgomery".
Kate had received a call from the captain earlier telling her they had a lead and for her to meet him at the helicopter hangar. When she was walking in, it appeared deserted, the lights were on, but no one appeared to be present.
"Roy, are you here, Captain?"
Just as he stepped from the shadows, with a gun in his hand her phone pinged the text that he was the third cop,
From Dust Jackets Dot Com, No Infringement intended
BECKETT
Put the gun away, Roy.
MONTGOMERY
Kate, I'm not going to jail for this. I can't put my family through that.
BECKETT
Why?
MONTGOMERY
I was a rookie when it happened, Kate. McCallister and Raglan were heroes to me. I believed in what we were doing. We were just going to snatch Pulgatti that night. Bob Armen wasn't even supposed to be there. Armen reached for my gun. That's when I heard the shot. I didn't even know it was my gun that went off 'til Armen went down.
Then McCallister pulled me into the van. I remember him saying, "It's okay, kid. It's not your fault. Happens in this town every day." McCallister and Raglan tried to drown it, but not me. I put it all into the job, Kate. I became the best cop I could be. And then when you walked into the Twelfth, I felt the hand of God. I knew he was giving me another chance, and I thought I could protect you the way I should have protected her.
BECKETT
Did you kill my mother?
MONTGOMERY
No, that was years later. But she died because of what we did that night.
BECKETT
Then who killed her?
MONTGOMERY
I don't know how, but somehow, he had figured out what we had done. And he could have turned us all in. Instead, he demanded the ransom money. He took that money to become what he is and God forgive me but that could be my greatest sin.
BECKETT
Give me a name. You owe me that, Roy.
MONTGOMERY
No, Kate. I give you a name, I know you. You'll run straight at him. I might as well shoot you where you stand.
BECKETT
That's why you brought me here, isn't it? To kill me?
MONTGOMERY
No, I brought you here to lure them.
BECKETT
You baited them?
MONTGOMERY hears a noise in the distance.
MONTGOMERY
And now they're coming. I need you to leave. They're coming to kill you and I'm not going to let them. I'm going to end this.
BECKETT
I'm not going anywhere, sir.
MONTGOMERY
(he's firm) Yes, you are. Castle, get her out of here.
CASTLE appears behind BECKETT.
CASTLE
Captain, I –
MONTGOMERY
Don't argue. That's why I called you. Get her out of here, now!
CASTLE reaches for BECKETT but she shrugs him off.
BECKETT
Captain, please, just listen to me. You don't have to do this.
CASTLE
Kate.
BECKETT
(she shrugs off CASTLE) No, please! No. (to MONTGOMERY) Sir. I forgive you. I forgive you!
MONTGOMERY
This is my spot, Kate. This is where I stand.
BECKETT
(she's tearful) No, no!
MONTGOMERY
Castle.
BECKETT
No! No, sir, please listen to me! You don't have to do this!
CASTLE is watching the approaching car, weighing his options.
MONTGOMERY
Castle! Get her out of here, now!
BECKETT
You don't have to do this, sir–
She's desperate. CASTLE grabs her from behind and carries her away from MONTGOMERY, towards a back door.
BECKETT
No! God, Castle! Let me go! No! Let me go! Please!
She's crying and fighting him the whole way, but he manages to carry her to the door and outside, leaving MONTGOMERY by himself. The car pulls up and he takes his stance.
Outside, CASTLE puts BECKETT down. She's stopped fighting him, but she's still crying.
Outside BECKETT and CASTLE hear the shots. She's stopped struggling and she pushes past him, running towards the hangar. He lets her go. He knows it's over.
She runs into the hangar, straight to MONTGOMERY. She kneels by his body but it's too late. He's gone.
INT – BECKETT'S APARTMENT
RYAN, ESPOSITO, CASTLE, and BECKETT are meeting, presumably talking about what happened and coming up with a story to tell MONTGOMERY'S wife. The tone is bleak, sad. Everyone is affected; Ryan is crying.
BECKETT
No one. No one outside this immediate family ever needs to know about this. As far as the wold is concerned, Roy Montgomery died a hero. We owe it to him. All of us.
EXT – CEMETERY
They've spared no expense for this funeral. It's a full-on fallen officer. RYAN, ESPOSITO, BECKETT, and CASTLE are among the pallbearers for MONTGOMERY'S casket. They walk slowly past a line of police officers who all salute as they pass. His family is waiting by the grave, trying to hold it together. EVELYN sobs as she's handed the flag that covered the casket.
Everyone is there – everyone at the Twelfth is joined by LANIE, MARTHA, ALEXIS, and JIM BECKETT.
BECKETT
Roy Montgomery taught me what it meant to be a cop. He taught me that we are bound by our choices, but we are more than our mistakes. Captain Montgomery once said to me that for us, there is no victory. There are only battles. And in the end, the best you can hope for is to find a place to make your stand. And if you're very lucky, you find someone to stand with you.
She gives a sidelong glance to CASTLE.
BECKETT
Our Captain would want us to carry on the fight. And even if there is …
CASTLE is distracted by something glinting in the distance. He sees it once, twice, and on the third time, he realizes it's the scope of a gun, trained right at BECKETT giving the eulogy. A shot is fired and he's running towards her, but he's not in time. She's hit. She lurches backward as CASTLE takes her down.
CASTLE
Kate!
The mourners at the funeral all scream as they realize what's happened. LANIE is horrified for her friend but she's held back by ESPOSITO.
RYAN
Where'd that come from?
ESPOSITO
Lanie! Get down!
RYAN
Beckett's down! Beckett's down!
CASTLE is with her. He's trying to keep her calm, keep her with him.
CASTLE
Kate, shh… Kate. Stay with me, Kate. Don't leave me, please. Stay with me, okay?
She's trying, focusing as hard as she can on him, but it's too much. She's been shot and she's scared and she can't stop the tears from escaping her eyes.
CASTLE
Kate, I love you. I love you, Kate.
He's desperately trying to get her to do something, respond, something to let him know that she's going to be okay. The tiniest smile passes over her mouth as she realizes what he's just said, but she's in shock and her body can't handle anymore. Her eyes drift closed. CASTLE still holds her, trying to process how this can end okay and willing her to come back. One lone tear runs down his nose as he tries to grasp what just happened.
TBC
A/N Sometimes certain scenes or lines can't be done justice by a Fan Fic writer, I choose to use those from Canon but want to give credit where credit is due. Thanks for your understanding of the last paragraphs of this chapter. We revert back to my feeble attempts as we begin the next chapter.