Please be gentle. This is my first attempt at writing a story. This is completely AU. There will be glimpses of canon in here but not much. I want to see this story go through ups and downs for both Beckett and Castle. You will see angst, romance, action, adventure, and angst (yes I said it twice). Please review an let me know if this could flesh out to be good or if it is immediate trash.
Rodgers has spent the last 13 years in the Marines. He started out life with a mother that loved him but neglected to really care for him. Left in the care of nannies until he was six and then placed into a military boarding school.
There he excelled. He was the youngest to ever graduate and received a full scholarship to MCU (Marine Corps University at Quantico). Rick graduated high school with a perfect score and was only thirteen. He was allowed to go at a young age due to the pull of his father, Admiral Jackson Hunt.
Rick had not yet met Hunt. They had their first interaction at Rick's high school graduation. Martha could not be bothered to come because she had a play to do. Upon meeting Hunt, Rick realized where he got his budding physique and his intellect. Rick was either blessed or cursed with hyperthymesia. He could remember everything he has heard, saw, smelled, tasted or felt since he was one years old. That is how he could excel at school. He could read an entire textbook in under an hour.
Due to Rodgers young age, MCU tried its hardest to get him to quit. They placed him in the hardest classes, and he had the toughest trainers in combat techniques. He passed all with flying colors. Since Rodgers had five years before he could officially be a member of the armed services, he had plenty of time to specialize in more than one field. He chose Pathfinder and Black Ops, the two hardest.
Upon graduation, he was the youngest Captain to be in the Marines. At eighteen, a captaincy was unheard of. It took an order from the President, with a little help from Hunt, but he started his service command men who had served longer and was jealous of him. He paid them no mind.
After several tense missions, Rodgers received his promotion to Major. He was just 22. Rick excelled at the most dangerous and difficult missions. At 25, he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel. At 28, he was promoted Colonel. He has received multiple commendations including the Medal of Valor.
"Bob, Frank, Roy I would like to make a request. I am thinking of retiring from the service. Would it be possible to consult on a murder case to see if I could be of assistance to our great city? I have enough money saved and with my pension I could volunteer and stay busy and still be helpful," Rick "Castle" Rodgers says to his three best friends.