Interim Mission

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Another What If based on the episode, When the Bough Breaks, what happened if Rick took the offer for the special British Secret Agent? When the bough breaks by definition is 'when a situation has reached the point of no return similar in meaning to end of your rope'. The story starts with a short backstory of previous episodes, then 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.

Also, we take MANY liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events from other Canon episodes to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.

Chapter 17 EPILOGUE

Presbyterian Hospital

Twenty Minutes Later

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Kate kissed his forehead one last time and backed slowly out of her fiancé's room. God fiancé? That sounds so sweet, especially now that she knew how fragile life could be. Everyone had been correct, life, her life was for the living, not for some drawn-out plot for revenge cloaked as justice because she was a cop.

That persona failed, to her and she knew too many who really knew her. It had taken Rick only a short while to see through the façade and try to take those artificial walls down. It had been the factor that chased the man she loved across an entire ocean and into the arms of another woman. Speaking of another woman, she knew she had to keep her promise to meet with Renee, so she made her way quietly back to the VIP waiting room, stopping briefly at the hospital chapel.

She held her paper engagement ring on her finger, still feeling the chills rush through her body when he asked her to marry him. God, she hadn't known what to expect when she left her lonely apartment this morning, merely trying to get through the day with Natalie Rhodes, and now, she was engaged to Richard Freaking Castle. She looked to the heavens for just a moment, a few words with her Mom like she often did.

"Mom you're not going to believe this, but Rick asked me to marry him, of course, I said yes. Mom, he's so much more than you thought, you would have loved him, I know he would have loved you too. I'm sorry Mom, but I took your case as far as I could, at least the man who killed you is burning in hell, now Mom, I have to let the case go, I have to be a wife and watch over Rick.

"He's ill Mom, and I have to be there for him like he was me, so please understand, I love you, but I now know what you meant when you told me 'Katie you'll know when it's right, don't ask me how, but you'll know I promise you'. You were right Mom, as always, thanks, well I have to take care of somethings, Rick and I will visit your resting place soon, I promise, Bye Mom" she slowly left the chapel blowing a kiss heavenly.

She made her way into the room and saw Gina, Alexis, and Renee talking at a table. They all smiled when she walked towards them, holding her hand, to make sure she wouldn't lose that silly profession of faith from Rick.

"You look happy Kate, it looks like it was a good visit," Gina said sweetly,

"It was indeed, well, a lot of things were cleared up and yes he knows how much I love him now, and also that I'm quitting the force to stay home with him" Kate rushed out,

Alexis's mouth flew open, "Kate are you serious? What about your Mom's case? What about getting justice for her?"

"Well, I found out that living life is a hell of a lot better than trying to get revenge one life lost, Rick was right, it had turned into a search for vengeance. The killer is dead, and sometime, someone will catch those who were behind it.

"Mom wouldn't want me to waste my life, I almost lost the most important thing in it already, so no, Alexis, nothing is more important than you Dad. I'm sorry it took me so long, but I thank God he was still the same loving, forgiving man I met."

"Kate, those words made my heart heal. I don't know how much you know about Rick and me, and our 'quote' relationship, we're friends, really good friends that didn't lie or mislead each other. We shared meals together, and then when he was having these episodes, then I had left for the states but I couldn't bear to think about what I would do if something happened to him.

"I called Gina, we talked, then Barry joined in and finally Alexis joined the calls. I assure you, Kate, it's been you, only you this whole time. We nev"

"Renee, that's sweet, Rick told me, everything, and all I have to say is thanks for taking such good care of him, and not acting like most women. I know he left here, with every intention of trying to forget he ever knew me, and I don't blame him, I was awful. One thing he's never done, that was to toy with someone's affections. He couldn't hurt people the way he's been hurt, and I joined the long line of those"

"Kate, don't be so hard on yourself. Rick and I talked a lot, mostly about you, I have to admit I was hoping I could help him erase that memory, but it didn't take long to see you were his missing piece, the one that completes him. Now that you have another chance, don't blow it, he's special to a lot of us." Renee said,

"I won't I promise," Kate whispered,

Alexis spotted Kate being especially careful with her left hand, particularly her ring finger, it was like a piece of paper was wrapped around it, then it dawned on her, God he didn't

"Kate, you can tell me to mind my own business, but is there anything you want to tell us, I mean something to do with your last name changing soon," Alexis asked smiling,

"You brat, how did you pick up on that, and well, I'm not sure I should say anything more than I won't be away from him long, and yes Alexis he did" she was surrounded by all three women screaming with joy, as they hugged her.

"Wait, I want to make sure he wasn't so far under with the drugs, I'm going to give him an out when he is more awake, and actually it was me just telling him when we were married, then he proposed, this was the only thing he could put on my finger, and I'll cherish it as if it were the Hope diamond, it's so precious of a memory of him.

Gina glanced at Renee and saw happiness, as well as some sadness, but she had gone through those same feelings herself at times. The old saying about love, turn it loose, if it returns it was meant to be, if not, it wasn't your love at all, well it hurt but she knew they both loved the man enough to be truly happy for Rick and Kate.

"Why don't we get out of here, my place isn't far and we can relax a few hours then come back, I'm not sure of your plans Renee, I don't want to intrude," Gina said,

"Where's Barry Mom, he was here all the time until we got the word on Dad, is he OK?" Alexis asked,

"Yes sweetie, he's on his way to Dallas for meetings, he just changed flights, to be with me, guess I got lucky too" She blushed,

"Yes, you did Mom, he worships the ground you walk on, and he's a great man," Alexis said,

"So, you guys ready?" Gina asked and they all piled out of the hospital and into Kate's car to spend a few hours to allow Rick to rest.

Gina and Alexis had a quick private conversation after about an hour at Gina's, and they decided to order in food for lunch, dinner, or whatever it was now. It was 4:00 PM, and everyone was getting hungry. They decided to head back around 5:30 PM, then Alexis asked if they could stop at the Loft, she had to pick up something. They arrived at the hospital, and since they had the VIP passes no one looked twice, at them, as the came up to the ICU window.

Gina held back and asked Kate to take charge of seeing Rick,

"Hi, I'm Detective Kate Beckett, Richard Castle is"

"Oh, congratulations Detective, he hasn't stopped talking about how lucky he was to have his life saved by the woman he is going to marry soon, he's so much more alert now, come on back, in fact we've moved him to step down unit," the nurse said,

Kate blushed, and looked over at Gina, "Get used to it Kate, he couldn't change to save his life. He loves you so very much, and he's proud of you, so enjoy it, don't fight it, it'll make the honeymoon go a lot smoother" Gina smiled,

Alexis had asked if she could have a word with her Dad before everyone came in, she just needed to ask him something personal, she said,

They walked into his room five minutes later to see him wide awake, smiling as if nothing had happened, his daughter right by his side with a matching smile. Kate walked to the head of the bed and kissed him, she wasn't holding back, this was her almost-husband and if she wanted to kiss him, then kiss him she shall.

Gina smiled and kissed his other cheek once Kate stepped back and then Renee stepped forward,

"Hi Rick, long time, you gave us a run for the money earlier and I'm so glad Alexis and Gina could get you to do what I could never do." She smiled and kissed his cheek briefly, almost like a family kiss

"I thought I heard your voice, then I thought I was nuts earlier when I thought Kate was kissing me, it was CPR, well then" he stopped,

"Hey, it's OK Rick, Alexis picked up on your cheapskate excuse of an engagement ring, it didn't matter to Kate, she still hasn't come down from that cloud, and who could blame her. How she could get so excited about spending her life with you, and you seal it with a paper wrap from silverware, she has to love you." Renee laughed,

"If you're wondering and to get your ego back in check, I wasn't stalking you, I didn't even know where you were till Nancy got the 9-1-1 page, that reminds me you owe us both a lunch, we left it when the call came in." She laughed and Kate could see that there hadn't been anything between them, affection yes, love no. She knew her husband to be, she checked him out more than he did her, but she never got caught looking.

"Well Rick, I wanted to let you know when we talked, I know you had a lot of drugs, are you sure Babe, I mean I got all possessive and just blurted my dream out to be married, I mean if you want to wait"

"Kate, come here, please. He fumbled with a black box and took out a beautiful diamond ring, it was the exact style she told him she loved and would wear if she ever found Mr. Right. Hell, that had to be; wait, it was on the stakeout on their third case waiting for the doctor's receptionist to show up at the SRO.

"I bought this, I was hoping and well, I kept in my desk till Alexis saw it and told me how beautiful it was, just like you, then things happened. I'm sorry I can't kneel, but would you like to replace the paper ring for this and make it official, and no I'm not on drugs, I love you, Katherine Beckett, I Will Always" as he slipped the ring on her finger and went to throw the paper away,

"Don't you dare, that piece of paper is priceless to me, it's the first engagement ring I ever wore, and I will treasure it always, I love you, Richard Castle, Always. You bought this ring right after that case just because I said it would be one, I wore if I found Mr. Right? I didn't know it then, but he was standing right beside me like he was always." She turned her ring, having a hard time taking her eyes off the beautiful symbol of love, Mom was right again, see I told you so, she could just hear it.

XxX

2 Years Later,

Hamptons Home, New York

Rick was marking a milestone today; it was exactly 2 years and he had not had any more episodes with his heart. They had treated him with a pacemaker, and medication, not to mention the hawk eyes of his wife, who kept him straight on his diet and medication. Kate Beckett had become Kate Castle one month after Rick was discharged from the hospital, and was now carrying the heir to Rick's name, due in 4 months.

Alexis was over the moon with excitement waiting for her little brother and transferred from Stanford to Columbia to be closer to Kate and the family. They had just received an announcement; Renee was engaged to Dr. Bill's cousin who had lost his wife to cancer almost three years ago. The wedding date was set for the following year in New York, so Kate would be back in shape by then, and she hadn't even flinched when the request came from Renee to have Rick walk her down the aisle. She was shocked when she was asked and accepted the invitation to be her bridesmaid, with Gina, her matron of honor.

Barry had eloped with Gina when he returned from Dallas, and they were living life together, enjoying each day, she had retired from Black Pawn when Rick ended his last contract, and the final Heat Book, Eternal Heat was released. Rook and Nikki got married after a twist that almost had them separated for life, but the book ended with the wedding scene, the last word of vows from each other was the last word of the book series, fittingly enough it was, ALWAYS.

One passage from the last book stuck with Kate, it was part of Rook's proposal and made her cry every time she read it,

"You know Nikki, I came close to wiping you out of my mind, or trying to, but I couldn't. Life for me has been one mission after another until I figured it out, they were all just interim until I met you. You are my life's mission; all the rest were just filling space until I found you."

The End

Hope you enjoyed it, and please continue to comment, even when the site is down. I enjoy hearing from you.