Another Second Chance

by Castlefan6

Authors Note: Another What If based on the episode, A Deadly Game, what happened if Rick didn't return to the precinct after leaving and this was really their last case. What would each other's lives have looked like? The story 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.

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

Chapter 16

Castle's Residence

Pismo Beach, California

/_/

ONCE AGAIN REVIEWS APPEAR TO NOT BE POSTING. THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED, AGAIN, PLEASE CONTINUE TO REVIEW, I RECEIVE YOUR EMAILS AND APPRECIATE YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT. PERHAPS THE SITE WILL GET THIS CORRECTED SOON,

TIM

Rick glanced at the clock, his palms wet with anticipation, for God's sake get a handle on yourself, he thought. Five more minutes, just five more minutes, IF she was on time, hell she was always on time, especially when she was coming to see him. His heart was beating loudly as he turned on the music, soft, and did his last check of the house,

FLASHBACK Continued

Rick had been busy since reading Roy's letter, meeting with Alexis before she returned to classes at Stanford, now that she knew he would be on the way to recovery, then Gina, timing out the meeting with Doctor Peer. The dreams were still coming, but now had added another option, Roy, calling for his help in the warehouse where he took the gang down, perishing in the gunfight. What they meant, he had no idea, but he knew he wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible.

The last two nights Marcy had sat with him most of the night, calming him, the dreams hadn't been as bad on him as the first night, but he attributed that to Marcy realizing he was having one and stopping his sleep pattern. God, he loved that woman, she was so patient, so sweet, and always so cheerful, he knew she was hiding a great deal of pain behind the smile, he searched for ways to make her happy.

He hadn't spoken to Beckett since his first call three days ago, he knew he would have to call her back in the next day or so, she was being discharged in three days to rehabilitation and sick leave. He only knew that because Mike, his chief of security asked for authorization to add additional security to the facility in upstate New York that she was going to for three weeks.

No one knew, but Mike and his staff had been protecting the Becketts, Gina and Peter, and Alexis since the shooting occurred. Rick wasn't foolish enough to think one miss would stop this sniper or his replacement from finishing the job and he now knew the depth of the corruption.

Mike had doubled his staff, and soon it would be tripled with Alexis in California and Beckett moving to the rehab center. His doctors wouldn't agree to allow him to fly to Los Angeles, BUT they would allow him to spend three weeks at his Hamptons home as long as he had medical care on staff. After then he would be free to return to Los Angeles IF there were no complications.

That was when he thought of the hair-brained idea, Marcy would probably kill him, but he had to ask anyway. Her girls Brittany and Brianna, were graduating next week, what better present than for Mom and Daughters to spend a few weeks in the Hamptons, with their graduation presents, matching Ford Mustang BULLITT models, he had first thought about the Shelby GT but then thought, maybe a bit much in horsepower, so he settled for the BULLITT, he knew Marcy was going to kill him either way.

He had also paid the Car Insurance for five years, knowing the girls had been awarded scholarships to Columbia, he had taken care of the rest of the financial responsibility, including dorms. The tuition was transferable to any school either decided they wanted to attend, now or in the future.

NOW, all he had to do was talk Marcy into taking a vacation to spend time with him as his nurse in the Hamptons for three weeks, no Hanky Panky he had to ensure her. He didn't know if she was dating, had a steady or anything about her private life, but he really didn't think so. He would find out soon, as she walked into his room,

"Good Morning Darlin, you look better today than you have been, trying to impress someone?" Marcy kidded, then she noticed the shyness that wasn't usual,

"Hey Rick, you OK, you need to talk about something?" Marcy asked,

"Actually, I do, well please hear me out, before you kill me, hate me, slap me or cut me out of your life forever, PLEASE?"

Marcy sat down on the bed, pulled him into a hug, "Oh Rick, baby, it can't be that bad, you're my friend, talk to me, please." She had tears in her eyes,

"Well, I hope you still feel that way in a few minutes, please let me get this all out before you say anything, OK?" he was visually upset; his BP was higher than Marcy liked

"Of course, Rick, I'm listening," she took his hands in hers as she sat on the bed.

"Well I know you're aware that Walter Reed boys have shot me down for flying home to LA, BUT they did approve me staying at my Hamptons Beach Home for three weeks, PROVIDED I had 24/7 Medical supervision. I know Brittany and Brianna are graduating next week, and have scholarships to Columbia, don't ask, please I know a guy, that's how I know all this,

"Anyway, I thought if you had a vacation, perhaps you would consider staying with the twins with me, just to prove, no hanky panky, nothing other than two friends helping each other. I mean I got the girls a graduation gift, and I thought they might like to spend a couple of weeks with their Mom on a mini vacation. I know I'm being intrusive, and you probably have a boyfriend that will want to kill me, or beat the hell out of me, and"

Her lips kissed his, shutting him up in mid-sentence, "You are something else Rick, first, no boyfriend, never had enough time. Next getting the girls a graduation gift is more than I would have expected, you only met them once, and you were pretty medicated then. I do have six weeks of vacation I have to take, or I'll lose it, and nothing would make me happier than to spend it on the beach with my girls and my best friend, plus it will keep me from worrying out of my mind if you're OK."

"You mean you'll be my nurse, what about the girls you may want to ask them if they wouldn't mind getting stuck out there with us, I mean there's transportation but they may have plans with their friends," Rick said,

"Well, only one way to find out, she pulled out her cell phone and hit a speed dial number, "Brittany, can you put this on speaker, Brianna is with you, isn't she?"

The phone went on speaker and Rick heard, "Duh Mom where else would she be" and she started laughing,

"Well someone wants to ask you a question, you ready?" Marcy, had them almost pleading to find out what and who?

"Hi Girls it's Rick Castle, I have a request of your Mom, I have to spend three weeks at my Hamptons home, under medical supervision, your Mom said if you would join us, she would do it for me, so what do you say? Do you want to leave for the Hamptons the day after your graduation parties for three weeks? It'll be just you guys and your Mom, well and me, we have transportation available if you want to go cruising some evenings. What do you say?" He had to hold the phone back to keep from hurting his ear,

"Mom, this better not be a prank, I swear if it is, we'll get even," Brittany said

"No Prank, I swear, so I take it that is a yes, you're aggregable to three weeks with Rick and I in the Hamptons? Marcy asked,

"Well with one condition, you have to promise to enjoy yourself, Mom, you've almost killed yourself with all the hours making sure Britt and I had everything we ever wanted, this trip other than keeping Rick well, is for you to rest, agreed? Briana asked

Rick smiled, "Trust me, girls, I'll make sure of that, all I need is for her to be sure I don't do anything stupid and screw up my BP. You guys have a good afternoon, you Mom will fill you in on the details soon, OK?"

In unison, they answer, "Thanks Rick, we love you" and then "Oh yeah you too Mom" as the laughed, Marcy, rolled her eyes,

Marcy looked troubled, she was glancing at a text on her phone, "Something wrong Marcy?" Rick asked,

"Well, I tried to make a payment on the girl's tuition, the part not covered by the scholarships and they keep saying no payment required, I'm going to have to call them and spend my entire lunch trying to straighten it out" she looked exasperated,

"You don't owe anything Marcy, my business manager took care of it for the full four years, if the girls want to transfer, either one or both, that's covered as well, so put your phone away, it's all taken care of" he smiled,

"Rick? Why? I mean Thank You, but that's a lot of money to shell out on, on"

"My best friends' daughters? Is that what you're looking for? Marcy, it was Alexis's idea before she flew back, that night you came in and held me, all night, even lying on the bed to soothe me, well, believe me, my daughter is as big a fan of yours as the twins are of me" he said and wiped a tear from her eye,

"Hey, hey, you've been taking care of everyone for so long, let someone help you, no strings attached, I promise you, it makes me happy to be able to help you as you helped me, at least a little bit."

"A little bit? Do you call what you did a little bit? Rick, my God,"

"It's only money Marcy, how do you put a price on what you do, the peace you bring, the unselfishness of coming in on your own time, why? Because you knew I needed you and you were here. Let me help, please?" Rick asked, a sincere look in his eye and tone in his voice,

She leaned in and kissed his lips gently, "No wonder Gina never stopped loving you, you're something else friend, Thank You. I have to go put in for my vacation and talk to Shelly before she leaves, I'll see you in a bit," she held his hand as she backed out, until she finally had to let go, and then she was gone.

Rick thought for a moment, well, no, he couldn't go there, he promised her, but God she was beautiful, inside and out, he would have to be sure to do something nice just for her. Three weeks on the beach would give him time to figure out some of her likes and dislikes, he just had to keep his head straight. He had another problem he had to deal with, actually two problems. Well, no time like the present for the first one.

XxX

He opened his cell phone and searched his contacts until he found the number he was looking for. Dialing it, fully expecting to get a voice mail he was a bit shocked when she answered on the second ring,

"Hey Rick, how are you feeling, I'm sorry I haven't at least called you, but I'm in New York, feel like having a visitor?" she said,

"Uh, eh, I, yes, yes I would very much. I understand I didn't expect to hear from you, I mean I know how busy you are." He stammered,

"Well, I have a meeting in an hour, I should be down to see you around 4:00 PM would that work? She asked,

"Hold on a second, let me check my bed's social calendar", he laughed, 4:00 PM would be great, you may need clearance to get here, I'm in"

"I know where you're at, and please, I'll see you soon Rick,"

"Thanks, looking forward to it, see you at 4:00 PM"

Well, she was in New York, that was a lucky break, there was no one else he would trust with the file that Roy had paid for with his life. He had to ensure that no information was being leaked, aka, room bugged, since now he knew who the players were, the resources were unlimited, and they had already proved they would stop at nothing to protect their interests.

He was lying back on his bed, when he came across the pad of notes, he had made for his first call to Kate. He had gotten answers, to most of his questions, now could he believe them. He was painfully aware that he was not even close to where he needed to be to go forward with any one, especially as complicated as he and Beckett seemed to be. He owed her an explanation, but he couldn't reveal Jordan's involvement, or why?

He was fretting with his why and why not to tell her the truth when Marcy walked in the room with that scolding look in her eye,

"Rick, you're stressing yourself out, Darlin, you can't keep doing this, you will never heal if you don't do your deep breaths, and try to relax, what's got you so wound up, tell me, Darlin," she had his hands in hers, and was locked on his eyes,

He looked away, for a moment, it didn't work, she was still fixed on his eyes,

"Is it Kate, Rick? If it is, be honest with her, tell her that you need to take care of yourself, at least for now. After so many years of taking care of everyone else, you have no options, you need to have some time to work through some things for you. Does that sound familiar? It should, I can see your problem, my girls and you saw mine, so be honest with her.

"Rick, she's had a lot longer to come to grips with her feelings than you, you're fighting to heal at the same time this whole new revelation is dropped on you, you need to take it slow, for you. Doctor Peers will see you at the Hamptons, Gina confirmed with me that I would be there she was getting ready to move in for a few weeks.

"She's worried to death about you, and well if I'm being honest, I'm more worried that I should be if you were JUST a patient. You know you're more, so much more than that don't you? Call her Darlin, I'll be back when I see you're free, just to be sure that you don't need me." She kissed his forehead hugged him tightly on his good side and then left closing the door.

Rick hated this, he hated it more than getting shot, but Marcy was right. He couldn't do Kate any good in the shape he was in physically, and then, well, he had Jordan coming to help him out with another mess, God things got messed up so quickly.

He slowly dialed the number, knowing that things may never be the same, his dream of last year was so close, in fact, it was right on the tips of his fingers, but he was the one that had to let it slip away, for the good of everyone.

His heart was in his throat when he heard that sweet voice, he had longed to hear for so long say

"Hello, Rick? Please babe is this you?

"Hello Kate, yeah it's me, look I'm sorry I haven't called you, I needed some time, well that and I guess they had to change some of my medications. I've been having night terrors, so I sleep a lot during the day" Rick admitted softly,

"Oh, Babe, I'm so sorry, I know they're connected to this, I just know it, how can I help, and remember Rick I love you; I can't say that enough. The last few days have been terrible, having you so close physically and so far, away emotionally.

"I played our conversation over and over, and I think I know where I hurt you so badly, I'm so sorry Rick, you were always good enough, you were more than enough, it was me, not you, please believe me" Kate's tears could be heard in her voice

"Kate, he said softly, then again a little louder, Kate, please stop, let me say this, while I can. Two years ago, I would have traded everything I owned for just one I love you from your lips, but now, it's not that I stopped loving you, it's. well, you've had years to sort your feelings out, I've had a few days and it's not enough time for me Kate.

"I know you're leaving for rehab in a few days, and if we start down this path, I can't take another Demming, or even the Doctor episode, I have to know that it's going to last regardless of what label we slap on the relationship.

"I'm so sorry, but I'm not ready, after taking care of everyone for such a long time, my therapist has asked me to take some downtime for me, and not to make life-changing decisions until we have met and discussed my problems. I know I sound like a selfish prick, but really, I told you when we first talked, I needed to figure out some things, they just got more complicated than I thought."

"Rick, can I ask you something please?" Kate got out between her tears, "I mean the same rules answer all or none of it, your choice, OK? I'm really not trying to pressure you but I have to know, is there any love left in your heart for me? Please don't string me along as I did you, I know how badly that hurts, please just tell me the truth, if you can."

"Kate, I care deeply about you, is it love? Honestly, I've been hurt so much by Kyra, Meredith, Gina, and most of all you, that I really don't know what it is I feel. Am I capable of loving? Do I have something wrong with me that would account for four beautiful women dumping me, all of them very painful and public? I understand what my Doctor meant by not making life-changing decisions now, Kate, I'm so sorry.

"Look if that isn't enough for you, I'll understand if you want to move on, but I can't say yes, I hope there is love left, but I'm being honest, I really don't know what love is right now. I wish I could tell you what you wanted to hear, but I can't."

Rick waited for Kate to get her crying under control, before he continued, "I'm sorry, I really am Kate, but I think until I can meet with the doctor and get a prognosis, I can't call you, and please don't call me. If things can be worked out, and I'm not one step from a looney bin, do you want me to contact you when I have more of me together, if not I understand, and again, I'm sorry."

"Rick, please let me know what you can when you can, I'm not moving on, I hope I can prove that to you, and Babe always remember, I love you, and I will always, Goodbye Rick" she hung up the phone as he heard her burst out in tears again.

TBC