Blank: Chapter 10
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DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters are not mine at all, but they are memorable. Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. The others? Yeah, they're mine
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2:12 a.m. on April 17, 2012 at the Castles Complex in Sausalito, California
"And what new problem is that, Kate?" Sam Carlos asks, dropping the more familiar 'Katie' in favor of a more formal approach. It is late at night . . . or early in the morning. Regardless, it was a night that Sam Carlos thought – and was really hoping – would find him safely nestled in bed at a reasonable hour, for once.
"Rick," she tells him. "He just collapsed again. Just a moment ago."
Sam Carlos is quiet for a few uncomfortable seconds, mulling his response before he finally replies.
"I have to say, Kate, that this collapse certainly is unfortunate – and impeccable – timing," he states as he walks from his bedroom toward his study at his Presidio home. He looks for the bottle of scotch that all but seems to be calling his name now.
"It is certainly coincidental, given the details of your conversation with Rick a moment ago," Kate admits. "Which is why I am calling you at this moment."
She cannot see her friend's face soften on the other end as the mobster nods his head as he takes a deep breath running a hand through his hair. He pours himself a drink into the glass, and takes a quick swallow.
"I overheard some of the conversation," Kate continues, "and Rick brought me up to speed on a few things before he collapsed – such as his plans to pay you a down payment for . . ."
She stops her conversation, glancing back at Cynthia Romaines, noticing the woman staring between her and the ex-author on the floor. Dawn Harrison continues to cradle his head. Quickly, Kate moves further away towards the window, lowering her voice as she continues.
"Such as his down payment to you to repay you what is owed by our most recent newcomer to the complex," she continues. "What Rick did have time to do is share details with me. I know he is planning on giving you twelve thousand and five hundred dollars. What else you discuss? What else did either of you commit to? Because as you know, when he comes to, he won't remember anything about your conversation."
"That is very admirable of –" Carlos begins, but is interrupted.
"Come to think of it," she interrupts, "He's not going to remember anything about Cynthia here, or her husband, or . . . or anything from the last two weeks," she finishes, her voice slightly breaking at the end.
"My arrangement with Richard remains intact, Katie," Carlos tells his old friend. "As for details of our conversation, outside his commitment, and my acceptance, I don't think there was anything else to concern you. Those were simply words from him to me that helped tighten our relationship."
"Rick won't remember any of those words, though, Sam," Kate broaches.
"But I will remember," Sam reminds her. "Further, his words simply articulate who he is, and that will not change because of a couple of lost weeks."
"Richard will want to know –"
"And he and I will have that conversation again, Katie," Carlos interrupts. "I promise you. For now, the most important thing is ensuring that this incident does not repeat itself again. Which means that I need to provide more incentive to another friend of ours to expedite the availability of a certain antidote."
Sam Carlos disconnects the call before Kate can respond. She is left staring at her phone as if it is a foreign object in her hand. Abrupt disconnects are not uncommon with Carlos, but this is the second disconnect of this type with her friend in the last ten minutes. That's a lot even for him, and she cannot shake the feeling that there is something else here. She idly wonders what he means by 'incentive', but quickly puts such thoughts out of her head as another thought hits her.
"Alexis," she thinks to herself.
Yeah, the younger Castle will definitely want to know what is going on, and it does not matter that it is just after two in the morning.
"I would want to know right away," she says out loud to herself as she walks back toward her lover, who still lies unconscious on the floor. "She will want to know, too."
"What is going on?" Cynthia Romaines asks, interrupting Kate's thoughts. The eyes of the complex's newest guest are still wide from the shock of the benefactor of her new home suddenly dropping unconscious on the floor before her.
"What happened to Mr. Castle?" she asks again. "Is he ill? Shouldn't someone be calling 911? Why isn't anyone –"
"He's fine, Mrs. Romaines," Kate tells her a bit too abruptly, and then quickly corrects herself.
"He is going to be fine, Cynthia," Kate repeats, her tone softened now. "This is something that . . . happens from time to time."
Kate quickly kneels on the floor next to Dawn Harrison, and the security guard at the complex quickly moves to the side, holding Richard Castle's head in her hands until Kate is positioned behind his head. Once Kate has his head in her hands, Dawn slowly pulls herself up to a standing position.
"Get her out of here," Kate whispers to Harrison, "and then get yourself horizontal as well. This isn't helping your leg, Dawn."
Maybe it's the late hour, but Harrison nods her head in agreement without any argument. The fact that she does so without any push-back tells Kate that the woman is – in fact – likely in a bit of pain at the moment.
"I won't argue with you there, Kate," Dawn replies. "I will get take her to her quarters. I'm guessing you have it from here?"
"I do," Kate nods. "Thanks for your help here."
"Keep me posted, and let me –"
"Not to worry, Dawn, I will text you when he is back awake."
"Awake with no memories?" Dawn states, half asking but already knowing the answer.
"No memories for the past two weeks, no," Kate answers, sadly.
Harrison slowly walks out, glancing at her watch to verify the time. She places a hand softly on the back of Mrs. Romaines, to guide her out of the room before she stops and looks back.
"Stupid question, I know, Kate, but are you going to be all right?" Dawn asks.
Kate offers her a grateful smile, waving the security guard off.
"I will be fine, because he is going to be fine," Kate tells her. "That's all that matters."
Dawn nods her head and quickly steers Cynthia Romaines down the hallway. A few seconds pass before Kate takes her eyes away from the empty door and now brings her eyes up to Dr. Samantha Peraza, who is similarly on her knees at Richard Castle's side.
"Two weeks?" the doctor asks, the sadness evident in her eyes.
"Two weeks," Kate replies in acknowledgement.
"It's not fair," Richard Castle's longtime friend remarks. "Richard has gone through so much . . . in so little time. It's just not fair."
"Strange to hear you talk about fair, given all you see on a daily basis," Kate states sadly. "Not that you will get any disagreement from me."
"How long?" Dr. Peraza asks, glancing at her oversized watch.
"Should be another ten, eleven minutes, I would guess," Kate answers. "Which reminds me . . . can you reach into his jacket pocket and retrieve his cell phone for me, Samantha?"
Without hesitation, the doctor complies. She reaches into his empty left jacket pocket, her actions coming naturally before she chuckles, remembering that her ex-author friend is left-handed.
"There it is," she remarks as she reaches now into his right jacket pocket. She quickly hands the phone to Kate.
"So, I have to ask, Kate," the good doctor questions, "given everything that is happening right now in front of us, why do you need Richard's phone?"
"There is something in here that Rick is going to want to see," Kate replies. "Something he is going to need to see."
"I take it Richard has prepared for this," Samantha states.
"Well, you know Rick," Kate smiles sadly.
"Yes, I do," Samantha smiles back. "We both do. So, tell me . . . what could our good friend here possibly want and need to see on his phone when he awakens? And please don't tell me you are getting ready to go all 50 First Dates on me."
"Well, you know Rick," Kate smiles again, and this time it brings a bit of laughter to both women. It is a surreal moment. Richard Castle lies unconscious – for a few more moments – atop Kate's lap, his head in her hands, while both women kneel with him, laughing. Both recognize the need for laughter, the need for a bit of levity given the circumstances. This night is going to get worse before it gets better.
Quickly placing his phone on the ground next to her, Kate takes her own phone out once again, and quickly finds Alexis' contact information. Hitting the icon of the young woman's face, she gives it three rings when Alexis' nervous voice greets her.
"What's happened, Kate?" the groggy but now awake young redhead asks. Yeah, she knows that Kate doesn't call at two-something in the morning just for giggles.
"Your Dad," Kate begins. "He's going to be fine, Alexis, but he had another episode, just a few minutes ago. I know it's late – or early or whatever, but we all agreed that whenever possible, we would get everyone together whenever –"
"I'm on my way, Kate," Alexis interrupts. "You are still at the complex?"
"Yes, we are in the –"
Her words stop when she realizes that Alexis has disconnected the call as the young woman rushes out of the house.
"People have got to stop hanging up on me tonight," Kate muses aloud, as she glances back down at the man underneath her. She picks up his phone and immediately goes into his photo/video library and opens the folder entitled "Reawakening". She smiles as she thinks about their discussion – just last week – when they created this folder and she recorded him giving a talk to himself – a talk that both of them hoped would not be necessary, but ultimately knew would be.
"It should be any minute now," Samantha tells her, as the doctor strokes her long-time friend's hand when a thought hits her.
"Did anything important happen in the last two weeks that he won't remember?" Samantha asks. "Were there any life-altering discussions or decisions, Kate?"
Kate allows a single tear to fall down her cheek, landing on the forehead of Richard Castle. Quickly, that single tear builds a strength, almost an anger in the ex-detective.
"Every conversation we have is important these days, Samantha," Kate finally speaks. "For this very reason right here," she continues, nodding down to the unconscious man.
"Every conversation we have is important."
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A/N: So much has happened for all of us. An election is now behind us, a virus is still with us, and our house is emptier by one person now, as my father-in-law left this planet peacefully and is now safely in Heaven. It has been difficult, as he lived here in our house with us for the last ten years. It is strange not hearing his voice, hearing his laughter. He went out on his own terms, though, here at the house in his own bed. We find great solace in that. I apologize for the delay, as so much was going on. I finished the book I was writing (INDIVISIBLE) and so now I am finishing this story. I'm posting multiple chapters simultaneously since it has been so long, and I already have thoughts on the next story in this AU. But we will finish this one first. God bless all of you.