A Deadly Game and a Secret
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: This is one story I've seen requested but never read a completed fic before. Rick has been recalled to active duty; the Hamptons are just his guise to hide the true story. The only ones who know the truth are Gina and Roy. Based loosely off 2-24, A Deadly Game, for the beginning then completely AU.
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 2
Hamptons Beach House
Next Morning - Day One of Rick's week before shipping out.
/_/
Flashback to Previous Evening
Rick was feeling a little guilty on the ride home, he knew Gina wanted sex, hell so did he, but he didn't want to send the wrong signal. He had been quiet since the stop at the ice cream stand, both reliving great old memories, and trying to bridge the gap to not lead his ex-wife and soon-to-be lover on with any false hopes.
"Relax Rick, you've been quiet since I told you I wanted you to take me home and have your way with me, it's not a commitment, I'm not asking for that. All I ask is for this week, PLEASE can I be your exclusive, after that, well, all bets are off. We both know it will be quite sometime before normal returns to either of our lives." She breathed into his ear as they walked into the house, headed to his bedroom,
"Gina, please don't take this the wrong way, hell we just got divorced and I was just coming to terms with that, so I have to be sure we both know this is just sex this week. I haven't had as many romps in the sack as you might think since we've been apart, but I understand. This week it's me and you, exclusive, then when we go back to the city, we're both free to explore options."
"I know Paula was one of them Rick, and all I'm asking is please, let's just concentrate on each other this week, nothing is off-limits with me, I know what you like, and you damn sure know what I love so, let's enjoy the week when we can. We still have some heavy stuff to deal with, and I know how important it is to you to have all the details worked out before you leave." Gina said sadly,
"I'm not going to lie to you Gina, yes Paula was one of the ladies, and the only reason I'm telling you her name is that it seems to bother you. I swear, we were already divorced, waiting for the decree to be certified when I had the book tour to do, and Paula went with me to see her sister in Phoenix.
"Well, I had too much to drink, and things happened that shouldn't have, not because I wasn't free, but because I had to tell Paula that was all there would ever be. No more, just the one time, it's bad to mix sex with business, I learned that from you.
"I'm sorry she thought differently, and it did put a strain on the working relationship for a while, but I won't lead anyone on. I know how it feels to have the carrot dangled in front of your face for you to chase, only to have the door slammed in your face just when you think you're almost there." He said as he looked out at the ocean, a faraway look in his eye.
"Rick, I understand, I'm not Kate, and for this week just take what you want when you want it, I plan on doing the same if that's all right," Gina said with a purr, as one breast showed through her nightie,
"As long as I don't hurt you or lead you on, I see your figure is even better than ever, you look different," he said softly as he slid into bed,
"I had the implants removed, I remember you saying it was like trying to kiss a beach ball, hopefully, you'll find the girls more attractive, as well as me"
"Gina, you'r" he never finished the sentence, Gina turned the light off and started to take what she wanted. She was right, her natural breasts were beautiful and so, well he showed her how he appreciated the change, more than once.
XxX
Next Morning, Saturday
Rick woke to a pair of blue eyes staring into his, "Good Morning Rick, did you sleep well?" Gina purred, against his chest, her ample, now natural bosom on full display. He didn't know if it was her body, her, or him being celibate for so long, but he answered her in the way that delighted her, complete with the squeals and oh my god's to let him know he was on the right road,
A short while later, she lay on his chest, "We haven't made love in the morning since the week after we got back from our honeymoon, I know now what I was missing all those years. Was it good for you sweetie?" as she pulled him into a deep kiss one that curled his toes, God she was, hell is a beautiful woman.
"I didn't realize it had been that long, but thinking back you're right, as soon as we got back from the honeymoon, everything went nuts in the world it seemed. We forgot to make time for each other, could it be as simple as that?" Rick asked as he played with her hair, then her breast then back to the hair when she smacked his hand gently, well for a little while.
"I don't know Rick, I know I was guilty of most of all that went wrong, I mean how direct can you be when you tell the counselor why you didn't enjoy making love to me anymore," Gina said with a sad look in her eyes,
"You still remember that? It was a smartass thing to say, probably to try to get even with you and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it." Rick said as he began kissing her neck, then down to her breasts. Her nipple became erect immediately, "oh my lady likes that" he whispered, as he kissed her ear."
"I love it, Rick, you always did turn me on, I guess that's why when you told the counselor whatever his name was, all I remember was thinking how the hell is this guy going to help us"
"Doctor Paul Evans," Rick whispered, "Only openly gay marriage counselor in all of New York, what was our luck" he laughed,
"Seriously Rick, do you remember what you said, I hope you still don't mean it," she kissed his lips as his hands continued to fondle her gently, then just rough enough to heighten her stimulation.
"Sadly, I do, I said, it was hard to kiss the lips of the mouth on the lady who chewed my ass off day and night, or something to that effect, I'm sorry Genes, it was a cruel thing to say," Rick said as he stopped moving his hands,
She took his hands and placed each where she wanted them, then kissed him, "It was the truth, it made me see how badly I failed as your wife, then I made it worse by retaliating at work. I don't blame you for saying it, but sweetie, can we get past that, at least for this week I" her mouth was engulfed with his and the petting turned heavy.
The session lasted even longer than the first, she almost passed out she had hit her all-time high as Rick kissed her gently back into normal breathing. "My God, how did you do that, I've never,"
"I know Genes, I know, that makes it special for me. We have work we have to get done, but thanks for filling my memory with something so sweet, so precious, I'll hold on to it, until I get home again" he said, he noticed the tears in her eyes, and as he held her, she cried openly,
"I'm sorry Rick, I just can't think about you leaving, but I know I have to. Hell, you're trusting me to be strong for Alexis, you know you may need to tell her the truth, she's a smart young lady." Gina said as she composed herself,
"Well, I'm hoping to be back before her exchange student year is up, if not, you're right, she's going to figure it out sooner or later. I don't want her angry with you" Rick said, as he stole one last kiss then headed to the showers. Gina knew better than to follow him, she would be in there all day, and they did need to get work done."
XxX
Beckett's Apartment
Friday Night, 9:30 PM
Kate had stopped at the corner Bodega and picked up a to-go meal, hell she didn't even remember what she bought. It didn't matter, they all tasted the same anyway, but it was a good way to keep from getting a hunger headache. Especially tonight, when she had the last of the bottle of wine that Rick had brought over for some reason, tonight's reason was it was as close as she was going to get to him for a long time.
She flipped the remote, thinking she had turned on the TV, instead out came Keith Urbin's voice with a song she definitely didn't need tonight, Tonight I Want to Cry. She loved the artist, and normally she could listen to the song, and just relax. Tonight, it was almost like a news report describing her life,
Alone in this house again tonight
I got the TV on, the sound turned down, and a bottle of wine
There's pictures of you and I on the walls around me
The way that it was and could have been surrounds me
I'll never get over you walkin' away
I've never been the kind to ever let my feelings show
And I thought that bein' strong meant never losin' your self-control
But I'm just drunk enough to let go of my pain
To hell with my pride, let it fall like rain
From my eyes
Tonight I want to cry
Would it help if I turned a sad song on
"All by Myself" would sure hit me hard now that you're gone
Or maybe unfold some old yellow lost love letters
It's gonna hurt bad before it gets better
But I'll never get over you by hidin' this way
She couldn't take it anymore, finding the remote, she turned off the stereo and drank down the first glass of wine. She opened her phone to the picture gallery and studied each one of Rick, most caught when he wasn't even aware she was taking them.
She replayed her day, not the work part, the personal sessions first with Tom. She knew she blindsided him, he never saw anything coming, and probably hated her, she didn't blame him if he did. Then she closed her eyes and remembered walking into the conference room with Castle and everyone gathered around the table. If she had been 5 minutes sooner, she could have told him what she wanted to say, or at least got out that she wanted to spend the weekend with him.
Her tears fell as she closed her eyes and replayed the entire conversations in her head, complete with the part where Gina appeared and was marking Rick like he was some piece of turf. Truth was, she was, she had the right, a lie, her lie, had broken something she thought she would never see. Rick's will, his desire to be around her deflated as quickly as a balloon that held the comic conversations in the comedy pages of Sunday's newspaper.
The only problem, there was nothing funny about what she had done, first lied and hurt Rick. She changed her mind and had a change of heart, hurt Tom, without any reason, then without even checking to see if the invitation was still open. In her mind it was Castle, of course, the invite would still be there. She got the surprise of her life, first when Gina showed up, next when they made no secret that they were now a couple, and lastly, the one that hurt so bad it almost made her pass out.
"See you in the fall?" she heard her words so clearly, as her tears threatened to fall, but his answer was like a bullet straight to the heart. She didn't know what to expect but never this, never "I don't think so Beckett. Like I said it was a great summer but you got something going on now and well, so do I. Stay safe Beckett, Good-Bye,"
He actually said Good-Bye, he never said that to anyone, unless, well he knew he wasn't going to see them again. It was as if he was telling her to move on with her life, he had seen, heard, and felt enough with her to know she lied, she flirted, and she led him on, without shame. That is until tonight, she never thought she would be drinking wine alone on the Friday night of a long weekend, yet here she was.
She couldn't call Lanie, she was so pissed off at her, it would take weeks to mend that relationship if ever. The boys went out without even asking her, with cold free beer sitting on the table in the conference room. Javi never would have passed that up unless his anger overrode his stinginess. She knew the boys were both pissed, but she didn't know what to do about it, other than wait and hope it blew over.
She turned the stereo back on again, deciding she deserved to be punished and she had a playlist of love songs, all genres queued up. She smiled, the first time Tom picked her up, he thought she had made it for him, she hit the remote quickly and they went out to dinner. Oh God, Christine and Blake singing her new theme song, I'm just a fool. She skipped back a few tracks to the song by Urban.
The one line read would it help if I turned an old sad song on, all by myself would sure hit me hard now that you're gone. Well, she wasn't going to dig that song out, she cried when she heard it when she wasn't sad, tonight it would kill her. The song went on as Urban sang the line or maybe unfold some old yellow lost love letter, hell that was it. She would write him a letter, first to apologize for lying when he first asked her, she should have told him about Tom then.
She poured and drank another glass of wine; it would require courage if she was going to write what was in her heart. She glanced at the bottle, not even a full glass left, so she just drank it all from the bottle, and threw the empty in the recycle bin, on her way for her stationery and writing supplies.
One glance at the stationery, and she burst out crying again, it had been a present from Rick for some made-up holiday, any excuse to spoil her, or give her things she just mentioned she liked in casual conversation. She started to think about how many times Rick had been there, even when she was treating him badly, he still showed up.
This was the only time he had ever walked away, God she and Demming had really poured it on the last few weeks. The insults were bad enough, they came from Tom mostly but she laughed or backed her boyfriend, even Espo got a few shots in at Rick's expense, oh God, he hates me thoughts rushed through her mind. That was what Lanie was referring to about her being cruel, she couldn't deny she was guilty, why couldn't she see it when she was being such an ass?
Her mind then flashed to last week, Oh God, why did she do something so stupid, she heard Rick coming so she grabbed Tom and kissed him on the stairs right in the precinct. He had nothing to do with it, but going along, it was her, what the hell was she thinking? She remembered Rick's face, it had a look on it as she had never seen before, that look she knew now was hurt. He tried to cover it but left for the day shortly after for a meeting he had forgotten and had been quiet ever since.
She took out her legal pad, she never started on the stationary, she made too many mistakes. It gave her a chance to proofread the letter for content as well. The stereo had now moved to the next song, she must have been in a very sad move when she made this playlist, All by Myself began to play and she grabbed a box of tissues as she sat on the floor and began the letter.
Dear Rick, that was it, she was looking at the same two words 35 minutes later, oh God this was going to be harder than she thought as she began to cry soulful tears, she was beginning to see the hurt she had inflicted on a man whose sin was he wanted to help. This was going to take some time,
XxX
Hamptons Beach House
3 Hours Later,
Gina had to admit, Rick had really stuck to the program, and according to her checklist, they were very near the heavy items, items she certainly wasn't ready to talk about but knew it was a must. She brought out the checklists they were working on. Rick had completed his official military form DA Form 7425, which left only the Pre-Deployment Checklist to work through.
She was beginning to realize the reality of the situation, the first item on the list was to prepare/update the Personal Will, executor, and location of the copies. The Marines had one copy, but it was advised the person charged with carrying out the last wishes, had an updated copy handy along with copies of all life insurance policies.
Many of the things on the list Rick had already taken care of, such as automatic payments, through his personal attorney, Walter Austin. To prove how trusting he was, the pin numbers on the bank cards were the same as when they were married.
"Rick, why didn't you update these sweetie, what if someone got hold of your accounts? And do you think keeping the same pin numbers we had when we were married was a good idea?" she smiled, but Rick knew what she meant.
"Well, Walt is handling most of the big stuff, I did transfer my retirement account to a different brokerage firm once the divorce was final, only because Walt did it for me." He laughed, "Genes, it's only money, if you wanted to ruin me financially you had plenty of opportunities when you were Mrs. Castle.
"Rick, what's this?" Gina asked as she opened the envelope with Walter Autin, LPA engraved on the return label portion,
"It's an updated power of attorney, form, the old one still said wife behind your name." He said so calmly,
"Rick, POA, that's pretty strong powers, are you sure you don't want Martha to act on behalf of Alexis, I mean," He leaned in and kissed her,
"Genes, if you wanted my money, you wouldn't be here with me doing this, I know you're upset and I'm sorry. I guess until you are facing death you never think about preparing for it," he said softly as she fell into his arms, tears no longer able to be held in check.
He held her without saying a word, just rubbing her back gently until she composed herself,
"You're coming home in one piece Richard Castle if anything happens to you, I swear, I'll get Paula and we'll haunt you, day and night, you understand," she said her fists balled against his chest, Rick held her a few more minutes, then said,
"Genes, if something happens to me, you can't haunt me, even as mean and scary as Paula is from this side of the grave" he smiled, as he tilted her head upward for a sweet gentle kiss. "Of course, I'm coming home, just keep the faith, and take care of our little girl,"
"I will Rick, you know I will" as she laid her head back on his chest and had her cry. Rick just held her, sometimes it was knowing when to say nothing at all.
TBC