CASTLE NEEDS A FAVOR
A season 3 AU story. Castle thinks he's dying (he's not). Castle thinks he needs to provide Alexis with an extraordinary replacement for him as she approaches adulthood. He's going to ask Kate to marry him. Slight problem, she has a boyfriend who isn't Castle.
All standard disclaimers apply
CHAPTER ONE
Rick Castle was putting his shirt back on after his yearly physical. He sat down on the hard plastic chair as he prepared to put his shoes back on.
Suddenly he heard some voices just outside the exam room door. The door his doctor had closed when he stepped out, claiming he'd be back in few minutes to talk to Rick before he left.
Still in his stocking feet, and curious as ever, he padded over to the door and placed his ear up to it. He could now hear what was being said. It was his doctor talking to someone.
"It's really such a shame about Richard."
A feminine voice, probably a nurse, answered. "Yes, it's really awful. Is there nothing that can be done?"
He could hear the doctor sigh. "No, the unusual thing about this condition is that he'll feel just fine for a couple months or more. Almost right up to the end. He won't really exhibit symptoms until a week or two before the end."
"That's both good and bad I would say." The nurse said.
"That's true, plus there are still some blood tests that we'll have to double check before I can be sure. For that reason, and the fact that he will feel perfectly normal for some time yet, I see no reason to bring this condition up. At least not until we've had a chance to confirm our diagnosis with several blood tests."
The nurse added. "Well, I guess, since you've said there is no cure, nor way to combat this, it doesn't hurt to allow him some piece of mind before he has to face the truth."
"True enough, but mainly, we have to get the diagnosis positively confirmed, and that will take several weeks of testing."
"Well, I don't envy you that conference."
"Nor I, but at least I can put it off for a little while."
Castle heard the door knob begin to turn so he hustled back to the chair and began slipping his loafers back on.
"Well, Mr. Castle, we're all done. I hope that last blood draw didn't cause you any extra pain. Sometimes the vein doesn't always cooperate and we have to do it again."
Castle stood and shook his head. "No, I'm fine… aren't I?"
The doctor slapped him on the shoulder. "For a man your age, Mr. Castle, you are in excellent shape." He slapped Rick on the belly. "Lose a few pounds around the middle and you'll be right where you'd want to be."
Castle watched his doctor carefully. "Nothing to worry about then? No hidden problems… or conditions?"
The doctor never changed his expression. "Nope, you are good to go."
They shook hands and Castle slowly left the exam room.
Right after Castle left the nurse came into the room. She had a clipboard holding a paper in her hand.
"Here's the authorization for the extra tests for Richard Belmont that you requested. It's a shame that there is nothing we can do for him."
The doctor took the clipboard and signed at the bottom. "Yes it is, but maybe what we learn from this patient might lead to a day when we can do something for those who come after.
The nurse nodded her agreement and left the room.
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Castle had only been home a couple of hours, but he was still just sitting at his desk staring at the pictures on his desk. Most were of him and Alexis, but a few showcased others. A couple featured him and his mother, and the largest one was a full on family picture, with him in the center and Alexis and Martha on each side of him. There also was one that was of his precinct family. He and Beckett stood side by side, and Ryan and Esposito were down on one knee in the front. It had been taken only a month or so ago.
Right then the front door opened and Alexis came in from school. "I'm home if anybody else is." She shouted that every time she came in so as not to startle someone if she approached them. Most times she was alone when she got home.
"I'm in the office, pumpkin." Castle shouted out.
Alexis came in and gave her father a hug around his neck. Castle patted her arm.
Alexis planted a quick kiss on Rick's cheek. "So why aren't you at the precinct? No active case?"
Castle shook his head as he turned in his chair and looked at his daughter. She was and always would be the light of his life, and now he wasn't going to be around anymore. He was worried for her.
When he overheard the doctor and the nurse talking about him in the hallway it was like someone poured a bucket of ice water over him. It wasn't the fact that he was going to die so much, not that that wasn't a giant bummer. But it caused him to think about what he would be leaving behind.
And it all centered on Alexis. For as much as he kidded around that she was the grown up in this household, she was still a kid. She was barely seventeen and still had another year of high school to get through before she would have to navigate the storied halls of some top ranked college.
Oh, Alexis was smart and she acted all grown up, but she wasn't. She wasn't even a normal seventeen year old. While she was intelligent, she was somewhat sheltered. She was attending a highly respected prep school. She didn't have to deal with most of the problems one would find in a typical public high school.
Alexis didn't have a prejudiced bone in her body, but she also hadn't had to deal with a lot of diversity in her school life. Most of the vile treatment that some have had to endure she only saw on television.
She would need help as she began to interact much more with the real world. And he wouldn't be here to teach her and help her overcome some of those things she hadn't had to deal with yet.
It sucked that he wouldn't be there, but that was now out of his hands. He gave her hand a kiss."
"What do you want for dinner, honey?"
Alexis shifted her book bag to the other hand and moved away toward the stairs. "Surprise me." She bounded away toward her room.
Castle's thoughts had been mostly morbid and feeling sorry for himself but seeing Alexis had been like the flipping of a switch. His time was now limited but there was nothing he could do about it. He had to shift his focus. He had to make sure that he did everything possible to help Alexis and mother move on once he was gone. And that meant providing them someone who can guide them through the initial loss and onto a whole and happy future… without him.
A hesitant smile worked its way onto his face. He knew what he needed to do. Now if he could just convince a certain hard headed beauty to go along with it.
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Kate Beckett was bored. It had been two days since they caught a case and her fingers were cramping from writing her name on so many forms for the paper work they had been able to catch up with during the lull in the action. She hated paperwork days.
Ryan and Esposito were being their normal productive selves during these down times. They were busily engaged in flicking paper footballs through goalposts that the other made with their thumbs and fingers. Real exciting stuff.
"Guys," Kate admonished. "As boring as it might be, this is your chance to get caught up with your paper work. I don't like it either but it has to be done, and neither of you are leaving today until you are caught up."
Ryan's shoulders slumped while Espo just glared at her.
Esposito shook his head. "I don't see the need to have all of us fill out the same stupid forms when you, as the lead, are filling them out anyway. How many sets of the same thing do they need?"
Kate shook her head, her long hair swirled about her face. "Apparently they need three. They want everyone's version of the case so they can compare and find out who's slacking off and who isn't."
Ryan's head snapped around. "That's not true…is it?"
Kate just shrugged her shoulders and continued what she was doing while hiding her smile.
"I don't suppose you could call Castle and suggest he bring us something for lunch since we're all stuck here doing boring paperwork?" Espo was giving Kate a big grin which was mirrored by Ryan.
Kate glared at her partners. "You two ever think of, maybe, planning your own meals?"
"Nah, Castle's stuff is always better."
Kate raised a brow. "And that's because…"
Her 'boys' both shrugged. "He pays for it."
That brought out both a head shake and an eye roll from Beckett. "You two are just out of luck. Castle knows this was going to be a paperwork day. Besides, he had a doctor's visit. His yearly physical."
Ryan showed some concern. "I hope it goes well."
Espo rolled his eyes. "The worst Castle has to worry about is all that fancy food he eats will clog up his arteries." Which brought a chuckle from both of them. Kate ignored them.
As if knowing that they were talking about him, the elevator door slid open and out stepped Castle.
"Hey guys." He said as he dropped a bag of take out on each of their desks.
"Alright Castle!" Both men high fived Rick. "You are the man."
Kate leaned back in her chair and just shook her head. "You know you're just encouraging bad behavior."
Castle grinned as he sat in 'his' chair. "That's okay." He gives her a wink. "Besides I don't notice you ever complaining when I bring you food and coffee."
Kate had the decency to blush. Once she managed to regain her normal complexion she gave Castle a raised brow. "Speaking of…"
Rick smiled and pulled a cup of coffee from behind his back and set it on her desk.
She smiled back and took a large gulp of the elixir of life. She set the cup back down and looked at him expectantly.
He grinned at her. "I didn't bring you any food." She frowned. "I thought that since it was a paperwork day you'd be able to go out for lunch. I thought we could go to Remy's?"
"Hey, how come you never let us come with you when you go out?" Came from the peanut gallery.
Kate stared them down for a few moments. "It's because Castle is my partner, and he knows how much I need to get away from you two for a while now and then." She turned to Rick. "Thank you, Castle. I've love to go to Remy's."
They both stood. Castle offered her his arm. She glared at him until he dropped his arm then they moved toward the elevator.
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Being midday Remy's was doing a brisk business, but a good part of it was takeout orders so the seating wasn't overly crowded. It seemed that luck was with them and the booth that they'd come to call theirs was open. It wasn't normally a popular booth.
It was in the far back corner of the diner. Kate liked it because she could sit with her back to the wall and be able to see the whole room and anyone who came in. Rick would sit across from her and that meant his back was to the whole rest of the diner. Which was good for Rick because there was then less chance of someone recognizing him and then decide they could bother him because they were a fan.
When they sat down Kate noticed a cardboard, handwritten sign saying Reserved. Kate looked up at Castle, held the sign up with a look that asked the obvious question.
"I called ahead." He said with a grin.
She nodded. "I suppose I don't have to tell a waitress my order, either?"
He shook his head.
"What if I had wanted something different?"
Suddenly a look of mild panic appeared on his face. "Do you?"
She locked her green/brown eyes with his deep ocean blues for several moments. "No."
Castle gave a sigh of relief. "Oh good, I didn't want to upset you, especially today."
Kate's brow's dropped. "Why, what's so special about today?"
Castle ignored her question. "So, you'd say we're friends, right?"
Kate's brow went up. "What's this all about? What are you angling for?"
"Friends, right? We are friends."
Kate was suspicious. "Okay, we are friends."
"Good friends, right? We're good friends."
"Okay, if you were one of the boys I'd think you were wanting to borrow some money. But I know that isn't the case with you. So fess up, Castle what are you angling for? Just come out and say it."
Castle stared at his hands like a little boy caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
Kate was suddenly concerned. She reached out and clasped her hand over his. "What is it, Rick? What's wrong?"
Castle took a deep breath, like he was trying to pump himself up. Whatever he had to say was beginning to worry Kate.
"Just say, it Rick."
He looked up and pursed his lips for a few seconds. "I need to ask a favor?"
Kate frowned. "Why the big build up? I'll help if I can. What's the favor?"
Castle clenched his fists. "It's a really big favor."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Just say it Castle. Tell me what you want?"
It was obvious to Beckett that Castle was very nervous about something. "Come on, Rick. I've known you going on three years now and I've never seen you so reluctant to speak before."
He reached out and grabbed both her hands. "I really need you to… marry me."
Kate stared at Castle like he had lost his mind. She waited for the joke but it didn't come. She burst out laughing anyway.
She patted his hand. "So you've finally had that breakdown. So that's a pretty funny punch line, what's the joke?"
Their conversation had to take a break as Ruby, the waitress brought their food. Double cheeseburger with fries, and shakes. His was chocolate, hers strawberry.
They both silently took a few minutes to work on their lunch. No words were spoken until the burgers were eaten, and they were at the point where they nibbled on their fries and sipped on their shakes.
Kate broke the silence first. "So, who put you up to this?" She glared at him. "It's not really all that funny, Castle."
Castle sighed. "No one put me up to it, Kate. I meant it. I need you to marry me."
Kate was getting angry. "This really isn't funny, Castle. It's in pretty poor taste considering I have a boyfriend."
Castle folded his hands in front of him. "I'm very aware of Josh, Kate." He looked up at her. "Is he even in country?"
Kate hid a look of disappointment. "No, he left a couple of days ago for Haiti. He'll be gone for three months this time." She didn't sound happy about it.
Castle nodded. "Then it might not be a problem."
Kate leaned back against her bench her mouth agape.
"Are you out of your mind?" Her hands slammed down on the table. "Seriously, you think that all this is funny? Who told you about Josh leaving? Was it Lanie? She's the only one who knew." Kate's eyes blazed. "Explain this to me."
Castle took another deep breath. "I saw my doctor today."
"And?" Suddenly a chill slid down her spine.
"He told me that I was in excellent shape for a man my age."
Kate leaned closer. "And?"
"He lied to me. I overheard him talking with a nurse about me. Apparently I have some condition that will kill me in a few months."
Kate's first reaction was to gasp but she controlled herself. She still wasn't completely sure that this wasn't some elaborate bad joke.
"If your doctor said you were in excellent shape, why would you think otherwise? I can't believe your doctor would keep something like that from you?"
"I heard them mention my name, Kate. He'd just gotten through examining me, and then he was talking to his nurse and she was saying how awful it was for Richard."
Kate shook her head vigorously. "No, no doctor would keep that from you."
"Well he mentioned to the nurse that he had to take more tests over the next few weeks to confirm the diagnosis. And since I wouldn't show any symptoms for a couple of months he didn't see any advantage in telling me right now. Not until the final test results were in. But I could tell by his voice that he was already convinced."
Kate had her lower lip between her teeth and she was trying to hold back tears that were threatening to fall. "But… I mean…I don't know what I can say here, Rick." She squeezed his hand. "I find this unbelievable. You don't seem at all sick in any way."
Castle shrugged. "I know, for that I'm thankful. It was a non-symptom, symptom of the condition according to what I overheard."
Kate shook her head, then wiped at her eyes. "I still find it hard to believe that a doctor would hold back information like that."
Castle shrugged again. "I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with he doesn't have all the boxes checked yet, but I can't wait to find out. I have to make preparations now to make sure the people I love will be taken care of once I'm not around."
Kate held her folded hands in front of her face. "Let's table the condition for the moment. Tell me why you think you need to marry me?"
"There are only a few people that I truly love and need to make sure they will be properly taken care of when I'm gone." Kate nodded along with him.
"Mother, did the best she could raising me, but I can't put the responsibility for a young girl still short of adulthood on her. Also mother isn't a young woman anymore."
Kate hurt for what she knew Castle was feeling. "Alexis is the most level headed young girl I've ever met. She is more responsible than you ever were." Kate tried to lighten the mood, but she couldn't because she was twisted inside. The thought of Castle not being around anymore was unthinkable.
"I've heard that more times than I like to think about. Most of the time I would agree with it. But the truth is, Alexis is 17 and has lived in a protected bubble most of her life. I can't send her out there without the guidance she will need to survive my loss and her needing to grow up too quickly." He placed his hand over hers. "Who better than someone who has had to live through the loss of a parent at an early age."
Kate now knew what Castle's proposal was really about now. "If you remember, I told you when you were freaking out about the mummy's curse that I would make sure Alexis would be alright if something ever happened to you. I will keep my word." Kate wiped off another tear.
"What about Meredith and Gina. Won't they be there for Alexis?" She added.
The look on Castle's face shocked Beckett. She'd never seen that level of disgust from him before. "You have to be kidding, right?"
Castle ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Imagine this. Two ex-wives and an under aged daughter. It would be like two vultures sitting on a sign post reading 'easy street' and a pointer aimed at Alexis."
Kate gave Castle a disapproving look. "Meredith is her mother. She wouldn't take advantage of her own daughter."
"You've met Meredith, and you can say that?" Kate gave a brief shoulder shrug. "When Meredith actually does something with Alexis, who do you think pays? I could easily see Meredith using her blood relationship to try and get full control of my finances. The only thing that would stand in her way would be Gina trying her best to get the lion's share for herself."
Kate shook her head. "So you think the only way to save Alexis from all that fighting and chaos is to marry me?"
Castle shook his head. "Kate, I'm doing this very badly. Yes, my first thought is to protect Alexis and my mother. But you have to realize that you too are someone whom I care for very much and I want to do what I can for you also."
Kate felt like she'd been shocked. "What do you mean?"
Castle shook his head and laughed weakly. "Come on, Kate, I know you're not stupid and I know you know how I feel about you." Kate tried to speak but Castle put up his hand to stop her. "I know you consider me a friend and your partner. But you have to know that I have hoped for more."
Castle chuckled. "I was prepared to play the long game for you. I knew that Josh was a rebound as much as Gina was for me. Gina's gone, and soon Josh's absences, whether he was in country or not would end anything between you two. My plan was to just hang around. Be there when you needed me and hope that someday in the not too distant future you would see me as worthy."
Kate was having trouble holding back tears. "I can't believe you would think that. You've always been worthy Castle, it's me who isn't worthy of you. You scare me. I can't trust my heart to you because if I did, and you left me, I wouldn't survive that."
Castle shook his head slowly. "I think we have a problem in communicating our true feelings." He reaches over and squeezes her hand again.
"Something else to think about. Alexis, and mother's money and properties have been in the will for some time. The trusts for Alexis, the Hampton house for mother, the loft stays in my name along with a generous living expense. Alexis will be set for life as will mother. But if I'm married, by law all the money not previously deeded to Alexis and mother will belong to the two of us until I die, then the wife takes over that money."
"Your money would be the last thing I want Castle. I thought you knew that about me?"
Castle smiled. "I do, but if you can see to do this big favor for me, there's no reason that you shouldn't profit by it too. Remember, Alexis won't be ready to be on her own for a while yet. She hasn't even graduated from high school, and I'm sure she's going to want to go to some top of the line University."
"I told you I'd look out for her, Castle."
"Yeah, but wouldn't 100 million dollars make that easier?"
If she'd been drinking anything she would have spit it out. "You have a hundred million dollars that isn't tied up for Martha and Alexis?"
He shook his head. "No, we'd have 100 million dollars."
Kate wiped a few obstinate tears off her cheeks. "I don't know what you want me to say here Castle. I can't grasp the magnitude of what you've told me. I can't wrap my head around the idea that you could be dy… gone soon."
Castle stood and held out his hand to her. "You know what I want you to say, Kate. But I also know that I've blindsided you here. Please take a day, or two to think about what I'm asking. I know it's a shock, and a huge disruption of your life, but it doesn't have to be forever for you."
Kate punched him in the arm. "Don't talk like that. This isn't like that. This isn't me deciding whether or not I should cut my hair short again knowing that it would only take a few months to get the length back." She puts her hands on either side of his face. "This is making a forever life choice knowing that you don't get the happy ever after."
They began to walk out of the diner. Kate stopped him. "You are important to me, Rick. But we don't have the type of relationship we should have for me to make the decision you are asking of me. But I am your friend, and I care very much for you and your family so I'm going to go home tonight and really think about what you've asked me."
Kate sighed. "Then I'll probably cry myself to sleep. But I promise, by tomorrow I'll have some sort of answer for you. Is that okay with you?"
Castle pulled her in for a big hug. "That's all I could ever ask. And if you decide in my favor, I'll do my best to make those final days together the best I can."
Kate put her arm around Castle's waist. "Let's get back to the station. I have to take the rest of the day off. I'm not feeling too good."
AN: This story is designed to provide a story full of angst for the characters without any for the reader. We'll see if it works.
Readers are appreciated, Review if you wish.