CHAPTER THREE
The next couple of days were hectic, and confusing for Kate. She had two more meetings with Henry, and now had a leather brief case filled with 25 million dollars in cash. She told Henry that she would contact him soon as to how much more will be needed. She badly wanted to confide in him, but was afraid to do so. Obviously, Hunt wasn't worried about the legalities that might be involved. He was going to save his son, and that was that. Even if it killed him, which according to the plan…would.
Kate met up with Jackson at the renovated abandoned warehouse, and handed over the brief case of money. He thanked her and said he'd get it to the right people.
She walked up to the bed that Rick was currently occupying. He was still under heavy sedation and was completely unaware of himself or his surroundings. His left arm, and both legs were still in casts, and his head was still bandaged from the concussion he'd suffered.
Tears rolled down Kate's cheeks as she saw the love of her life lying there all bruised and battered. Aside from the big three, arm and legs, he had multiple lacerations and significant bruising all about his body. It really was a miracle that he was alive.
And then there was his heart. The accident hadn't affected his heart. That was already failing even before the accident. According to Jackson, Castle's heart had been on the clock for a while now.
Kate didn't know what to think about Hunt's willingness to sacrifice himself for his son. Did she love Rick enough to sacrifice herself for him? Certainly, she would throw herself in front of a bullet meant for him without a thought. But to lie down on a table and allow someone to cut your heart out gave new meaning to the word sacrifice. Kate wanted to think that she would do the same if need be, but those circumstances were somehow different.
An instinctual reaction to try and save someone's life is different from a conscious choice to allow someone to kill you so your organs can be used to save another. Normally organ donation comes after a person dies, not the reason.
Kate scrubbed the short bush that was her hair with both hands. She pushed the heart surgery out of her mind. First things first. Castle's body had to heal enough before they could make any plans to swap hearts.
"So," Kate asked. "What exactly did these mad scientists do to Rick?"
Jackson allowed a deep chuckle to escape his throat. "Well, that's a bit hard to explain, seeing as I have very little comprehension of what was done. All I know is that Richard now has a lot of very expensive bionic parts in him."
Kate wiped her hands over her face. "Please don't tell me that they've turned Rick into some sort of Steve Austin. A six million dollar man so to speak."
He grinned at her. "Nothing so bargain basement. Times have changed, and inflation has reared its ugly head." Hunt's expression darkened. "He is fortunate to be alive. Most of his bone structure in his legs and the left arm were pulverized and had to be replaced with titanium replacements. Special polymers were used to make up the replacements for the muscles and skin like sheathing."
The pair stood next to the rebuilt man that they both loved.
"Will he be able to walk again, hold a fork or a knife in his left hand? How were they able to get all the muscles and tendons and… and everything to function again?"
Kate was getting frantic. Jackson just shrugged. "I have no idea. That's why we are paying so much to people who do know."
Kate reached out and took Rick's right hand in hers. "So how much more money am I going to need?"
Hunt frowned. "Best I can figure, we'll need at least another 30 million. Probably should plan on 35 million just to be safe." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Can you get that?"
Kate nodded. She didn't care if she had to give away all that Castle had, and all that she had. Nothing would be too much to pay if it gave her Rick back.
Then it hit her. "Omigod, he is going to be a 60 million dollar man." Kate grabbed Hunt by the elbow, her fingers digging into his flesh with such force that he had to pull away with an exclamation of pain. "He's still going to be a man isn't he?"
Jackson stared at her for a moment, then broke out laughing.
"Yes he'll still be a man. Some of his organs and other inner working got a little banged around, and some a little bruised. But the essential inner workings will all be fine with a little time."
"So," Kate bit her lip. "Little Ricky will be okay?"
Hunt burst out laughing again. "That's my understanding."
She nodded. "Okay, I'll get the money. It's going to take a little time, but I'll get it."
"What about Martha, and Alexis? What have you told them?"
Kate dropped her head. "Nothing. I convinced them right after the funeral, to get away. To concentrate on their own healing. They are taking a trip through Europe, and along the Mediterranean." Kate looked up and pursed her lips. "I saw no reason to build up any hopes until we have succeeded in this miracle rebirth. It would be cruel to get their hopes up only to have them crushed again if all this doesn't work."
Hunt nodded. "I can see that. And there is still the heart surgery to come once he's gained enough strength to survive such a procedure."
The two of them left the makeshift hospital room, leaving the two medical people, who constantly monitored Castle, to their task.
"So tell me." Kate looked Hunt in the eyes. "He's not going to have some sort of super human powers… is he?"
That got Jackson laughing again. "I don't really know. I contacted these guys because they are geniuses, but not exactly conventional team players. Is it possible that if the artificial parts mesh well enough with the natural parts that Richard might see some enhanced abilities? I would guess so."
Kate wanted to yank on her hair in frustration, but …
"What might we be talking about here?" She asked in a whisper.
Hunt shrugged. "Well, his legs would be stronger, he might be able to jump higher, or run faster. And since you use your legs while lifting, he probably could lift more as long as it didn't hurt his back or arms."
They continued their walk around the place. "I imagine if the left arm is similarly structured as the legs, it would be stronger. Probably be able to throw something faster and farther."
Kate dropped her head into her hands. "Oh god, he's going to want to be a super hero. And after all the pain, and expense he and we had to go through to bring him back to us, he's going to go out and get himself killed trying to be a hero."
Hunt chuckled. "I don't envy you the problems you are going to have reigning him in. You know how Richard is."
Kate kept shaking her head. "He's already a nine year old on a sugar rush much of the time. I'll never be able to hold him back if he becomes enhanced."
Jackson put his arm around Kate's shoulders. "Just keep reminding him that he's not bullet proof."
A dejected Kate just shook her head. "But he has that damn vest."
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The days passed into weeks. Kate kept in touch with Martha and Alexis, telling them to stay and enjoy themselves. She convinced them she was doing fine, keeping busy at work. Which, of course, was a lie. She hadn't made any effort to contact the precinct since her talk with Gates. She had told Lanie that she was going to go up to the Beckett cabin for a while a try to figure out how to make peace with it all.
She had several meetings with Henry and had managed to secure the rest of the cash that Jackson had asked her for. Even after that raiding of the Castle finances, Henry was able to convince Kate that she hadn't bankrupted the family assets. She, and Martha and Alexis wouldn't be thrown out into the street anytime soon. That made Kate feel a little better… a little.
She had several meetings with Jackson Hunt, and she visited the warehouse slash medical facility to check up on Castle's progress. He was being kept in an induced coma, so as to let his body concentrate on healing and adapting to the 'new' parts that had been added to his body.
She only had the people looking after Rick assertions that he was getting better because she couldn't see any changes just by looking at him. She had been warned that when he did wake up he probably would be very disoriented and it might take some time for him to regain his memories due to the concussion he'd suffered in the accident.
One afternoon she cornered Hunt and had a conversation about the intended heart surgery that was yet to come. The hard bitten, grizzled agent had decided to donate his own still working heart to his son, whose blood pump didn't work too well and was going to fail very soon.
Kate and Hunt sat on the folding chairs that they always did and stared at each other for a while. Finally Kate had to speak her piece.
"Look Jackson, I want Rick to survive more than anyone else does. Hell, I've spent what, 60 million for the chance of his survival? But allowing you to volunteer your working heart to save Rick just goes against every instinct and feelings on what's right and what's wrong. It's suicide and that makes it very hard for me to condone. If it wasn't Rick on that table… I don't know what."
"Jeezus Kate, you're a cop. You lay your life on the line regularly. It's your job."
"Yeah, but I don't go out with that purpose in mind."
Hunt shook his head. "What about when Rick tried to knock you down, get in front of that bullet that was aimed for you back at your Captain's funeral."
Kate stared at her feet. "He was trying to save me." She looked up at Jackson. "And I would have done the same for him."
Hunt nodded. "So, what's the difference?"
Kate shook her head. "But it's not…" She sighed. "Those are instinctual actions to try and 'save' another life, but not necessarily trading your life for the other. That's an outcome that is still unknown."
Jackson grabbed her hands. "But when such an action is taken, you can't tell me that you aren't thinking that you are doing whatever you can do to save that other life."
Kate shrugged. "Well of course, but we aren't going in thinking that we are trading our life for the life we are trying save."
He raised his brow. "Aren't you?" He grabbed her hand again. "Kate, can you truthfully say you never once had the thought that you'd trade places with Rick. That you, if possible, would be the one in the Ferrari and he would have been at home?"
Kate stared at her feet. She didn't want to look at the tired agent. She knew she would sacrifice herself to save Rick, just as he would for her. But the way that Jackson presented it, was so… clinical. It just seemed wrong.
"Kate," he patted her arm. "I was never allowed to be a father to Richard. Hell, I didn't even know I was a father for over a year. My job has always been my life. And going in I knew it would be a solitary one. I traded a normal life for one that was about service to my country."
Jackson pulled his hands back and folded them on his lap. "Do you know that the government keeps statistics on the life expectancies of agents?" She shook her head. "I've already outlived their carefully computed statistics by over twice the normal expected life span for my type of work." He chuckled. "I've been playing on borrowed time for quite a while now, and I'd like to think I've done well for my country. But the sad truth is… I don't always know how I affected the bigger picture by what I was required to do."
Kate felt for the tired old man. She knew only a small part of the things he did in the name of protecting his country. And she could imagine that, over the years, it could weigh heavily on one's soul. It still seemed wrong to just sit by and allow him to kill himself, even if it was to give his boy a chance for life. Not that she would try to actually stop him.
He reached over and with his finger lifted her chin so she faced him.
"Just tell me this. If you were given the chance to save Richard, but you knew it would cost you your life, would you still do it?"
She dropped her head and stared at her feet.
He nodded. "I thought so. Look, I'm not a good person. I do terrible things to terrible people in the name of a government who makes decisions based solely on 'the big picture'. Let me go out doing something for someone I love. Let me go out making the lives of my family better."
Hunt chuckled again. "It's not like I'll be missed."
Kate glared at him through a few tears. But the simple facts were. Everything he said was true. She couldn't really stop him even if she wanted to. And to her everlasting shame… she didn't want to.
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Dr. Lanie Parish decided to bring the latest information on the Gunderson murder up to the homicide floor personally. She wanted to touch base with Javier and Kevin. She hadn't heard anything from Kate in weeks and she was getting more and more worried about her. She hoped the boys might know more.
The elevator door opened and allowed her to exit on the fourth floor. She looked around, but didn't see anyone right away. She glanced over at Kate's desk. There wasn't anything in her in or out baskets, and except for a cup with pen and pencils in it, there was no indication that anyone sat there.
"Hey chica, what brings you here?" Esposito walked toward Lanie, a cup of coffee in his hand. Right behind him Kevin Ryan brought up the rear, also with a cup of coffee and a stale looked Danish.
"Hi, Lanie." Ryan smiled at her.
Lanie frowned at them. "Okay, so tell me what's going on? I haven't been able to get in touch with Kate for weeks. She doesn't answer her phone, she doesn't return calls, or texts. I'm really worried."
The boys shot a quick look over toward the captain's office but she seemed busy, and her door was closed so they sat down at their desks, and Lanie dragged Kate's chair over and sat next to Javi.
Espo spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "We have no idea what's going on with Kate. She came into work a couple weeks after the funeral, her hair all chopped off and worked with us that morning."
"Yeah," Kevin added. "And by lunch time she went in and talked to Gates and came back out and left."
Javi frowned. "She said something about a leave of absence and took off."
Lanie pursed her lips in a hard line. "I know that Martha and Alexis are still on their European travels, but I haven't talked to Kate since that day she was here either. I'm worried."
"You don't think she did anything crazy, do you?" Javi asked.
"Well if you ask me, that haircut was pretty crazy." Kevin added.
Lanie shook her head. "No, I think she went somewhere to hide. To get away from everyone. Probably is holed up, alone, either at the Hampton's house, or up at her dad's cabin in upstate New York."
Esposito growled. "Why would she do something like that? She needs her friends at a time like this."
Lanie rolled her eyes. "You do remember who you're talking about? Kate Beckett, the woman who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders just because she finds it preferable to sharing."
Kevin just shook his head. "But we can help her get through this. We all miss Castle too."
Lanie clenched her hands. "Again, this is Kate Beckett-Castle." Lanie emphasized the Castle. "She has never asked for help from anyone besides Castle since before her mother died."
"So what can we do? We don't even know where she is?" Javi spread out his hands.
"I did stop by the loft a couple of times." Lanie frowned at the memory. "But she wasn't home, and the door man didn't know where she was, or when she might be back. She legally lives there so she doesn't have to sign in or out unless she wants them to know."
"So what should we do?" Kevin whined.
Lanie glared at the both of them. "You're NYPD. What do you do when you are trying to find a suspect?"
Javier smiled. "Yeah, we can try to track her movements by checking her phone records, and credit card uses. We can pull camera footage from around the loft."
Lanie nodded. "And I'll call her dad. He might know if she went up to the cabin."
Espo looked pensive. "Do you think that she'd use Castle's Buick or does he have a Mercedes now? I know that all Kate has is her motorcycle."
Lanie shrugged. "She might just have used cabs. It's not like she doesn't have access to a lot of money now. That is, if she'd use it. She's always had a problem spending Castle's money even after they got married."
Esposito shook his head. "We'll figure it out, we just need to try to track her down anyway we can." He frowned. "We can also check for any unusual activity with Castle's bank accounts if we have to."
"Well if she has tapped into it, it could give us a clue as to what she's doing and where." Lanie added.
Ryan looked eager. "Now if Gates doesn't load us down, maybe we can locate her, or at least have an ideal what she's doing."
"Guys," Lanie put her hand on Espo's shoulder. "Are we really acting in Kate's best interest? Or are we just trying to poke our noses where they don't belong. She's suffered a lot over these past few weeks, maybe she just needs to be alone. She did send Martha and Alexis away."
Espo frowned again. "You don't think she'd do anything stupid… do you?"
Lanie stared at him "What do you mean? What kind of stupid behavior are you talking about?"
Ryan picked up on Javier's vibe. "No, Kate wouldn't do anything like that." He shook his head in denial, not sure if he believed it or not. "She wouldn't… hurt herself in any way… would she?"
Lanie shook her head vigorously. "Not a chance. She may hide herself away. Try to pretend that she can deal with all that has happened without anyone else's help. But she's not a quitter. She'll be miserable, probably for a long time. But she'd never actually give up. She still has her dad, Martha, and Alexis to think about, and take care of."
Esposito nodded in agreement. "She may never be the Kate she was before, but she will still honor her debt to those who have stood by her through it all."
Ryan looked at Espo, then Lanie, then Espo again. "So, what are we going to do? Are we going to back off, and let her deal with this on her own? Or are we going to try and find her, and give her our help and support she needs. Whether she wants it or not."
The three of them each looked at the other until they all had the same determined look on their faces.
"She gets our help." Esposito chimed in. "Whether she wants it or not."
Suddenly they were all startled by the clearing of a throat nearby. They all looked up to see Captain Gates standing only a few feet away from them. They, obviously, didn't hear her approach them.
She gave them all a look of understanding.
"Just tell me if there is anything that I can do to help." She then turned around and marched back into her office, leaving the three co-conspirators with looks of astonishment on their faces.
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