Actions Have Consequences or Rewards.
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: This is Totally AU; Beckett has found a new love, Castle is hiding a deadly secret, Takes place after the punch to the stomach in Headhunters.
Taking Literary License to fill in the blanks.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
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Chapter 11
7 Months Later
Castle Loft
It has been a grueling seven months, but thanks to Franny, things had gone even better than the plan. Rick finished his chemo, almost no worse for wear, the only lasting effect upon him so far was he had lost his eyebrows. Nothing else, his hair was still as full, chest full of hair, just his eyebrows, and no one could tell him why or if they would grow back.
Franny had remained his constant companion, almost like a shadow, if you saw Rick, you could bet money Franny wasn't more than a few steps away from him. She had sat in on his counseling sessions with 'Joanne" as Alexis referred to Dr. Worley, so she could explain in layman language to Alexis what was going on. It had taken Rick three months to allow it, he didn't want Alexis to know anything of his past, but Franny finally convinced him that she would imagine things much worse if she didn't know the truth.
It turned out that Rick had witnessed a murder when he was only 11 and was the only witness for the prosecution. It was vile and disgusting, but he was brave and never wavered in giving his testimony, even after the murderer, Howard Greely, sat making slashing throat signs at him. His testimony sent Greely away for life but also left him with traumatic nightmares.
It had been years since he had suffered the last one, even before Alexis had been born, but they were always there in the back of his mind, and according to Dr. Worley, the surgeries, and flirtations with death brought them back to his active memory. Franny didn't admit every detail to Alexis but told her the essence of the story so she would understand AND stop asking questions, the worst thing for Rick's treatment.
Rick had changed from the little boy on the sugar rush, to a more responsible adult, and had even made a bucket list. He was happy with his results but he had done enough of his own research to know, once cancer invades your body, it's never wise to bet it won't return.
He had cut his schedule in half, after sending Gina the two finished Heat novels telling her to title them accordingly, the only reason he completed them was the proceeds would be donated to charity. Alexis would already inherit more money than her grandkids could spend, but there was always a need for those less fortunate.
One book's proceeds were donated to M D Anderson Cancer and Research hospital, and the finale's proceeds were to be donated to St. Jude Hospital, both wonderful causes, and very much in need of financial support.
His writing had become more serious, and much of the quips between Rook and Heat were products of Gina's editing skill. Rick signed off on any change she wanted to make, he was DONE with the Heat series, NYPD, and especially one detective that had been his muse.
He asked Franny in an offhand comment on the way home from his PET scan that still showed no cancer, a question that she answered without thinking.
"Franny, if we were headed to the airport now, just on a whim, where would we be heading? There's got to be someplace you always wanted to visit and never did, isn't there?" He asked as she hummed along to the song on the radio,
"Are you testing my knowledge of geography to use in your next work Darlin, you know I really didn't care about much in school except boys" she laughed,
"No, not that at all Franny. There's got to be one place in this world that if you could hop on a plane and just fly away to, where would that place be?" he asked again, serious enough for Franny to give him an honest answer.
"Rick, I think it would have to be Santorini, one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. I watched a National Geographic special on it was I was in college and fell in love. I never knew that its landscape and white lava beaches were all because of a volcano back in the 16th century BC.
"I couldn't believe how beautiful the beaches were, all made up of black, red, and white lava pebbles. It was breathtaking," she smiled as she returned to real life,
"You and Alexis go shopping, we're leaving next week. I want to see it now that you've described it, so romantic that you were almost having"
"Stop Rick, don't ruin it, and don't kid like that." She scolded
"I'm not kidding, we're going, just you and me. You've done nothing but work, and attend to my every need for the last seven months, it's time we got away for a vacation, and I would be honored if you'd let me accompany you," He said,
"You're serious, aren't you?" Franny asked again, "but what about"
"What about who, or what Franny? Alexis is going to be gone the entire summer, Mother isn't here when she is, and I finished the edits on the last book, so it's time to celebrate." Rick said, the first time of his boy-like smile she had seen in months.
"I swear, if your eyebrows finish growing back in, you'll be waggling those things at me too, of course, we'll go, PROVIDED, you have the medical clearance. Rick, thank you Luv, you know you don't owe me anything for being with you, hell I would have done it for free," she said a tear in her eye,
"I know, so I thought it was time to show you that I love you in that special way, Franny, I still want to walk you down the aisle when you meet someone that meets my approval, you deserve more than being saddled with a man of my age, and I just have a feeling that I need to start living sooner than later," he said, very seriously,
"OK Rick, but we're going to take it easy, I mean you can't be overdoing things, OK, you have to promise me," she said,
"Deal, now let's get home and book the trip," he laughed,
XxX
12th Precinct
Same Time Frame
Kate had managed to avoid any more damage, mostly by keeping the closure rate within a few fractional percentage points as they were before Castle's departure. Her appointments with Doctor Burke were helping to understand WHAT and WHY things had happened, but not in feeling so lonely and guilty about her actions. He had mentioned that those were feelings of a mature adult taking responsibility for their actions, a sure sign of progress for her.
Progress or not, she wasn't feeling any better, especially as the changes to the precinct started to occur, almost one per month. The first was the vivacious and bubbly Anne Hastings, who resigned to get married and move to Denver Colorado. Her journalist husband had landed an editors position with a well-known, and larger publication than where he was currently working for.
Each month a going away party seemed to be occurring, always at the Old Haunt, always with Rick's blessing and a special surprise for the party departing. He had gifted Anne and her husband a two-week stay anywhere in the world, for the combination honeymoon, and going away present. They had only had a small civil ceremony and hadn't announced the change until over a month later.
They had just replaced Anne with a new Detective transferring in from the Vice Squad, ninth precinct when Roz Karpowski announced her departure. She had attended a College Reunion in Georgia last year, and reconnected with her love of several years ago without anyone finding out.
He had never married, realizing too late what he had lost, once Roz tossed him to the curb, for cheating on her. Kate began to understand why Roz was so boisterous at times, it was really hiding the insecurity, she was actually feeling. The happy ending was they had reconnected, last year, he had done everything to woo her back, including an extended stay in New York City in the middle of the winter.
He laughed when kidded about the timing and just said, he would have walked through hell to make sure he didn't lose her this time. Rick had found out he loved to fish, and Roz loved to water ski, so he gifted them a beautiful boat, complete with all of the bells and whistles and custom water skis for Roz.
He laughed when it was suggested that he would do anything to see Roz in a bikini, even buying the boat, but Kate felt a pang of jealousy when she heard it said out loud. Old memories still haunted her from time to time, and she knew that Roz and Rick had remained close, even after he was no longer affiliated with the NYPD. Perhaps it was his response to the barb that hurt more,
"Guilty as charged, and it will be worth every penny I spent. You're a lucky man Chris, take care of her, or I'll have you taken care of" he laughed but there was some wonder in the room if it wasn't a subtle threat put out there to Roz's future husband.
She knew that the two were close, but the extended goodbye, and the emotion pouring out of Roz, was so untypical of the hard-ass detective she had worked with for the last 7 years. Perhaps there was more to the rumors that Roz would have left Chris in a heartbeat for Rick, who knew?
Once Roz and Chris had left the Haunt, she approached Rick to speak to him, as she had done every time she saw him, but he was in his limo and gone, Franny providing cover for him until she joined him in the limo. He had responded to her letter with his answer, now she had to accept his answer as it was, Dr. Burke was adamant that she was causing more damage to not only herself but possibly Rick as well by holding on.
Kate resorted back to her old habits, working long hours, not bothering to look at the calendar, there was nothing to celebrate or look forward to. Her life had turned into one vicious cycle of work, eat, sleep, shower, housework, run, and then a repeat of the day before. There was no variation, no fun as Lanie had accused her after she refused her third invite to go out clubbing with her.
Lanie's idea of fun had remained the same as always, pick up some hot guys, furnish them with fake names, and have mind-blowing sex the entire night, knowing you would never see them again. She couldn't do that, hell she hadn't been THAT girl since she first started working with Rick.
Sure, she had her affairs, and sex, but they were with guys she knew, at least thought she knew. If she had been more pious than she had, she wouldn't be working another 17 months frozen in rank and pay, as part of her punishment. She often thought what would it be like to have Rick still sitting next to her, to serve as her partner, a true partner, not the second-class citizen she had treated his as.
She was trying to find something to do with her day off and turned on the TV for noise, as usual, TMZ came on and she happened to catch a name that made her pay attention.
"Good Evening New York, I'm Ian Rany reporting from the gorgeous islands of Greece, tonight we're reporting from Santorini, one of the most beautiful and romantic spots on the earth, located here in the Southern Aegean. Earlier today, Mr. Rick Castle, New York's own favorite author along with his caregiver/companion Franny Londis landed and were whisked away to the best hotel on the island to spend some time in this paradise.
"Mr. Castle is fresh off the release of his latest Nikki Heat novel, Frozen Heat, and has promised to release three more novels to conclude the series. He and Miss Londis appeared to be happy, and carefree, a very positive sign, from earlier this year when Mr. Castle was injured in what could be described as a rogue cop's retaliation in the 12th precinct and almost died, even after two life-saving surgeries.
"You may recall the late Ethan Slaughter, disgraced NYPD Gangs Unit Detective was arrested and unfortunately killed in prison while awaiting trial. Mr. Castle has continued to reply no comment when pressed on matters concerning Detectives Slaughter, and his reported muse, Detective Katherine Beckett. It's no secret within the department that Miss Beckett was reprimanded for actions allowing the attack to occur, and Mr. Castle has not returned to the police precinct since.
"When the question was raised who wanted to come to this beautiful location, it was his nurse/caregiver/partner who replied, "I mentioned it in passing and as always Rick made it happen, he spoils me in so many ways" and then jumped into the limo to go to the hotel.
"Mr. Castle's publicist did release a statement when pressed that Mr. Castle and Miss Londis will be taking a holiday following seven months of recuperation and work on the Nikki Heat series, and would not be granting any interviews.
"From the looks of things, they're off to a great start as the camera panned to Rick and Franny holding hands walking down the beautiful beach. We hope they enjoy their holiday and are grateful that Mr. Castle with Miss Londis care seem to have fully recuperated," Back to you in the studio,
Kate looked at Franny again, God, where did that body come from, she was built like a model in a pinup magazine, no wonder Rick didn't go anywhere without her. Stop, that wasn't fair, from what she knew about Franny, she was a sweet caring health care worker, but WHY was she there, in one of the most romantic locations in the world, with Rick?
"Kate, you're a freaking detective, so detect" a small voice whispered in her ear,
"No, not Castle and Franny, I mean, he wouldn't, he couldn't, or would he? Hell, she has a body like it was made for him, and you know just how much she already loved him, even willing to sacrifice her career at the hospital. What's so far fetched with the two of them getting it on," shit, she turned the TV off, then threw the remote, that was the last thing she needed to think about.
Her landline rang, usually a wrong number, or a telephone solicitor, so hell she was bored, she'd talk to someone trying to earn a living for their family. She expected someone trying to sell her aluminum siding or an extended warranty of some sort, instead, she heard,
"Katherine Beckett, may I speak to Detective Katherine Beckett please," a voice on the other end said,
"This is she; may I ask who's calling?" she replied, usually anything official or urgent came via her cell phone.
"Excuse me, Detective, this is Stella Sleekier from Doctor Howard Bella's office, your OB-GYN. Our records indicate that you are three years past due for your annual mammogram, and pap smear, and it's official NYPD Policy that you take these precautionary tests annually. May we schedule them for you now, so we can mark your compliance on the past due notice, the commissioner has asked us to submit?" She asked,
"The commissioner is asking you to submit the names of those who are past due on pap smears and mammograms to his office, has he asked for a similar list for my male counterparts?" Kate asked trying to think, the tests weren't a big deal, it was just someone, or somebody dictating to her what she tests she had to submit to.
"Yes, mam there are questioners that have been submitted to every police officer's physician of record, this is not discriminatory just for female officers if that is the implication, Detective. Due to HIPPA laws, I can't tell you what test anyone else is mandated to take, but I can tell you that due to higher insurance costs the NYPD is cracking down on enforcement of mandatory preventative health screenings." She said, not pleased with what Kate had insinuated,
"I didn't mean anything by the question Ms. Sleekier, it's just I have never received a call like this since I have been on the force." Kate tried to explain,
"That's because you have always had your tests conducted within the two-year period recommended as the LONGEST between tests for women under thirty. Now that you are over thirty years old, it is recommended it be an annual exam. Women ages 30 and over should have testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) with their Pap smear. HPV is the cause of cervical cancer, as identified by the Health and Human Services Department for the City of New York."
"Great, something else to be depressed about, she thought but kept those thoughts to herself. "Yes, let me open my calendar, and let's get them scheduled. Is it possible to do both in the same time frame, so I may minimize my time from work?" Kate asked,
"Yes, of course, BUT Dr. Bella will need to conduct a short examination then send you to the lab, down the hall for the tests, can you be here next Thursday, at 8:15 AM?" She asked,
"OK, I have it marked, next Thursday at 8:15 AM," Beckett replied, less than thrilled with the upcoming exam.
"Just one final word Detective, if you cancel the appointment for any reason, you will need to explain in writing to your Captain, and Commissioner Boyle the reason for cancellation, have a good day now" as she hung up.
Oh, Great something to look forward to, the girl hadn't seen much action but she was certainly hoping that the next time she spread her legs, it wouldn't be for a doctor in his late 50's who saw more Who Haas in a day than many men did in a lifetime.
She remembered the procedure all too well, lie on a table with your feet placed firmly in stirrups. Then they tell you to spread your legs, and someone inserts an ice-cold instrument, they call it a speculum, I call it pain into the vagina.
Then they crank you open so they can have a matinee showing of your cervix and then take a tissue sample to submit to the lab. Then comes the three days of hell waiting for the results, with no guarantee that the results will be accurate. Men have walked on the moon, and they were still using the same techniques they used 40 years ago, sickening she thought.
Then the second part of the tests, the pancake flattener of what small boobs she still had. Some guy or woman, taking one boob at a time and placing it on a cold steel plate, then bringing another plate down to smush it so the X-Ray could penetrate the tissue, and once again leave her in suspense for three days or so. She remembered the first time she went with her mom, she was handed a pamphlet, which she read ;
"Some women may feel pain during the procedure, and others may not feel anything at all. Most women feel some discomfort during the actual X-ray process. The pressure against your breasts from the testing equipment can cause pain or discomfort, and that's normal."
Her mom laughed like hell when she threw the pamphlet in the trash on their way out, and for one of the few times, she cursed without her Mom's stern tongue. This is all a bunch of bullshit Mom, maybe if they put the guys nuts in a vise they'd understand, damn liars" she hadn't realized what she had said until she over the conversation between her parents, and was horrified that she had spoken that way.
Jim laughed, "she gets the cussing from you Jo, you know that don't you."
"It sounds like you're volunteering to be the first man to have his nuts smashed, James Beckett" Johanna replied and then they laughed,
She often thought of her mom, what she would tell her to do, now that she had mucked things up all by herself, she sure could use some good Motherly advice.
XxX
Thursday, 8:29 AM
Doctor Howard Bella's office
Kate had updated her paperwork for the files, signed about twenty new forms, been furnished with the HIPPA guidelines, and now was waiting for the doctor and nurse to come in to begin the examination. Dr. Bella was a kind man, a lot like her dad, but she knew the routine and had yet to find a female who thought this test was fun.
Dr, Bella walked in followed by his surgical nurse, Patty Lockhart, pushing a tray into the room.
"Hi, Kate, how have you been, besides busy avoiding my office and calls?" Dr. B asked,
"You know doctor, we can't all work normal hours and take Wednesdays off to play golf," he smiled, she had inherited her mother's spunk for sure,
"So, any issues, heavy bleeds, overactive sex drive, anything changed since the last time you were here Kate? Your vitals are all good, so how has the rest of you been feeling.
"If that's your subtle way of asking if I need a new prescription for my birth control, I do, not because it's used up, but expired, for lack of use if that answers your question Doc. No changes, I'm still very athletic, and it doesn't interfere with my cycles, but"
"OK Kate, what's the but, and remember, I'm here to be sure you are healthy, not to find something to work on," he smiled,
She mentioned that once in a great while the pain from her periods would extend for up to two weeks longer, and usually be more severe on her right side. "It's not sexually induced Doctor, I wish it had been, but as I said it's sporadic, so nothing to worry about." She said, trying to convince herself as much as she was the doctor.
"Very well, I'm going to step next door, Patty will assist you into the stirrups, and let me know when you're ready, I'll be right back."
True to his word he was back and the internal exam was as painless as he could make it, the mammogram and pap smear, she would like to have the technicians conducting those tests in her interrogation room for a few minutes, alone for payback. Both tests hurt like a B.
Now she went back home and tried to forget, she needed to wait 12 hours before using a bubble bath, so she decide to drink the last of the good wine Rick had gifted her. What the hell, it's the closest she was going to get to him now. "Cheers Rick, I hope you find happiness, then at least one of us will have" and drank her wine.
TBC
