92 Days
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: This is Totally AU; Beckett has left the hospital after her shooting, This describes the activity of each, during those 92 days without contact, both in the hospital and out. It blends some Canon dialog, courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com, then goes quickly and completely AU. What were each up to during this time, 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 3
Beckett Presbyterian Hospital
The remainder of the Story will be the FLASHBACK of EACH, Kate's POV, then Rick's.
Day 5-12, Kate's POV
It was a toss-up about which party was happiest when Kate finally fell asleep each day after exhausting rounds of physical therapy. She hadn't been in a good mood since before Roy was shot, and this setback, the fact that she was the one sick made her, even more, of a terror. Often her voice raised over the hustle and bustle of the hospital normal activities, loud enough to be heard over the normal noise, her yelling at someone about something, usually trivial.
Today's world war had started when the nurse would not give her another cup of decaffeinated coffee, the chart had her limited to one cup a day, and Beckett wasn't having it. That's the day the nursing staff had it with her and called for reinforcements. They turned to an old friend, to say Bella was a huge woman would be putting it mildly, she was over six feet tall, and weighed, well no one asked.
She had worked for the hospital when her late husband was alive and stationed nearby but left when he was transferred to a base in Europe. Unfortunately, 6 months later, he was KIA,(Killed in Action) in a skirmish outside a small town in Afghanistan. She returned to New York, visited her friends at the hospital a few months ago, but wasn't interested in coming back to a full-time gig. She did say to call her with any special needs, and well, if there ever was one, it was Katherine Beckett.
She arrived the day of the coffee incident and was introduced to Beckett in the normal manner, showing respect, as any nurse would do until Beckett had the younger nurse Molly in tears over the coffee. Bella was now her nurse, no one else, and if Beckett wanted to get rough with anyone it was going to take a lot more than a mental beatdown to bring tears to her eyes.
"OK, Beckett, it seems you can't stop yelling, well that stops now, If you continue to raise your voice, you're going to be on the bedpan until your butt is so sore, you'll think it was a foreign alien attacking your body. I'll let your skinny ass fall asleep on it after I give you the shot to calm you down, well, being honest to put you to sleep. If you haven't gotten the message yet, I'm your nurse, your only nurse, so your screaming days are over.
"I'm not one of you puny recruits at the precinct, there's nothing you can do to hurt me, I'm a contractor, and they won't fire me to satisfy you, as long as I don't physically hurt you, although that thought has crossed my mind. You see Beckett, in layman's terms, you're, eh, eh, FUCKED.
"You will do what I say when say, or believe me you'll live on the red jello and broth you hate so much, and will pray to die before I bring your pain medication, now ARE WE CLEAR or do I need to demonstrate. I'm a nurse, your nurse, you're the patient, you do what you're told, we get along fine. You start screaming and demanding things, then we have a problem, and believe you me, you don't want problems with me." She was looking at Kate as if she were a toy about to be tossed to the lion's den to play with.
"We understand," Kate said barely audible,"
"What Beckett, you see I'm a little bit hard of hearing, selectively so you're going to have to do much better than that, now what did you say?" Bella asked,
"I said we agree," Beckett said bitterly through clenched teeth.
And so ended the era of Beckett screaming and cursing at nurses, Bella gave her the baths, even when she insisted, she didn't feel like it, she got them. She was out of bed to walk to the bathroom and was pushed on her therapy, the madder at Bella she got, the faster she progressed.
The remainder of the week was almost a carbon copy of the first day, except no one heard Beckett's voice over the normal decibel of a conversation. Bella was her nurse, even on weekends, disappointing Kate who thought she would catch a break during that time, no such luck.
Kate turned into a model patient, not complaining about anything, rather counting down the days until she could get out of the hospital and away from Bella the Hun. The remainder of the nurses on the floor had taken Bella out to dinner just to say thanks, problem patients were not rare, having one like Beckett when she got pissed off was a nurse's nightmare.
XxX
Castle's Friend's Home
Next-Day (Day 5)
Rick boarded his private Jet, all packed for at least three weeks, perhaps longer, if necessary, but the first stop was extremely urgent. Janice knew the location, the only one who did, and after takeoff she allowed the co-pilot to take over as she came back to visit with him, and bring him his three fingers, well almost five, of single malt liquor.
"So, Rick, why the secrecy of our location, something going on in New York I should know about?" Janice asked gently,
"Well, I guess you heard about the shooting at Captain Montgomery's funeral, well, we need to stop in Minneapolis for me to hand something off to my FBI Contact there. If I gave it to Beckett or her boys, they would wind up getting killed, besides it's a Federal matter now." Rick said,
"So, is that why our flight plan was filed originally for Chicago then amended to Minneapolis?" Janice asked, she had been with Rick long enough to know when to ask and when to walk away,
"Well, I left shadowing the Detective about a week before she was shot, but she still thinks I can figure crap out, so knowing her, she has one if not both of her guys following where I go. If she thinks I'm going to Chicago, she'll think I'm going to see Erin Boyle, not anything to do with the case" Rick replied,
"Rick, does Alexis or Martha know"
"Janice, no one knows anything, including us" he raised his eyebrows,
"OK Boss, Got it, just promise you'll be safe and not do anything that is dangerous." Janice pleaded,
"Not in the least, in fact, we need to file a flight plan to Los Angeles for tomorrow, I won't be in Minneapolis any longer than I need to be." Rick smiled, and Janice met his smile,
"Great, you know how I feel about that place" she laughed, "We have a lousy path, so it's going to be about 3 hours and 45 minutes till we touch down, so get comfortable, but Rick?" she paused,
"Yes, Janice?" Rick replied innocently
"Wear your damn seatbelt, especially when we have the light on, I swear, I have to check on your," she marched back to the pilot's seat with a smile, knowing full well Rick would avoid wearing the belt as long as he could.
XxX
Four Hours Later,
Minneapolis MN
Home of FBI Assistant Director, Dylan Walsh,
Rick stepped off the plane to see his friend from college, step toward him. "How's it going there Paper Cop? You still inventing those impossible scenarios that only your heroes can solve?" he asked with a laugh,
"Why don't you ask Carol, you know the lady that poses as your wife, most days" Rick laughed, knowing that Carol was one of his biggest fans, and Dylan had no idea who Derrick Storm or Nikki Heat would be. He would remember Kate Beckett, they had worked the case where there was kidnapping involved, once Sorensen was chased away by Roy, shortly after he joined working with the team from the 12th.
"Incorrigible you never change you Bastard, so how long can you stay this time, and what's pulling you away so fast," Dylan asked, already knowing that he would be lucky if Rick spent the night.
"Tomorrow, I have to be in Los Angeles before the movie they're making out of my last book turns into a slapstick comedy, rather than the drama it's supposed to be" Rick replied, as he was hoisted off the ground by his old friend.
"So, Rick is this strictly a pleasure trip, which I doubt, but if not how big of a mess is someone in that you want our friendship to pay the bill for cleaning up" he laughed,
"Oh, you know me oh so well, Dylan, we'll get to that, right now I'd like one of those freshly caught trout fish dinners at, what's the name of that place?" Rick looked puzzled,
"You mean Jax? Come on, Carol is waiting for us, holding a table, we'll be there in about ten minutes." As he placed Rick's suitcase into the back of the SUV.
They made their way to the restaurant, as they entered, Carol stood to greet them, a tall slender blond that no one would pick as the linebacker-built Dylan Walsh with more of his chest sliding to his waist each year would put together as a couple.
"Hey there hot stuff", she kissed him on the lips, then gave him a huge hug, Rick still wondered if Dylan knew that she and he had once dated before he transferred in and became the man in her life.
"You get more beautiful, we get uglier, Hi Carol, you look wonderful as always," Rick said, as he took his seat at the table,
"You look like you've been working out Rick, lost some weight and well, a little more in the mid-section" Carol always did tell it like it was.
"Yeah, it's early but down 12 pounds and started running again, the doctor wants me to take it easy on the weights since the... well he's afraid an old man will hurt himself." Rick skirted around when he had been wounded, not wanting to expose his complete background.
"Well, after dinner, you're coming home with us, right? Dylan bet me you'd leave tonight, I bet tomorrow so who does dishes tomorrow?" Carol laughed,
"Sorry pal, you lost", as he looked towards his friend, smiling. "There is something I need to give you and review before I leave for LA tomorrow," Rick said, becoming serious,
"Sure Rick, we can talk shop later, let's enjoy the ice cream at Bucares they're just around the corner." Dyland expressed, with the sparkle of the little boy in his eyes,
"I'm going to pass buddy, that's just more miles I need to run to burn off the calories, so if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you about what I need to, then we can all relax the rest of the evening, I'm leaving tomorrow at 7:45 AM, I just got the text from my pilot," he said
"Don't tell me, Rick, they're making Heatwave into a movie, right?" Carol exclaimed with her eyes sparkling,
"Well, officially I have to say no comment," as his head went up and down in a yes motion,
"I knew it, I told Dylan, when he told me your next stop, that was what was happening. How's that for profiling Mr. FBI Agent of the Year." She laughed and kissed her husband, as unlikely a pair as they seemed, both were totally devoted to each other.
They returned to the beautiful home of Dylan and Carol Walsh and spent the first part of the evening reminiscing before Carol excused herself leaving Rick to talk about the business, he had brought with him. As he laid out the evidence, Dylan's eyes lit up,
"Wait a minute, Becket, Beckett, yeah, she's the cop that was once Sorry Sorensen's girl and Roy hated with a passion. That's why I got pulled back from a vacation to work the case with you and her. I understand the little girl and her Dad are adjusting well, the last I heard" Dylan said,
"Your memories good, Dylan, and you're spot on about Sorensen, Roy must have spent half a day before he got him bounced. Now that I look back at it, I can see where he and Beckett would be a fit," Rick smiled, "Speaking of Beckett, here's what I wanted to talk to you about.
Rick furnished Dylan with the information that he was going to turn over to the team on the morning that Gates kicked him to the curb, then thought, nope, they'll get killed and it's something else I will be blamed for. He and his old friend went over the scenarios including the account of the offshore bank, and its owner, Senator William Bracken from New York.
"You know Rick, we have, or I should say the bureau has much of this, but we were missing the piece that tied that sniveling coward to the whole mess. I think our special crimes division is going to be more than happy to get this material, and if I were a betting man, I would bet Bracken won't be free to see your movie premiere, even as slow as justice moves." He said
They swapped a few more stories, then Rick took a shower and curled up in bed. Step one of his plan had gone without a hitch, provide the FBI the evidence that THEY should have to take jurisdiction of the crime, Beckett had become so driven, with a need for revenge, or full of hate that her judgment couldn't be trusted with the evidence. He knew what her death would do to Jim Beckett, and as a Dad, he would do anything to prevent that.
Rick slipped out and took a limo before Dylan and Carol could get up on their day off, leaving a note,
"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, Thanks for the good time and allowing me to crash, I really appreciate it. Carol, don't be angry, you're as lovely as ever but Dylan needed every minute of beauty sleep, he can get", then he had placed a few smile emojis, and concluded. "Call me if you need anything, or if you get any major developments you are allowed to share, stay safe, see you soon,
Rick,
XxX
Los Angeles
5 Hours Later (Days 6 – 12)
Rick landed and had his limo take him directly to Lion Gate Studios, and his luggage to the Kimpton Everly Hotel, where he had rented the penthouse for three weeks. As he walked into the studio, he could tell from the quietness onset that not a lot of activity was going on. He found the stage, actually stages, that the Heat film was supposed to be using, and found guys sitting around playing cards, not a lot of work getting done period.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Dev Whitman, he's supposed to be in charge here, can any of you tell me where I may find him?" Rick asked politely,
"Who wants to know?" One of the guys with the toolbelt on that had been leaning against the wall,
"The guy who's going to fire you all, now where's Dev, you've got three seconds, before you're all fired, 1, 2," Suddenly the guy with the toolbelt admitted to being Dev,
"So, what's your crew supposed to be working on? Rick asked,
"This set for Roy when he returns, but hell he took vacation so why not us too," he asked,
"Did you ask for vacation?" Rick drilled,
"No, but, we deserve more than the idiots calling the shots."
"OK, you're all fired, go see HR, tell them that the Executive Producer, Rick Castle, just fired you. If you're not off this set in 30 minutes, I'll have you arrested, now get out of my sight."
People and word spread quickly; the AX MAN was on set. Rick found the one man, younger than he thought that Roy said was the only one he trusted, Keith Calder, and instantly promoted him to Crew Chief, and offered a bonus if his crew could get the set done on time for Monday.
There was a flurry of activity, and Keith wasn't shy, he was on his men, "We're not doing this half-ass, people, our castmates could get hurt if this falls apart, now do it right, or leave." Rick heard him dressing a carpenter crew working on stairs down almost completely across the sound stage. Yeah, he'd made the right decision,
Next, he met with the Casting Director, Eva Galantine, who had already heard he was on set, rumors and news travel fast when you make the entrance Rick had with the set builders. He stuck his head into a small office, and asked,
"Excuse me, I'm looking for Eva Galantine, " he said softly,
"Hi Mr. Castle, you found her," as she extended her hand to shake his automatically with a big smile. I've heard some of the news, and frankly, it's long overdue, Roy is a great guy, but he has to learn to delegate," she said unsolicited, "Oh God, I should learn to keep my mouth shut, I'm sorry."
"For what, telling the truth, never apologize for that, now do you have the next 5 actresses that you had selected before deciding on Natalie. I visited her, she's out, by her request," Rick said softly,
"Sure Rick, let's go to the mini-theater, I have the tapes of them in the same scene," she said as they stepped through a small door into a darkened room with about 5 or 6 seats, around it.
"OK, are these in order Eva, and are you going to closest to getting the part to well she'll do, as I believe you are," Rick asked, and flashed a smile she couldn't help but smile back.
"Exactly Rick, I can see you've done this before" Eva complimented him,
"Actually, I haven't, but I guess being the son of a Broadway Actress provided me with some background," he said, almost as a matter of fact,
"Oh really, Broadway actress? Anyone we would know Rick?" she asked politely,
"Martha Rogers, I can't tell you how many times I saw her work her ass off for a part to wind up rejected or the understudy. It's important not only the message we deliver to them, but also HOW. To us, well there's a ton of people trying out, to them, it could mean rent, or even eating." He said softly,
"Rick, I think you're going to add a ton of value on set here, do you want to see the performances now, or can I get you a coffee, water, juice, we don't allow the hard stuff on set," she said,
"Fantastic to hear, and a coffee would be great, I take it"
"Rick, please, let me get this, you're not the only one that knows a guy" she laughed, and came back a few minutes later with three creams, three sugars, blended perfectly in a large coffee.
The smiles were contagious, and soon everyone in the room was smiling as well, "Thanks Eva, I appreciate this,"
"My pleasure, now we'll start with someone you know, we almost went with her, but we didn't like the news we got back from one of her references, this is Ellie Monroe acting in the same scene that was so close to Natalie it came down to almost a coin flip," Eva said, watching as Rick's eyes turned up, and he coughed slightly as the mention of her name.
They played the scene out, Rick asked to back the tape up a few times, or if there was another angle, and after about twenty minutes, they moved on to the next actress. The process was repeated until Rick had seen them all, then he turned and asked Eva,
"How many are still available for the role?" simply in a business tone,
She answered that Ellie Monroe was, and the 4th and sixth choice was also still not committed to a project. Rick looked around the room, is there any doubt who we want?"
"Eva was comfortable enough to say, I'm good with Ellie if everyone else is,"
"Good, Eva call her and give her this number, as Rick scribbled it on the back of one of his business cards, have her call me, tell her, for now, business only." He smiled, acknowledging to Eva he knew she knew of her tactics in New York to get the part.
"I'm heading to the hotel, if anyone wants to join me, dinner is on me, strictly business I promise" as his face blushed,
"What time Rick and what hotel" Eva asked,
"Yeah, I guess that would help wouldn't it, Kimpton Everly Hotel, I have the penthouse, say around 7:00 PM, I'll make reservations, as three or four more hands went into the air when Eva asked, "who's joining us?"
"Great I'll reserve the small room should have room for ten, in case anyone hears and want to join us, they're welcome," Rick said as he walked off the set,
"He's nothing like he's been made out to be in the papers, hell he's a catch, Eva" Audrey, one of her assistants blurted out,
"Well, you heard him, strictly business, so, let's enjoy a good dinner, but I can't argue with you, someone, someplace is missing out on a real catch",
TBC