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 6
Beckett Cabin, Upstate New York
Day 21-28
Kate's POV
Jim Beckett had been quiet the entire trip up to the cabin, as Kate fell asleep, perhaps because of the additional pain pill that Bella had slipped her as she left the hospital. In truth, Jim was happy she slept, it seemed she was vicious with her answers to his questions, regardless of how impersonal they were. She wouldn't talk about Rick, she certainly didn't leave or make any friends from the hospital staff, and now he was going to be her nurse? He looked upwards and breathed a prayer for patience and tolerance.
He had tried to call the writer himself, but could only reach his voice mail, and of course, Alexis was in Europe for school, so there was no way to get in touch with him. He had read somewhere that Rick was in Los Angeles working with the producers of the film, Heat Wave, made from his first book. He dared not breathe his name in front of Katie, the fight about the security upgrades installed had sparked an almost all-out war.
She awoke just as he pulled into the parking lot of the village Drug Store, considering she was going to need refills on the antibiotic and pain pills, this seemed the logical spot to have them filled. The added advantage that he dare not mention was they delivered to the cabin, so she wouldn't be tempted to push herself too hard to refill them on their own.
"Where are we at Dad" a very sleep Kate asked, as she was beginning to stir from the extra pill that Bella had slipped her earlier this morning.
"We're just pulling into Watson's Drug Store, I have to have your prescriptions filled, so you can follow the doctor's orders," Jim replied in his normal manner.
"Don't bother, I'm not taking any more pills," Kate spit out,
Jim just looked at her, counting to ten mentally he got out and slammed the door without saying a word, leaving her to fume by herself for a few minutes.
"Hi Jim, how have you and your daughter been, we haven't seen much of you lately, you're not shopping at that Super Store down the street are ya?" Doug Watson, the pharmacist who had served this little community for years asked.
"No, no, nothing like that Doug, it's just, well the biggest injury we've had to deal with the last several trips was a fishing hook in a finger, and a few burns getting too close to the oven, other than that we've been fine" Jim replied, making conversation as Watson reviewed the two prescriptions.
"Jim, these are for your daughter, eh, they're pretty strong pain pills and this antibiotic is about as strong as a doctor can prescribe for, well usually gunshot wounds, is she OK?" He asked more to be neighborly than trying to find out anything personal,
"Eh, well, did you hear of that shooting at the funeral of an NYPD Police Captain a while back?" Jim asked,
"Yes, seems someone, oh God, I'm sorry Jim, it was Katie that got shot, wasn't it? Is she OK? I mean what's she doing up here so quick?" The kind pharmacist asked,
"Yeah, it damned near killed her, well it's a long story, but she is hell-bent on doing her recovery in privacy, so please don't let anyone know she's here, please?" Jim asked,
"Of course not, Jim, one of these, I'm going to have to have my driver go to another pharmacy to get you more than the 24 pills I have, I can bring the full prescription out later if that's OK. I'll give you what I have now, and then stop by tonight with the balance, I don't want her to be in pain." Watson said,
"That'll be fine Doug, I'm going to have a battle on my hands to get her to take them regardless," Jim said with a look of defeat and disgust on his face.
Doug hesitated, "From one dad to another, can I give you some advice?" he asked softly
"Sure Doug, any advice that will help I'll gladly take" Jim replied softly
"You know Jim, Kate's not six years old anymore, she's a grown woman, put the pills in front of her, if she's still the stubborn little know it all that she was when she was a kid, you're not going to change her mind. Pain will take care of that, I guarantee that when she's reached the threshold of pain that these are designed for, even stubborn little Katie will cave and take the pills on her own." Doug said,
"You think so, Doug?" Jim asked,
"Jim, these are about as strong as they get and still let you go home from the hospital, WITH supervision, yes, I know so." He said,
"Thanks, Doug," as he paid the clerk and took the bag, "We'll see you after closing tonight, I appreciate you taking care of this so fast," Jim said,
"Of course, if you need anything, anything at all, just give us a call, we can run it out to you in no time atoll." He said with a smile and reassuring pat on Jim's shoulder.
Jim opened the car door and faced a barrage from his daughter,
"What took so long? I hope to God you didn't go through the brave cop routine with everyone in the store, I mean really, I told you I don't need these. You wasted your money and time, " She fired off one after the other, and when she had finished, she looked up to see they had arrived at the cabin.
Jim made his way over to her door, opened it, and assisted her in getting out, he had placed the walker she was supposed to use for another week in front of her,
She looked at him then the walker then tossed it to the ground as she tried to stand tall and walk, Jim, catching her at the last minute before she fell completely to the ground.
He silently picked the walker back up and set it in front of her and walked away to get the luggage, the move shocked Kate all to hell, Why was he acting like this? He never had done anything like this before, he would always take her arm, oh wait. He was about fed up with her as Bella's words came rushing back into her memory, You're lucky your Dad is as patient as he is, but Kate, everyone, and I do mean everyone will reach their breaking point sooner or later,
The next surprise came for her when he went up the steps to the cabin, he had laid a huge sheet of treated plywood to the side of the steps for her to use as a ramp, and turned on the porch light, never looking back.
She held tight to the walker, the only thing currently keeping her from falling on her ass, as she tried to figure out what the hell was going on with her father. He had gone from meek, mild, and assuring, comforting her with his actions and his deeds, to a mute, person who acted like they couldn't care less if she lived or died. He had the same look she saw on, Oh God, he had Bella's look from the first night she met her.
He had gone into the house, propped the screen door open for her, and turned on the lights, but she couldn't see him anywhere, in the house, as she started struggling with the walker, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. She had made it halfway up the drive when headlights from a car behind her in the drive suddenly illuminated the house, there he sat, in a chair, in the dark, on the porch, just watching her.
He rose and went down the steps to greet whoever it was, Kate didn't have the energy to even turn around to see, whoever it was, they didn't stay long as she saw the headlights start to back out of the drive, but where was her Dad? He had stayed back, waiting, and finally, she gave in,
"Dad, can you help me, please" she cried as she was almost completely out of strength.
Without a word he was there, holding her helping her, and finally, they got to the ramp, and without argument, she started up it with the walker, as she had been taught to do in PT (Physical Therapy). He didn't say a word, but held a bag with prescriptions in it, as they finally got into the house and she found the first chair and collapsed into it.
He brought her a bottle of water, two of her pain pills, and an antibiotic and placed them on the table beside her without saying a word. She did notice that he had moved her bedroom to the first floor, right next to the bathroom, he was sleeping in her old room. As he turned, he locked the door to the outside, turned off the porch light, and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and was headed up the steps,
She couldn't wait too much longer or he would never have heard her, she called out feebly, "Dad,"
He turned with such sadness in his eyes, and said, "what do you need Katherine"? He was pissed, that was the name he only used when she was in trouble as a child,
"I'm sorry, I mean I didn't mean to take everything out on you, I'm really sorry," as she looked at him with the brown eyes that had caused him to cave, so many times, even for that damn motorcycle as he called it. This time he looked directly into her eyes, and said softly and sadly,
"Me too, Katie, me too" and he turned and went upstairs to his room and closed the door.
She looked at a piece of paper he had written out, and placed it under Rick's latest book on the end table beside her chair. As she started to read, she realized that she really was about to lose the last person in the world who loved her for what she was, even with all of her flaws.
"Dear Kate, (She could see where he had scratched out Katie and replace it with Kate above it)
"I keep forgetting when we talk you hate being called Katie, so I'm sorry to keep calling you that, it's just been so many years. The lights are on the remote control, the small one, next to the one for the TV. Your pills are past due, take them if you wish, don't if you want to continue to suffer. I'm done arguing with you, you're going to do what you want to do anyway.
"That's one of the reasons I'm writing this, I won't be talked to as you have done the last several times you've spoken, well screamed, or sneered at me. I'm no longer the fall-down drunk you are dragging out of bars and alleys, and I've earned the right to be spoken to with respect. If you can't do that, then write what you need down, we'll both get along a lot better.
"The freezer is stocked with microwavable foods the hospital said would be good for you, along with some fish, and homemade meals Mrs. Sulfamic made, meatloaf, spaghetti, things she knew you used to love when she heard you were coming here to rehab.
"I originally planned to stay here three weeks, but seeing how things are between us, that's up to you. The Drug Store will refill and deliver your prescriptions, the security teams have a close watch on you if you fall down, trying to do too much too quickly. The egg timer is on the stove if you want to use it for your pills, Bella told me, if you have any brains at all, you would, but again that's up to you.
"If you need something, let me know before I return to the city and grant you your wish. You want to be alone, well Katherine, I won't stop you. Unless you ask me to stay longer, I'm leaving in a couple of days, before one of us says something that will push this relationship even deeper into tribulation. Rick has arranged a nurse to check on you daily, a cleaning service to come in and do the laundry, change the beds, and any dishes you don't feel like washing twice weekly. Also, the number for his driver is on this paper, if you feel better and need or want to go to town, call the number for a ride.
"Your motorcycle won't work, I didn't touch it, but it's been towed back to the city and placed in storage, all I will say was it wasn't my doing, but if you're smart, you'll thank someone, the someone who has gone out of his way to provide protection for you, me, and all of your friends.
"Remember, I'm done fighting, I'm done dealing with the Detective, I would like to talk to my daughter at least once before I leave,
"Dad"
She lowered her head, wiped a few tears from her eyes, and took all three pills without making any argument at all, who was she going to fuss with? Her Dad apparently had reached the limit of his patience and he had been right, she had treated him worse than when he was the alcoholic falling down drunk when all he was trying to do was help her.
Speaking of help, did she hear correct? Rick had arranged for her car service, as well as a nurse and housekeeping service? What the heck was that? Then she thought of Bella's words, perhaps he had cared far more than she ever wanted to admit, and truth be told, the feeling was mutual. She spread the comforter from the back of the recliner leaned back and finally fell asleep.
XxX
Lion Gate Studio
Soundstage Heatwave
7:30 AM Next Morning
(Day 21-28)
Roy Reith was a very happy man, they were ahead in shooting by almost a full week, and any re-writes were, well up to this point had been minor. It sure helped to have the person who breathed life into the character on paper there to guide his writers. The film stage had turned into one that others tried to hang out at during their free time, but Rick closed it, except for true fans.
After a talk from Roy, the actor playing Espo, buckled down, especially when Rick fired the actor who had portrayed the character, Sorensen, a little too realistically. He had conducted research and found a lease in the name of Kate Beckett AND William Sorensen, and had spread the word around that Nikki Heat could have been more, well loose, putting it mildly.
Rick heard it, found out where it came from, and fired him on the spot, he re-wrote his character out of the scene and replaced him with his good friend Dylan Walsh. The irony was that Dylan did replace Sorensen in real life, but Rick didn't want to cost someone their job, until, well until they did it to themselves. He turned the re-written scene over to Roy to add the name that the character would play in the film.
He had lunch with Ellie a few times, well if you could call sitting next to each other as commissary services filled the food tables up for the cast and crew. The rushed schedules had them both searching for the first open seat, which just happened to be next to each other before they knew who was occupying the space next to them.
There were hundreds of people it seemed trying to cram some nourishment in between takes. Nothing more was said from the days in New York by either, and Ellie was solely concentrated on her role as Nikki. She had nailed just about every scene, the interrogation, even flipping the table, ala Beckett style. She must have remembered him telling her the day she did it, and the director absolutely loved it. It was one of the rare improv moments that made it to the end of the film and didn't end up on the cutting room floor.
Rick and Eva had met daily, and gone over the plans for the cast, should there be another movie. There were several decisions that needed to be made on the executive level, first, some actors were under contract with the studio, those wouldn't be a problem, but those that were not could cause issues if there was any interest in an additional film.
One of the major concerns was Ellie, the actor for Jamieson was under contract for four films, but Ellie could really throw a wrench into salaries, thus putting the cost too high for the next film, possibly. The fact that the chemistry between the two had developed almost overnight, was another plus, so Eva suggested they discuss it with Ellie, just the three of them.
She arranged a dinner for them and when Rick showed up, Ellie seemed to be like a schoolgirl going to the prom, she was nervous, excited, and if Eva were reading her as most women can do very well, she had a thang for Rick.
"Rick, I didn't know you would be joining Eva and me, or I would have dressed better," she said, as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, then repeated the same to Eva," as he smiled,
"Are you kidding me, I'm sitting with the two most beautiful women in the restaurant, tonight. Just so everyone knows we have Pigeon alert at 6, 9, and 11:00 o'clock." He alerted the ladies, meaning the location of paparazzi hiding to get a shot.
"Hell, I don't care if they see us making out Rick, do you, Ellie? I mean, what the hell, we're all single as long as we keep it within the law," she laughed then leaned in and kissed Rick full on the lips.
Not to be outdone, Ellie, took a tissue wiped Rick's lips, then proceeded to match Eva, except there was tongue, a whole lot of tongue as the cameras were snapping away as she kissed him almost like they had rehearsed it as a love scene. Eva sat smiling; she knew from that point on the negotiations were going to go smoothly, well as soon as Rick could get his voice back.
"WOW, both of you ladies, you know that's going to be on every rag in America unless I can get Paula on it to"
"NO," the ladies said in unison,
"Let them print it, we want to know who they think is the heir, and who is the spare to the Castle throne," Eva said,
"Ellie, are you sure, I mean"
"Rick, I'm sure, I think it would be an honor to be featured, and I mean for more than just two minutes on a late-night talk show that ended in such tragedy." She said,
"Well, OK, I'm not crazy, being kissed by two hot women in an exclusive Beverly Hills Restaurant, it's not why we brought you here, but I don't think you'll hear any complaints from me. I mean, we have to keep it professional at work, you too Eva, but what any of us do after work is our own private business." Rick said,
By the time dessert was being served the ladies had kissed Rick several more times, from all angles, and Ellie had agreed to a fair, and equitable extension should the additional movies come. It was a successful night, as well as enjoyable to all.
TBC