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 7

Beckett Cabin, Upstate New York

Day 21-28

Kate's POV

Kate didn't sleep well, even with taking the prescribed pain pills, she hurt like hell, and couldn't find a comfortable spot any way she turned. She kept her eyes closed as her Dad made a pot of coffee, filled his thermos, then headed out around 4:30 AM this morning, She knew he was hurt, more than hurt and she knew she had to do more than whimper a simple I'm sorry.

The sound of an outboard motor starting up confirmed her suspicion that he was headed out on the lake to either fish or visit their spot, his and his late wife's, a spot that was almost sacred to him. He had never allowed her to come along with him, but she had stumbled on him one day when she was walking through the woods, lost in her own memories. He was knelt down, in front of a tree, talking to someone, at least she thought at first. then she realized he was talking to her mom as if she were still there.

FLASHBACK ONE MONTH PAST HER POLICE ACADAMY GRADUATION

She knew she shouldn't have but she listened to what he said, and it surprised her when she heard his words. "Jo, you know her, hell she's just like you were at that age, and you're right I should have been stricter. I know, I know, you set the discipline for Katie, and I never backed you, I'm sorry for that, believe me, I am. Well, she's a cop now, yes, she graduated from NYU but instead of applying for law school she went to the Police Academy, as usual, she was first in her class.

"I worry about her every time I hear a siren, or hear on the news of a police shooting, she won't know, she can't know. I took enough of her life burying myself in the bottle, so I guess this is my penance for that. Maybe you could keep an extra close eye on her, and you know Jo, she listened to you, when you used that tone, anything you can do to keep her safe love.

"I've been through hell and back losing you, and almost destroying myself, but I can't lose my little girl, I just can't. I know you were so disappointed in me, and love, I promise, I won't go back, no matter what but if something happens to Katie, well, they may as well bury me along with her. The only two reasons I ever had to live would be gone. I love you, Jo, just as much today as I did the day you left for your reward. Help me when you can and, I'll talk to you again, soon. Oh yeah, Happy Anniversary, you thought I would forget, I'm sure, but I could never." He placed a small bouquet of her mom's favorite flowers at the base of their tree, and walked away slowly, wiping his eyes.

Kate hid in the bushes until she heard his boat startup, then she went to the tree. It was a simple old Oak tree, then she saw the small heart and initials carved into it, with the date, two months after she was born. It had become their spot to come to get away from all of the problems the city, and professions as attorneys brought into their lives.

CURRENT TIME

She pushed herself, gritted her teeth through the pain, and stumbled to the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of water, and made her way back to her perch. She was exhausted, and soaking wet with perspiration, it could have been from the pain, or the exertion she had spent just getting to the water. She wasn't ready to be by herself, she knew it, now she had to apologize and ASK her Dad to stay longer.

She also knew that the nurse he said Rick had arranged would be required to help her change her bandages, it hurt too damn much to try to do it herself, and well, she didn't want to have to ask her father to see her in that state of dress. Rick, must have known that no matter how stubborn she was, she still had some modesty. Or did he do it to prevent her father from being more traumatized when he saw the ugly scars and wounds still healing? It didn't matter at this point, she needed to call her to arrange her first appointment.

Just as she finished that thought her cell phone rang, the caller ID was from the local area code, but no one she knew. She answered it cautiously,

"This is Kate Beckett,"

"Oh, Miss. Beckett, I'm glad you answered, and I didn't wake you. I'm Renee Tarps, the RN, that Mr. Castle has arranged for me to make visits to you, you're familiar with that arrangement are you not?" she asked,

"My Dad just told me last night, but yes I'm familiar, and after the night and morning I've had, I'm glad you are coming. When can you come for your first visit, the stitches are pulling pretty badly, and not to be repugnant, but I've sweated so much I know I need a bath, or as close to one as I can get?" Kate replied, and even though she tried to hide her pain, Renee picked up on it,

"Actually Miss Beckett,"

"Please Renee call me Kate," she interrupted,

"Very well Kate, I'm in your driveway is now a good time?" as Kate looked to the heavens to say a silent thank you prayer,

"Now would be fine Renee, Dad went fishing and I'm sure won't be back at least for a few hours," Kate said,

"How long has it been since your last pain pills Kate?" Renee asked,

"I just took two not more than ten minutes ago, I'm sure they'll kick in soon." She breathed,

"Kate, no pain pill is going to be an adequate substitute for the drugs they gave you in the hospital, but you have the strongest ones the doctor could give you at home. I have a copy of your chart; your Dad released your records to me to be sure I can do the best I can to get you on your feet as soon as possible. Is the door unlocked?" Renee asked before Kate could even object to her Dad releasing her records to some nurse he had never met.

"Yes, it's unlocked," she clenched her teeth,

A few seconds later Kate heard the door open and in walked a beautiful lady, slim, but attractive, perhaps in her late 30s or early 40s. As soon as she walked in, Kate knew that she was going to like her, She said, "Hey there Kate, I'm Renee and we're going to be sure you heal up as best and fast as you can, OK?" her voice was so cheerful and positive, she convinced Kate that things would be better.

She walked in and took her vitals, then noticed the half bottle of water, she pulled out a pill and gave it to Kate, "Here take this, it'll enhance the pain pills you just took, and also relax you some. You may have been told this before, but if you can relax, it does help alleviate the pain, some. It's a muscle relaxant I had cleared with Doctor Kovacs," she said,

Kate took it without argument and began to try to relax using methods she used in yoga, a few minutes later she could tell the pain was beginning to subside, a little at a time.

"Is the pill working Kate, you should be feeling something now" Renee asked as she tidied around her, with the throw pillows, and even made a pot of coffee using a new coffee maker she took down from the cupboards,

"Pardon me for being so presumptuous but when I met Mr. Castle and your Dad here for the interview, I was asked what I needed, and I mentioned coffee. Mr. Castle had the coffee maker and a supply of coffee, filters, and sugar-free vanilla, although I never asked for that delivered that day. The coffee is decaffeinated, so you can have a cup as well," she smiled,

Kate thought, sugar-free vanilla, decaffeinated coffee, and a new easy to use coffee maker, yeah that was Rick all right.

"Is everything OK Kate, I mean, as I said, I met with your Dad and Mr. Castle, well via Skype for him, but he made things happen quickly," Renee said.

"Nothing is wrong Renee, just looking forward to the cup of coffee, it actually smells like real coffee, and the sugar-free vanilla is for me, Castle would be the only one to know that and be considerate enough to send it." She said, as Renee returned with a hot cup of coffee, and damn it was good, even if it was decaf, she was in heaven.

"You probably have a lot of questions so here's the rundown before you waste the breath you need to be taking, deep breaths Kate," she paused, as Kate deepened her breathing.

"Castle as you call him, he was and probably always will be Ricky Rogers to me, and I grew up together, well we shared most of the same hardships as each other did. My mom was an actress as well, and we faced the same problems that Mrs. Rogers and Ricky did. Like he, my Dad was gone, to this day don't know where or even care.

"I was a lot like Ricky, I fought a lot with my fists and was headed down the wrong path until he convinced me to go to a school dance with him, and well, long story, it was a setup. He got me on stage and I sang, and well, after that money wasn't as much a problem and I could start buying the clothes and dress like the other girls. I didn't fight so much after that, and my grades went up, I graduated after being inducted into the National Honor Society.

"After graduation my mom got ill, so I stayed home and looked after her, but what can you do with stage four lung cancer. It was an awful death, and well, when the funeral came Mrs. Rogers came, and Ricky.

"He was Rick Castle now, and had taken care of all of the expenses Mom had left, with one condition, I had to go back to nursing school. I hated him then, school was the last thing I thought I wanted, but he was right. Now I have 12 nurses working for me in our traveling nurse program," She handed Kate her card, which read, Pink Ribbon Home Health Care, Inc. Renee Tarps, RN, APRN FNP-C, President. It listed some numbers and Renee had written her personal cell phone for Kate if she ever needed her between visits.

"It looks like Castle was correct, you've done well Renee, congratulations. What nurse will I have on my regular visits? Kate asked breathing better, pain much more in control,

"Oh, Ricky made me promise I would take this case myself, so you're stuck with me, I guess," she smiled,

"Did he also tell you what a terror I was, and what a terrible patient I am?" Kate asked,

"Oh no, he didn't have to, some of my friends who work on the trauma floor at Presbyterian told me to drop this case, don't touch it. I think the quote was that you lived to make nurses cry, all but Bella. Bella said you had a fear of hospitals and tried to act tough, the more frightened you were." Renee said, looking over her cup of coffee at Kate,

"Bella works for you? I mean how, why?"

"Well, Molly is my niece, you remember the one you made cry, Bella is her Godmother, and when she just mentioned a difficult patient, Bella asked me if she could step in. I called the Director of Nursing, and she was at her wit's end, Castle as you call him is one of their top donors, or you would have been transferred to County Hospital after your second outburst.

"When I told her that Bella wanted a shot to get you straightened out, she jumped at the offer. Kate, we might as well get it out here now, Rick hired me, with your Dad's permission with your Medical POA, if you're unhappy with me or no longer want my services, it has to come from either your Dad or Rick, since this is his cabin and his rules he said." She laid it out clearly just as Bella did.

"Well, I'm surprised that my dad would make decisions without talking to me first,"

"Kate, you were in no state to answer questions when these arrangements were made. Your Dad knew exactly what you were going to do when you left the hospital, and when he spoke to Rick about it, the contingency plans were put into place. Apparently, your Dad knows you pretty well, you did exactly as he said you would.

"Now, you have to get up, and I'll help you to the bathroom, so we can first take the old bandages off, wash and cleanse the wounds and you as much as possible, then I will redress them per the instructions from your doctor." She was already extending her arm to assist Kate in rising, Kate hearing what she had just heard knew arguing would be a waste of breath,

XxX

A60 (Above SIXTY) Restaurant

9360 Wilshire Boulevard

Day 21-28

12:02 AM

Rick's POV

Rick walked out of A60 Restaurant, one arm around Eva, one around Ellie, as they headed towards the limo waiting for them as the sounds of cameras clicked away.

"Are you ladies, sure you want this to be printed, I mean what about your boyfriends, won't they be upset? I can get this stop"

"NO," once again came in unison, "I don't know about Ellie, but I don't have a boyfriend and even if I did, I'd kick him to the curb for this opportunity" Eva, obviously feeling the alcohol said, as she laid her head on his shoulder as they walked,

"Rick, nothing had changed in my personal life, well other than beginning to believe in myself more, again, Thank You, but let them print what they want. What about you, aren't you afraid your girlfriend will get upset?" Ellie asked as she duplicated Eva's move, and laid her head on his other shoulder,

"What girlfriend Ellie? I don't have any girlfriends or I wouldn't be kissing you, beautiful women, I'm not built that way" Rick said, a little firmer tone than intended,

"I'm sorry Rick, it's just that I caught all kinds of hell, everyone told me after it came out about us, that your detective partner was your girlfriend," Ellie said sadly,

"You mean Beckett? Kate? Who told you that? Whoever told you that is nuts, she's dating a bigtime heart surgeon, so busy saving lives" Rick said with the bitterness of hearing about the doctor once again,

"I'm sorry Rick, so you and she, I mean, you're, I"

"Ellie, Detective Kate Beckett, and I have never had anything between us, and she's made it perfectly clear to EVERYONE that we never will. We've shared lunches at Remy's, and the 12th precinct enjoys free food and booze at my bar. Beckett and I nev, oh wait, once in an undercover situation we kissed to get a guards attention, that was it. It was never mentioned again, or discussed at all, simply a ruse." Rick said, gently,

They had reached the limo, Rick kissed each lady as they climbed in, he had decided to walk the few blocks to his hotel, he needed to clear his head. He knew it would be hours, days at most before the networks and magazines would publish him kissing not only Ellie but Eva as well, then he thought, so what?

It was a celebration, and he and both ladies were free, he owned no one an answer, and there should be no guilt. Hell, she, eh, Beckett practically made out with Demming in the precinct at one time. Josh clearly had marked his spot after the dirty bomb case that he still couldn't talk about, the hell with it. It was what it was, he was single, the ladies were single, enough said.

He reached his room about the same time his phone buzzed, he looked down at a text from Eva, saying simply call me please Rick. Then a row of kissy face emojis.

He pulled off his shoes, laid across the bed, and called the lovely lady he knew was a powder keg waiting to blow, he dialed her number,

"Hey Eva, you wanted me to call you, what's up, you got home safely, didn't you?"

"Yes Rick, I got home safely, I wanted to say thanks for a great evening, I know Ellie would have been a much more difficult negotiator without you being there. I know IF more offers come, she's got a fair payment for the role, so thank you for your help"

"You're welcome, but you already thanked me at the restaurant, we all have a vested interest in making this a good picture, no a great picture," Rick said, excitement in his voice,

"Well, I wanted to let you know, Ellie confided in me, she told me about New York, and what a gentleman you always were, even when you found out, but that's not why I'm calling," Eva said softly,

"Why are you calling Eva?" Rick asked, bluntly, "As for New York, well that was mostly Ellie's story to tell, and I'm sure you're not going to repeat it to anyone, besides that was some time ago." Rick said softly,

"She told me you were the gentleman all women look for, but she knows that you aren't interested in her at least that way, not anymore, using her words, "I cared for him, but I know he just thinks I fucked him to get the part, and well, I have to live with that screwup."

"Rick, what I guess I'm saying is my place is close to your hotel, so if you ever get a scratch you can't itch, I'm a phone call away. Don't take that as I'm easy for every man, but I know we have some chemistry, if you want to pursue, it, at whatever pace, then perhaps you'd like to have dinner at my place tomorrow, you know Saturday, the day we're supposed to be off." She laughed,

"Well, I'm not sure I would be good for anyone now, I mean"

"Rick every woman can tell when a man is trying to get over a broken heart, sometimes it needs a band-aid, no commitment, I promise." She said softly,

"Well, in that case, what time is dinner tomorrow?"

TBC

A/N The acronym APRN FNP-C stands for advanced practice registered nurse, specializing as a family nurse practitioner. The C at the end of the acronym indicates that the nurse practitioner has been certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and is eligible for licensure by a state board of nursing.