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 13
Dr. Burke's Office
Day 87, 3:18 PM
Kate's POV
Kate was still trying to figure out how to control the interview, she always did, no one ever broke through her defenses, unless she let them. She wasn't convinced seeing a "shrink" was going to help her, hell she doubted he had ever held a gun, much less been shot with one.
Truthfully, she gave the honest answer of why she was here, it was a requirement for reinstatement to the NYPD, and to her job. She had a mission to carry out, actually two missions, one for her Mom, and one for all of the victims of crime that lost their voices with their death, she now had to speak for them.
She really didn't understand why she had to go through the physical and mental re-evaluations before being granted a return-to-work authorization. Well, the physical part made sense, but she hadn't grown horns and set out in flight to get revenge, nor had she became the female version of Chuck Norris, out for holy hell, so why did she have to tell this doctor anything?
"So, Detective Beckett, you were describing what happened to you, will you please go back to the last five minutes you remember before waking in the hospital, I believe that was your account, wasn't it?" Doctor Burke never looked up, just reading from his notes,
"I was at the podium, I remember starting to give Captain Montgomery's eulogy and as I watched the presentation of the folded flag to Evelyn, eh, Mrs. Montgomery, I glanced at my notes. Captain Montgomery had given me some advice a few weeks earlier, and I had included it in the eulogy." Kate paused to drink a gulp of coffee and steady herself, Dr. Burke seized the moment to ask her a question,
"Detective you said that Captain Montgomery had given you advice a few weeks earlier, some that you included, do you remember exactly what he said?
"Yes, yes, I do Doctor Burke, Captain Montgomery once said to me 'for us there are no victories; there are only battles. And in the end, the best you can hope for is to find a place to make your stand. And if you're very lucky, you find someone willing to stand with you." She paused to dab her eyes when she finished repeating his words, and remembering her friend, her mentor, and so much more that he was to her.
She remembered glancing at Castle, catching his eyes, for the first time in weeks he looked at her, really looked, then he looked away, something he never did. He lowered his sunglasses and turned back to face the crowd.
"You seem to be reliving that day Detective, which is fine, but it's not required, I'm here if you require support, but I'd like for you to tell me exactly what you were remembering at the moment, you were answering my question," Dr. Burked asked,
God Damn it, he was good, now she was going to either have to lie or downplay Castle's role in her life, her job, and his relationship with Roy. She took a deep breath, and began,
"I'm sure you're aware of the Civilian consultant who was accompanying my team for almost two years, Richard Castle, a good friend of the mayor aren't you? Kate tried the answer a question with a question technique,
"What I know isn't relevant, please answer my question Detective," He said, firmly,
Shit, he was better at this than she thought, she bit her lip and started to try to explain the disagreement she and Castle had, leaving out the part where he carried her out of the hangar the night of Roy's death.
"Very well, Richard Castle and I had a disagreement over a case, and he chose to stay away from the precinct for a few weeks but came to the hospital the night of Roy's shooting, he was friends with the Montgomery family.
"We didn't get a chance to discuss what either of us had said in anger during our disagreement, but when the part came where Roy had warned me that I would need to be very lucky to have someone stand with me, my eyes and thoughts turned to my partner for the last two years. He looked at me, briefly, then lowered his sunglasses and looked away.
"The next thing I felt was someone tackling me, and hitting the ground, then the pain in my chest rippled through my body and I knew I had been shot. I tried to stay conscious, but everything went black, the next memory I have is after surgery," she said, in what she thought was an academy winning performance,
"Detective, we're recording this interview not only for my personal notes, but to also present to appropriate parties should any departmental policies, rules, or ethics of conduct are breached at any time, by anyone involved in this interview, are you aware of that?" Dr. Burke stared over his glasses at her,
"I am now, I wasn't aware of the tape recording until then, Doctor." Kate lied, she knew she had to sign a release, in the packet of papers she had signed,
"So, you blindly signed every form in the packet presented to you as a new patient Detective Beckett?" He asked, the look a little firmer,
"No, of course not." She replied, knowing she was getting backed into a corner,
No, you don't read them, no you don't remember signing them, or no you don't just sign any document in front of you" Dr. Burke pressed,
"Of course, I read every document, I wouldn't have signed it if I hadn't," she answered angrily, now knowing she just trapped herself in a lie.
"Very well, we can deal with your version of the truth, and fiction in a bit, right now I would like to go back to the actual shooting. I realize this is traumatic, but I need you to tell me exactly the last thing you remember, seeing hearing, or even smelling, before as you say everything went black." Dr. Burke pressed on,
"As I said, I remember looking at Castle, then looking down at my notes, feeling the tackle then going out, until after surgery," Kate repeated the lie. Doctor Burke looked disgusted, then turned the microphone in his direction slightly.
"For the record, this is Doctor Carter Burke, I am rebutting the Detective's claim that she went out immediately after the shot. As a member of the NYPD grief committee, I was at Captain Montgomery's funeral seated near Mrs. Montgomery, close enough to witness the tackle as Detective Beckett has described.
"That fact of testimony is not in question, I rushed to her side, to see if first aid was needed but Mr. Castle was holding her, and applying direct pressure to her wound, he uttered a profession of love for her, quite loud, even people at the rear of the seating heard him profess his love for Detective Beckett, and her eyes did not close until several seconds after he had uttered his profession.
"I witnessed her partner, as she described Mr. Castle climb into the ambulance and again witnessed his behavior at the hospital as the family and friends awaited word on Detective Beckett's condition. I have no first-hand knowledge if she heard, or understood his words, but I do know she was not unconscious as she described, end of transmission from Dr. Carter Burke" He turned the microphone back in her direction and refocused on his notes.
"Detective Beckett, we seem to have a few issues with authorizing your work release. First, it's my medical opinion that you are either too confused about the facts of your case or have repressed them, which we will need to deal with through therapy or other medical processes. There is a third possibility, that you are lying in an official examination by an NYPD representative, which could cause corrective action up to and including dismissal from the department.
"Your request for approval to return to work is denied, I would like for you to set up daily appointments for the next three weeks as you exit, one-hour sessions until we can determine your mental and emotional fitness to return to your capacity at the NYPD. Also as noted, we need to address when the propensity to lie rather than tell the truth began and how serious of an issue it is."
"Wait, you can't deny my return to work, I got a few things jumbled up, that's not lying," Kate tried to lie again,
"Detective every lie you tell only makes the situation worse, we can't release physically or emotionally unfit people back to our police force, you will need therapy to overcome some deep issues. I see our two hours have been up, so please see the secretary on your way out." He stood to shake the hand of a very pissed off Kate Beckett,
She shook his hand, then slammed the outer door as she made her appointments, well this was certainly fucked up, she needed a drink.
XxX
Rick's Penthouse/Office
Los Angeles CA
Day 86
Rick's POV
Rick had risen early and had room service deliver his breakfast along with a full pot of coffee. As usual, the daily newspaper came with the tray, and Dylan and Carol's presumption was correct. The entertainment section was full of pictures of him and Carol dancing cheek to cheek, and her head on his shoulder.
He hadn't told Gina or Paula about the situation, due to the security needed for a few more days and he fully expected to hear about it later in the day from one if not both of his ladies. The price to nail Bracken and put an end to the Beckett tragedy, along with the other three families that lost loved ones that day would be worth the scorn he knew he was going to receive.
It didn't take long, he had just finished his first cup of coffee when Paula's ring tone sounded on his cell phone,
"Good Morning, Paula," He said then held the phone away from his ear a few inches,
"Well, it would be a good morning, BUT I have to figure out what bimbo you were with last night, do you even remember, have you seen today's papers? You're plastered all over the entertainment section of the LA Times. I have to work my ass off to get them pulled"
"STOP Paula" came the voice from Rick in a tone Paula hadn't heard ever directed at her.
"Stop?" she said in a much more controlled voice,
"Stop, and let the pictures and story run, don't try to pull them, and Paula, don't ever refer to a lady I'm pictured with as a bimbo ever again, is that clear?" Rick said in a tone that let her know not to push it,
"Rick, I'm sorry about calling your friend a bimbo, but usually you warn me when something like this is about to happen, and when I saw them, I thought you had been"
"Been what Paula? Suckered by a pretty lady into what? Revealing all the state secrets that I know? It's my personal business, that's all you need to know. If you're asked about them, acknowledge that you're aware of them, but as I just told you, relay the message, it's my personal business, and that's all the information you have or will release." Rick lightened up on his tone just a bit,
"Sure Rick, I'll do that, whatever you want, you're the boss," She said quietly,
"Look, Paula, I know you are looking out for my welfare, but sometimes when you call you forget who signs whose paycheck. I love you, well in a special way; I love that you care, but don't come at me that way again, now this is the last time we're going to speak of this, are we clear?" Rick said in his calm voice, the one she feared more than when he was angry. She knew when Rick was calm that was when he made decisions, and he had fired many on his staff over the years for overstepping.
"Well, what time do we have to be at the airport, Gina told me you switched up from commercial airlines to your private Jet, so where do we meet and when Ricky?" she asked,
"I sent you all a group text, but spread the word, meet downstairs at 5:00 PM and we'll all limo to the airport. To answer the question you didn't ask, yes Carol will be on the plane as well. Gina, Eva, Roy, you, and I along with one other male and the normal security personnel. I'll see you at 5:00, I've got to get a workout in, and some business to take care of," and the line went dead.
Well, one down, a matter of time before he heard from Gina, but oh well, it would all be over soon. Dylan was actually pretending to be Eva's escort to the plane, and nothing would be revealed to anyone other than the fact that they were sworn to secrecy.
He was dressed in his workout clothes and was just opening the door, when on the other side was his ex-wife and editor, Gina. She was holding three newspapers in her hand and had a look like she was ready to commit murder on someone,
"Oh Gina, I was just on my way out" as she stormed past him and spread the papers out on the table. "By all means, please do come in, I can delay my plans for you." He said with a bit of snark,
"Lose the snark Rick, who is she, and what the hell do you think you're doing this close to the world premiere of Naked Heat?" She asked cutting right to the point,
"Well, Gina, obviously she's a very good friend, other than that, I'm not saying anything else. As to what do I think I'm doing, isn't it obvious? I'm promoting the image that you and Paula have worked so hard to hang on me, the playboy, with women on either coast. Isn't that what sells books, or in this case books and movie tickets?" he asked,
"Look, Rick, it's just when Paula and I set you up, it's a controlled situation, it's not like you're out hooking up with just anyone. All of the women you were seen with were screened by Paula and me, and by the way, threatened with their lives if they did more than kiss you when it was necessary.
"Don't look at me that way? I told you it sold books, I guess I didn't tell you was I was protecting you for me, but by that time there was no us." She said, calmed down considerably,
"WHAT? You and Paula interviewed, vetted, and threatened all those beautiful women you fixed me up with for public appearances? Is that what I heard?" Rick asked, a look of incredulity on his face,
"Of course, we did, do you think either of us was going to be your personal pimp and deliver someone who would spread their legs before the hors d'oeuvre were served did you?" she spat back,
"But why? We were divorced, I mean you made it clear when you filed that we were done except for business. I think your quote on the way out of the loft for the last time was, 'I wish I had passed your first submission for a novel on to another junior editor, at least then I would know you married me because you loved me, not for my influence over your writing career.'
"Why did you care who I hooked up with?" he asked, "By the way, I could have had ten editors, I asked you to marry me because I thought we could build a life together. I was wrong, so wrong, you never could separate work Gina from wife Gina, we both failed, but mostly me." He said sadly,
"Why did I care? You're an ass Richard Castle, a blind one at that. I knew about your weekend with Paula, that poor soul will never get over it, but I loved you, hell I still love you, but you're right. I love being Gina Castle Cowell, Senior Editor, Black Pawn Publishing. It's the only connection I still have to you, you stupid ass.
"Do you think I enjoy editing your love letters to your detective? I knew she hurt you, and I hated her, and I hated you for allowing it, but I couldn't say anything, I had no right to. I still don't but I don't want to see you get your heart broken again, not with this one or anyone" She said softly,
"Well, it's too late to prevent the heartbreak, I can't tell you more but I promise you when the time is right, I will confess everything. For now, PLEASE, don't push it, and talk to Paula, I'm serious, this stays in our group or it will be the end of our relationship in any capacity. I'll see you all on the plane." He walked out leaving Gina with the three papers spread all over his table and headed to the gym. The heavy bag paid the price of his frustrations this morning,
XxX
JFK Airport
3:46 AM
Day 87
Rick's POV
They had met Janice and Rick's private plane and pilot at 5:30 PM and were airborne within twenty minutes. There was one refueling stop, in Nashville, but they were back in the air within 25 minutes from touch down.
Rick had passed the word to all that they must remain in character, Dylan playing Eva's escort, he with Carol, and the ladies and Roy along for the trip. As soon as the plane took off, Rick changed seats with Dylan, allowing the FBI Agent to sit next to his wife. Carol curled into him and was soon asleep, as he gently patted her leg.
If Gina and Paula had any questions, they were wise enough to keep it to themselves. Neither wanted to face the irritated Rick that both had earlier. He had promised to tell them the story when the time was right, and they knew better than to push it.
When they landed on the private executive airport, adjacent to JFK, they assumed their original roles, Rick and Carol, Dylan, now sporting three days beard, and a baseball cap pulled down covering most of his face. The paparazzi never disappointed, somehow, they had discovered the flight plan filed by Janice, Rick's private pilot, and were as close as they were allowed to be on private property to greet them. With their telephoto and superzoom lenses they were still able to capture shots of Rick and Carol, Dylan, although no one could recognize him with the beard and cap, and Eva, and the rest of the traveling party.
"What do you want to do Ricky, should I stop the publication of these, or let them go?" Paula asked, still miffed about the earlier ass-chewing she had received.
"Let it go, as long as no last names, or private info gets out Paula, you know what to do then" Rick replied when they were all seated in the limo and headed to the Four Seasons Hotel, alongside them four other white limos joined side by side, each taking a different route. The paparazzi were forced to decide which limo they would follow, fortunately, they all chose wrong.
Less than an hour later they were all checked into the hotel under fictitious names, until after the world premiere, and, well the event that Dylan was hosting. So far, the plan was working perfectly.
TBC