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 19
Beckett's Apartment
9:34 AM
Day 92
Kate's POV
Kate had come straight home from Doctor Burke's office and set upon her mission. She was off of work today, not even on call, so she placed her phone on Do Not Disturb mode, and went to work on what perhaps was the most important document she would ever work on, the letter to Rick.
She brewed an extra-strong pot of coffee and opened the 6 bear claws she had stopped to buy, a block away. She changed into her leisure clothes, translation, no one could see her dressed this way, the oversized shirt she had mistakenly taken from the Castles when she stayed with them, of course, it was one of Ricks. Maybe she had even bought a small bottle of his cologne and spritzed it every so often, she would never tell.
As she settled into her writing desk, she retrieved her writing materials, leaving the stationary on the desk. She knew there would be more yellow legal pad sheets on the floor than on the desk until she could finally finish, or come close to what she needed to convey. She grabbed a large thermal cup of coffee, a couple of damp wipes, and the bag of bear claws, and thought here goes, EVERYTHING.
XxX
Hamptons Beach House
5:09 AM
Day 92
Rick rose before his two guests were awake and headed to the beach to get his daily run completed. Before he left, he started a pot of coffee, the brand Gina loved, and selected slow brew, so it wouldn't taste burned when she awoke. She was a beautiful lady, and he knew he was lucky to still have her in his life, even as much as they both had messed the marriage up.
She was the only living soul that knew of his heart attack, well other than the medical staff, that had treated a Roger Richards on that day. All he needed was to have someone leak something like that to the press, Alexis would kill him for sure.
As he began his run he thought of her, then his thoughts turned to Eva, no one really knew much about her, other than she was single, had a great figure, and could pass for 5 years younger than she actually was. Rick never asked personal questions of others, especially when he guarded certain information about himself so closely.
As his bare feet hit the waves, his thoughts turned to the previous evening at Rosa's Italian Garden restaurant. It had been a huge success, he knew it would be for Gina, and Eva seemed to love Italian as much as Genes did. The ladies laughed and chatted, about some bloopers that Eva had told Gina about, to lighten the mood, after her almost homicidal encounter with her interior decorator at her beach home.
FLASHBACK PREVIOUS EVENING
They had arrived at Rosa's dressed casually but in style, and of course, Rosa herself had to be the one to greet them. "Miss Gina, you're here with Mr. Ricky again, I knew it"
"Wait, wait, Rosa, yes I still love him, just not that way, so no hate to disappoint you, he's still just one of the loves in my life, not the one." She laughed as Rosa hugged her,
"She'll come around Ricky, you know, just be patient," Rosa said as she hugged Rick,
"No Rosa, she's right, we're great partners, wonderful friends, I love and trust her more than anyone in the world, but no Mama, no more wife talk, please. You're embarrassing Gina, she could do so much better than me" he laughed, as Gina smacked his arm,
"I could never, take that back Richard Castle, or, I'll, eh I'll, eh I'll stay in your house for good" she laughed now,
"Mama this is another great friend of mine from Los Angeles, this is Eva Galantine, she's my Co-Executive Producer on our next film. Gina is managing the Niki Heat books, then Eva and I are going to try to make good movies out of them." Rick said as Eva held her hand out to shake it,
Rosa shook her head, "You're with Ricky and Gina, you're already family", as she hugged her. "Come on I have your private room all ready Ricky," as she took Rick's hand as if he were a little boy and led him to the private room. The staff knew the instructions, anyone who dared to try to take a picture wound up with their phones crushed on the floor next to their table by two big guys who looked like they were straight from the God Father.
They proceeded to the room, and Rosa, had the buffet set up, all of Gina and Rick's favorites, she whispered to Eva, "here's a menu if you see something you like better you let me know, OK? Now eat, enjoy, I don't get to see you that often," and she left.
"Well, someone has an admirer," Eva teased,
"Eva, I wasn't going to say anything about Rosa liking Gina better," he laughed as matching female fists caught him in each arm,
"She's definitely more than a fan, I'd say she's more than a super fan, my God, look at the food." The serving table was full of just about everything on the menu, as they began to load their plates.
"Eva, I'll warn you now, we both will be joining Rick on his run to work this off, but it'll be worth it," Gina said, as she looked over the spread,
"I know I will Gina, your body won't quit, I got a few more miles on mine than yours, you'd look good wearing a flour sack" Eva laughed,
The evening went perfectly, Gina actually had someone about her own age, she could share girl talk with, and a common interest in the timing of the Heat franchise of books and movies. Rick allowed the ladies to use him as fodder for some of their laughs, but as the night wore on, the laughs came easier and easier.
The highlight of the evening was Eva trying to imitate the actor playing Ochoa, with a Spanish accent, and his cocky walk, but she ended up walking into the fountains just as the water began to spray. It was hilarious to everyone who witnessed it and took a lot of tension away from the three dinner guests.
CURRENT TIME
Rick's thought turned to what was ahead as his feet and ankles felt the waves lapping at his legs. He had worked hard to keep the weight off, but as Gina mentioned the night before everyone was going to need to burn extra calories today. The food was great, the evening went by far too quickly, and the bonding between Eva and Gina was a welcome sign to Rick.
He knew as they continued down the path of book, release, tour, then screenplay and auditions and table reads, and finally into production things were bound to go wrong. Having a good team who could work together, perhaps even compromise on timelines bode well for the success of the next three films.
When all of the 5 books that had been planned out had been written and released, at least four if not the fifth would be on the big screen, earning them all a considerable amount of money, perhaps enough for Eva to buy her own studio, to run a smaller operation than Lion Gate, time would tell.
He was paying attention today and turned at his cut-off spot, walked one mile for a cool-off, then reversed his direction and started back to his beach house. Burning calories was great, but collapsing on the beach and having to be carried back home was another. He wasn't in shape for 8-mile jaunts, actually 18 miles if you added the walk down and return trip, at least not yet.
He had worked up a very good sweat and hit the ocean when he reached his own private beach. The water was still cool, but exactly what he needed to revitalize him. He stopped by the pool, showered there to remove the sand, and heard laughter as he entered the kitchen.
Gina walked over kissed him, and said, "Good Morning and Thank You, you remembered exactly how I liked my coffee on weekends, guess what, Eva loves the same brand" she smiled,
"Good, I'm glad you had your coffee ready for you, I could use a cup right now myself, then I guess we'll have to see what the day brings. You ladies have any plans?"
"Sure, do Rick, Gina tells me that pool is heated, so we're going to try on some bathing suits, if none fit after last evening at Rosa's we're going to buy some then spend the day by the pool. You know we're all going to be wishing for days like this when we start back on the next one" she laughed,
"That sounds like a plan, I have some edits to make on the third novel, so I thought I'd work on those while you ladies relaxed, we can order in later Genes, no use cooking," he said as he felt her arms go around him from behind, and felt the kiss on his cheek.
"Sounds perfect, I know you want a proper shower so Eva and I need to see if we can squeeze ourselves into our suits or if we need to go shopping, We'll see you in a bit," a kiss on the cheek was their custom, as she pulled away, Rick reminded himself, once again, she's the reason he was still alive. He really had to think of something super nice for her, without having to spill his secret,
XxX
Beckett's Apartment
Three Hours Later,
Kate had a pile of yellow sheets all balled up and, on the floor, but she had managed to get a few paragraphs she thought would be acceptable. She was interrupted by a phone call from he father, who was worried when she didn't call and scream about the form letter, and the royalty check.
"Katie, I know, I know, you said you didn't want anything from the book, but Rick is my boss, and his word is the law. You receive 5% of royalties, so you can either throw the money away, donate it, or if you're smart invest it in something you wouldn't have risked your own money in. To you, it's found money, so take a risk with it if that's what you care to do. You also have some friends with some needs, you'll know them if you open your eyes, so do as you wish." He rushed his words out, expecting to be cut off and yelled at any second.
"Well, Dad, I think you're right and so does my therapist, I talked to him when I was so angry and he shamed me by telling me I was treating a gift as though it was some kind of burden and gave me ideas of how it could be put to use, my friends, needs to be included," Kate said,
"Well, I like this doctor already, are you OK, or,"
"I'm working on being OK Dad, but I wanted to hand-deliver a letter to Rick before he headed back to Los Angeles, I don't want to get you into trouble but could you give me a hint of where I can find him?" She said in her little girl, asking Daddy to ride the pony again voice, he never could refuse her,
"No Kate I can't," he said flatly, to her surprise,
"You can't, come on Dad, I wouldn't ask if it weren't important, and Dad, I have to work on your apology as well, so you see, It's important I see him face to face." She said,
"Well, I overheard Brian at the Haunt tell Rick he would look after things for the ten days he was at the Hamptons and thanked him for trusting him to take care of the place. Now a seasoned cop like you should be able to find out in a small city one Richard Rogers is listed as the homeowner without much trouble." Jim replied,
"No wonder I couldn't find it, I searched under Castle, it makes sense to use his birth name, thanks Dad, I got to go, but I'll call you soon, I promise" as she hung up, now she had to finish the letter and find the home, nothing to big right Kate? She had her own doubts but she was fighting like hell to deliver this letter today, or by tomorrow at the latest.
She did a property search and found it under R Rogers, not using his full name, now she could return to her letter, and pour her heart out. Three hours later, two legal pads, and now she was ready to write it on stationary, one that had been a present from Rick. She could only pray she hadn't waited too long, but the wait would be over soon. She carefully transferred the letter, then placed it in an envelope, and fell asleep. She would start her trip to the Hamptons early the next morning.
"Dear Rick,
"Where do I start? Especially after not seeing you or hearing your voice for 92 days as of yesterday. Well, that's not 100% true, you see those hang-ups on your cell phone, I did hear your voice but I was too chicken to leave a message. Even now I can hear your voice in my head saying 'most people usually start at the beginning, Detective', you're right, so here goes.
"The beginning is not where you think it was, you probably think it was the book launch of Derrick Storm. You see I had a great deal of alone time during my recovery, no Josh and I were not together, we broke up two weeks before the shooting, and I haven't seen him since the hospital. I thought of many things, but mostly those that contained you and me together. I know I should have told you, it was a lie of omission, and I'm so very sorry.
"When I met Renee, I thought for sure I wasn't going to like her, I couldn't have made it without her Rick, you knew what I needed even before I did. She did tell me she loved you, she told you, and that in your kind, compassionate way you explained to her, she was still in love with the young Rick Rogers who made her life better. She wasn't convinced Rick, she loves you still, just in case you didn't know.
"I know now is a very lousy time to tell you this, but "I never corrected you about the first time we met, I stood in line for over two hours when I was a patrol officer, Mike Royce, God Bless his soul, covered for me because he knew how much you meant to me. That probably got you to spit out your coffee, yes Rick, you are my favorite writer, and you were Mom's as well.
"She was reading your novel when she was murdered and had tried forever to get me to read your books. When she was gone, I picked up the novel, mom had an annoying habit of writing her own writer's notes in the space between the paragraphs or side margins, annoying if you want to share the book with someone, but I read it through in one sitting.
"Mom's notes, your writing, and the story, of everlasting love, had me in tears before I finished A Rose for Ever After, by the way, Mom nailed it on the ending. It was almost as if you were sitting in front of us reading a journal of your life, then later we worked on Kyra Blaine's case and I knew just how deeply into your soul you reached and shared with the readers.
"I saw the love you still had for her, and she for you, even on her wedding day. She loved you Rick, and I'm sorry things worked out the way they did, I felt your hurt, especially when we talked to Sheila Blayne.
"She couldn't have been more wrong, you have touched millions of people's hearts, mine, my mom's and so many more just with your words. You have a gift Rick, a true talent that I often derided when you did start shadowing me. I will confess this here, probably because I'm a coward, I was jealous of you and her when we worked that case. I knew, by reading your book your desire for a life partner, and she was everything you described, far more than I could ever offer you.
"Something new you won't believe, I'm seeing a therapist, as you can guess it wasn't my idea, but it is a blessing in disguise. We've met a few times, one issue he's addressing head-on is my lies, why I tell them, and why are they mostly to you, or about something we did that was so very meaningful to me, yet I dismiss it as if it were nothing.
"As you can imagine it's not going to be a quick fix, when is anything when it comes to me, but this is serious Rick. I could lose the only man I love, the only man I have ever truly loved if he doesn't give me the chance to explain, and to earn my way back into his life.
"I know you are involved in a whole new line of work now and thank you for the royalty check, Dad and I had a good discussion, after my therapist showed me how shallow and petty, I was being, how hurtful it was to decline a gift given with an open heart, again, I'm sorry. This is all new to me, Dr. Burke, my therapist told me the more I tell the truth in difficult situations, the easier it will become.
"Here's a test of that, I was jealous of the blonde lady who you danced with cheek to cheek, even though I couldn't dance that well before I was shot and I had zero claim on you, I was still angry, well I guess jealous would be a better word. I was surprised when I found out she was Agent Walsh's wife, and they had been crazy about each other for years. I was surprised, but also relieved Rick, and I'm hoping you have at least one spark of what I realize you were trying to tell me, especially that night in Los Angeles when we worked Milke's murder.
"I know I'm the last person you expected to receive a letter from, especially one this long, but Rick, I'm asking you to please, give me one last chance. If I tell one lie, kick me to the curb, and I'll deserve it. I promise you; you can ask me anything, I do reserve the right to give you a range when it comes to my previous sex life, but anything else, hook me up on a poly if you doubt me. MY LYING DAYS are over Rick, PLEASE give me one more chance.
Now for the elephant in the room, just to be perfectly clear about EVERYTHING. I know it was your tips that you furnished to Agent Walsh that eventually solved mom's murder, Thank You. I can't lie, I was so mad at you at first, I thought I should have been the one to arrest the bastard, but when I saw the briefing of the operations, the planning, and the elaborate ruse, you were correct in your actions. I would have gotten Javi, Kevin, and myself killed in an act of revenge.
"Rick, I ask you now, please can you spare a few hours for lunch or dinner, hell breakfast if you choose, any time, any place you feel comfortable with, to meet with me. Even if you want to tell me to go to hell, please do it face to face, I love you, Richard Castle, I've loved you since our third case together and I don't want to waste another minute of time not letting you know. I would much rather do this in person, but, I'm lucky I overheard where you were staying so I can hand deliver this myself.
This letter is much longer than I intended it, but I wanted to share with you some new facts. I don't know how you put up with me but I'm glad you did, and I'm praying you still have some feelings for me left, I guess I'll find out tomorrow,
Till then Rick, once again, I love you with all of my heart, and I would do anything to take away the pain I know I've caused not only you but all the others that love you as well. Until I finally see you and end these 92 days of self-imposed exile, remember, I'm ready for whatever you will give me. I know you'll take everything I've written into consideration, once you've taken your heart medication from the shock. I promise you, Rick, this is the new me,
My only question for you is; Did you mean what you said, did you mean you really loved me, or did you say it to a dying woman Rick. I'm hoping you meant it, and are willing to try to find it again, I heard you, Rick. I heard every beautiful word and that's what kept me fighting during surgery and the dark days. When I told you I didn't remember anything, it was another lie, perhaps the most hurtful I have ever told, and I'm truly sorry,
I love you, Now and Forever,
Always,
Kate,
TBC