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 25

Doctor Warner's Office

Hamptons, New York

Friday, 9:00 AM

Gina had delayed the appointment with Dr. Simms, once Rick had mentioned heart pains when he ate spicy foods. She knew her former husband all too well, if he admitted to any pain at all, it was definitely more than he was letting on. She had called Dr. Warner, her neighbor in the Hamptons, and the Cardiologist that had taken care of his blocked artery, his advice was to get him into my office as soon as you arrive.

The limo picked them up from the private airstrip, parallel with JFK, and they had made good time getting to her estate in the Hamptons in less than an hour and a half. It wasn't unusual for her neighbors to see her coming and going with all types of people, her clients, so no one looked twice when Rick, with his NY Yankees ball cap on and a windbreaker turned up made his way into her home at 4:30 PM, on Thursday.

"Rick, Dr. Warner wants to see you as soon as we get here, so Dr. Simms traded appointment times with him so we have an appointment tomorrow at 9:00 AM." She said as she handed him a stack of take-out menus to choose dinner from.

"We?" Rick asked, cautiously,

"WE !" came Gina's reply immediately. "There's no way in hell you're going to any doctor without me, or someone who loves you to make sure you're getting the treatment you need."

"Gene's I'm fine, really, you're getting all worked up for nothing, just wait. I've been faithful to my workouts, my weight is right where Dr. Warner wanted it, I check my blood oxygen every day as well as my blood pressure, and they're all good.

"PLEASE, you're getting yourself worried for nothing. It's not like before when I was overweight, eating cheeseburgers at any hour of the day, and breakfast was a pound of bacon with a side of another pound of bacon. I'm healthy Genes, really, I shouldn't have mentioned it if it's going to upset you this much, I'm sorry." He said, and by the look on her face knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment the words cleared his mouth.

"You shouldn't have mentioned it? Not to the ex who had to watch you having a full-blown heart attack, trying to protect your privacy, and not crying because it would upset you.

"Do you know how close you came to dying last time, Rick? If I hadn't come by when I did, I would have found your dead body, so don't you dare tell me not to worry.

"I love you and I have that right. I don't give a damn if you don't love me, it doesn't matter, I love you, and I'm not going to let you die, do you understand me Richard Castle?" then her tears burst, she cried as Rick had never seen,

"Genes, I'm sorry, shh, please don't cry. You know I can take almost anything but seeing you cry and knowing I caused the tears, forgive me, please?" he had her pulled close to him, stroking her hair gently, "Shh, it's ok, and I still love you too, you know that, and yes, you're right, you saved my life. I'm sorry, Genes, I just don't want to put you through that again, I mean, eh, just in case." Rick said softly, already knowing he had let something slip,

"Just in case? What the hell do you mean Rick? What's going on and I mean it, the truth now, God Damn it, what is wrong?" Gina went from weeping to full-blown pissed in a millisecond,

"Well, a couple of the acid refluxes were painful, not to the point where I needed to call the doctor, a couple of antiacids and I was feeling better. I mean I didn't want to worry you, I"

She grabbed his face in her hands, pulled him into her, kissed him, "Understand this Richard Castle, I know I messed up, I fully expect to see you and Kate get together. That will be my punishment, but I still love you and I'd rather see you with her, or hell even Paula rather than visiting your gravesite. Do you understand? I'm not fooling around, I'll be with you, and that includes inside the office when you see the doctor, are we clear?" She still had her hands on his face, tears falling down her face,

"I'm sorry Genes, of course, you'll be with me, I just didn't want to lead you on, or cost you a potential suitor. You're much too young and beautiful to spend your life alone, and well, I"

"Well forget what you're thinking, let me worry about my next boyfriend if I even want one, understand?" Her voice was cracking now, as Rick's handkerchief appeared and was gently dabbing her tears away,

The next morning Gina was up and dressed before 5:00 AM, Rick wondered if she had slept at all, as he walked sleepily to the bathroom and showered for his day. She had his exact shaving kit, aftershave, even the soap he used, all laid out like he thought before when things were good between them, he had never had anything better.

When he walked back into his bedroom, well the room Gina insisted he stay in, her room was just across the hall, there were his clothes all laid out, socks, underwear, shirt, that she obviously had pressed while he was showering.

He felt his heart take an extra beat, not anything to do with the pains he had been having, but the remembrance of the little things she had done when she was his wife, she had tried, she really had. Gina had saved his life, and he really needed to treat her with more trust, just as she trusted him.

She gave him enough time, either for him or her not to yield to temptation, but walked in and adjusted his shirt, brushed his collar, "there, you're you are your gorgeous self now" and started to turn to leave before Rick caught her arm and turned her around gently to face him.

"Thank you, Genes, I'm sorry I didn't say anything earlier but I really didn't want to worry you, I mean you've got your hands full, and" His words were stopped by a gentle kiss,

"I know Rick, but you have to start thinking about you first for a change Hun, I know you'd do anything for those you love. Well, I know you love me too, so I'm asking, begging if I have to Rick, this isn't something we play around with.

"I could have lost you, Alexis her father, Martha her son, so please, take it seriously, if not for you, for me." She kissed him back sweetly and simply said, "coffee is ready" and took him by the hand to lead him to the dinette.

XxX

Doctor Warner's Waiting Room,

Rick was trying hard to remain calm, Gina was already a wreck, so it wouldn't do any good to get upset, besides, it was nothing, hell if antacids took the pain away then it had to be acid reflux, not his heart, Right? He argued to himself and of course, he researched, that's what WEB MD said when he researched it, confidentially of course.

Of course, there were other symptoms that also fit, just ones he hadn't mentioned, including being light-headed, almost falling, and unusual fatigue for three of four days, without a reason. He knew he would scare Gina if he mentioned them, well how well did that turn out, he chastised himself silently.

Gina sat, holding his hand, tightly almost as if she feared the worst, hey think positive he thought as the receptionist opened the door, and just waved her finger to come back to the exam rooms. No names were used, real or fake. As they walked back hand in hand, the nurse said, "OK Rick, how have you been feeling, truthfully, you know we have ways to make you talk" she laughed,

"Well, not too bad," he said, as he got the daggers from Gina, "OK, Ok, I could be feeling better. I've had a few episodes of indigestion, especially after spicy foods."

"What else Rick, what haven't you told Gina yet, you know Doctor is going to run as many tests as it takes to find out what the problem is. You can help him if you tell us exactly what else have you felt" she looked him straight in the eyes, Rick looked at her name tag, Maureen, said,

"Well, Maureen, may I call you that?" he asked, stalling trying to think

"That's what my name tag says correct, now Rick, no more stalling tell me, you could save yourself some poking and prodding if you're honest." She was taking his vital signs as she was talking, and then Rick saw the initials after her name NP, or nurse practitioner, practically a doctor.

"OK, and Genes, I'm sorry so please don't be angry, I didn't think you'd be with me when I had to tell them. I had a few days of being light-headed, almost falling, and unusual fatigue for three of four days, without a reason. I tried to blame it on my workouts, but those were the light days." Rick said, as a tear appeared in Gina's eye, she didn't say a word, just squeezed his hand a little tighter.

"Rick, have you ever had pain in your jaw, or just below your ear, or perhaps in your back, or shoulders?" Maureen asked,

"Yes, to both," he said, not looking at Gina,

"OK, I need you to get undressed, put this gown on, open side to the back, and then open the door, we need to run an EKG on you stat," she said, as she handed him the gown, then turned, "Rick everything comes off, just your Birthday suit under the gown, just so we're clear," she said and out the door, she went.

Gina was already taking off his shoes and socks so he wouldn't have to bend, or perhaps so he wouldn't see her crying. She slipped the skid-proof socks, a bright yellow on his feet, then looked up, a bit more composed, "OK, let's get you undressed," as she unbuttoned his shirt, her face showed her hurt, that Rick didn't confide in her,

"Gina, I'm sorry, I just didn't want you to worry," Rick said,

"So, you thought if you died, I wouldn't have to worry or feel guilty about pushing the schedules so hard Rick? Don't you trust me, I know I don't deserv"

He pulled her to him and kissed her, "Stop that, no more kicking your ass for a mistake, understand? I wouldn't be alive today if you hadn't cared. It was me that was the ass, and to answer your question, I trust you with all I have. Genes, the will was never changed from when we were married, just so you know."

She kissed him back letting her tears fall down her face as well as his. Finally, after a few minutes, she took off his slacks and underwear and placed them in the patient's belonging bag.

"Rick, don't be shy, I've seen little Ricky before, that's not what I want right now. Look I know you're in love with someone else, and it's hard, really hard. BUT as fucked up as that is, I would rather see you alive and happy with her, than taking our daughter to the cemetery to tell you we loved you." As she fought back tears,

He laid down on the table, gave her the thumbs-up sign she kissed him once again, and then opened the door. Maureen and a technician were in the room, wheeling in a portable EKG machine. As the Technician was hooking up electronic leads coming from the machine to several spots on Rick's body, Maureen was inserting an IV line, and drawing five tubes of blood, then she hooked the saline drip to the IV catheter that she had just taken the blood from.

"Gina, you're welcome to watch, are you sure you want to?" she said,

"I'll stay, he won't tell you but he's scared to death of needles, so I'll be here," she tried to smile but tears filler eyes and she fought to hold them in.

"Are you ready sir, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, to relax yourself then breath normally, this is the worst part of the test, I promise you." Rick obeyed, and the technician started the EKG when he noticed his breathing in a normal rhythm, 10 minutes later, he turned the machine off, and whispered to Maureen to get Dr. Warner in the room stat. Rick was about half asleep but Gina saw the fear in the young Technician's face and knew the results weren't what they wanted or expected.

A moment later, Dr. Warner walked in, nodded to Gina, and went directly to Rick's bedside where he could see the graph paper and spoke in low tones to the tech.

"Rick, Gina, we're going to have to run some more tests, we're going to take you down the hall where they will perform an Echocardiogram, it's painless Rick, no needles I swear.

"OK, Doc, but what is the Echo, and what are you looking for. I can read faces and body language pretty well, and right now, you're not giving off those of a doctor with a patient about to go home. How bad, and what is going on?" Rick said as Gina took his hand,

"Let's get the test done, then we'll talk about prognosis shall we, you don't put the end of the book in the middle, do you? Let me write my story, Rick," Dr. Warner kidded,

Maureen started to explain, "an echocardiogram (echo) is a graphic outline of the heart's movement. During an echo test, ultrasound or high-frequency sound waves from a hand-held wand placed on your chest provides pictures of the heart's valves and chambers and helps evaluate the pumping action of your heart. Doctor Warner wants to include the Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler to evaluate blood flow across the heart's valves, so he has the best picture, he's checking your blood work now, so try to relax. The test will be over in about 45 minutes or so, Gina can't hold your hand, but she'll be right outside the room, so try to relax. Are you ready?"

Gina said firmly, "WAIT" she walked over to the bed, took his face in her hands gently and kissed him, whispering, "I love you, Rick, we all love you, so relax Hun, you got this." He smiled but it wasn't genuine, then reached up and pulled her head down to kiss her again. "I love you to Genes, I really do" then he turned to the tech, OK, let's go.

It was the longest 42 minutes that Gina had ever endure, but finally, she saw Rick come wheeling back into the room, with Dr. Warner right behind him, not trying to hide his look of concern.

"Rick, Gina, I'm arraigning life-flight to fly you to Presbyterian Hospital, you've had at least three small heart attacks, recently, and well from what I can make out, I think that your heart needs a new valve. I was afraid that the original stint had moved, but everything looked good from the scans and tests, so I want you to go now. Doctor Kovacs is a friend of mine and will be waiting for you,"

"How bad is he doctor? Truthfully, should I get his family to the hospital, or"

"Get them Gina, and if any believe in prayer, have them say some, for us all" he ducked out of the room as Maureen and two other nurses prepped him for flight.

"Rick, I'll be right back, I have to call Eva, and let her know what's going on" Gina lied, as she stepped out of the room and hearing distance. She didn't have the heart to tell Rick, but she had told both Alexis and Martha of his earlier heart episode just in case something like this happened. She called Alexis, and had a difficult conversation,

"Where are you now Mom? When will you be at Presbyterian hospital?" she asked,

"We're at Hamptons Memorial, and the helicopter should be here in ten minutes, so we'll be there in less than an hour, so tell your Grams, no theatrics, I mean it or I will have her escorted out. Oh, baby, I have to call Kate Beckett, please be kind, or at least civil to her till I get there if she shows up, promise me?" Gina asked, making Alexis promise, and then Gina made a call she thought she would never make in her life.

She found Beckett's cell phone from a call list and called her, hoping she could leave a voice mail, two rings later, shattered that.

"Kate, this is Gina, listen we're in the Hamptons Memorial Hospital, they're life-flighting Rick to Presbyterian Hospital, where Dr. Kovacs is going to take over his case. They think he needs open-heart surgery, something about a valve, I'm sorry, that's all I know, so if you want to meet us there, we should be there in about an hour," She got out,

"Gina, oh my God, thanks for calling, I mean,"

"I have to go, Kate, Rick needs me, and the quicker we get there the quicker they can fix him up, " Gina said

"Gina, eh, tell him I love him too, I know you do, but please tell him, I'll meet you there, thanks for calling" she cried into the phone. She made a quick visit to Captain Gates, then jumped in her car and drove to Presbyterian Hospital, the first time she had been back since she had been shot.

She parked in the Police Only space throwing her placard on the dashboard as she exited the car, and ran into the ER entrance, and was greeted by a huge patrol officer, a quick flash of her badge and she was allowed entrance to the triage nurse desk.

"Excuse me, I'm Detective Kate Beckett, I was called to meet an Air Ambulance here. Can you give me an update on their progress, it was leaving from Hamptons Memorial Hospital" She asked, assuming the professional role as if she were there on official business,

"Of course, Detective, let me check, we show Air Ambulance, flight AV-477 in route now, traveling at 150 knots per hour, that's top speed so someone must be critical, she mused under her breath, ETA is 34 minutes, and the patient will be greeted on the hele-pad upstairs, you can wait in the waiting room two doors from the entrance." She said, almost throwing a visitors badge at her,

Kate grabbed the badge and was off to the elevator bank to take her to the roof, now all she could do was wait, and pray. God, don't take him now, not when they were this close, she breathed.

Gina was holding tight to his hand, whether to calm his fears or hers, was debatable, probably more for her own. He tried to be positive with her, but the EMT had already begun the pre-operation routine and had given him a relaxant. His blood pressure had spiked, and now it was back to normal range, at least normal for Rick.

They had already reached sight of the landing site, the huge cross painted in white on top of Presbyterian Hospital was coming into view, closer and closer now. Gina knew her time with Rick was limited, she turned his head slightly, and kissed him deeply. "This reminds me of the time you broke your leg showing off skiing and we had to fly you to the hospital", she smiled.

He locked onto her eyes, "I wasn't showing out, well, OK a little but I always tried to impress the girl I thought would never in a million years say yes, so I love you too. Take care of Alexis and mother, and stop feeling guilty, I knew you told them, you only promised to keep secrets that didn't involve my health." He smiled, as she leaned into him,

"Rick, you fight, all of us love you, so if you get tired you fight, understand, and just so you know, I called Kate, she's probably waiting for us at the hospital now," Gina said,

"Thanks, Genes, that just proves that you love me more than you love yourself, I owe you, big time," he closed his eyes, as the EMT nodded, that the medication had indeed knocked him out,

As soon as they landed, the stretcher was removed from the helicopter, and there stood Kate Beckett, waiting until she could at least see him one more time. They started towards the elevator door, and Gina waved her over.

"Kate, you better kiss him now, it's going to be a while, so say what you have to say, he's out but he may be able to remember some of what you say," Gina said, taking Rick's hand and placing it in Kates,

She backed away a few steps but stayed close as they walked, well jogged to the elevators. Kate only had a few seconds more,

"Rick, I love you, I really do, don't leave us, Rick, please I love you," she kissed him as he disappeared into the elevators and was on his way to the OR. It was going to be a long wait for the family,

TBC