Alternative Route Taken
by Castlefan6
Authors Note Another What If based on the episode, A Deadly Game, what happened if Rick didn't return to the precinct after leaving and this was really their last case. What would each other's lives have looked like? The story starts with Canon dialog, courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com, then goes quickly and completely AU. The journey continues with a new Kate and Rick, hope you enjoy!
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
A/N This may or may not end up as a Caskett fic, if that bothers you, please wait for updates to see which direction the story goes. Respectful comments are always welcome, trolls will be deleted.
Also, we may take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Previously from Dust Jackets Dot Com
"Thought you were working this weekend."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Castle. I should've just told you. I just didn't want things to be awkward between us, now that Tom and I are…together."
"No, I get it. Yeah. No, you want your private life to be private"
"Yeah, I just don't- I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable."
"No, of course not. No, I mean...Actually, that makes what I was gonna say a little easier. Um...What with my book due, I was thinking it'd be a good time for us to take a break."
"A break?"
"Yeah. God knows you got to be tired of me following you around all the time, and I really do need to get some work done. With everyone gone, I figured, why not just stay up in the Hamptons, you know? Getaway from the city for a while."
"Well, for how long?"
"The summer at least. I thought this would be our last case."
******************************************************************************/
A/N I'm going to try something different for my story, (I have been criticized for the repetitive nature of their layout), although it followed the overall story arc laid out by the Marlowe's'. In this story, each chapter will describe either Kate's or Rick's life, AFTER the break, each chapter from the POV of one of the characters. I'm not sure what this is going to look like, but welcome constructive ideas, comments, and even criticisms as long as they are constructive. Trolls always will be deleted.
Chapter 1
Wednesday, May 20th
Week of Memorial Day Weekend
Rick and Kate Together NYPD 12th Precinct.
Kate sat in her chair, looking like the wind had just been knocked out of her, Castle sat across from her in his chair, staring into space, lost in thought of some kind, when they were interrupted by the boys with a detail on the case, something to do about a locker Kate had asked them to check out.
"Hey, you guys OK? You look like your best friend died" Espo quipped as he sat on the corner of Beckett's desk, Ryan behind standing behind him.
"I'm fine" Kate rushed out,
"Never Better" Rick countered, but to the boys, they knew there was trouble, just not how deep, yet.
"Good call on the locker where the victim picked up the case" Esposito complimented,
"Yeah, good" Kate dismissed them,
"Don't you want to see who placed it in the locker?" Ryan asked as he placed the picture down in front of them both, Castle slid his chair over, careful to keep space between them,
"Well Hugo's got some explaining to do, he said he didn't know anything about it, I'd love to help you check him out, but I have a poker game to host, Good Night" as he got up and walked away.
Ryan looked at Javi, with a WTH look, but didn't say anything.
"You guys bring him in, first thing in the morning, it's late, so let's get out of here for tonight, pick it up in the morning," Kate said, still in a state of shock,
Xx
RICK'S POV
Rick made his way home, determined to end it, what the hell was wrong with him, what kind of spell did she have over him, and why did he allow himself to get sucked into every one of her traps.
One week she's hinting she wants more, the next week, she's flaunting a new Detective in his face, telling him he could watch, it's a cop thing, you wouldn't understand, and then shutting him out of interrogating the suspect, choosing her new boyfriend over him.
What the hell do you need Rick, a fucking singing messenger she's not ONLY just not only THAT into you, she's not into you at all. Save your pride, what little you have, and let her live her life. He had to get his game face on, the guys would be there for a poker game shortly, and he hated to lose, especially to Patterson.
During the game, he mentioned the case as if it were a story a friend was writing and got Patterson, Cannell, and Connelly's input. As usual, they were frank, Patterson offering him the criticism of his time spent with his lady cop friend. It came as a surprise to the group when he announced he was leaving once they solved the current case, and might even take a break from writing for a while, he wasn't sure.
"What's the matter Patterson, having to part with some of that first novel royalties, usually you're the one that cleans up, seems like tonight, you're getting your ass handed to you." Rick chided his friend.
"Well, I think you threw me for a minute, I mean it's not like you write a lot anyway, but are you sure you want to step away from the game Rick, once you're out of the public view, you're forgotten. I mean some authors publish books they know are crap, just to keep their name in the public," He asked in a very serious tone,
"No such thing as bad press, right? You should team up with my Agent Paula Haas, Patterson" Rick laughed,
"No freaking way, that woman is a beast, no way would I work with her, I'm surprised she hasn't killed you yet, I mean between her and your publisher being your ex-wife, what the hell Rick, glutton for punishment." He smiled, knowing that Rick was deeply connected to both ladies and either would kill for him.
"Hey, they get the job done, and made me a lot of money, can't argue with the results. Gina's got a great heart; you guys just don't see it."
"As if you married her for her heart, come on Rick, she's hotter than hell, and way out of your league, I'm surprised she put up with you as long as she did," Cannell said, one of his rare comments.
"You're probably right, well, that chapter closed, and we're still working together,"
"So, what are you going to do about the female cop Ricky?"
"What do you mean Connelly?"
"Come on Rick, we're guys, you've had the hots for her since the day she hauled your ass out of your book signing." He laughed,
"Well, she's got a Cop boyfriend for your information so I'm not going to do anything, and I don't have the 'hots' for her as you put it. Rick answered a bit too firmly,
"Sure Rick, keep telling yourself that, deal me out, I've lost enough to you and your ego tonight, I'll get you back next time" Patterson commented,
The game ended and left Rick with a great deal to think about, both about the case, as well as his life. He knew Alexis didn't approve of his nightlife that Paula had tried to push, so that avenue was out, besides he didn't care for it either. He knew he needed to get away from New York, and doubted that the Hamptons would be far enough to get the Detective out of his system.
He had a meeting with Gina for lunch to discuss the next deal, he was a free agent after this last book, which happened to be Nikki Heat, Heatwave. He knew she was going to push for an extension on the current contract, he wasn't ready to commit to sitting behind his laptop for hours on end, pounding keys in the middle of the night, drinking cold coffee, going to bed when the sun and everyone else was just rising because he had pulled another all-nighter, he wasn't as young as he used to be.
The factor he knew entered in but he wouldn't acknowledge, the loneliness, sitting alone in a room, creating virtual realities for everyone else, the critics, and God the critics loved to sharpen their fangs on his works. Sometimes he wondered why he continued to endure it, hell he could tell them all to go to blazes, and never write another word, but he needed something to keep him engaged.
His business manager had just met with him and he had more money than he, Alexis, or her children would need in their lifetime, so why wasn't he enjoying life? Maybe that was what he was trying to do at the Precinct, do something meaningful in his life. Well, it didn't have to be that Precinct, or even that Detective, if he chose to continue to write, but he felt like some dreams of his had been pushed so far back he couldn't remember them.
Rick had a thought, slipped into his office, so his mother, couldn't hear his conversation. He loved her, but God why was she so nosy and opinionated, always offering unsolicited advice. He placed the call, and waited for the voice he knew who would give him the advice he needed,
"Jackson Hunt speaking"
"Hey Dad, it's me, Rick, you got a minute to talk?
Xx
Kate's POV
Kate was still reeling from the news that Rick was leaving, in fact as soon as this case was closed. She was standing in front of the murder board when she felt the presence of someone behind her, thinking it was Tom, finally finished with his required paperwork, she turned but found herself facing an irritated Javier Esposito.
"Javi, what are you doing here? I thought you and Ryan left an hour ago,"
"We did Kate, in fact, we were having a beer across the street when we heard something that I couldn't believe, not only the news but why we had to hear it from someone other than you."
"What are you talking about Javi? Who did you hear what from?"
"Is it true that this is Castle's last case? Is that why you looked like someone killed your puppy and he wouldn't look at Kevin or me earlier? Why do we have to find out that one of our own, yes Kate, he's our team member, not just your toy, is leaving from Roz and Ann Hastings? I know you play personal things close to the vest, no problem, but damn it, this is our team, you should have told us."
Kate lowered her head, she knew he was right, she hadn't even thought of the fallout with the rest of the precinct about losing Rick, he had made a lot of friends in a short time.
"Well Javi, I'm not sure what you heard, but he's not going away for good, just the summer?" Her voice was full of hope, the hope she was feeling inside,
"You sure about that Kate? Why would he want to come back after the way you and Tom have treated him the last three weeks, have you ever thought about some of the things you two have said to him?
"Look I have no idea why Castle does what he does, I know he could write a hundred books from the cases he's already worked. Whatever the reason he has, I know for certain it's not to watch you parade another man in front of his face,"
They hear noise footsteps from behind them and turn to see a smiling Tom Deming walking towards them,
"You ready Kate?" He asked as he acknowledged Javi with a nod
"Yeah, give me a second to shut down, be right with you" her voice is weak, and Javi knows he has hit her with a thought she hasn't or won't think about, the precinct without Rick. Javi turned and started to walk away, throwing a Good Night, over his shoulder to either or both of them. Right now, he didn't like either and really didn't care if they knew it.
Tom could tell something had upset Kate, he asked gently, "Rough Day?"
"Yeah, pretty rough" she answered as she felt his arm slip around her, the last thing she wanted tonight was to fake an orgasm with her boyfriend who was a great guy but was terrible in bed,
"Tom, not tonight, I mean I just want to go home and soak in a tub to wash this day away, Alone" as she saw his eyes perk up for a moment, then his face fall into the realization that he wasn't getting laid tonight, he was going home alone to his own place.
"Sure, sure whatever you need," he said, trying to hide the disappointment, but not doing a good job.
"I'm just going home, grabbing a glass of wine and have a good soak, I'm sorry, but maybe tomorrow OK?"
"Sure, like I said take as much time as you need" Tom had been around long enough to know it wasn't a good sign when your girlfriend would rather be alone than with you during a time of her crisis, things were beginning to crumble
He waved a cab down, assisted her into it, and tapped the top, as the driver drove off to the address Kate had provided. Tom decided to walk across the street to get a beer before going home to a dark apartment, alone.
Kate was alone with her thoughts the entire cab ride home, was this really the last case Rick would be with her? No couldn't be, he would be back, hell he always came back. But what if he didn't, what would she do, she had to let him know he was wanted, hell needed more than he knew, but how? She would text him later, he would understand, he always did.
She pulled her clothes off, and eased herself into the steaming water, as she sipped her wine, and opened her book, Heatwave of course, How could Rick get her more excited and fulfilled with words on a piece of paper than Tom did with the actual physical act? She was reading the passage for the 5th time, it was the charm, finally, after three nights of frustration, she had achieved a climax.
As the book fell to the floor, she looked down and saw Rick's picture, staring at her, almost mocking her, like he knew, hell he always knew. She pushed those thoughts out of her mind, finished her bath, and then dressed in her loose sleep clothes, finally able to have her itch scratched she was looking forward to a good night of sleep, she'd deal with all the other stuff tomorrow.
She turned her iPod on to listen to some relaxing music to complete her transformation into the dream world. As soon as the music began, within the first three notes, knew this was a terrible idea, the song was Into the Blue by Sara Jackson Holman, and hit her as if she were singing the song directly to her, especially the line If only she had said yes, and if only he would ask again.
Into the Blue (Song from Canon Episode)
If only if only I coulda been yours
Been your rapport and yours to adore
If only if only I would've said yes
Forgotten the rest so I could've said yes
If only if only you'd ask me again
I'd give you my hand
Let you take me across the sand
Into the blue
And faded world of my daydreams
I feel I'm falling deeper every day
Melting away down a dark and endless abyss
I'm grasping at straws and I'm chasing the wind
As I fall on my face over and over again
If only if only I had the luxury of retrospect
Sounds like you're speaking some sort of foreign dialect
If only something precious as time had a price
Instead of endlessly taking its toll on my soul
Oh, so many if onlys running through my mind
What ifs and storybook endings time after time
If only if only you coulda been mine
I'd take you
Into the blue and faded world of my daydreams
I feel I'm falling deeper every day
Melting away down a dark and endless abyss
I'm grasping at straws and I'm chasing the wind
As I fall on my face over and over into the blue
And faded world of my daydreams
I feel I'm falling deeper every day
Melting away down a dark and endless abyss
I'm grasping at straws and I'm chasing the wind
As I fall on my face over and over again
She began to weep, she knew she loved Rick, what the hell was she doing with Tom? She was screwing up big time, she had to fix this, tomorrow she was going to tell Tom the truth, it was over, he was a nice guy but not what she needed, not who she wanted. Maybe she could get ahead of this, she would text Rick,
She grabbed her phone and brought up the smiling face, typed out a quick message,
"Rick, if you're awake, please respond, we need to talk"
Rick was sitting at his office desk wrapping up the outline of his action plan for the next several months. Alexis was on a trip for school, Martha, well God only knew about her, but she would be just fine without him there to hide the good stuff.
His phone chirped with a familiar tone; it was Beckett's. and the text bubble was showing a new text just received. At first, he ignored it, then thinking it could be important he grabbed his phone and replied,
"Beckett Is everything OK? Do you need help with something? Are you in danger? It's late,"
A moment later her response came back,
"Everything is OK, physically, I just need to talk to you, No Danger"
She was once again in tears as the response came back almost immediately,
"Talk tomorrow Detective, Good Night !"
TBC
A/N "Into the Blue" performed by Sara Jackson Holman plays during the party scene and the aftermath at the precinct during this episode.