Alternate Route Taken Chapter 2, a castle fanfic

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

"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 even 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,"

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Chapter 2

Thursday, May 21st

Week of Memorial Day Weekend

NYPD, 12th Precinct 6:00 AM

Kate's POV

Kate hadn't slept much at all, first, the song came ringing in her head, then when Rick refused to talk, what the hell was up with that, he always called her when she wanted to talk, she didn't understand what his problem was. Yes, she did, she knew exactly what was going on, she had pushed him too far this time. Javi's words rang in her mind;

He was right, why would Castle want to come back for more of that abuse, what the hell was the matter with her? She had finally given up trying to sleep at 4:00 AM and gotten up and went for an extra-long run, this time towards Castle's loft, not away from it. His office light was still on, meaning he was still working, or Oh God, no, not that, he couldn't have another woman in his bed that quickly, could he?"

Now she was totally messed up, damn song, damn Javi, and damn Rick for having his light on to put those thoughts into her head. He was a world-famous author, dated countless starlets, why couldn't he have hooked up with a beautiful babe if he wanted to, he was free.

Her mind went racing through the page six articles with all of the beautiful women trying to determine who was lying next to him this morning, not that it was any of her business, she had a boyfriend, why should she care. Bullshit Kate, and you know it she chastised herself.

Today she was going to make everything right, she would break up with Tom, and then talk Rick out of taking a break, they didn't need a break, she didn't want a break. She arrived at the station at 6:15 AM, and waited for Tom to make his usual, unauthorized trip to her floor to get a cup of coffee, as an excuse to see her, or sometimes cop a quick feel and do some necking. What an Ass she had been, Castle had seen her last episode with him on the stairs, he almost had her bra off, talk about marking his territory.

Precisely at 6:50 AM, she recognized his walk before she looked up, it was Tom in search of his caffeine, and fix for his wandering hands.

"Good Morning Kate, did you get some rest last night, you seemed like something was really wrong."

She thought, nice guy, easy on the eyes, lousy in bed and about as dumb as a rock when it comes to picking up on emotions,

"About that Tom, we need to talk," she said and headed to the breakroom,

He followed thinking he was going to get his coffee the same place she provided the topping, what a surprise when as soon as they entered the door, she turned and said "We're over Tom"

"Was it something I said, Kate? Something I did?"

"No, you're great. You're really great, and I really like you. It's just, I don't think that this is what I'm looking for right now."

"Well, what is it you're looking for, Kate?" She couldn't answer so he just walked away looking totally defeated,

She felt awful, Tom would figure it out, even as slow as he picked up on things, it wouldn't take an Einstein to figure out, she was using him to try to make Rick jealous. He'd know she used him, and she knew exactly how it felt to be used, thanks to High School and Maddie, she would never forget that day.

She looked up, jerked actually with every ding of the elevator when 10:00 AM came and went, she thought something may be wrong with Castle, he was always there with her coffee before this. She couldn't wipe the bad feeling from her mind and had her face buried in a report when she got a whiff of his cologne, it was expensive and unique to Rick.

She looked up to see her partner approaching her tentatively with, what the hell, he only had one cup, maybe had drunk his, then he took a swig from it, something was wrong, badly wrong, Castle always brought her coffee no matter how upset he was with her. He was coming from the wrong direction had he been with Roy all this time, Jesus.

He was walking towards her, timidly, almost like it was their first-time meeting, he motioned to his chair, and she replied,

"Sit Rick, you look like you have something on your mind"

"Uh... I was just thinking."

He stopped as she pulled her chair closer, much closer than normal as he continued

"I've been thinking..."

Kate thinks maybe he thought about my text last night and wants to talk now, he has to know I care for him, he just has to,

Then he continued, still with the one fucking coffee cup, a reminder that they were now on their own, one, no more us, just me

"Maybe we're looking in the wrong place. Maybe the murder has nothing to do with the game. Maybe it just afforded the killer an opportunity to act."

Kate is taken back by the talk about the case, she thought it was going to be something personal, she reacted quickly to hide her feelings, she said the first thing that she thought of,

"That's so funny because I was thinking the same thing when I woke up this morning, that maybe we got so caught up in the game that we stopped looking at what really mattered."

"We all lost sight of the most important component of the case, the victim."

"You're right Rick, I had the boys run the financials and guess who came back in trouble, his partner Lee Copley, and it turns out that he filed for bankruptcy two months ago. Overextended himself in real estate."

"Well that should be easy enough to crack, I have to get to Black Pawn for some meetings, they'll probably last most of the day, so you and Tom have this, no need for me to stick around"

"Rick, about that, Tom and I broke up, I mean I broke up with him this morning, it wasn't what I wanted, so he won't be around, we could use your help, really?"

He looked at her like Yeah since when. "Kate even if that were true, which it's not, I still have a real job, and I'll be gone on a break as soon as I know this victim will get his justice."

"What if I said I don't want a break; I want you to stay? What if I broke up with Tom because I realize I treated and allowed him to treat you awful? What if I asked you please Rick? I don't want you to leave, I really don't." She was almost pleading, her eyes almost ready to cry,

"Was this why you texted last night Detective?" Oh god, she was back to Detective, something she just said pissed him off,

"Rick, please, OK yes I wanted to talk last night about how sorry I am, and I wanted you to stay so why don't you, I mean your schedule is really up to you, "

"Not anymore, but No Detective, I'm leaving, we both need it, even if you don't think so. I know I do, my mind is so tired of the games you seem to like to play."

"Rick, what can I do to get you to stay, what do you want me to say, I mean I've already begged you, what more can I do?"

He looked at her sadly, "It's far too little and way too late, Detective, Good Luck" he turned and started to walk away,

"When will we see you again Rick? Will we see you in the fall?" she called after him,

He turned, looked down, and sadly said, "I don't know, I really don't, Goodbye Detective" and then he was down the stairs and gone before she could recover. A silent group of cops sat behind her, Ann Hastings, began to cry, Roz Karpowski uttered Son of a Bitch, and several others vocalized their displeasure of allowing their friend to leave.

She sat at her desk in silence thinking yesterday she had a boyfriend and Rick, less than 24 hours later she had neither, then she heard,

"Beckett, my office now" Montgomery boomed,

She knew it wasn't going to be anything good, so she walked towards his office willing to take whatever he threw at her, she had already lost what she really wanted most in life.

Rick's POV

Rick walked to Black Pawn and still arrived 10 minutes early for his lunch date with Gina, his ex-wife, and publisher, who waved him in as she was completing a call. As soon as she hung up, he stood as did she and embraced, she kissed him gently,

"How you doing Rick, pardon my saying this but you look like hell, your Detective again?"

"Well, Gina, you look beautiful as always, and she's not my detective, that's one of the things we need to talk about."

"How do you want to work this, you want to eat then discuss the business, or what would make it easy for you?"

"You still like Antonio's pizza with double pepperoni?" he winked?

"Yes, but what does that have to do, with lunch,"

"What would you say if we go back to the loft, I need to talk to you about more than just the book contract, I thought we could grab a pizza, I have your Mexican beer on ice," he looked into her eyes to see genuine concern.

"I'll just have to clear my schedule,"

"Sorry Gina, I already did, yesterday, don't get mad at Barbie, she did it as a favor for me."

"Rick, you're beginning to scare me, are you OK? I mean Alexis and Martha, everyone is OK, right?"

"They're fine, I promise, no one is hurt, no one is in danger, I just need to talk to you, well in a more intimate setting than the office or a restaurant," Rick said gently,

"OK Rick, OK, let me get my purse, be right with you."

They walked down the stairs into Rick's waiting limo, he had called as soon as he reached the office, and he helped her in, like the gentleman he always was. When he had said he wanted it to be private, he was serious, he barely uttered a word all the way to the Loft, other than ordering the pizzas. They entered through the back entrance, avoiding any contact with the desk, apparently, Rick didn't want to be disturbed during their talk.

They had just walked into the loft and she set her purse down when the door buzzed with the delivery person for the pizzas, Rick paid them and tipped them as he always did, probably why they were always hot and fresh when they arrived.

"Gina, let's eat, then we can talk, I know how much you hate cold pizza" as he handed her an ice-cold beer.

"Thanks, Rick, God we haven't done this in," then she got quiet and stared out into space, a sad look came over her face,

"I'm sorry Gina, didn't want to bring back a bad memory, it's just that, well here we're family and I can talk to you about family business, you're more than my publisher when you are here. I didn't realize that this was the same as the last meal we had as husband and wife, I really am an ass, I'm sorry."

Gina smiled, even thru the hurt, "Hey at least you remembered, most guys wouldn't remember what we had on our first date, much less our last." Tears were in her eyes, but she fought to hold them in,

"We went to a clam bake, that's when I found out your distaste for seafood so we wound up in LeCerc for a steak dinner, it was on a Thursday, you wore a blue dress with a slit up the side that showed off your gorgeous legs."

Gina's face lite up with surprise, and shock. "You're right, Rick, how can you remember all that?"

"I remember almost everything about you, well us, that's probably why we're divorced because I can't let go of things, so the more I think about it the more I know how wrong I was, I'm so sorry."

"Rick, before you get all sappy on me, remember it was me who almost cheated on you, it was me who filed for divorce, so cut yourself some slack, there was enough blame for us both. You know I doubt I would have gone through with it, but I'm glad you intercepted the emails, it forced my hand and we did something we hadn't done in months, we talked."

He looked more like a little boy, afraid of his first day of school than the world-famous author, that commanded a stage or signing like few others.

"What is it Rick, tell me what's going on, I know it has something to do with that Detective. Your chapters have changed, the hope, the banter between the characters is gone, is that by design or is that a reflection of you and Kate? Didn't you notice the edits I made were ten times more on the last three chapters than the entire book?"

"No, I guess I didn't Gina, I had a pretty good start on the next two books, but now I'm not sure I want to write them anymore. Heatwave fulfills my contract, and I have serious doubts about even attempting to push out more about that character, it just doesn't feel the same."

"OK, why don't you tell me what's going on between the real-life Nikki and Rook while I eat my pizza, then we can talk about the best course of action for you as Rick, and as Richard Castle the author. I know you may doubt this, but I don't give a damn about the books, Rick, I'm worried about you, and how it will impact Alexis and Martha. You can't hide your feelings, you never could, so tell me what the hell is going on"

Rick explained the emergence of Deming, the change in Beckett from hinting she wanted to get closer to that of a star-struck badge bunny spreading her legs for the good-looking new cop. He couldn't help to allow the hurt in his voice to come through, and Gina was ready to kill Kate Beckett. It was one thing to play hard to get, another to play with someone's emotions to let them crash and burn for the hell of it.

"So, what do you want to do Rick, I take it leaving the precinct and you acting as her shadow has already been done, how did she take that?"

Rick faked a laugh, "That's the funny part, she texted me last night, wanting to talk. I wasn't in the mood, and was working on some things I needed to get done so I waited about ten minutes then replied asking her if she were in trouble, or hurt when she replied no she just needed to talk, I told her goodnight, we would talk today. I just came from there when I picked you up for lunch.

Apparently, she broke up with her Boy Toy this morning before I came in, I'm not sure when didn't ask and really don't care. I know that I need to get away, and well you may not like the idea Gina so I wanted to talk to you here, if you get mad at me, at least you have 9 other rooms to go to cool off in. I'm going to need your help, so let me get through this, just please don't leave till we talk OK?"

Gina couldn't help it, she pulled him in for a hug and laid his head on her shoulder, "You know I will be here for whatever you need, I know you still love me, I still love you but why we can't live together is anyone's guess. Please know, I won't let anyone hurt you, not even her. What do you need Rick?"

TBC