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
"Put the hooch away Rogers, you'll only have to run more to burn the calories off if you don't," the voice said, never bothering to introduce himself, dressed in military fatigues, he really didn't have too.
"Sargent Garcia, I presume," Rick said as he placed the bottle back in the cabinet.
"You wind up dead by presuming things Rogers, not just a pretty pair of asses like the liberals in the city want you to believe. I'm here to get you in shape for a mission, looks like I have my work cut out for me. I know you think you're in shape, but trust me, you'll know soon just how bad you really are.
"By the way, I'm 67 years old, weight is 147, I've been associated with or served as a Navy seal for over 40 years, and yes, I know you and the other flyboys had some tough times a few years back, well whoopie doo. Do something to impress me today, because I see someone, I wouldn't take on a panty raid with me to the girl's college dorm." His voice remained calm and even, just as Rick's old training kicked into his inner ear, lose your temper, lose your life.
*********************************************************************************/
Chapter 9
Tuesday, May 26th, 5:00 AM
Hampton' Beach
Rick's POV
Rick decided that Garcia wasn't going to get into his head, he started out as he did every morning, his two-mile run up the beach to the buoy, then return, then shower, then a quick breakfast. He had accomplished all of it and it was still 5:50 AM. He was waiting for Sargent Jolly Roger Garcia to make his appearance when he heard a bellow outside his window.
"Rogers get your ass on the beach, now. We have work to do." It was Mr. Personality himself, Sargent Raul Garcia.
Rick looked out and headed out to the beach. He was pissed, in the first place no one knew him as Rogers, here he was Castle, always had been and always would be. When he approached the older man, he was still pissed.
"Look, Garcia, you may be here to work me into shape, but let's get something straight, I'm not a wide-eyed young kid all impressed with your bravado, in fact, it makes you look like an ass, a man your age still acting like a role out of the movie An Officer and a Gentleman, so keep your mouth shut in front of my neighbors."
"Or what pussy, what are you going to do about it."
"Well, if you want to step into the gym, we can find out you old wrinkled ass cheek," Rick fired back.
The fight was on, Garcia may have been older but the SOB was a tough old bird, and knew some good moves, but he made the carnal mistake, he misjudged Rick and when he turned into a punch, Rick took him down and applied a reverse choke, he refused to tap, and Rick refused to let go until he went limp on the canvass.
The thrill of combat came rushing back, it had been several years, but he could still remember having his ass handed to him day in and day out until he learned the competitive advantage he had over most, his extremely long legs. Against Garcia, it was almost a no-contest, how the old man stood up to the numerous kicks to the face, neck, and midsection was beyond him.
Rick was standing to towel off, drinking a bottle of enzyme water to replace the electrolytes when he heard a noise from the mat. Garcia was finally waking up, he knew he hadn't killed him, although his dad's words had rushed through his head, "you're going to feel like killing the SOB some days" as he finished his water. He sat on the bench, watching the older man, know full well it wasn't over, it was merely round one.
"Not bad Rogers, not bad but you're still a pussy" Garcia said to get his goat.
"Says the old fart who took his nap a little early today, what else you got old man?"
And so, it began, as much as a verbal sparring session each morning, as well as physical, they battled, most often Rick did get the advantage but there were two days where he literally got the hell beat out of him, but he wouldn't quit. Rick had increased his runs form 4 miles daily to now he was doing 10 miles easily and still fighting Garcia almost daily.
What remained a mystery was where the hell did Garcia go after their sessions, he never saw him on the grounds, or anywhere in the house. He even checked the guest house, and garage. He almost missed the lair, it was disguised so well, the SOB had been living above his garage, showering using the public showers and eating, God only knew what. At this point Rick couldn't care less about the man. Jackson was right, he had a deep-seated hatred for Garcia, a hatred that fueled his desire to go one step farther than the man expected.
Xx
THREE WEEKS LATER
Rick was running 12 miles on the beach every day, somedays he added a 40-pound pack to push his endurance even farther than Garcia expected. He had successfully completed the second Nikki Heat novel, Raging Heat, a continuation of where Heat Wave had left off, but he had tempered the relationship between Rook and Heat.
Gina certainly earned her money as his editor with this work, she tempered the scenes between the two characters to keep it chilly but civil, and refused to allow him to print the putdowns she knew he had suffered in real life, "Once it's in print, it will never go away Rick, you don't want that" she had told him on one of his calls. He reluctantly agreed and allowed Gina to interject far more than she had in any of his previous works.
The book ended with a cliff hanger, Heat was on vacation with her newest boyfriend, when Rook received his recall notice from the United States Marines to active duty, he left the day before she returned, never leaving anything more than a note that said simply Good-Bye, words he never used, it was always till tomorrow.
Rick was having doubts about whether he would have the time, or resolve to complete the last book he planned, but he was going back to the Loft for a week on Saturday. Alexis was graduating early, and he promised not to miss it, and he was going to keep that promise.
The week progressed like the others, extreme training in the ocean, he swore Garcia exacted his revenge, attempting to drown him each time it came to water rescues and techniques. He continued the increased physical workouts, early morning on the beach, the remainder in his private gym away from the prying eyes of those few who remained at the Hamptons after Memorial Day. Finally, he had completed all of his training and would take the actual flight tests when he returned, at a location to be determined according to the Devil's Grunt as he had nicknamed Garcia.
Xx
Castle's Loft
Saturday, 6:00 AM
Rick slipped quietly into the loft Saturday morning, using the back private entrance, as far as everyone was concerned, he was still in the Hamptons. He thought he would catch everyone by surprise when he was hit with a flying body with a flash of red hair, screaming "Daddy, you are home !"
She was in his arms, half crying, half laughing, her commencement was that evening at 6:00 PM and Gina had tried to soften the possibility that her Dad wouldn't be there.
"I knew you would come; I just knew it. I told Mom you would be here if you had to walk. Gosh Daddy, how much weight have you lost, you look great. I love the new look," Alexis laughed as she pulled back
Gina filled the gap as soon as there was space, hugging him, crying with joy to see him. "You do look good Rick," leaning back and capturing his lips in a kiss that he hadn't felt for a very long time. When she pulled back, he gasped, "Wow, I have to come home more often if that's the reception I get when I do."
"To answer your questions I'm down 29 pounds, and I had to buy new clothes since everything I had out there was too big. You like the new casual look?", showing off his jeans, loafers, and pull over shirt, nothing like the old Rick would have worn. He had added a pair of non-prescription eyeglasses and colored contact lenses to change his blue eyes to brown, and changed his hairstyle to a more modern cut.
"You look, good Daddy, watch out for Miss Slouchier tonight, she's always had the hots for you" Alexis laughed,
"Over my dead body, she's looser than the ropes on Rosie O'Donnell's trampoline" Gina had spoken before she realized, "I'm sorry Rick, I had no right"
Rick started laughing, "yes you do, you're keeping me from another heartache," he laughed, "just so you know she gave me the key to her hotel three years ago at a Teacher's conference, I sent Eduardo in my place."
Gina, Alexis, and Rick were all laughing by now, "You didn't Rick?"
"Sure did, she said I knew what she needed, so I thought I always go to Eduardo for anything we need" and now the laughter really rolled.
"I had to appeal my grade that year, she marked everything I did wrong until Daddy called the Dean, I think her almost losing her job helped get over her embarrassment"
"Speaking of nightmare experiences, I have to tell you, Rick, I ran into your Detective a few weeks ago. Paula and I were coming out of Remy's as she and her ME friend were going in. She asked if I had heard from you, and of course, I told her no, that you were on your special project. She mentioned something about writing you a letter, but to tell you how sorry she was and everyone missed you." Gina said as Alexis made the gagging motion,
"Oh, I forgot all about that, she wrote a letter and sent it via courier the Sunday you two left the Hamptons, it's still on the counter, I forgot all about it with everything going on." Rick said nonchalantly
"She sent it courier during the holiday weekend, that must have cost her a fortune, so she must have thought it was important," Gina said,
"Yeah, I guess, it wasn't and isn't important to me," Rick said shutting that conversation down.
"Daddy, are you going to read it? Remember you taught me about manners, it's impolite not to at least read and send an acknowledgment, even to her" Alexis said with disdain,
"I will pumpkin, I will, but I really have been busy. I'm surprised I finished the second book, well Gina should get writing credit for this one with all of her edits, hey I only have a few days. Let me hear your speech, I take it that's what has you up so early this morning" He smiled as he pulled his little girl into a hug.
Xx
12th Precinct, NYPD
One Week Earlier
Kate had almost given up on hearing anything back from the letter she had written to Rick, it had been almost three weeks, and not a peep. She knew he was there, she had taken her bike out for another ride and rode by his place just to burn some time, there was no way she was going to her Dad's new love nest.
Rick was in the Hamptons, she spotted him, well his walk anyway, he was heading to his car from the grocery store downtown, she knew he wouldn't recognize her so she rode a little closer and it was indeed his silver Mercedes. Plus, the signature on the return receipt from the courier matched his, well the silence was perhaps her answer.
She poured herself into her work, almost forgetting about her road trip, the sight of her father, and the awful experience with the two doctors who were injured by some jerk just because they were riding motorcycles. She barely looked up when the elevator dinged, she had fought that urge the first and second week he was gone, and now had nothing to look up for.
A delivery person stood in front of her, "Excuse me Mam, are you Detective Kate Beckett?"
"Yes, I am, how can I help you" as he took a few steps closer to the elevator she realized he had a beautiful flower bouquet on the utility cart,
"These are for you Mam, where can I leave them?" he asked politely,
She hurriedly cleared a spot on her desk, her first thoughts raced to those of Rick, then when the delivery person refused the tip, "Oh no mam, that's all taken care of, enjoy" as he walked away. That was a Castle move if she knew one, as she hurriedly searched for the card, the flowers were from a local shop and there it was. Her hands were shaking as she struggled to open the envelope and keep it in good shape for her memory box.
She finally got it open and there in unfamiliar handwriting was a sweet note,
"Thanks Again Kate, we appreciate you stopping and making sure we were OK. We're glad you weren't needed for the trial but wanted to send these to you to say thank you once again,
Josh and Paul,
Her heart sank, they weren't from Rick, they were from two doctors who all she did was ensure the ambulance was called, and the jerks in the blue pickup paid for almost hitting her as well as hurting the two men. She thought for a moment, then dialed the florist number, asking who had paid for the delivery to the 12th precinct to a Detective Beckett, the florist answered immediately, Doctor Paul Florene, paid for the flowers, he had actually visited the shop and picked them out personally.
She did a quick search for his phone number in the records, he was one of the few doctors who actually listed his cell phone number along with his office phone. She dialed the cell to hear a voice, answer on the third ring, "This is Doctor Paul, can you hold a moment please?"
A few minutes later his voice came back on the phone and said, "This is Doctor Paul Florene, how can I help you?"
"Hi Paul, this is Detective Kate Beckett from the 12th precinct, I received the flowers you sent, that wasn't necessary, but thank you they are beautiful."
"Well, you're welcome Kate, but they are from Josh Davidson and I both," he said timidly,
"Paul, I'm a cop, I'm used to people lying to me, we both know Josh doesn't even know you sent them, why the hell would you give him credit for something he didn't think of, much less go to the florist, select and pay for a beautiful arrangement? Does he have something over you to blackmail you, Paul? Why are you so nice to him?"
"Well, his parents are both Doctors and they helped me get into Harvard if I would help Josh with the academics, and I guess, it's been that way since college. He's the one the girls always go for, I just, well, I'm awkward and shy and get all tongue-tied while he's a smooth operator." Paul said shyly
"Yeah, I could tell he's used to getting what he wanted, regardless of how you felt, well, Paul, I know this was you, so Thank You, it was very nice of you"
"Well, I waited till I could write again before I sent them, or I would have done it sooner, I'm glad you liked them, and thank you again for your help."
"You're more than welcome Paul, is there anything else you wanted to ask me or is that it?"
"Well, Josh is going to ask you out, I wanted to but*"
"Then do it, Paul, for your information I have no interest in Josh at all, he's far too brash for my taste, I'm just getting over someone similar to him, Mr. FBI" she mimicked Sorenson's voice and made Paul laugh,
"OK, Kate would you like to grab a drink and some dinner one night this week?" Paul asked,
"I would love to, I'm off on Wednesday so I'm not sure of your schedule, but I never know when I'm getting out of here any other days" She laughed,
Wednesday is great, I know you value your privacy so I can meet you at the restaurant, say at 7:00 PM, Is LeCirque OK with you?" he asked, still shy
"Paul, we don't have to go to such an expensive restaurant, I mean,"
"No Kate, really, please I want this to go right, not just some hamburger and shake night, OK?" he asked earnestly,
"OK Paul, Wednesday at LeCirque 7:00 PM, it is, and again Thank You for the flowers, tell Josh, don't bother to call, please. I'll see you Wednesday, just to be honest, I'm still kind of getting over something so if that changes your mind I mean"
"No, I understand, it's just dinner and a drink to say Thank You, I'll see you Wednesday Kate, Goodbye."
She hung up her phone and thought, well, Paul was a great looking guy, and so timid and shy. Josh, he had been there done that, especially coming from a family with two doctors, spoiled rich kid written all over him still, and she really had no interest. Well, it sure as hell beat reading Castle's books again,
TBC