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
"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"
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Chapter 10
LeCirque Restaurant
Previous Wednesday
Kate's POV
Kate arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early, but Paul was already there, seated waiting for her to arrive. His broken arm was now sporting a removal support brace for his hand and wrist, to provide support after a long day in surgery until he was fully healed.
He saw Kate, his eyes twinkled as he rose to greet her and kissed her gently on the cheek hello.
"Hi Kate, you look beautiful, I'm glad you made it."
"Paul, if you look at the time, I'm 15 minutes early, how long have you been here?" she asked with a smile,
"About a half-hour, I couldn't stop pacing, and well Josh and I had a hell of a fight once I told him we were going out, he accused me of stealing his girl. I replied you met her one minute before I did when I was clearing the cobwebs from my head, what made her your girl. Besides you have a girlfriend or two, don't you?" Paul said and looked away quickly,
"So, did that make you wonder if I would show up Paul? Josh is in love with himself, maybe someday he'll open his eyes, he's a successful man, not terrible looking, BUT not as good looking as my dinner date, so now can we forget your partner, frankly it really isn't appealing to me." She laughed,
He smiled as his face turned a deeper shade of red, "Anything you want Kate, it's so nice to have dinner with an attractive female. I appreciate you telling me you are just working out of something, well honestly, I am as well." He said, suddenly his face turned very sad, gone was the sparkle in his eyes,
"I'm sorry you're going through that Paul, I know in my case, it's hard to meet men who think that I immediately want to jump into bed after an appetizer, that I'm a needy woman without a man. I enjoy just sitting, and getting to know someone. I know what it's like so IF you want to talk about it, fine, if not that's fine. I appreciate you telling me as well."
He looked at her sincerely, "Well, I'm just out of a four-year relationship, in fact, I was supposed to be getting married in two weeks, but things happen" He looked away, then continued, "I was supposed to be gone three days to a Medical Convention, but the keynote speaker took ill, and they cut it short.
"I decided to surprise Marcy, my fiancé, well we'll just say the surprise was on me when I got home. I was standing there with a bottle of wine and flowers, as her lover grabbed his clothes and headed out the front door right past me. The real slap in the face, it was a co-worker of mine, so needless to say I left and haven't been back since" his voice had the tears welled up sounding as he spoke.
"That's awful Paul, I'm so very sorry, so I take it, I'm the first date you've been on since then? I can understand why you're so shy, who could blame you" Kate said, true empathy in her voice as she gently touched his arm.
"I'm that obvious right, I never was big on the dating scene and for the last 5 years, I didn't have to think about it, and yes, you're the first lady I felt comfortable around enough to ask out, I hope that doesn't disappoint you." He said
"I bet you heard from someone who shall remain nameless for the remainder of this evening that you had a ton of baggage and no woman in her right man would ever date you, but that was the self-centered jerk talking. I don't know about all women, but I can tell you, it's refreshing to find a successful man who isn't so full of himself that his ego arrives three days before he does. Don't listen to anyone Paul, just let it flow, I'm sure it will take time, for us both."
"You're special Kate, thank you, now, let's enjoy dinner time to talk later if you care to"
"Sounds good, I'm hungry" Kate laughed and the tension was gone
The remainder of the evening was quite enjoyable, Kate had to think when she had so much fun, just talking, and dancing a little with Paul. He was a gentleman all the way and even walked her to her apartment at the end of the evening, kissing her gently and thanking her for a great time.
"I'd like to see you again, Kate, I mean if I didn't bore you to death tonight"
"Call me Paul, I'm off on Saturday, I'd like that too" she kissed him back a little longer than he had kissed her,
"Thank You, I had a great time, Good Night," she said and shut the door,
She had only thought of Rick once the entire night, yeah right once, all night long. Paul wore an expensive collogue not the exact same but very close to Rick's and it was all she could do to keep from crying as they danced. She leaned against the door and thought, If Only.
Xx
Marlowe Prep High School
Saturday 7:00 PM
Rick was more nervous than Alexis, today his little girl would graduate and soon be off to begin her studies in Oxford. Even though school had been over for almost a month, Graduation was delayed to allow those students studying abroad time to return home to enjoy the commencement with their classmates. He had paced most of the day until Gina finally had enough.
"Rick, PLEASE don't make this any harder on Alexis than it already is, she has missed you terribly, even with the facetime calls. She felt so guilty when she sent her paperwork back accepting the scholarship to Oxford, I told her this was her time. It is Rick, it's the first time in her life to discover all the things we've lived, messed up, enjoyed, and tried again. She's earned the opportunity to do the same, OK?"
"You're right, I know, I'm being selfish. Here I am off doing what I think I need to do, the least I can do is allow my little girl, (a dirty look from Gina) OK, my grown daughter to set off on her destination in life. I still don't have to like it."
"I know Rick, I know, but tell you what, Alexis arranged for us to have dinner at The Theatrical, our family dinner, then she's got parties, so can you try to hold it together for her, please?
"I will, I promise" as he put on his game face.
Xx
Rick and Gina were sitting in the front section of the auditorium when Alexis strode to the podium to address her class, faculty, and guests, the honor bestowed on the class valedictorian.
Gina dabbed her eye, Rick patted her hand, he hadn't been recognized as Rick Castle, to most guests he was Gina's date to the graduation, not Alexis's Dad.
A glance over to her Mom, and her Dad, and she began,
(Courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com)
"There's a universal truth that we have to face, whether we want to or not. Everything eventually ends. As much as I've looked forward to this day, I've always disliked endings.
"The end of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable.
"Leaves fall, we close the book, you say goodbye.
"Today is one of those days for us. Today we say goodbye to everything that was familiar. Everything that was comfortable.
"We're moving on. But just because we're leaving, and that hurts, there are some people who are so much a part of us they'll be with us no matter what. They are our solid ground.
"Our north star. And the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us. Always."
She waved to her Dad and Mom, then turned, dabbed her eye, and returned to her seat as the commencement continued. Gina was the camera nut when Alexis was marching across the stage, Rick was much more reserved, probably because he had a professional photographer and videographer recording every movement and word, he knew soon that memories would be all he had left of the girl that had been his life, for 18 years, but it was time.
Once the ceremony was over, Martha begged off to meet her friends, so the three of them, Rick, Alexis and Gina headed to Le Bernadin, the upscale French Restaurant they all had wanted to try for quite some time. The limo arrived and they were shown to their seats, a semi-private room with a view of a few tables, but almost completely private.
Rick and Gina both knew that Alexis had a number of parties to attend, but was attending the dinner to show respect to her parents.
"Baby Bird, Genes and I know you have at least 4 parties to go to, and as much as we appreciate you going to dinner with us, I know you would rather be with your friends."
"Alexis, this is the first night of you as an adult, Go, Baby, go enjoy and just know you call me or your Dad anytime you need something OK? You're not going to hurt our feelings, we understand, we'll just see you at home tomorrow around noon?"
Alexis's nose curled up as a huge grin came across her face, "Thanks Mom, Dad, I'll call the car service"
"John is already waiting for you downstairs, and sweetie he doesn't have to come inside the parties but please let him do his job and keep you safe, deal?" Rick asked almost in tears
"It's a deal Daddy" and she was gone after a hug and kiss for each,
"Well," Rick said,
"Well," Gina repeated,
"I really don't feel much like French tonight do you Genes?" Rick asked, taking her hand in his and dabbing the tears from her eyes,
"No. I don't how about Pisano's Rick if nothing else we can get a pizza to go," she smiled,
"Well, on one condition." He said his eyes twinkling even through the colored lenses.
"What would that be Rick?"
"Can we visit the club downstairs for a few dances, nothing crazy, I just feel like holding you tonight, and the safest place is in public" he laughed,
She leaned in and kissed him gently, "Of course, nothing I would like better than to be held by you tonight. I've missed you more than you'll ever know." As she took his hand, Rick waved off the server, and went over and shook hands, in reality, palming a tip to him.
They walked downstairs admiring the crystal chandelier that lined the ceiling above, throwing sparkles all across the stairs and floor. They heard the music as they approached the door, a tribute band that covered Journey, Air Supply, and a few other popular groups from the '80s, both of their favorite genres of music.
They were shown to a private table, only a few steps from the dance floor, but almost tucked away, no tables within earshot of their conversation. Gina looked over at Rick, as he ordered her drink from memory, a tear came to her eye, God what had happened to them, how did they drift apart so quickly. He was the sweetest man she had ever known, even now still remembering her drink.
"Thank you, Rick, I'm surprised you remembered" she blushed,
"There's not much I don't remember about you, us, perhaps that's my problem I hang on to stuff when I should just let it go." He lamented looking out
"Hey, we screwed up, me more than you, but you know what, we were able to keep our Daughter out of the fights, and still work together pretty damn well Rick, a lot more than most couples can say. You know I love you, and in my heart, I know you love me, whey we can't live together is anyone's guess.
"That's not going to change our feelings, ever OK? I'm worried about you, but I understand you well enough to know you have to do this to get her completely out of your system. I'm sorry she hurt you so badly Rick, I'm sorry I hurt you more and that."
"Why are you sorry Genes? We've been on good terms for quite a while, I mean there was the almost incident, but I really don't think you would have gone through with it, and if I had paid more attention to you, well"
"Richard Castle don't do that again, don't give me or her a free pass, I fucked up, and you're right, I probably would never have gone through with it, but the way it came out, it hurt you enough to kill our relationship, that's on me, not you.
"If I had been true, or open with you there never would have been anything for her to mess with you about, you see Love, I know you are faithful. If we were still married, she couldn't have hurt you so that's on me as well. She hurt you and why I haven't a fucking clue, after all, you had done for her, but hey, you don't need that toxic person in your life."
The band started a new set, the first song was the female lead doing a great cover of Celine's "Because You Loved Me" Gina took his hand and led him to the dance floor, "Shh enough words I want to dance, well hold you close more than anything." She said as she half pulled him up and took the few steps to the dance floor.
Gina laid her head on his shoulder, drinking in his aroma, she knew the hours were limited, she wanted to do all she could to prepare for what she knew was coming. She was humming along with the song, when he tilted her head back, kissed her gently, "sing it, Gina, I always loved to hear you sing" and then laid her head on his shoulder again.
She sang the next verse softly into his ear, it was fitting she thought,
You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you
He held her just a bit tighter and when the music ended, they turned to return to their table, but right in front of them was Kate Beckett with a good-looking man neither Gina or Rick had any idea who he was. She didn't recognize Rick, but she did Gina,
"Oh, Hi Gina, what brings you out to these parts," Kate asked, trying to be casual, as Paul fretted, his nerves showing.
"I guess the same as you, we heard the band was good and felt like some live music tonight, so here we are, what about you?
Gina's famous technique answer a question with a little fact then ask a question back, kept people thinking about how to answer rather than what to ask next.
"Yes, we were checking it out, Paul has heard them play before, but this is my first time, they're really good" She replied,
"I would agree," Gina replied without adding anything else,
Kate could see that Paul was nervous, so she said, "Well it was nice seeing you again Gina, and your gentlemen friend," she still had no clue it was Rick, as he had already turned and began to walk to their table when Kate caught that special gait in his walk. God, it was Rick, it couldn't be, it didn't look like her Rick, but that walk, she would know it anywhere.
She didn't know what possessed her to do it, but she called out, "Rick, aren't you going to say hello?"
He turned, and in a moment confirmed her suspicions, his voice was one thing he couldn't disguise,
"Hello Detective, enjoy your evening as he held his arm out to Gina", indicating he had nothing more to say to her.
Paul took her arm and gently guided her off the dance floor, she was rattled, and Paul got the picture very clearly, this was what she was trying to get over, and failing miserably. She hardly spoke a word as he escorted her out of the club into his car and drove her home. As he walked her to her door, he knew she wasn't ready, nowhere near ready to be seeing others, he kissed her gently and said, "Good Night Kate, call me when you get over this enough to at least give dating an honest effort, take care of yourself," then he was gone, another empty chapter for the Detective.
TBC