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

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.

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Chapter 11

Saturday Evening Two Hours Later

Castle's Loft

Rick's POV

FLASHBACK TO CLUB

Gina watched as Paul escorted a clearly rattled Kate Beckett off the dance floor and out of the club, she looked like she had seen a ghost. Rick for his part, seemed the same as he was before he saw the Detective, unrattled, and completely calm.

"Are you OK Rick, would you like to leave?" Gina asked,

"Why, are you bored, or ready to go? Don't worry about Beckett, I knew sooner or later I would run into her, and this time, it didn't feel like all the other times." Rick said in a calm even voice

"How so Rick? I mean she was beautiful, her partner seemed like a nice man, certainly not a cop with the expensive suit he had on. Doesn't that bother you?" Gina asked,

"Why should it Gina, she made it more than crystal clear where she stood with me, it was me who kept trying to win something that wasn't available, and now, to answer your question, no it doesn't bother me in the least.

"In fact, I'm glad she's out there socially, it means we both moved on. I have no idea what she wrote in that letter, I guess I have to read it when I get back tomorrow, I did promise Alexis."

"Yes, you did be careful when you do that you don't fall for her lines again"

"What do you mean Genes, I don't fall for anything"

"PLEASE, I'm the one sitting there reading the fucking love letter you wrote to her as your book, hating every line, but having to do my job, and well, I'm glad to hear you say you're over her, I just hope it holds."

"Genes, we've talked about this, how about we head home for a glass of wine, and some privacy, as he noticed some paparazzi snapping away, apparently he was within earshot of Beckett when she called him Rick and figured out that he was Castle.

"Sounds good, as she leaned in and kissed him, hell if they were taking photos, why not give them, and especially one NYPD Detective something to worry about."

Xx

The next morning, Gina took a call at 5:30 AM, she jolted awake, suddenly afraid, of who was on the other end of the line,

"Alexis, baby, what's wrong? Do you need help?" Gina panicked,

"Mom, I think I want to come home but I really don't want to try to walk or call the car service alone, they'll tell Dad, Sssshhh he can't find out, I had something to drink, well a lot of somethings"

"Where are you Alexis, are you at the same place where John and the service dropped you last night, you didn't go anywhere else did you baby?" Gina was praying,

"No, John is still outside, but Mom can you come to get me, I don't feel so well," as Gina heard the all too familiar song of the eruption that usually came with drinking too much,

"I'll be right there, put a cold clothe on the back of your neck, I'm on my way." She had thrown on some clothes by the time the conversation ended, and then saw Rick smiling from the doorway,

"What? She needs me and I'm going, and don't you make it worse, I've held your head a few times buster" she leaned in and kissed him quickly,

"Here's a cup to go Genes, and Thank You for loving her so much, it means so much, more than you know." This time he pulled her into a kiss, and her toes curled but she had to get on her way.,

"Thanks, Rick, you never stopped caring, I'll be back soon, better have the downstairs bathroom cleared out, and drunk proofed," she smiled, and out the door, she went.

Xx

Sunday 4:35 AM

Kate Beckett's Apartment

Kate's POV

Kate was still upset, she had lost her composure, and in front of Paul, the nicest guy she had met in a very long time. She saw the walk, she knew that walk, hell she knew that ass, she had checked it out enough, but he looked completely different. She couldn't believe he was going to look right at her and not say a word, did he hate her that much?

She texted Paul an apology for the ending of their evening, and his response left little doubt that she had killed any hopes of moving forward with anything with him.

"Paul, so sorry I fell apart, it's a long story, one I really don't feel up to sharing yet, but I'm sorry it cost us a great evening, I did have fun, until that time. I'm still here **** Kate"

It took less than five minutes for her phone to ping with a response,

"Kate it was a great time, you're a very special lady, unfortunately, I and any guy know when the lady they are with is in love with someone else. Don't worry about this evening, it's better it happened when it did, give yourself some time to heal, for you and for the next guy who is/was willing to put himself out there again, Best of luck, I hope you get over or get with him, Paul,"

Well, you didn't have to be a detective to figure out the status of this relationship, it was DOA, even without Lanie's official COD, Kate knew it was because she felt something for a man, she badly mistreated. He called her bluff, and now she's the one that was hurting, even messing up the chance with a successful, kind, and good looking doctor.

She decided that it was a waste of time to even try to fall asleep, she got up, made a pot of coffee, and grabbed the paper from the door. She poured a cup as she opened it to the entertainment section and the pictures, she saw could have knocked her out her chair.

The man who she had not at first recognized, was indeed Rick, as he and Gina danced cheek to cheek, then a few shots of kisses that were definitely more than ex-wife or good to see you variety. The caption read Rick Castle Reinvented, Reunited with an ex-wife.

The article went on to extol how well the new look suited the best-selling author. Mr. Castle's identity was confirmed when staff heard him address his former muse Detective Katherine Beckett on the dance floor, once she called his name, after a dance.

According to sources, the only words spoken by Mr. Castle were "Hello Detective" as he walked away with his ex-wife on his arm. They were spotted leaving shortly after and Miss. Cowell did indeed spend the night with Mr. Castle, perhaps the ex- part of ex-wife will be gone soon, we will keep you posted.

She stopped reading, it was true, Gina's furniture had been moved into the loft, over Memoria Day weekend, so there was no doubt, they were back together again. She thought about the letter she had written, he had received it, she had the text with the copy of his signature, but did he read it? Hell, talk about screwups, she was the queen of them and this was perhaps some of her best work.

She changed into her running clothes, grabbed her gun and phone and took off on a run to work off some the tension that had her squirming like a worm on a hot slab of concrete. She knew she shouldn't but somehow, she couldn't stop herself from running towards the loft, rather in her normal direction.

She didn't expect to see any activity this early in the morning, but the sight of the lady with distinctive blonde hair, with her arm wrapped around the younger lady with the red hair, walking up the drive to the garage entrance stopped her as if she had run into a brick wall. Alexis, it had to be, no one had that shade of hair. She had her arm wrapped around Gina as well, almost like, hell she was her stepmother, why wouldn't she love her she chided herself.

God, the paper was right, Gina had spent the night, and now Alexis loved her as well, something she knew she would never have. The young lady literally despised her, and would always find something else to do when she visited Lanie during her internship the past year. She turned and retraced her route to the safety of her apartment, wondering how much worse could this get.

Xx

Castle's Loft

5:20 AM

Gina had arrived at the hall were Paige was having her after graduation party, and as soon as she knew her daughter was OK, just had a little too much to drink and paying for it, violently, she smiled. Thinking back to the first time she had been in the same predicament.

She gently guided her to the elevator, barf bag in hand just in case and into the limo. As soon as they arrived, she assisted her out, and decided to go up the back elevator, Alexis would be embarrassed if the front desk saw her in this condition. She noticed a jogger, out of the corner of her eye as they were walking up the short drive, but didn't pay any attention once she turned around and started running in the opposite direction.

Rick had the door open waiting for them, and helped get his little girl into the house and once the heaves stopped to the guest room on the first floor, they could hear her from there better. Once he had laid her on the bed, Gina came in and tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and heard, "Thanks Mom, I'm sorry" then she was out.

Gina walked out to see Rick bringing her a cup of coffee and her seat pulled out at the bar. "She's asleep, she's going to need it tomorrow, well later today." Gina laughed softly,

"Our girl's first hangover, well I guess that seals it, she's past pumpkin for real now," Rick said sadly,

"Hey, she didn't say never call her that again, just when you two are alone, and she'll never stop needing her Dad if that's what you're thinking, get it out of your head." Gina patted his arm,

"I know, it's just I guess I feel guilty leaving her to go away, but, I, eh"

"She understands Rick, and if it means she has her Dad in great physical shape and not slumped over his desk with a bottle of booze, she'll miss you, hell we all will, but go, get her out of your system. If this is the only way that will work for you, well, do it."

"She called you Genes, she knew she needed help and the first person she called was her Mom, that means that I can leave knowing you two will take care of each other. I don't know how long I'll be off the radar, or when I can get home, but I know now that you two will be fine. Thank you for loving her, me enough to do this,"

"You jackass, you never understood, a piece of paper never stopped me from loving you, but it did make understand, I couldn't hold your love, you tried, you really did, but something between us, well"

"Yeah, I know, two people who love each other never able to live together, but who will always do anything for the other, I know I wish I could figure it out to Genes, I really do, and I did try. I know you did as well, you did what you did in a desperate move to get me to stand and fight for our love, and well I went the other way"

"Rick, we're not going to rehash this, not on your last night at home. Just sit here, please, let me be near you, I'm worried about you. I know Alexis is as well, but she knows something else is up, she's a smart girl. Just don't be a hero. How long before you leave?"

"I have to meet someone at 4:00 PM at the private airstrip, and then I don't know. Just take care of each other, please? I'll be fine, I have been training for this for a long time." He replied as he slipped his arm around her.

They sat together not saying a word for a few hours until they heard the moaning come from the guest room, "I got this Sweetie" Gina, kissed him quickly, grabbing a bottle of water and the aspirin bottle on her way to the room where the moans were coming from.

Xx

Three hours later a very different looking Alexis joined Gina and Rick for a glass of juice and another water, she followed Gina's advice and nibbled on a piece of dry toast.

"I'm sorry Daddy, I guess everyone else was doing it so I thought, I've been good all the way through school, why not be bad once?" Alexis said holding her head

"Well, was it worth it? Did you learn anything by the experience?" Rick said calmly, as Gina had his hand in a vice grip under the table,

"Yeah I did, just because it looks cool, it isn't God I never want to be that sick again, and people do this every weekend, they have to be morons" she smiled, still holding her throbbing head

"Good, I think you learned a valuable lesson, and you're right sweetie, just because it looks cool doesn't mean it is. I am proud that you called your Mom last night, which showed maturity, so please promise to do that always. I have to leave in a few hours, so, promise me you'll be careful, OK?"

"I will Dad, I promise. You know when you can call and not worry about getting a lecture, it makes it really easy to remember, you both just want the best for me, I love you both. I'm going to lie down in my bed, I think I can get some sleep now. Daddy, call when you can, and remember we both love and need you, OK?"

"You got it, sweetie, I'll see you soon," he kissed her on the forehead and watched as she made her way up the stairs carefully and slowly.

He and Gina sat in silence for about an hour, her head on his chest, quiet tears falling until he had to leave, finally, it was time. She stood, wiped her eyes, and kissed, him, "You hurry back, you hear me"

"I will, I promise" he kissed her as if it could be the last time, perhaps it was, he had no idea. He turned and a car was waiting for him downstairs to take him to the airstrip.

He entered the back seat and was greeted, "you were almost late Richard, don't make that a habit," the voice was that of his Dad, Jackson Hunt.

"Well, now that I'm here what can you tell me what the first mission is going to be?" He asked knowing already the answer he was going to receive,

"Time and a place for everything Richard, this is not the time, nor the place." Rick could repeat those words from memory, he had heard them since the first time he had met his Dad on his 16th birthday, and Martha took him on a cruise to celebrate.

It had been a ruse, he had nowhere to go to get away so for three days, he rebelled, screamed, even tried to take a punch at the man, until he finally collapsed with exhaustion, and disappointment. He didn't understand the reasons WHY that he received, and he still hated his Dad, his mother as well for hiding it from him. The years had softened the hate, and even though he still resented the fact he was kept in the dark, he had forgiven them both. The damage to his relationship with his mother, well things would never be as they once were.

They arrived at the small airfield, and he immediately fell into line with a familiar face, Garcia was there.

"Well pussy, let's see if my training will keep you alive, here are your orders." He barked, and left,

They were headed for a destination in Afghanistan that the entire world knew was a hotbed. Their mission rescue 5 agents trapped and running low on supplies and ammunition. The cover story was he was part of a group flying supplies into the storm-ravaged area of South America.

"Richard, I'll see you when you get back, don't do anything stupid like get yourself killed, your Mother would kill me next, see you in three weeks," and walked away.

So, it began, operation forget Beckett, except for one small item, her letter was in his backpack. He would read it, what the hell, nothing better to do for a few hours.

TBC