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.

Previously

"Hey, hey, you know I can't say anything, but I promise you, I'm coming home, I promise you, OK, no more tears, please? I can't stand to see you cry, God knows how many times I made those tears fall, I don't want you to worry."

"You are a jackass, I said I was going to start dating, not get married, hell, I love you, and last night I kicked myself I wanted you so badly I ache but I thought I would make it harder on you. It doesn't matter what the fucking piece of paper says, I love you Richard Castle, and if you are doing what I think you are doing then I'm going to make love to you.

"Shut up, yes I know what and how this is, please Rick don't make me beg you, I used to just have to flash you some boob or leg and you were all over me. Just like last night you wanted me, God Rick it felt so good to be wanted, to be loved by you. Let me decide if that's enough, please, now make love to me, I want to remember this day with you,"

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Chapter 18

Six Weeks Later

Somewhere in a Foreign Land

Rick's POV

Rick had been correct to worry, once he returned it was one mission after another. It seemed like someone was always trying to take the short cut to riches, selling information, or in one case weapons including surface to air missiles to the bad guys. They had encountered more than the normal resistance, meaning the bad guys had learned they were there and doing everything they could to drive them out to allow their corrupt business as usual.

Last week they have observed a mole sneak into the headquarters of one particularly ruthless group of insurgents, that wasn't the surprise. The big surprise came when they captured him on his attempt to slither back to his facilities, and when they identified him, they found the son of the second-highest-ranking military general in the theater.

He was screaming about, he would call his father, he knew people and everyone would be sorry, until Garcia, with the nod of approval from Jackson Hunt, put two bullets in the back of his head, silencing him forever. Rick had been around death before, but this close up and personal brought back some tough memories he had almost suppressed.

It was hard to believe that the father, given his rank, security clearance, and ability to influence how ground operations would shape up didn't have knowledge of at a minimum, but more likely was an active player as was his son. Jackson and three men left to confer with someone, Rick didn't know, nor did he wish to, but his faith in his fellow Americans and their loyalty took a huge hit. He understood where Garcia was coming from now, he hated to admit it, but the sawed-off little bastard was right.

Trust no one, not even yourself, and double-check that before you accept it. When he first preached it, Rick thought he was just a cynical old fart, who had watched one too many RAMBO movies, turned out he was right.

Xx

The only thing that was keeping him afloat was the calls home when he could, Alexis was looking more and more like a young woman, and Gina, well she hadn't pushed the issue since their physical interludes before he left. He mentioned something in passing about someone, and she shut him down, "not now Rick, not like this".

"We'll talk when you get home when I can hold you, and look into your eyes, not over some electronic image. Don't worry, you're still as free as you were before, but as long as you are I don't see the harm in both of us benefiting from some discussions as you used to call them" she blushed even through Facetime and had to clean it up when Alexis returned from the kitchen.

"Here Mom, you aren't keeping hydrated enough, so drink this with me please, we can't have you getting sick. Graduation is only a week and a half away." Alexis handed her a tall glass of what looked like Pedialyte mixed with orange juice.

Rick smiled, his girl taking care of her Mom,

"How's the speech sweetie, I'm sorry I'm not home to hear the ideas but I'm sure you'll find the right things to say."

"Terrible, I'm 17 years old, what the hell do I know about life, I mean I read all of these speeches by people and I realize I'm nobody in life, hell I haven't even started to live."

"Well sweetie, maybe you should focus on less daunting examples, I bet Steve Jobs didn't start off addressing Harvard when he was 17, don't be so hard on yourself. What are you afraid of baby?"

She looked into the camera, "How do you know that from so far away, well everything I know, all my friends know is changing and that scares the hell out of me."

"Then write about that, it's real and if you feel that way, I bet you there are many more who feel the exact same way. I hope to be home a few days before you graduate, things are tight, but I'm trying baby, I really am, and well I wasn't going to say anything till I got home, but I'll be home for good when I get home. My agreement has been fulfilled"

Gina and Alexis both were screaming, yelling and jumping up and down, and holding onto each other,

"Daddy, if you need to miss graduation to come home to us for good, do what you need to do, this time when you get home, no more trips like this, I mean it"

"I agree with Alexis, Rick, you've given enough, come home to us, safely, you know we both love you so very much"

"I'll be home soon, I'm scheduled out next Tuesday so when I get home, maybe we can all sneak away to the Hamptons for a few weeks, I missed you both so very much," he said, as tears came to Gina's eyes,

"Of course Rick, just get home, and we can take a few weeks, then plan on the finale of the Heat Series, I edited your original ending, I think you'll like it, but we have plenty of time for business, I love you, you big lug, just get your butt home"

It was hard for some reason to hang up, almost like he couldn't get enough of either of his ladies, finally, on the third attempt he pressed the end call as Gina's tears were almost falling, he couldn't bear to see her cry.

Things were going pretty smoothly; Garcia even began to show him some respect.

"Rogers, you're due to fly out Tuesday, right? He asked

"Yeah, you going with me?", Rick asked

"Not hardly, if you're interested you can catch the cargo plane out tonight, it'll get you home two to three days earlier, I have to say you earned it." He smiled for perhaps the first time since they met.

"Really? You must really be wanting to see me go you old fossil, but thanks for the heads up, I'm going to see if I can hitch a ride. As much as I hate to say it,"

"Then don't Rogers, just get your punk ass home where it belongs, you did good, made the old man proud of you."

Xx

It was just after 9:00 PM local time, as Rick felt the thrust of the huge jet engines push the big airplane into the sky, finally, he was going home to stay. It might have been foolish to do what he had done, but his Dad was in a bind and had always been there for him, the least he could do was repay the favor. He hated having to keep it a secret from Alexis, he knew his mother had put it together and knew exactly where he was, to her credit for once she kept quiet. His involvement had always sparked a huge fight between Martha and Jackson Hunt, better to keep it quiet.

Gina had only found out by accident, after they were married, he had gone for a physical for a life insurance policy through Black Pawn, and she had seen the scars. He told her as much as he could, but she and Martha had talked, and Rick was almost positive his Mother had sworn her to secrecy but told her the minimum history.

He was smiling as he leaned back against the side of the plane, replaying his favorite memories he had missed so much. Of course, Alexis was there, but the last time he and Gina had to say goodbye had been different, but they both knew, it couldn't work, could it?

He had his doubts now, he had been single long enough to know that the crop of single women was woefully small, well the ones that were looking for love, and not some bank account. Kate Beckett certainly wasn't an option, she certainly turned out to be a totally different person than he had imagined her to be.

Roz had a killer body, and as long as the sex continued, he knew she would make him happy, but he was past that. Ann Hasting, God she was sweet, often overlooked because of Roz, but a real beauty and built like a beauty queen as well in her own rights. The only problem with Ann, she was 10 years his junior, it might be great until he was pushing a walker, she would still be looking to go out. Yeah, the options were certainly dwindling, but hey, live life one day at a time, that's what he planned on doing.

He leaned over to retrieve his pack when he felt a thud, and saw a flash, then heard the Captain calling out,

"Keep low back there, we're taking on some heavy enemy fire, I'm trying to dig us out of here, hang on" The pilot was half yelling half speaking,

Rick could detect the panic in his voice, hell, it looked more like missals being fired rather than gunfire, He looked back to see about 15 servicemen scrambling for cover as best they could,

Before he could call out to them to back away from the engines, he heard the loud sickening sound of the explosion, felt the plane jerk, and saw bodies go flying by him, bouncing off the nearest wall as if they were toy soldiers in a kid's game of war. Then all hell broke loose, there were sounds of bullets hitting the plane, as well as loud bursts and bright flames coming from the cockpit. Somehow, he made his way up to the Captain's seat, he was dead, as was the co-pilot.

Rick pulled him out of the seat, and took two rounds in his arm and shoulder, in the process, somehow, he managed to get the one engine restarted and get far enough away from the enemy cluster to try to set the plane down. It was going to be rough, if successful at all, but all he could do was think about the two ladies who were waiting for him, the Hamptons, and getting home.

The ground came up to meet him much faster than he could control the sticks, his right arm was just hanging to his side but he somehow managed to bounce land the DC-10 between the trees and come to rest just before the land disappeared over the mountain.

He tried to look around, but the pain was too intense, all he managed to do was call out May*day 4465, May*day 4465 if any of his father's associated picked up the transmission, they would get them out of there, if not, well, then he lost consciousness.

Xx

New York, Several Hours Later

Martha Roger's Dressing Room

Martha hated to answer calls once she was in full makeup, and ready to go on, but this call had a very strange number to it, she recognized it as the father of her son, Jackson Hunt which could only mean one thing, Richard was in trouble.

"Jackson this better not be the call I think it is, or I swear to you, I will make you pay, what's going on? Where is Richard?"

"Calm down Martha, he took an earlier flight, on a cargo plane trying to get home early, I had security lined up for him but he was already gone before I found out. Long story short, the plane was shot down, Richard apparently saved the 15 crewmen by managing to land the plane between trees and stopping before it went over the mountain.

"He's hurt Martha, it's bad, he should be arriving at Walter Reid Hospital within the hour, it'd be best if you gather Alexis and Gina and get over there, I have a chopper standing by as soon as you're ready to call the number I texted you. Martha, he's my son too, I do care about him"

"You sure have a strange way of showing it, this is the second time he's been flown home all banged up if he lives Jackson, and you better pray that he does, you are not to talk to him ever again, or I'll publish every piece of information I have on you and your operation, are we clear?"

"Get over to see our son, Martha, we can fight later," and the phone went dead

Castle's Loft

3:12 AM

Gina awoke the frightening sound of her cell phone ringing, it wasn't a wrong number, it had Martha's ringtone, which meant something was wrong, seriously wrong.

"Hello Martha, what's wrong?" she got out on a rushed breath.

"Gina, I hope you and Alexis are both at the loft, are you?"

"Yes Martha, now what the hell is wrong, is it Rick? What is going on, where is he, what happened?"

"Easy darling, he's hurt, according to the information I received very badly, and will be at Walter Reid Hospital within the hour, there is a helicopter standing by to take you Alexis and I to him as soon as you can be ready."

"How? Why? God Damn it, I knew it was going too well, I'll get Alexis, and we can be ready"

She was interrupted with Alexis, "It's Daddy isn't it Mom, I'm ready now, I want to see him as soon as I can"

"Martha tell them we'll be downstairs in ten minutes and we'll meet you at the chopper. We'll pack clothes for three days and if we need more, hell we'll buy the damn things"

"Thanks, Darling, see you at the helicopter, and Gina keep strong for Alexis, he's still alive, keep thinking that."

The next few minutes were a blur, Gina throwing clothes in a bag, and Alexis doing the same thing, and finally, they were downstairs and in the limo in seven minutes, although it seemed like hours.

Gina held Alexis as she cried into her shoulder trying to reassure her, even though she felt the same sinking feeling in her stomach. Rick was hurt, God only knew how badly, and why was he going to Walter Reid, why not New York Metro? They were a Trauma One hospital? She thought of the conversation they had that day in the doctor's office, so many years ago when she was his wife."

FLASHBACK

"Rick, can you tell me anything about those scars, Baby I've been around long enough to know what surgical scars look like"

"Genes, I would if I could, but it was a different time in my life, a time where I did some things that I don't want to remember, and can't talk about even if I wanted to. It was for the good of our country is all I can tell you, and you won't find any military records in my past.

"Sweetie, I'm trying to paint a picture without getting us both in trouble, so please just accept my past as that, my past. I won't do anything to bring danger to you or Alexis, only Mother knows the story, someday perhaps it can be told, but for now, just know it's history" as he kissed her,

"Rick, I won't pry, but I have the feeling that you're leaving someone out of this, I saw pictures of you and your Dad when Martha slipped up a few months ago and brought out the wrong family album, you know who he is and what he does. I understand and won't ask again, as long as you don't go back into danger, promise me."

"I promise you Gina, as long as we're married, you're the only one I want to protect, well you and Alexis. By the way, not a word to her about this, she's always been told I was in an accident as a teenager and that's where the scars came from."

"Is that why you are always tanned, and often wear a T-shirt in the pool?" Gina asked,

"Yeah, it keeps them from being so obvious, and people from staring. I was going to have plastic surgery, but thought why?"

"You never need to hide them from me Rick, they'll be our love marks, OK?" Gina assured him with a deep kiss,

PRESENT DAY

A tear came to her eye as she recalled her Rick, so healthy, so vibrant and the two of them so much in love at the time, what the hell happened, and now, he was hurt, or worse? She held Alexis a little tighter as she fought to be strong for her daughter.

They arrived at the Heli-pad to see Martha waving and within a few minutes, they were all airborne en route to see the man they all loved, all in different ways but loved deeply.

TBC