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

When they broke apart, he held her with his good arm and she placed her head on his good shoulder, till he finally said, "Do you want me to address the elephant in the room since I know you won't"

She never moved her head, clinging to him, so thankful he was there to hold, even for a moment. "What elephant in the room is that Rick?"

"When do we go back home, and the bigger question, what do we do with the Detective? I don't want to be rude or ungrateful, but I think I heard enough in her synopsis of what happened, I really don't want to live through the ordeal again/"

"One thing at a time Rick, let's make the plans to get you home, line up whatever treatment you're going to need, by the way, I'm not moving out of the loft regardless of who you bring over, at least not yet. Once you're home and get back on your feet, well you'll feel like dealing with Kate. She does love you, but I really think, well you'll know what's right, you always do." She kissed him again, so happy that she had this moment, he trusted her more than anyone, and Alexis picked up on the fact quickly. This was one time Dad needed Mom to help him, now what to do with the Detective, indeed.

*********************************************************************************/

Chapter 25

Castle's Loft

6 Weeks Later

Rick's POV

Rick, Gina, and Alexis had just walked in the door from the day Rick had been waiting for since he woke, to find his arm and shoulder in casts. Today they came off, and the first therapy session began, as light as it was, it still hurt like hell, and Rick realized this wasn't going to be like taking two aspirins and calling the doctor in the morning. This would require work to get his dexterity back, he would need both hands to type whatever new character he came up with. Gina had reworked the mess he had sent to her as the finale of the Nikki Heat series when he was, well away.

"Dad, here take your pain pills and don't try to be a hero, the doctor said to take them AS NEEDED and it would actually speed healing," Alexis handed him two of the capsules and a cold bottle of water,

"Thanks, Sweetie, I know, I just don't want to get hooked on them, baby, you know, *"

"Richard, you won't get hooked on pain pills if you take them every 4-6 hours to manage the pain, the doctor didn't give you a 30-day supply, you only have two weeks IF you follow the directions." Martha had arrived to put her foot down; she was still rattled with how close she had come to losing her only son.

"Yes Mother," Rick said as Gina smiled, knowing that Rick wouldn't fight her, he loved her far too much to disrespect her in any way. That was one of the qualities of him she loved the most, his respect not only for his Mother and Daughter but a woman in general.

Alexis whispered something to Gina, and then Rick found Gina's arms around his waist leading him to the bedroom, "Come on sweetie, might as well change into some loose and comfortable clothes, maybe even take a nap, you know the doctors don't want you to exhaust yourself." She smiled up at him,

"But I get lonely all by myself, make you a deal, I will if you will" he rolled his eyebrows, Alexis cue to find something pressing to do in her room, as she saw them kiss. They had slept together, meaning sleeping since late the first night home when Gina who was in the guest room, heard Rick calling out in agony or fear, or both, from a realistic dream. She rushed to his room, and just beat Alexis who had jumped the last landing of stairs to get to her Dad.

It took a while to get him calm down, it was the first panic attack Alexis had ever seen her Dad have, and the sound of his voice screaming out in agony sent chills down her spine.

"Mom, please don't leave him alone again, he's still shaking," she said to Gina,

"No sweetie, I won't I'm moving in here, as of now, and I don't care what anyone says, I almost died hearing him and knowing he was going through that alone, again. I promise baby, I'll be here right with him." She was comforting both Alexis and Rick, finally, the young lady saw her Dad calm down as Gina held him, whispering soft and low to him, rubbing his back gently, and just reassuring him that he wasn't alone and that it was just a dream. She slipped back upstairs to leave her parents, alone to work it out.

"I'm sorry Genes, I mean I woke the whole house up with a stupid dream, I'm sorry I scared the hell out of you and Alexis." Rick looked at her with his eyes almost full of tears, and fear still showing in them.

She took his hands in hers, and kissed his eyes gently, then the top of his nose, then his lips gently, and pulled him into her just holding him. "Rick, I'm sorry I wasn't here, but it was a bad dream, that's all, we're all safe, we're back home in New York. Why don't you lay with me for a while, just let me hold you, God I missed this so very much, as she nibbled at his lower lip as the lay facing each other, her arms wrapped tightly around him.

The nibbling on his lower lip got his mind off of the dream, and on to other things, not that either were ready to make that leap, but spooning and cuddling were high on both of their lists of things to do for gratification. She stared into his eyes, not breaking the view, as she gently nibbled, then kissed him until he was limp in her arms and back asleep. Even then she wouldn't let go of him, she had failed so badly when she was his wife to be there for his vulnerable moments, she wasn't going to fail again.

When she heard the gentle snore and his lips purse ever so slightly, she moved him gently so his weight wouldn't be on his recently broken shoulder, she pulled him close, his head resting on her chest, and he was calm. She must have fallen asleep for a while, she jerked awake to find his two blue eyes staring at her, even though the only light was from a bathroom nightlight, his eyes sparkled and she could tell he was happy.

"Hey There, gorgeous" he greeted, "have a good nap?" He asked

"Always, when I can feel you or smell your fragrance on my clothes, it just calms me. Some nights when you were gone, I would spritz some of your cologne on your pillow and just lay on the bed and hold it, pretending it was you, stupid I know. Especially since we were divorced three years ago, and well I*"

Rick took one finger and placed it gently over her lips, to quiet her, "Shh, we don't need to go into that, and what is it anyway besides a piece of paper. The last time I left here, I didn't think of you as an EX wife, if I'm being honest, we made love Genes, and you know how long it takes me to let my guard down. It was one of our problems, I kept expecting you to act like Kyra or Meredith, and I screwed up, not letting you in, especially to Alexis. It turned out she chose you for her Mom and I was overruled anyway."

"Rick, you remember all that, Sweetheart, that's incredible, I mean is anything else coming back to you, or how can I help?"

He didn't say a word, all he did was waggle his eyebrows and she replied, "Be right back," she double-checked that his office and bedroom doors were locked, she loved Martha, but she was one nosey bitch, that's the only way she could put it.

"Are you sure Rick, I mean do you need your pain pills, sweetie," as he had her bra half off, and was already sending shivers up and down her spine, licking gently on her nipples God he never forgot what she needed.

"No Pain pills, not yet, maybe later OK?" he mumbled through the kissing, and once again, he sent her over the moon, and made the parade march three times before she grabbed him and placed him where she needed relief,"

Finally, she lay on top of him as he gently caressed her back, and buttocks, pulling the sheet up when he noticed her chill bumps, she was in heaven and if you asked him, he was right there with her.

"Rick?" she asked tentatively,

"Yeah sweetie, right here" he replied pulling into him tightly,

"Was this too soon, I mean I don't want to force myself on you, and impede your decision, you still owe Kate a lunch, that's the least you can do."

"I know Genes, but please, let's enjoy what we have right now, that wasn't sex and we both know it, that was almost as good as my sendoff the last time I was home"

"Only almost? Where did I let you down sweetie, what didn't I do?" she leaned up to see him with a huge smile on his face, knowing he got her,

"Oh, you wait, you will pay for that, and it was as good or better for me, can you hold me a little while longer Rick"

"Not going anywhere Genes, I enjoy the afterglow as much as you do, I love to see your face relax and your breathing smooth out, knowing I have pleasured my woman."

He looked down and she was out cold on his chest, her beautiful breasts glistening from the activity and body fluids, he covered her gently, kissed her forehead and closed his eyes to some of the best sleep he had in months.

Xx

Kate's POV

Kate had been sent away, back to her room as Rick and Gina discussed, the future, it was pretty clear that she wasn't going to say I'm sorry, bat her eyes, and get him back drooling after her. Why should he? Rick didn't remember the hurt which meant he didn't remember the flirtations, and sexual innuendo, the times she had perhaps suggested something more than she was willing to commit to.

The plans to return to New York had been made by Gina and Rick, then presented to the Doctor when she was present at the family meeting, she knew they had discussed it with Martha and Alexis since neither seemed surprised with the news. The doctors were in approval once Rick had passed some strength tests, he had to be able to make three laps around the hospital floor.

His first attempts fell far short, but he got motivated and worked, and within two weeks he was walking on his own, without assistance with a cane, walker, or human. She visited his room, for the next week after the letter, but he either was asleep or feigned sleep during her time with him. It was almost like something changed, he was polite, but made it clear he really didn't want to hear any more about the two years they worked together.

Gina was very attentive to him, almost taking over as the wife role she once had, with the blessings from both Martha and Alexis. On the flight home, of course, it was a chartered private jet, Gina, was worried about someone bumping into Rick's injured shoulder, she was the one who took care of helping Rick on the plane, and made sure he wanted for nothing.

Kate hated to admit it, but she could see the love in Gina's eyes, and literally everything she did, she always put Rick first. They had a discussion of what would happen now that they were returning to New York. Kate had volunteered to stay with Rick while Gina and others were away or taking care of other things, which fell on deaf ears, almost like she had never said a word.

Martha did ask Kate to come to visit the family at the Loft, perhaps have dinner or a few meals with them, if she wasn't too busy once she returned to work. Her reputation of being in love with the job apparently hadn't been lost on the elder lady, who really didn't mince words or the implication of Kate's past behavior.

She felt lost, to be so close to the man she knew she loved, to witness the dismissal of any attempt she would make to do anything to prove to him she had changed, simply dismissed with the motion of a hand going into the stop gesture.

To make matters even worse, the psychologist had suggested that Rick NOT be introduced to the other players at the 12th precinct unless he specifically asked to meet them. The doctor was afraid of information overload, causing him to regress, no progress in regaining memories on his own. She was still feeling the sting of being alone, totally alone from when the private plane landed.

FLASHBACK TO ARRIVAL AT NY

Janice, Rick's private pilot had announced they would be landing in less than ten minutes, and to prepare for touch down, adding a personal statement.

"Rick, I know you hate the seat belts darling, but it's the law, Gina can you sort of hold it across the cast, so it won't cut into him and cause him pain? Oh hell, you probably already are babying him to death anyway and laughed, we'll see you at touch down."

Martha, Alexis, and Gina laughed, when Janice finished her announcement, Gina was cradling Rick's seatbelt with her one arm, she had placed pillows in front and behind his shoulder, and was fussing over him like a mother hen.

"Looks like Janice knows you both so well Mom and Dad," Alexis said so comfortably,

"Well, she knows your Dad sweetie, he always tries to hide the fact his seatbelt isn't fastened, but she usually catches him, then turning her head to whisper to Alexis, or I turn him in" as they laughed,

The touch down and landing were one of the smoothest that Kate had ever experienced, yet Gina was there fussing over Rick, asking him,

"Are you OK Sweetie, I know that hurt, I'm so sorry," as she took the pillows from behind his back looking at no one but Rick.

"It's fine Gina, it really doesn't hurt that much, I mean it hurts but hey nothing to what I felt before" reminding everyone just how close to death he had come. Gina's tears fell, and it was Rick who was comforting her,

"Hey, hey, I told you I would come home, see I'm home, we're home, we're all home, everything will be fine now, so please no more of these." As he wiped her tears away with the handkerchief, he always seemed to have ready.

"I'm sorry Rick, I didn't mean*"

"Mom it's fine like Dad said, we're home, well will be soon, and then you can actually believe this ordeal is over and you get some rest. I know you have been going non-stop so Mom, please Dad's fine, we're all fine, time for you to take it easy" as the young lady assisted her out of her seat, and then helped get Rick out to the aisle.

Kate had already walked down the stairs and stood to wait, as first Martha, then Alexis, finally followed by Rick and Gina walking down together. Mother Hen would be an accurate description of how Gina was treating Rick, it struck a nerve with her, but hey she had no right to feel anything. She was fortunate to have been included in the treatment as long as she was.

"So, what is the plan next Rick?" Kate asked when they finally arrived in earshot.

"Well, I have doctor's appointments, when I have no idea, Gina and Alexis are handing that for me, and I need to try to finish the Nikki Heat series finale, not sure how that's going to go. Other than that, not much, the doctors were pretty stern when they told me to take it easy. How about you detective, back to work as usual?"

"Yeah, I called and told them I would be in the day after tomorrow, so I guess it's back to business as usual, I was hoping to maybe convince you to have lunch one day when you feel up to it, I mean not right away, but when or if you want to" Kate stumbled over her words,

That request earned her a death glare from Alexis, a shy smile from Gina, and a look of what the hell from Martha. Those were bad enough but Rick's reply didn't leave her with much hope.

"We'll see Detective, I think I heard enough about the past few years, I don't want any more refreshers during that time period, but Mother has invited you to dinner when you can make it with your work schedule" He replied as Gina pulled him just a little tighter, sending the message loud and clear, whose turf she was stepping on.

"Thanks, I'll call and be sure to keep in touch, thanks again, I really appreciate you all allowing me to be part of this, plus paying, I mean are you sure I can't kick in my share"

"Nonsense Katherine, it's all covered, do keep your word and stay in touch. We've arranged your limo to take you home or wherever you wish, this one is yours, John is pulling up now for our family car" Martha said, ending all hopes of keeping anything going today, just as well she was tired and knew Rick had to be in pain, even as much as he tried to hide it.

She stepped into her limo and gave the driver her home address, she would keep herself busy until time to head back to the precinct. Rick was alive, mostly intact, if you didn't consider the two years of repressed memories of their time together, maybe it was better this way. She knew he would be hurt all over if the memories were regained, so yeah, it was better. She would just be as much a part of his life that his family would allow, or until he remembered the reason, he put himself in harm's way to forget her and the hurt she caused. She didn't hold out much hope for anything more.

TBC