If Only
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Thisis my AU version of an alternate ending to Love and Die in LA. Some Angst, some canon but mostly AU. All things are the same till the Gantz ending, Previously notes courtesy of Dust Jackets dot com.
I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only
A/N No comments on the Dollar Amounts for Darlene, purely made up with no thought, so go with it please.
Chapter 8
Previously
"Chica, we have a situation. Captain Montgomery just called Ryan and I into his office and showed us this morning's paper, and Lanie, it's Rick and he's with another woman in Vegas."
"What? I was over at her apartment yesterday, apparently, she had sent him a text asking him to call her, guess something got started in LA but she did her usual Running job. We need to talk with Ryan and form a plan but not over the phone."
"Captain told us to go check out a lead in Beckett's building so he's cutting us some slack, but Lanie, if she comes back acting like she did when Gina showed up last summer, Roy is going to fire her, she's pushed the limit."
Outside Beckett's Door
11:00 AM Local Time
Lanie, Espo and Ryan stand outside Kate's apartment, the nerves are running high for all as they know how Kate can be if she feels she is being attacked. They all agreed, the one, the only objective of today's meeting, intervention if you wanted to call it, was to insure Kate was prepared to return to work without causing anymore self-inflicted pain that could cost her a very illustrious career with the NYPD if she were not careful.
Lanie raises her hand and cautiously knocked,
"Who is it?" Beckett calls out with a raspy voice,
"Kate, it's Lanie, Javi and Kevin we need to talk to you for a few minutes, open the door or I'm going to use my key"
"Lanes, I'm fine, you can go away, I already saw the paper."
"We're not going away till we talk to you Kate, we can do it the easy way or hard way, your choice," Kevin has suddenly become the assertive one.
They wait and a few minutes they hear the door lock turning, and then the door opens to a disheveled Kate Beckett, with a robe thrown over her night clothes.
"OK you guys are here, come on in, I can guess where this is coming from,"
"What'd you mean Kate?" Javi asks low,
"Everyone see's the pics of Castle then thinks poor Beckett is going to fall apart and do something stupid, maybe even hurt herself, so we better get over there and hold an intervention."
"Nope, not even close Kate, and I'm surprised at you trying to use that pity party routine on us, hell Javi and I almost invented it if you remember" Kevin said with a tone in his voice she had not heard before
"You see Captain Montgomery saw the pictures, called us in then we called Lanie, it's not that he's afraid you did something to hurt yourself, well yet, he's afraid you're going to return to work acting like Super Bitch, his words not mine, like you did last year when Gina walked away with Castle.
We never knew it, and it was none of our business but Cap said he had to send you home a couple of times, and if you come back acting the same way after what happened in LA it could and will probably cost you your job." Javi is staring at her, noticing her bloodshot eyes from crying, the half empty box of tissue, and the novels written by Rick scattered around the couch.
The words could and will probably cost you your job hit her like a cold shower, as she jerked back to a semblance of the confident Kate Beckett that had left the station just a few days before.
"Do you think that I acted like Super Bitch Javi? Do you think I have any reason to be upset with anyone other than myself? Don't you all know what I just threw away?" and gone was the brash, take no prisoners cop that had started the dialogue so confidently, as Kate broke down sobbing tears like the boys had never seen before, not even at Royce's death.
Lanie hugs her, "Kate have you tried anything we talked about or did you see the pictures and sentence yourself to the death chamber for any love from Castle? You guys are the worst two humans on this earth in communicating, and don't give me I tried bullshit.
Kate sending two texts and calling a few times doesn't spell out I'd go to the end of the world to prove my love for you, Girl you have to make him at least hear you, even if he doesn't believe it at first."
"Kate, we pulled all footage that we could get, favor from a buddy of mine and you know what we haven't seen, (Javi pauses) A Kiss, not one fucking kiss Kate, come on you and Demming got it on hot and heavier in the stairway that Rick has with this lady."
Whatever result Esposito was striving for he got a reaction from Kate that proved she was still a fighter, "That's none of your God Damn Business Espo, if I wanted to Fuck him in the break room, that's between me and him, and how did you know about the kiss anyway, let me guess, Castle"
"Kate, Rick never said a word, he left that night with a tear in his eye and I made the comment, hope nothing is wrong at home since he didn't waste anytime in getting out of there. LT heard what I said and told me what he, and Castle saw, so no Rick didn't spread anything and why do you always do that.
You fuck up and it's Castle's fault. You don't see eye to eye on something and you push him away, again all his fault, What the hell do you expect a guy to do and for how long Kate. To be honest, and I love you, but had it been me, I would have dropped your ass a year ago," Javi glares at her
OK, OK, everyone can tell me what I didn't do right, someone tell me how to get him back, what do I do now?
"That depends Kate, How badly do you want him back and in what capacity, your ride along partner who is good for theory, or do you want to finally admit to yourself what we already know, you love the dude.
If you love him, then you have to decide IF you're willing to give up EVERYTHING, to get him back? If you say yes, and please think about it for a few minutes, that means everything Kate, making him the number one in your life, not second behind a case, or a memory." Ryan again surprises her with his frankness, and willing to let it go.
"OK, you all know I love him, more than I ever thought I ever could, and when he left me in LA to fly home alone, I was crushed. He was so polite, and then the few texts we've exchanged, he made it clear that he knew that I didn't feel the same as him, and he needed to move on. So, what do I do?"
"Fly to him, pretty obvious to me, he's not going to answer phone calls, and you've made so much progress in texting. Hell, you have time left on your suspension, prove to him you are in this to stay. Do what he would do had the roles been reversed, he never gave up till last week." Javi states openly.
"Kate, I swear, I haven't said a word to the guys about the texts, they pulled this from just the conversation, and they're right. Do what Rick would do, keep showing up until you know for sure the love for you is really dead." Lanie rolls her eyes
"Hey Kate, what did Rick give you for Christmas last year, wasn't it a gift certificate for flight and hotel of your choice?" Kevin asked
It came rushing back to her now, the day he was so excited like a little boy for her to open her present, and she dashed his hopes by saying "Thanks Castle, I don't take vacations," what a bitch she's been.
"Yeah, yeah it was Ryan, and don't remind me how I crushed him with what I said. Besides he thinks I used that when Josh and I went to Bermuda for a long weekend, when Josh used his points."
"Well, first thing is NEVER mention Dr. Vermin again, around us, or, especially Castle. That time in your life I swear I wanted to kill you, you were cruel, absolutely merciless to Rick, and through it all he kept smiling, like I said I would have dropped your ass then and there." Javi wasn't pulling any punches.
Ryan had been fiddling with his phone, "Kate, the Cosmopolitan accepts that certificate, and there is a nonstop to Las Vegas leaving tomorrow at 1:00 PM EST. With the time difference you arrive there at 2:15 PM local time, it's up to you, time to either go get what you want or learn to take nice pills when you come back to work, or you won't have a job or a love in your life."
"What's with everyone, why is everyone pushing me to go to Castle,"
"Gee, maybe it's because we care about you and you look about as happy as a Politician outside the Pearly Gates, what's it gonna be, time for you to commit girl. I'm tired of your Bull Shit" now it was Lanie's turn to zing her.
"Leave the information will you Kevin, I have to find the certificate, and do some more thinking, I'll make the reservation tonight if I can find everything."
"Kate, I agree with Lanie, it stops here, we have done all we can do in what did you call it, the Intervention. Now it's your turn, it seems like everyone of us, especially Castle has made every human attempt to get you two together, now the ball's in your court. Oh, and Kate, fuck this up, and you will be on your own, we all agreed no more enabling you to be the victim. I'm sorry but that's the way it's gotta be. Come on we're out of here" as Javi heads toward the door.
Lanie pulls her in for a tight hug, Kevin glances at her, but then in a moment the door closes, and she is left alone, with her thoughts and dreams. Kate thought to herself, maybe they're right, maybe if I did go to him it would at least show him I am serious about him, she got busy booking the flight and hotel for the next day.
Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas
EggSlut Restaurant
9:30 AM Local Time Same Day
Rick was still laughing at Darlene's expression when she saw the name of the restaurant.
"Rick, not that I'm complaining, more curious, who in their right minds would name their restaurant with the word Slut in it, I mean that doesn't send a good message."
"You're absolutely correct, but somehow it caught on there's a slew of them now throughout the valley, I guess they wanted to be different, well, they accomplished that."
The food was served promptly, and the coffee was excellent, making Darlene forget her reaction to the name of the restaurant. After they were finished eating, Rick looked at her and said,
"Darlene, I think we need to talk, do you feel up to taking a ride up the canyon so we can relax and talk in private" as he noticed a paparazzi just as Security confiscated his camera and two burly guys were dragging him from the hotel grounds.
"That sounds serious Rick, did I do anything or say anything t*"
"Relax, I just want to run some project ideas by you, I want you to fully buy in with any involvement with Wayne, since I won't do anything that will hurt you. We need to talk but not here, OK?"
The relief rushes back into her face, "Sure, I'm up to it, let me grab a heavier coat, it's a lot colder up there than some think."
"Great, I'll do the same and meet you outside the elevators on my floor, in say 15 minutes, that give you time?
"Perfect, but you aren't getting out of walking me to my door Mr. Castle, you started something and I really like being treated like the lady."
"I'm surprised you even thought I would shirk my opportunity to escort my beautiful Lady friend to her door, I enjoy it as well. I know we're just friends, and have a long way to go, but I love the envious looks I get from other men" as Rick's deep baritone laugh booms out.
Darlene blushes, "You know I wasn't going to admit it, but I like when other women give me dirty looks when I'm on your arm, you make me feel special. You're right, we have a long way to go to get past the friend zone, but for now you're my best friend, and I hope I'm yours"
Rick looks at her with his eyes rolled up, "Don't ever doubt even for a second, of course you are" as he holds his arm out and escorts her out of the restaurant in the direction of the elevators.
Red Rock Canyon
Park Grounds 90 minutes later
Rick had rented a Mercedes to ride in style and comfort, and as he assisted Darlene into the car, he confessed,
"I used to get the hottest sports car, jag, Ferrari anything I could, but I realize now I'm too old to be acting like a teenage boy out on a first date"
Darlene starts to laugh, she turns her head from Rick and every time she looks at him, she laughs harder.
"Hey, a guy could get his feelings hurt like that, you know" he pretend pouts
"I'm sorry Rick, I could just see a mental picture of you through the years as a teen up to white hair and a walker being helped into a hot car cruising looking to pickup chic's, I bet you'll be the stud of the nursing home someday" as she laughs aloud again.
Rick smiles then the nursing home comment hits him and he looks deflated,
"Oh, Rick I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I'm only 4 years behind you so it's not like you're robbing the cradle for this ride"
Rick smiles, "No you didn't hurt my feelings, it just dawned on me how much time I have spent on this earth, and since no one's tomorrows are guaranteed, I don't want to waste one more minute of what Might have Been"
They arrive at a beautiful park, the air was crisp but the sun was warm so they set up at a large picnic table, of course Rick had his connections make up a picnic basket for them, that man she thought, how could anyone be that considerate.
"Darlene, what we talk about today is just some ideas I have, and if you have any objection at anytime or feel uncomfortable with how things are going, just stop me, please"
"I will, I promise Rick, and if you're uncomfortable talking about Wayne, don't be. Yesterday was good for us both, I know he loves me, just there is someone that he loves more and even though it's not traditional, if he's happy, I'm happy for him. I got closure yesterday, so Thank You for being my rock"
"I'm glad to hear that, since Wayne and I spoke briefly, and he promised to save some time for us after the 12th, that's next Tuesday so we have time to walk through this. I heard you say you wanted to do something to help others, then I heard Wayne's suggestions, do you remember them?"
"I'm sorry, I don't I mean my head was swimming all over the place and God it was awful the reporters yelling those rude questions."
"I thought so, Wayne suggested you could use some of your new-found fortune to help the homeless US Veterans or help with the runaways and other young girls being turned out to the prostitution trade every year here in Vegas. Both fantastic causes.
I have been searching for some project I can use my connections to wealth back in New York with, and since I can write from anywhere, I planned on moving to Vegas as soon as Alexis leaves for college. I think she's going to Stanford, or Oxford, either way New York is going to be lonely for me.
I have a connection to some of the military brass, from a former life so I'm sure I can get support from them. The runaways could be as simple as providing a clean place for the girls to run to, IF we can't convince them at the bus station or airports when they arrive.
There are hundreds of young people ready to volunteer and just be present, no pressure and pass out the contact information to them IF they can't get them out of the idea, they are going to be a Movie Star and a millionaire"
"Rick, that sounds like a fantastic Idea but I have no idea of how I can help, I don't even know what the settlement from Wayne will be."
"Once again, and please forgive me for sticking my nose into your business, but Wayne uses the same firm as I do for Financial Planning, I had them, with Wayne's permission run a scenario with you using only 5% of what you will be receiving, the figures are here, and I swear, I never looked at them," as he hands her a FedEx overnight envelope addressed to her in Care of Mr. Castle.
She looks at him, without saying a word, Rick begins to worry that now he has really gone too far, so he starts to say
"Rick, if you start to apologize, I'm going to hit you, and I mean hard. I always wanted to help, there were days I struggled, and I mean bad to the point I could have been one of those girls. God if I could help just one person get their life on track, I would be happy," as her fingers opened the envelope, removed the contents, and then almost fainted. Rick rushed to her to hold her up not looking at the document.
"Darlene, take a sip of water, breath deep, OK good, now again, OK, are you OK Now?"
"Yeah, but look at this, I mean I knew Wayne was wealthy, but I never asked or cared. This shows I'm worth $25 million dollars, I can't believe that, it can't be right."
"Well, it's not correct, remember I told you I asked them to run the figures based on 5% of your worth, that would make you worth, $500 Million." This time she does faint into his arms.
TBC