Dropped Call
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Castle missed his going away party because something unexpected came up and the Castle/Gina/Hamptons thing didn't happen etc. Castle assumes Beckett is with Demming and goes off the grid for several months. Would our favorite couple ever reconnect? From a prompt from Kato769. NOTE: AU not canon
I don't own Castle, I use the characters for amusement purposes only
Chapter 3
Previously
"Actually, I live over an hour away, so I'm going to be bunking in the back room for treatment, so I don't have to impose"
"Trey, I know you don't know me, and we just met, but I have a two Bedroom Suite at the Orion Hotel, you are more than welcome to use one of the rooms, I can even have the key cards changed to protect you, if that would make you feel safer, and you can check my references at the hotel, I just don't want you to have to worry about where you're going to stay during treatment."
Trey blushes, and replied, "Why are you being so nice, I mean you don't know me at all, I could be the criminal, and you invite me into your place, Why?"
Orion Hotel
Toronto Canada One Hour Later
"Rick, I don't mean to rush you, I have enjoyed talking to you, but we better head off to the hospital, we don't want to be late for the first day."
"Of course, I have a car waiting for us, downstairs"
"Rick, it's only three blocks, why do we need a car?"
"Because we have no idea of how we're going to feel and how long our sessions will last tonight, and I want to be sure we have enough energy fighting the cancer, not walking"
"That's really sweet of you, but you are going to run out of money if you keep spending like this, I can share the expense I mean I have a little saved up?"
"Trey, I realize Health Care is different here than in New York, but there is still the fact you are going to be losing time at work, so let me take care of it, there's no additional expense on my part whether it's one or two, OK?"
University Medical Center
Toronto Ontario
They share the ride to the hospital, and enter the main hall together, it was a comfort to know that Trey was by his side, going through something very similar, and hopefully he could help her as well.
The session starts off with a slide presentation showing the general process of how cells are coaxed into fighting cancer cells within a patients own body, rather than the Rat Poisoning, and Radiation the kills both good and cancerous cells and wreaks havoc on the entire body, which when the next slide comes into focus, it was the typical regimen of Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments which are the conventional manner of treatment.
Rick can tell that Trey is upset so he gently takes her hand into his and pats the outside of their joined hands in a reassuring manner. He expected her to pull away, but instead she places her other hand on top of his, and gently squeezes an appreciative thanks. The speaker has reached the end of his part of the presentation, so there is a 15-minute break and punch and cookies were being served in the back of the room. Rick excuses himself and returns with two cookies for Trey and a glass of punch, for each of them.
"No Cookies for you Rick?" Trey asks as her beautiful eyes say Thank You.
"No, the doctor wants me to drop 5-10 pounds and I'd like to think I had something to do with it before the treatments kick in."
"Wow, I never knew that conventional treatments were so harsh on the body," Trey whispers,
"I know, I went to school with my Oncologist, one of my best friends, and he suggested this trial, he knew I wouldn't tolerate the conventional treatment."
"So, who knows you are here Rick, besides your Doctor, anyone left at home to worry about you?" she asks quietly.
"Well I have a daughter who is a Senior in High School but is away at Princeton for 6 weeks, and my Mother is an actress performing in London for Summer Stock, but neither do or can know I'm here, how about you?"
"Just my little brother, you saw him at the restaurant, he's the one that played along with your joke, his name is Jacques, but we call him Jack. I noticed you said daughter, her mother is not in the picture, and please feel free to ignore me if I get too personal"
"No, that's fine, Alexis is my daughter, and it's been just us two since she was 4 months old, her Mom choice an acting career over motherhood, and her casting director over her husband so it's just us. Mother moved in last year after getting taken by her boyfriend for her life's savings, then he was gone, but she is more like a ghost, we never know when she is going to be home" he laughs.
"You can't tell me that a beautiful women like yourself is single?"
"Recent development, I was married for 3 years, till I lost the baby and we found the cervical cancer, so it was too much for my ex, so he's out of the picture now, divorce was final 11 months ago."
"Trey, I'm so sorry, I didn't know I should have kept my big mouth shut."
"Hey, it was me that started the 500 questions not you, anyway I'm better without him, he cheated on me, and didn't like to work so he's someone else's problem now.
To be honest, the only reason the marriage last that long was I'm catholic and my Mom was alive till last year, so if I filed oh my God, now I am free of the jerk and Mom isn't here to witness the mortal sin," she laughs
The session begins again, and now the women are separated from the men, as each disease, Prostate and Cervical cancers are explained in greater detail to each group. Rick was impressed by the level of detail, the scientists had included and how simplistic they had made the concept, easy to understand a very complex issue they would be undergoing starting tomorrow at 7:00 AM.
The session for the women ran a little longer so Rick took the opportunity to check his voice mails on his regular cell via the Cloud, there were the usual ones from Gina, and one from Paula wishing him luck, then a couple of hang ups from Beckett, then WOW, did he get an earful. The nicest comment she made was he was a fucking weasel who had inserted himself into her life, and he couldn't even make it back to a surprise party the boys worked so hard on, and he spoiled her surprise as well, then the message cut off as she filled the space with vulgarity, and just nasty vile comments.
He had been so surprised and shocked with Kate's outburst, and how she really felt about him, he didn't see Trey walk up in front of him till she took his hand.
"Hey Roomie, you ready to head home, sorry our session ran long,"
"No Problem, just checking voice mails, and trying to keep my head above water back in New York"
"Yeah, I bet Gina Cowell is all over your butt to finish the next novel before you start the intense treatments isn't, she?"
"Trey, you knew, when how, I mean"
"Rick your VIP card in the suite says Rick Castle Best Selling Author, not Rick Rogers but I understand."
"Are you sure, because I didn't lie to you, my name is really Richard Rogers, especially for all of this Medical stuff, I just have to be careful, I'm sorry."
"Hey, it's OK, let's get back to the room and compare notes, I got to be back at 7:00 so I hope you do as well"
"Yep I sure do, so let's get to the room, order room service now that we can eat till midnight, then we can talk, about the real stuff, OK?"
She surprises him by stepping up on her tip toes and kissing him on the cheek, "You're just too darn nice Rick, sounds perfect."
Meanwhile Back in NYC
Beckett's Apartment
9:00 AM Same Day
Beckett wakes with one of the worst hangovers and headaches she has had in years. She has vague glimpses of what she did once she got home, and the empty vodka bottle laying on the floor in front of her couch, her still dressed in yesterday's work clothes, and he phone lying open on the floor are good clues to figure out what the hell she had done.
Just as she is about to pick her phone up, it rings with Lanie's ring tone.
"Girl are you awake yet, you called me at 4:00 in the morning telling me how much of a douche bag Castle was and you were going to call his cell back and leave him a piece of your mind, even if it was on voice mail. Please tell me you didn't do that Kate, because if you did, we may never hear from Rick again."
"I don't know Lanes, I may have, I don't remember too much, I do remember calling his land line and the Son of a bitch has me blocked, do you believe that he blocked my calls."
"Yeah Kate, I can believe it, and girlfriend, I would have blocked you too, you and Demming making him look like a fool the last few weeks, it was embarrassing for me to watch, How could you be so cruel Kate,"
"I don't know if I was as bad as you guys are making it out to be, I mean yeah, we kidded him, but**
"Bull shit Kate, Tom took it way too far over the line and you let him, why do you think Montgomery is so pissed, he heard half of what you and that Asshole were saying. He was waiting for you to stop it, to act like the lead detective you are, and to protect your partner, but that never came, so yeah, Roy is pissed, and he should be."
"Lanes, truthfully, did we, make that was I that bad to Castle? I mean I may have shown Tom off a few times, but I really just wanted to make him jealous, not chase him away."
"Kate, between you and Demming, you were worse, Tom could be partially excused since he was trying to be the knight in shinning armor to steal your heart, he took it to far, but you let him. Then you added your own little snide comments, and what was that shit about necking with Tom in the staircase? I saw it and you initiated it, did you think that would bring Castle running to you professing his love?"
"I fucked up didn't I Lanes, Big Time, then I broke up with Tom, well at least he won't be used any more if there is any positive to that, but God, I have to fix this. He's been angry at me before, but he's never blocked me from his landline, or sent me to voice mail repeatedly on his cell, I don't know how to fix this."
"Have you tried to talk to him, and I don't mean on the phone, especially after you had a few drinks, do you remember what you said at all Kate? I know you and when you are angry and drinking you are down right cruel, you better hope that wasn't the case with Rick, or you may have just kissed any chance with him goodbye."
"I don't remember everything, but I do remember calling him a spineless coward, and a Bastard, so God, it was bad, I just know it. Now what the hell do I do?"
"How the hell do you ever solve a case Kate Beckett, go to his home, beg forgiveness and forget your pride unless you're OK with him walking away, make a decision Girl."
Two Hours Later
In a Cab in route to the Loft
Kate had written everything she wanted to say down on note cards, and if she could just get Rick to see her for a few minutes she was positive that he would forgive her, he always did. She had taken the extra effort to put on his favorite blouse, one that showed just enough, and used the matching underwear, who knows how far this would go. As she pulled up to his loft, she dismissed the cab not knowing how long she would be with Rick.
She enters the Lobby of his building as she had hundreds of times before but this time, Eduardo does more than wave, he calls her by name.
"Detective Beckett, may we have a word please?"
"Sure Eduardo, it's nice to see you again, everything OK?"
"Well, Detective, I'm very sorry to tell you but Mr. Castle has removed your name from the secured guest list and placed it on the Do Not Allow list, I'm sorry but you will need to leave the building, and until Mr. Castle changes it, please do not return."
"Eduardo, you know me, it has to be a mistake, I mean Rick is pissed off at me, but he wouldn't do this, just call up and ask him."
"I wish I could Ms. Beckett, but he is away, for an unknown duration."
"Well call his cell, you know this is ridiculous, I came here to apologize now I am even more pissed at the pompous Son of a Bitch, who the hell does he think he is, he can't block me, I never wanted to work with the Asshole anyway."
"Please Detective, you are asked to leave, and lower your voice, profanity is not allowed in our lobby as you know so please do not make this even harder for my staff and I than it already is, I beg of you"
"I'm sorry Eduardo, you're right, I will be leaving, I apologize to your staff, and especially to you, I was always treated so nicely by you all and I know you must follow orders."
Kate steps out of the building, hails the first cab, cutting in front of others and yells, "Police Business" and makes her way home, if people could erupt like volcano's she would be on CNN soon as she fights to hold in her emotions till she reaches her apartment, then finally throws herself on her bed and lets the tears flow, he's gone for good this time.
TBC