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 4

Previously

"Kate, between you and Demming, you were worse, Tom could be partially excused since he was trying to be the knight in shining 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?"

Orion Hotel

Toronto Canada

One Hour After First Meeting at Hospital

Trey hated to admit, but she was glad Rick had arranged the Car Service to pick them up, the waiting, anticipation, unknown and just plain fear had done a number on her energy. She was sure Rick wouldn't admit it, but he was just as concerned as she, about all the What If's that were totally out of their control.

It was easy to say, take what life gives you, when you were healthy, quite another thing when you were facing a potential death sentence through no fault of your own. She had the intuition of a woman who had felt rejection, and hurt, that Rick wasn't telling her the entire story.

That was fine, he barely knew her, she just hoped in time he would grow to trust her as she had already begun to trust him. It was very strange for her, she had always been so guarded with herself, yet this man just made her feel so comfortable, that no matter what happened, things would be OK. She was so comfortable with him in fact she just realized he had been asking her a question,

"Earth to Trey, anybody in there" he smiled as he waved a hand in front of her face and that big baritone voice, it sent chills down her spine, Stop That, later she thought

"I'm sorry Rick just lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear what you said,"

"I said that if you wanted dinner, we had better order room service before the kitchen closes or we pass midnight for treatment tomorrow, I mean unless you feel like going down to the restaurant, your call."

"Room service sounds good to me, I don't know about you but I'm exhausted, and I didn't drive all the way in from New York like you did."

"I'm OK Trey, a little tired, but I've been worse. I do owe you an apology for not coming clean with you right away about the Rogers vs Castle thing, I'm not a big celebrity but some how someone is always willing to pay for some private details of my life, and if the word got out that I was in a Cancer treatment program, it might tank sales,"

"You know Rick, it could go the other way too, it could boost them with everyone rooting for the nice guy hero,"

Rick laughs, now I know you're not a fan, no matter how hard I try, I keep the label of a playboy, and womanizer. True, a lot of stories my publicist and editor plant to keep my name out there and younger female audience buying the books, but I'm really tired of all that. I have a daughter, entering college soon, and really is that what she needs to read about her dad?

"I see what you mean, so I guess you have alias's you use when you want things kept on the Down Low, like this. Did you use Jameson Rook, this time, or use Richard Rogers?"

Rick looks like the cat that got caught in the canary cage, "I used Rogers for the hotel, but we used a new one for the study, one that hopefully can't be traced back to me or my work.

Rick Gates is what I'll be known at the hospital as, we looked at the NYPD roster that has never met me and there's a female in internal affairs named Victoria Gates, figured it was common enough that we could use it, What do you think?"

"Yeah, that should work, I'm glad you told me, since I would be looking for Rick, that good looking guy that's about 6 feet 1 inch tall, around 210 pounds beautiful blue eyes and hair that is never out of place," she blushes as she finishes her statement.

"Well you know Trey, I introduced you with two names, all I know you as Trey, the beautiful brunette, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, body to die for, and the most beautiful eyes this side of heaven, you see you never gave me a last name, real or fake," he smiles a wide genuine smile one that he hasn't for a long time.

"I'm sorry, Rick, my last name for this study is Bolin, it was my ex-husbands name, but I've gone back to my maiden name of Tatianna Belmont for everything else. I even checked into this room using Belmont. I guess we both need to take notes for the hospital, or we'll have them so confused," she laughs.

"So, Trey is short for Tatianna, it's such a beautiful name, why use a nickname."

"The French pronounce it, or try to and it sounds like a disease, so Trey was easier, plus a smaller name tag to keep the dirty old men looking where they should" as she laughs again, such a beautiful laugh, almost like, no stop

"You have such a beautiful laugh Trey, you should do that more"

"You know come to think about it, I guess I haven't laughed in a long time, Thanks Rick,"

"Guess it's the funny kid on the school yard in me," he whispers but his eyes are full of sadness

"Rick, whoever hurt you by saying that was wrong, as she took his hand, you're one of the sweetest men I have ever met. Just keep making me laugh, and I'll try to do the same for you, Lord knows we are going to need humor to get through this."

Rick's eyes begin to sparkle again, "Hey like Laugh Buddies, when you get down, I'll make you laugh, and you do the same to me," as he fist bumps her.

Room Service arrives, and they take turns sampling each other's food as if they had been friends for years rather than hours. Both laugh and talk so freely, nothing sexual, just funny stories, and finally how they were diagnosed.

Trey's story almost made Rick cry, she was married to a man, unemployed so much that they were forced to use public assistance meaning she was low on the priority list for specialists, and unfortunately by the time they caught her medical condition, they had lost the baby.

Mr. Wonderful had filed for divorce before Trey had recuperated enough to be discharged from the hospital. Her mother was in Hospice at the time and her younger brother was running back and forth trying to take care of them both, till the mother died.

The only positive thing to come of that was, she had left the childhood home to both siblings in equal shares, and also the diner, which had been managed by a friend of the family for years. She had been home two months when the hospital called with her lab results showing a positive test for cervical cancer, and through a social worker she had gotten into this program.

"And the rest Rick is history or will be when we complete this program. What about you? I mean if you want to share, I don't want to be nosy."

"No, I'm sorry, I am just trying to wrap my head around the callousness of your ex-husband, that not only was cruel but had to be at the worst time of your life, I apologize for all my gender for such scum of the earth as he, and perhaps I shouldn't have said that*"

"No Rick, it's OK, I've called him worse, I'm touched that the story impacted you so deeply, you really are a caring human being," once again she sits next to him and takes his big hand in her small petite hands,

"Hey We'll get through this, and you know what, I'm so happy you came into the diner today so we could meet, I didn't know if I could make it through this, but now, well with your help we both will," she leans in to kiss him on the cheek, he turns slightly and they just brush lips, she doesn't pull back so Rick kisses her again, gently and sweetly.

"I'm so sorry Trey, that was out of line, and totally not what I promised you, forgive me please?"

"No" she says,

"No?" he repeats?

"No, I won't apologize for something I've wanted to do since I saw you." This time it's Trey who takes the imitative, and kisses Rick like he had longed to be kissed for a long time.

"Trey I don't want you to do this because you feel sorry for me, or you thin*"

"Shut up Rick and Kiss me, we can't do anything past 2nd base but believe me, it's been a long time since I have wanted to kiss anyone as much as I do you, and sympathy has nothing to do with it, you may not know it but You're a Stud" she laughs then kisses him again.

Suddenly the holding and comforting allows Rick an opportunity to let the story out, the entire story including how afraid he was, and how he had to say goodbye to Alexis knowing it could be the last time like it was.

He hadn't noticed but the more he talked the more his tears flowed, Trey held him, comforting him with small sweet kisses to the temple and just whispering in his ear that things would be OK, God he had needed this so badly.

Finally, he looks up into the most beautiful pair of green eyes he had ever seen, she kissed him sweetly, then asked,

"Feel any better Rick? I'll be here for you whenever you need me for as long as you need me, OK?" then kisses him sweetly.

Thanks Trey, well so much for the big strong arms comforting you, I'm sorry I was such a weak*"

"You finish that word Rick Castle and I'll kick your ass, I mean it, you're no weakling, you have given me the strength to fight this, hopefully I can give you some as well."

"Trey, Thank You, I think we better set the alarm, what time would you like to get up, I know there's two showers so that's no issue, the car will be here at 6:45 AM, so what time should I set?

"That depends, are you going to sleep with me or by yourself Rick?"

"What do you want Trey? I can tell you right now, unless you want me to go to my room, I would love to stay"

"Right answer, Rick, how about we get up at 4:45AM, I'm not sure what they mean by light meal, but I'm guessing it's fruit, toast, and that nature,"

"I'll miss my coffee" they both say in unison, then break out laughing,

"Hey, we better get some sleep, OK, so Good Night Trey, Thank You," as he kisses her gently to have her deepen it and add tongue, a lot of tongue.

"Good night Rick, right here if you need me, OK?"

"OK, Thanks Beautiful"

Beckett's Apartment

2:00 PM Same Day

Kate had hit rock bottom, been almost physically tossed from the building where Rick lived, no way to contact him, or wait was there. Swallowing a great deal of pride, and making up a story, she looks up the contact information and slowly dials the phone.

"Gina Cowell's Office, Amy speaking how may I help you?"

"Amy this is Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD, it's important I speak to Gina Cowell please,

"May I ask what this is concerning?"

"No, you can't what part of NYPD don't you understand?"

"One moment please"

"Hi Kate, this is Gina, I'll save you some time, I have no fucking clue where Rick went, the only way we can contact him is through Paula. She has some secure line, or something and texts him a few times a day.

I think he synched his Voice Mail to his cloud account so if you sent him a voice mail, he got it, and is just being Rick and not answering. Anything else you need? If you need to reach Rick, Call Paula, that's what I have to do on every issue that comes up.

I don't know what happened, but he has really withdrawn this time, almost like he doesn't want any contact with somebody. Nothing happened between you two did it?"

"No, of course not," Kate lies. "I was just stuck on a case and wanted his input."

"Well if you hear from him, let us know, the board wants to cut a new contract for more books, but he holds control of all creative processes."

"Will do, and Thanks"

Kate thinks to herself, shit she has really done it this time, he did get his voice mail the one she can't remember how bad it was, only that it was bad.

Well she's gone this far, might as well go all the way,

"Paula Haas speaking, how can I help you Detective Beckett?"

"I've been trying to get in touch with Rick for a few days and he hasn't answered my voice mails and*

"And you've been blocked from his building, his land line, and you're wondering if I can do you a favor? Why, Why, would I want to help the one is has broken his heart into a million pieces, and been so stupid she didn't even notice? Oh, that was a lovely voice mail you sent the other night or early AM. You see Ricky backs up everything to the cloud and has me screen them when he is, well OUT, and when I heard yours, I thought What the Hell did he ever do to you, except help you, and this is how you treat him."

"Paula, I had too much to drink, and I don't even remember what I said, I know I was angry because he skipped out on the going away party that Espo and Kevin worked so hard on, had something better to do."

"Beckett, that was me, he was stuck in traffic on the LIE coming back from dropping off Alexis at Princeton, the accident that killed three, the truck jackknifed and 6 hour delay, you're a fucking cop and you didn't bother to check if Rick was involved in the accident, or just stuck in traffic, especially you, you knew where he was going and the route to get there, some friends.

I texted Espo and Ryan along with Rick's apology he texted me, and also tickets to the Knicks next home game. He called 5 times, I got one word with each call then a Dropped Call, when LT asked me if he had something more important, I said apparently, never knowing how it would impact your little party."

"Paula I know I don't deserve this but I have to talk to Rick, please give me a number to reach him, I mean I have to talk to him, I broke up with the Demming, and Rick has to know why!"

"Why indeed Detective, why the hell do you think he is off grid, even Alexis can't reach him and if you think I'm going to give you his contact information because you broke up with Mr. Hot Pants and now suddenly Rick is who you want, you are out of your FUCKING Mind.

You have CI's, key meaning Confidential, would you give one of them up Detective? Nah, didn't think so, let me put this as clearly as I can, I love my Boss, even though I know he will never reciprocate, it doesn't matter.

Richard Castle is one of the most gentle, sincere, loyal, kind, and genuine people in this world, the page six stories are fabricated by Gina, and some by me, but that's what they are Fake, just like you Detective, the only time Rick is useful to you, is when you need something. You want to know what you said on your Voice Mail, here I'll play it, "

The next several minutes, Kate can't believe the vile hate filled language, the obscenities she never even knew she had spoken, calling Rick spineless, pompous, and one who never gave a shit about those who went out their way to plan a party, then she said, you spoiled my surprise as well, then more obscenities, till finally it clicked off, exceeding the limit of the Voice Mail.

"Do you think for one minute I would give you anything to do with Rick after listening to that? If you loved him like I do, would you? Well that's a stupid question since the only person you can love is yourself. Just for your information, I forwarded a copy of that voice mail to Ryan and Esposito, along with Ms. Parrish, so you can't play the victim this time, I'll let Rick know you called and share your concerns, Good day Detective" as the line goes dead,

Once again Kate hangs her head, more in shame and guilt for her actions, she can't blame Demming for this, this she owned, now she had to figure out what she could do about it, and that wasn't going to be easy.

TBC

Note to Guest/Anon or non-email reviewers If you don't see your review it was because it was deleted, I don't debate medical facts, your medical opinions, sarcastic remarks, perception why I did or didn't do something, bashing of any character or me, any demeaning or rude comments are trashed, if you want a discussion log in, if not go somewhere else. This story brought a great deal of new Guests out, if you don't like what or how I write move along, if you post a review that is not constructive or is vindictive, you've wasted time you will never get back, I monitor all reviews, Especially those from sources I cannot reply to and those are usually the first to be deleted. To the one that said "Don't write about cancer if you don't know anything about it" it proves how uninformed you are, read earlier Love's Journey and you will see I am an active volunteer member of a Cancer hospital.