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 8
Previously
"Pause it there Paula, first, there was a letter of resignation on Kate's desk and in the middle top drawer of Roy's, what she did afterward was really surprising to me, but it had no bearing on me leaving. I even told Roy I have some personal commitment to take care of but hope to rejoin him in the future if all works out."
NYPD 12th Precinct
1:00 PM Same Day
Captain Montgomery had finally made it back from his meetings at 1PP and unlike most days, where no one would dare approach him, at least for a few hours Kate boldly stepped forward and knocked on his door.
"Sir, can I see you for a few minutes, this concerns Castle, Sir"
"Beckett, I have had my ass served to me on a platter for the last three hours starting with our surprise guest, Mr. Mayor, then continuing on with Commissioner Boyle, so this had better be good, I'm really not in the mood for any more grade school theatrics by you."
"Sir, I understand, Sir, but this will only take a moment and will give you the full story of his resignation Sir."
"Come in and shut the door, Beckett, and this had better be good," as he opened his side desk drawer, pulled out a bottle of Advil, emptied 4 tablets into his palm, and chased them down with a glass of single malt liquor Kate recognized as the same brand that Castle drank, probably a present to Roy.
"Sir have you checked your top middle desk drawer, I got information from Rick's publicist that he left you and I both letters before he had left to take his daughter to Princeton on Friday, I found mine Sir, and I think yours is located there."
Roy opened the drawer, moved one folder then yelled, "Son of a Bitch, he did leave a letter, I wish I had known this on Monday when I was getting raked over the coals by Mayor Weldon."
Kate recognized the letter to be the exact same copy as hers, except Rick had added a personal note to Roy's one that she could not make out from her vantage point.
Roy read the letter slowly, then opened the drawer another healthy splash of the malt liquor which he downed, then dropped the letter to his desk.
"Not a very glowing recommendation Beckett, even I could cut through the inuendo to see the barbs you, Demming and even Esposito got in on.
Your job is to protect your team, every member of that team, regardless of personal prejudice, can you say you did that Detective?"
"Sir, No Sir, I failed miserably in protecting Castle's rights not only as a volunteer consultant, but as a human being and I feel so ashamed of my actions."
"Well your letter is the letter of record, but here, read what Rick wrote to me, he didn't want this to make it into your file and cost you professionally. Yeah that sounds like a selfish, pompous, man on a sugar rush with no concern of anyone but himself to me Beckett, read the letter."
Kate picked up the letter, and skips over it, it was identical to where it got to her copy ended. There in Rick's distinct handwriting was a note to Roy.
Hi Roy,
Sorry to pull this Houdini act on you without notice, but you and I both know that Beckett has already found someone she would rather be partners with anyway. They have made it quite clear that I'm not a cop, they have no idea of our history and I'd like to keep it that way. To Demming I am just another author of Nancy Drew mysteries. I wish I could take them back to be with us, for 5 minutes, just to open their eyes to the fact that sometimes we hide memories of extreme horror with humor, and the good guys don't always come out without some scars. Again, Cap I'm sorry, where I'm going the seals couldn't find me so don't waste any energy, and all of the alias you knew have all been recycled with new. I wish I could tell you more, but for now let's leave it at I hope to see you when I get back, you were always a great friend that had my six,
Stay Safe
Rick
Kate reads the letter and once again breaks down in tears. From what she has just read, Rick appeared to have spent time with Roy before the 12th, the line about hiding horror with humor especially hurt, since it was her that coined the nickname Wise Ass, for him, if she only knew.
Montgomery is looking out through the window, perhaps reliving some memory of his earlier life, his face showing the sad lines, almost like he is grieving for a friend. He had just been handed an ultimatum from 1PP Fix or Replace his best squad, He jerks to realization when he notices Beckett still sitting in his office and tries to cover his emotion.
"Sir, your letter has a personal message from Rick, and I can only guess that you have know him before his exposure to the 12th, we didn't know Sir."
Roy's eyes come ablaze now, almost spewing fire, "Hell No you don't know, but do you want to know why Beckett? It's because you had already labeled him a Playboy womanizer from page six of the Times, and never even bothered to try to find out one thing about him.
The man knew everything about you, and I would wager you couldn't tell me one personal fact about him that isn't available on the web site."
"Get out of my office Beckett, in fact Get out of this station, take the next 3 days off while I figure out how the hell to handle this."
Montgomery turned a folder over and opens up requests for transfer from Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito, and under position requested, both had put, Any Open. Perhaps it was time to rethink Kate Beckett as the lead detective he sure as hell couldn't lose both Espo and Ryan at one time, so he needed to come up with something.
A shell shocked Beckett, stumbled out of Roy's office, she knew that Roy had voiced his command loud enough so that everyone in the bull pen had heard him, so she grabbed her purse, phone and keys and left the station, her eyes finally spilled over when she made it through the steps to the ground.
University Medical Center
Toronto Ontario
8:45 AM Same Day
Rick and Trey walked through the lobby of the hospital, headed for the General Session room, where each day started. As they made their way along the gift shop, Trey stopped for a moment, and admired a beautiful cross, hanging on a silver chain from one of the display racks as her hand reached down and intertwined her fingers with Rick's.
"You like that cross Trey?" Rick asked with softness and reassurance in his voice.
"Yeah, I do Rick, I told you I was Catholic and somedays Faith is all I had to get me by, well till you came along" as she smiled at him.
"Let's get going or we'll be late" she chides Rick as he started for the Gift Shop door, "I don't want you to buy me everything I say I like, my place isn't big enough to hold all of it" she laughed"
"Well, you know I would, don't you? Just say the word and what you want is yours" he smiles at her.
"I know Rick, but I care about you, not the things you can or do buy me, I never was that type of girl, and living the life I did, I learned to make it on very little."
"Well, I appreciate that, and I know you aren't in this to see how much money you can get, you didn't even know my real name when we struck up this friendship. I could have been a poor aspiring author, for all you knew."
Trey gives him her GEC as Rick had named it, Green Eye Glare, and they both laugh.
They had reached the room for the session, and today was pretty much a copy of yesterday except more detail was added to the presentation of what to expect, the freezing then boiling was good signs that the treatments had worked the first day. It seemed like there was a surprise waiting for them each day of treatment as the "cocktails" were modified on blood tests taken each day. Rick and Trey were both very glad they had opted for the one-time pain of a PICC line rather than being stuck each day.
The day progressed much like the previous, Trey napping while leaning on Rick's shoulder, and him eventually falling asleep once he knew Trey was OK. At the end of the day surprising both felt a bit more energy than the day before, which again was a positive sign. The doctors said little subtle changes such as energy levels, and tastes for certain foods could accompany treatments, it varied from patient to patient.
"Hey Rick, how are you feeling, well enough to go out for dinner tonight, or is it Room Service?
"You read my mind beautiful, let's go out if you feel like it, what do you have a taste for?"
"I could really go for some good home made Italian, and I know a spot where no one will bother you or us,"
"Lead the way Madam"
Trey gives an address to the driver, and he replied, "that address is in Mississauga Madam, is this where you wish to go?"
"Yes, thank you for checking" Trey replied with a smile on her face.
Twenty minutes later they pull up in front of a building, which could be anything, factory, retail stores or offices, and then Rick spots a light in the corner of the bottom floor, with a small sign, "Mama Rae's".
"Is this the place Trey, Rick smiles as he takes her hand in his, and gently directs her that direction,
"Sure is, and it hasn't changed a bit, the owner is, well was a good friend on my Mom's and they used to trade recipes, this is all home made with Mama's own recipes."
They enter, and from out of no where an elderly lady comes around the counter to embrace Trey,
"My child how long has it been, since your Mom's funeral, No? That's too long to wait to come see your Mama Rae, and ooh who do we have here, maybe that's why you haven't been by, too busy kissy face" as she laughs
Trey's face lights up beet red, "Mama Rae, this is Rick, he is a very good friend I met recently, and I told him I knew of the best Italian restaurant in all of Canada."
"My Child, even an old lady like me can see this is Rick Castle, the famous author, how did you hook such a catch,"
Now Trey is totally embarrassed, and Rick steps forward to save her.
"Mama Rae, may I call you that? I was new in Toronto and stopped by the Diner, where Trey helped me out, and to answer your question it was I who made the move on your God Daughter here, she is just so beautiful."
Rick is now engulfed with the little old lady hugging him as well, "Please take care of her Mr. Castle, she is such a trusting soul, and has a heart of gold."
"Oh, I will, but can we eat, then talk Mama, we are starved" he laughed
The dinner was more than Rick could have asked for, he had been in 5-star restaurants that could learn things from Mama Ray, then as she brought the capo chinos, she joined them for a few minutes of chat,
"Trey, I have missed you so please come back, and bring Rick with you, it was so nice meeting him, and I must say you look so much more rested. Please take care of yourselves and I will see you again soon, Eh?"
The ride back to the hotel was relaxing as Trey leaned her head on Rick's shoulder and he draped his arm over her to pull her close.
"Thanks for a beautiful evening Trey, I don't think I have had food that good in quite a while, and the company was even better."
"You're always so sweet Rick, well three more up mornings till we have a weekend to enjoy, do you want to start planning it when we get to the room?
"That would be great, just in case we need reservations for anything, Good Plan Trey,"
The night is filled with laughter and thoughts of what to do, The Zoo was first on their list, followed by the Royal Museum, all based on weather and how they felt they had a tentative trip Toronto Islands or the Distillery District again depending on weather and how each felt.
The first two days of the fight for their lives were totally different than each had expected, the beautiful thing was that each understood the highs and lows of the other, without having to say a word, and no matter how far this relationship travelled, a beautiful friendship had been forged, not ever to be broken.
Trey turned to kiss Rick goodnight, and felt a lump under her pillow, turning the light back on she pulled out a box,
"Rick, did you do this? Why? as she opened it and it was a much more expensive version of the cross, she had seen in the Hospital Gift Shop, and a beautiful double braided chain,
"Yes, I did, and why, because your smile and the look in your eyes when you are happy are worth more to me and anything right now, do you like it?
She pulls him in for a deep kiss, and then smacks him on the arm.
"The kiss was my thank you, the hit was you have to listen to me Rick, you can't keep spoiling me, I'll get used to it and when you're gone I won't know what to do."
"Trey, let's deal with this one day at a time, let me spoil you because we both know, more so than most, our tomorrows like everyone else's aren't guaranteed, OK? Now can I have a repeat of that kiss, but keep the hit, you have a punch" as she engulfs his mouth, the night overtakes them, and they fall asleep her head on his shoulder,
TBC