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 11

Previously

"Rick, I'm sorry, you've been so sweet to me, and I have deep feelings for you, but I want to make sure they are there because of you, not the cancer and I sure as hell don't want you with me because of the disease, try to understand please?" as she kisses him on the cheek.

"Hey I got it, no problem, division of Church and State, we keep our medical lives separate from our private lives, that way the two won't bleed over and we will be sure of our feelings when this is over, I think that sums it up doesn't it?" As he smiles but Trey knows it's not the genuine smile, she usually gets.

"I'll be back" as he follow the nurse through the door, Trey watches as he rips the waiver into small pieces and deposits it in the trash, Did she just trash any hope of being with the best thing that ever happened to her?

University Medical Center

Toronto Ontario

1:45 PM Friday

Shortly after Rick is called, Trey's name is called to visit with her doctor to review the progress 1 week, or 25 % of the way into treatment. Doctor Karen Packard was the coordinating physician for the women's trial and was the doctor Trey was meeting with.

Trey tried very hard to get a read on her as she was escorted into the office, but Dr. Packard was stoic in her expression until Trey had been seated and offered a refreshment by the assistant who promptly left once she was ready for the doctor.

"Tell me Trey how have the treatments been to you, any significant problems, or issues good or bad?"

"Well if you mean feeling like your blood is boiling and traveling throughout your entire body, one moment, then as quickly as the heat it turned into cold, so cold I shivered under two blankets. The technicians said that was a good sign that the treatment was working so I guess other than that and severe fatigue the first two days, it's been better than I expected, definitely better than what has been described to me by those going through traditional Chemo Radiation regimens."

"Good, Good to hear" Dr. Packard replied "and I agree with the technicians, it is always a good sign when we get that response to the body's acceptance and rejection to the markers we are inserting into the blood supply."

"Do you have any idea now that you are 25% complete with this trial, how your cancer is responding, I mean has your body changed in anyway to you that only you would notice."

"Well, this is embarrassing, but for the first time in years, I got turned on by a man, I mean really turned on to where I needed to stop before I did something that will jeopardize my spot in this trial. Prior to starting this last week, I had zero desire, I mean I could have seen Brad Pitt naked on my couch and I would have rather read a good book than to pursue him."

Dr. Packard laughs, and then quickly responds, "Trey, I'm not laughing at you, but with you, I had your identical form of Cancer and Sex was a topic my ex husband could never understand. It just didn't interest me at any time of the month, so I know from experience what you're talking about.

Can I ask you is it just one man that makes you feel this way or do you as they say get the hots for a sexy man on the street?"

Trey blushes, "Doctor right now it's just one man, I haven't dared look at men, but HE makes me feel whole even though I'm not, I know he cares deeply, but I want to be sure it's me he cares for and not just wanting to take care of me because of my Cancer, it's sound dumb, but I guess it's my phobia."

"It's not dumb at all, quite the contrary, it's wise to protect your heart but Trey, don't put armor around it, you'll wind up shutting him out and believe me men like Rick are hard to find in today's world."

"Rick? I never mentioned any names; how did you know it was him?"

"Trey, the man is the target of every woman in the study, some are even married and some of the staff are even interested in him, so it's not hard to see he only has eyes for you. He's been really good for you in fact are you ready to look at the markers for your first week?"

The slides had two column of numbers all with ranges and 4 major classifications on the sides, "Trey the numbers on the LEFT are yours from yesterday morning blood samples and latest notes from psychological evaluation sessions, the numbers on the right indicate where we would like the patients to be at this time in the trial.

As you can see you are at the top or exceed in all categories except, one, that is emotional support, you still haven't let go to allow someone in to really assist you in not only accepting this but also coming up with a plan.

It's not good enough to say OK I have cancer so I'm going home and wait to die, there are many more factors in that, and we encourage patients to discuss options for the future, with someone they trust.

Some physicians stress that healing is more mental than physical, we tend to say mental state has much to do with the success or failure of the treatment, so you have three more weeks to adjust that."

"Doctor do you think Rick would be strong enough to discuss this with, I mean he has hinted that he wanted me in his treatment results, but I pushed back because I really don't want to be a rebound, he is hurt, angry and I think head over heels in love with someone who treated him terribly.

I don't want him to sacrifice any chance of having a life with her because I caught him on the rebound."

"Trey what I think is you need to be honest with him, if you just push back without telling him what you just told me, he is going to put you in the category of woman who just hurt him, and he will move on quickly, since he has seen the frustration of trying to change, or living a lie.

You MUST be honest with him, and if you are strong enough, yes, share this with Rick and let him share his with you. We won't know whose cancer is under control for months after the treatment is concluded, so every participant need someone to lean on, it is tough times for you all."

University Medical Center

Toronto Ontario

1:45 PM Friday

Rick's visit

The doctors had taken a similar approach to Rick's first week's results except he had a surprise visitor to guide him through his, as he opened the door, he was facing the back of a rather large man like himself, then

"About time you got your ass in here, how are you feeling Rick?" It was Gregg DeLeaver his best friend and a friend of the head of the study.

"I'm feeling better now than I did on Monday, why didn't you tell me the first course was to boil me in oil, then insert dry ice in my veins so I would freeze," he laughs,

"That's great Rick, which means the treatment is working. Going over your numbers you look good, as he presents the same slide that Trey had seen, except we have some concerns about the emotional markers, they have declined since Monday, anything going on that we should be aware of?"

"No, of course not Gregg, well I mean I met a lady and I thought we were getting along pretty well but she pushed back a bit, just recently, and I'm not sure if it's because she's not ready or not ready for me. She's a patient in the Cervical Cancer trial so we haven't had any physical contact that would be construed love, so maybe I'm just rushing her."

"Well you know what Rick, I think you need to close things down in New York before Trey will be willing to gamble on anything more than a deep friendship with you."

"Wait, how did you know her name was Trey and what do you know about New York and the issues there?"

"Rick, we have common friends, the Boyles do you think the friggin Police Commissioner is not going to tell me something about one of our Best Friends, come on now."

"So, you made it a point to fly up here and what Gregg, be sure I wasn't getting ready to off myself because the life as I knew it in New York has turned to shit? Was that why you came or what's going on?"

"Ok Rick the truth, you know Gina still loves you, probably will till the die she dies, so she pointed out that you had gone off grid before but never this badly. I gave her the standard answer clearing your head, character development, and she stopped me and said Gregg he's in mourning for his Detective, I don't know what she did, but she really hurt him this time and he ran, and will not come back.

I did some investigating, well I should say I had lunch with Tom Boyle and got an earful about the changes going on at the 12th since you left. Kate has been suspended for three days, demoted for 8 weeks pending she pass sensitivity training and Kevin Ryan is running the squad the first 4 weeks and Esposito the last 4 weeks.

It's a friggin mess, and if Roy can't get it straightened out it may cost him his shield. I'm surprised they haven't reached out to you yet for help."

"Kate has, but I'm in no mood to talk to her, but now that this is impacting Roy, well that changes things. In the meantime, I'll tell Paula to have Kevin call me on one of my burner cells, to see what I can do, Gregg, you didn't say a word about where I was or what's going on did you?"

"Rick, I couldn't even if I wanted to, which I don't."

"Well how long are you in town for, couple of days?"

"I wish, I fly back tomorrow, so if you haven't made plans, thought maybe we could do dinner, either the two of us or if Trey wants to join us, she is welcome."

"Well we were going to the zoo, but since the weather has turned a bit gloomy dinner sounds better let me check with her. I'll text you when she is out, and I ask her"

Trey is pacing nervously as she waits for Rick to get out of his meeting, he went in before her and if he did get bad news what kind of a friend is she being, my God he would buy her the world if she asked for it.

"There you are, as she rushed to his arms and fell into an embrace, kissing him, I was so worried, I mean you went in before me and you weren't out, I thought you might have gotten upset and went to the hotel without me, but our car is still waiting, so I got really scared"

"No, I'm OK Trey, I just met with my friend Gregg and he was very thorough on everything, in fact since the weather has turned icky, he wants to go to dinner tonight, either the three of us, or just he and I if you're not up to it."

"No, No Rick, Dinner would be fine, but I'd like a few hours to freshen up say 6:00 PM we can meet him, I assume he is staying in our hotel"

Rick smiles, "you assume correctly as he fires off a text to Gregg see you in the lobby at 6:00 Party of three, Rc"

"Rick, I think we need to talk as well before we go out, I mean I think I hurt your feelings and I want to make sure you know exactly where I am coming from, can we talk before we meet him please?"

"Of course Trey, no problem we can talk before we go out," and there it is Rick thinks, how he hates those words, "We need to talk" but better to get it out early, at least he hasn't wasted two years yet.