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 12

Previously

"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."

Orion Hotel

Toronto Canada 3:00 PM Friday Same Day

Rick had felt the change, ever so slight from Trey, she still showed she cared but the feeling that perhaps something deeper could develop between the two of them were fading, and quickly. The Ice Water thrown on the possibility had come just a few minutes earlier when she had uttered those famous words no one in any kind of a relationship ever wants to hear, "We need to talk", it was never good, so Rick was bracing himself for bad news on the car ride from the hospital to the hotel.

He was unaware of his surroundings or even that Trey had gently slid her hand into his, and laid her head of his shoulder, he was so lost in thought trying to prepare for yet another, let you down easy session, with a beautiful lady which he cared for deeply, he didn't hear her say,

"Rick, talk to me, I know something is going on inside so please share it with me?"

He remained motionless, replaying all the times he had gone through this, first with Kyra, choosing her mother's decision over any possibility of a life with him, then Meredith, who didn't even bother for the easy part, hell just fucked her director in his house and acted like it was part of the job description. Then Gina, perhaps the one he felt the worse about since she tried, and it was him that had asked for the talk, she wanted something he wasn't ready to share, she wanted to be part of his daughter's life.

The last two years, did they even count or was he just too stupid and arrogant to see the lady said no, he should have moved on years ago rather than try to win her heart. He would have saved himself a lot of heartache, and now embarrassment after the last several months.

"Rick, are you OK, come on talk to me," Trey had hold of his face now and was looking deep into his eyes,

"I'm fine Trey, just got lost in some thoughts, I didn't mean to worry you, I'll be OK."

They had arrived at the hotel and not a word more was said as they existed the limo, Rick being his courteous self as always, helping Trey out of the car, holding the door, allowing her to enter the elevator first, all tasks a gentleman would do, but Trey knew Rick was functioning on Auto Pilot, there was little if any of "her Rick" in any of his actions and his mind was still miles away.

As they entered the suite, Rick began the conversation still unaware that he had zoned out in the limo and had caused Trey to worry.

"Trey, I owe you an apology for earlier, it was presumptuous of me to assume that you would want to take on the role I designated your for without asking, I never considered how you might be impacted, I guess I assumed too many facts not even in evidence" as he smiles that public image smile, not her smile.

"Rick, it's I who should apologize, I can see now that you are hurt, and believe me, after hearing what you have been put through, just the pieces that I have, hurting you was the last thing I would ever want to do. I want to explain the reason WHY I said what I did, and please you have to listen."

"I'm listening, Trey, honest I am."

"Rick you missed an entire conversation in the limo, you missed me reaching for your hand to hold in mine, you missed me laying my head on your shoulder for the comfort you always give me, you were there in body Rick, but you had zoned out to somewhere I had never been."

Rick hung his head, "You're right I wasn't there was I. OK so let's discuss what you wanted to talk about then we can move on from there."

"See what you did, you acknowledged that you were hurting but you shut me out again, I am not Kate Rick, that's what I wanted to talk about. I don't want to be just a substitute for a woman you love with all of your heart.

You talk in your sleep, did you know that, and you sometimes say the most romantic things. At first, I thought they were about or too me, but then you called her name, not once but several times over the last week."

Trey starts to cry softly, "Rick, I don't want you settling , not for me, not for anyone, but before there could ever be an us, and we don't even know if that is possible, you have to resolve your feelings with and for her. It's not fair to even begin a relationship, hell we probably already went too far by sharing the bed, even though nothing happened, until we both have purged ourselves of the feelings we harbor for others."

"Trey, I didn't know I talked in my sleep, and if anything you are hearing dreams of how I wanted things to go then, BEFORE I met you, I can't take those back, but you're right, I need to resolve that mess before I involve anyone else, and forgive me, it was selfish of me to bring you into this."

"Rick, you didn't have to coax too hard, maybe I was a little to anxious to have someone care about how I felt, maybe I led you on and if so I am the one who is sorry. You have treated me like a queen, and for that I'll always be grateful, but I'm thinking positive, you made me believe again. One day when I am whole again, I want to give myself to a man who wants me, not someone he is imagining or wishing would be in his arms."

"So where do we go from here Trey, I mean my stuff is moved to my Bedroom, there isn't any reason we can't still be friends and be here for each other, unless, you want to change arrangements. I could always get another room, a*"

Trey stops him with a sweet kiss on the lips, "Rick, it's not that I don't want to be with you, it's that I'm afraid I will be replaced and I would rather not feel the feeling of your total love than to feel it and then lose it, I think it would destroy me. I do love you, but let's not rush this, I have to know that I'm not just a substitute for Kate, or you're doing this because of the Cancer, it's gotta be because that's how we both feel.

You in your room, me in mine to sleep doesn't mean we don't spend our free time together, you're my anchor, the reason I have hope that I can make it through this, and I don't want to change our friendship, does that make sense?"

Rick is deep in thought as he replays the scenarios with Kate, and others, and then snaps out of it, "Yes, sure it does, we're friends and like I said I want you to be healthy and happy so if that means we make adjustments now then that's what we do. Again, I pushed you, I'm sorry I was just trying to control everything and make everyone happy, and I guess sometimes I push too hard, forgive me."

"Rick, there's nothing to forgive, but I needed you to understand, I'm not like the others, I don't want to lead you on, then hurt you, even though I can tell you are hurt now, it would be worse if we took things farther then found out you still aren't over Kate, or I wasn't ready to jump into another relationship after the train wreck of a marriage I had."

"Yeah, you're absolutely right Trey, so you get ready, and I'll give you some privacy, I think I'm going to go for a walk, get some steps in then come back and shower for diner. I'll have the key cards changed while I'm at guest services."

"Rick there's no need for that" Trey says but as she turns around, she is alone, Rick's gone, and she knows he is hurt deeply. God why is love always so hard, and why is it the good guys are the ones to feel most of the pain?

Life sucks sometimes, it isn't fair but what could she do, she had feelings for Rick, but was it love? She didn't know for sure, but one thing she was certain of, she would never be anyone's proxy again. Rick loved Kate deeply, and once he resolved those feelings the path for her would be much clearer, right now she could only hope she did the right thing.

Rick's mind is a jumbled mess as he decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator, less chance of running into anyone wanting to strike up a conversation. As he is trying to organize his thoughts, he remembers Gregg's words about the 12th being a mess, and Roy might lose his shield. He as a friend, couldn't let that happen. Across the street was a sign flashing for Electronics and the latest innovations.

A thought comes to his mind, hell by now they should be available to the civilian world he thinks, and once again a dark flashback of his earlier days plays before him, lights flashing, sounds of missiles hitting their targets, Roy's face as he lay wounded, and shouting of voices all around him, and then it was gone, just as fast as it came. He shivered with the recollection he had fought so hard to forget, as he made his way across the street.

Rick enters the store and is greeted by the sales person, obviously on commission, as he starts to rattle off the day's deals and offers Rick halts him with just one finger raised,

"I'd like to see your Satellite phones,"

"Of course, Sir, the salesman leads him to a rack of Cell Phones,

"Excuse me I said Satellite phones, not cell phones,"

"Sir let me get my manager, I'm not sure what you are asking for, and then Rick picks up the slight French accent, apparently English was his second language. The manager comes out from the back and takes Rick to exactly what he is looking for, and in a minute, Rick replied,

"I'll take 3 of that model there if you have them in stock? IF not then this model as he points to the highest priced and second priciest phones on display. The manager comes back from the rear of the store with the three highest end phones and asked how would you wish to pay, as Rick handed over a wad of $500 bills, he first thought about his AMEX then when he reached for his wallet, it was covered with a shield, reminding him Credit Cards can be traced, Cash cannot.

After receiving his change and foregoing any additional offers Rick retreats to the hotel and makes his way to the roof, looking at his watch he sees it's 4:28 PM meaning he could catch Roy if he hurried. Roy was a creature of habit, 10:15 coffee break, 12:45 lunch, 3:45 coffee break, and all days but Friday he left at 6:30 PM, on days like to day he never stayed past 4:45 PM.

Glancing in the sky to the East direction, he positions the phone is the most ideal location, and then powers on, there is the signal bar, full strength. He hurriedly dials a number he knows by heart, one that Roy seldom uses but is always in his possession.

The phone rings twice then Rick hears, "This is a private number, and no solicitation calls are accepted,"

"Good, because I'm not selling anything, How you doing Roy, don't have long, but I understand we have a situation, as always Cap, no questions and don't try to trace this it will blow up in your face which is why I used the Corporations phone."

"Rick, if this is you, identify"

"Surely, Zebra Alpha, Nellie, 2539547"

"Son of a Bit*"

"No time for that Cap, we need to talk"

TBC