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
A/N This will hopefully wrap up the details from the prompt supplied by Kato769 and explain how our two got back together. Marlowe always said this was a love story, and for the first 5-6 years I believed it was. So many opportunities to develop life away from the precinct were missed, (IMHO) and this is just one scenario as I saw it. Thanks for the reads, reviews, follows and favorites. I am leaving the door open to a sequel, not right away, but that will depend on the reaction I get from you the readers, Thanks Again, hope you enjoyed, God Bless Tim
Chapter 17
Previously
"Rick", as she steals kisses, seems like she can't stop kissing him now, "where do we go from here, I mean it's up to you, but Babe, I want to be with you, all the way, no matter what comes, so I'm asking please don't send me back to New York to have you face this alone, Please?"
NYPD 12th Precinct
Monday 6:35 AM
Montgomery had just gotten to his office and had time to put down his case, and take one sip from his morning coffee when his phone rings, "God Damn it, this had better be good" he mutters to himself,
"Montgomery" he spits into the phone displaying his displeasure of being called at this hour.
"Captain, I'm sorry for the early call, but I wanted to reach you before you got all tied up in your day, I have some important news and a request Sir" Kate replied,
"Beckett? Why the hell are you calling me, you are reporting to Ryan for the next four weeks or did you forget?"
"No Sir, I didn't forget, but Sir, I won't be in to work for a while, I am exhausting my vacation and sick time for a family issues Sir."
"Kate what the hell do you mean family issue, your Dad is fine, I just saw him yesterday at the boats. What family issue are you talking about?"
"Sir, you know you can't ask me that, I have already filed the paperwork through HR to go on FMLA or the Family Leave Act, and this call is more a courtesy than a request, you've been my Captain a long time and putting the last few weeks aside I think we have grown close. Sir I wish I could tell you, but it is a family matter and I can't disclose any more than that."
Rick had walked in and didn't realize Kate was on the phone as he surprised her with her morning Coffee,
"Here you go Babe, Fresh and hot, and ohhh sorry didn't know you were on the phone, I'll just wait out here"
Kate flips her phone to speaker as they both hear "Beckett, was that Rick? Where the hell is, he and is, he all right?"
"Hi Cap, yes it's me and Kate tracked me down, off a bread crumb so small that I am so impressed with her skills and twice as angry at mine. I am Fi, well make that I'm better now than I was before she found me."
"Kate, you do know that if FMLA runs out, and you aren't ready to come back, you can always go on unpaid personal leave, you don't have to resign, I mean that is if you and Rick are a*"
"Roy, we are, as you started to say a couple, we both screwed up royally but I'm not letting her go now, so do what you have to do, but she's staying with me, FOREVER and ALWAYS."
"Rick, you and I go back a long time, why don't you two just get married and get it over with, My God, you've acted like a married couple for two years already and the only time either of you are happy is when you're with each other."
"Roy, I want to tell you something, Kate knows but no one, not even my Mother, or Alexis knows this, so holding this close, OK?"
"Rick, you are beginning to worry me, what the hell is going on? Of course, I won't say a word, that's your story to tell, AS long as you are completely honest with Kate, about everything"
"Roy, I am in Toronto in a Clinical Trial for a revolutionary cure for Cancer. I was diagnosed a few months ago, and just got into this trial where so far things are going well. The final answer won't be known for 3-4 months after the study, but all the markers are showing the treatment is working and I have reason to have high hopes.
AND as for your suggestion about Kate and me, well don't be surprised if she comes back to work with a new last name, IF I make it through this, and IF she will have me."
Kate has done a great job holding in her tears till she hears "if she will have me" then she completely breaks down.
"Roy, I'm not coming back until I know Rick is OK and even then I'm not sure I want to be away from him that long anymore, this has opened my eyes to how much little time any of us have, we'll call you with updates, but mark me out indefinitely, I need to be with Rick now" she speaks through her tears.
"Kate, go be with him, give him something to hold on for and to fight, and let him know that we all love him back here whether he works another case with us or not. The official story I am putting out is you are with a relative who is ill and exercising your FMLA, but Kate, don't let Lanie find out before you tell her, we all have to live here," he laughs
"OK Roy I understand and will do, talk soon" and then the line goes dead. Roy opens his middle drawer and takes out the bottle, adding a splash to his coffee, finally something good to drink to he smiles.
Rick turns to see Kate fighting but losing the battle to hold back her tears, "Rick PLEASE talk to me Babe, tell me everything, I want to know and believe me, as she takes his hands in hers and looks him in the eyes with a look he has never seen, I will be here, I'm not going anywhere I love you for what ever time you or I have left."
Rick pulls her into his lap, kissing her sweetly then kisses her tears away, then he get's a look on his face that Kate is concerned about, "Babe, are you OK, talk to me, please, Rick?"
"I'm sorry Kate, it was just something that Roy said, I need to tell you the whole story"
He told her about his time when he met Roy, he was working with the CIA, mostly because of someone had cleared the way, and he actually went through all the training as one of their full time agents would, including security clearance, weapons and hand to hand combat.
He was supposed to stay in the barracks but had managed to get on the convoy Roy was commanding and then all hell broke loose, that's when Roy was wounded and after he got his award for saving lives he was promptly shipped home because of his maverick ways.
"So now you know why Roy and Mayor Wheldon would allow me to tag along, Bob was under Roy's command at the time of the incident." Rick says sadly,
"I couldn't say anything, and I really shouldn't now but you know Roy gave me an order to tell you everything."
Kate just pulls him in and kisses his head, neck lips wherever she could "Oh Rick, I'm so sorry for all of the barbs, insults, I didn't know but I know they hurt you deeply, please forgive me"
"Hey, nothing to forgive, I got over it quickly"
"That's just it Rick, you shouldn't have to, I should have shown you the common courtesy you or any one working with us deserves, I'm sorry"
"Hey, I have to shower, we're meeting Try and Gregg for breakfast remember?"
"Of course, I'll be ready in 15 minutes," not bothering to tell Rick she had already showered and all she needed to do now was her makeup, which she decided to keep simple, Trey couldn't wear any so she would just do the minimum.
University Medical Center
Toronto Ontario
9:30 AM Monday
Kate was nervous, no make that afraid, she seldom felt the fear she was holding in as Rick sat next to her, with Trey and Gregg sitting across as they waited for the sessions to begin.
Gregg picked up on Kate's nervousness, as she kept hold of Rick's hand, squeezing it tightly, almost like if she let go, he would go away.
"It's fine Kate, from what I've been told it's relatively painless, but you'll be able to see for yourself soon, I arranged for you to be with Rick and Trey in the treatment room, I think it'll do them both good."
"What about you Gregg, aren't you staying?"
"Only till it's time to catch my flight, I'll be back in a couple of days, seems like Trey needs a Doctor more than Rick does these days, since he has found his soul mate again."
"Again? I don't understand Gregg, we haven't been together before,"
"I didn't say that, but from the day he met you, the only subject he would talk about was you, maybe that's why Paula and Gina gave you such a hard time, they wanted what you could have had at any minute you said so. I'm sorry that was in the past and I shouldn't be bringing that up"
"No Gregg you should, I'll never know just how badly I destroyed Rick unless someone tells me, I promise you he's my world and I'm not leaving him now for anything."
Gregg flashed that big smile, and said, "I know, I see and so does he, I bet this week his results go way up off the chart, because you're here for him, nothing scientific about Love Kate, just keep loving him, he loves deeply and hurts twice as deep,"
Kate spent the entire day in the treatment room with Rick and Trey, bringing them warm blankets, cold water, and on their breaks cheered them up and acted like a cheerleader. She just smiled as Trey's head fought and fought, and finally drooped onto Rick's shoulder. Rick looked up at Kate in horror, and Kate smiled and whispered softly "It's OK, I know You Love Me, "and the smile returned to Rick's eyes.
After treatment on Monday's it had been their habit to order Room Service since they both were exhausted.
Kate helped Trey off the elevator and down the hall, and when she started to go into her suite, she was stopped,
"Trey, we have plenty of room, why don't you come over to our suite take a nap then we'll eat together, there's no need for you to be alone. Gregg said he was going to SKYPE you later, so I know you will want your suite then but please join us now."
"Thank you Kate, you know you were all that Rick talked about, and he was right, you're so loving and giving no wonder why he fell in love with you, no other woman has a chance with him as long as you are here. I hope to find love like that someday."
"Trey, I was a fool, but now that I see it you're right, and I'll never let him go again, and I'm sure you'll find your true love, looks like Gregg is quite taken with you already." She smiles
University Medical Center
Toronto Ontario
4 Weeks from start of treatment
The day was one that Trey, Gregg, Kate, and Rick could hardly wait for. Each week the markers continued to improve for both Rick and Trey, and Gregg had been a frequent flyer visiting Trey at least 3 times a week, some weeks more.
Rick was finally called for his final checkup, but this time, he took Kate's hand, and said,
"Please Babe, I need you here with me for this, OK?"
A sweet kiss, and "Of course" Kate replied and was partly excited, partly worried, but she was anxious to find out if the man she loved was given the second chance in life that he had given so many others, her included"
Rick went through the routine he had grown accustomed to, but today was a little bit different, rather than the consultation, there was a video playing of the day he first checked in, Trey was with him, the film captured them registering then showed them as they had fell asleep one head leaning on the other, as the nurses covered them both with warm blankets.
The next part of the film, Rick saw Kate taking charge of not only his, but Trey's treatment as well, coaxing her to eat when she didn't want to, covering her, and him, kissing his head when he fell asleep and putting a pillow behind his head so his neck wouldn't hurt, all the little things he didn't know she had done, she never left his side.
He turned to look at her with tears in his eyes, "I never knew Babe, Thank You, for me, for Trey and for Gregg, I love you, I'm just sorry I'm such a bur*"
"Don't finish that sentence if you know what's good for you, I Love You Richard Castle, I have for longer than I can remember and I will do anything to keep you happy, anything" and the tears flow as he pulls her into his arms and embrace just holding her as she sobs.
A few minutes later the Doctor hit's play and there are the final numbers, Ricks are over the chart, almost as if he never had Cancer to begin with, his PSA numbers were those of a man with indications to watch for, not recovering from Prostrate Cancer.
As they view the numbers, it Rick who sobs this time, he just can't believe that four short weeks ago his life was in shambles and he had been handed life's cruelest blows ever.
"Rick, we won't have the definitive results for 3-4 months, but I am betting you come back as completely Cancer Free, Congratulations and PLEASE continue regular checkups with Dr. DeLeaver,"
"That's taken care of Doctor, thank you, I've made his appointments with Gregg personally for the next 4 months and I will drag him there if needed," Kate smiles through tear stained face, tears of joy, of love, and of thankfulness for second chances for both of them.
At the same time Rick was getting his results, Trey was receiving similar news with Gregg by her side, he had been there the entire week and from an outsider's point of view he was getting very serious about her.
As they enter the Lobby, Rick see's Trey first, as she runs and jumps into his arms throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek, "I'm good how are you Rick?"
"The same Trey, but I think you better let me go before Gregg or Kate or both kick our asses" he laughs.
Kate smiles at him, "Rick of all the people in the world, I would never be jealous of Trey, she's been your partner in a fight that no one should ever have to go through, I'm glad you had each other. But Sister, let go of my man" and laughter fills the room,
It wasn't a final verdict, BUT it was the second chance, and this time life didn't drop the call, in fact it became a conference call among the closest of friends.
A/N Going to leave this as complete here. This could be revisited with a sequel if enough interest is shown. Heartfelt thanks to ALL who have read, reviewed, favored, or followed. To those I could not respond to personally, Thanks to you as well, and finally big tip of the cap and Thanks to Kato769 for the prompt, I hope I did you proud, we got quite the story from a dropped call. Looking for your prompts to write from, Thanks Tim