Part of Me, Part of You
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: Sequel to Girl from Yesterday, No Time Lapse, the story picks up where we left off. This is AU; Beckett has left for D.C. and the Feds. This describes the activity of each during the time away from the other. It blends some Canon dialog; courtesy of Dust Jackets Dot Com and then goes quickly and completely AU. This will describe what our friends have been up to, Rick and Kate WILL NOT END UP TOGETHER! Taking a Literary License to fill in the blanks.
A/N: THIS IS NOT A CASKETT ENDING: THIS IS NOT A CASKETT ENDING.
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events to make this more believable fiction, thanks.
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Chapter 13
Presbyterian Medical Clinic
New York,
Doctor Sara Long's Office, 1:35 PM
Rick had hurried back the short distance from Black Pawn, still uncertain of what and or when he was going to tell his very pregnant wife. He arrived to see her walk into a small office with Dr. Long, so he approached and knocked on the door, a moment later it opened, and he was surprised to hear Dr. Long say I'll give you two a few minutes before we talk.
"Is everything OK, Angel, I mean, Dr. Long doesn't usually leave us to talk, but"
Rick, sweetie, I can see something on your face is hurting you and hurting you deeply. Is there something you need to tell me, and remember what we promised, good or bad, happy, or sad we tell each other everything and the truth, ALWAYS." She said softly,
"Angel, how do you read me so well, and yes, there is news, I don't know where to begin, but I know this is going to be hard to hear. Please hear me out, then we can talk, or you can say no, get out, whatever, OK?
"I went to Black Pawn, and when I walked in Gina and Alexis were in her office, I knew something was wrong the moment I stepped into the office. Alexis had been crying, and Gina wasn't much better. My little girl told me that she saw Lanie Parrish Rucker, her new married name when she went to see her OB-GYN for her yearly exam, sitting with Kate Beckett in the waiting area for her husband Dr. Paul Rucker, an Oncologist.
She didn't know what to do, but she was sure it was Kate, and she described her as weak, even needing Lanie's help to get up from the chair. She texted Gina, who did a discrete private investigation, just to confirm it was Beckett, and sadly it was. They knew that they couldn't hide the information from me, but were worried that in your condition, it would upset you, or cause harm to Cosmo, so they faked the ruse about the contract this morning to talk to me.
"That's what happened sweetheart, so I don't know what to do with this information, but I do want to be sure she knows she has been forgiven. I also need to ask her to forgive me, it got really ugly there for a while and things were said by us both." He said as he lowered his head,
Serena leaned over, lifted his head gently, and kissed his lips, "Well that will make what I want to tell you even easier than I had hoped. Remember I harped on you to change your Driver's license to indicate you wanted to be an organ donor and to sign up for Be The Gift, for bone marrow?" She asked
"Yes, but what does that have to do with Kate Beckett and her Leukemia?" Rick asked, confused.
"Well, I registered with the Leukemia Foundation and provided them with a blood test, Dr. Long got a request from a Doctor, I am a match for a patient in dire need of a Stem Cell Transplantation procedure." She said,
"Well, if they contacted Sarah, then they know you are pregnant, and no, absolutely not, you're not going to put yourself through that painful harvesting procedure, you can't take anesthesia, it might harm the baby, so No, Please don't do it."
"I think it's time to talk to Dr. Long, Rick, you will be surprised in a few ways, so let's go and stop worrying. I would never risk the health of our baby, and thank you for FINALLY stopping calling it Cosmo, I hate that name" she laughed.
Dr. Long had overheard most of the conversation and knocked on the door when she heard Serena's last statement. "So, Rick, I understand you're upset that a doctor has reached out to me because Serena is a 97% match for a Leukemia patient of his, who might die, soon, if she isn't given some radical treatment. I understand and respect that, but please sit, listen, and hear me when I say. I would NEVER allow any procedure that had even a remote possibility of injuring my patient or her fetus.
"The doctor who called me is an old friend of mine, AND the doctor treating the lady you were discussing with your wife, HIPPA forbids me from confirming or supplying her name. Dr. Paul Rucker, Dr. Henry Barnett, and I are old friends dating back to Stanford days, and yes we knew the lady you mentioned. Henry knew her better than Ruck and me, but we were in the same circle for a while.
The beautiful part about this, if you can find beauty in anything cancer-related is that because of Henry, all we need permission from you and Serena is to allow the Umbilical Cord and placenta to be harvested, and processed within an hour after Serena gives birth to a healthy baby. There isn't any painful digging in her hip to harvest marrow, the Cord Blood has more powerful attributes in fighting this disease than the old conventional ways." She said as Serena squeezed his hand,
"See Rick, we can help Kate, and not endanger the baby or me, we just need to sign the consent form, that's it. Stop worrying, Dr. Long will be with Dr. Barnett throughout the entire process and then will assist as they transfuse the treated blood into Kate." She said with a smile,
"Rick the early success rates for this exceed 90% for full remission and remaining in remission as far as five years. Although it's too early to pronounce clinically CURED results for another five years, we have reason to believe that it is more than possible, more likely it is probable." She said, sharing Serena's smile.
" Dr. Long, does Kate have any idea who the donor is for her, or is that out of line to ask?" he said quietly,
"Well, with HIPPA laws the way they are, I am almost certain she has no idea who the donor is, although if both parties agree, in writing, they are allowed to meet before the transplantation procedure. I would defer to Dr. Barnett to be 100% accurate. Is there interest in you meeting with her, BEFORE this procedure Rick, Serena?" she asked,
Serena looked at her husband, then spoke up, "Sarah, there are three women in this world who know my husband's inner workings, well four if you count his daughter. That group is Gina Castle Cowell, Kate Beckett, and myself, and I can tell you, he won't rest until he knows he, we, have done everything to give Kate the fighting chance to kick cancer's ass. Please talk to your friend, and since I will be on bed rest, it will have to be conducted at my condominium, if that's OK, Rick?" She looked at his smile,
"It's perfect Angel, so much more than OK. Sarah, we'll sign the consent forms so you and Dr. Barnett can make the plans for the next phase of Kate's treatment. We're going home to bed rest for this one, and the two nurses I hired start tonight, to ensure all stays well with her and the little one." He laughed,
"So, no more Cosmo, Thank God, Sara laughed and was joined in by Serena and her nurse assisting her in getting dressed.
"No more Cosmo, she is clear to go home isn't she doctor, I mean you didn't find anything on the additional tests did you?" He suddenly panicked,
"Rick, there were no more tests, just like Gina needed to speak to you alone, I needed to find out what Serena wanted to do, alone, and yes she's free to go home, Bed Rest, try to sit up at least a half hour, every other hour for the next two weeks, BUT if the cramping and pain get too tough, lie down as we showed you." She patted Serena's hand and out the door she went, she couldn't wait to call Henry.
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Presbyterian Hospital
Early Next Morning
Lanie Parrish had been called out for a midnight crisis, or so it appeared since Dr. Sidney Perlmutter refused to answer his phone, even though he was the ME on call. She would deal with that later, as soon as she got to the crime scene, and ran a few basic tests, she concluded that there was no crime. The victim had taken his own life, confirmed when the patrol officers found his wallet, keys, and an envelope addressed to Brenda, his fiancé, the X was scribbled in front of the fiancé with a sharpie.
She decided to do something that she knew would piss Beckett off, but she was worried about her friend, and she was only two blocks away. She thought she would use her key, slip in, check on her, and then slip back out. If she were discovered, then she would plead for mercy.
She opened her door quietly, and she immediately got the sense that something was wrong. There were dishes in the sink, a cardinal sin in the Kate Beckett house, and she didn't see Kate lying on the couch, or her bed. She started to walk by the bathroom, then shouted, "Oh God, no Kate," there lay Beckett, still, not making a motion.
She called for an ambulance began CPR, and in between called her husband Paul. He was going to get Dr. Barnett and meet the ambulance at the hospital. She felt her head, she was burning up with a fever, so she got ice packs, well, actually frozen bags of peas, and placed them around her head, neck, and chest as she continued CPR, even after she felt a pulse.
She continued CPR, on and off as she heard Kate begin to moan, and then she started to talk to her just as the paramedics got through the door. "Kate, it's me, Lanie, your pain in the ass BFF, look, girlfriend, you're hot with a fever, I called Paul and he's calling Henry, and they are going to meet us at the hospital, no don't flinch.
I got you; I'm riding with you so relax, these guys are just going to get you on the gurney so we can get you to the hospital. That's it, squeeze my hand, you're doing great." She shot the paramedic a look and flashed her credentials and he just nodded, as he put the oxygen mask over her face and hooked the portable defibrillator pads onto her skin, moving the peas,
"Great idea, Dr. Parrish, he looks like her fever is beginning to break," the young man said as they had Kate on the gurney, wrapped in a warm blanket, and were already heading for the door, Lanie set the alarm, locked the door, and beat the elevator down the stairs to follow them to the ambulance.
When they pulled into the ER Bay, less than 12 minutes later, Lanie saw Henry pulling on a pair of emergency scrubs and running towards the ambulance, stopping as Paul put a hand on his shoulder.
"Let them do their job, then we'll take it from there Barney, they have to brief the ER docs, and get some fluids it looks like into her stat. "he said gently
"I know Ruck, it's just we had such a wonderful time last night, we just shared the food, laughed, and remembered some old times. I didn't even take her pulse, I mean,"
"She wasn't your patient last night Henry, she was your friend, so enough of beating yourself up. That won't help her, so come on let's listen in on the briefing,
The Chief ER Resident was overseeing the case assisted by three other senior residents, when an attending physician walked in, it was Jim Barnes, another doctor they had seen around and worked with on a few occasions.
"OK, listen up team, we're breaking protocol tonight, what you all are yelling out as potential causes are all great, but she is a Leukemia patient being treated by Dr. Rucker, and Dr. Barnett, the two gentlemen behind you. Get the fluids in her started, add the IV Antibiotic, twice the normal flow, and dose, Dr. Rucker will adjust once she is stable in the ICU."
Turning to the two men, "Guys, as soon as she gets on the elevator she's your patient, the labs are already being processed and will be on her chart as soon as we get them, let us know if you need anything, including an extra set of eyes or ears, Good Luck, it looks like she got bit by a very bad virus," he said and walked away.
Henry followed the doctors as they wheeled a semi-conscious Kate Beckett to ICU with Paul and Lanie following behind. They stood outside the cubicle and allowed the ICU nurses to do their job, without having to work around any of them.
"Lanie, you found her. My God, what possessed you to go to her condo, especially at this hour of the night," Paul asked
"I got called out when that nit wit Perlmutter refused to report to a crime scene, I have to take care of that Pidgeon later, but I was within two blocks of her home, and had a bad feeling. She gave me a key for emergencies, so I figured the worst that could happen would be she would yell and send me home, but I almost had a heart attack when I found her.
"She was lying on her side by the bathroom entrance from her bedroom, not moving a muscle, not even breathing from what I could tell, so I started CPR when I couldn't get a pulse. I felt her head as I tilted it back to get a better airflow, and she was burning up. I grabbed a few bags of frozen vegetables, peas mostly, and placed them around her as best I could and continued CPR.
"I called you when she took a few breaths on her own, then she stopped so I continued the CPR until I knew she was breathing on her own, mumbling, and clinching my hand tightly. I mentioned the hospital, and she tensed up until I told her I was going to be with her the entire way, and that you and Henry would be waiting for us.
"That seemed to relax her, so now we need to figure out how she went from being strong enough to walk into Remy's, to almost dying on her bathroom floor.
"We're running cultures on the urine and blood samples, trying to determine the strain of the virus, or hopefully it's not a staph infection, either way, Barney and I will manage it. Lanie, I think it's time you call Rick and let him know what's going on." Paul said,
"Paul, she told me not to tell him, he's worried sick about his wife, and her difficult pregnancy," Lanie objected,
"Lanie I got a voicemail from Sarah letting me know she has the signed consent forms for the Cord Blood Donation, and that both Serena and Rick know who the patient is. Go ahead and make the call, it will do more good than harm, I promise you." Henry added, paused then said,
"Oh God, I have to call Sarah," as he grabbed his phone, yelling over his shoulder, "Ruck, I'll be back with coffee and tea for the boss in five minutes," then he was talking into the phone as he stepped into the elevator.
Lanie looked up at Paul, as he motioned for her to call, He was about to step into the ICU room and take charge of Kate's treatment, well he and Henry when he got back.
Lanie asked the charge nurse if there was a quiet room she could use to make a phone call for a few minutes, and was shown a private room, that was able to be locked and the door shutters worked for privacy.
She glanced at the time, God it was a few minutes after five o'clock in the morning, she couldn't just call. She sent a text to have him call her when he was awake. "Hey writer man, it's too early to call you, but I really do need to speak with you, as soon as possible so call me when you get this no matter what time, Love you, Lanes"
She hit send on the phone, held her head, and cried, the first time she had allowed her emotions to show. She heard her phone ping, and it was a message from his number. She opened it, Lanie, this is Serena, damn bladder had me up, I'm waking Rick up now, he's getting me a hot chocolate and him a coffee and will call you in a few minutes if that's OK?" Kay,
"Perfect" Lanie replied and waited.
A few minutes later her phone rang, she was on speaker. "Hey Lanie, it's Rick, then she heard, and Serena, what's up that you wanted me to call you so quickly, Paul is OK, isn't he?" he rushed out,
"Yes Rick, Paul is fine he's with a patient that was just admitted to the ICU from the ER, Rick it's Kate Beckett. I stopped by her condo after a false call-out to a homicide and found her unresponsive on the floor.
Leaving the I conducted CPR out she said, "I called the paramedics, and they have her breathing on her own, but she has a high fever, so Paul and a new associate, actually a friend of Kate from Stanford, Dr. Henry Barnett are working on her now. Her condition is listed as guarded but stable for now."
"Oh my God, Lanie, is there anything Rick or I can do?" Serena asked, tears in her voice
"Not right now Serena, but I did want to say thank you both, Henry told us you signed the consent forms for the cord blood transplantation, even knowing who the patient was Serena. You have a heart as big as Ricks, so from her BFF, who wants to kick her ass some, well a lot of days Thank You both,
"Lanie, Serena is on bed rest, so"
"I know Rick, she wouldn't expect you to be here,"
"Lanie if you would let him finish, he was going to say I told him when the Day nurse shows up to get down there, you and I both know he won't rest until he knows firsthand the facts," Serena said,
"I'll be down a little after 7:00 AM if that's OK with her doctors," Rick said,
"LET anyone try to stop you, and they will deal with me, see you soon, and Serena, I love you because you love Rick so damn much," she sniffled, and then hung up the phone,
TBC
A/N: OK, everyone knows that I don't write a story without a twist, but Charlie, put the dark suit and tie away, nothing is going to happen to your Kate.