Private Life

by Castlefan6

Authors Note AU: Beckett and Castle have reached their first If Only moment, which forces Rick to leave the precinct. The episodes Cops and Robbers and To Live and Die in LA have been rearranged to suit this Timeline; please go with it.

I am taking a Literary License to fill in the blanks.

I don't own Castle; I only use the characters for amusement, except the ones I create. This one is for Charlie.

This is COMPLETELY AU and May or May Not Wind Up with a Caskett Ending.

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12th Precinct

Friday before Memorial Day

During The Episode Overkill, Castle discovers the Big Lie.

From Dust Jackets Wiki: No infringement intended.

FLASHBACK TO WEDNESDAY

"Hey, Demming," Rick said as politely as he could at the sight of the smug Robbery Detective.

"Hey, Castle." Turning to face Kate, who had hurried to his side, "So, you know that little place in Asbury I was telling you about, around the corner from our beach house?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, they just had a reservation open up on Friday. If we leave early enough, we could probably make it."

"Yeah, um, will you let me check into it?"

"Great. I'll see you later." She takes a deep breath as Demming returns to the stairs to his floor, then turns around to face Castle, knowing her lie has been exposed.

"Beach house? I thought you were working this weekend," he said, not in a cruel tone but one that was worse: his dreaded monotone voice.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Castle. I should've just told you. I just didn't want things to be awkward between us now that Tom and I," she pauses, searching for the words, then says, "are together."

"No, I get it. Yeah. No, you want your private life to be private."

"Yeah, I just don't- I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable."

"No, of course not. No, I mean... Actually, that makes what I was gonna say a little easier. Um... With my book due, I thought it'd be a good time for us to take a break." Again, in that damn monotone tone, his words are coming out, but it's not her Rick's voice, or at least the voice she's used to hearing.

"A break?" Her face falls: she wasn't expecting to hear those words.

"Yeah. God knows you got to be tired of me following you around all the time, and I really do need to get some work done. With everyone gone, I figured, why not just stay up in the Hamptons, you know? Get away from the city for a while." He isn't smiling nor allowing any emotion to show on his face or voice, although she notices his neck and ears turning red. Alexis had confided in her that it was his tell and to stay away from him when he was that upset.

"Well, for how long?" Her voice was emotional, almost a desperate plea in it; she hated that she wasn't as in control of her emotions as he was of his.

"The summer at least. I thought this would be our last case."

She was still rattled when Esposito and Ryan approached with the pictures of the bus locker she had asked them to check out. It showed the handler inserting the briefcase, and less than two days later, the case was solved.

Current Time

Esposito had approached her about having a going away party for Castle, hinting that it might be longer than Kate thought, but she had managed to shrug that thought off.

Castle got wind of the party and politely asked Javi to forego the party and to get together at another time, off-site from the precinct. It didn't take a rocket scientist to conclude that he had seen enough of the tonsil hockey between Beckett and Demming and wouldn't subject himself to any more signs of their PDA. He left quietly as Kate was booking the jealous husband who had shot his wife's lover and had been gone for over two hours before Kate realized he was gone.

"Hey Javier, have you seen Castle? I thought you were throwing him a small going-away party," she finally asked, as Javi just shook his head.

"He got wind of the surprise and asked me not to. Something about he had seen all he needed to see, and it would be best if he left quietly for all concerned." Javi said with a sad expression.

He watched as Kate gasped and began to blush. "Yeah, he saw you and Demming in the stairwell a few times, so he wasn't in the party mood. He said something about needing to wrap up the series before he left for the coast and promised we would get together when he returned," Javi said.

"The coast? Javi, are you sure that's what he said, and are you sure he said wrap the series up?" Kate asked, her tone automatically tuned to interrogation mode.

"Easy Beckett, I told you before he wasn't hanging around to see you parade a bunch of guys, so don't try to interrogate me. He mentioned it a few times when you were tied up with Demming at the, well at your meeting spot." He spat back at her,

"You are out of line, Esposito; what and who I do it with is none of your God Damn business, you got that?" She was angry and took it out on whoever was close by.

No one knew that she had summoned Demming up to have a discussion and wound up breaking up with him in the hope that Rick would re-invite her to the Hamptons for the weekend. She planned on asking him during a break from the party, a party now that wasn't happening.

Javi looked at her with a sad look and just said, "As you wish," and turned and walked away, revealing a very pissed-off Roy Montgomery standing in his office doorway.

"Beckett, my office now," he thundered, turned, and returned to his chair.

She thought, "Oh great, now Roy is pissed that Rick is leaving for the entire summer, and he is going to blame her for it," as she walked towards his office. One look at his face, and she knew he was more than angry; he was about to blow his top. Now wasn't the time for two friends to talk; it was a boss-to-subordinate discussion, so she steadied herself for a royal ass chewing.

She walked in as Roy slammed the door and lowered the blinds; "barking, take a seat, Detective. I couldn't help but hear what the entire bullpen just heard: a lead detective dressing down one of her reports loud enough for the entire precinct to hear. Don't get me wrong, Esposito has deserved ass chewings like that before, BUT not in front of his co-workers, NEVER in front of the entire bullpen, Beckett.

"Why do you think your ass is in that chair now? If I had done what I wanted, I would have embarrassed you the way you did your team member, but that's not how it's supposed to be done." He was yelling loud enough for the bullpen to hear, but he had at least afforded her the symbolism of privacy, something she was regretting not doing to her team member now.

"Sir, I'm truly sorry, and it won't happen again, Sir." She tried to calm the situation down, but her words seemed to have the opposite effect on her Captain.

"You're damn right it won't happen again, Detective. Do you have any idea of what your actions have cost this precinct, this department, your co-workers, and myself?

"Your high school make-out sessions, and yes, Detective, you weren't being so discrete that the entire precinct has NOT either witnessed or heard first-hand accounts of your sessions with your boyfriend from Robbery." She seized the opportunity to refute his description as he slowed to breathe.

"Sir, Demming is not my boyfriend, at least not anymore. We broke up," she said and hung her head, waiting for the next tidal wave.

"Is that why you nearly tore Esposito's head off? You broke up with your boyfriend and wanted to accept Castle's proposal for a weekend getaway to the Hamptons?" He asked,

"Sir, you knew about that?" she seemed shocked.

"Of course, I knew about it, Detective; I usually allow matters of the heart to play out without my interference, EXCEPT when you bring them into my house as you and Demming did. I also heard the razing of Rick Castle all last week. I waited for the LEAD DETECTIVE to do her job; she never did."

"Sir, about that." She stopped when she saw the raised hand,

"Detective, there is no excuse you can give to justify the behavior you allowed and contributed to last week. Were you aware that Rick Castle has resigned from the volunteer consultant job for the NYPD?" He saw the look of horror on her face, telling him she had no clue that Rick had left not only for the summer but for good.

"I thought not," he added as he saw the look of shock on her face.

"Sir, you can't let him quit; I mean, I."

"Excuse me, Detective, I can't allow him to quit? A Volunteer job where he had been ridiculed and his best-sellers called, I believe the words were Nancy Drew Novels, threatened to be shot by you to get rid of him constantly, and you think I can talk him into staying after that royal treatment?

"Unfortunately, I fully expect him to withdraw his large donations earmarked for this precinct, anonymously, of course, but we all know where the money came from. How the hell do you think our precinct never suffered layoffs or lack of equipment we needed?"

"Did you think the money fell from trees?" He said, rubbing his head, a sure sign that things were going to get worse, much worse.

"The only thing saving you from a discipline hearing is a letter from Rick to the Mayor and Commissioner taking the high road and apologizing for lack of notice for his resignation. He cited new business opportunities that could not be ignored and wished everyone well. It sounds like a 9-year-old on a sugar rush to me, Beckett."

"Sir, I." his glare was enough to stop her in her tracks.

"A note was left for me, asking me NOT to discipline you or Esposito, but I have to tell you, Beckett, I am thoroughly disappointed in you." He said as she hung her head,

"I am also disappointed in myself, Captain, more than anyone will know." She fought the tears welling up in her eyes, "Sir if you see him, will you ask him to call me? I need to apologize; I've tried to call his landline and cell, both without success." She said,

"Well, you're going to find out anyway, but Rick has invited most of the 12th to his Hamptons Home for a Holiday getaway, so I will see him. When I brought your name up last time, he threatened to, well, it didn't go well, Beckett. I'll try, but don't get your hopes up." He said, then added, "Is there anything else, Detective?" he asked

"Sir, no Sir," she replied,

"Well, go find Esposito and apologize, I've already chewed his ass out for last week, and he apologized to Rick before he left.

"Sir, when is everyone leaving for the Hamptons, if I may ask." She looked around at the nearly deserted bullpen,

Roy pulled out a suitcase and said, "Right now, Detective, think about what we discussed and enjoy your weekend. I left orders that no one was allowed to let someone take their shift, especially you.

"You will have time to think about the actions and consequences your lack of leadership has cost us. Dismissed Detective, I have a bus to catch." He said as he turned his light out, closed and locked his office door, and headed to the elevator door, pulling his rollaway suitcase behind him.

Kate closed her computer, gathered her purse, and took the stairs down to the ground level to see three limousine buses loading many of her co-workers. Once the Captain boarded the first bus, they pulled away from the curb, and many occupants waved to her.

Great, just great. Everyone is going, and they all know that I'm stuck here in the city. God Damn, Castle, he did this on purpose to embarrass me. Then she heard her inner voice. How did he know you were not on your way to Demming's beach house? That was the last thing he knew.

Screw it, she didn't need him nor his Hamptons home or the party he was throwing. She would have a great weekend without him. Who was she kidding? She barely made it home before her tears fell, but were they tears for her, or the shoddy treatment Rick had received?

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Hamptons House

Friday Before Memorial Day, 7:45 PM

Rick and his staff stood to greet the members of the 12th precinct as they arrived, all laughing and smiling. He had arranged rooms for everyone; some were staying on-site, and some were being shuttled two miles to the Hampton Village Inn, where Rick had rented 20 rooms.

Ann and Roz, Roy, and his wife decided to stay at the beach home, while Lanie, Javi, and the Ryans opted for a private suite at the Hampton Inn. Everyone was happy with the arrangements. All were to return to the beach within one hour for a bonfire and dinner Rick had catered and set up.

LT, his wife, and many of the detectives and patrolmen made it a point to thank Rick. Usually, they were the first to be excluded from get-togethers such as this, and they enjoyed the company, the beach, and the relaxed atmosphere.

Ann and Roz were wearing bathing suits; well, if you considered two nipple covers and a half of a leaf as swimwear. Try as they might, they failed to get Rick to notice their bodies on full display, although many other men caught elbows from their spouses for looking a bit too long.

Roy had settled down with a cold beer in front of the bonfire and felt relaxed for the first time in a very long time. Rick joined him once he saw that everyone had eaten. Then, he allowed the staff to gather the food for donation to a food clinic and hunger center a few miles away.

"So, this is how the other half lives, eh Rick? Who knew back then, when you were just a wet nose second Luey, that our paths would connect so deeply?" Roy laughed.

"Well, looks like the joke is on you, Cap, you are reporting to, and I quote, "The bottom of the barrel, even worse than that, not even a fucking barrel, they send me a termite that bored his way into the Marines," I think is how you described his honor, Bob Weldon, he laughed.

"God don't remind me, Rick, those were some days; I don't know how he ever got home, well I do, but we both know there were times that we all came close not being here to remember," he said suddenly, a somber tone in his voice.

"Well, my CO once told me that a miss was as good as a mile when it came to bullets. Just don't wait around, or the one with your name on it will find you. We all were lucky you were our Commanding Officer, or none of us would have survived those days." Rick said quietly,

"Well, you damn near didn't, damn fool, carried Weldon for six miles when all he had was a flesh wound, and you almost bled out," Roy looked over at his friend, a serious look on his face.

"Well, I wasn't taking chances, and we both knew Weldon was the weak link to our chain; if they had captured him, hell, the entire operation would have been compromised. He got his Mayor job because of his love to talk, and talk, and talk." Rick laughed,

Roy laughed, "That is one thing he is good at, for sure. Rick, about the last few weeks at the precinct, I."

"Hey Cap, no shop talk; we're here to have fun and relax. I know what you're going to say, but really, it doesn't matter anymore. Tell Beckett she's forgiven if she will stop calling me day and night. If she doesn't, I will have to take more drastic action," he said, not in a joking manner, and Roy knew his friend was very serious.

"Someday, you need to tell me the entire story of how she got you under her thumb so badly that you turn a blind eye to her incompetence and shitty attitude. She's worse than anyone we served with, even the ones who washed out of our unit ever were." He said,

"It's a long story, Rick, and you're not wrong; maybe someday I'll be able to share it with you." He said, knowing his friend had hit his major flaw head-on.

"Hey, it's time for the fireworks, so grab another beer and come down closer to the beach to see the ground display as well as those in the sky," Rick said as he turned and made his way to the beach.

A few minutes later, the ooohs and ahhhhs could be heard throughout the entire crowd as the sky was illuminated with a firework display larger than some small municipalities could afford to put on. It was the capper for a perfect first evening on the waterfront of the Hamptons, and everyone was at peace, well, almost everyone. Rick knew that he had been a little rough on his former CO, but he hadn't said anything that wasn't truthful. Now, the hard part was about to come: break his contract with Black Pawn and head west for the next chapter of his life.

TBC

A/N: First, any military references are just a plot point; we are not looking for corrections to military protocol or procedure. Next, the episodes in Cannon are reference points ONLY. We will build upon their premise but not follow the details. Translated, If I didn't write it in THIS story, it didn't happen. Updates will be slow and sporadic due to ongoing doctor appointments and treatments.

If you read the story and it's not for you, Thanks for trying it out. No review or comment is necessary. If you read and hate it, be respectful in your comments, and I'll see if we can change something to make it more plausible. Trolls will be deleted and blocked where possible.