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

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Chapter 6

Hidden Hills, California,

Next Morning

10:17 AM

Rick had received the text message that the California Highway Patrol was in route to his home with a visitor, one who had not been happy with the LAPD, who had transferred her to the County Sheriff's Office once they had made it clear that she had two choices. Either she complied with the conditions of her visit, or she would be escorted back to New York to face an already pissed-off Captain Roy Montgomery.

The LAPD Captain was a friend of Roy's from the old days and had called him directly when Beckett tried to throw her weight as an NYPD Homicide Detective around to the uniformed patrol officers who had met her as she exited the aircraft, totally shocked to find she was the reason for the police presence in the area.

She wasn't provided with many details, only that everyone was aware that she was in Los Angeles to avenge her former partner's death. A fact that all of the brass was aware of, and by order of the NYPD Chief of Police, as well as her Captain, Police Commissioner, and Mayor as well as the mayor of Los Angeles, she was to be escorted to a suburb of Los Angeles until she could arrange her return trip to New York.

The police captain held a cell phone out, with Roy Montgomery on speaker,

"Beckett, what the hell did I tell you when you left?" He was angry, past angry if she were being truthful.

"Sir, I'm out in L.A. for a few days while the NYPD solves Royce's murder," she tried and heard him scream, "BULLSHIT DETECTIVE."

"Why do you think you had such a police presence the moment you landed in Los Angeles? I'll give you a clue, and It's not to present you with a key to the city. You are to return to New York WITHOUT causing one incident for the LAPD. They will proceed with the lead for your suspect by the name of Gage, not you. IS THAT PERFECTLY CLEAR?" he yelled into the phone.

"Sir, I,"

"Kate, in case you didn't realize it, you put both our asses in a bind with the brass here, and if you proceed with your hair brain plan, whatever it is, we will both lose our jobs. STAND DOWN, DETECTIVE; I'm not ready to lose my shield, even if I have to fire you myself over the phone." He continued his uncharacteristic screaming into the phone. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"Sir, Yes, Sir," She answered, knowing that his ass was on the line now as well, making it clear why things had changed between them.

"Very Well, follow the orders given to you, and then get back to New York ASAP, with NO ACTION TAKEN against Gage. Are we clear on your orders, or do I need to spell them out line by line?" He asked,

"No sir, I am clear on your orders, Sir." She replied.

"Very well, you have housing arrangements that you might find distasteful, but there are reasons why, so follow your orders, and I will see you in New York." No one within earshot could miss the sound of a phone being slammed into the cradle.

"This way, Detective, we have housing arrangements in a private home in a suburb where you are less likely to succumb to temptation and interfere with the LAPD. Just so you know, Roy is a good friend of mine, and I knew Mike Royce very well. If you think you are the only cop that can solve his murder, then you are a disappointment to his teachings as your Training Officer," Captain Jerry Ora said as he motioned for the patrol officer who gently took Kate's bag.

As they started to walk to the airport's transportation area, a club cart pulled up, and they all climbed aboard. Minutes later, she was in the back of a stretch limo headed to who knows where, but away from the hotel she had made reservations for.

"Captain, can you at least tell me where I am being transported to?" she tried the innocent plea to the LAPD Police Captain.

"Somewhere that you will be familiar with once you arrive. Other than that, no detective and no further details will be provided to you." He said,

"Isn't this holding me against my will?" Kate tried,

"Would you rather spend three days in County Jail? It's private housing until you can change your return flights since all flights from LAX to New York are sold out until next Thursday. I suggest you book it as soon as you arrive at your destination." He said without emotion,

She remained quiet, figuring no place could be as bad as being a cop in a county jail, especially the one with such a reputation as Los Angeles. She looked out the window for the remaining 47 minutes of the trip until they turned onto what she thought was another road, but she was about to get the shock of her life.

They pulled through the massive iron gates, with R on one gate and C on the other, and made their way to what looked like a small apartment building complex with houses off in the distance. She heard voices, one sounded like Rick, but she at first thought she was hearing things, it had been a long trip.

The door to the limo opened, and there indeed stood Rick Castle with her old friend Madison Queller. This had to be a joke, they couldn't expect her to stay with these two, could they? She thought to herself.

"Don't get your panties in a wad, Becks. It wasn't our idea either, but your Captain and Commissioner begged Rick to take you in to keep you from spending three days in the County Jail among the undesirables, as they put it." Maddie came right out with the obvious. They were about as happy to have her as she was to be there.

FLASHBACK ONE HOUR PRIOR

Rick and Maddie were relaxing by the pool after the usual early morning run on the beach, working out in the gym, cooling down in the pool, and then using the hot tub to soothe any sore muscles. Rick's phone rang, and he had a panicked look on his face when he heard the ring tone,

She started to ask if he was OK when he held up one finger for silence, then placed the call on speaker. "Go ahead, Roy, you're on speaker so Maddie can hear what's going on. What's so urgent that you are using my direct cell phone? This better be good," he said in a not-so-friendly tone,

"Rick, first I wanted to say I'm sorry, I tried but got overruled by that punk ass buddy of yours and the Commissioner, I mean."

"Cut to the story, Roy. What the hell is going on? Give me the details and how it impacts my life." He was much more forceful than Maddie had heard him speak to his old friend before.

"I'm sure you were briefed about Mike Royce being killed and how Beckett got the lead about his killer heading back to Los Angeles, well, they are driving her to your home and should be there within the hour," Roy said slowly,

"Roy, you had to know I would have been briefed about this before, so why did you wait to call me until she was on her way here?" I got briefed about this yesterday, and Maddie had the staff prepare the guest room for her. She's welcome as long as she doesn't overstep or stick her nose into my business." Rick said,

"Well, the deputies just took custody of her when she landed, and we had a three-way call to spell out she wasn't to interfere with LAPD's case. I want to extradite the son of a bitch back to New York myself, he killed a former NYPD Cop, but I realize LAPD has other charges he needs to answer for first.

"As for why I didn't call you before, I was trying to reason with Boyle and Weldon without revealing too many of the details you had confided in me, but you know those two assholes. I didn't have any luck at all, and I'm truly sorry, Rick, to you and Maddie.

"No problem, Roy, I understand. I'll call you when we wrap this up," Rick said and hung up.

PRESENT TIME

Rick came around the corner with an older lady dressed as a housekeeper, "Detective, this is Rosa, Rosa, this is Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD; she will be with us for a few days until she can arrange her flight back to New York. Please show her to the guest room on the south side of the hallway," Rick said cordially,

"Yes sir, Mr. Rick, Will you follow me, Detective Beckett? You can get settled before we have a late lunch," the older lady said in a kind tone,

"Thank you, Rosa, and please call me either Beckett or Kate," she said, then turned to Rick,

"Can you please take twenty minutes to meet with me sometime before I fly back, Rick? I know you are hurt and angry, and I want to apologize." She said as she noticed Maddie had moved closer to him and just intertwined her fingers with his,

"Maddie, I need to apologize to you as well. You were never a suspect, and I did come on far too strong, so if we could talk, I would appreciate it," she said, looking at the one-time best friend in the eyes,

"We can talk, Becks, but I'm guessing it's nothing I haven't heard from you before. For now, go get settled and join us for lunch on the veranda." She said as she and Rick turned and walked to the opposite side of the house.

"Right this way, Miss Kate, it's not too far down this hall," Rosa said as she wheeled her carry-on luggage behind her as she led the way. Kate followed the older lady, thinking that this had been awkward, but at least she got to ask him for twenty minutes to talk. She did owe Madison a heartfelt apology as well, so hopefully, they could mend their fences yet again.

She opened the door to a guest room, actually a suite, larger than her entire apartment in New York, with a sunken living room area, private bath, sauna, and a lovely view of the ocean from her patio. She unpacked only clothes that would become wrinkled and placed her suitcase inside the closet.

She quickly freshened up, remembering when she had stayed with the Castles the last time in New York. He had gone out and provided her with brands of all beauty products. This time, she knew the brands were chosen by Maddie, a very obvious fact that they were indeed living together and were more than friends.

She opened her door, and Rosa was by her side in just a moment, "This way, Miss Kate, the house is confusing until you learn the layout," she smiled.

They walked back in the direction that she had come from, then off to a hall leading to a magnificent view of the mountains, a veranda that was decorated with Maddie's style of furniture, and a food buffet bar that had everything from fruit to taco's you could assemble yourself with all of the trimmings.

She took a plate and placed some fruit and a hamburger in the steamer, along with a bag of chips, and joined Maddie and Rick at a huge table, careful to take the seat as far away from Rick as possible.

Rick never looked up as Rosa asked her what she wanted to drink—coffee, tea, or iced tea—or if she could get her something from the bar. She decided to stay safe and drink what Maddie and Rick were drinking: Iced Tea. She waited for one of the two to speak, but nothing. You could hear a pin drop until Rosa returned with her drink. She thanked her and then returned her attention to the table.

She had been friends with Maddie for over twenty years, and Rick had taken her into his home when she had lost hers to the bomb, talking to either shouldn't be this hard. She cleared her voice and started,

"Rick, Maddie, I apologize for putting you out and for showing up in the manner I did, I never expected to be greeted by a goon squad of cops at the airport," She said,

"So, what was your plan, Detective," God, she was really beginning to hate that word, if only he would call her Beckett or Kate, "Did you plan just showing up and solve Royce's murder with just the name of a thug named Gage? Do you have any idea of how tough of a character he is out here?" Rick asked,

"Well, Roy wouldn't let me work the case in New York, so."

"So, let me guess, Esposito fed you the intel you needed about Gage, and you jumped on a plane to fly out here. Detective, what were you planning on doing once you got here?" He asked, not in his jovial kidding mood,

"I hadn't gotten that far, but I still am wondering why the issue went all the way up to the Mayor, Commissioner, and Chief. I mean, I was flying out to see if I could help in some way in getting justice for Royce," She tried, but the looks on both Maddie and Rick's faces told her they both knew it was bullshit.

"Well, let me state the obvious, BULLSHIT, Detective. Jerry Ora, the Captain who got word of a rogue NYPD sticking her nose into an investigation of a thug well known to him and all of the West Coast and much more involved than just one murder, made a phone call to an old friend, NYPD Police Captain, Roy Montgomery.

"How Boyle and Weldon got involved in this mess is a question you need to ask your Captain, but I got a call, several calls that said they couldn't trust you in the city, and would I be willing to house you here in Hidden Hills until your return flight in three days," Rick said, then took a sip of his iced tea,

"I can imagine how you reacted, Rick, I mean, I."

"Becks, he didn't react at all. He just asked if I could have the guest room prepared and if I would mind if we did you a favor. It was here OR in the county jail until your flight was ready to return to New York. What was I going to say, no?

"Becks, you are a pain in the ass, a know it all, one who has to have things their way all the time, but you were once a friend. I couldn't let you spend three days in County, not knowing the caliber of people in there," Maddie rushed out, so Rick left it up to me. If you're angry with anyone, then be angry with me.

Rick would have let her go to jail. Did she hear Maddie correctly? Her mind sped through the words being said. Maddie was the reason she was staying with them in Los Angeles, not Rick. Well, that cleared a lot of things for her, he may have cared once, but he didn't give a damn about her now.

"I'm sorry to you both; I promise I will lay low until my plane leaves on Thursday and will try to be invisible to you both." She said, the hurt showing in her voice.

"Speaking about that, Becks, you leave on Wednesday. I booked you a first-class ticket out of Ontario, California. Our drivers will ensure you get to the correct airport on time." Maddie said. Rick was thoroughly engrossed in some paperwork he was reviewing, and if he knew she was even there, he wasn't letting on until several minutes later when he spoke.

"Well, I have to go to the studio; I'll be back when I get back, Sweetheart, as he kissed Maddie, a display of PDA he never would have done a few months ago, and the kiss was returned.

"OK, call me later. We may go shopping to get Becks out of the house, but other than that, I know we can't go into LA city limits," she replied,

"Please don't. You know Jerry and his temper. He was already super pissed just at the thought of another cop trying to come into his backyard and show him up. I don't think a set of autographed books to his wife and daughter will get us out of his doghouse if you go near the city." Rick said as he stepped away,

Kate was quiet as she watched the two of them walk hand in hand to the door and then heard another kiss; she couldn't watch. Was this the sick feeling Rick felt when she was with Demming, she thought back?"

A few minutes later, Maddie returned as she heard the roar of the engine of a fancy sports car, convertible top down, streak by the window as Rick wasted no time getting out of her sight.

"Becks, if we're going to talk, you're going to have to take the lead. I'm not going to guess what's on your mind, I'm not playing those games with you anymore. Before you ask, I will tell you that things between Rick and me are private and none of your business, so what do you want to talk about?"

A/N: Well, Kate is in Los Angeles, just like Canon, BUT with a few twists. Before I get the comments that Rick kissed Maddie to hurt Beckett, remember they were already together when he invited her to the Hamptons, and she lied to be with Tom. It was the lie that pissed him off or the last lie she told, not the fact she was with someone else.

Thanks again for the well wishes, thoughts, and prayers; things are moving along as smoothly as possible for me. Now, please remember Pen2Paper, Tom, with his health struggles, and my friend S, who is fighting cancer in a foreign land, not doing well in your prayers.