Calling Dr. Davidson?

An AU vignette from an AU story based on a prompt (of sorts) in response to a wisecrack review. See the AN: below.

All standard disclaimers apply

AN: Recently while reviewing castlefan6's current story "92 Days" I made a wisecrack (Me? Who would have thought?). Anyway, Tim challenged me to write a short sub-story based on what I said. The crux of my comment will become obvious from the story. This is basically an imaginary tale and is in no way to be construed as an actual part of castlefan6's story.

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Beckett paced in a circle, then back and forth, then back to the circle. She couldn't sit down. She was too scared. Castle was fighting for his life and there was nothing she could do to help.

Gina had called her from Hamptons Memorial Hospital. Apparently Castle was being sent on a life flight to Presbyterian Hospital in New York for emergency heart surgery. When did Castle have heart problems!

Had she been so self-absorbed for so long that she never knew that Rick had a weak ticker? God, if didn't survive this, she doubted if she would either. Having Castle move on with his life and find happiness with someone who wasn't her, she could live with, barely. But not this, no way should this happen to him. It was wrong in so many ways. Why were the good people always the ones who suffered?

Kate's pacing was interrupted by the arrival of Gina. Who looked as worried as she felt. They shared a quick, awkward hug.

"So, what do you know? How did this happen? When did Castle have heart problems?" Kate was frantic.

Gina did her best to calm the distraught detective. "Calm down, Kate. He's in the best hands that he can be. Dr. Kovacs is one of the best heart surgeons in the country. Also, he's brought in a good friend to consult with him. Luckily this guy is another top heart specialist. It's really fortunate that this guy got back from the Dominican a couple of days early. I guess he does a lot of humanitarian work."

A chill suddenly climbed Beckett's spine. It had to be. Kovacs was the guy who took over her surgeries from Josh when she was shot. She knew they worked together several times. Both were considered tops in their field.

She looked at Gina, who seemed confused by her reaction. "Gina, do you know this other doctor's name?"

"Kate?" She got her answer.

Coming toward her and Gina was the ghost of mistakes past. To be fair, she knew what she was getting with Josh. She knew he was a dedicated doctor. She knew he valued his humanitarian work with Doctors without Borders. And she knew he was a good guy. She knew and understood all those things about him going in. His only real flaw was that he wasn't Castle.

Josh Davidson came walking down the hallway toward her. He seemed surprised to see her there. "Kate, what are you doing here?"

"Josh, hi." She pushed some hair behind her ear to gain a moment. "I guess you haven't been told who you're consulting about." His look told her. "It's Castle. He needs some kind of valve surgery."

Josh nodded. "I've had some conversation with Dr. Kovacs, but I didn't know who the patient was." He gave her arm a squeeze. "I hope you know that our previous history will have no effect on what I'm here to do."

She shook her head. "No, I know you'd never let your personal life interfere with your professional life." Did she imagine it, or did she see a slight tick in one of his eyes. Suddenly, Kate realized that she wasn't alone with Josh.

With a slight blush Kate shook her head. "Gina, I'm so sorry." She nodded at Josh. "Josh, this is Gina Cowell. She's Castle's publisher, editor, best friend, and the step mother to his daughter Alexis."

If Josh was confused by the introduction he didn't show it. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Cowell." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I've only had the briefest of consultation with Dr. Kovacs so far, but from what I do know. It isn't the easiest of surgery, but the degree of success for them is quite high."

Josh glances at his wrist watch. "I have to go for the final consultation before Dr. Kovacs commits to the surgery. I'll check back with both of you after the procedure."

"Thanks Josh." "Thanks Dr. Davidson" Two voices responded in harmony.

The two very worried women dragged themselves over to the amazingly uncomfortable hard plastic chairs that the hospital so generously provided for those who could only sit and wait.

Kate fiddled with her fingers then turned to Gina. "I assume you have already contacted Martha and Alexis?'

Gina nodded. "Yeah, I did. But I have no idea how long it will take them to get here. I'm not even sure where they are. I'm confident that they'll get here as soon as they are able."

"Yeah, they will. They are a really tight knit family." Kate reached out and grabbed Gina's hand. "And you are an important part of that family too."

Gina blushed. "I'd like to believe that."

Kate smiled. "The way Castle talks about you, there's no doubt about it."

Gina gave her a weak grin. "Unless it's about the books."

Kate chuckled. "Yeah, there's that." Beckett smoothed her expression. "You two seem so good together. Castle never talks about his failed marriages. What happened?"

Gina shook her head. "It's none of your business, Kate. Just know that Richard was never to blame."

Kate opened her mouth but Gina pressed her finger over lips. "All I will say is, Richard is a very loving and forgiving man, and I cherish the deep friendship we are still able to have. But there are some things that Richard won't forgive. Be aware of that Kate." Gina stops to take a breath. "I know you are a smart woman Kate, so I'm pretty sure you know what I'm talking about. Richard has been going through some significant changes lately. This whole movie business is completely new to him, but like anything he does, he's jumped into it with both feet. And now, it's going to be a large part of his life going forward. We have guarantees for three more movies."

Kate looked astonished. "Four Heat movies! Really?"

Gina nodded. "Look, Kate I don't really know what went wrong with the two of you, but I hope you realize that, as far as your relationship goes, you're on a precipice. I know he loves you, but that isn't always good enough. If you want to be with Richard you are going to have to commit to it fulltime. Never take it for granted. Never think that everything is going to be fine, be honest. You'll have to work with him every day. If you're willing to do that… well I think you know it will be worth it."

Kate wiped a tear from her cheek. "I know you're right Gina, and I hope with all my heart that I get the chance to prove it to him."

The ladies sat in silence for several minutes. Each thought to broach the silence but didn't know what to say. The same things were going through the heads of each. What would happen if he doesn't make it? No, mustn't think way. He has to get better, he has to. Neither wanted to think of a world without Castle.

Finally, if only the break the silence Gina spoke. "So, that was Motor Cycle Boy, eh?"

Kate chuckled. "Yeah, that's him. You'd never guess who came up with that nickname."

Gina grinned. "I think I might have an idea."

Beckett shook her head, her hair falling in front of her face briefly. "He's a great doctor. He saved my life. Against protocol, he worked on me until Dr. Kovacs was located and was able to scrub in. I might not have made it if he hadn't."

"Did you ever love him?" Kate stared at Gina for several heartbeats. "In a way, but not how you would normally define love. He was a good man. He was dedicated to helping those who didn't have access to modern medicine and," She cocked her brow. "He wasn't bad to look at either."

Gina laughed. "So why'd you split up?"

"He wasn't Castle." She pushed her long hair back. "I was too afraid of wanting Castle to ever really listen to my deeper feelings. He'd been my partner and my friend for going on three years, but I wouldn't let myself take the next step. I never felt I was good enough for him." Kate shook her head in regret. "I protected myself by dangling men I never really loved in front of him. I was stupid."

Gina looked toward the corridor that Davidson had gone down. "So Josh was just what, someone to make Richard jealous."

"Maybe." Kate shrugged. "There were times when I thought that Josh and I could make it, but he would have to leave and I would fall back into my old habits." Kate let a sad smile crease her face. "At first he was just what I thought I wanted. He was handsome, sweet, and a good enough lover to fulfill those needs. He was always busy, and so was I. I thought it the perfect solution. We'd understand that our jobs would always take precedent. And that would be okay. We'd just pick it up the next time we had a chance. It was easy, and there was no guilt."

Gina smiled. "Doesn't sound so bad."

Kate chuckled. "It really wasn't until I began to want more, and I'd forget who I was with at the time. He would tell me stories of his times over seas and I'd listen, and my heart would break to hear about the conditions those poor people had to try and live under. Then I'd tell him stories of our latest cases. And that's where the problems really started."

Gina nodded. "I can just guess. Richard's name came up more times than would seem logical for a tag along writer."

Kate laughed. "Oh yeah. He never understood why I let some writer follow me around. I was always saying; Castle did this, or I can't believe Castle did that."

"I'd imagine that did a lot for your relationship."

Kate's laugh turned a bit sour. "Not so much. He was convinced that I was sleeping with Castle and toward the end we seemed to fight about Castle all the time." She grabbed another handful of her long hair and unsuccessfully pushed it behind her ear. "I'd tell him that there was nothing between Castle and me besides being friends and work partners."

Gina leaned back in the chair. "He didn't' believe you?"

"Of course he didn't. He wasn't stupid. Only I was. All the while I was claiming a platonic relationship with Castle I really wanted more. If I'd just been honest enough with myself. Maybe if I hadn't led Josh on as long as I did. Maybe I wouldn't be as miserable as I am."

Gina reached over and grabbed Beckett's hand. "Well, we just have to hope that Richard will recover and both of our lives will be better for it."

"Amen."

Gina waited several more minutes before she broke the silence.

"So, I'm curious. Why did you hook up with Josh in the first place?'

"It was during the summer when you and Rick went up to the Hamptons to catch up on his writing. You remember that don't you?"

Gina nodded. "Yeah, you looked kind of sad. I had thought that you would have been more pleased to have a break from Richard."

She shook her head. "Just the opposite. I had just broken up with Demming and was going to except Rick's offer to go to the Hamptons for the long holiday weekend."

"And then I walked in."

"And then you walked in." Kate chuckled. "Anyway, I was out riding my motorcycle when I ran into Josh and his bike at a fuel stop."

"Ooooh, he rides a motorcycle too?"

Kate raises her brow. "You like motorcycles?"

"I'll have you know Ms. Badass detective, I've had my wild child days too."

Kate grinned. "I just have a hard time picturing you in anything but couture fashion, perfect hair and makeup, and shoes that I'd be jealous of."

Gina shrugged. "One has to keep up a certain corporate image you know." Kate smirked at her, Gina glared. "As you were saying. You met him and…"

Kate shrugged. "We talked. We went to a nearby café and had lunch. It was a very pleasant afternoon. I was hurting and in denial. I was building my 'I don't need Rick Castle to be happy' armor. Josh was the right guy at the right time."

Gina had to ask. "So what made it work for all those months?"

Kate laughed. "As much as I hate to say it. The fact that we didn't have access to each other all the time worked for us. There was no smothering each other since he was often out of country, and we both worked more than a normal work week. I think that helped making those times we could get together much more enjoyable. Especially early on. I had written Castle out of my life, so I used Josh as my relief from work, relief from thinking about Castle, and relief from my sexual needs."

It was Gina's turn to smirk. "Sounds like you were just using him."

"I probably was, but he was using me too. I put no restrictions on him. I never complained about his Doctors without Borders work. We got together whenever it worked out for the both of us and neither ever demanded more that we could give."

Kate stood briefly, stretched, cracked her neck, and then sat back down. "It worked well that summer and into the fall. At least until Castle came back. Then the feelings I thought I'd buried with my hurt came back. If Castle's around I will never be able to sustain a real relationship with anyone else."

Kate stared Gina eyes to eyes. "Castle knew, I know he knew. And he would have called me on my bullshit if he felt secure enough with me to do so. If either of us had any guts maybe we could have gotten together. But I couldn't do it. I had to protect myself by lying and pushing. Now I may never be able to be whole again. I would gladly trade my happiness for his recovery from this heart trouble. If he doesn't make it I will be destroyed. As will his family."

Kate took a deep breath. "But enough of my whining. I have an idea how much Rick means to you too. So how are you holding up?"

"Not really any better than you are." Gina wrings her hands. "I had it all and lost it through my own stupidity. But I still have a mother figure I can talk to. I still have Alexis, whom I'll always consider as a daughter. And I do still have a relationship with Richard. Not the one I used to have, nor the one I'd rather have. My relationship with Richard is more like a beloved brother now… we'll probably a bit more than that. But it will never be what it once was."

Gina pinned Kate with a hard stare. "That position is still open at the moment."

"Well as long as we're hoping for miracles." Kate dropped her head and let her long hair cover her face. But she only let herself mope for a couple of minutes.

"So, Gina, tell me have you given up looking for something more for yourself?"

"Yes and no." She rolled her eyes. "What I mean is, I wouldn't turn down a guy who would sweep me off my feet and whisk me away to his chalet in the Swiss Alps and make passionate love to me every night."

Kate raised a brow. "Or?"

"Or, I'd settle for a nice guy who would understand that I'm a busy business woman who has a good life as it stands now, but wouldn't mind someone who can show me a good time now and then and not expect me to come running at his beck and call." Gina grinned. "And it wouldn't be a bad thing if he was good in bed too."

Kate gave Gina a sardonic look. "Kind of sounds like the way things were with Josh at first. Until I realized that I could only be happy with Rick." She slapped Gina on the knee. "Tell you what. I'm going to assume that Josh will come out right after the surgery and give us a general assessment of the outcome, leaving the details to Dr. Kovacs."

"So?"

Kate just gave her a private smile.

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It had been several hours and still no one had come by to tell them what was going on. A nurse had come by to tell them it would be at least several hours before they knew how the surgery went.

Gina spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Alexis. It would be pretty late by the time they got back to the loft to change their clothes and come over to the hospital.

Gina argued that they should stay at the loft until she had more information. She'd call as soon as she had any definitive news. She argued that even after the surgery it would be some time before he would be set up is a room where they could see him. Never was there any mention of anything but a successful outcome for the surgery.

It was a quite a testament as to Gina's place in the Castle clan that she got Martha and Alexis to agree to wait for her call.

Kate and Gina had continued to sit in the waiting room for an indeterminate amount of time, drifting in and out of wakefulness. Sometime around 3 a.m. They both were woke up by the arrival of Josh Davidson. He was not dressed in scrubs because he obviously hadn't been in the operating room. Most likely he'd spent all that time in observation and ready to assist Dr. Kovacs with information as needed.

Kate rubbed her eyes and tried to focus on Josh. Once her brain re-engaged she jumped up. "Is it done? Is he alright!" She was holding back tears. Gina seemed paralyzed.

Josh reached out and helped Gina to a standing position. "I have good news." Both ladies practically fell boneless back into their seats. Josh shook his head and grinned. "The valve replacement was successful. There doesn't look like there will be any complications."

Two very heavy sighs escaped from the tired women. "How long till he's settled in. When can we go see him?" It wasn't clear who said what.

Josh chuckled. "Hold on, hold on. They still have about an hour to get him properly closed up and cleaned up. Then it will take at least another half an hour to get him settled into a room. But Dr. Kovacs wants to leave him under anesthesia for a few hours to let his body adjust to the trauma. I don't think he will allow visitors for three to four hours yet."

Kate grabbed his hand. "But we'll be able to see him then, right? He's going to be okay, right?"

"Yes, Kate, he will be alright. From what I saw of his history. He should actually be better than he has been for quite some time."

Gina and Kate were both crying. Josh smiled at both of them. "Tell you what. You both have been sitting here for hours, and I imagine things were crazy leading up to this. It will be hours before you can go in to see him. So why don't I take you both out for some breakfast."

Kate quickly glanced at Gina who missed her look. "You know what, Josh? That's a great idea, but why don't I stay here in case Martha and Alexis show up." She reached out and placed her finger over Gina's mouth. "Gina's been going 90 miles an hour for days now because of this. She called me at work and I came over the same time the chopper brought Rick in."

Kate threw Gina one of her 'shut up' glares. "Why don't you do me a favor and take Gina out to breakfast. Give her a break from all the craziness she's had to go through. I'll be here in case anything comes up."

Josh gave Kate a funny look. "If you're sure, Kate." Kate nodded vigorously. "Okay, Gina is it?" She nodded as Kate continued to glare at her. "Why don't we go look for a nice all night dinner and have some breakfast. I'll have you back well before Castle is settled into his room."

Josh smiled and held out his hand. "What do you say?" Gina looked over at Kate who glared at her. Gina started to open her mouth, but a soft growl came from Kate. Gina just nodded her head and let Josh take her hand.

Kate watched as they walked off down the hall. After a few steps, Gina turned her head and gave Kate a smile, and a wink.

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Six Months Later:

Kate answered the knock on her apartment door. She made sure she was dressed enough to not shock anyone at the door. She peeked through the spy hole and saw a delivery boy. She reached over and grabbed her purse before opening the door.

She unlatched it, and pulled the door open. "Can I help you?"

"Delivery for a Kate Beckett."

Kate gave him a ten and took the large bouquet from the young man. "Thank you."

He scurried away as Beckett closed the door. Were these from him she wondered? It wasn't her birthday, nor any holiday that she could think of, but that didn't always stop him.

She set the beautiful bouquet of purple roses on her table in front of the couch. Her curiosity was getting to her. Just read the card she told herself.

She flipped open the card and didn't recognize the handwriting.

It read. "Dear Kate, someone told me that purple was your favorite color. These are just a Thank You, for what you did for me back when we went through Richard's surgery together. Believe it or not he has an old college friend who actually has a chalet in the Swiss Alps. Well, maybe not quite a chalet, more like a cozy bungalow. But it's really cute, and I haven't had a decent vacation in years. I have you to thank for this, and I will continue to cherish the friendship we've built over these months. Hope everything is going well with you. Thank you again, Gina" Then a little farther down on the card. "Josh says hello."

Fin.

AN: There you have it. My wise crack in the comments to castlefan6's story chapter was that Beckett should introduce Gina to Josh, inferring it would be a way to move Gina a bit farther from Castle's life. Hope Tim didn't have too much trouble with this little throw away. Remember it was an imaginary story.