My 98 RS has been parked for a couple of weeks, with no slave cylinder. I put it back together yesterday and the shifter works fine except when I try to move it to the right for 5th and Reverse. I tried moving the forks by hand but it feels as if there is something binding it up. The part that is puzzling is that it worked fine when I parked it, and now it doesn't. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Reverse is a dog gear, there is no synchronizer. If it isn't lined up in such a way that it can slide into place, it hits a sticks. Roll the car forward in first a few inches and try again, or start it and bump the clutch.