Derek sat back in his chair with a contented sigh. House to himself, hockey on TV, bag of chips, pack of sodas, perfect.

Just as he was settling down to watch, the door opened and Casey sloped in.

"What're you doing home?" Derek grunted, shoving chips in his mouth.

Casey remained silent as she hung up her jacket, she went to wipe the tears from her eyes but winced as her fingers made contact with her face.

"Well?" Derek asked again "Kicked out the library for studying too much?" he wondered with a tone of sarcasm.

"Not now Derek" she whispered, her voice cracking "Not now"
He watched in shock as she ran upstairs sobbing.

Turning back to the TV, he tried to concentrate on the game, but curiosity got the better of him and groaning, he stood and followed his step sisters retreating form.

As usual he simply let himself into her room without knocking, instantly knowing something serious was up, when there wasn't the usual "Der-ek!" complain of annoyance.

"Spill Spacey" he demanded "I've got a game to watch"
"Then go watch it" she replied with a sniff, her voice muffled from where her face was buried in her pillow.

Derek sighed "Just tell me how you embarrassed yourself this time, so I can laugh, mock you and then go back to the TV."

Casey sat up, her mascara leaving marks down her cheeks from where it had mixed with her tears.
"Will you just go away!" she yelled glaring at him.

Derek was about to shoot back a reply, when he caught sight of a blue black colouring beginning to form around her left eye.

"You walk into something again?" he asked with a frown
Her hand shot up to cover the bruise "No-Yes-No. GO AWAY!"

Derek folded his arms "Not until you tell me how you got that" he insisted firmly
Casey sighed and brought her knees up beneath her chin "You know how clumsy I am" she muttered.

"Yeah" Derek agreed, taking a seat on the edge of her bed "But I also know what a douche your boyfriend is"

Casey looked up at him, his brown eyes filled with worry and anger.
"It's okay" she whispered
He shook his head "No Case, it's not, it's never okay for a guy to hit a girl"

"I was asking for it" she told him dully
"He tell you that?" Derek snorted
Casey nodded slowly
"Where is he?"

She frowned, watching as Derek clambered to his feet
"Why?"
"Cos I'm gonna go talk to him" he told her with a tight smile.
"NO!"
"Casey, he can't get away with this"

She sighed "I know, but please, let me handle it" she begged.
"He hit you Case, that's not okay with me"
"Why? You never cared about me before!" she snapped
"Yes I have, I've always cared about you!" he retorted

Silence filled the room, and Casey stared at him in confusion.
"So all those time you insulted me, tripped me and generally made my life hell...was because you cared about me?" she asked in disbelief.

"You don't get it" Derek told her desperately
"No, you don't get it!" she yelled, getting up and pushing him to the door "I've already been made a fool of by one jerk today, I'm not gonna let you get to me too"

She promptly burst into tears and began pummelling his chest weakly with her fists.
Hesitantly, Derek wrapped his arms round her and pulled her into his chest, where she proceeded to sob into his t shirt.

"I'm an idiot" she proclaimed through her tears.
"You're not an idiot" Derek assured her, his chin resting gently atop her head.
"Then why does every guy I date take advantage of me in some way?"

Derek scrunched up his nose, not really liking the sound of that.
"If I don't have sex with him, I get dumped. If I don't do what he wants, I get punched!"
Casey sighed, her crying subsiding.

"Because you haven't met a guy yet, who realises how amazing you are"
"Derek, that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard you say...And to me of all people"
"Don't get used to it princess" he told her hastily, his cheeks reddening.

Casey released her grip on his shirt and stepped back, checking her clock.
"It's late" he said catching her looking "I should" he gestured to the door behind him "I'll catch the hockey online" he bluffed, turning away from her.

"Derek?"
He turned back at the sound of her slightly pleading voice
"Will you stay with me a while?"

It only took him a moment to reply, his gaze lingering over her tear stained cheeks and mottled bruise.
"Sure Case" he replied softly, sitting beside her on the bed.

"How come your relationships never end like this?" she wondered, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Derek smirked "Because chicks dig me...And I treat them right too" he told her.
Casey sighed "Who knew out of all the guys, Derek Venturi would be the one to figure that out"
He laughed "Gee Klutzilla, don't give me too much credit" he joked, wrapping an arm round her shoulders.

"Sorry" Casey mumbled "Who knew I'd be jealous of your girlfriend"
I took Derek a minute to absorb this statement, then all he could reply with was a "Huh?"
Casey couldn't help but laugh "Relax Der, you're still a total pain" she reminded him "I just, think Sally's lucky, to have such a caring guy"

Derek gave a dramatic gasp "Did Casey McDonald just pay me compliment?"
"Der-ek!" she moaned, thumping him "Why do you have to ruin things?"
"Make your mind up Spacey, a second ago I could do no wrong" he teased

She yawned "Yeah, well all thoughts of Lee are now firmly out of my mind"
Derek smiled as she lay down on her pillows.
"Still want me to stay?" he questioned gently
"Just until I fall asleep?" she requested with a hint of hope.

He nodded with a smile "No problem...princess."