"What the hell happened to you?" Julian takes in the sight before him. Derek stands at his open doorway, covered in grass stains looking like something the cat dragged in.

"Fucking Bancroft! That's what happened! The asshole flying tackled me at practice!"

"But you're the captain..."

"I know! But you think that crazy asshole gives a fuck? ... He just flipped out all of a sudden in the middle of practice."

"You must have said something. Bancroft's got a pretty cool head. He doesn't flip out for no reason."

"I didn't say a word to him! The closest I came to him was when I clipped Willis at some point. I barely touched him and he went down crying like a baby. I just said he screams like his sister...among other things."

Pause.

"..Oooowwh..." Was Julian's knowing reply.

"Why? What 'oh'?" Derek demands.

"You didn't actually mean anything by that, did you?"

"If by that you mean, did I meant to insult him and his family lineage; then yes I did." At least Derek's honest about it. Julian quirks an eyebrow.

"It's football! I'm practically obligated to hurl insults. If i knew he had any pets, I'd insult them too. Jeez! I never knew Justin was such a den mother."

"No. I meant, you never actually made Sydney Willis 'scream' did you?" Julian says it slowly, like how you would to a child.

Derek blinks confused "...What? NO! I means she hot and all, but what guy would be insane enough to take her on?" Derek makes a face.

The look he gets from Julian is burdened with meaning. Like the actor is willing him to make the connection. Oh. OH!

"NOoo!" He gasps like a gossipy school girl.

"Yes." Julian confirms.

"Really?" Derek refuses to believe.

"Don't make me hit you with this." Julian threatens with the textbook on the table.

"Wow... This-.. I kinda feel sorry for the bugger now."

"Now you're being mean."

"If I was nice, I wouldn't have tackled Spencer now would I ?"

Then it drops. "...CRAP! Bancroft thinks I nailed his girl!"

Julian shakes his head.

"Uh...girl.. he is an ..active pursuant of..?" Derek guesses from the clues in Julian's expression. Bingo.

"Somebody give this boy a prize!" Julian announces to no one.

"I'm a dead man!" Derek cries, banging his head on the doorframe.

"Well now that we've determined that you've got mere hours to live, let's get you cleaned up. Head start for the funeral." No sympathy from the actor.

10 Minutes later...

"You've got nice hands." It's out of Derek's mouth before his filters can catch it. For the last few minutes, He's been watching those hands open the first aid kit, rummage for the box of bandaids, tear open the paper tabs; all mesmerisingly precise movements.

Julian freezes mid movement. He has a bandaid stretched between his hands, each end pinched in his long fingers. He's just about to stick it on the cut on Derek's lower rib where Justin's cleats contacted.

"D?" Julian ventures cautiously, not looking away from the cut.

"Sorry. Still in shock, no filters."

"That mouth of yours is going to get you killed one day."