This idea popped into my head as i watched the latest Life With Derek episode.
Disclaimer: I don't own life with derek.
"Hey Smarti are you ready to learn how to ride a bike like a big girl?" asks Derek.
"Ready Smerek!" exclaims Marti.
"Lets go!" yells Derek says Derek as he starts to push the back of Marti's bike as she pedals.
"Remember, don't let go!" exclaims Marti.
"I won't Smarti", says Derek.
They start circling around the grass field in the park. They circled again and again. Derek held Marti's bike as she eagerly pedaled. At one point, Derek did indeed let go. Marti, however, was unaware of his absence.
"Don't let go! Don't let go!" exclaims Marti who still managed to ride without the support of her big brother.
"Uh Smarti, I'm over here", says Derek.
"Smerek, I'm riding! I'm riding without training wheels! I'm a big girl now!" exclaims Marti.
"Yes, go Smarti! Go!" exclaims Derek.
Marti then looks over to Derek and doesn't realize that there's a rock in her path. She runs into it, loses her balance, and falls onto the park grass.
"Smarti! Are you ok?" asks Derek.
"Yeah Smerek. That was fun. I wish I was on this grass every time I fell!" said an enthusiastic Marti.
"Do you want to ride some more?" asks Derek.
"Yeah, I want to ride for ever and ever", says Marti.
"I don't know about forever Smarti, but we still have a couple hours before dinner", says Derek.
"Oh Smerek, I invited a friend who also can't ride without training wheels", says Marti.
"Which one? Dimi?" asks Derek.
"Nope", answered Marti.
"Daphne?"
"Daphne was so last year", says Marti.
"Than who?" asks Derek.
"Look, she's coming!" exclaims Marti who points at a girl walking a bike, wearing a hockey helmet with a mask, shin pads, kneepads, elbow pads, and shoulder pads.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" yelled Derek.
"Hey guys, how's the riding coming?" asks Casey.
"Space Case, are you here to ride your bike or play hockey?" asks Derek who doesn't even try to contain his laughter.
"For your information, safety is very important. You can get very hurt riding a bike you know", defends Casey.
"Right", says Derek. "So you're 16 and still can't ride a bike?"
"Well my dad tried to teach me when I was not much older than Marti, but once he took off the training wheels I started freaking out and ran home", says Casey. "He tried again to teach me, but I was too scared and eventually with things going bad with my mom, he gave up".
"Right, now go home like a good little Casey and leave me with my Smarti", says Derek.
"But I want to learn how to ride before college", pleads Casey.
"Then ask Emily or Sam or Ralph. Ok maybe not Ralph, but anybody except me", says Derek.
"Please Derek", pleads Casey.
"I don't think so", says Derek.
"Why not? You're teaching Marti. I have a bike with me, we're at the park, so why not?" asks Casey.
"No" insists Derek.
"Fine, then I'll go ask Truman. I'm sure he'll teach me", says Casey.
"Fine I'll teach you, but the first sign of a freak-out, I'm so out of here", says Derek.
"Great, now according to my reading, the first step to a fun bike riding experience is adjusting the bike to fit you", says Casey.
"How's this?" asks Casey after she adjusts her bike a bit.
"That's just fine. Now let's get this over with", says Derek.
Marti started to circle around the park, but soon sat down under a tree to watch Derek teach Casey how to ride. She found it much more entertaining than the bike.
"Now first I'm going to push the bike and hold onto it, while you pedal", says Derek.
"Are you going to let go?" asks Casey.
"Probably and you'll fall and break something", says Derek as he smirks.
"Der-ek!" yells Casey.
"Chill Space Case, I was only kidding", says Derek. "I won't let go until you're ready".
"Good", says a relived Casey.
"Yeah, dad and Nora won't be happy to find you with something broken. I personally wouldn't care but…" starts Derek.
"De-rek!" yells Casey.
"Again kidding. I would care because then the rents would make me tend to you. Derek Venturi doesn't tend to anyone", says Derek. "Well maybe Smarti".
"Whatever, lets just begin", says Casey.
"Ok, I have you. Just start pedaling", says Derek.
Casey starts pedaling. Very slowly, but enough to move her a little. Her eyes, however, are closed the whole time.
"Derek, don't let go!" yelled Casey.
"I'm still here Space Case", says Derek.
A few seconds later, Casey opened her eyes to see where she was going.
"Are you still there Derek?" she asks.
"Yes Spacey, I didn't leave since you last asked 5 seconds ago", says Derek.
"Don't let go!" yelled Casey.
This process went on for a few rounds around the field. Then Derek decided it was time to let Casey try riding on her own.
"Ok Case, I'm going to let go. Just relax, you can ride on your own", says Derek.
"Derek don't!" yelled Casey, but it was too late, he already let go.
Casey started riding for a couple seconds, but soon fell down into the soft, green grass.
"Aw I thought I had it", says Casey.
"Let's try again", says Derek.
This process repeated itself several times with Casey riding a few seconds longer each time before falling.
"Hey Case, Nora just called me and told me that dinner is almost ready" says Derek.
"But I'm so close", says Casey.
"Yeah, but we'll finish tomorrow after school", says Derek.
"How about tonight?' asks Casey.
"Don't you have homework to do?" asks Derek.
"Derek, today is the first day of school", says Casey.
"I know, but I thought you had some reading to get ahead of or something", says Derek.
"No, so after dinner?" asks Casey.
"Fine", agreed Derek. "Let's go get Marti."
After dinner, Derek and Casey went back to the park to finish the lesson.
"Ok Case same idea. I'm going hold onto the bike for a little while and then let go. Don't worry, I'll tell you", says Derek.
"Promise?" asks Casey.
"Sure", says Derek.
So Derek did as he said he would and pushed Casey and held onto the bike for a while. He then let go, but without telling her. He was convinced that Casey's falling was all mental and she would be fine if she thought Derek was still there. He continued to trail the bike to make it seem like he was still holding on.
"Don't let go!" yelled Casey.
"I'm still here Spacey", says Derek.
After a couple minutes Derek finally decided to tell Casey that she was actually riding on her own.
"Don't let go!" yelled Casey.
"Space Case, you've been on your own for a couple minutes now. I've just been following you", says Derek.
"Really! Look at me, I'm riding a bike!" exclaimed Casey.
"Congratulations Space Case, now I'm going home", says Derek.
"Wait! How do you stop this thing?" asks Casey.
"Fall", answers Derek.
"No I mean how do you break?" asks Casey.
"Oh, squeeze the brake that's located on the handle", answers Derek.
Casey did what Derek said, and squeezed the brake. However, she did it too hard and the bike stopped abruptly, causing her to fall. However, she was still on the grass, so she had a very cushioned fall.
"Derek, thanks so much", says Casey after she got up and started to hug him, but Derek backed away again.
"Whoa, I don't think so", says Derek.
"Well thanks anyway", says Casey.
"Don't get used to it. I'm still getting over the fact that Sally's gone. Once that happens, things will be back to normal", says Derek.
"Oh, then you'll go back to pretending to be a tough guy", says Casey.
"What do you mean pretend?" asks Derek.
"We both know you're really a softie", says Casey.
"That's ridiculous", says Derek.
"Don't worry, it'll be our little secret", says Casey.
This is going to be a 2-shot with the second chapter set in the future.
For those waiting on the next chapter of Rounders, it's coming.