Summary: The sudden death of Nora sends the family into a tailspin.

Rating: M. For mature audiences only. I will say that this is a dark story, with lots of sex thrown in. Smut, if you will.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the show.

Note: This story is set in the future. Casey and Derek are 22, Edwin and Lizzie are 18, and Marti is 14. George is in his 40s. Pairings: Multiple.

Extra Note: I have not abandoned my other story, A Slippery Slope. I am currently working on that one also, just taking a little break to decide where I want the story to go. In the meantime, I am quenching my thirst for smut with this little ditty, which will not be as long as the other story, but it will be heavier on the sex and angst. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Let me know. ;)

Numbing the Pain

Chapter One

Casey moved numbly through the kitchen, gathering up items to make for a meager lunch. It was a beautiful day outside, but Casey didn't notice. She didn't notice much nowadays, her mind filled with memories and regret for the mother who was taken from her too soon.

Nora had died unexpectedly six months ago – the victim of a brain aneurysm. One minute she was carrying a load of laundry up the stairs, the next, she was tumbling down, laundry going everywhere.

Having heard the commotion, George and Marti had gone into the living room to find Nora on the landing, clothes covering her. George rushed and called an ambulance, but it was too late. She had died instantly.

In the ensuing days, calls were made to family members both near and far, and the arrangements were complete. Casey and Derek were called home from university, where they were both in their senior year – Derek at the University of Toronto; Casey at NYU.

Now, in the months after Nora's death, Casey was still trying to get back to the land of the living, so to speak. She had decided to take a leave from school and move back home for awhile, knowing that George was not handling things well. He had sent Marti to live in Toronto with Abby, where she could catch up with her mother on all the time they had missed together. Having Derek there helped, too, as they spent more time with each other than they had in years.

Lizzie had stayed around for awhile, but the stress of not having Nora around was getting to her, and she was starting to act out – getting into fights at school and blowing off homework and friends. At the end of his rope, George finally decided to take Casey and Lizzie's dad up on his offer to let Lizzie live with him in New York. At first, Lizzie was furious and refused to go, but after consideration (and some prodding from Casey), she decided that she needed to be with her only surviving parent and get away from the house that held so many memories of her mother.

So, that left her and Edwin in the house with George, and sometimes Derek, who would pop in unannounced to check on his dad and see how things were going. Casey sighed and looked around the kitchen. Except for the fixings she had out for lunch, it was spotless. Casey spent all her time, energy and grief into scrubbing the house, doing the laundry, keeping up with the gardening – basically taking over everything that Nora did. She knew she was no substitute, but Casey wanted things to run smoothly, to make it almost like Nora was still alive – she was just on a business trip and would return soon – although, in her grief, if she were to look at the situation through outside eyes, she would realize that she was making the opposite affect happen. Because when Nora was alive, things didn't run this smoothly. The house was always cluttered, the laundry was always piled up and the garden always needed weeding. So, in her efforts to make everyone forget, she was actually making it worse, although she wouldn't be clued in to that fact until later.

Casey heard boiling and went over to the stove, turning off the burner. She grabbed the bowl off the island and poured the contents of the pan into it. Placing the bowl on the plate with the BLT she had made, Casey put everything on a tray with a glass of milk and headed downstairs. Careful not to trip, Casey made her way slowly down, eventually coming to George's room. 'What used to be their room.'

Casey didn't have a hand free, so she used her foot to knock on the door. After a few minutes of waiting, Casey nudged the door again, this time pushing it open slightly with a creak. Casey hesitated, then decided to enter, her arms getting tired from holding the heavy tray. She heard him before she saw him. The sounds of sobbing were coming from the attached bathroom and Casey sighed, putting the tray down on the dresser. She stood up and straightened herself out, running a hand over her face. She needed to be strong for George, who had completely lost it after Nora died. Where he was flaky before, now he was downright careless, not having the will to do anything but sit and stare off into space. He was on extended leave from his job, but Casey knew that he would have to go back to work soon to avoid losing the income. Bills were piling up, and Casey was keeping them up to date, but she was aware that the money from Nora's life insurance was running low, and they needed some money coming in if they were to keep the house.

Casey took tentative steps toward the bathroom door, which was ajar. The sobbing was louder now, and she could hear George's anguished cries, along with sniffles and shuddering breaths. She knocked on the door. "George?" She called softly.

Nothing, but the sounds of sobbing suddenly stopped and became soft cries. She poked her head around the door. George was curled up on the floor, leaning against the tub. He was shirtless and had the remnants of what looked like shaving cream on his neck. Casey guessed that he was shaving when he had an attack of grief, which was what Casey called them – attacks. He could be fine one minute, then suddenly be crying like a baby. She knew it well. She had the same problem. But now, she needed to be strong. She and George had become somewhat of a support system, leaning on each other, helping each other get through the day. Not much was said, each was in their own worlds, but Casey knew that George appreciated her stepping in. She had become the woman of the house, which she loved – and hated.

Casey approached George and went to her knees, putting her arms around him. "Shhhhh, it's OK, it's OK." Casey knew it was a lie, she had just run out of things to say in these situations. They both knew it wasn't OK, and they didn't know when – or if – they ever would be. "I made you some lunch. Please, come and eat. You'll feel better." She said, smoothing her hand through his too-long hair. He had let himself go a bit, not cutting his hair since before Nora's passing. Casey was surprised that he even attempted to shave.

George shook his head. "No, I'm not hungry." He breathed out, moving closer into Casey's arms.

She rubbed his back. She wasn't going to push him to eat – not now, at least. That would come later, as she knew he had lost at least 20 pounds, based on how his clothes hung off him. "OK, but let's at least get out of the bathroom, yeah?" She said, gently tugging him with her as she moved to her feet.

George said nothing, but he followed her, and together they moved in the bedroom, where Casey sat him down on the edge of the bed. She moved to get up. "Are you sure you don't want to eat? I brought soup and a sandwich. BLT – just the way you like it." She said hopefully. George was having none of it. "No!" He said, grasping her arm and tugging her back down. "No." He repeated softly, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly.

"OK." Casey said softly, returning the favor and hugging him tightly. Lately she found that George craved human touch, often grabbing her hand and hugging her out of the blue. She understood. She needed that too – she missed her mother's hugs before bed, when she was leaving to go back to school, on holidays . . .

George had somehow maneuvered them back on the bed into a laying position, and he had his head buried in her neck. He was sniffling now, no doubt trying not to lose it again. He was trying to be strong for her, just as she was trying to be strong for him. The thought touched her and she hugged him tighter to her, breathing in his scent. It smelled like he had actually showered, which was a feat for him, as he would go days without bathing until Edwin would gently suggest to him that he should clean up. George would look blankly at him and say nothing, but he would to what Edwin said and go shower.

"I . . . I can't . . ." George was trying to get something out.

"What?" Casey asked, moving away from him slightly to look into his face. "What is it, George?"

He looked up at her, his eyes drowning in pain. "I don't know how I'm going to live again. I can't imagine it."

Casey felt tears jump to her eyes. She couldn't imagine it either. Not having her mother there to see her graduate from college, get married, have children . . . all of it, she would miss all of it. Casey nodded and spoke. "I know, I can't either, but we have to be strong. If not for ourselves, then for the rest of the family." As separated as they were now, Casey knew it wouldn't be like that forever. Lizzie would get tired of living with their father and eventually come home. Marti, too. And Derek? Well, Casey didn't know what his plans were, but she knew he wouldn't be too far away.

Instead of making him feel better, George let out an anguished cry. "Don't you see, Casey? Nora was everything . . . she was my soulmate, my best friend, my confidant . . . everything I ever wanted my whole life, and she was it. Only to be ripped away from me after only a few years . . . it's not fair! It's not fucking fair!" George screamed in Casey's face. Casey flinched, but didn't move. She was used to these outbursts by now.

She reached forward and wiped George's face with her hand. "I know it isn't fair." She paused, then continued. "I wish I could say the word and everything would be better. All the pain would go away, but I can't. I can't." She ended in a whisper, tears leaking out of her eyes and running down her cheeks.

George roused himself out of his own grief and focused in on hers. "Oh, Case. I'm so sorry. I'm so wrapped up in my own pain that sometimes I forget that she was your mother. God, I'm such an asshole." George had also forfeited his role as "dad" and become more of a friend, cursing around her and not saying anything when Casey stayed out all night without calling.

Casey cried silently, looking into his eyes, which were sorrowful against hers. They lay there together for what seemed like an eternity, wrapped in each other's arms and crying softly. When the moment came that both felt like they couldn't cry anymore, George spoke. "Case, I don't have the words to tell you how much I appreciate you stepping in and taking over, well, basically everything. Without you, I don't know what would become of me . . ." he trailed off, looking intently at her.

She said nothing, just stared back and smiled. Suddenly, something changed in his eyes and he looked down at her lips. Casey's heart started racing and she heard warning bells in her head, but she didn't move away, instead waiting to see what he would do next. George shifted his eyes back up to hers and moved forward, putting his hand on her face. "God, you have grown into a beautiful woman. Does anyone ever tell you that?"

Casey said nothing, instead thinking of how many times men had told her that. A few, the last being a one-night stand she had a few weeks ago after going out and getting smashed. She let him pick her up and went back to his place, where they fucked all night and into the morning, until she got up and left before he awoke, returning to her rightful place in this miserable household. She looked at George's face, a man so broken and in need of love, and she did the unthinkable, she reached forward and pulled his face to hers, pressing their lips together.

She kept her eyes open, watching what his reaction would be. At first, his eyes were wide open and he was not returning the kiss, simply letting her press against him. But soon, he changed, and a sound like a growl escaped him and he tightened his hold on her, running his hands down her back and through her hair, his mouth moving fervently against hers.

She didn't know how to feel about what was happening. Instead, she chose not to feel and simply let her impulses take her away – to a place where there was no grief, no crying, no pain. She let herself drown in the pleasures of the flesh, and so far, she was enjoying it immensely.

Casey continued to kiss the man who for years was just her step dad, but now, and forever in the future, she would not be able to think of him as such. Not when they were on his bed together, kissing passionately. Not when he was forcing his tongue into her mouth and grabbing her ass, grinding his erection into her center. Not when he was muttering things in her ear, like, "God, I want you, Casey. Please . . ."

Saying nothing, she decided that this was what she should do. Maybe, after six months of grieving, of feeling nothing, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, maybe this is what would shake things loose, help them move on with their lives. Casey didn't know, and she didn't care. Instead, she disengaged her lips from George's and sat up, ripping her shirt off. She moved forward again and pressed her bra-clad chest against his. He groaned and moved his head down, burying his face in her chest. She cradled his head like a child and closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of his mouth between her breasts. Slowly, he moved his hands to them, covering them gently with his palms and squeezing them. Casey let out a small moan and moved her hands to his face, pulling it up to her so she could kiss him again. Their tongues moved slowly against each other's and Casey reveled in the feeling, her panties becoming wet as her body readied itself for him. Without breaking their lip-lock, George moved his hands around her back and deftly undid the clasp on her bra, removing it from her body and tossing it to the floor. He moved back to look at her then, studying her face, then moving his eyes to her chest, taking in the naked flesh. His eyes widened and he seemed to realize what was happening. "Oh my god . . ." he said, quickly sitting up. "What am I doing?" he asked, leaning over and putting his head in his hands.

Casey sat on her knees behind him and wrapped her arms around him. "George, it's OK, really. We need this. We both need this." She said in his ear, her hands trailing around to caress his chest.

"But I feel like I'm taking advantage of you, and you deserve better than that." George said, shifting for a better view of her face.

Casey shook her head. "No, you're not. I'm an adult now, George. You seem to forget that." She sat behind him and waited, wondering if he was going to pull the plug.

George blew out a breath and sat for a moment, not saying anything. Casey sat with him, her arms still wrapped around him, her breasts pressed against the skin of his back. She shifted slightly, leaning forward to gently nuzzle his neck, her tongue darting out to lick his earlobe. He growled and turned quickly in her arms, pinning her down on the bed with his body. He plundered her mouth with his, their tongues dueling for dominance. His hands made fast work of her shorts and panties, and her hands were busy divesting him of his jeans and boxers. Fully naked, George lay atop Casey, looking deep into her eyes. "I can't say I won't regret this later." He said intently staring at her.

Casey nodded imperceptibly. "I know."

With that, George parted her legs with his hand and grasped his hardness, running it along her opening. She closed her eyes and moaned, opening her legs wider for him. Another moment went by and she opened her eyes, wondering what the delay was. She found him staring at her. "I want to look at you." He stated simply before entering her slowly.

Casey let out the breath she was holding as he filled her with his cock. Slowly, slowly, until she was full. They didn't move for a moment, simply looking into each other's eyes. George leaned forward and kissed her gently before starting to move. Casey kissed back as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, her feet on his ass urging him on.

The feel of him inside her was overwhelming. Since her mother's death, Casey had gone off the deep end a little and started drinking, often making out with random strangers. Soon, it escalated into quickies in bar restrooms, then to going to strangers' houses for sex. She even snuck a guy home once, fucking him in her room on the floor so as not to make the bed move and disturb Edwin, who had taken to sleeping in Derek's room to be closer in case Casey or George needed him.

George moved his lips down her shoulder as he continued to pump himself inside her, finally taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking it, making Casey tighten her grip on him and sigh in his hair. Her hands moved down the sweaty skin of his back, her nails digging in when he hit a particularly pleasurable spot. "Oh fuck, you feel so good." He said in her ear, his pace picking up.

She said nothing, instead bringing her hands to his head and pulling it up to hers. She kissed him deeply, putting all the grief, pain and longing into it, their mouths making love to one another as their bodies were doing also. Casey could feel her orgasm building and broke the kiss, moving her mouth to his ear. "Fuck me," was all she said to make him lose it and pump into her wildly, triggering her orgasm and his. They came together loudly, panting and moaning, their sweaty bodies smacking together.

In the aftermath, they lay together silently, each thinking of what just happened and wondering where things would go next.

Review please!