Hey folks. OK, so here's the sequel to my story Numbing the Pain. If you haven't read that yet, please do so before embarking on this tale.

I will, however, give you a little refresher course: Nora died suddenly, leaving the family in a tailspin. Casey had trouble dealing and turned to alcohol and sex to numb her pain. She embarked on a passionate fling with George, who was also having trouble dealing with Nora's death. Derek uncovered the affair and was heartbroken because he's in love with Casey. After being attacked, Casey was hospitalized, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia and anemia, and also discovered she was pregnant. However, due to her lifestyle, the baby didn't make it. While there, her family gets her to agree to go to rehab to get her life back on track. This story picks up where that left off, with Casey getting ready to embark on the road to recovery. The ages of the characters are: George: Mid 40s; Derek and Casey: 22; Edwin: 19; Lizzie: 18; Marti: 14.

As always, thank you in advance for reading (and hopefully reviewing!) Your feedback is love.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the show, characters or actors.

Rating: M. For language and sexual situations. I'm serious about this, people!

Fumbling Toward Normalcy

Chapter One

Casey was antsy. Today she was being released from the hospital and moving into a rehab center. That she needed it, she had no doubt, she just didn't know if she wanted it. Her pneumonia was gone, and her anemia was under control. The hacking cough that had plagued her for months was no more. Physically, her body was pretty much back to normal, it was her insides that were screwed up. She gazed at herself in the mirror of the bathroom in her hospital room. The color was back in her cheeks and she had gained back some of the weight that she had lost. Her hair was not as stringy, and the bags under her eyes were almost gone. Casey leaned closer to the mirror, staring at herself as if trying to see into her own head. She felt the unrest there; she knew that she wasn't really OK.

Derek had been a constant companion to her in her days at the hospital, coming everyday when he wasn't working, and spending long hours keeping her company, even when she didn't want it. He had graduated from college, moved back home from Toronto and found a job. She knew he was only trying to help, and a part of her appreciated that. The other part just wanted to be left alone to wallow in her sorrows. She talked to her father a few times a week, and spoke with Lizzie everyday. George and the "kids" (Marti and Edwin) would visit almost everyday, but as far as friends, those visits were few and far between. Casey realized that the people she had been hanging out with so much the past year were not her friends at all. In fact, the only one who had come to visit her had been her boss at the pub, Jake, and he had caught hell with his wife for that.

Casey exited the bathroom and packed what meager belongings she had into the plastic bag provided to her by the hospital. After she finished, she sighed, sitting on the bed and looking at the clock on the wall. Derek was due any minute to pick her up and bring her home so she could get a proper suitcase and pack her things for an extended stay at the rehab center. Whistling from the hallway tipped her off to Derek's arrival and she rose from the bed, grabbing the bag. She knew it was him because he always whistled while walking in the hallway to her room. Only when he arrived though, never when he left. Weird, she thought before shaking her head.

Derek poked his head around the door and knocked on the jamb. "Knock, knock. I hear there's a hot chick that's being released today. Have you seen her?" he asked, a loopy smile on his face.

Casey snorted and walked toward him. "Nope, haven't seen her. Although my neighbor next door is leaving today. She's 80, but still a looker," she quipped, passing him to go out the door.

"Eighty, huh?" Derek said, rubbing his chin as if considering it. "Well, I like older women, but I'm going to have to pass. My heart belongs to someone else," he said, throwing his arm around Casey as they walked down the hall to the nurse's station.

Casey smiled, but said nothing. Since Derek's confession of his feelings for her, he was openly admiring and affectionate, at least when they were alone. He still wasn't ready to admit to everyone that he was in love with his step-sister. George had guessed, of course, but Derek had never admitted it to him. Casey, on the other hand, was still leery and distant. This didn't seem to bother Derek, so she didn't feel the need to change. She was trying to figure her own self out, and frankly, she wasn't ready to set up house with Derek any time soon.

After checking out, Derek drove Casey home, where the whole family was waiting for her – George, Edwin, Lizzie, Marti – even her dad was there, which really surprised her. "Dad! What are you doing here?" she asked, throwing her arms around him.

Dennis laughed and spun her around. "Do you think I would miss my daughter's release from the hospital?" he said, putting her down. His eyes drank her in. "Oh Case, you look so much better!"

Casey didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted. "Uh, thanks," she muttered before moving on to Lizzie and throwing her arms around her. "Liz, I'm so happy you're here. How are you?" she asked, looking into her sister's eyes. What she was really asking is how Liz's pregnancy was going. No one else in the family knew about it yet, and Lizzie was still not showing.

Lizzie eyes were bright as she answered. "I'm doing really well, Case."

Casey nodded and moved on to Marti who was bubbling over with excitement. "I'm so glad you're home, Casey," she said into Casey's shoulder. Casey wondered if Marti knew that Casey wouldn't be staying long.

Next came Edwin, who despite being glad that Casey was doing better, was still guarded and gave Casey a limp hug in return, the vision of her in bed with him still in his mind.

Finally there was George, who stood next to Edwin awkwardly, his eyes shuttered. "George," Casey said before stepping forward and hugging him. Next to Casey, Derek struggled to keep a straight face. As far as he was concerned, the less physical contact that Casey and George had, the better.

Hesitantly, George put his arms around Casey and hugged her. He could already feel that she had put on some of the weight she had dropped. When he felt he couldn't bear the feel of her anymore, he moved back. "Casey. Welcome home," he said sweeping his hand out.

Casey stepped back and surveyed her surroundings. You would think that she was home from defending her country or something, not back from almost killing herself. She smiled, though, not wanting her feelings to show. "Thank you everyone. It's good to be back." She could feel the heat of Derek's arm touching hers and it comforted her a little.

"Well," George said, "why don't we all sit down and have some refreshments." He moved into the kitchen. "Marti, come help me here, would ya?"

"Sure thing, pops," she said, getting up and heading into the kitchen.

The silence was deafening, and it made Casey's skin itch. God, how she longed for a cigarette and a beer. Or twenty. She hadn't smoked or drank in a month, and although she knew it was better that way, it didn't stop the cravings. "So," she ventured to Lizzie, "how's Glen?"

At the mention of her boyfriend's name, Lizzie's face lit up. "He's great. He's doing really well in his classes and already has a veterinary job lined up after he graduates."

Casey was impressed. It seemed as if her little sister had her shit together. Casey was proud of her. "That's great, Liz. And you?" Casey asked, wondering what Liz's plans were.

At this, Lizzie was more evasive. "Oh, well, I've been looking, you know, for a job, but I haven't found anything I like," she said, her eyes begging Casey to just drop it.

Casey took the hint and did just that, moving on to a conversation with her father about his work and yet another new girlfriend. "I want you to meet her, Case. She's a nice person, and I've told her all about you."

Casey stopped herself from flinching. Did he tell his new girlfriend about his daughter's hospital stay? About the fact that she was allegedly addicted to alcohol? Casey doubted it. "Well, I guess we'll see what happens," she said noncommittally before the conversation was cut short by Marti's reappearance. Casey would have to pull her aside soon and let her know that she would be leaving again.

The conversation was stilted and all Casey wanted to do was lay down in her own bed. However, she knew that wasn't going to happen. The place where she would be spending another 30 days of her life was expecting her to check in at 9 p.m. Casey idly looked at her watch. It was 7 p.m. now. She felt Derek fidgeting next to her on the couch. Turning her head, she looked at him. She knew what he wanted. He wanted to spend some alone time with her before taking her to yet another facility. Casey was both ambivalent yet grateful, if that was possible. Lately, she didn't know how to feel about anything, her feelings were so jumbled up and she honestly wasn't used to dealing with things while sober. She didn't like it.

Kinda short, I know, but I wanted to get my feet wet with this story again before diving in. I would greatly appreciate a review to let me know that you're still interested in this storyline. Muchas Gracias!