This is my first Smash Fanfic. I think I could make it longer if people are interested, but it can be a one-shot.
I own nothing but my ideas.

The Morning After the Night Before

I shuffled into rehearsal 15 minutes late after the best, and worst, night of my life.

"Ms. Cartwright, how nice of you to grace us with your presence," Derek yelled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," I said, trying to sound confident.

"Okay, now that our Marilyn is here we can get started. Let's take it from the top of Let Me Be your Star."

I got into position and prayed I could make it through today's rehearsal and tonight's performance. Half way through the first son, I knew I was in troubling. Singing hurt my freshly broken ribs and dancing was killing my freshly sprained ankle.

"Ms. Cartwright!" Derek yelled, "What in bloody hell is wrong with you?"

Nothing, I'm fine." I snapped back, "Can I take 5?"

"Take 5, Ms. Cartwright, I want to see you."

Crap, this wasn't going to be good. I needed a minute to think and I needed pain killers. "I need to use the restroom first; I'll catch you in a minute." I said as I hurried towards the dressing room. I walked in, grabbed my bag and found the small bottle of pills. I took 2 and made my way to Derek, having no idea how I was going to explain my despicable performance of the morning. When I reached Derek, he wrapped his arm around my back, touching my sore ribs and I winced in pain.
"I'm not going to bite Ms. Cartwright."

"I know, I just…" I stopped, trying to fight the tears that were building in my eyes. The pain and exhaustion was definitely catching up to me.

His face softened in an instant "Oh Darling, what's wrong?"

"It doesn't matter. Art isn't therapy." A tear ran down my check removing the makeup that was covering the bruise on my cheek.

"Is that a bruise on your face?" Derek asked, his voice warm and concerned.

I thought about lying, but there really was no point. He was going to find out.

"Yes. I…I got…I was mugged last night after the performance." I lied.

"Is that why you were late? Are you hurt anywhere else?'

"Yes, but I'll be ok"

"What happened?" He asked softly, almost like he cared.

"I got beat up, okay? It's not a big deal. I'll do better, I promise."
"Okay, you take breaks when you need to, just let me know. You're my star and I need to you to be able to perform tonight."

"Yea, okay. Thanks." I said, not letting on how scared I was about being able to perform tonight.

3 hours later my body was screaming in pain and I was utterly exhausted. I had never been more thankful to hear the words; "Let's break for lunch" leave the directors mouth as I was at that moment. "Ms. Cartwright, I need you." Derek yelled and my heart sank. I knew my performance hadn't been up to par and I was trying to mentally prepare for a Dark Lord berating.

"I know, it's not my best, but I'll do better tonight." I said, slowly lifting my head to see him hurrying towards me with concern on his face. The concerned look surprised me and I looked back down at my feet.

"Are you really okay? Your mind doesn't seem to be here today."
"I'm sorry, I'm just, there's no excuse. I'm sorry." I said, continuing to stare at my feet. He gently grabbed my arm and led me to a seat in the audience.

"Oh darling, what really happened to you last night?"
There he was calling me darling again. His voice so sweet and soft I could almost convince myself that he truly cared about me…almost.

"I told you, I got mugged." I said, my voice quivering as I thought about what had really happened.

"I don't think that's what happened. Did your fiancé do this to you?"

How could that man read me so well? No one else had even noticed that I was hurt; much less that Dev was the one that beat me. I felt tears burning in my eyes and I couldn't stop them from welling over and falling slowly down my cheeks.

"Oh Karen, I'm so sorry that this happened." He said his voice completely sincere, and utterly tender.

"It's fine, really. I just…I spent all night in the ER and I'm really tired."

"Want to tell me what happened?"

"I went back to the hotel after the performance and he was in my room. He tried to apologize for what he'd done, but I didn't want to hear it. I just wanted him to leave. I asked him to go and he got angry. He slapped me in the face and I just stood there in shock. Before I knew it I was on the floor and he was kicking me, telling me that I had ruined everything." The tears were really falling now as I spilled my guts to my director.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gently rubbed circles on my arm with his thumb. I laid my head on his shoulder and breathed in his scent, which was so masculine and strong, just like him.

"You spent the night in the ER and didn't call me?" He asked in a non-judgmental, kind, almost hurt way.

"Why would I have called you? You don't need to be part of my drama." I said, shocked that he would have even thought of me calling him.

"I could have been there with you. I would have come straight away if you had called me."
"I…I…" I was at a loss for words. Was Derek Wills really being nice to me? I guess it's the perk of being "his star."

"What else is hurt?"
"Oh, the pain meds are taking care of that, it's really not that big of a deal." I said, afraid of what he'd do or say if I told him the truth.

"I didn't ask if the pain meds were effective love, I asked what else was hurt. Please tell me." His voice was so soft and gentle, just like it had been yesterday in the wardrobe room.
"I broke a rib and sprained my ankle. I was trying to get away from him and I tripped." I said, remembering how scared I had been and the anger in Dev's eyes.

Derek's face paled and his jaw dropped. "You've been rehearsing with a broken rib and sprained ankle all morning and didn't think it was important to tell me?"

"I…it's not your problem Derek. I can still do the show. No one else has even noticed." I said, terrified that he was going to give the part to Ivy.

"I don't give a damn about the show, can't you see that? I care about you. I've always cared about you." He whispered the last part and lowered his head looking away from me.

"I had no idea. You were with Ivy, and Rebecca, how was I supposed to know that you cared about me?"

"I don't suppose you could have known. I just, you were with him, and I couldn't tell you how I felt. I do understand love Karen. I understand it better than you know which is why I have tried to avoid it for the last seven years."

I noticed tears filling his eyes as he took a deep breath and looked away.

"What happened?"

"She passed away. Cancer. I wasn't there for her the way I should have been. The way I wanted to be. I had work and commitments that I thought were important, and then she got sick and it was too late. Okay, enough of this," He said, his voice returning to its normal gruff tone "it's time to eat. Do you want me to go get you something so you can stay off of your ankle?"

"No, it's fine. Jessica was going to get me a sandwich. Thanks for the offer though."

"See you after the break." He said and got up and left without a second glance.