Okay, I know I should be working on SMB and ALP. Don't worry the next chapters of those stories are coming in a couple of days. In the meantime, I began thinking of this story while I was watching something on TV. I don't know how watching an old Yankees game inspired me to write this, but it must be a hidden message in context.

I hope you enjoy this story and I'll get on the ball and begin working day and night on my stories.

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A/N: "Thoughts are in italics"

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Life With Derek.

Changes (Working Title)

Prologue:

Derek and Casey were invited to party. Derek leaves early forcing Casey to be alone with Truman. When Truman gets drunk and forces himself on her; Casey defends herself and runs away, back to her house, to the safety of the people who care for her.

McDonald-Venturi House: 12:18 AM Saturday morning

The door slams and the sound of rapid footsteps and cries could be heard as Casey came up to her room. Derek is in his room reading a magazine when the sound reaches his ears. He groans and brings his pillow to his ear when he hears Casey's door close. The sound of her cries penetrates the thin wall between his room and Casey's.

Casey closes her door and falls to the ground behind her door. She pulls her shoes off and throws them across the floor. She just whimpers and chokes on her sobs as she sits there thing of everything that happened tonight.

"I should have listened to reason. I should have never gone against Emily's word. She knew Truman was bad news from the beginning. Why didn't I listen to her? And Truman... More like Trashman. I can't believe I fell for him. Then he hits on other girls at tonight's party and finally, he tries to rape me."

She continues to cry and ponders over her thoughts. Then like a train about to hit a wall it hits her. All the memories came back and scared her as she reminisced.

"He tried to rape me. Thank god for those dancing lesson. If I hadn't squirmed out of his grip then I would be in a worse situation than before. Oh, who am I kidding this is worse. If Derek or anybody I knew was there I wouldn't have to worry about being afraid of Truman."

She slowly got off the floor, walks over to the bed and falls on top of the comforter. She continues to cry not caring who can hear her. She doesn't want to sleep out of fear and she doesn't want to continue to lie awake and cry. She is trapped and she cannot tell anyone of what has happened that night.

Derek can still hear Casey's cries. He doesn't know what to do because of the late hour. If he yells at her to shut up the whole house will be in uproar. If he walks over to her room and talks to her, she'll cry and that would be breaking his "don't do tears" rule.

"Screw it, I'll go "talk" to her. Anything to shut her up so I can get some sleep."

Derek walks over to her door and quietly bangs on it. Casey stirs from her bed and opens the door to see Derek staring angrily at her. She continues to cry as she sees the last person she wanted to see that night.

"Derek, just leave me alone." Casey cries.

"Only if you keep it down." Derek says annoyed. "Some of us are trying to sleep."

She could only think about the night and fell in front of Derek, sobbing. Derek looks at her in embarrassment and realizes she is seriously hurt. Derek leans down to Casey and picks her up.

"Casey as much as I like you worshiping me; I know you are hurt." Derek smirks. "Do you want to talk?"

"No. Not to you." Casey says in between her sobs. "You don't care. So just leave me alone."

"Wow, the one time that I, Derek Venturi, ask to talk to you, you turn me down." Derek says angrily. "Next time, I'll just be a jerk to you because that is the only way you seem to communicate with me."

"Derek..." Casey whispers

"Just shut up and go to sleep." Derek says before returning to his room.

Derek slams the door as he walks out. Casey falls into crying again. Derek walks into the bathroom and grabs a few sleeping pills. After digesting the pills, he climbs into bed and groans again as he hears Casey.

Later Saturday morning:

Derek wakes up and yawns as he rubs his eyes up. He stops and listens for Casey. When he hears nothing he wanders down to the kitchen. On the table there is a note from his dad.

Derek & Casey,

Went Lizzie's Tae Kwon Do competition, then a party for Lizzie and Edwin's friend. Money is on the counter for pizza.

Dad & Nora

"Great now I'm stuck at home with the princess. Oh, well just because we are in the the same house doesn't mean I have to talk to her. I'll just stay in my room and work on that new song for D-Rock."

Casey walks downstairs and sees Derek sitting at the counter reading a piece of paper. She stops and starts the walk back up the stairs until she steps on the creaking step which causes Derek to come out and look.

Derek stares at Casey for a minute. No words are exchanged because there don't need to be words when their faces tell the entire story. After Derek steps back and blinks he grabs his jacket and leaves the house leaving Casey alone, again.

"Who am I kidding? Last night was just a one night thing where Derek acts concerned because it was so late. He will never do that again as long as I'm here."

Saturday afternoon:

Derek opens and slams the door as he comes into the house. Casey looks up from her book and stares at him. Derek stares back for a minute then begins to walk upstairs.

"Truman tried to rape me last night." Casey says solemnly.

"What?" Derek asks.

"Truman got drunk and tried to rape me last night. After you left." Casey shouts.

"Where was Emily?" Derek asks shocked.

"I don't know." Casey says quietly

"He didn't... you know?" Derek asks embarrassed.

"No, I was able to slip from his grip before he could do anything. That is when I ran home and where you found me last night/ this morning." Casey explains

"Casey..." Derek begins.

"No, it's okay." Casey says "I know what you're going to say anyway."

"Really?" Derek questions.

"You would say that I'm stupid for going out with him and deserved this to happen to me." Casey answers.

"Hey, Space Case." Derek says suddenly. "Although I may pull pranks on you, call you names, and "ruin your life". There is one thing I would never do. I would never wish for someone, especially you, to have such a traumatizing event happen to them."

"Derek, I let this happen to myself." Casey explains. "I should have listened to Emily and you. Both of you knew he was bad."

"Casey, don't let him beat you down." Derek says trying to comfort her.

"Derek, I was weak enough to let him go out with me. The only reason I wasn't raped last night is because I wasn't ready to go that far." Casey says. "What happens if I let him get close to me again?"

"Casey, listen to yourself. Are you really becoming that desperate to keep a guy?" Derek questions Casey. "I see it now. You are changing yourself again for a relationship that was rocky to begin with. And now you are thinking of going back to a guy who tried to rape you."

Casey remains silent. She looks at the ground hoping to find an answer, but nothing comes to mind. She is embarrassed by her actions and knows what she has to do, but is afraid to do it. Derek walks up to her and takes her hand in his and holds it firmly as she looks up to him.

"Tell me, do you see something wrong in that picture? You need to get away from this guy before he hurts you worse than he already has." Derek continues.

"Derek, I'm scared." Casey says quietly.

"Then Casey, Monday at school, you go up to him and break up with him. That way you'll be in the company of other people in case he tries to take advantage of you." Derek says. "And I'll be watching your back. Whether you want me to or not."

Derek pulls his hand off of Casey's hand and looks her in the eye. They stare into each other's eye and are lost. Her deep blue eyes show hurt and remorse. His amber eyes show comfort and understanding. When their eyes met they act as a chemical reacts and formed something else, happiness.

"Why does he look into my eyes? And why does that make me feel so good inside? His deep stare is so comforting and inviting. It is almost as if... No, no that cannot... should not... will not happen."

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A/N: Wow! I made a new record for myself. Shortest time to write a chapter 2 hours 45 minutes. So that means I probably made mistakes. Oh, well. I can't be perfect, can I?

And on that note; READ, ENJOY, and REVIEW.