Love in the Third Degree

Sam decides to take up Marti's suggestion (Male Code Blue), leaving an angsty Derek scarred for life.

{FLASHBACK}

"Sorry I was on the phone so long, I mean, that girl can talk!" Derek said, coming down the stairs, where Sam was coming up.

"Don't worry about it." Sam said, trying to get past Derek.

"Where're you going?" Derek asked.

Sam stared at him. "Brush my teeth?" It was more of a question and not a statement.

Derek looked down. "Where's your toothbrush?"

"Upstairs." Sam replied.

Derek threw his head back to the ceiling. "Very funny. Really, where you going?"

"Don't worry about it. There's something I need to do." Sam said, still trying to get past Derek.

Derek pushed Sam back down the stairs with his hand on Sam's chest. "No worries, just tell me where you're going."

"C'mon, Derek, move." Sam said.

Derek poked him down the stairs. "Make me."

Now Sam was standing towards the bottom of the stairs. "Make me? So now we're ten again."

Derek pointed to his chest. "I know what you are, but, what am I?"

"You are ten." Sam said. "What, we're going to wrestle like we used to?"

Derek just smiled at him.

"Seriously, dude, just let me past." Sam said.

"Seriously, dude, tell me where you're going." Derek demanded.

"Fine. I'm going to go talk to Casey."

"Why?"

"Well, I've thought about what Marti said, and I'm gonna ask Casey to marry me." Sam smiled.

"Oh, really? Can I be the best man?" Derek poked Sam in the chest again.

{END FLASHBACK}

It was the perfect day. The perfect day for a wedding. Derek stood next to Sam at the front of the church. They were waiting for Sam's bride to come down the aisle. Emily Davis, Casey's best friend, was waiting, too, as Casey's maid of honor. Nora, George, Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti were sitting in the front row, next to Sam's parents. Sam's sisters were sitting on the opposite bench.

"The Wedding March" started from the back of the church. The doors open and in strode Dennis McDonald and Casey, looking ever so beautiful in her white wedding dress. She clutched her father's arm with slight anxiety, but remained calm. They made their way up the aisle, everyone staring at them.

At the front of the altar, Casey and Sam joined hands. The reverend spoke and the wedding began…

X•X•X

After Sam and Casey had danced their first dance as husband and wife, Sam went to dance with Emily, and Derek danced with Casey.

He looked into her sky blue eyes. "How does it feel?"

"Like everything I thought it would be and more." Casey smiled up at him.

"You look beautiful, you know."

"Thank you."

"Are you happy?" He just had to ask. He needed to know. Casey's happiness would be his own.

"I married the love of my life. How could I not be happy?"

They just stared at each other, listening and swaying to the music,

"I've loved you for ten years, Case." Derek said quietly. "From the time I first met you until now. And all I've wanted for you is to be happy and fall in love."

Casey didn't say anything. Her eyes welled up with tears.

"Casey? Say something."

"I can't. I-I can't do this h-here." Stammering, she looked around the ballroom for her husband, who smiled brightly at her.

"My feelings will never change for you, Casey." Derek said, tears welling up in his own eyes.

And just like that, he left her burned. She had done the same to him ten years ago when she became Sam's girlfriend. He walked out of the ballroom, dropping her hands, the skin of his heart scarred from her third-degree burn.