I based this story off of one of the original stories I wrote that is sitting on my computer untouched and unfinished, but I thought I'd try it out with Dasey. It's AU of sorts, since nothing like this happened on the show, but I guess that's what all of these are, huh?

This wasn't an easy story to write. It's a subject matter that is very upsetting and definitely isn't for everyone. I don't dive into it until next chapter really, but this will give you a good idea of what's to come and you can make your decision of whether you wish to pursue from there. I placed the rating at T but I will warn that I tend to curse, especially in angsty fics like this one, so it can be considered a maturer T. Normally I put Casey through everything. This time it's Derek's turn. And I don't go easy on him.

This is a Dasey, as stated before, but it'll be a gradual one, a slow but worthwhile build. I really want this story to hold more meaning than my other ones have... to be more than just the romance we know from the show, for it to build into something maturer and deeper. The Dasey fluff will be numerous, but I am going to spend more time building their friendship than I have in past stories, because I want this story to be less about the wonderful forbidden love romance of Dasey, and more about moving on from something tough with support and love of those around you, that friends and family can really get you through anything. And I wanted to touch on Derek's character, make him as a character go through some self-reflection and self-esteem things, realizing that he's not JUST a ladies man and a hockey god, that those are not all that he is. So in a lot of ways I wanted this story to go more psychological than my others have, while still being the fun and lightheartedness of Dasey romance. And it will definitely be fun and lighthearted at times, but also depressing and painful at others. That's just the way my angsty fics go.

Reviews of all kinds are always welcome. Feel free to PM me as well if you have any questions. I did heavy research, but I am human and have not been through this myself, so please feel free to correct me or point out my mistakes. I am not claiming to be a professional on the matter.

This is only the prologue. The rest of the chapters will be much longer :)

I do not own Life With Derek.

PROLOGUE

Derek Venturi weaved around the other players like they were nothing but a pothole in a city street. They were merely a small obstacle he didn't have any problem bypassing. He was bringing his all to tonight's game. It was the first of the season. He had missed the brisk smell of cool air, the crisp scrape of skates slicing through ice, the adrenaline pumping in his veins, the buzzer ringing in his ears after the satisfying swish of a puck spinning into the goal. Games were where he really came alive. He felt on top of the world, more so than usual at least.

It helped a bit that the whole family had come to this game, even Casey. They all were bundled up about halfway up the stands. Derek could hear his Dad being overly public over the fact that he was cheering for the star player and captain of the team who also was the lead scorer of the night. Casey was watching between reading her newest romantic novel, not enjoying the violence of the game. Considering it was only the first of the season, the other team were pretty brutal tonight. They had never played against them but this season they were broadening their competition, which meant new cities high school teams.

Sam was already benched with a busted arm, a rogue puck that managed to badly bruise through all the padding he was wearing as goalie. He had ice and a sling and was cheering on his fellow team-mates, looking only disgruntled at the fact that he couldn't be out there with them.

Casey even looked up when Derek stole the puck from the other team and stormed through the others across the rink. He couldn't help the grin crossing his face. He could feel a game-shattering goal coming on. The blood was pulsing through his veins at an unstoppable force and he swung his stick back before a large crash knocked him off his feet and into the boards.

White hot pain burned across his back, along with a disgusting crunch, before he fell lifeless on the ice, unable to move.

Whistles blew, people screamed, but the only voice he seemed to hear in all the chaos was Casey's screech of his name, pure fear choking the sound.

She was at his side almost instantly. How she burst through half a stadium of freaking out people and across the ice in her boots before his team or ref could check if he was alright, he would never understand. But she was crying, her tears falling through the holes in his helmet.

"Derek, are you okay? What hurts?" she begged, clutching his padded arm, her eyes bigger than he'd ever seen them.

His eyes filled with tears. The pain was unbearable but the sinking realization of what had happened to him was what choked his words.

"Case…I can't feel my legs."