AN: So here's part 1 of my Two-Shot. My second overall story. The idea floated around my head...It's pretty long so I had to split it into two. It's AU I guess and the characters are a bit OOC. I'm not a medical genius so I just made things sound as "Medical" as I could bwahhhaha. Every other block line is a flashback… Alright. Read...Review.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
"Case, hon, you gotta wake up soon. Please?" Casey could hear her best friend call out. Brooks?
"I called your mom and George. They are so worried about you. So I need you to wake up, okay?" Brooks, I am awake. Mom and George worried? Why can I hear you but can't see you? Weird.
"Nora's on the next flight here. George decided to stay with the kids, but they're going to fly out too as soon as they get more info." Where the hell am I? Brooks why are ignoring me?! I'm asking you questions! Hello? Hello? Hellllllo?!
Brooks sighed, "I told you not to come out here, Casey. I told you it was too late. You are so stubborn sometimes." Came out where? Where are we? Brooks, could you please answer my questions!
Brooks' cell phone started to ring. "Where the hell is my cell phone?" she grumbled to herself. Check the middle pocket of your bag, genius! "Oh there it is," she laughed to herself. "I swear I can hear you telling me it's in my middle pocket," her small laugh became a sad one. Well I just told you! Stop acting crazy. She answered it, "Hello? Why are you calling me?" her voice much too annoyed. "Yes, she's here. Nora and your dad told you?" Oh, I guess it's Derek. Wait! Derek?! "You're almost here? Fine. Bye." She hung up the phone and stared back at Casey. "Case, he's coming. He's determined to see you."Derek's coming? Seriously Brooks, where are we?
"Hey I'm Brooks! Looks like we're roommates?" The new girl smiled brightly at Casey.
"I'm Casey. Nice to meet you!" she shook the bubbly blond's hand, "So this is Princeton, huh?" Casey asked as she brought her focus outside the window.
"The one and only." Brooks grinned proudly. "You look a little nervous? You okay?"
"I'll be fine." Casey assured her, "My first time being so far away from home, you know?"
"I hear ya. So where you coming from?"
"From Canada."
"Nice. I'm from New York so it's not too far of a stretch. It'll be alright, Casey," Brooks assured her; smile still intact.
"Thanks. You know, my stepbrother is actually going to NYU."
"Right on." Brooks nodded along, "Maybe one day we could go drive up and visit our family members."
"You can. Me and Derek, we don't really get along." Casey threw out a pathetic laugh at the thought of she and Derek.
Brooks frowned, "Aw, well, that sucks."
Casey smiled at the concern that was hardly necessary, "No. It's okay. When we first moved in together we already clashed heads. Silly, really."
"Hey Brooks." Derek entered the room.
Brooks blankly stared at him, "Hey, Derek." She didn't wait long to bring her focus back onto Casey.
Derek pulled up a chair on the other side of the out-cold girl, "Hey, Case," he took one of her hands and put it in his, gently swaying his thumb back and forth, "You look horrible." Ugh, Derek! Something's never change!
"Can't you see she's out?! Why do you have to make fun of her!" she snapped at him.
"I'm not doing it on purpose!" he snapped right back at her. "I thought maybe if I said something mean, she'd wake up and yell something mean back."You're an ass! There look I said something mean. But you still can't hear me. Casey said sadly. "How did this happen?!" HOW DID WHAT HAPPEN! Someone please tell me!
Brooks sighed, "She went to see you." I did?
"Oh," his face fell. Come on, Derek. Let the girl finish the story!
"I told her not to go. But the girl is stubborn." I really am. Sorry about that. "She called me crying and right when she was about to tell me what happened, the line cut blank!" she cried out. Casey could hear her nose getting stuffy, meaning Brooks was on the verge of tears. "I thought it was a dropped call, you know, like those damned commercials that come on all the time. I even laughed to myself." She sniffled, "I tried to call her back and I got no answer. So I thought 'she'll call me back soon, she always does'" tears rolled lightly as her voice squeaked, "but she didn't." Brooks stop crying! Please stop. I'm okay, really I am. "Then I got the call. I was so afraid. The truck..." she trailed off and she started to cry more.
He cringed at the thought and wanted it to stop. Derek really didn't want to hear it, "Brooks, stop crying…" he interrupted and sighed, bringing his attention back to Casey, "Casey's strong. I know she'll fight her way out of this." Aww...that was sorta sweet, Derek.
"I hope so," Brooks cleared her voice, "So...what happened?" Yeah what happened? Someone fill me in please!
"What do you mean what happened?" he immediately raised an eyebrow, keeping his gaze on Casey.
"I mean, she drove up to see you! Then she tries to come back home while she's crying. And that's how she ended up here!" End up where! I swear you guys are beating around the bush here!
"I didn't even see, Casey!" he cried out in frustration, "I didn't even know she was coming to see me!"
"She wanted to--" Brooks cell phone started to ring. "Hello? Hey, Nora. Okay, I'll be right there," she hung up, "Derek, Nora's here. I'm gonna go pick her up."
He frowned, "Why didn't she ask me?" 'Cause you're a jackass
"'Cause you're a jackass," without waiting a response, Brooks left the room. I've taught her well.
"Hey Derek?" Casey had the phone, pressing it nervously against her ear.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Brooks and I are coming up to New York for a visit. I don't know, I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out?" she hesitated.
"Casey, why do you sound so afraid?" he chuckled at the sound of worry in her voice, "I know we hardly hung out, but I saw you and Brooks like last year."
"I don't know," she shrugged to herself, letting her voice come out blank.
"Well that's a first," he retorted sarcastically.
"Ugh! You know what? We don't have to, it's fine!" she was definitely frustrated at Derek's lack of ability to have a real conversation with someone.
Sighing at her difficult ways, he needed to assure her, "Casey, I would love to hang out with you."
Nothing but confusion hit her voice, "O-okay?"
"We can go grab dinner." Derek told her, "Sound good?"
Casey just couldn't help but be shocked by his kind and un-Derek like nature, "Sure?"
"Brooks isn't coming, is she?" he joked with hidden truth.
"Derek..." she chided.
"Sorry," he laughed.
"Anyways. No, she has plans with her family. I didn't want to impose, so I called you."
"So I was your back-up?" He scoffed jokingly, bringing on the sarcasm that was his specialty, "Feelin' the love, here, Casey. Really, I am."
"Shut up." Casey laughed to herself, "I'll see you later."
Both hung up, staring at their phones as a smile graced their lips.
Derek was alone with Casey in the hospital room. Gently running his hand through her hair, he spoke softly for her, "Case, you wanna wake up for me?" Umm... I wanna wake up. But for you? Not so sure.
"It's my fault you're here. I know it is. I'm sorry…," his voice cracked. "Casey, I'm so, so, sorry...," she heard him sniffle. Oh my God. Are you crying?! Oh goodness, this must be really serious then. Please! Someone please! I'm begging you! Tell me what happened to me! Derek, please tell me what happened! "Casey, could you please wake up. I'd do anything if you could just wake up and come back to me. Come back to me, Casey," he clenched her hand and kissed it. Come back to you? What in the world. Ugh, I'm so confused. Why the hell is everyone confusing me?!
"So how's life out here in the big bad city?" she joked, trying to make actual conversation with Derek and throughout the night, she did a pretty good job.
Derek shrugged, "It's pretty awesome, actually. You're missing out," he told her as his focus stayed ahead.
They were walking in Washington Square Park, which still had tons of people roaming at night. "It's actually pretty beautiful out here. I kinda like it."
Taking a look around, he had to agree that it was really nice. There was never really a time when he was able to just soak in the scenery. "Yeah it is. So how's Princeton? Everything you imagined it would be?"
She sighed as she felt the need to snort pathetically as his questions. "It's okay. I mean, the classes are alright, the people are eh. Not much excitement."
"Casey, cheer up," he demanded, nudging her with his elbow. "You're bringin' me down."
"I'm cheered just fine thank you!" she pushed his shoulder.
"Hey!" she just laughed at him and the playful nature that just happened was a bit out of left field. They both settled down, bringing their attention to stare ahead again. Derek pursed his lips in thought, "So what do you want to do now?"
A snort escaped her, "I don't live here, Derek. You do."
"I don't really feel like getting mugged," he shrugged, "so how about we just grab a drink or something at my place?"
"Alright, where do you live anyway?" she laughed pathetically because she still didn't know where the guy lived, "Dorm or apartment?"
"I live in the dorms and luckily for me, I don't have a roommate!" he grinned.
"Roommates can be cool." She felt the need to defend herself, "Brooks is like my sister now."
"Adorable!" he smiled sarcastically, muttering through his teeth. "Now stop with the frou frou girlie talk and let's go."
Derek fell asleep, seeing it was already 12 in the afternoon and hen was never up that early except if he had class. Where did everyone go? Derek? Where'd you go?
Nora and Brooks came into the room. Brooks face was still red and puffy as Nora was still fresh on tears at the sight of her daughter. Derek awoke when he heard movement and crying. A part of him cursed the fact he wasn't alone with Casey anymore.
"Casey!" Nora cried, "My baby. Casey, can you hear me?" she lightly grazed her face. "It's mom. I'm here now." Hey Mom. Stop crying! I'm perfectly fine...kind of. Can you tell me what's going on? "Why did this happen to you of all people? This is all unfair!" I don't even know why I keep asking. No one wants to tell me what the hell happened. Why do I even try...
Brooks started to cry again and the sound of her crying made Derek much too annoyed. "Brooks, seriously, stop crying. You're bringing everyone down." Oh jeez, Derek. You were crying too. She laughed in her mind and even had to thought of telling people. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't really do that yet.
Brooks nose wrinkled at him, "Shut up, Derek!"
"Could you two, please!" Nora snapped at them.
"Sorry," they said in unison.
"Reminds me of the way you and Casey fought." She stared at Derek and back at Casey. "Oh, I would love to hear that now. If it would just bring her to wake up." I'm trying, mom. I really am. I wish I could fight with Derek too.
"This is a very...uh...Derek sort of place." She looked around the room at the various things. The sports memorabilia, the posters of girls on the walls, the empty beer bottles all over the place; no coasters, the smells, and even the boy bed sheets.
"Okay...I guess I'll take that as a compliment?" He walked over to her and tossed her a soda. "So let's watch TV?"
"Sure." They sat on the couch and argued for a while about what to watch until they finally agreed on music videos. "So do you ever get lonely up here?"
He shrugged, "No," she gave him a blatant stare, "Okay maybe. Sometimes," he admitted. "I have a few friends here and there. Nothing special."
She found it hard to believe but decided to just take his word on it; even having the burning question run through her, she wanted to ask him. "How's Derek's shool of dating, coming along?" she teased.
"Ha-ha" he let out sarcastically to which she giggled, "Anyways, it's been non-existent," he answered honestly, "I went out a lot during my first year here, but now...the girls are just..." he shrugged with the wrinkling of his nose, "...old news." He stared at her then. Giving her a serious stare, one she couldn't quite figure out. "Nothing exciting, you know?" he stared at her lips subconsciously, as the sound of his voice became that of a murmur. "No one exciting..." he continued, starting to move in her direction.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," she sympathized in an airy voice. Edging a little closer, her heart started to flutter. "No one really there to challenge me anymore," she breathed in front of him.
Derek got closer and closer. "Mhmm…" Just then he brushed his lips on hers and she kindly returned the favor. Wrapping her arms around his neck, slightly running her hands in his hair. Bringing her down slowly onto his couch, he intensified the kiss. Not too long after that, her phone started to ring. "Ignore it…" he mumbled against her lips.
It took everything in her to pull away and somehow she did. "I can't. I gotta go back home tonight, remember?" she stifled a tiny laugh as his nose wrinkled at her words..
"Oh right." He lay there, resting his head on her chest, lightly hugging her. It confused Casey but she kind of liked the comfort. It was completely un-like him to do this. To be so gentle with her and she just really loved the feeling.
Slowly, she ran her hands through the reddish-brown strands of his hair as she answered the phone. "Hello? Uh huh...I'm still at Derek's. Yeah just let me know when you're almost here. Okay. Bye."
Derek let out an uncomfortable sigh as she hung up her cell phone. "So you're leaving soon, I take it?" he grumbled against her.
"Yep." They were both silent for a few minutes, both recalling what just happened between them. This kiss; the comfort; the touching and all she could do was sigh, "Derek what did we just do?"
"Casey, I believe we made out," he said with mock surprise. "My lips touched yours and it was extremely hot for a moment until your crazy friend just had to interru--"
"Der-ek..." she lightly smacked him on his back and he settled himself. "I know that, you idiot. I meant what does this even mean?"
Derek lifted his head to look at her, "It means we have mutual feelings, Casey." He was very much serious now, "It means that I have always liked you for some odd reason and it took you being away from me, to act on it. It means you probably feel the same too." Bringing his eyes to avoid her for a second, he was hesitant. Finally meeting her eyes again, his voice was a bit quiet, "I hope," a small smile crept up on his lips as his eyebrows raised up for the hope he was looking for.
Casey nodded lightly with a slight smile of her own, "I do." She then raised an eager eyebrow; one much too curious at this Derek. "When did you become so knowledgeable?"
"When it comes to you, I know exactly what I'm talking about," he said without hesitation.
She couldn't help but blush at his words and she hadn't blushed around anyone in a long time. Biting her lip in much hesitation, she had to ask. "So where do we go from here?"
Derek pulled her hand up and kissed the inside of her wrist, staring directly into those beautiful blue eyes, "We could give this a try, Case. I want to. If you want to also, we could really try this out. We don't live too far from each other."
Casey thought to herself for a minute. And she was always one for thinking because it was her nature to think. She was a thinker and now everything about her and Derek had started to flood her mind. All the consequences were rushing through her and he knew it. He knew she was over-thinking again, so he gently placed another kiss on her lips to clear her of her thoughts and it worked. Thoughts were cleared. Pulling back, he managed a grin. Her eyes were still closed when he saw a slight smile tug on her lips, "We could give this a try…" she confirmed and it brought that cursed smirk to his lips. That cursed smirk that she was actually starting to really like.
"Derek? Are you awake?" Brooks asked looking at a-head-down-on-the-bed Derek.
"Yeah, now," he said annoyed. Why are you so mean to Brooks, Derek? What the hell did she ever do to you? Just stop.
"Ugh, whatever, I was trying to be nice and tell you Nora and I are going to get something to eat at the cafeteria, and if you wanted something. She's already downstairs waiting but you are just being a complete jackass!" she was silent for a few minutes as he didn't respond. "This..." she put her hands out gesturing Casey's body, "... is all your fault!" she snapped at him.
Derek lifted his head and glared at her, "Don't you think I know that!" he snapped back. Please guys, it's no one's fault. It's probably my own fault. Klutzilla remember? Casey had it in her to laugh nervously. While Derek looked back at Casey, he mentally and physically softened. "Sorry, Brooks. Okay? I'm fine. I'm not really hungry. Just tell Nora I'll eat later."
"Alright, just try and talk to her some more. If she were to wake up for anyone, it'd probably be you." She said with all the sincerity she could muster toward him. Derek? Really? Why is no one making sense? Am I missing something here? Casey sighed to herself. Why do I even bother with the questions if no one wants to answer them?
Derek nodded as Brooks left. He held Casey's hand tighter, hoping that would wake her up but it didn't. "Casey," he sighed, "I don't even know what to say anymore." Well, ain't that a first. "Remember when I admitted I loved you. I know you heard the message," he stifled a laugh, "And I was so mad at you, Case. You're the only one that could make me so angry and love you at the same time." Y-you l-love me? Derek seriously… Casey was starting to freak out as this was news to her. I'm your stepsister, you can't possibly love me.
"Casey! Dammit!" Brooks yelled from across the room.
Burying herself deeper into her sheets, she groaned, "What! What did I do now?"
"Our answering machine is full...Again!" Casey frowned at the thought of the messages. "Sweetie, just call him." Brooks pleaded desperately, "Please just call him. It's been almost a month."
She sunk back into her sheets, "I don't want to," she whined like a stubborn child. "I'm scared."
"Well could you at least erase some of these messages?" Brooks shrugged with the pursing of the lips, "Or how about all of them?"
"Fine…" Casey still didn't budge from her bed.
"Now, Casey." Brooks crossed her arms, tapping her foot annoyingly on the floor.
"Fine!" Wrinkling her nose, she finally forced herself off her bed.
"I gotta go meet with an advisor before my date. So please let it be cleared when I get back." She groaned aloud in frustration, "Where in the world is my cell phone?!"
Brooks was throwing things on the floor, searching everywhere and Casey just couldn't hold her laugh in. It was always the same thing with her very unorganized roommate. "Check the middle pocket of your bag, genius."
Brooks went into her bag and just like her roommate said, it was sitting there in the cursed middle pocket. "I love you!" she beamed brightly, running over to Casey for a tight hug.
Pulling back, Casey shook her head in light laughter, "The feelings mutual, Brooks."
Casey went over to the scary answering machine, awaiting Brooks' departure from the room. Finally after hearing the door close, she immediately pressed the play button. After about 19 messages from Derek freaking out, she finally made it to the last one. Sighing in relief, she was just glad it was almost over. "Casey," he sounded exhausted. "You shut your phone off and you won't return my calls, why are you ignoring me? What did I do? I want to fix it! I will fix it! I'm crazy about you, Case! Can't you get that through your head?" He was silent. Then finally, "Casey, I love you. I love you, Casey McDonald. I'm so in love with you…" he took a deep breath, "I don't think you feel the same though, Case. I think you hate me. Like really hate me. I'm starting to think you really don't want us anymore. I guess I'll try and move on from you 'cause I'm tired." Message over.
Casey was in tears. She couldn't help it. She tended to cry but the fact that he just went and said all those things…over a machine no less, she felt horrible. Sure, Casey was relieved that it was the last message, but after hearing it, she wished there was another. That he wouldn't move on. But there were no more messages. That was it. "I'm so in love with you," she repeated his words quietly toward him. "I'm such an idiot."
"Casey, I'm sorry. If you could just please wake up? If you want me out of your life, fine! I'll leave you alone! But you have to wake up." Leave me alone? Derek, I'm trying to wake up. I don't want you out of my life. I've grown used to you, silly. "You're really starting to scare me," he started to sob again. Derek, I'm gonna need you to stop crying. You're really starting to scare me. "I'm sorry I lied to Brooks earlier about seeing you. I was ashamed. I didn't want to believe that the last time I saw you, I made you cry." More crying. I'm not dead! I know that for sure. Stop crying people! "Now you're lying here," he cried some more at the sight of her.
"So you did see her?" Brooks walked in after eavesdropping. Derek hurried to wipe his face with his sleeve.
"See who?" Nora walked in.
"It's nothing." Derek assured her while he threw a look at Brooks.
Brooks raised an eyebrow, "Yeah, it's nothing, Nora."
Then there was a knock on the door. The three of them looked as the Doctor came in. "Hello, I'm Dr. Martin. Which one of you is a Ms. Stevens?"
"I'm Brooks Stevens," she raised her hand as if it were an attendance call. "But this is Nora Venturi, Casey's mother. You can speak to her now."
"Okay, Mrs. Venturi--"
"Doctor, is she going to be okay?" she interrupted almost immediately; concern written over her whole body. She was a scared mother, what more could you expect?
"We ran a few tests and she suffered immense head trauma from the accident." Okay now we're talking. So I was in an accident. Finally someone with answers! Hallelujah, Dr. Stevens! "We took a few blood tests, EKG's, and a CT scan. We are awaiting the results. We gave her our Glasgow Coma Scale when she was brought in. She tested a 12--" Oh dammit. Coma Scale? Are you friggin' kidding me?
"Is that bad?!" Derek squeaked for his own benefit. There was a terror in his eyes at the moment.
"Not too bad." The Doctor assured him, "3 is the lowest and 15 is the best you could get." The three visibly relaxed, "Casey scored low in her verbal response." That's ironic… she managed to laugh at her own witty comment. "She was lucky that she was hit on her passenger side. If that semi-truck hit her side..." Nora and Brooks started to cry at the thought of it while Derek clenched her hand harder. Truck? That's what Brooks said earlier...
"Doc, so what now? How long will Casey be out?" The Doctor looked a bit hesitant. "Dr. Martin, what is it?" Derek asked with that same terror again. His voice a bit strained in reluctance to ask.
"When she was first brought in, she was responsive to our Coma Scale. But now it's as if she isn't responding at all to anyone or anything." I'm trying to respond Doctor! I want to wake up! "That's why I'm awaiting the results to get a better understanding of her latest condition."
"What happens to her if she doesn't respond or wake up soon?" Nora reluctantly asked.
"She's already been out for 7 hours without response, if it goes on longer... I'm sorry but it's quite possible she might have or may potentially slip into a coma." Nora and Brooks lost it and Derek brought his forehead down onto Casey's hand, still squeezing as hard as he could. It still wasn't working. She still wasn't waking up for him. A coma? Casey cried out dryly and silently as she couldn't give off any tears or noises. No coma. I'm perfectly fine. I just need to wake up! Please. She thought quietly. Broken. Desperate. Please? Dr. Martin sympathized for his patient's family. "I will leave you for now. Come call me if she awakes, or I'll come back when I have her latest brain scan results."
"Thank you, Dr. Martin." Nora gave a sad smile.
"I'm sorry, again." He gave an apologetic nod as he left the room.
I have to solve this. Casey McDonald will solve this. I am a great problem solver and this time it's no different! It'll be solved and I will awake from this disaster! She began to run all her clues together. So there was a semi-truck. Accident. Passenger side was hit. I'm lucky. I was going to see Derek. Derek loves me? Kind of weird. Anyways, he saw me. Brooks said I shouldn't have gone. I'm stubborn. Casey knew she wasn't getting anywhere with this and it was frustrating. I don't know! I just know I'm close to being a coma patient. She silently cried again. I don't want to be. I want to wake up. I want to wake up and come back. Her voice became much quieter as she thought to herself again. Come back. Come back to Derek? Derek. Derek loves me? He loves me. I love him? I love him.
"Derek, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ignored you. I didn't mean too. I was just scared of us. What would happen with us. Like if we would work out or if we wouldn't. I don't want to be afraid, Derek. I got your message and I don't hate you. I'm exactly the opposite. I love you too. So I came here to tell you that I love you, I don't hate you, and please don't move on. I really want this to work. I do. I love you so much," she looked up from her note card; her attention brought over to Brooks.
"Awww!" Brooks had a bit of happy run through her, "Sounds perfect! Casey, this is probably the most romantic thing you've ever done."
She looked down at her written words and looked back up, "I know. I feel exhilarated. Powerful, even," Casey felt the need to express proudly.
Brooks chuckled in a joking manner, settling her laughter, she asked, "So what time are you leaving tomorrow?"
Casey shook her head as her eyebrows arched, "I'm leaving right now."
Brooks stared at her in disbelief, looking over at the wall clock, "Casey, it's like 3 in the morning."
"It's less than an hour drive. I'll be fine. Wouldn't the story be more romantic if I drove all night to see him?" she smiled really big at the thought of it and Casey McDonald was always a romantic.
"Yeah, maybe," Brooks said reluctantly. "Well are you sure you're awake enough?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Casey, I don't think it's such a good idea." Brooks still had a bit of worry wash over her, "Shouldn't you wait till morning at least?"
"Brooks!" Casey chuckled aloud as she assured her, "I said I'm okay!"
"Fine!" Brooks huffed, "You're too stubborn to fight with. I'm gonna head to bed. Call me and let me know how things worked out okay?"
"Will do."
"Please, drive safely!" she pleaded.
"I always do!" Brooks snorted. "I do! I am an excellent driver!"
"Not when your mind is elsewhere." Brooks yawned, "Alright hon, get out of here. Get your man...boy."
Casey chuckled and couldn't wait do this. "Okay," she gave her a hug, "Bye!" Not too long after that, she rushed out of her door to await a meeting with Derek.
The room was somber. The three moped as they didn't know what to do. They all silently prayed Casey would wake up any minute now. Unfortunately for them, she didn't.
Derek slowly arose and went closer to her ear. He didn't care that Brooks and Nora were sitting right there watching him. He didn't care anymore. He could care less what people thought because Casey was more important to him. Gently, he ran his hand through her hair and kissed the side of her head. He whispered, "Casey, you have to listen to me." I'm listening. "I love you. I love you so much. You can't slip into a coma, okay? I need you. I need you to wake up. I love you. I don't care who knows it. I'm not ashamed. I'm not!" he said it loudly that Brooks and Nora stared. Brooks had already known, but this was news to Nora. She stared wide eyed at what was being said in front of her. "Wake up, Casey. We all need you. I need you," he let out a shaky breath.
I need you too. Casey's voice was becoming more and more determined. I love you too. She was silent as thoughts ran through her head. I fell in love with you. We kissed. We kissed at your apartment! A lot. We were happy! Till I was scared. Oh my God. You. The message. Oh my God. I went to see you. The semi-truck! The headlights. Oh my God. You broke my heart, Derek. Casey had realization written in her voice...finally. I remember it all. The visions were running vividly in her mind.
Casey finally arrived at Derek's place. She paced back and forth in front of his door, reading over her note card. Trying to get all the points down and make sure everything goes well. She didn't want to mess this up. Finally she knocked on the door. She got no answer, so she knocked again. She heard shuffling from inside as someone approached the door. She saw a crazy haired and shock-faced Derek and a smile rose on her face. "Hey."
He stopped being so fidgety and returned a smile; a smile that told her how happy he was to see her, "Hey."
"Sorry I'm coming so late...or so early." Casey joked and she always had a dry sense of humor. "It's just there was something I had to say and I don't really feel comfortable out here. So could we maybe go--" she pointed to his door.
"No. No. Out here's fine!" he piped nervously. "My room is messy. It wouldn't be comfortable in there. Trust me." Derek came from out his door, shutting it quietly, bringing his back against it.
Casey laughed at how nervous he was and she couldn't help but think how adorable he was when he was all red and flustered. "What's the matter with you? You've never cared about your tidiness. What you got a girl in there or something?" she joked.
He let out another nervous laugh, "No. No girl in there."
She raised an eyebrow, "Okay..."
Just then the door was being opened from the inside and out came a girl. Her arms snaked from behind, wrapping them around Derek's waist from behind. "Who's out here?" Derek tried to take her hands off of him as he stared at Casey with guilt and regret. "What is your problem?" She then saw Casey. "Oh…"
Casey couldn't breathe. The sight in front of her just made her sick. She wanted to cry. After his plea of telling her how much he loved her and how crazy he was about her; when he said he was going to move on, she didn't think he'd be so quick and so fast on his word. She was crying but no tears fell out because she felt the need to stifle a laugh instead, "Well that didn't take you long, did it?" Shaking her head in disappointment, she sighed, "I'm just gonna go," Casey quickly turned around to leave.
"Casey, wait!" He turned to the girl that just ruined him, "Could you beat it, please?!" The girl was startled and left as Casey reluctantly stayed behind to his request. "Casey, I'm sorry!"
Casey stayed strong. She didn't cry in front of him and she wasn't going to start now. She was shocked that she was even able to pull this off. "I'm gonna leave now, Derek," she told him once more as she turned to leave again. But he was quick to grab her arm, bringing her attention to him again. Her voice strained with exhaustion, "What?"
"Casey, it's 4 in the morning. I know you didn't just come here to say 'hey,'" he exasperated.
She stared down at her note card and she couldn't hold it in anymore. "Just stay out of my life, okay?" her voice broken. The tears she tried to hold in…came out. She was already crying. He cringed at the sight and he hated tears. He hated tears and he never did them but seeing the tears on Casey's face killed him. Looking up, she shoved the card to his chest, forcefully. Derek looked down to read it and when he looked back up she was gone.
Casey got into her car and drove off crying. She just wanted to hurry and get home as fast as possible. She just couldn't believe this was happening right now. Her plan for a romantic reunion went to shit and she was just too upset to even think straight. Casey immediately dialed Brooks' number.
"Brooks? You awake?" she tried to hide her crying.
Brooks sat up abruptly as she knew something was wrong. That crack in Casey's voice didn't go unnoticed, "Casey? Whats up?" Casey was crying uncontrollably now and she couldn't hide it again. "Casey? What happened?! Is it Derek?"
"Brooks--"
Casey dropped her phone as she realized she just ran a red light when a car zipped right across her. She pressed the break immediately, trying to catch her breath. Just then she saw bright white headlights coming from her right. The combination of the bright headlights beaming and the loud sound of the honking horn distracted her from moving faster. She tried to hurry and press the gas pedal, as soon as she did, it was too late. Her car was pushed sideways, rolling over multiple times until it rested on the roof of her car.
"I'd like to report an accident! A woman was hit by my truck accidentally! We need an ambulance! Fast! Please hurry! We're on ...Bleecker and Mercer! Please hurry she was hit pretty badly!" The driver was freaking out. He looked at the car and whispered, "I'm so sorry, lady!"
Casey was upside down; seat belt still intact. She was bleeding profusely on the right of her head as well as her right arm. There was glass shattered everywhere. Being that it was so early in the morning, there were hardly people on the street, but those who were at the scene stood shocked at what was in front of them. There were those who stopped to look with their hands over their mouths. There were those who took a quick glance and went on their way. And then there were those who so badly wanted to go help the poor lady stuck in the car but quickly realized they should let the professionals handle it.
The ambulance roared loudly to the sight of the accident. The paramedics hurriedly unbuckled her seat belt and gently pulled her out of the rubble. She slowly stirred as she faintly flashed images of people helping her out. She couldn't feel pain as she just felt herself being moved. She started to freak out. She couldn't hear anything either. Casey was much too disoriented as the flashes were silent and her vision started to blur. "D-Derek?" she faintly said even though she couldn't hear herself say it. That was it. She blacked out.
Casey silently cried to herself as she saw all the visions from the accident. I remember the paramedics taking me out. I remember seeing the headlights and hearing the loud noise. She was shaken at her memory I tried to press the gas...I was too late. I couldn't hear anyone and everything was blurry! Derek? Derek. You did this to me... She thought sadly. Then she quickly softened as she remembered more things about Derek. How he made her feel and that he really and truly does love her. She remembered that she wanted to see Derek when she was pulled out of that car. This is crazy, but I think I still love you. Even after this, I still love you.
"Casey, please! I love you. I know you love me too." I do, Derek. "I'm sorry about what happened. I'm sorry because I thought you didn't love me, so I did something stupid! Please forgive me, Case. Please. You drove to see me. This is all my fault. This is all my fault. It should be me here instead of you." No one should be lying here, Derek. Not even you. "You can't leave me. Wake up." He cried quietly against her face, gently stroking her hair.
Nora was shocked at all this coming out of his mouth but she didn't want to see either of them hurting. Especially as her daughter is lying comatose in a hospital bed; she didn't want anyone to be hurt anymore. She came over to his side and rubbed his back to comfort him. "Derek, don't cry okay. We all want her to wake up. She doesn't blame you. She's not mad at you." I'm not mad, Derek. She realized to herself. She realized he was apologizing; that he felt horrible for what happened and she couldn't put it on him forever. She loved him.
"She should be mad at me, Nora! She'd be stupid not to be." I'm not mad, anymore. And I'm certainly not stupid! "Casey, we both love each other. You know we do. You gotta wake up for me; for your Mom, for Brooks even. Casey, I know you can wake up. I know it. My love is so strong for you right now, Case. Just do your part. Come back to me," he whispered, "Please come back to me…"
I want to wake up! I'm ready to wake up now! Derek, I love you. I want to come back. I'm ready to come back. I want to wake up!
"Casey, wake up..." the three of them said in unison. "We need you."
I'm ready! I'm ready! To The Greater Being, if you can hear me, please wake me up now! I know I'm ready. I don't wanna hurt everyone anymore, I know they are hurting. Casey cried. Hard. She sobbed as much as she could. And she even started to shake too. The images were flashing faster and faster in her mind. Someone wake me up. I'm tired of this. I want to be with my family. I want to talk to them, I want to hug them, I want to kiss Derek. I want to love him. I don't want him blaming himself anymore. I want to tell him I'm okay! This is unfair! Please! I need to wake up! I NEED TO WAKE UP! PLEASE! She sobbed all she could. PLEASE!
"PLEASE!" She cried out. Silence.