Disclaimer: Chyeah, right. Never have owned it and, alas, never shall.

A/N: Here's the second chap! I tried to update quickly. I hope you enjoy it. ;)

The next morning, Casey sat in her bed (er—her hospital bed), reading some Peoples magazine

A couple evenings later, Casey was lying in her bed (erm—hospital bed), reading some celebrity magazine. Being in a hospital didn't exactly lend many opportunities to have a rollicking good time…so she'd resorted to this.

Suddenly a knock was at her door. Casey glanced up to see Nurse Hecker hovering at the entrance of her room, a big smile on her face.

"Morning, Casey. How are you feeling?" the nurse asked.

Lonely. "Good," Casey told her, shrugging. "Any other magazines? I think I've had enough of 'Brangelina'…"

"Casey," Nurse Hecker beamed. "You have a visitor."

"Oh…okay," she replied, putting the magazine away. It wasn't that she didn't want a visitor—she needed the company—she just figured it'd be her mother…again. With that George guy.

She was wrong.

As Casey looked up, her blue eyes (hey—she hadn't forgotten everything) were met with dark brown. And there he was—a boy.

No, not just any boy—a hot one with a great…smirk (close enough to a smile). Unfortunately, he was one she didn't recognize—surprise, surprise—but that really didn't matter.

Could this be my boyfriend? She tried not to smile as the idea itself sent thrills through Casey's body.

"Hey, Spacecase."

He even has a nickname for me, she thought to herself excitedly. It's not exactly "cupcake", but names like those are so generic anyways. This has to be him.

"Hi," she replied with a sheepish smile.

"So, Nora says to be "careful" around you?" He made his way over to her bedside, crossing his arms. "Morphine drip got you loopier than normal?"

Casey laughed. It was kinda strange, however, that he called her mother by first name… But, hey, "Mrs. McDonald" could get old pretty fast. As a thought crossed Casey's mind, she faltered. Or is it "Mrs. Venturi" now?

The boy cleared his throat, snapping Casey back into reality. "Rumor has it you also got amnesia?"

Casey nodded slightly. She hated not knowing who people were, and she only could assume what path this conversation was about to go down…

"Any idea who I am?"

I have an idea of who I hope you are… "Sure," she replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "Why wouldn't I?"

The boy smirked. "I don't know…that amnesia thing?"

"Oh, no, see, I've only forgotten some things. Not…all…" Casey was trying to play it cool, but it (obviously) wasn't working.

He rolled his eyes. "Just admit it, Case. I won't cry—I promise."

"What? No, my mind's just a little…foggy. If you sit down, maybe I'll remember," she told him, scooting over to make room. Okay, so she may have been flirting just a little—could it really hurt? He was cute. Besides, she'd woken up three days ago with no boy-contact except for a hospital volunteer or two. Not even Pre-Accident Casey could pass up a guy like this.

Mystery Boy raised an eyebrow, but sat down anyways. He leaned over to the small table next to her bed where her "Get Well" cards were strewn. Suddenly a rush of anxiety came over Casey. There's a gorgeous guy on my bed…and I look like crap. As he picked up one of the cards, she did her best to fix her hair. I wonder if I smell…Oh, no—I have to smell! How can you be in a hospital bed for as long as I have and not smell?! Wow, he has great hands…

She glanced up at Mystery Boy, only to have the blood rush to her cheeks—he'd been watching her watch him. He had a funny look on his face, but (thank God) didn't say anything.

"So?" he asked finally.

"So…"

"You have no clue."

"None," Casey sighed. "Hint?"

The guy just shook his head. "Mysteries are fun."

She wasn't quite sure, but there was something in his deep voice and expression that made the blush creep right back to her cheeks. All she could do was stare at her hands, hoping Mystery Boy wouldn't notice her anxiety.

"Any clue when you're coming home?" he asked.

Casey thought for a moment. "Well, the doctor said he needs to check my motor skills, or something? And I'll still need to come in for therapy…but maybe in three or four days?"

"It'll be good to have you back," he replied, nodding. "Oh, yeah—Edwin wanted me to remind you about your stereo. Something about taking it off your hands…"

Casey laughed. "Yeah, he mentioned that. So you've met him?"

"Who, Edwin?"

"Yeah."

"Um…kinda."

"What about Lizzie and…" Casey strained to remember all of the names her mother had gone over the day she woke up. "The little one?"

"Marti?"

"Yes! And…shoot. I know I have another step-brother, but…"

An amused expression lit the guy's face. "Yeah - Derek. What's he like?"

"No clue. He didn't stop by yesterday." She frowned. "Everyone acted like I'd be surprised to know he missed me or something. I could just be over-analyzing, but…"

"Yeah, you two don't really like each other."

She rolled her eyes in disappointment. Casey hoped coming back would be a cinch—everyone willing to help her out. No enemies. If only…"Great. Can't wait to get home…"

He shrugged. "Shouldn't be too bad. Knowing you, you'll put him in his place," he told her with a smirk.

Casey felt a smile grow on her face. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

And then there was silence.

"So. Captain of the football team visited yet?"

Casey laughed. "Oh, yeah, he stopped by with the marching band and varsity cheerleaders. Who knew they'd all miss me so much?"

The boy didn't laugh. He just raised an eyebrow and stared at her.

"You're…serious?" Why would the captain of the football team visit me?!

"Does the name 'Max' ring a bell?"

Max? "Uh, not really…?"

The boy's eyebrows shot to his hairline. "They didn't tell you about Max? Funny—figured that'd be the first thing outta Emily's mouth."

"Oh," Casey started, "Emily didn't say much. Actually, all she said was goodbye, so…"

"Oh, yeah. I think I remember you two being in a fight or whatever before the accident."

Even more fantastic. "Really?" Casey asked. "About what?"

He shrugged. "How should I know? Spending time around Emily's not Top Priority on my list…"

"Oh?" she started, looking at him with her best dough-eyed expression. "And what is?"

Clearing his throat, the boy got off the bed abruptly, causing Casey to frown. Crap. "So, you really don't remember Max, huh?"

"Nope."

He laughed. "That sucks—for him."

"Why?"

"Oh, I don't know," the boy replied, shrugging over-dramatically. "Maybe because you're his girlfriend…"

What?! No! "Oh…that's—" So unbelievable. Literally. Captain of the football team? "—cool, I guess." She went back to staring at her hands. "So if Max is my…yeah…then who are you?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…you thought I was your—uh…"

"Well, I just—I…yeah." She looked up at him, squinting with embarrassment. "That's bad, isn't it…"

"In some cultures, yeah. That'd be frowned upon."

Come again…? "Huh?"

He shook his head. "Never mind." And there was that bemused expression on his face again. "So, what made you think I was your boyfriend?"

Oh, the humiliation. "Nothing! I just…assumed. I mean, you came to visit me and all… Which was really nice of you, by the way."

"I do what I can."

"And you—" Stop, Casey. Stop! "Ah, who knows. It was all just a…misunderstanding." She sized him up and down. "But since you're not my boyfriend, let's go back to the start—who are you?"

The boy reached over and patted her head. "All in time, Case…all in time."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? "Anyone ever told you you're kinda annoying?"

He let out a laugh. "Thanks! Glad to see you back to your usual self." He took out his phone and glanced at the time. "I gotta go. Nora wanted me to tell you she'll be here…now-ish. So, uh…" He looked at her carefully. "I'm glad you're okay. I—erm, we missed you."

Casey stuck a cheesy smile on her face. "I'm glad you stopped by, whoever you are. And I sure hope to see you again!"

The boy smirked. "I don't know about that." He headed toward the door, finishing with, "Later, Spacecase."

Casey sighed. "Later."

--

Another knock was at her door only 15 minutes later. Casey was still in a daze from Mystery Boy, so she jumped a little at the noise.

"Mom! Hey!"

Her mother smiled. "You seem especially chipper today... Any reason?" She sat on Casey's bed, leaning over slightly. "Cute hospital boy?" she whispered.

Casey laughed. "Something like that." She eyed the package in her mother's hands. "What's that?"

"Oh!" Nora started, lifting up the large envelope. "Pictures!"

She sighed. As much as Casey wanted to reunite with her past, she didn't really feel up to looking at photos of people who were (technically) strangers, attempting to learn more names. "Mom—"

"Oh, it'll only be a few, Case. Bear with me." She opened up the envelope and slid the stack of photos out. "Here's one of the new house…" Huge. "…one of your 16th birthday…" Why do I look so sick? "…one of you with Max…" Ehh, at least he's cute. "…and—oh, I think Derek took this one." Her mother laughed.

Casey stared in horror at a picture of herself, reaching for the camera with a disgusted expression on her face. "I look…nice."

"Yeah, well, that's Derek for you." Nora picked up the next picture and examined it. "In fact, he said was going to stop by today, but…" She turned the picture toward Casey. "Recognize anyone?"

A smile found its way back to Casey's face. "Mystery Boy!" she beamed. Wow, did I just say that out loud?

It was a picture of none other than the boy himself, with an arm slung around Casey's shoulders. Casey herself didn't look to happy—Why am I seeing a pattern here?—but at least this told her they were somewhat close.

"Mystery—what?" her mother asked, a puzzled expression on her face. "Casey, that's Derek."

Just like that, the whole world halted. There was no way she could have heard her mother right.

"Uh, I'm sorry—what?"

"Derek."

Nononono… "That's impossible. Are there two Derek's?" Please say yes, please say yes…

"Casey, what's this about? Did Derek stop by today?"

"Um, if by 'Derek' you mean someone who is in no way related or even affiliated with our family, then yes, that Derek did stop by."

Nora lifted a hand and felt her daughter's forehead. "Casey, there's only one Derek—Derek Venturi. Your step-brother."

Casey shook her head. "Then that's not Derek."

"Yes it is, Case." Casey could tell her mother was becoming agitated with confusion, but was trying to keep her cool—just like Casey herself, in fact. "I'm not sure what's going on, but—"

"He said he wasn't!" Wait…Casey thought to herself for a moment as a sudden realization struck her. He never said who he was…or wasn't. Except for the whole 'boyfriend' thing…

"In some cultures, yeah. That'd be frowned upon."

It was like a slap in the face.

Omigod, I was hitting on my step-brother!

And just like that, Casey McDonald wished she could go back to forgetting all over again…