Sloth: Here's the second chapter. I'll tell you this, I'm still trying to keep this in the LWD universe without trying to go too far into the Supernatural plot line. However, for any of you Supernatural fans out there, if you can tell me which season this takes place in, I'll give you a sneak preview of the next chapter! Only because I have no clue how to send cookies online. Anyways, I will tell you there are some Supernatural plot lines in this story, but that's only to keep the suspense and mystery of what Derek did in the States going. Well, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: No own Supernatural or LWD.
On The Edge of Reality
Nightingales....
Derek had figured that his family would miss him, but he didn't expect them to miss him so much. The cheerful "Derek you're back!" he was able to predict. It was something Casey would do. Getting tackled/hugged by Marti was something he was also able to predict. The little girl had grown too attached to him. However, being tackled by Edwin AND Lizzie into a hug…That was something he didn't expect. Getting hugged by Casey, he didn't expect, but he had thought of it. Then the parents came back in and there was a big family hug that would have grossed him out if it had occurred three months earlier. Instead, he found himself glad to be embraced by his family. Well, minus the bone crushing feeling.
Derek pulled Marti pull and held her with one arm, a cheerful smile on his face as the shine in the girl's eyes returned. "Smerek's home! Smerek's home!" she repeated.
"Yeah I am," he laughed, "hey Smarti, guess what I got ya?" from him bag, the teen pulled out a stuffed monkey dressed as a pink princess.
"Gasp, you got me another monkey for Sir Monks-A-Lot," the eight year old took the toy and hugged her brother tight enough to cut off his circulation. "Thank you Smerek. I knew you wouldn't forget about me."
"Aw you're welcome Smarti and of course I wouldn't forget about you." he said happily. Derek then looked up at his family, who watched the scene. He then looked over at the two brothers behind him and turned back to his family. "Hey guy. Uh, you guys remember Sam and Dean Winchester right?"
"Oh course," Nora said, "it's good to see you two again."
"Yeah it's good to see you guys too." Sam Winchester said, shaking Nora's hand.
"Did Bobby come?" George asked.
"Uh, actually Bobby had a prior…commitment in Georgia," Dean Winchester replied, "but he says hi."
"We just came because Bobby didn't want Derek driving alone." Sam added.
"Well thank you both for accompanying Derek. I'm sure he wasn't too me trouble." George thanked them, pulling his son into a one armed hug, much to the boy's embarrassment.
"You both should stay for a while," Nora suggested suddenly, "I'm sure you two would find something to do in London."
"Oh that's alright, we've got a job to do anyways."
"Well at least stay until dinner. We'd like to get to know you guys more." Nora told them.
"Plus you could tell us anything embarrassing Derek did."
"Casey!"
Both older men smiled at the transaction between the two teens. It couldn't hurt to stay for a day or to could it?
The day continued on as Derek spent it sharing with his family the things he did in South Dakota with Bobby. Dean added his own memories by telling the Venturi/McDonalds about how Derek accidentally "blew up" two cars in Bobby's junk yard. Derek didn't find it as funny as the others. As the hours passed, Derek played with Marti, helping to mend the broken pieces he knew he had accidentally caused. He chatted with Edwin and taught him a few new tricks he had learned. Casey found herself smiling at the relationship between the wayward siblings.
Later that night, Nora prepared an Italian feast with spaghetti and meatballs, three-cheese lasagna, and Caesar salad. The table was filled with laughter and good hearted fun. And the usual burping contest which Dean won. When everyone was stuffed, the Winchesters waved goodbye, saying that they would find a hotel in town. Sam had found a case that he and Dean would be going on that could lead to help with a condition of Dean's
"Is it contagious?" Edwin had asked, which had prompted a scolding from Casey. However, Dean just laughed it off.
"Funny kid." he said, "No it's not anything like that. We'll keep in touch ok. Derek, stay out of trouble."
"Will do." the boy said as he came down after putting a tuckered out Marti to bed.
As the Winchesters left, Derek leaned down in his recliner. He let out a long sigh.
"Oh I've missed you baby."
"Well I'm glad to see some things haven't changed."
Derek looked over to see Casey smiling at him. He returned the smile and shoved a bang out of his line of vision.
"What can I say? This thing has been with me since the beginning."
Derek suddenly felt pressure around his shoulders and on the top of his head. He looked up and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Just glad you're back." Casey replied, "Never thought I'd miss you so much."
"Yeah well now I'm back so goodnight," Derek said before prying himself out of the girl's arm. Casey felt slightly dejected. It would appear that the sweet innocent Derek that Casey had missed was gone and the old arrogant Derek was back. Before she could grief the loss, Derek surprised her with his own hug.
"I missed you too Space-Case."
That night, both teens were able to sleep with a smile on their faces since a very long time.
.
.
.
Casey woke up to the sound of hurried voices arguing in the night. She was a light sleeper so it was no surprise that the sound had jerked her out of her pleasant dream. Yawning, Casey looked around her room for her digital clock. Upon finding it, Casey discovered it was seven after 2. Who would be up this early? Curious, Casey stood and walked cautiously out of her room. From what she could gather, the harsh words were coming from downstairs. She was surprised no one else had woken up from the argument. She slowly made her way downstairs where the voices were getting louder. She could start making out words by now.
"Get out of here." she recognized that voice. She had to wonder what Derek was doing up this late and who he was talking to.
"Oh come on. It's not like I'm doing any harm."
That voice. Why was it familiar?
"No harm? You broke into my house at 2 in the morning."
"When you put it that way…"
Casey peered into the kitchen from the corner of the stairway. She normally wasn't an eavesdropper, but as Emily would put it, this was too good to pass up. From her point of view, Casey could see Derek staring down someone. She didn't see who exactly. All she could see was the back of their head and their long, dark blond hair.
"Why are you even here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" The person walked around the island toward Derek and Casey almost gasped at the sight of Sally being in the room. She had to wonder, what was she doing here? Hadn't she felt for Vancouver last month? And how the heck did she get in the house in the first place? She turned back to the conversation in time to see Salle try to kiss Derek, only for him to back off.
"Get out." he told her darkly.
"Derek…"
"Don't even dare. Now get out and go bother someone else Ruby."
Casey, while contemplating why Derek would call Sally Ruby, could have sworn she saw the blonde's eyes turn black and her face adopt a scowl.
"Have it your way Singer. Don't say I didn't warn you."
And then she was gone. Just like that. One minute she was there and then the next, Sally was no where to be found. It almost seemed like the girl had vanished in a blink of an eye.
Derek looked down at the plate of cookies he had come down to munch on. He stared absentmindedly at the cup of milk that was sitting by the plate. He felt miserable and angry all at the same time. To think, he had come down just for a midnight snack, only to run into someone he really didn't want to see. It was bad enough he had broken up with Sally and didn't even consider trying to get back with her for the summer like she suggested, but then she came here. He wanted to punch something in.
"Derek?"
He snapped his head towards the doorway where Casey stared hesitantly at him. On any other night, he would have found her fuzzy pink bunny slipper humorous, but not tonight.
"Casey. What are you doing up so late?"
"I thought I heard someone down here." She couldn't tell him she had been eavesdropping. Not when he looked like this. It would hurt him to know she had heard his conversation.
"Oh that was nothing to worry about." he told her before taking a cookie and dumping it in milk. "Cookie?" he asked her without looking up.
"No I'm fine. Uh, are you sure it was nothing because I could have sworn I heard people arguing."
Looking up, Derek gave her a warm smile.
"Casey. You trust me don't cha? It was nothing. I was just flipping through the TV a minute ago."
"Oh, well ok. I trust you." Casey returned her own smile before turning to leave. "Good night."
"Yeah, G'night."
Derek bit down on his lip, feeling ashamed of lying to Casey after everything she had done for him. It had to be this way. He couldn't let her get into the crap he had gotten himself while in the States. He couldn't bare to see or know she had gotten hurt because of him. Just as he was about to return to his cookies, the back door opened and George came stumbling in.
"Dad?"
"Derek? What are you doing up?" the senior Venturi asked. Derek would have asked the same thing if George didn't look like he had been hit by a car. However, instead of looking concerned, Derek had a knowing look before going for a first aid kit.
"I won't tell if you won't."
Meanwhile, Casey walked upstairs crestfallen. She knew what she saw. Sally had been inside the house, so why had Derek lied about. And why did he call her by a different name. It was all too confusing. Entering her room, Casey laid down in bed, unable to shake the feeling of sadness that had become a custom when Derek Singer was involved.
