AN: Hello my dear readers, I'm happy you're still sticking with me and with this story. I'm picking up the pace a bit in this chapter because I thought it needed to be fast forewarded a little. Don't worry I'll be taking muuuuchhh time with the next few chapters and am not rushing though stuff. I just needed to get started with the real story. Anyways Lots of fun reading
-By the way I totally forgot, I do not own LWD or it's Characters...if I did it wouldn't be a family show but this story is totally Mine
-your Keisha
Chapter 3 Dinners and other Catastrophes
Caseys POV
So I have just ordered in from my favourite Take out-place and turn back towards Derek. „I don't want to stay in this Coat for the rest of the Day.. I'll just get changed and be back." I watch his eyes scanning me. He nodds and I step out of the room towards staff quarters. I scan my ID and am let into the dressing rooms. I move towards my locker and change into my everyday clothes. Right now I am happy that I chose something more classy yesterday morning. I am wearing a light blue blouse and a navy skirt with blue high heels and the matching bag to go with it. I check my hair and untangle the messy bun letting fall down my back in its natural wavy curls.
I take my bag and walk back towards Dereks room. He's sitting up in bed and chatting to one of the nurses on station who seems suprised to watch me walking in in my clothes. „Oh hello Doctor McDonald was there something you needed?" Nurse Mary (after a quick glimpse at her nametag its confirmed) asks. „No, Mary nothing but like I see you already know my..." I start Derek cuts me off. „Acquaintance Michael? Yes she has." He's quick to charm his way through this. I nodd and smile back at them. His Gun and Holster have vanished off the table too, probably they are in the safe now.
„I see, do you plan on staying here over night Dr McDonald? Getting a second Bed into the room won't be any issue." Nurse Mary is smiling at me with her back to Derek and mouthing (He's quiete a Catch) in my direction. Before I can answer Derek pipes up „Of course She would." He says and bursts his mega-watt smile at poor Mary. „I...I'll just make the arrengements for you Doctor McDonald..." As she walks out I turn back towards Derek.
„Damn it...I haven't cancelled Steven..." I pick up my phone and after a minute Steven picks up „Hi, it's Casey I have to cancel. Yepp, exactly. No! There's nothing like that. Jeesh...stop it you two.. See ya tomorrow... Yes I'll be spending the night... Oh gosh ...Bye"
Derek is staring at me and he seems verry interested. „What did I hear there about a crush on me?" His eyes are sparkling with humor and he's looking carefree. „Wait could you listen to what they said to me from there?" I point at him in his bed across the room. „Of course... It all comes with the territory Case." Derek is smirking. „And even if I hadn't you just confirmed me." Now he's really laughing at me. „So what are we getting for dinner Princess?"
I stare at him for a Second... I'd forgotten his stupid nickname. „No has called me 'Princess' for years..." I mumble. „That's sad to hear...Sounds like you had all the wrong guys in your bed Case." Derek is still smiling at me but his brown eyes are serious. „How would you know.." I answer under my breath forgetting that he'll hear me anyway probably. „I...might happen to have checked them out... One for One... I mean I just had to check their criminal records... I did the same for Lizzie and Marti..." Derek rambles on. 'Wait...He did what?' „You did not seriously check each of my boyfriends Criminal records...did you?" I ask. „No...Yes...Maybe I did..." Derek is looking like someone caught him with his hands in the cookie jar. „DER-EK!" It's my infamous shout. And instead of beeing angry we both start laughing. „Just like in the old times Der.." I think back to out teenage days in fondness.
Dereks POV
„So, Casey why did you choose Trauma?" I ask her, I am truly curious. I mean, it sure is a challenging Profession but I wouldn't have expected any less from her. But why Trauma she could as easily have chosen anything else, equally challenging. „Because it's challenging, and because I sometimes help saving people's lifes. I mean, don't get me wrong I don't do it for the credit, I never would. It's a though proffession I am aware of as much, because when you loose someone on the table it feels like a personal failure. You failed to safe a life... I guess I choose Trauma because I didn't become a surgeon for the fame. I became a surgeon to be able to help people...to be able to save lifes if I'm able to."
Caseys POV
I am thinking about the lifes I have lost beneath my fingertips. People who didn't make it and am sad but then I also think about the lifes I have saved and all of the people who were able to continue their lifes because of me. „As a Trauma Surgeon I have seen the best and the worst in people and I am lucky to have chosen this profession instead of doing the other Major I had alos been interested in back in college days. Psychology. I had just loved how you could easily puzzle together a person's whole life with just a few questions. But knowing myself I obvioulsy hadn't chosen that major...Maybe because I wouldn't have liked to know so many harsh truths about myself... I can't say."
I think back to our college days and notice how much he's changed since then. He seems to have matured and by that I don't only mean his appearence. Sure he still gives off the same nonchalant Aura as usual but this is a entirly different man I'm dealing with. „Old" Derek would've never even thought about asking me such a personal question and mean it seriously, like this new Derek does.
He's got something about him that screams authority, too and that he knows what he's doing. Police work sure changed him. „The food is going to take a while... So how come you're a cop now?" I am verry curious. I can't imagine the Derek I knew as a police officer in any way or form. This is a different man I'm talking to and I really want to know what and how he changed into this.
Dereks POV
I look at Casey, sitting up a bit straighter in my bed. So, she wants to know my story. „Well back in college days I got involved with the wrong people and when I noticed just what these guys we're actually doing I went to police with it. They weren't only heavily involved with drugs but with firearms and one of them, a lunatic was thinking about a massacre at college. They wanted me to join in because my room-mate had joined their little circle of freaks." I start telling her the story of how I'd come to the police work at all.
„I went into their circle as a mole and gave all of the information I had to the police, thus getting my foot in the door. After that I worked my way up the ladder and now I'm one step before getting where I wanted to..." I think about the cases I've already handled so far and can see a lot of the faces coming back to haunt me.
Caseys POV
He's really matured over the years. By the way he's telling me his story I can sense how much he loves his work actually. It's not just a dull job but it's his life. And he's turned his second passion into his life as well. „I just dont get how you do all of it along to your career with the Leafs?" I am truly curious about how he manages to get both things handled. I mean Pro at Ice Hockey sure must take a lot out of him physically and working as a Cop must sure take loads out of him in the psychologic Department.
He gives me a suprised look thinking about it for a while before he actually gives me an answer. „It does take a lot out of me." He's looking off into the distance. „You're right the Hockey is though on my body but I usually need that after having had a particularly cruel Case to solve. I guess I need it both to balance me. The physical effort the Hockey takes makes up for the mental strain my other job gives me." Derek is looking away seemingly deep in thought. I guess he must be thinking about his cases. I nodd and start thinking about how I would've never gottent o know this Derek if he hadn't happen to walk into my hospital...
„Did you know I worked here when you came crashing in with that wound?" I ask suddenly realizing.
Dereks POV
I nodd sheepishly. „Yes, I knew but seeing the kind of wound I had left me with next to no choice. I could've ventured to the next hospital as well but it would have cost me precious time which you on the other hand needed to stitch me back up. I had already lost enough blood on the crime scene as it was. I didn't want to take any risks." I say looking at her intensely.
She just nodds and gives me a small smile. „Thank you for trusting me to handle this, Derek. And not beeing an idiot and running across town with that kind of wound...god knows if I hadn't gotten my hands on you the moment I did, things could have seriously gone bad. Are you aware of how close this one was?" She asks and the look on her features is telling me that she was scared, no panicked out of her mind.
Silently I take her hand „Thank you for stitching me back up, Doctor McDonald. Thank you for saving my life." I give her a goofy grin trying to lighten up the mood because I don't want this tense stuck up atmosphere around us. And I am truly thankfull for her. I had known how bad it was when I ran from the shooting site...I wasn't sure if I'd actually make it through to her at all, but I had to try.. If I was to die then at least with the knowledge that I'd tried anything to get closer to her.
Caseys POV
„You're welcome Derek. I am just lucky it was me you encountered with such a wound because I already knew you're medical history. We were verry quick with getting you blood transfusions. If you'd encountered any different doctor it would have taken a few minutes at last until reports would have told us what you're blood group was... Precious minutes Derek." I don't even try taking the seriousness out of my voice. He needs to know that this is no joke and that his life had been at stake here. He is silent for a few minutes contemplating my words.
Dereks POV
„I know this one was a close call." I end up saying finally after I've thought over what to say in my brain for a few good minutes. But I'd also known I would be safe here, with her. She wouldn't let me simply die. „Besides, you wouldn't have let me die this easily anyway. You had to make sure you could nag me about safety and precautions, before you delivered me to hell yourself." I am joking trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. But she doesn't join in, now I know that this one was seriously a close call. „What would I have told George? What would I have told my mom if you had died away on the Operation Table Derek? It was me you're office called. Why?" She is looking at me all serious and I know she will not let this one slide.
„Because I knew you'd understand, when they told you what it was I actually do for a living... You would make the rest of the family understand...Because you are strong Casey. Have always been." I am looking at her earnestly about to say something I know I would be regretting later, when there's a knock on the door. Casey goes to open up and it's our food. She hands the guy his money and a tip and brings the delicious smelling bag near me. I am starved.
Caseys POV
„My my...you're looking like a vulture about to pounce, Derek... I guess you must be starving." I say setting the tray for both of us. I place his food infront of him and he immidiatly diggs in. I guess, this was it for the talking tonight. Derek has never been much of a talker anyway. „When will I be good to go?" He asks inbetween bites.
„Do you mean when are you going to be discharged from hospital, or when you are going to be good to go to work again?" I ask trying to clarifiy. „Bopfht" He answeres with his mouthfull of noodles. „Gross...at least chew that properly before scarfing it down like that Der-ek!" I say enjoying the sound of his name from my lips. It feels like ages have past since I could break his name in two like this.
„Well, you're good to go in a few days after I've removed the stitches, but you should refrain from physical extersion for at least a few weeks. It might take up to a month for the wound to heal properly, Derek." I explain.
„Are any of my muscle-cords harmed Case?" He's looking at me seriously as he asks. „No." I answer truthfully and watch him letting out a deep breath. He's moving his right arm slowly, not wanting to disturb the wound. „What would happen if I put too much pressure on the wound too early?" His expression is almost unfathomable to me.
„Well, the soft tissue could get infected and that infection could spread through you're whole body, poisoning you. The bullet I pulled out of you wasn't an ordinary bullet, Derek. It was sheated in a poison. I managed to extract it before that poison had the chance of seeping into you're blood. Thankfully the bullet itself had cloged any blood from moving anywhere. If the blood had actually gotten through..." I can't bring myself to continue talking.
„What the hell have you gotten yourself into?" I ask him. „I...I can't tell you. On-going Case and all that.." He mutters. „Well, then you are going to be having to tell your superiors that you won't be able to work for quiet a while." I answer with an angry huff. He is going to be having to talk to me about this.
Dereks POV
I know I angered Casey. I figurued as much when she huffed into my face, but I can't endanger her like this. We are no longer teenagers where she can stick her nose in my buisness and pretend to be helping me... We're adults now and the thing's I deal with...well they are dangerous to put it mildly. I wish I was able to let her into my life it would seriously be a nice change, but at what cost?
Her life would be in danger and he couldn't risk that. Not her... I sigh as I give her a look. „Casey we are no longer teenagers. We are adults. Why don't we try acting like it, too? I don't want to harm you." I add for good measure.
Casey huffs before she actually walks out on me... So much for spending the night as my roomie...
Caseys POV
I am sure as hell not going to let Derek simply try to keep me out of this...He's my step-brother for gods-sake... I move through the mostly silent Private Wing of the hospital untill I reach the medical-forensics unit. This had been a major part in my studies and I enjoy it immensely. I pull the evidence bag with the mysterious and venomous bullet from my pocket and move to enter the otherwise vacant laboratories.
I put it beneath a microscope which is hooked up with a computer which should easily be able to tell me where the bullet came from. I'm feeling a bit like Abby from Navy CIS as I wait for the computer to finally find a match.
No match found... I am speechless as I stare at the screen. This is impossible. I retry making a few slight changes in the settings searching for the materials the bullet is made of. Immidiatly a list is shown to me. The bullet is made of steel, lead and tungsten which isn't really extraordinary. The bullet is covered by a sheet of the so called „Arrow" venom though which is one of the deadliest venoms in the world. In a more mild form it is known as Botox and used for cosmetic surgery. I have never seen or heard of a bullet like this before. Whoever shot Derek was aiming to kill. If Derek hadn't made it here in time, or if his blood hadn't clogged up he would be dead by now.
I shudder at the verry thought. I'd known police-work was far from beeing a piece of cake but this was really dangerous. I am mulling over these thoughts as I print out the report and delete the file from the computer system of the hospital. Sure people will know I was in here seeing as my ID was scanned but No one really needs to know what I did in here. I close and lock the door to the laboratory behind myself as I walk back out, a file with the printout of the results in my hand.
As I walk back into the room I am sharing with Derek for the night I lock the door behind myself and slam the sheet with the results on the table infront of Derek „Care to explain why I found one of the most toxic substances in the whole world on the bullet you were hit with? If anyone had made even the tiniest of mistakes extracting the damn thing, or worse if you're blood hadn't clogged to hinder the poison from going through your body you would be dead now and I wouldn't have been able to save you. Hell it would be a freaking medical mystery why you died on my .table." My voice is getting colder and colder by the second and the last words are hissed at him, while Derek stares at me contemplating.
„I know that you are worried, Casey. These people I was chasing they were expierimenting with this kind of stuff, when I was sent in there to investigate. People started dieing after a bullet wound to the shin out of nowhere, after a gang fight in one of the less popular streets of Ontario. In one of the streets of my precinct to be correct." Derek finally starts explaining.
Dereks POV
'Damn it, I knew something was wrong with that stupid so called „Gang-Robbery-gone-wrong" where I'd first encountered the bullet. But Andrew Mershings, my former Partner had told me I'd been over-reacting. The bastard must've exchanged the bullet in the kid we'd found dead with a normal bullet. That's why the poor kid had a police-issued bullet in his heart. Sure his face had been burnt off with chemicals too and his heart had additionally been severly stabbed but the stabbing wounds had solely been to retrieve the damn bullet I know as much now. Andrew had made it seem like the kid had been stabbed to make sure he was dead...That some gang was sending out a message through him.
This explained how I ended up here, in hospital with a bullet inside me which had been shot to kill me. I am glad Casey had been the surgeon who'd removed the bullet. Because I am damn sure that I would be dead otherwise... I know Andrew and I know he can be pretty damn pursuasive if he wants something...well pursuausive or threathening... I am not safe here...Wait...Mershings...Mershings... I feel like I've recently heard the name mentioned again...My Thoughts are running a mile a minute through my head before I start dozing off all of a sudden.
„I put a mild sedative in your food, Derek you need to rest." Is all I hear Casey saying before I can ever try telling her what kind of danger we're in.
Caseys POV
I feel bad at having had to sedate him like this, but his body needs the rest and I could do with a few hours of uninterrupted sleep as well. I lie down in my bed next to Dereks and pull out my cell-phone. I've got a few messages waiting for me. Three of them are from Steven who'd been waiting up with me on dinner and who's asking me where I've dissapeared off to.
I deceide to call him to tell him I'm fine and spending the night with Derek...no...that sounded wrong on so many levels in her own head, she could only imagine what Steven would make of it. She starts remembering the way she and Steven had met back at Med School and been friends ever since. He knew about Klutzilla and she on the other hand knew all the nasty stories about what his older brother had done to him.
Poor Steven he'd been so sad when his brother passed away a few months before he transferred to the Victoria Hospital.
„Hi, Steven. Sorry I had to cancel last minute on you like that. But I had family issues to deal with and all that." She immidiatly apologizes when Steven picks up the phone after not even letting it ring for a minute. „It's fine Casey. I know and I know how you are about you're family. All over-protective and all that. Just like I am." Casey can hear the smile in her friend's voice. She doesn't know that Steven is standing in the parking lot, wearing clothes dark enough to fit into the darkness surrounding him easily, waiting to strike.
„Thanks. Anyways, see you tomorrow. I'm spending the night at Hospital so the moron doesn't deceide to do something stupid." I add rolling my eyes. „Oh, then sleep well..." Steven says before disconnecting the phone. I am sure I heard his voice waver... I think before telling myself I'm beeing overly paranoid and getting settled in to sleep. Hoping the verry mild sedative I gave Derek to fall asleep will at least last an hour, before noticing that time has flown by and that it's almost been a liittle over half an hour that we've eaten. I must've spent longer thinking about things then I'd originally thought. I roll over putting the lights out.
AN: I know it's a cliffy but I didn't want to add more spice to this chapter than it already has. No I hadn't really planned on things moving this quickly. I had wanted to give them time to get used to each other again before diving into the adventure possibly together...But I go with the flow where the story takes me and this is where it's wanting to head. By the way I tried to be as accurate as possible with the whole bullet and poison thing, but I'm not sure whether such bullets could exist, let's please pretend they can for the sake of my story. Anyways please review
-As Always Your Keisha
