Summary: Life in the McDonald/Vinturi house is always an adventure, Marti is still curious, Edwin and Lizzie are still quirky, Derek is still the Jerk and Casey is still neurotic, but Casey has a secret that will change the course of her relationship with the one person she'd never expect to get help from. Can he save her before it's too late?

Warning: Mild Cursing, some graphic sexual content in later chapters. Several Inside Jokes.

Dedicated to: Michael (Tato)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the story plot.

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The sound of the trees scratching against the bedroom window caused Derek to jump up from his resting place, his senses perked up; he had been on edge lately ever since he found out about Casey's disease. At first he had hoped that the Doctor had been joking around but deep down Derek knew the man wasn't playing around one bit. He began to notice the small signs on Casey that screamed cancer, the way she was steadily paling, the way she was steadily weakening, the sudden pains or lost of air, the intense fatigues and abnormal bruising.

He followed her to the hospital without her knowing, the Doctor had made him promise not to say a word until Casey was ready to speak out but to secretly be involved with everything. And he was, for the past two weeks he had his eye on Casey, silently caring for her. He remembered wishing Casey would disappear, he remembered wishing she would just leave and never return but never like this.

He hadn't realized how much he had come to care for his neurotic step-sister until the last few weeks. He ached inside knowing she wasn't going to be there much longer, knowing she wasn't going to bother him any longer or that he wouldn't be able to see her smile. He never thought that there would really be a moment where she would not longer be there with him.

Frustrated he threw the covers off of him and stood up. Sighing he walked out of his room, he stopped in front of Casey's room, suddenly having the urge to walk in and hold her tight, telling her he knew what was wrong with her, telling her he was there for her yet he kept walking and descended down the steps. He was in a daze when he stepped into the kitchen and didn't notice Casey sitting there with a cup of water in her hands.

She had gotten home around eleven no less than three hours ago, she was tired and somewhat disoriented, and she knew it wasn't the effect of the chemo but of something else, something that was there. She watched Derek silently; she watched as he opened the fridge and absent mindedly took out a carton of orange juice, his hands worked on autopilot opening the carton and lifting it to his lips.

Something was troubling him, she knew that from the look in his eyes, by the way his normal cocky and confident demeanor suddenly slumped and seemed tense. She also knew he would not say what was troubling him; he probably had not noticed her presence. Casey proved herself right when he turned to her, and looked at her but his eyes showed someone who was not even mentally there.

"Your current condition has nothing to do with what I told you this morning right?" her voice penetrated his thoughts, making him come crashing to earth so fast that he felt disoriented for a moment, confused even.

"Huh" it took Derek a moment to realize he wasn't alone and that his companion was the very person that had occupied his thoughts

"Yeah, thought as much." She said as she leaned further onto the marble table that seemed to suddenly hold many memories for Casey an example being the morning her mother announced her pregnancy. God things had become so different within the last three months; she had gone from a perfectly normal teenager to a sick one all in one blow.

"Casey?" Derek asked with disbelief in his voice causing Casey to arch a brow

"Yes that's my name. Don't tell me you've suddenly forgotten my existence?" she sat up with a grin on her face "Now I know who will miss me the least should I suddenly disappear" she joked as she got up from the chair and placed the cup in the sink, Derek was too startled to really answer.

"Night Derek" she whispered as she walked passed him. For Derek the world seemed to slow down his hand reached out to grab her put his finger went through her hair and she walked away without turning back. Derek stood there starring at his hand, she slipped away from him, and to him it was like he had been given a sign, a horrible one at that. Casey was slowly slipping away.

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"Hello" Sam's voice called out playfully as he waved his hand frantically in front of Derek who seemed to be in a daze. "Earth to Derek, come In Derek do you copy?" Sam laughed he suddenly got the feeling that if he wanted to do something to Derek he could.

"Deeerrreeek" he called once more, deciding he wasn't going to be that mean to his friend who seemed troubled, now that he took a good look that is. "Hey man what is it?"

"Sam I never thought I'd tell you this but." Derek turned to Sam for the first time that morning "Your voice is really bothering me" Sam smiled at Derek who seemed like he was slowly coming back to normal.

"Good to have you back, thought I'd lost you there a moment"

"You did" Sam looked at Derek as those words left his mouth, he turned serious

"Man what is it?" Derek sighed, he hated not being able to tell anyone, but he knew it would be completely wrong to speak when Casey herself didn't even open her mouth for help. Sam's hands was suddenly on Derek's shoulder, he turned Derek to him and looked him right in the eyes.

"Derek…"

"Okay see that's something I so did not expect to see" Casey's voice caused both boys to stare at her, and when Derek realized that the position Sam accidently placed them in made it look like they were about to kiss, he jumped three meters in the air and far away from Sam.

"Why not Case, I always knew there was a hidden desire between Derek and Sam" Emily's voice rang in a joking manner, causing both girls to laugh and both boys to feel extremely uncomfortable.

"That's not what happened" Sam denied, turning beat red with embarrassment, he looked away from Casey who seemed to be grinning in his direction.

"Sam there's no point in denying it we saw it all" Emily continued, Derek stayed silent his eyes were on Casey who laugh merrily along with Emily. God it hurt to see her pretend the way she was, he knew what was wrong, so why couldn't he reach out and hold her? Why couldn't he protect her the way he wanted, the way he needed too?

He hadn't realized how deep in thought he was or how long he'd been staring at Casey until her hand touched his shoulder, completely startling him. She looked at him gently almost as if trying to search his soul to cure whatever caused the pain on his face.

Casey had the strangest feeling that Derek was looking at her in more ways than one. She almost asked him if there was something he wanted to tell her but she held it off, Sam seemed worried and she noticed Emily was getting there too. Casey smiled at him almost like she was telling him to put on a mask and shield that pain away.

"Derek we have to go to class" Her voice was soft and she almost gasped when Derek's hand clasped her wrist, he stared right into her eyes. For a moment time stopped; outside of the two of them nothing seemed so important, Casey felt it then like a rippling fire blazing in her. Her heart raced quickly and her head swam, somehow she hopped it was the illness.

Derek sighed, his grip on her hand loosened and he turned away, God he hated her for not speaking out. Stepping away from her, he walked to class without another word leaving behind two stunned friends and a very confused Casey. He couldn't deal with anything right now.

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Sorry it's short guys and sorry it took so long I have had a long month and exams are next week, anyways I hope you enjoy it!! REVIEW PLEASE

Jme