Thank you for your continued interest and your feedback last chapter!
I do not own Life with Derek or Just Like Heaven.
Derek took a deep breath before entering the room. His breath left him immediately, seeing her motionless form on the bed. If it wasn't for the several monitors attached to her and the multiple tubes in her arms, along with the inconsistent beeping as the only sound in the room and the bandages wrapped around various parts of her body, he could have convinced himself she was just sleeping.
He walked slowly to her side, glancing back to find he was alone. He was grateful because there was an unfamiliar prickling in his eyes when he thought of the last words he said to her. She was dying before his eyes at this very moment and there was not one thing he could do to get her to break his name in two, or give him a lecture on feminist theories and table manners and showcase any other Caseyisms. He looked at her bruised hands, thinking of all the times she smacked him with those dainty fists.
He sniffed, trying to control himself but failing. He wanted nothing more than to look in her icy blue eyes, see the way they shone as she smiled. He tried earnestly not to remember the dull grey they were earlier that day when she passed him to go downstairs to leave, unknowingly leaving to her potential, horrific state.
He regretted his words further. He normally didn't do feelings but seeing the pain in her eyes, the tears telling her emotion better than her expression, had changed him instantly in that moment. He never did do well seeing Casey in pain. When he watched Sam reject her because of HIS words about the Male Code, it had made him rethink his selfishness. No one else could do that to him. Even today, when Casey wasn't even conscious, he was questioning his self-worth among his family.
Derek lowered himself to the chair beside the bed. "Case, you have to get better. This family needs you…I need you…" he confessed, his voice cracking on the last words. He didn't know where this side was coming from. He quickly let go of the hand he hadn't realized he grabbed and bolted out of the room.
The family looked up from the waiting area, their eyes dulling slightly at the sight of someone besides the doctor. But there was warmth in the dull color for the family member return.
"All of us staying here isn't going to help anything. She's in a coma. We can't stay here for weeks waiting for her to wake up." Derek said gruffly. Despite his tone, both parents agreed.
"Alright, Nora you stay-" As if she would do anything else.
"I'm staying too." Lizzie said stoutly, the seriousness in her eyes preventing argue. Except from Edwin.
"Liz, you need sleep. You were hurt today, even if it wasn't badly. Your body needs rest." Edwin told her quietly, a hand reaching up to rest on her shoulder.
"Ed's got a point, Lizard. You should go home. I'll call you as soon as I get any news." Nora told her daughter, hugging her tightly.
Derek felt his throat tighten unexpectedly. He had never seen his step-sister so scared before. She was always the strong, brave, together one. The one who was usually freaking out and being overdramatic was…
He couldn't even think her name.
"I'll be back as soon as I put the kids to bed." George told his wife, kissing her forehead. Nora hugged each of the kids tightly, especially Derek to his surprise.
"Take care of them, Derek." she told him lastly, looking him right in the eye. He knew she was depending on him. He nodded. She seemed reassured, despite the silent reply.
Returning home was a surprise to the family. They came in to the scattered contents of chips, a sticky semi-puddle of dark soda residing on the hardwood, and the TV still blaring.
"Left in a hurry I see." George merely commented. He didn't make any signs that he was going to force Derek to clean it up. He seemed to understand the anxiousness and accepted the mishap for what it was. He was probably just too exhausted to put any effort in arguing about it. Derek felt another bout of guilt for his behaviour in the past.
Lizzie, Edwin and Marti trudged up the stairs with George bringing up the rear. He glanced back to see Derek taking a wet rag to the stiff liquid on the floor. He smiled a little in pride but the weight of worry on his shoulders didn't allow the smile to stretch very far.
Derek was sweeping the broken chips into the dustpan when George returned from saying goodnight to the kids.
"I want to thank you for everything you've done today. You really kept a level head and took care of the kids. I haven't heard you complain once about the responsibility we keep packing on you. I'm proud of you, son. I know this isn't how you planned to spend your Friday night…"
"Dad." he interrupted. "Just… don't sweat it okay? I know it doesn't seem like it sometimes, but I love my family. They will always come first."
George smiled. "How are you holding up with the news?"
"I'd really rather not talk about it." he muttered, not looking him in the eye anymore.
"Nor would I. But I felt I should ask."
"Already had one mushy confession, I can't handle two in one night. Ruin my rep." he joked and they laughed weakly.
George slid his coat back on. "See you soon. I'll call if anything comes up."
Derek nodded and watched as his father left out the door. He felt a wave of fear, wondering if this could be the last conversation he ever had with his father. He learned today how fast things could change.
Shaking the melodramatic thought from his head, the young man headed upstairs to crash for the evening.
He hesitated when he saw her door cracked open. Before he knew it, he was nudging it gently and stepping inside.
The bedroom was dark, only lit by the moonlight streaming through the gap in the curtains. They hadn't expected to be out so late otherwise the keener would have left a lamp on. Derek flicked one on, sighing as he sat on the edge of her perfectly made bed. He could practically see her freaking out now, telling him not to mess up her perfect lines that she probably used a ruler to check each time.
He chuckled under his breath at the thought.
Curiously, he slid a hand under her pillow. Sure enough his hand clasped around her diary. Normally his brain would register jackpot but his heart simply wasn't in to learning more about the girl absent from the room. He pulled it out anyways, just to see if it was one he found before.
"Don't touch that!" a sharp voice cut through the deafening silence, causing Derek to drop the book in shock. He whipped his head to the door, expecting Lizzie. Well no, he wasn't expecting Lizzie, but he knew it couldn't have been who he thought it was. No one was there. But it was so loud, so clear, he couldn't have imagined it, right?
Derek placed the book back under her pillow. He bit his lip, trying to think this through. Seeing her dresser, he waltzed over nonchalantly then opened her underwear drawer. She had gotten some new additions since he last checked. To his immense grief, there were new sexier numbers among the regular comfortable bra and panty sets. He picked up a red lacy bra and was startled when he heard the same shrill tone.
"What are you doing in my room!? Don't touch my stuff and get out!" she screeched.
Derek turned and gasped as Casey McDonald stood on the other side of the room, hands on her hips, and that sexy fire in her eyes as she stared him down.