A/N: for all the reviews I may or may not have answered! Thanks a lot! Plus, trying to update Sunday nights... working during the week! Bah!!!

Chapter 3

Casey woke up with a start. What had woken her up? She waited, then heard it again. A knock on the door. She looked at the time. 4:24. What the hell was Derek trying to pull? She sighed. "Come in," she requested, almost inaudibly. "What are you doing?"

"Can't sleep." He was frowning.

"And why do you have to torture me as well?"

He frowned even deeper. "Because.... I go to bed thinking about what I have to do, and you're in on this as well. Are you gonna call the kids?"

"Well, yes, in 8 hours or so."

"Ugh. I don't know, Case. I just feel overwhelmed by all this suddenly."

"Why? We haven't hardly started yet."

"Exactly my point."

Casey sighed. She got up and sat next to him. "Is this really what's bothering you? It just doesn't seem like you."

"Huh. You always did know me better than I knew myself." She didn't have time to reply; she couldn't.

It was sensual, uplifting, and brought her straight to a sense of full consciousness. She opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to play chase with hers, sliding closer to him. He put his arms around her; she grabbed his neck, wrapping her arms around him, tangling her fingers in his hair.

She was breathing heavily when they broke apart. "Hem." She tried to stay still, but the air was so thick, she could barely breathe.

He just grinned. She looked away. "I'm going to catch a few hours more sleep and I suggest you do the same."

"Sounds good to me." He flopped down next to her. She opened her mouth to protest, but then she stopped. What would it really hurt? They weren't going to do anything right now, and Nora would never have cared, especially not now.

Eight o clock, after sleeping for almost 4 hours, Case woke up refreshed. She smiled, climbed out of bed, and left Derek lying there. She tiptoed out, closed the door, and went to brush her teeth, remembering the early morning.

"Ahh.... light.... it burns...." Derek rubbed his eyes, sniffed the air appreciatively, and asked with a smirk, "Chocolate chip pancakes?"

"Of course. What else?"

"Maybe I will keep you around."

"Excuse me?"Casey's temper could rise in an instant, and remarks like that always angered her.

"Oh, chill. One innocent little comment. God, Case, I'm not even awake yet; I don't know what I'm saying."

"Oh, really? Shall I wake you up?"

"And just how were you planning to do that?" Derek's eyes had just a bit of anxiety in them. She leaned over him.

"Oh, you know. Breakfast is almost ready."

"Can I have a bite?"

"Of the pancakes, or me?"

"Is it an either or question? I wouldn't mind having both."

"You'll settle for the pancakes."

He groaned. "Tease."

"And don't you just love it." Casey grinned.

"Hey, Liz, it's Case," Lizzie heard as she checked her voicemail. "I know you guys are coming home in a week... be careful, will you? Mom's... well, I think she has Alzheimer's, Lizzie. Be prepared, okay? Love you, see you on Wednesday!"

"Edwin?" Case heard her little brother pick up.

"Yeah, Case, what's up?" She heard Edwin's current fling in the background, calling him back to bed. "Can you wait a second?" She heard him try to muffle the phone with his shirt, but she distinctly heard, "Cut it out, Cassondra, I'm on the phone with my sister." She heard his footsteps, then it was quiet. "Alright, sorry. So yeah, what's wrong?"

"Uhm... I guess this is a bad time, but be careful when you come home, okay? My mom's got Alzheimer's, and well.... it's kinda crazy around here. I just want you to be prepared."

"Kay. Done deal. Uh... would you mind not mentioning what you heard to D? I don't really want to be suffocated."

"Sure, Ed. Whatever you say." Casey rolled her eyes and hung up.

"Yeah, so what'd the kiddoes say?"

"I dunno. I left a message for Liz and Edwin was otherwise preoccupied..."

"Girl?"

"He is your brother, after all."

Derek sighed, then looked at her. "Case... you know I'm not that kind of guy anymore, right?"

"Oh, sure, sure, D. That's what you say now, but when you leave again, you'll forget all about me." She said this with such an air of casualty, she almost convinced herself.

Derek grabbed her back and his mouth was on hers. It was enough to cause a fire, so she pulled away after a few seconds. She knew the old saying. 'If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.'

"Does that convince you any?" Derek looked into her eyes, penetrating into her innermost thoughts. She was surprised with the desperation in his tone.

"Hmm.... I'll think about." She turned away, afraid to say anymore.

"Go get your mom up," Derek said, swallowing hard.