AN: Hello People, well here comes the next Chapter. Enjoy reading and please do leave me a review.

Chapter 7 Derek's Home

Derek's POV

I wake up to the smell of pancakes, coffee and chocolate. I open my eyes and Casey is no where to be found. Probably it's her making the place smell so great in the first place. I am glad I bought a few non perishable food items along with the groceries a few days before going out on my mission so my refrigerator is stacked with enough food to last us for a few days.

I sleepily rub my eyes and move towards my own bedroom to get showered and dressed. When I finally make my way to the kitchen wearing a pair of sweats and a T shirt, I find a stack of neat pancakes waiting for me dripping with chocolate syrup. „Yummy" I mumble, sleepily rubbing my eyes.

Casey's POV

„Good morning to you too, Derek. I hope you still like breakfast." I say looking up at a Sweat-clad Derek. It's a Friday today I still can't quiet get it that it took Derek only two days to turn my life completely around. I still don't know what the hell was going wrong with Steven and why he would do such a thing... Anyways I'm Casey McDonald, I never wait around for answers...I pry until I get what I want. Derek has his eyes closed and is inhaling the scent of my pancakes with obvious happiness on his features. God knows when he last had a breakfast made for him. „Good morning Casey." He says finally opening his eyes and looking at me.

Derek's POV

I check my watch it's about 8 in the morning and I have a great breakfast waiting on me. Life seriously can be great sometimes. The only problem is I still have to write out my report for Superintendent Carlson. I groan as I turn on my heel. „What's wrong?" I hear Casey's voice behind me while she's swinging the pan. „I need to get my laptop while we're eating I only have about an hour before I need to hand in my report about the proceedings from my last case and what happened to get me in that hospital." I answer moving towards my study and getting my laptop setting it on the kitchen counter. „Thanks for breakfast Case." I say sitting back down in my spot in front of the already waiting stack of pancakes. „These look great." I add. She smiles brightly at my praise.

Casey's POV

„Wow, I never thought I'd live to see the day when you cared about a deadline... I guess you sure have changed." I say looking at Derek with wonder as he starts typing before pulling out a pair of glasses and setting them on his nose and continuing to pound the keys. „Whoaw, easy there." I add „It's not the laptop's fault you need to write a report." I add. He looks up at me. „Nope it isn't but I just hate the whole paperwork I've got to deal with. Yeah, yeah, I'm aware of how important it is and I sometimes even got a lead from some old file, but I still hate writing the whole stuff... Anyways did you by any chance grab the file which included what you found out about the „Arrow-Bullet"?" he asks shifting his glasses so they sit correctly on his nose. I hand him the file. I'd been clutching it for the whole time when we ran from the hospital up until last night.

Derek's POV

Leave it to Casey to keep track of something, even when her whole world is crumpling to pieces. I smile as I take the file from her and flip it open including the info in my report and typing out the whole story that went down yesterday. It's 08:59 when I hit the send button. And as if on cue my mobile rings and The superintendent's voice greets me „Good Morning Sergeant Venturi. I take it you are going to bring you're Step-sister in for an interview sometime today?" His gruff voice greets me. „Good morning Sir, yes I will be coming in with her today. She's just made breakfast for me so we will be coming in a bit later than I usually do but I will bring her for the interview." I answer politely. „Good, we can discuss any further proceedings on this case, such as you're personal involvement and the jurisdiction of this case later on when you do come in. Take you're time." And with that said Superintendent Carlson hangs up. I focus my attention back towards Casey. I'm about to say something when Ann's Voice pipes up „Good morning Derek, I take it you will be going to work later today?" She inquires. „Yes Ann. Would mind giving us some privacy and just leaving the security systems on for now?" I ask. „Not at all Derek. Good morning , I must say you're pancakes look and smell perfect from what my sensors can detect. I'm wishing you a nice day and hope you have a nice stay with Derek. I will be turning my systems off now." After saying that a soft beeping sound is heard and Annie is gone. I take a deep breath and look at Casey who still seems a bit overwhelmed by „Annie".

Casey's POV

It will surely take some getting used to to this „Annie" Who keeps piping up out of nowhere. „So... what's all this about?" I ask gesturing at the ceiling referring to Annie. „You mean Annie? She's just my Smart-system. She keeps me on track so I don't lose focus on either of my jobs. She reminds me when I've got an upcoming game or practice and on the other hand also keeps track of when I need to hand in files or when I should go to sleep. It's going to take some getting used to to act normally around her for anyone who doesn't own his personal version of my „Annie"." I explain.

„Why is she called Annie?" I ask looking at Derek curiously. „Because it's you're second name." He's answered without thinking and I can see by the look on his face that he didn't mean to disclose this much information to me. „Uhm, okay..." I say awkwardly. I clear my throat eating a bit of my own pancakes as I look at him. „What's going to happen now?" I ask carefully. Derek swallows the load of pancakes he's stuffed into his mouth chewing them carefully. „Well, Princess I'm actually not so sure myself... We'll get to know once we go back to my office." He says. „D..do you think I can continue living my life like I did before you waltzed in creating havoc?" I ask seriously. He stares at his plate before sighing and answering. „I don't know for sure, Casey but I don't think you will be able to. Steven is dangerous... I... I won't put you or the rest of our family in any unnecessary danger." Derek says.

Derek's POV

„I know this wasn't what you had planned out for yourself Case and I am sorry that I'm messing up thing's for you like that...But until this Case isn't resolved I won't let you out of my sights, even if my boss says anything different. Keeping you safe is a top priority and you are the safest here, with me. Annie is more secure than any other security system on the market. She runs on her own solar energy she gets from panels off the roof, but has a link to the electricity from outside too, if the need arises." I explain.

„How can you be so sure that Annie is safe, no offense." She adds probably having forgotten that I've shut Annie off, for now. „None taken, Ann is turned off right now, so she can't hear us. I can be so sure because I've invented Annie myself with help from the geeks of our department, of course. Annie has got my fingerprints, my voice, my retina...well...me saved in her system. Everybody else who enters my home without me is perceived as a threat, with exception of our family members of course." I explain. Casey seems to be very interested.

„I see" She says. I don't know what wheels are turning in her head but she's got her „thinking" face on.

Casey's POV

„Annie reminds me of our security system for the more important parts of the hospital... Sure that System couldn't talk to us like Annie does and it didn't have any of these cool gadgets like the retina-scan, but it did have a code that needed to be typed in. That was the reason why Steven couldn't enter the room when I closed the doors." I explain.

„I see." Derek says he seems interested, but with his house being like a mini Fort Knox I am sure our hospital security seems like a child's play to him. I remember how I'd wished him to go to Military-School back when we were teenagers. I'd often day-dreamed about it, too. Who knew I wouldn't be that much off the bat with that thought. „I take it that Mom and George don't know about you're other profession." I say. „Of course they don't know. Do you think dad would believe any of this? Or that he'd be cool about it? Hell no, for our family I'm still the „same-old-Derek" they knew back from our High-School-Days. I didn't want to put them in any danger. If they knew...they would be." Derek explains. I nod.

„But what about now? Aren't they in danger too? Steven knew where they live..." I start saying but Derek cuts me off. „Don't you think that was my first thought too? Each of the member's of our blended Family has got a security detail following them around inconspicuously and making sure they stay safe. If anyone tried to do anything they'd be out faster than anyone can say „Cop"." Derek explains.

„What about a social life?" I ask. Derek merely rolls his eyes. „Do you mind if we play twenty Questions later, Case? How bout we get to my office now?" He says. „But Derek...what about my apartment? I need clothes to change and my cat needs to be fed..." I add. „Wait a second...You have a cat? Now, why doesn't that surprise me? I always knew you'd end up lonely with a house full of cats one day Spacey." Derek laughs out. I punch his shoulder, ending up having to shake my hand and mumble an „Ouch". „Careful with you're hands Spacey...Last time I checked you needed those to work, and stitch me back together if I end up back on you're table again." Derek laughs.

I on the other hand remain silent. „Will I ever be able to stitch someone back together again, Derek?" I ask softly. My work was what I thrived on.' I love what I do with every fiber of my being...just like Derek seems to.' I realize a moment later. „Yes, Casey you will. We'll catch those fuckers and you'll be good to go back to being the good old Doc who sews shot police officers back together with a flourish." He says as he looks me in the eyes. I can glimpse the fear in his brown orbs tough.

Derek's POV

'Leave it to Casey to ask such Questions' I think before sighing. I am worried about her. What if Steven has already got his minions camping out in her apartment? What if anyone else of the fam gets hurt? They don't know they are in any danger.' I let out a breath before flopping down on my black recliner sofa. „Typical Derek." Casey says she's standing behind me and looking at the sofa having followed me from the kitchen to my living room. The recliner sofa and my giant TV are the highlights of this room, it's scarcely furnished otherwise.

„Where's you're bathroom?" Casey asks from behind me. „Oh, I forgot to give you a tour of casa del Derek. I shall remedy my mistake." I hop back up and lead her through my house. It's got two floors and an attic and a basement. The basement has been transformed into a shooting-range for the most part, it can't be entered without knowing it's there tough. When you get down to the basement you only see a dimly lit room filled with old stuff and things that have been thrown in there without much system and the washing machine and dryer of course. But behind a cupboard there's a door which opens up to my own personal shooting range and one of the many safes with guns inside. I have one on each floor of the house.

The first floor has got a hallway leading up the living room and the stairs which go up towards my bedroom. Then there's my kitchen on the first floor, too. But otherwise that's it. The second floor has got two bedrooms, my Playroom and a games closet, much like the one in the house we grew up in. The only difference about this games closet is, that all of the games in there are just a hoax for the most part. In many of those boxes I've got hidden guns and ammo. And there's a secret pathway leading through my house through which I can escape if I'd ever be trapped in any sticky situation. There's another secret room on this floor, too which is filled with Police-Equipment to handle any situation with and with enough canned food to survive for a few weeks if ever trapped. Of course that room's soundproof as well and has a secret passageway too. Then there's the roof of course which is where I've got a satellite phone hidden behind another stack of boxes filled with old things.

Casey seems impressed, or shocked I can't quiet tell which. „You love what you do." She observed. My walls are adorned with my Hockey Trophies and with the Jerseys of every team I've played with before settling on the Leafs. My house is my safe haven. It's my feel-good place... It's where I feel safe.

Casey's POV

So this is Derek's home. It's nothing like I would've imagined, well except the Trophies and the Jerseys to be on display like they are, of course. This is where he feels safe, where he let's down his guard. What surprises me the most is that there are no clothes strewn about anywhere. His house is clean. Sure there's a few things out of place, but other than that everything seems to be in its place. I am truly surprised. This Derek seems like a whole other person than the obnoxious guy I went to school with.

„How long will I be staying here?" I ask him looking at him. „My boss will decide what's really going to happen with you later today when you do meet him. But if it was up to me you'd be moving in here and staying with me until this whole thing has blown over and we've caught the bad guys." Derek explains.

„What about my life, Derek? What about my job, my cat, my home, my friends? What am I supposed to tell people when I vanish off into thin air? Everyone will be worried... and how's that gonna look like on my resume?" I ask him looking at him in all seriousness. He thinks before he answers.

„A blank in a resume can be explained away, people in my office will take care of as much, trust me on that. As about you're home someone will pick up all of the thing's you need from there, along with you're cat. It can live here, too for as long as you're stay is going to last. As for the people you need to tell something, tell them you've taken up a new job in a new country or something like that. The latter will be figured out once we've been to my office. The only thing that's been left out is our family and I'll deal with them. They won't go round asking questions." Derek calmly explains.

„What about you're neighbors?" I ask frantically looking for something, anything that can bust this whole thing. „Nothing's as easy as the neighbors. You're my girlfriend for all they care." Derek says. „But...but...what about my life! Derek?" I ask. „I know how you're feeling Casey, but don't worry about thing's now. We don't even know what's going to happen later. So let's just take thing's one step at a time, okay? We'll see what's really gonna happen once we've consulted my boss. Trust me he knows what he's talking about." I promise.

„I hope so." Casey says before moving back to the living room and switching on the TV and turning on „Grey's Anatomy". I let her be and quietly sit down beside her.

AN: So, I hope you liked this Chapter. I've turned down the pace a few notches because both need to come to terms with things. One more than the other...I'm sure you know who. I've written this Chapter to give you an Insight on how Derek's home looks like and I'm thinking about adding lot's of how Derek's usual Day-to-Day Life looks like into the next Chapter when Casey finally meets The most important People other than their family in Derek's life. His colleagues. - R&R as always

-Yours truly Keisha