A/N: So here you are, the much hyped up chapter 9. Look forward to Derek and Casey having some sort of moment in the near future, i.e. the next couple of chapters. Also, for those of you who read my story "Tapestry", chapter 1 of the sequel should be up in the next week. And I'll be posting chapter 1 of another Dasey soon too, which should also be up in the next week.
A Knight In Shining Armor
Confronting Sam, Comforting Casey
I took action immediately. "Casey! Get away from him. Take Emily and the kids and get on the speedboat and leave the dock!" Everyone seemed to be too scared not to do what I told them to. Emily grabbed the keys to the speedboat, and they all ran to it. Now I had to deal with Sam.
"You make me sick. You had the most amazing girl in the world and you treated her like shit. Okay, give. What made you do it? Because I really can't understand what goes on in the mind of someone like you."
"Dude, I…I…I really don't know what to say."
"You're damn right you don't know. Because there is no way you can justify what you did. " I yelled at him for probably fifteen minutes, throwing punches the entire time. When I'd grown tired and he lay crumpled on the ground I sat down.
"Why did you come here?"
"I wanted to apologize to Casey. I was wrong."
"Yeah, you were wrong. But what did you hope to get from an apology, huh? Did you really think she'd come running back to you just because you said sorry? You fucking put her in the hospital! She's scared of you, Sam."
"Your right. I was wrong, I know that. That's why I came here. I know I'm wrong, and I want to apologize."
"Oh? Really? Last time you apologized you gave her a piece of jewelry and then two days later you hit her again. That is not an apology. An apology is final! An apology is sincere. You aren't worthy of her forgiveness anyway!"
"I think that's for Casey to decide, not you Derek."
"Casey doesn't need to come near you. Not when you keep hurting her."
I heard the door open. "Speak of the devil. Casey what are you doing here? I told you to stay away; it's not safe!"
"We ran out of gas and our money was here. Besides, I'd at least like to hear what Sam has to say. He better have a damn good reason for coming out here, since I was supposed to be safe here."
"I came to apologize Casey. I was wrong."
"Oh, is that so, Sam? Where have I heard that before? Maybe when I got this," she pointed at the now faded bruise on her cheek, "or this, or this! Well I'm not listening to any more apologies from you. Your apologies hurt, Sam, and I don't want to get hurt anymore. Get out, now!"
Surprisingly, he left. "Casey, do you want to talk?"
"Thank you for defending me, Derek. You didn't have to, you know."
"Oh but I did. You're my stepsister. It's my job to protect you. Plus I love you, or have you forgotten so quickly?"
She smiled. God I love seeing her smile. "Thanks, Derek. I'm sorry I fight with you so much. You're really not so bad. Not anymore, anyway."
So that was it, huh? I'm not so bad. I can handle not so bad. Maybe one day I can get even better than that. I heard a knock at the door.
"So, you ready to go? I'll go get the kids and Emily."
"Okay." Then, as I was turning the doorknob, "Hey, Derek?"
"Yeah?"
"I didn't really believe you last night, when you said you loved me, but I do now. Because even an overprotective stepbrother wouldn't do what you just did to his best friend. So I'm sorry I didn't believe you."
"Hey, its okay. For a long time I didn't give you a reason to believe me. I'm sorry we didn't get along for such a long time."
"That was as much my fault as yours," she said as she walked toward me.
"Maybe, but I'm still to blame."
She wrapped her arms around me and started to cry. I figured she needed to recover from the whole Sam incident just now, so I just let her cry. I rubbed her back and kissed her on the top of her head and tried to comfort her.
"Shh, don't worry, Case. It's over. Sam won't hurt you again." Boy was I glad Dad was going to be here for the weekend. I needed a break from all this. I hoped he'd bring good news with him.
