A/N – The anti-nausea/dizziness tablets my doctor prescribed me are amazing. Originally I wasn't going to take them but this morning I got desperate and talk one and I have to say miracle drugs so hopefully this chapter is a little bit better than the last few.
About six weeks later Karen was back to rehearsals for Hit List. Derek had told her that it would be better if she took another week off but Karen was determined to get back to work.
When she stepped into rehearsals on her first day back, Karen was greeted with a hug from every member of the cast and crew that knew her. It made her realise how much she'd missed the tight knit family, which came ready-made with any musical, when she'd been off work. In fact, the only person she didn't know was a tall red-headed girl who looked to be in her mid-thirties. She stood on the side-lines observing all of the interactions and spent a good deal of her time staring at the director. Karen went to talk with Ana, Jessica and Sue, the latter pair having joined the ensemble whilst Karen was recovering.
"Who's the new girl?" Karen asked her three friends, suspicion showing in her eyes. She didn't like the way this woman was staring, constantly, at her boyfriend.
"That's Daisy, Derek hired her the day of the accident to be my understudy," Ana told her "She seems nice but she tends to be a bit of a loner," she continued.
Jessica then added "and she seems to be staring at Derek an awful lot now that the two of you are back," if Jessica had noticed then it was obvious to everyone. Karen needed to talk to this woman.
"Why don't we go over and say hi?" Karen said, for once in her time in a leading role Karen was going to use it to make someone understand where they stood. She didn't want to ostracize the poor girl she just wanted the woman to know to stay away from Derek unless it was strictly professional. She began walking over to the red-head followed by Ana, Sue and Jessica.
"Hi, I'm Karen Cartwright," Karen said kindly, today she wasn't someone to be trifled with.
"Daisy, I was wondering when I'd get to meet our Amanda," she replied matching Karen's tone.
"Well here I am! You're Ana's understudy right?" she said a degree of firmness beginning to show in her voice.
"Yeah, I was a dance teacher part time before this though," she said faking a shyness but Karen had been in New York long enough and had been through enough to be able to spot a fake from a mile away.
"Well, if you ever need any help or want to talk, my friends, here, and I are available," Karen told her, earning herself a look of complete distrust from the slightly older woman.
'Like I'd ever need the help of some green slut from Iowa! Derek is clearly sleeping with her! It's so obvious! His eyes follow her wherever she goes. She's going to wish she'd never said anything when I steal her friend's role' Daisy thought to herself as the four younger women left and returned to their original spot.
As the rehearsal went on it became extremely noticeable that the strain had taken its toll on the young leading lady. She missed her cue for Heart Shaped Wreckage, she forgot the lyrics to Rewrite This Story and after a disastrous rendition of Broadway Here I Come, Derek had to take her to one side.
"Are you sure you're okay love?" he asked the concern in his voice obvious.
"Yeah I'm fine," she replied, it was clear that she was lying but Derek didn't want an argument.
"Okay," he told her but as she returned to her space for Original. He'd promised himself that for the next few rehearsals he was going to take it easy on everyone. At this point Daisy was still staring at him and he was beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable. He'd have to talk to her at some point. He knew she was blackmailing him with the video but surely she wasn't going to be unreasonable. He'd noticed Karen's cold interaction with her. He'd have to explain the situation to Karen that evening.
"Okay everyone let's run through Original," he shouted.
Karen was coping perfectly well until the second chorus when Karen got the feeling as though the room was spinning; everyone was panic-stricken as Sam, who thankfully wasn't even a foot away from her, caught her in his arms. Derek rushed forward towards his girlfriend, pushing past several people. Sam placed his young co-star on the floor making sure that her head didn't hit the cold hard floor.
"Okay everyone quit crowding, Ana get some cushions from backstage," Derek yelled making everyone scatter out. Daisy continued to stare at Derek as he cared for his leading lady.
"She clearly can't handle the job," Daisy said vindictively everyone turned towards her. Derek continued to look down at his girlfriend.
"She's just come back from six weeks off after being hit by a car you idiot, I'm sure that if you were put in the same position you wouldn't even be attempting to be here today you drama queen," Ana told her "And quit staring at Derek, it's really freaking creepy," she continued, her voice getting louder and louder, Derek was going to thank her for that later.
"Hey," Karen said as she began to come round
"Oh thank god!" Derek exclaimed relief and happiness spreading themselves across his face. "Rehearsal's over guys and you've got tomorrow off as well," he told everyone as he helped Karen up off of the floor.
As everyone filed out Derek and Karen made their way to some of the seats normally set aside for audience members.
"Why didn't you tell me you weren't coping?" he asked her looking into her chocolate brown eyes.
"Because I didn't want to worry you," she answered as she looked at his green ones.
"Love, we're in this together, you have to tell me when you're not coping," he told her before kissing her forehead.
"Okay, next time I'll tell you," she said as she stroked his jawline
