Her hair smelled like strawberries and having her in his arms felt incredibly right that he didn't want to move. He also wasn't sure if she was awake and did not want to face her discomfort when she realized that he was awake and still holding her. So, he kept his body relaxed and his eyes closed, pretending for just a while.
Casey woke up not longer after he did; he'd estimated about thirty minutes had passed. She'd mumbled something, sleepily and rolled over in his arms, but she was no longer in deep sleep and the movement and his arm around her probably woke her up because she'd rubbed at her eyes and sat halfway up to look around at her surroundings before falling gently back on the bed. Derek wanted to hold his breath but he forced it to stay even and calm, though he was sure his heart was beating furiously.
Casey stayed in his arms for another few minutes before she gently lifted his arm off hers and tucked her pillow where she'd been. In what he hoped looked like an unconscious movement, he hugged the pillow tighter. He really did stop breathing when she ran her fingers through his hair and rest a hand on his cheek, briefly, before exiting the room.
He didn't "wake up" until the smell of bacon creeped through the cracks in the door and he could hear soft voices in the kitchen. Wandering into the tiny kitchen, he ran his fingers through his hair and gave a generic grunt at the two people standing around. "He rises with the smell of bacon," Casey intones and, God bless her, sitting on the counter is already a plate loaded with two over easy eggs, toast, bacon, and even a little cup of fresh fruit. She laughed at the look on his face as he eyed the plate, "Yes, that's for you. I heard the door open," she explained further.
"Thanks," he mutters and snatches up the plate and taking a bite of the bacon before eyeing the two strangers in the room.
"Kevin and Andrew," she explained, interpreting the look, "They brought the groceries and replaced Anne and Timothy so that they could get some sleep." Her arched a brow in Casey's direction and she shrugged one shoulder, "Anne hand picked them." Again, correctly interpreting his expression: could they be trusted.
Derek offered them a tight smile and then wondered to the sagging couch in the living room, "He's not really a morning person," Casey stage-whispered and he scratched the back of his head with his middle finger. He heard her giggle and smiled to himself. "I guess you don't want anymore bacon, then." She teased and he turned around to offer her apologetic puppy eyes.
She just rolled her eyes in return but he assumed it was safe to say that he would still be getting bacon, "This is the brother, right?" One of the guys asked and he heard the automatic 'step' fall from her lips and he had to wonder if maybe she wasn't on the same page as him. Because they didn't detest one another like when they first met and it couldn't just be a habit now with so much time apart... He'd always been a confident (some would say cocky) guy and he'd always been able to read Casey pretty well, but when it came to his thinking toward Casey (because even thinking the word 'feelings' is too much) all of that went out the window.
Derek was suddenly aware of an awkward silence behind him and he turned to see what had happened and the three of them were staring at him, expectantly. "What?"
"Kevin asked what position you played?" There was concern etching her features and now that he was looking closer he could see that the stress from the day before was still there as well and he guesses that maybe he zoned out a little. Despite the piece of toast in his mouth Derek goes into a deep discussion with Kevin (from London, Ontario, who knew?) about his college hockey team.
It was after breakfast when the two agents left to go patrol outside, or whatever it is they do, he's not really sure. "Andrew has the hots for you," he told Casey as she cleaned up, and really he's doing her a favor by not helping because it helps her de-stress.
She snorts and shakes her head a little, "Way off the mark." She giggled and looked up from the sink to meet his eyes, "Of the two of us, I'm definitely the one he'd be least interested in."
"What?" Then the realization dawned and he felt his cheeks warm.
"He couldn't stop staring at your ass when you came in for breakfast." Derek rolled his eyes and turned to open the fridge to see what else had been brought in the way of groceries.
As he was bent over he wiggled his but in Casey's direction, "Can't say I blame him." When he straightened and looked over at her she'd turned a little pink, too.
"Honestly, when I met him I thought he'd have better taste." She sighed, "But he's certainly an upgrade for you."
And that's how they spent the next three days in the apartment. They would bicker and wrestle over the remote, and Casey would cook and eventually he would be roped into cleaning (not really minding) complaining the whole time and verbally sparring with Casey. It was almost like university and he mostly enjoyed the experience, the only difference being the sleeping arrangements but he certainly wasn't complaining because though he was still waking up with his face buried in Casey's shoulder she hadn't lodged one complaint. Well, there was the complaint about the few, very minor, pranks that he'd pulled but that was par for the course.
He hadn't been this happy in a little over a year. They would soon have a little two bedroom house (they would be sharing to save on costs) and in that time arrangements were made for his new identity (Casey had opted that he change his name to Dereka and he'd suggested she change hers to Klutzilla) and there was even a plan in place for him to get a quick explanation and goodbye in for his family. Casey, he knew, was extremely jealous of the fact that she wasn't going to get to see her mom (seeing how it was just going to be his dad and Nora and they would be left to explain everything to everyone else). He could see it in the way that her smile was a tad too tight whenever it was brought up.
She had grown up, though, because she didn't act out about it like she would have in high school but it didn't stop him from being guilty and pulling Anne aside on the second night to see if she really couldn't bring Casey along.
"I'm sorry, Derek, I really wish I could and I know she wants to but... they already think she's dead and it would be too easy for someone to slip and I'm already pushing it by letting you say goodbye but I'm a big ole softy underneath. Your parents have already been through a lot." The smile she gave him was sad and he'd nodded in understanding. He didn't want her to think he was ungrateful for what he was getting.
Yes, he was being considerate, and if Casey knew she'd be taking an ad out in the paper.
The day that he actually went to go see his dad and Nora, Casey made herself scarce. Derek didn't grudge her a little sulking. He knew how important family was to Casey and to have been completely cut off from them for a year and then be so close. Just before he left she hugged him fiercely, "You don't have to do this, you know. Witness protection, I mean."
"I know."
"Take a picture?" She pleaded, "We can delete it after just..." Casey trailed off and her face filled with the expression he had started to recognize as the one she made when she was really focused on not crying. He nodded and then Anne and Timothy were whisking him away into a darkened van leaving Casey behind with Kevin and Andrew.
The ride was filled with all of the things he was not allowed to talk about with his parents. He was pretty much limited to telling them an edited version of what happened, giving them the cover story of where he would be since he wasn't 'dying' and saying goodbye. Still, it was better than what Casey got and that kept him from complaining... much.
They met in one of those office buildings that housed several different kinds of businesses. The door said it was a real estate office and Derek was led into a large room with a board meeting style table inside it. His dad and Nora were already settled in and his mom arrived just as he did.
Abby's arrival had surprised, but delighted him, and he figured Casey had said something to Anne about getting his mother there. Anne waited just outside of the glass and Timothy went roaming the hallways while he spent his fifteen minutes with his parents. Abby was the first to hug him, followed by Nora (both of whom—look at that proper English) were close to crying. "Derek," his dad started, "What is going on."
Derek sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair before diving in, "I can't tell you much. Just... I'm going to be in witness protection. The official story is that I've decided to go into photo-journalism (his minor) and am traveling to third world countries for the story... I'll likely "die" not long after but considering everything that happened last year, I wanted you to know that I wasn't actually dead... but I won't be able to be in contact." He let that sink in has he found his way to one of the office chairs.
"Ever?" Nora asked, her voice a little wobbly. He nodded and ran his hand through his hair again.
"Why?"
"I can't really talk about it." They had decided that they less he told them about why he was leaving, the better. Too much of the truth and it might slip about Casey, and for once he couldn't bring himself to lie and tell another story.
George was studying his son, "Is it completely necessary... you can't just move or come back home...?"
He shook his head again, "Life threatening and it could be dangerous for the rest of you if I didn't disappear."
"But losing Casey and now you, despite at least having you alive..." Nora trailed off and sniffed, "It's still losing you and it's going to be hard on everyone and, oh, Marti..." He winced at that knowing it was coming.
"She'll understand."
"It won't make it easy." And Derek had to concede to that. The look on all their faces made him wonder if this had been the right decision. Him and his mom didn't talk much but they did talk and she was losing her son, regardless of the facts. For his dad and Nora they were losing a second child and, again, disregarding the reasoning behind it he was effectively going to be out of their lives.
"I thought it would be better, knowing." He mumbled and Nora came over and wrapped him in a hug again.
"It is, Derek, it is hard but there is some comfort in knowing that you are alive and well... and no matter what I will maintain the hope that you'll be able to return to your life at some point when everything is over." It was completely out of the realm of possibility but he figured that Casey testifying about a highly influential drug lord was going to mean that she would forever need protection. He had plans to stay with Casey as long as she'd let him. He'd let Nora have hope.
There was a knock on the glass and Anne indicated her wrist watch and he nodded. Time was up. Nora released him so that he could hug his dad and then his mom. Nora was last. He wasn't supposed to but she looked so heartbroken that he couldn't resist whispering in her ear, "I'm going to be keeping her safe." She stiffened in his arms and he pulled away. Their eyes met and he gave one small nod.
Suddenly Nora was sobbing and Derek looked around uncomfortably but before George could gather her up for comfort, she squeezed Derek one last time, "Thank you." And then she was in her husband's arms.
"Uh, I guess I should have done this before there were tears," Derek shifted on his feet, "And I'll have to delete it as soon as I get back but... can I just get one last picture?" And so the three of them huddled together, offering each some source of comfort and Nora trying to wipe away the tears. It wasn't a happy picture, but he imagined Casey would be grateful it anyway.
Then Anne was inside telling Derek it was time to go and he was once again in the dark van, probably never to see his family again. There was a part of him that felt a little empty but he couldn't bring himself to regret the decision. The ride back was quiet this time. There was nothing to run through and Anne seemed to understand that Derek wasn't in a conversational mood.
He was, however, looking forward to seeing Casey. She would be able to relate to his pain and he could take some joy in fulfilling his favor to her. He could imagine the sad smile that would form on her face.
Anne led the way to the apartment door, Timothy trailing close behind. It looked casual and Derek really admired their technique. Which is how he didn't notice Anne stop abruptly. Or the fact that the apartment door was wide open. He surged forward, needing to see Casey, but something jerked him back and he looked to see Timothy with a firm hand on his shirt, "You can't." His whispered tone was gentle but firm. He leaned close to Derek, "I know you want to go to her but we need to do our job." So Anne stayed with Derek while Tim went inside to check out the damage and make sure it was secure.
The apartment was small and so he was back in just over a minute and he met Anne's eyes with his own scrunched in worry, "Kevin was shot in the back, Andrew is nowhere to be seen."
Derek tried to peer around Tim and as terrible as he felt for Kevin, who was a pretty decent guy, he was more concerned about the one person who hadn't been mentioned, "And Casey?"
Timothy wouldn't meet his eyes and that was all the confirmation he needed. "She's not here."
A/N: So, I don't know if anyone would be interested but I'm thinking about maybe having a beta reader because I suck at proof reading my own work and, really, it never hurts to have a second pair of eyes looking at something and I could always use an opinion or fact checker or whatever. So... message me if you're interested.
