"Casey," Derek complains as his angry ex-step-sister flips her cell phone open.
"She didn't even know I was going to forgive you," Casey hisses, listening to the phone ring.
Bianca picks up, cheerfully babbling. "Hi, Cay! How's Derek? Did the two of you kiss and make up?"
"Bianca!" Casey snaps.
"Oh. I guess it didn't go too well. Uh, is Derek there?"?
Casey exhales through clenched teeth. Turning to Derek, she thrusts the phone at him. "Here."
"Uh, hello?"
"Derek, what did you tell her?" Bianca asks apprehensively.
"Just what you said," Derek smirks, waving at Casey.
His former step-sister rolls her eyes while Derek listens for Bianca's reply.
"About the rooming thing? Derek, with all due respect," she simpers, "I was just joking."
"Tsk, tsk," Derek mocks. "But I don't have anywhere else to go."
"Oh," the girl says in a breathy sigh.
"Give me that!" Casey says, hiding a smile.
"No!" Derek twists away from her.
"Is that Casey? Is she still mad at me?" the blonde asks over the phone.
"Bianca," Casey yells toward the phone. "Don't listen to him! He's a—"
Derek spins around and clasps a hand over Casey's mouth. "Shh," he whispers, his breath tickling her ear.
A sharp intake of breath against his fingers tells Derek that she's listening.
"Don't say a word. I'm gonna let go, so you can breathe. If you say anything…"
Casey nods, her lips rubbing against his hand in the most unnerving way.
"Sorry, Bianca," Derek says, keeping an arm around Casey's waist to prevent her escape. "But, we're going to have to call you back."
"But—"
He smirks and hangs up on Casey's roommate.
"That was rude," Casey remarks, her back brushing against Derek.
"Oh, hush," he mutters. "Now, I figure that I have an apartment in Toronto."
"I think your wife sold your house."
Derek grimaces. "Ed's a coward."
"What?"
"He didn't tell me."
"Honestly? You didn't handle it very well." Casey smiles. "Just, go easy on him."
"No promises." Derek grins. He realizes he still had Casey in his embrace.
Not even noticing the odd, slightly intimate position they were in, Casey fiddles with her hair.
She turns in the circle of his arms and Derek internally scowls but doesn't change his posture.
Maybe she wouldn't notice.
"Wanna go see if the doctor'll let you out for lunch?" Casey asks, a huge smile on her face.
Which, inevitably disappears when she notices her proximity to Derek.
"Sorry," he mutters, taking a step back. He adds a jovial tone, "I'm starved."
The smile reappears, albeit smaller, and she grabs his arm. "Then let's go." With a wink, she giggles. "Race ya upstairs."
She takes off, flip-flops slapping against the sidewalk.
Derek rolls his eyes and starts off after her.
Casey waits patiently in the elevator. Sporting Derek's signature smirk, she says, "I beat you!"
"Hey I've been in a coma for over a year. Give a guy a break."
"Do you think you'll remember anything, ever?" she asks, leaning against the cool wall of the elevator.
"I hope so," Derek says quietly. "So, where are we going?"
"If Doctor Frasier says it's okay for you to leave, I was thinking about Casa Mexicana. I was going to take your brother there on Friday, but we decided that seeing you was more important."
Derek smirks and ruffles her hair. "I know that I'm important to you, Casey."
She mock-growls and playfully smacks his hand away from her head as the doors slide open.
"Ahh, Casey, Derek. I see that all is well once again," the petite red-headed doctor smiles.
"Hey doc." Derek smiles. "So, Case and I were wondering when you're gonna let me outta here."
Casey elbows him in the side and Derek groans.
Shooting him an angry but apologetic look, Casey says, " We were wondering if you'd allow him to go out for lunch."
Dr. Frasier smiles at the former stepsiblings. "I think that would be fine. Where are you going?"
"Casa Mexicana," Casey smiles. "My favorite."
"I've never been there. It's on Superior Street, isn't it?"
"Yes," Casey nods. "Their food is amazing."
"Well, have fun. Derek, you need to be back by one. The neurological doctor from Toronto is coming to see you."
"Right," Derek smiles sarcastically. "Sure thing, doc."
"Oh, are you sure it's okay?"
"Case," Derek pulls on her arm. "She said it was fine. Let's go!"
Casey smiles and waves as Derek ushers her to his room.
"I need my wallet. I don't know where it is," he mutters.
"Derek, it's fine. I'll pay. It's not like this is a date."
Derek shrugs. "Free food? I'm in."
Casey laughs. "Haven't changed a bit, Venturi."
The pair exits his room and heads to the little Mexican restaurant, laughing together.
"I'm going to get an apartment."
Casey sets her fork down. "What?"
"An apartment. Here, in Kingston."
"Derek, you don't even have a job. How do you expect to buy an apartment?"
"Rent," Derek corrects, taking a large bite of his quesadilla.
Casey sighs. "How do you expect to rent an apartment?"
"Case, relax. I played for the Maple Leafs. I must have money."
"Geez, Der, you just don't get it, do you? You're an adult now. You need to get a job. Ed needs to go through college without his niece living with him."
Derek glares at her. "Why does Ed deserve something I can't have?"
Casey sighs, muttering under her breath. Clearing her throat, she says, "You just can't remember. Anyways, who says that you are the one who decides what Edwin does and does not deserve? Grow up, Derek, and let your little brother live his life."
Derek just stares as Casey takes another bite of her meal.
Derek had never been one to give the silent treatment, and it bothered Casey. "What?"
"Do you always get this angry now?"
That was it; that was all he said. Quiet, sincere…a question that deserves an answer.
"Only with you, D."
He laughs, and sticks his tongue out. "I want to go back to London."
"Derek, you don't remember anything. Marti's sixteen. Everything is different."
"I know. But that's not what I meant." He leans back against the brightly colored chair. "I want to go back to London, with you."
"With me?"
"I know that I'm going to have to take care of Alexi. And, I know that I'm going to need help. So, Casey, will you help?"
"What?"
"My…daughter—" he pauses, the word unfamiliar on his tongue "—needs a mother. Case, you know her, and she likes you. What more matters?"
Casey huffs, scooting her chair back from the table. "Oh, I don't know, maybe love?! Seriously, Derek. I was your step-sister. Not to mention, that had to be the crappiest proposal I've ever heard, even for a marriage of convenience."
"How many proposals have you heard?"
"Derek, your proposal for our parents was better than what you just said!"
"Well, apparently, it's not, cuz they broke up."
"Is that what this is all about? Because, if it is, I'll forget it ever happened," Casey offers an easy out.
"No. I don't know. Casey, I have a daughter and I don't even remember. Gosh, I think I'm going to have one of your panic attacks."
"What?! Okay, breathe. Breathe."
"Casey, calm down. You need to breathe."
"You just proposed, Derek! It's kinda just sinking in now."
Derek rolls his eyes. "Forget it, Case," he says gruffly. "If you can't take a joke, you've certainly forgotten who I am.
Casey rolls her eyes. "Of course. How could I have forgotten?"
Derek smiles, not even repentant for his lie. "So, I take it you broke up with Truman."
It wasn't a question, but it sure felt like one. Casey smiles softly. "Vicky actually came through after all. She called me the day we left for vacation. Truman had called her, saying he wanted to get back together. So, I broke up with him over the phone. Boy, was he mad. I thought I was over him.
"Just like that?" Derek nods.
"I thought wrong. I lasted a couple weeks and then we got back together. But, we finally broke up for good before Christmas 2010." She smiles sheepishly. "Fourth time's the charm, I guess."
Derek laughs. "So, can Alexi and I move back to London the same time you do?"
Casey nods. "Sure. You can help me pack."
Derek's eyes widen. "Oh, no. What have I gotten myself into?"
The pair laughs, and Casey gets the feeling that this is the way it's supposed to be…her and Derek not trying to kill one another.