So this chapter is more of a filler, just to prepare you for the ending. One chapter left and then an epilogue.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. You guys Rock!

Chapter 36

Four Days Later

R.E.D. Headquarters

Toronto, Ontario

9:32 AM

"How is she?" Derek Venturi questioned the moment he was greeted by Agents Blake and Hesston in the lobby of the R.E.D. building.

"She's stable." Ben replied with a relieved expression as he shook Derek's hand with his non-injured arm. "Dr. Reinhardt said we could see her any time."

"Then let's go." Derek spoke hurriedly as he began to usher the pair towards the elevators.

"You know what she's going to ask the moment you enter that room, right?" Ben said while they waited for the elevator to arrive.

The young hockey player nodded solemnly, "Yes."

"Do you have it?"

"Not at the moment."

"Did you open it?"

"To be honest, I can't even remember the code."

Ben chuckled, "Well luckily for you, I have a photographic memory."

"Seriously?" Derek's eyebrows raised in amusement and disbelief.

"I swear on my mother's grave." He said crossing his heart.

"Your mother's still alive." Karma rolled her eyes at him with a smirk. "She lives in Alberta."

Ben turned to her with a surprised look, "How do you know that?"

"I read your file." She grinned.

Ben was about to reply but the door dinged and opened up for them to step inside.

"Good morning, Agent Blake, Agent Hesston, and Mr. Venturi." Chip's voice responded after scanning them.

"Please take us to the Medical facility, Chip." Ben requested.

"As you wish, Agent Blake."

The elevator began to ascend upwards and Derek couldn't help but let his mind wander to thoughts of his stepsister. She'd given them quite the scare back in Russia. He hadn't been able to sleep the past couple days since they'd flown back home. The concern had been eating him alive.

They arrived on the seventeenth floor where the medical facility was located and Derek made a bee-line for the front desk the minute the elevator doors opened.

"Excuse me, can you tell me where Casey McDonald is situated?" Derek asked the young woman seated before him.

"What's your name?" She questioned, barley acknowledging his presence.

"Derek Venturi."

She typed the name in and peered at the screen with a frown, "You're not in the database. Do you have clearance to be up here?" She finally looked at him, noting his dishevelled appearance and unkempt attire.

"He's with me." Ben's voice spoke up from behind.

"Oh, Agent Blake, I'm sorry; I didn't realize." The woman blushed abashedly.

"It's ok. We're here to see Agent McDonald."

"She's straight down the hall and to your left; room 22."

"Thank you." Ben smiled, causing the young woman's cheeks to turn an even darker shade of pink.

Derek didn't waste any time and hurried down the hall the moment he heard the room number. He stopped at the door and knocked a couple of times.

"Come in." A voice that caused his heart to beat rapidly replied from inside.

He opened the door and immediately saw a banged up Casey perched on a hospital bed. Bruises and cuts marked her beautiful skin, and a sling hung around her right arm where she'd been shot. Nonetheless, she still managed to stun the young hockey player with her presence.

"Derek." She breathed out with a reassured smile the moment their eyes connected.

"Hey, Case." Derek returned with an upturn of his mouth while rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Three days ago, he'd confessed his true feelings for this woman and he still had no idea if she returned them or not. He took a step towards her but stopped when a voice spoke behind him.

"Hey, Bluebird, we match." Ben joked while entering the room, gesturing towards his own injured arm hanging in a sling.

Casey laughed with a nod of her head, "We really are a dynamic duo."

"How are you feeling?" Karma asked as she approached the young agent's bed and sat down.

"Sore," Casey sighed, "but it could be worse."

"Do you remember what happened to you?"

"I have no idea how I ended up back in Toronto, if that's what you're asking."

"You passed out, Case." Derek spoke up and moved to stand beside the bed as concern flashed in his eyes at the memory.

"I did?"

He nodded, "You've been in a coma for three days."

Casey didn't know what to think. Dr. Reinhardt had told her the same information when she'd first woken up but it still seemed surreal.

"What happened to Phil?" Casey's expression darkened at the thought of her former handler and friend. His death was the last memory she had from that night and she was still in shock over it.

"We brought his body back to Canada. There will be a ceremony held in his honour next week." Ben answered with a frown. His gaze met hers and Casey knew something was bothering him.

He knows I kept Phil a secret from him. Casey thought guiltily.

She decided to change the subject and averted her eyes from his as she once again looked at her stepbrother, the man she was in love with.

"I do remember one thing before passing out." She said with an inquisitive expression. Derek instantly perked up. "You mentioned knowing something about the combination Phil referred to."

"Oh, yes," Derek nodded. He then glanced at the other two secret agents in the room, silently telling them that they needed some time alone. They got the hint immediately.

"I'm gonna go see if the coffee machine works around here." Ben cleared his throat.

"Yeah, I could really use a French Vanilla. Do you guys want anything?" Karma added.

Casey and Derek both shook their heads, "No thanks."

"We'll be right back then." Casey's partners said and retreated from the room.

"What do you know about that combination, Derek?" His stepsister requested, sitting up a bit more with a slight wince.

"I hate seeing you like this." He replied with pain in his eyes as he took the seat Karma had vacated next to her.

"Derek... I'm fine. Please tell me about the combo." Casey said with slight irritation, even though her mind was flashing back to when he'd spoken three very meaningful words to her in Russia.

Derek sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he picked at a piece of thread hanging off of Casey's blanket. "Phil told me that if anything happened to him that I was to give you a silver briefcase. He had it delivered to your apartment."

"Did you bring it? What's inside?"

"It wasn't my place to open it, plus I couldn't remember the combo." He finally met her gaze and took her good hand in his. "Honestly, I think it'd be best if you wait till you're feeling better and able to get out of here before you check it out. "

"Der-ek, you should've brought it with you. This is important." Casey glowered.

"And so is your health, Casey."

"Since when did you become my mother?"

"I'm only looking out for you."

"I don't need taking care of!" She snapped with a scowl, removing her hand from his.

"Your current state proves otherwise." Derek pointed out. His own temper was beginning to rise as he glared at her. "You almost died in case you haven't noticed."

Casey was silent as a tear fell from her eye. She finally looked back up at him and he reached out, swiping his thumb across her cheek, gently removing the tear.

"Please don't cry, Case, you know I can't stand tears." Derek spoke softly, caressing her face without disturbing her wounds.

"I'm sorry, Derek." Casey's voice wavered as she fought to control her emotions. "I know I almost died... but it's not my almost death that scared me. You almost died as well and it would've been my fault."

"No," Derek shook his head profusely. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look directly into his brown orbs. "It would've been Haldega and the rest of his evil goons to blame. Not you."

"If you had never found out..."

Derek cut her off, knowing what she was going to say, "If I had never found out your secret life, I wouldn't have admitted how I feel about you."

Butterflies fluttered in Casey's stomach as she opened her mouth to reply, however, there was a knock at the door, forcing the two stepsiblings out of the moment as Casey moved away from his touch and lowered her body against the bed with another slight wince from the pain.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything." Ben said, entering the room once again with Karma at his side. He glanced between the two with a raised brow and a curious frown upon his face, obviously sensing he had interrupted them, but not feeling guilty about it.

"It's alright." Casey smiled at her partner.

Derek begged to differ.

"We just received a call from the Colonel," Karma said. "He wants to speak with Derek immediately."

"I'm still visiting." Derek groaned. "Can't he wait?"

"He says it's important and that you need to come now."

Derek sighed as he stood up from Casey's side and then bent down and kissed her forehead, causing Casey's skin to tingle and her stomach to flutter even more.

"I'll be back." He whispered to her. "If I survive..."

"Don't let my boss intimidate you too much, Der." Casey smirked. "He's really not that bad."

"He saved our lives, so I guess I have to give him some credit."

Derek walked towards the door and waited for Casey's partners to follow him out.

"Karma will take you to his office." Ben said as he grabbed a chair from the corner and placed it next to Casey's bed then proceeded to sit.

"You're not coming?"

"If you don't mind, I'd like some time with Casey as well."

Derek clenched his fists but forced a smile, "Of course. Catch ya later."

Ben was a good guy but Derek still couldn't help feeling envious towards him. He'd worked closely with Casey for six years. There was no way he didn't have some kind of feelings towards her. She was amazing and Derek had to admit, watching her kick ass was a definite turn on, which worried the hockey star because Ben watched her do it almost every day.

But you told her you loved her and she kissed you. Derek tried to persuade himself. But she still hasn't told me if she feels the same way... What if she doesn't and is only prolonging it because she feels sorry for me?

"Derek, are you coming?" Karma's voice interrupted his thoughts and he realized he was standing outside Casey's door, staring at the silver tiled floor below.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry." Derek quickly apologized.

Karma smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Casey will be alright."

"I know."

"Then what are you frowning about?"

"Do you still like Ben?" Derek asked as they began walking towards the elevators.

Karma blushed in response to his question and nodded, "Yes... why?"

"Does it bother you how close he is to Casey?"

"They've been partners for a long time. I understand how their relationship works."

"But... do you think there's more to it than just partners?"

The young blonde pursed her lips as she pressed the up button on the elevator and turned to look at him, "Look, we both know that it's more than that but we don't know exactly how much more... and like I said back in Germany, I've seen the way Casey looks at you. She may have some feelings for Ben, but they're nothing compared to what she feels for you."

"I told her I love her." Derek blurted out when the elevator opened up before them and they stepped inside.

"What?" Karma's eyes widened in shock.

"In Russia; right before I ran into you guys with the laptop. It sort of just spilled out of my mouth..."

"What did she say?"

"She kissed me."

Karma squealed with delight, "See! She does feel the same about you! Why the heck are you still worried about Ben for?"

Derek shrugged, "She kissed me, but she didn't say it back."

"Well you guys were in the middle of a battle, Derek."

"Yeah, but we weren't today when I pretty much told her again. Maybe if Ben hadn't interrupted, she would've said it." He grumbled. "Now I have to go talk to big ole Scar-face while he makes time with her."

Karma smacked Derek's arm and glared at him, "Quit it!"

"Ow! That hurt." Derek whined.

"I don't care," She said with her hands on her hips. "Now listen to me because this is something I've had to tell myself as well. If it so happens that Casey and Ben do have something more going on, then we need to back up and let them be. Yeah, it will suck, especially in your case, but there's nothing we can do. Just stop feeling sorry for yourself and have a little faith. You've already kissed her more times than Ben."

"Ben kissed her?" Derek's frown deepened.

"It was more like a peck. Definitely nothing compared to what you two shared in Germany." She winked at him.

Derek blushed and turned away.

The doors opened up to their floor and the pair walked out in search of Colonel Kluess' office.

"Just keep your head up, alright." Karma smiled reassuringly. "I'm pretty sure you have nothing to fear."

(=)

"So..." Ben dragged out as he stared at the wall behind Casey's head. "Derek told you about the briefcase?"

Casey sighed, "Yes, but he won't let me see it until I'm feeling better."

Ben was silent for a moment and Casey knew where this conversation was leading to.

"Look, Ben, I'm sorry I lied to you about Phil." The young agent breathed out. "I wanted to tell you but I couldn't risk it. He threatened to harm my family if I spoke about him."

"Yet you told Derek?" Hurt flashed across his eyes.

"Not willingly. He kind of forced it out of me."

"You're a trained secret agent, Casey. There's no way even a hockey player could force anything out of you."

"He just... he knows me."

"I know you." Ben raised his voice. "I even confronted you about hiding something from me and you lied right to my face!"

"It's just different with Derek, ok?" Casey snapped back.

"Because you love him?" Her partner's voice softened as he stared into her eyes, already knowing the answer.

"I do." She dipped her chin in admittance.

"And what would you say if I felt that way about you?"

Casey's eyes widened in surprise, "Ben..."

Her partner stood up abruptly from the chair, causing it to screech against the floor, and ran his hands through his dirty blonde hair, "I know you don't feel the same way. I shouldn't have told you... I just..."

Casey cut him off with a question, "How long have you felt this way?"

Ben turned his pained expression towards her as he answered, "Honestly... Since the day you became my partner."

Casey swallowed a deep intake of breath, "Oh."

"I fought it for so long because of our work status and thought I'd gotten over it, until that day on the jet to Germany when I was trying to prove to you that Derek was jealous. Being that close to you brought those desires back."

"What about all the times you teased me about Derek?"

"I was jealous." He looked away in shame.

"Ben..." Casey sighed, motioning for him to sit back down. "I admit that I had feelings for you as well. They'd resurface off and on, but over the years, you became more of a best friend to me. Then I realized my feelings for Derek and..."

"I get it." Ben grimaced. "Have you and your stepbrother made it official then?"

"Not yet. He doesn't even know I return his feelings."

"Well... If it can't be me who holds your heart, I'm glad it's him." Ben finally smiled, even though his eyes still held grief.

Casey bit her bottom lip nervously as she grabbed his hand and pulled him down so that he was face-to-face with her.

"What are you doing?" Her partner's eyes widened in confusion.

"I just... After all these years working together, you only briefly kissed me one time and it's haunted my dreams ever since. I want to try it again, just to ease my mind once and for all."

"What about Derek?"

"We're technically not together yet."

"But are you sure this is a good idea?"

"If you're not comfortable, I understand."

"No. I want to." He shook his head. "That quick kiss four years ago has plagued my dreams as well. If this is the only chance I get to experience you like this, I'll take it. Thank goodness I have a photographic memory."

Casey chuckled before bringing her partner the last couple inches towards her and touched their lips together. His lips were warm and soft. It was a pleasant kiss, but nothing compared to the fire that exploded inside of her whenever it was with Derek.

They finally pulled apart and stared into each other's eyes.

"Interesting." Ben spoke first as he touched his lips.

"What?" Casey asked, confused by his reaction.

"Maybe I'm not as in love with you as I thought..."

"Am I that bad of a kisser?"

"No," Ben laughed. "You were great, but to be honest... It felt strange... Almost as if I was..."

"Kissing your sister?" Casey finished his sentence with a knowing look.

"I guess so. How twisted is that?"

Casey grinned, "The fact that I see you as more of a brother than my stepbrother?"

"Yeah." He shook his head with an equally amused grin.

"At least now we know for sure."

"I do love you, Bluebird, just not in the way I thought I did." Ben smiled at her as he bent down and kissed her forehead.

"I love you too, Honey Pot." Casey smirked. "And you never know... The girl for you could be closer than you think." She winked at him.

"What do you mean?" He raised a befuddled brow.

Casey rolled her eyes, "Men are so clueless."

(=)

"Good morning, Mr. Venturi." Colonel Jaquin Kluess said as he shook the nervous hockey player's hand in a firm grip.

"Colonel." Derek nodded. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes," the large man replied as he dropped his hand and walked further inside his office, beckoning Derek to follow.

Derek glanced back at Karma, hoping she'd stay by his side, but the young blonde had already retreated away from the room.

Damn. Derek cursed inside his head. Of course she'd leave me alone with him.

"Would you care to take a seat?" Kluess asked motioning towards the couch situated against the wall to his right.

"No thanks. I'm eager to return to my stepsister."

"Well then I promise to be quick." He nodded in understanding.

"I'd appreciate it, Sir."

"Back in Russia you mentioned a briefcase that Phillip Greenwood had delivered to Casey's apartment."

"Yes."

"Did you happen to locate it once you arrived home?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you open it with the combination Agent... er... Mr. Greenwood spoke of?"

"No. He sent the case to Casey. It wouldn't be right if I opened it without her."

"Well, I'd like you to bring it into the Agency for inspection. It could be a trap."

"I'm sorry, Sir, but that's not up to me. It belongs to Casey."

"Yes, and you know how stubborn your stepsister can be."

"Trust me, I do, but it's still her decision whether she wants it inspected or not. And besides, do you really think Phil would want to harm Casey after everything he went through to save her life?"

"One can never be too careful."

"Well, I suggest you speak to your agent about this, not me." Derek said as he opened the office door. He stopped and turned to look at Casey's boss once again, this time his features softened as he cleared his throat. "I, uh, never got to say thank you, by the way. You saved our lives back there. I'm sorry for misjudging you so quickly."

Kluess smiled warmly as he approached Derek and held out his hand for him to shake, "These people are more than just agents to me, Mr. Venturi. They're my family and I promised never to leave them behind."

"I understand, Sir. Forgive me?"

"I already have." He said as he dropped Derek's hand. "In fact, there is another reason I wanted to meet with you this morning."

Derek quirked an intrigued brow and spoke, "Yes?"

"Is your heart dead set on being a hockey star, or would you rather having the title of 'secret agent' to your name?"

"Uh... come again?" Derek blinked a couple times in confusion as Colonel Kluess grinned down at him.

So Casey and Ben have their closure. No one needs to worry about Ben stealing Casey away anymore. Haha. And what do you think about Derek becoming a spy? Sounds interesting...

Please leave a Review!

Thanks for reading!