A Snap Shot
Disclaimer: I don't own a damn thing!
AN: I'm not sure if you follow me on A03 but you should. I post their first/more often.
I wrote this months ago. Maybe a year ago. I was trying to make it work for another piece. But it didn't work for that universe. So here. Enjoy.
*Derek's a cop or something. Don't think about it too much- ok?
A Snap Shot:
Casey. Her name was Casey McDonald. Or her alias was, anyway. But that made little difference to him. That's the name she answered most days. That's who she was to him.
Getting her number was easy. It was saved into his phone before the helicopter landed.
She was cute and he was interested. Of course, he was interested. But it wasn't kosher, they both knew it. He wasn't completely clear on which federal agency she belonged to, but he was well aware that it wasn't his. So she was the enemy, of sorts anyway. It was forbidden, and that simple fact just made the whole thing a lot sweeter. Romeo, meet Juliet. Derek had always been bad, even when he was trying his best to be good. But none of that mattered because he was texting Casey .
Texting was fun. They had chemistry. They had banter. They teased and joked, and over text messages, where tone was nonexistent and miscommunication was more likely than not, somehow it worked between them. Casey was something else. It was exciting with her; never knowing when she'd reply because of the time zones and their line of work. But still, some sort of a thrill filled him anytime his phone lit up with her name.
They started sending each other pictures of the sunrise or the sunset, wherever in the world they were. It started with Casey sending him a picture at 6:23 AM from Morocco. The entire world looked like it was on fire, the orange and red hues reflecting on the calm serin water in front of her. It was early. So early everyone was still asleep and the birds were just starting to wake. It was also peaceful. He wondered what the hell she was doing over there? Who was she hunting for? But he knew better than to ask.
A few days later Derek sent her a picture of the sunrise at 5:45 AM in New York. The city looked hazy, simmering under the summer heat, sunlight bouncing off apartment windows like ping pong. Because of that picture he learned that she used to call New York home. It was rare to get much history from another agent with so much secrecy... But she gave him that tiny detail that made him wonder if she walked the same streets as he did.
A week later Casey sent him a sunset picture at 7:55 PM in Columbia. A cloudy sunset after a day of booming thunderstorms and gray clouds. A beam of orange sunlight parted through the cloudy sky, a silver lining to a shitty day , was all she said. He wondered what she had been through...
Later on that same night, at 2am in Toronto when Derek couldn't sleep, he sat out on his balcony with a beer in his hand and his eyes trained on the sky. There was a full moon over the CN Tower and the barest hint of stars in the night sky. It looked like something out of a Disney movie, so he sent it her way. Can't sleep , was all he said.
So yeah, he was enjoying texting Casey. But getting around to taking her out on a date...that was harder. A lot harder.
After a few weeks of not seeing each other, they made a deal. Whenever they ran into each other on the field again, the loser of said mission paid for dinner. It was the perfect solution to their problems, especially since their whole dynamic thrived on competition.
It finally happened one night when Derek was tailing a man in Paris, at a swanky cocktail hour for the rich and famous. Intel had it that a buy was supposed to happen soon. He had been mingling at the bar, eyes locked on his target when he felt the heat of someone press up behind him. He wasn't too worried, he had eyes on all the hired guns in the room. But then he heard her. Her silky melodic voice whispering in his ear like honey melting into tea.
" Oh, it's on ," she purred, running a perfectly manicured finger over his shoulder.
He wasn't expecting her to sneak upon him. When he turned to get a good look at her, she wore a pleased smile on her face, like a huntress after its prey. She looked good out of tactical gear. (But she always looked good.) Even with a wig of dark red curls framing her face, her disguise for the night, she still looked amazing. Especially in that emerald green dress that fit her like a glove. She looked like Poison Ivy and it filled his head with all sorts of ideas.
He didn't get a chance to respond. Just as quickly as she appeared, she blended into the crowd. She was too busy working to pay him any attention, and that was perfectly fine. He spent his time tracking her instead. She was his new mission. And then it dawned on him. He was finally going on a date with Casey McDonald, one way or another.
So he called it quits on his mission. Granted he didn't even try after her arrival. He let her take the win. He knew she could take down the bad guys no problem. He didn't even bother to lend a helping hand. She was more than capable and he knew it.
When she disappeared with their target down an empty hallway, he knew it was over. He also knew he'd get shit for it from Sam later for completely blowing the mission, but he didn't mind. He was just excited to finally get some proper alone time with the elusive Casey McDonald. He smiled down at his drink proudly before knocking it back.
He had a date to plan.
It was strange shifting his mind from the focus of completing a job to... romance ? But it was all he had, he couldn't be picky. And, they were in Paris for fucks sake. What better place to have a first date? Maybe the stars had aligned for them just this once?
He stepped outside and called in a favor. He booked them a table at the nicest restaurants in the city for dinner. Then he slipped out and made his way back to his hotel for a quick shower and a change of clothes. He knew he was banking on Casey finishing the job quickly to even make it to dinner in time, but he had nothing but faith in her.
He sent her a text with a time and place and hoped she'd show. With so much build-up and anticipation, he was nervous. It had been a long time since he had been on a date. A proper one at least. He wanted it to go well.
The restaurant he picked had a clear view of the Eiffel tower. Its lights glittered against the dark night sky, framed by a crescent moon glowing in the distance. He looked around the city from their table on the balcony, the best seat in the house. It was better than anything he could have planned back home. Even the table had a silk tablecloth, decorated with candles and roses. It was all very romantic.
In actuality, it was far too fancy for his taste. There were three wine glasses on the table and far too many forks to choose from. It was not his normal style. No, he preferred a mom-and-pop diner or take-out. He had outdone himself, and maybe it was a bit over the top, but it is only because he wanted to surprise her. Especially after trying to pin her down for nearly two months. Plus, Derek had the means to do it, so why not?
" Derek ," her voice called from somewhere behind him again. She was forming a bad habit of sneaking up on him. She was smooth and stealthy, he'd give her that. She operated so silently when she wanted to. It unnerved him but intrigued him all at the same time. But her tone was soft and angelic. Very different from Agent McDonald on the field on a mission. There was a softness to her that he so badly wanted to touch.
He turned and spotted her. She was beautiful. And it wasn't just the Paris ambiance and candle lighting. No, she was just stunning on her own. She had changed into a little black dress and had her natural brown locks flowing down her shoulders and back. Her blue eyes stared back at him, almost timid. They were so out of place when they weren't working, he understood the feeling well.
" Casey ," he breathed out finally, unsure of what else to say. Unsure of what to do. Should he stand? Hug her?
Before he got a chance to decide, she slid into the seat across from him, a little smile painted across her glossy pink lips. It seemed like she appreciated his reaction to her.
"You look... wow ." He felt like he was seeing her for the very first time. Not McDonald the spy in tactical gear and a bulletproof vest or in disguise. No, it was Casey he was seeing, and she was absolutely beautiful.
She smiled. "You don't look so bad yourself. You actually dressed up," she teased, putting a cloth napkin in her lap like a proper lady. He knew she was the type.
Derek had dressed up. He thought he looked pretty good. "I thought that's what you wanted? Are you complaining ?" he countered with an arch of an eyebrow. He was baiting her, trying to get back onto the normal ground for them.
A twitch of a smile ghosted over her lips before taking a sip of the white wine the waiter had put in front of her. "Not at all," she promised. Her voice sent heat through him. Her eyes drifted over him like the night breeze. Over the plain white button-up shirt and navy blazer that he wore just for her. She seemed to approve of his attire. But the waiter came back and took their orders before he could reply.
"So, why Derek ?" she asked, taking a bite of dinner.
He leaned back in his chair and thought about it. "I wanted a short name," he started.
Casey grinned like she had caught something she shouldn't have. "So your real name is longer," she deciphered.
Derek stared at her, but did not answer right away. "I never thought my name would really fit ," he countered with a shrug. "I liked the idea of going by D. Simple and straight to the point. But I know people would ask what it was short for. So, I thought about David. Or Danny. Dean was an option as well. But Derek… Derek fit best," he explained.
"Oh god, you are definitely not Danny. And David…" she pondered. Tilting her head to the side, getting a good look at him. Like she was seeing him for the first time. "No, I can't see it. But Dean…" she trailed off again, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Yeah I can see a little Dean Winchester in you," she teased.
Derek chuckled. "I'll take it," he shrugged, taking another sip of his wine. He could drink the stuff, but he much preferred a cold beer or a finger of whiskey on the bad days.
"I think Derek was a perfect choice," she added, with an approving nod.
Picking a name was definitely hard to do. It took some time. But even after all those years, he was pleased with his choice. He often forgot it wasn't his birth name as most people in his day-to-day life called him Derek.
When he was home, on the outskirts of Ontario with his family, he had to readjust to being Michael . But he was more of a Mike or Mikey, as Marti called him. Marti and Mikey the dynamic duo. Poor Ed was always excluded.
He smiled back at her, glad his alias pleased her. "So, why Casey?"
"Not as deep as your story," she smiled, rolling her eyes. "Cassandra was my favorite author as a teenager... And Casey, it felt right," she shrugged.
He stared at her for a little bit, wondering what her real name was. What other name she could have been. "Hm...I don't know. You look like Ashely to me," he teased.
She raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Neither confirming or denying. And that left him curious.
" So , are you actually married?" he asked, shifting gears. He leaned forward in his seat, elbows on the table. His grandmother would be ashamed. But he needed to be closer to her. To smell the scent on her skin the breeze had been drifting his way all evening. She smelled sweet. Or maybe it was just the berries wafting in the wine...
"Depends. How do you feel about being on a date with a married woman?" she asked, raising an eyebrow like she would bet at the casino. Baiting him to up the ante.
" Well ," he breathed out. "It wouldn't be the first time," he replied, licking his lips.
"Pig," she grinned, giving no implication of being disgusted by him. "I'm separated," she confirmed, a shadow of sadness flickering over her features for just a moment. And just like that, it was gone.
"Civilian?" he asked, knowing the answer to his question. Of course, it was a civilian. Of course, it ended badly.
She nodded uncomfortably in her seat. "Yeah…" she trailed off. He wasn't sure if she was done talking about it or not. But then she opened her mouth to speak again. "He didn't know," she breathed out like it was a weight on her shoulder. "...So it was hard." her voice was low and quiet. The topic takes it all out of her.
He shouldn't have asked. So he switched the attention over to himself instead. "I haven't dated outside of the field since I've been in. It just seems too hard."
There was a shift in her. He saw it. "Oh god," she groaned, tilting her head back. He got a peek down the column of her elegant neck, the curve of her collarbone, the perfect place to dip his tongue…His gaze trailed lower before he caught himself.
" Please don't tell me you've dated the receptionist," she teased, tilting her head back in fake annoyance.
"Not the receptionist. But, Sally from the weapons department," he clarified. Sally knew all about Derek. So that part was easy. And she let him play with a few toys before they were approved to go out on the field. And when they were, he always had first dibs.
But talking about weapons made him think… Where was Casey concealing her toys? As agents, they were never unarmed. Not in public anyway. His eyes trailed down her body, inspecting her with a skilled eye. She could have pins in her hair., the beautiful long locks that called to his fingers. He wondered how it would feel wrapped around his fist... His eyes traced her ears. An earpiece or earrings? Then down to her lips. Poison lipstick. She could have an assortment of knives strapped to her under that dress in a garter belt. And a knife tucked into her heels. But those were all the easy ones.
Casey must have caught his eyes and noticed. She let out a heavy sigh. "So, how much trouble do you think we'd be in if they found out about us..." she trailed off looking for the word. " Extracurricular activities ?" she decided with a devious little smile.
"Well the way I see it, it's our job to get the bad guys right? How is us out on a date interfering with the goal? In fact, I think a little healthy competition is good for morale," he smirked.
After dinner, he offered to take her to her hotel like a gentleman. She was staying in a place close by, so they walked. He was tempted to hold her hand, to put his arm around her, but it was all so new he didn't want to overstep. Sure they had been talking for months, but the physical stuff was different.
While he debated back and forth, Casey curled up next to him, her arm hooking around his elbow as they walked. The heat of her small hand around his bicep was sweet torture. (And he knew how well Casey used those hands. How easily she handled a gun…) He didn't say a word, and kept going, wishing their walk was miles longer.
She was different. The best kind of difference. He liked talking to her. The way he couldn't talk to anyone else because they wouldn't understand. And yeah, she was stunning. Every part of him wanted to kiss her goodnight, and more if he was being honest with himself. But even if that's what she wanted, he couldn't.
"So…" he trailed off. "Shit date?" he asked, turning to her when they arrived at the front of her beautiful Parisian hotel. It had cream stone walls with detailed arches and windows. It even had small balconies looking out into the city. Very cute, and very Casey.
" The worst ," she replied without missing a beat. But then she smiled sweetly at him. "It was the best date I've been on in a long time. How could it not be?" she asked softly. "Thank you for tonight. I have no idea how you managed to get a rooftop dinner reservation in a few hours," she laughed and it unhinged something inside him he didn't know he even had.
Derek looked down at his shoes, suddenly embarrassed. Maybe he had pushed too far. Done too much. But he wasn't just going to invite her up to his room. It wasn't about sex with Casey. It was... more .
"Yeah, well, a motivated man can do just about anything," he answered honestly with a shrug as if to downplay it all.
" Oh ?" she asked, a wave of mischief passing across those blue sparkly eyes. "And what exactly was the motivation?" she teased, her hand reaching out to touch him. He may have sucked in a breath when her palm smoothed its way over his chest. He felt the heat of her through the layer of cotton separating them. Slowly she wrapped that hand around his ribs, slipping underneath his jacket. She slid her hand around his back and down, surely finding the gun he had tucked in his waistband. She looked up at him and smirked. And god did he want to kiss it off her lips.
" Jeez princess ," he cursed, licking his lips. He had forgotten her question altogether. He acted on instinct and took another step towards her, pushing her flush up against the stone wall. He wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her impossibly close.
Their eyes were locked in a trance. How did the moment get so intense and so fast? He knew he should relax. They were in public after all. But his body didn't seem to care.
They were in each other's space, like the moment in the movie when the main character finally kisses. The cinematic climax. Her hand on his back fisting his nice shirt, like she was holding on to the last shred of sanity she had. He felt his heartbeat trip in his chest. He had never been nervous, but somehow this one woman changed everything for him. He felt her breath on his lip and took in her deep blue eyes like they were the answer he had been looking for. He could lose himself in her so easily. He'd let her take him apart and put him back together again if she asked.
" Princess ?" she asked, her eyebrows shooting up in confusion.
Derek narrowed his eyes on her. Of course, she'd find something to fight about, even in the heat of the moment. But he loved that about her. Always calling him out on his shit. He needed more of that in his life. His crazy weird fucked up half-life.
"You know damn well what you are, Casey," he gritted out, before breaking their staring contest. He trailed the tip of his nose down her jaw to her ear. He felt her shiver in his arms and he loved knowing he had done that to her. He chuckled against her skin, pressing a delicate kiss on her neck
" Der ?" she whispered, practically whining, arching into him. If she kept that up, the feel of the little silk dress being dragged up against his middle would be a lethal combination. He shouldn't have been the slightest bit surprised she'd use dirty tricks to get her way.
He knew what she was asking. And he knew he couldn't comply. " I can't, " he whispered, his lips ghosting over the shell of her ear. He felt her hands tighten around him. His body groaned in repose. "I got to the airport in less than an hour," he explained.
" You… " she breathed out, confused, "What?" she huffed.
Derek pulled back to get a good look at her. He saw the pout on her lips, it was irresistible. He wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into the plump skin and make her beg for it. But he didn't have the time and there was no way he was going to rush it. Not with her.
"I'm sorry," and to his defense, he was actually sorry. " We Didn't have time for dinner and dessert," he explained, leaning in to devour her mouth in a heated kiss.
Casey hummed at the contact. And Derek nearly lost all his willpower. His hand cupped her face like he wanted - no need to be in control. His thumbs whipped over her cheek as he pressed his lips against hers. She tasted like white wine and strawberries and he wanted nothing more than to melt against her. He felt her lips part against his and let his tongue lick into her mouth to get a better taste. He heard the little sounds escape her, he felt the vibrations of it against his skin and he was on fire. Her body arched into his like it belonged. He allowed himself to get right to the edge, her hands pressing him against her the most delicious of ways before he dared pull away from her mouth.
"Next time," he whispered, catching her breath. "I promise," he added, his eyes going from her glossy lips to her eyes, suddenly a cobalt blue.
AN:Random side note- Have you read line by line, my podcast au fic? I have a thing about names lol. And I love to drop a Mike/Ash any way I can because I love them dearly.