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LWD belong to Canadian Television and Disney. I only own characters you don't recognize.

It was late when Nora, Derek, and Casey returned home.

"Oh. I am sooo tired," Casey moaned.

"Then lie down on the couch. I'll get you blankets and a pillow," Derek said. She smiled.

"Thanks, Derek," she said softly. He went upstairs to the hall closet and got a blanket and pillow.

"Honey, have you talked to Sam?" Nora wondered.

"No. I've just been avoiding him," Casey admitted.

"Honey, why?" Nora asked.

"Because I've just felt so---dirty. Unattractive. I mean---why would Sam ever want me now?" Casey responded.

"Because you're the strongest woman we know," Derek replied, betraying the fact that he had overheard the conversation.

"Oh, right. Yeah, I'm real strong. I waited two weeks before admitting to what happened," Casey scoffed.

"Don't let this creep play mind games with you, Case. Don't give him power," Derek told her.

"As strange as this is gonna sound, Derek's right," Nora agreed. Then, "We're all tired. We don't we just go to bed?" Derek handed Casey the blanket and pillow, which she promptly made into a make-shift bed.

"All right, Derek. Head on up," Nora instructed.

"Actually, I thought I'd stay down here. That is, if Casey doesn't mind," Derek said, glancing at his stepsister.

"I'd prefer it," Casey admitted. Nora was surprised to see the two getting along, but she was happy that it was happening and too tired to argue.

"All right. That's fine. Just don't try anything," she said.

"Believe me, Mom. Really not an issue," Casey emphasized. Nora went to her bedroom in the basement and Derek curled up in one of the chairs.

"You wanna switch?" Casey offered, beginning to rise.

"No. Stay," Derek told her. She lay back down. Then, she closed her eyes. The next she knew, she was being woken up by a high-pitched shriek.

"Wha---wha---wha---?" she mumbled. She went to roll over. Seeing the action, Derek jumped from his chair and leaped towards her, cutting her off before she hit the coffee table.

"Smooth move, Klutzilla," he smirked.

"Jerk," she tossed back.

"You all right?" he questioned, helping her stand.

"Yeah. I'm okay," she assured him. "I just need a shower," she continued.

"Go," he told her. Casey walked upstairs just as Edwin came down.

"Where's Casey goin'?" the younger boy wondered.

"Shower," was the answer.

"Don't you usually go first?" his brother asked in surprise.

"She needed it more than me," came the response.

"I don't get it. Why are you being so nice to her?" Edwin wondered.

"She's goin' through a rough time right now, Ed. She needs all the support she can get," Derek told him.

"What happened?" Edwin asked.

"Something that should never happen to anybody," Derek answered. He didn't know how much his younger siblings knew, and he wouldn't even begin to know how to explain what had happened to Casey. How to make them understand. Ruffling his younger brother's hair, Derek pulled Edwin close.

"Uh, Derek. What are you doing?" Edwin wondered.

"I love you, kiddo. You know that right?" Derek responded, ignoring the question. Wha---? Is he sick? Edwin wondered to himself. Either that, or his older brother had gone crazy.

"Uh, yeah. I guess. Der, are you feelin' okay?" he said out loud.

"Go get some breakfast, geek," the older boy chuckled. He released his brother, and then headed for the kitchen. For a moment, Edwin just stood there.

"Oooo...kay," he said. That was weird. Completely and utterly weird, he thought to himself. Clearing his thoughts with a shake of his head, Edwin walked into the kitchen to see most of his family already there.

"Where's Casey?" Lizzie asked.

"Shower," Derek responded. Then, "Lizzie, do you want milk or orange juice?"

"Milk, please," Lizzie answered.

"Coming right up," Derek promised. George and Nora watched in surprise as Derek got the beverage and proceeded to pour it for her.

"Well, what brought this attitude on?" Nora questioned with amazement.

"I don't know. I just...felt like being nice," Derek shrugged. Edwin swiped a piece of toast from Lizzie's plate.

"Edwin, give it back!" Lizzie cried. Edwin mockingly dangled the toast in front of Lizzie, who reached out to grab it. Then, he yanked it out of reach.

"Edwin! Give it!" Lizzie cried again.

"Edwin, knock it off. And give Lizzie back her toast," Derek snapped. Surprised, Edwin did as he was told. Then, Casey appeared in the kitchen.

"Hey, Case. What can I get you?" Derek asked. Edwin and Lizzie looked at the older boy in surprise, though Marti seemed oblivious. Derek had given Casey a nickname?

"I'm not real hungry," Casey said softly.

"Come on. You gotta eat. Just a little," Derek cajoled.

"Okay," Casey agreed. Edwin dropped his spoon onto the floor, Lizzie's jaw dropped and Marti's head shot up and they all stared in shock. Casey was actually listening to Derek? Derek and Casey ignored the amazed looks and went about their business. Casey only a few bites of a toast, but no one pushed her. They didn't want to upset her even more. Nora looked at her watch.

"Yikes. We better go or we'll be late," she stated. With that, everyone frantically got their things together. At school, Derek and Casey walked in side-by-side, with Derek giving students looks that warned them not to mess with her.

"Hey, Casey!" Emily called.

"Hey, Emily," Casey acknowledged.

"How you holdin' up?" Emily questioned.

"Okay, I guess. Lizzie and Edwin found some sheets that had some---stuff on it from when---you know," Casey answered.

"Were they able to test it? I mean, do they know who did it?" Emily asked.

"Brent Hartward," Derek answered.

"Brent? Isn't he like the defenseman or something?" Emily queried.

"Or something," Derek replied. Just then, Sam walked up to them.

"Hey, man," Derek greeted.

"Hi," Sam grinned. He slapped Derek five and then reached out to touch Casey's wrist.

"Sam, please don't touch me," she said, stepping away from him. How could he even want to feel me after what happened? she wondered. Sam's face blanched.

"Sorry. It's not you. It's just---" Casey trailed off.

"It's gonna take time before you're comfortable with contact again. I get it," Sam finished for her.

"Yeah," Casey agreed. They continued down the hall. Suddenly, Casey froze, causing Derek to bump into her.

"Whoa. You're supposed to signal when you do that," he joked. Then, when she didn't respond, "What is it?" The girl just whimpered and stepped back so that she was in between her boyfriend and stepbrother. Somewhat confused, Derek followed her gaze. Then, his dark eyes flashed angrily and a growl rose in his throat.

"Brent."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I realize that it's unusual for Lizzie and Edwin to fight, but I wanted the other kids to see that something was up with their older siblings. I promise to show more of Sam and how the rape has affected his and Casey's relationship.