DISCLAIMER
LWD belongs to Canadian Television and Disney. This is the last chap, which means I can focus on my series again. Hope you enjoy. Sorry if everything's too fast.
As soon as they got home, Casey sat on the couch.
"Can I get you anything?" Derek offered.
"I---don't know. I just---I just can't stop shaking," Casey admitted.
"Probably nerves," Derek surmised.
"Yeah. Probably," Casey agreed.
"I'm gonna make you some of that Chicken\Beef Noodle Soup," Derek said.
"Oh, that'd be great," Casey stated.
"Coming right up, milady," Derek promised. He went into the kitchen to get the ingredients. A few minutes, the smell drifted into the living room. Casey inhaled and made herself comfortable on the couch. Oh, such a wonderful smell. So calm. So soothing. Just like Derek had been through this whole mess. The opening of the door pulled Casey from her thoughts.
"Mom, George. Edwin, Lizzie, Marti. What are you doing home?" Casey questioned.
"Didn't you? It's Family Day!" Marti cheered.
"Huh?" Casey asked as Derek came out of the kitchen to see what what was going on.
"Detective Kingston called. She told us what happened," Nora answered.
"Yeah. Apparently, the sheets that Edwin and Lizzie found really made the case," George.
"I don't get it. What was the big deal?" Edwin wondered. The older stepsiblings looked at each other. Should they tell them? Casey gave a nod of consent.
"Hey, guys. Come here," Derek requested. Curious, Lizzie and Marti did so. Lizzie sat in Casey's lap and Marti sat in Derek's lap. Only Edwin remained where he was.
"Edwin...now," Derek snapped. With a slight huff, the boy did as he was told.
"What's this all about?" he asked, sitting next to his older brother.
"In a few years, you guys are gonna start dating," Derek said seriously.
"Even me?" Marti asked.
"Well, you might take a little longer, Marti," Casey chuckled.
"The point is: some issues are gonna come up," Derek continued.
"Like what?" Marti asked.
"Wait a minute. You're not gonna give us 'the talk' are you?" Edwin interjected.
"Ah, no. Not exactly," Casey said with some embarrassment.
"Uh, Derek, perhaps I should do this," George suggested.
"Georgie, why don't we just see how they handle it?" Nora suggested.
"Edwin, will be quiet? This is serious," Derek snapped. Then, "Like I said, you and Lizzie are gonna start dating in a few years. And there are some ground rules that you should be aware of."
"I know, I know. You told me: never date a dog," Edwin recited.
"Derek!" Casey exclaimed.
"I'm talkin' about some different rules here, Ed," Derek corrected. "As you grow older, your body's gonna start acting differently and you're gonna want to act on these feelings," he began.
"But maybe the person you're with won't feel the same way," Casey chimed in.
"And you have to respect that," Derek stated.
"But, what if---" Edwin began.
"No buts. The only one who can choose what to with their body is that person," Casey interrupted.
"So like, say a boy wants to kiss me and I don't feel comfortable with it?" Lizzie asked.
"That's your right. And even though he may not like it, he has to respect it," Derek answered.
"Hey, Derek. Where is all this coming from?" Edwin asked. Casey and Derek looked at each other. She sighed and nodded that it was all right.
"Casey was---well, she was hurt at the party that I threw a couple of weeks ago," Derek replied.
"Someone hurt Casey?" Marti asked.
"That's right, Smarti. They hurt her very badly," Derek answered.
"How?" Edwin questioned.
"You remember those dirty blankets that you and Lizzie found?" Derek reminded him.
"Yeah, there was bloo---oh my gosh. You mean that was Casey's blood?" Edwin asked as his and Lizzie's eyes widened with understanding.
"Someone did that to Casey?" Lizzie questioned.
"Yeah," Derek nodded. Just then, they heard a shrill whistle.
"Oh! Casey's soup," Derek remembered.
"I'll get it," George said. He went into the kitchen, got the bowl, and brought it back to Casey, who blew on a spoonful of the soup, and then stuck it in her mouth. Just then, the phone rang. Everyone but Derek and Casey stood up in nervous expectation. The spoon lay in the soup forgotten.
"I got it," George said. He picked up the phone. Then, "Detective Kingston. Oh, they picked him up?" Derek and Casey looked at each other. That wasn't news to them. They were there.
"It was?" George asked.
"Dad, what's she saying?" Derek questioned. George motioned for him to be quiet and kept listening.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Detective," he said. Then, he hung up.
"Well, what's the verdict?" Casey asked nervously.
"Guilty. Apparently, Brent's DNA matched up with another rape and he's going to go away for a very long time," George answered. Casey laughed and Derek hugged her.
"Casey, that's great," congratulated.
"Derek, thank you. I don't know what I would've done without you," she told him.
"Anytime, sis," he assured. "Now, get out of my seat," he continued. They laughed.
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTE
If you or someone you know has been raped, contact the RAINN national hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
