Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

I open my eyes slowly as I regain consciousness, that annoying beeping sound bursting into my brain like a bomb.

Fuck, my head is killing me.

What in the hell just happened?

The last thing I remember is being shoved into an ambulance and some prick sticking me with a needle.

As I fully open my eyes, the walls surrounding me are stark white and I'm not sure where in the hell I am.

I groan audibly, trying my best to sit up. I'm instantly dizzy and fall back against a pile of pillows, slowly reaching up to rub my throbbing temple. I feel like I've been hit by a truck, or worse. In my seventeen years on this earth, I have never felt so shitty in my life.

And that's when I notice the IV in my hand.

I'm momentarily relieved to know that I'm in a hospital, alive and back home…or at least back in New York, I think.

Hell, as long as we're in the correct century, we can be in Timbuktu for all I care.

Suddenly, thoughts of my girl lying lifeless on the hard ground, her heart not beating, race through my mind and I can feel the panic setting in.

I need to see her. I need to know that she's okay.

I force myself to sit up once more, taking a moment to adjust before swinging my legs over the side of the bed and taking a deep breath.

I look down at the IV in my hand, pausing momentarily before deciding that I don't give a shit. I pull it from my hand, barely noticing the brief burn I feel from having ripped it out. Next, I pop those sticky things from my chest, determined to break free.

I need to get the hell out of here.

The monitor instantly flattens, turning those steady beeps into one long ear-piercing sound. I reach up to smack the machine, not wanting anyone to come in and try to make me lie back down. I finally find the off switch but am surprised when I hear a familiar voice coming from behind me.

"Derek! You're awake," my Dad says. I turn my body slowly to keep from vomiting. I'm still fucking dizzy.

"Dad?" I croak out, asking in confusion. My mouth is so dry. "What are you doing here?"

"Why wouldn't I be here? My son almost died," he says, wrapping his arms around me in a hug. I instantly stiffen. As glad as I am to see him, old habits are hard to break, and I can't turn into a hugger overnight.

Wait. If Dad is already here, how long have I been out?

"Derek, you need to lie back down. Why did you rip your IV out?" he asks, talking quickly as he reaches for the call button. I stop him, grabbing him by the wrist.

"Wait," I say weakly. "How long have I been passed out?"

I'm expecting him to say several hours…maybe a day, but I'm shocked by his answer.

"A little over a week."

"A week!" I scream, regretting it the moment my head feels like it's about to split in half. I groan again, cradling my skull.

"Derek. You need to lie…down," he demands, pushing me back against the pillows once more.

"Casey?" I ask in a panic. "Is she okay?"

Dad's face instantly pales, and he looks away from me, moving to mess with my sheets like he's about to tuck me in. I'm not six years old.

Dread washes over me. "Dad," I beg, feeling like I'm about to break down. I never beg, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"She's alive, Derek," he says half-heartedly. I should be happy to hear those words, but something still doesn't feel right.

"Where is she? I need to see her."

"What you need to do is lie down and allow yourself to mend," he demands, pushing against my shoulder once more to keep me in place.

"What's wrong with her?"

He sighs heavy, running a hand through his thick blonde locks. I can see him weighing his words carefully, his thoughts running wild. "She hasn't woken up yet, Derek. You've been in and out for days, but there is no sign of her waking up. Not yet."

I can feel the blood rushing to my head, pumping loud in my ears. Casey hasn't woken up yet. How is that possible? The moment my own heart began to beat once more, I woke up instantly. At least, I think I did. It's hard to know exactly. Telling time is getting to be a bit confusing. After all, we just spent days trapped in a hellish past when only minutes had ticked by here.

But what if the experience we shared never happened?

If felt so real. I can still remember the sounds of rushing water and the smell of Declan's aftershave.

What if Casey wakes up and doesn't remember? What if she doesn't remember that she loves me?

What if it was all in my head?

"You need to rest."

"I need to see her," I say for the millionth time, fighting against him until he finally relents and steps back, putting a hand on his hip in defeat.

"Derek," he begins, pinning me with a concerned, yet serious gaze. "Did something happen between you and Casey?"

"Yea, we almost died together," I roll my eyes, speaking sarcastically, hoping he doesn't see past the obvious. Not yet.

My Dad is always clueless to life. After all, his nickname is George clueless. But this time, it's different. This past week must have been hell for him, because I've never seen him look so worn down and serious.

"That's not what I mean, and you know it."

"Can you hand me some clothes," I say, snapping my fingers towards the bag lying on the floor, choosing to ignore the interrogation. I can give a shit if he knows about Casey and me, but I need to make sure that she's okay with me telling anyone first.

I know how she is. She's totally neurotic and spastic for no good reason.

"It's five in the morning, Derek. You can wait a few more hours. I promise that she's not going anywhere."

"Can you promise that, G? Can you really?" I say, and I know that I'm being a total ass. But given what he told me about her current state, I can't take any chances. I need her to know I'm right there beside her, and I'm never leaving her side. Especially when she needs me now more than ever.

With another heavy sigh, Dad relents and reaches into a nearby duffel bag, pulling out a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.

I get dressed as quickly as I can considering my current state and how super unsteady I am.

Just then, my stomach growls and I realize that I'm starving.

"Can you go get me a burger and fries, or something?" I say, looking sideways at Dad while running my fingers through my messy hair. "I feel like I haven't eaten in a week."

After sneaking me into Casey's room, considering I'm supposed to be in my own bed and it's super early in the morning, Dad left to go find me some grub. After all, this is New York. The city that never sleeps. Something is bound to be open at this hour in the morning.

Nora and the kids are staying at Dennis', I guess. A hotel bill would be crazy given the circumstances and who knows how long we'll be here waiting for Casey to wake up. It was Dad's night to stay with us, which I'm glad about. Otherwise, I would have woken up alone and I doubt a nurse would have taken me to see Casey. They probably would have sedated me again, because I would have totally lost my shit.

I hesitate before walking into the dim room, listening to those same familiar beeps. It takes me a moment before I gain the courage to look at her fully. I hate seeing her so helpless.

I slowly sit on the stool beside her bed, taking in the site of her.

I never knew that love could physically hurt until this very moment.

My throat is swelling at the sight of her and my chest is tightening. I can't tear my gaze away.

She looks so vulnerable and I want to do everything within my power to make her feel safe and somehow help her heal from the hell we've been through. I want her to know that I love her and that I'll be right here waiting.

I'm never going to leave, even if it takes months…years.

I'm not going anywhere.

Her lips are pale and chapped, and her brown hair is spread out like a halo. She really is an angel. I just wish I had spent more time treating her like one.

I clear my throat to unclog it before lifting the blanket slowly, reaching for her right hand to clasp it in my own. Her soft skin is cool to the touch and I slowly bring her fingertips to my lips, grazing them with a tender kiss.

My God, I'm so in love with her.

I can't imagine life without her, and I don't want to even try.

She had been under the water for far too long. Dad said that after a few guys had jumped in after us, Dennis included, they had to take a pocketknife to cut her lose. She had been under for so long, that it's a pure miracle they were ever even able to bring her back, at all.

She was as good as dead, and the paramedics were about to call it. On their last attempt, they finally got a heartbeat.

I know I should be counting my blessings and enjoy hearing her beating heart, but I can't help but feel angry. We just found each other. My biggest fear is losing her.

I sit like this for a long time, just gazing down at my beautiful girl, willing her to wake up. I'm hoping that she can feel me next to her. Maybe…just maybe, if she can feel that I'm here, she'll find the will to open her eyes and end this torture for the both of us.

But she remains unmoving and all hope I felt in the beginning is slowly drifting away. I need to talk to her, but what will I say? Will she even hear me?

I glance over at the hospital door, making sure there is no one around before leaning towards Casey and speaking in a soft voice.

"Hey, beautiful," I start, holding her lifeless hand within my own. "It's me," I whisper, running a hand through her soft hair, relishing the feel of her long locks tangled within my fingers. "I need you to come home, for me."

My voice breaks on the word 'home', and I stop. I can't cry. I'm so sick of crying.

"We've been through so much," I start over, trying to find the right words. I just need to talk to her. Memories of our life together are flooding my thoughts, and I smile slightly for the first time in what feels like forever. "You know," I begin. "I remember when you started dating Sam a few months after the rent's got married. Fuck, I wanted to bash his skull in. But you looked so happy when you realized how much he liked you back. I'd do anything to see that beautiful smile on your face. Even if it meant that I had to be miserable and damn near suicidal," I pause to sit up straighter, focusing on her slim fingers within my grasp. "But Sam's an okay guy. I was willing to give him his moment in the sun and let him be your first, because I knew at the end of the day…I was going to be your last. And that's all that mattered, Case. I love you so much, and I need you to wake up for me," I trail off as I watch her remain unmoving. "Please, Princess. Please come home to me."

It's in that moment that a fast food bag lands on the table next to me, and I freeze.

Fuck.

But I make no move to back away from her.

How much had he heard?

Not that it really matters, because I'm still holding Casey's fingers against my lips. I refuse to let her go, no matter what.

I feel a heavy hand land on my shoulder, squeezing firmly, and I know that Dad had heard enough of what I said.

He knows.

Suddenly, a nurse comes in the room to check on Casey. Just as I anticipated, she gives me a death glare and I'm fully expecting her to yell at me and tell me to get back to my own bed. Not like I'll listen, though.

"Glad to see you awake," she surprises me by saying. Even though she has total resting bitch face. But she says nothing further as she goes to Casey's other side, uncovering her other arm where a similar IV is sticking from her hand.

And that's when I see it. The bright shimmer that is unmistakable.

Sitting on Casey's ring finger is the beautiful sapphire stone.

Any doubts I had are gone.

It was real. Somehow, everything that I remember happening, actually happened. For those minutes we spent below the water alone, I had spent them with Casey aboard the RMS Titanic.

…and now I'm technically engaged. I think. I never actually said those words to her in so many syllables. Okay, now I'm not so hungry anymore. I asked her on the brink of death and meant everything I said. I'm totally going to marry her. Just not tomorrow, unless she wakes up and that's what she really wants. I'd never deny her anything. But no matter how madly in love you are with someone, marriage is scary for a guy…especially when you're still in high school.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts of the ridiculous cold feet I'm feeling. I don't know why I'm pondering over something so stupid when the love of my eternal existence may never wake up at all.

But I know that she will. I can just feel it.

When she wakes up, she'll remember that she loves me and that's all that I could ever ask for.