A/N: This time, in Derek's POV.
p.s.Thanks to everyone who commented. I appreciate the feedback!
Derek glanced at Casey. She was looking out the car window, at the scenery whizzing by. She looked so tired, so lost. The odd bruise and scratch covered a part of her pallid skin, making her seem like an abused puppy.
He recalled a moment a few minutes ago, when she had finally woken up. His dad had been pacing, and Nora had continued to stand by her daughter's side, unmoving. She'd been that way since Casey had been admitted to the room, and had refused to leave Casey alone, not even for a blink of sleep.
When they noticed her stirring in the cot, they'd been so happy. She was okay, and they could be relieved. The doctor had told them when she was admitted that there was some damage to the head, nothing permanent. There was a high chance of amnesia, and a definite chance of a concussion, though. Casey's face had been full of confusion when she awoke, staring at Nora blankly. She'd reluctantly called her 'mother,' giving herself into Nora's tight embrace. But Derek had noticed her dry eyes wandering, studying the room.
Casey hadn't been herself when she woke. She'd been a stranger, an unknown, waking up in Casey's body. When she'd asked him if he was her brother, he didn't have the heart to tell her that he was only her stepbrother. She's seemed to need some sort of reassurance, something more than Nora's tears.
And so began Derek's new new life with Casey McDonald.
"If you could, Derek, I'd appreciate it. We'd appreciate it," His dad said quietly. Nora was still grieving over her daughter's lost identity in their room. Derek was to help Casey understand her surroundings better, since he'd been the only person she had warmed up to in the hospital.
"No problem, dad. Are you sure Nora's going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I'm sure she'll be fine in a day or so," George said, retreating back into the room. Derek sighed, and climbed up the stairs to the living room where Casey sat, waiting. It had to be scary for her, surrounded by strangers in a strange house with no memory of who she was. It had to be.
And Derek Venturi, king of the royal chair, lord of the house, and ruler of the school, was going to bend all his sacred rules for his stepsister. Unbelievable.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Whu—" started Casey. She was still in her hospital robes, since her clothes had been ruined in the accident. They made her seem more sickly, more worn out. Her face broke out in a small smile.
"You're…Derek. My brother, right?" she asked again, as if not sure she'd be able to remember anything. He'd told her all their names during the car ride home. Six names at once, he supposed, was a lot to manage if you'd recently been in an accident you couldn't remember.
None of the old Casey remained. He couldn't see any of the fiery spirit inside her, or her sharp tongue, or her meticulousness about anything school related. He only saw a lost little girl asking for help.
He sighed, biting back a retort ("stepbrother,"), and said instead, "Yeah, that's right, Case."
He smiled back.
"Let's get you dressed for bed, then shall we?" he said, offering her an arm. "I'm sure you want to get out of that."
"Oh yes. Please. This thing is hideous," she said, contorting her face in mock disgust. Derek laughed a little, and was relieved. The real Casey was only a barrier away, just waiting to be released. She would return back to normal soon enough.
A/N: I'm taking liberties with Nora here. She'll most likely be mourning Casey for a while. Oh, and please don't depend on frequent updates. I've got like, three summatives due at the end of the month, so I'll be pretty busy... Yeah, school sucks, I know.