A/N: I didn't get many reviews from last chapters *glares accusingly. You know who you are.* But THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THOSE OF YOU WHO REVIEWED!!!!! You truly made my day! So, to all you loyal people *glares accusingly again at the "You know who you are" people cowering in fear* here's my next chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Life With Derek? Pfsh- lies I tell you!! LIES!!!

Beside You

By: SuperxXxGirl79

Chapter 2

The Venturi and McDonalds' conversation that they had been having was interrupted by the sounds of a heart monitor going wild. The loud beeping could be heard even through the thick glass of the window that they were all now pressed against.

"Derek!" George yelled desperately as doctors and nurses flooded the room. The beeping had slowed to a crawl. Beep.....Beep....

Derek's limp form had grown even paler. The doctors had put an oxygen mask over his face as well as the breathing tubes that had been inserted into his nose earlier. They were yelling things to other nurses and one rushed out of the room.

The beeping started returning to normal as the nurse returned with a respirator (A/N: don't know what their called but those two paddle things that they shock people with and yell "Clear!")

Derek's chest started to rise and fall with shallow breaths. He made a choked noise and his eyes flew open, filled with fear. They darted around, rapidly taking in his surroundings.

"Thank God," George breathed, slumping with his back to the wall, and putting a hand to his head. "I thought...I thought we were going to lose him."

Nora had reacted similarly to the situation. She had tears still streaming down her face, only these ones held relief, not panic.

Edwin had started crying when he heard the heart monitor go berserk. He had been positively terrified for his brother.

When she had seen Edwin looking so distraught, Lizzie immediately put an arm around his shoulders. It was hard to be strong, and she herself, even though she just met George's family, felt herself crying.

Casey though.... She just hadn't moved. Her eyes weren't empty. They were the same as before. Almost angry. How could she be angry, when this family had gone through so much in such a short amount of time? The question remained unanswered by her perfect poker face.

A doctor came out of the room.

With a sad, yet triumphant sort of smile, he patted George on the shoulder.

"He's a tough kid, George. Any normal patient would have stopped fighting, unconsciously, but Derek...he's a fighter."

George gave a weak smile and entered his son's room. Derek appeared to be exhausted from the scare, and stared at the ceiling. Everyone followed behind him, the McDonald's hanging back, looking awkward. Marti, never to be forgotten, ran forward shouting.

"Smerek!!" she yelled, stopping once she reached the side of the bed.

Derek, having cringed slightly at the loud noise and sudden pain in his head, replied in a croaky voice, "Shh...You have to use your secret voice in hospitals, 'kay Smarti?" He smiled.

"Oh, right," she replied in a quiet voice. "I missed you Smerek." She gently sat on the side of the bed and wrapped her arms around her brother. Derek hugged her back.

"I missed you too Smarti."

"Derek, do you remember when I said I had a surprise for you after you came out of surgery?" George said, breaking the silence that had followed the reunion of the siblings. "Well, as you know I have been dating a lovely woman. She has two daughters Casey, and Lizzie. So, without further ado, Derek I would like you to meet Nora McDonald," Nora smiled warmly at Derek, and he responded with as bright a smile as he could, due to his current state. "Casey McDonald," Derek's smile faded as Casey walked into the room. She did not smile, she, unknown to Derek, had the same look on her face as she had had all day. Slight anger and not even a remote sign of happiness. "and Lizzie McDonald." She was a gutsy kid, Derek could tell. As she walked into the room, she immediately came over and put her arms around Derek in a hug. He was quite shocked, but returned the gesture smiling.

"Hi Derek!" She said enthusiastically. Derek felt like she was his little sister. Little did he know...

"Ahem," George cleared his throat, and awkwardly began. "Well, Nora and I...We, um... We love each other, very much, and well... I asked her to marry me and she said yes!" All was silent for a few minutes before Derek spoke up, slightly drowsy.

"That's awesome you guys, Congratulations!"

"Whoa, go Dad!" Edwin chimed in, causing Nora to blush.

"That's cool!" Lizzie smiled and nudged Edwin. "So we're going to be Step-Siblings now!" They bantered back and forth as everyone laughed at their antics.

"So Nora's gonna be my new mommy?" She asked quietly, with hopeful eyes. She was still sitting on the edge of Derek's bed, curled up into the side of her big brother.

"I'd be honoured," Nora spoke in a choked voice.

"Okay!" Marti sealed her approval by squishing Nora in a hug.

"What," all the chaos suddenly stopped at that one word, spoken in a deadly quiet voice. They all turned to look at an enraged Casey, who was fuming. "Did you say?"

"They're getting married!" Marti cried out. Noticing Derek's smile become strained, she whispered, "Oops!" and promptly went back over to his bed and placed a light kiss on the crimson spot on the bandage. "Sorry Smerek."

Everyone smiled at that, but all that was quickly silenced by Casey yelling, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME MOM?! I COULD HAVE STOPPED YOU FROM MAKING THE BIGGEST MISTAKE IN YOUR LIFE! LOOK AT THIS GUY," she pointed at George, startling him for a moment. "HE'S THE BIGGEST JOKE I'VE EVER SEEN! HE PROBABLY LIVES IN A TINY, HOLE IN THE GROUND HOUSE, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL HE CAN AFFORD WITH HIS STUPID KID DEREK'S HOSPITAL BILLS! GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD, HE'S GOING TO DIE ANYWAY, THERE'S NO POINT IN TRYING TO SAVE HIM!"

At the mention of Derek, they all turned around, afraid of what they'd find. He had curled up on his side, clutching his head in pain. George immediately rushed over, quietly asking Derek what he needed, whilst pressing the call button for a nurse. He couldn't help be angry at Casey.

Derek was NOT going to die on his watch.


1 Week Later...

The time had come for Derek to return home from the hospital. He was allowed to go to school after the weekend let out and he wouldn't have to go for too long, as the kids would be let out for Christmas holidays soon.

The results of the surgery had come in two days before, and it was the greatest Christmas present any of them could have asked for: the surgery had been a success. They had removed the tumour from the inside of his skull, and used radiation to ensure it wouldn't come back. That had been the most worrisome tumour. If it had grown onto his brain it would have been disastrous.

George was floating on cloud nine as he wheeled Derek down the hospital corridors. They stopped as they saw a few guys with hockey jerseys come in. Derek gasped.

"What? What's wrong? Are you okay? Do you need me to call a nurse?" George immediately started firing questions at Derek.

"No," Derek said, staring in awe at the hockey players. "Those guys play for the Toronto Maple Leafs!" (A/N: I hate the Leafs, but it wouldn't make sense to have the Calgary Flames come. And I hate the Canadiens more so HA!)

The players seemed to spot them and walked over. They must have recognized Derek as a patient. He was in the traditional hospital wheelchair, and he had a blue beanie covering his bald head. He still wore a band-aid across the part of his head that was recovering from surgery, and he had on a baggy Team Canada sweater and sweat pants.

"hi, " one of the guys, the team captain, Ian White, spoke. "Are you a patient here?"

"Yeah," Derek replied. "But I just got released for a few weeks. I had a really big surgery last week. Hopefully my next one isn't until after New Years Eve, I was hoping to celebrate with my friends."

"So, what are you in for?" Wayne Primeau asked, not realizing how it sounded.

Derek smiled and replied, " I have cancer. Several large tumours, but I feel a couple pounds lighter because I just got rid of one of them." He pointed to the bandage on his head.

"Wow, that must be tough," Ian said, a sad tint to his eyes. "I had a sister who had cancer, but she got better really quickly. How long have you had cancer?"

"Well, I had it once when I was eleven, and by the time I was twelve, they said I was free from it. But...last year it came back." Derek replied.

George marvelled at how calm and cool he could be about talking about this.

"Well, me and the boys were coming through to wish some of the kids here a Merry Christmas, and we have a gift for you." (A/N: this sounds so weird, but the Calgary flames go through childrens hospital every year and give out gifts and sign autographs and take pictures so I thought it would be cool if Derek got a present from his favourite hockey team)

Wayne reached inside a blue bag they had with them and pulled out a mini Stanley Cup that had been signed by the whole team. "This is for you, buddy. I hope you get better soon and have a very Merry Christmas." They took pictures and talked for a while before leaving. Derek thought his face would break if he smiled anymore.

A/N: So, there you go. Chapter 2. As short as it may seem, I hope you liked it anyway. I had to make things a bit better for Derek. =P

O AND HAPPY BOXING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

~Alanna