Dreaming

Chapter 6

Previously…

"One of our paramedics recognized him but we haven't released his name yet."

"Good. I'll take care of it. And thank you again."

"You're welcome."

Casey called for the limo to be brought around and she went back to the hotel. Ralph was still asleep when she arrived and for a moment she thought about laying down too but she knew when she woke her reality would still be a nightmare. Instead she ordered coffee and sat down on the couch picking up the phone.

She called their parents first, then Edwin, Lizzie, Sam, and finally Derek's hockey coach. They were the hardest calls she ever made and she hoped she wouldn't have to make a harder call later on. The reactions were normal, a lot of crying from the females and the same questions over and over from the males. George, Nora, Marti, and Simon decided they would come immediately and scheduled a flight for the next day. Edwin and Lizzie would wait a few days before coming. Sam said he could come in next week. The hockey coach sat in his office dreading the press conference that would announce that the captain, his best and most popular player, was currently in a coma.

The calls took several hours and Casey realized as she hung up from speaking with the hockey coach that she smelled food in the room. Suddenly she was famished. Ralph was awake and eating bacon, eggs, pancakes, home fries, toast, and coffee at the small table in their suite. Ralph's sad face looked into Casey's red-rimmed eyes.

"Did you talk to the doctor?"

Casey nodded, and for the fifth time explained Derek's injuries.

After Casey had eaten a little, slept, and taken a long hot shower she prepared to go back to the hospital. Ralph had gone in earlier at the end of visiting hours and now it close 10pm. Casey had called her manager and arranged for a flight early morning. She didn't want to face her family. She had been gone so long.

Casey sat on Derek's bed and slid her hand into his. She placed her other hand on his hospital gown covered chest. "Oh Derek look at you. How could this have happened to you?" Casey leaned over placing her head on his chest and started to cry, lightly beating his chest, "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. How dare you try to leave me like this with so many things unsaid. After all the things we've been through. You have to give me a chance. Derek, I need you. Without you I can't survive. I-I-I know that probably sounds ridiculous because I haven't been the best friend lately but please, please come back to me and I'll be better. Please believe me. We wasted all that time fighting when I should have been telling you what you mean to me. I need you. Please don't leave me Derek. I don't want to live if there's another night without you in my life."

I need you too Case.

Two weeks later…

The night nurses looked up as the door to the ICU burst open and a young woman strode purposely onto the quiet unit. The beautiful brunette in the black mini and sparkling purple top held her head up and kept her eyes straight ahead. As she flew by the surprised nurses the smell of vanilla masked the smell of antiseptic for a moment. The nurses watched silently as her purple heels clicked past.

"Is that…"

"Yep. The singer Casey. She's here to see 309."

"So the rumors were true. What's their relationship?"

"Emergency contact. That's all we know. She hasn't been here in two weeks."

They heard Casey talking before she slid the door closed. "Well, well, well. Derek Venturi I see you're still just laying around waiting for everyone to take care of you. This slothfulness is a new low even for you." Casey sneered down at the figure in the bed. Derek's lacerations had started to heal and he looked a little more like himself.

Casey thought she was prepared but as she looked down on him she unraveled. She was bitter, angry. She slapped his arm and shouted, "Wake up you lazy bastard," before the sobs overtook her and shaking she sat down on his bed and rested her head on his chest noticing how cold he felt.

"Please Derek get better soon. It's like the whole world has been turned upside down. There are so many people who count on you. Mom says George is like a zombie, and Marti is hiding in her room. Simon has started acting out in school. Both Edwin and Lizzie have taken time off work. Sam's wife says he just sits and stares blankly watching hockey game reruns. Your team is losing. You have to get better Derek, they can't live without you." Casey paused and took a deep breath. "I can't live without you."

Casey sat up and the hospital room seemed to vanish as she started rambling and waving her hands in the arm. "I know the last few years we haven't spoken much and I know that's my fault. I've let myself blame hectic schedules, but that's not the real reason I let things lapse between us."

Casey stood now and paced the room as she rushed on desperation in her voice. "It's just…when you were drafted…suddenly my whole future seemed so blank. I knew I couldn't go with you, and I felt like I was drowning in the unknown. I know, I know. It's that futuritis again. I guess I never got past it. The thing is, when I've had to deal with big changes you've always been there. Mom's remarriage. High school dating and the break-ups. Parties. Then graduation from high school and onto college. You've always been there backing me up. Calling me out on my bullshit. We balance each other don't you see? And suddenly you had a future that I didn't belong to, and…and it scared me. So I signed up for that singing contest to keep my mind off of you and I never imagined it would turn out how it did. I threw myself into every competition on purpose to forget that you didn't need me. That I had to grow up and be my own person. And I know that you tried to stay in touch but I pushed you away because I knew that you would always have to leave. I couldn't stand the heart break and the emptiness. I may be a success to the world but…I'm a wreck without you."

Casey finally stopped and started breathing again. I can't believe I just admitted all of that. Thank God no one else was here. She turned and looked at Derek again, biting her lip. She walked over to the bed and took his clammy hand, smiling sadly. "I'm so lonely and no one knows it. I can hear your voice in my head saying 'I don't do feelings or tears, Princess. Save the drama for someone who cares.'" Casey chuckled. "I'll be back in a week."

The nurses looked up as they heard the door to room 309 slid open and watched the brunette walk out the same way she walked in.

Casey's nighttime visits occurred every 7 days after that and her emotions always followed the same pattern. To start, the flip comments. Then, the anger. Next, the breakdown. Followed by, the bargaining. Finally, admitting how much she needed him. Then she would compose herself and with an air of condescension would strut out.

AN: So I think I lost some people on the last chapter. Was it confusing? Story moving to slowly? Let me know what you think.