Sorry for the delay in the update. Life's been really busy as of late. I'll try to update more often.

Edited...thanks to atruwriter for pointing out my mistakes.

Chapter 8

Casey calmed down when she realized the stranger standing above her was not going to hurt her. She just smiled lightly and asked the person what he was doing there? "Derek? What are you doing here?" She asked with a confused smile.

He brushed some more hair out of her face. "I just wanna make sure you're alright. Are you? I mean, Alright?" He asked in the most loving and caring way he knew possible, a way that brought Casey to tears. However, when Casey started to cry Derek got worried and thought that he had caused the tears that were now streaming down Casey's face. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry."

"No I'm just amazed that's all."

Derek smirked. "Oh Yeah, what has got you so amazed, Princess?" Princess! Derek hadn't a clue why he called Casey Princess, why he always referred to her as 'his princess' maybe he did see her as royalty, a fragile china doll type princess who needs a knight in shining armor to protect her. Derek knew that he would never be her white knight; he was more of the dark knight the one with a hidden agenda. Every time he tried to play hero, there was always something in it for him. He only 'helped' when it was convenient for him, and when he would get awarded for it.

However Casey had changed that, he wanted to protect her as if she was most delicate flower on earth,. He wanted to protect her from everything. He shifted a bit on the edge of the bed that he was sitting on so he could get a better view of Casey's face.

Casey smiled. She was surprised that she trusted Derek. She trusted him with her life as odd as that may sound after the one man who she trusted most in the world had just sexually assaulted her. Now she had more faith and trust in this con man then she had in her own family. "I trust you. I believe in you." She paused for moment and smiled before she continued. "I mean you are supposed to be my worst nightmare, my enemy, and what not but I trust you more than anyone, I know you would never hurt me."

Derek looked at her with such love and protection. "I would never hurt you Princess I l….I have to go." He rushed himself to say realizing he would have said the L word, the word neither of them are prepared to neither say nor hear. "I'll talk to you later Casey."

"Derek?"Case called she wanted him to stay by her side for the night. She just wanted him to sit next to her while she tried to fall asleep. "Can you just please sit with me, until I fall asleep."

Derek was hesitant at first about staying in Casey's room. However, he saw Casey's face and gave in. "If you want me to, I guess…I mean I really don't have anything else to do."

Casey smiled. She sat up on the bed putting a hand on Derek's cheek. "Thank you Derek." She said as she leaned in to kiss him, at first Derek held off but soon took her sweet lips onto his, he took his bottom lip and sucked her top lip as she nibbled on his bottom lip,Casey parted her mouth as Derek let his tongue wander around Casey's as she did his. It was the most sensual and erotic kisses that Derek had ever imagined. He wanted more of it, a hell of lot more; however, he knew that Casey was not ready for anything heavy.

Casey laid down on the bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, her mother had slipped a sedative into a cup of tea she had drank earlier and it was now kicking in. Derek smiled as he pulled the covers up to her neck, he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead before making himself comfortable in one of the chairs Casey has in her room.

He just sat and watched her sleep not knowing that a shadowy figure was watching him.

Sam watched from the veranda of Casey's room. He angrily witnessed the kiss that happened between Casey and Derek, he bitterly thought about killing Derek for laying a hand on his girl. His girl, as far as Sam was concerned Casey was still his girl. He wanted nothing more then to tell her he was sorry for what he did to her and that he will never forgive himself for hurting her the way he did. However now, he couldn't, he couldn't tell her he was sorry not with Derek Venturi sitting right next to her probably waiting to kill him

Sam watched angrily as Derek brushed Casey's hair out of her eyes. He watched angrily as Derek watched over Casey protecting her from him.

The detective knocked on the door to the Venturi-McDonald house, hoping to find Sam there. When Nora opened the door, she was surprised to see the police standing right outside her front door on her front doorstep.

"Hi May I help you?" Nora asked wondering if the police were there to question Casey about her rape. "Is this about my daughter's….my daughter's rape?"

"That's why we're here ma'am we think the suspect might have come here." The detective explained to Nora that Sam had come here.

Nora put a hand up to he mouth and gasped. "Oh dear god, and Casey is upstairs alone." She said as she rushed up the stairs to Casey's room. She was afraid that the detective was right and that Casey could be in danger. He hoped she was wrong though, she hoped that Casey would be sound asleep letting the nights events disappear into the oblivion

She came upon Casey's door and turned put her hand to the doorknob giving a good grip turning the handle as she opened the door ….

Lot's of Love, Robyn