Author's Note: I hope you like this one. The last two chapters are kind of soap opera-esque. A little less humor I suppose. I do not own anything.

An Emotional Purge

He watched her walk around stomping the ground for a hard spot and laughed remembering the night they had kissed. She laid down the blanket in the field but this time she didn't lay down to look at the stars. She gathered up her knees and sat there.

He didn't know what she was doing or if she were crying. Sitting there so he moved closer trying to make no noise when he stepped on something hard. It kind of felt weird and it wasn't a rock so he bent down and picked up a thermos. The thermos Casey had told him to remind her to get the last time they were here. He oddly smiled and opened the lid to take a whiff of the contents. The smell that hit his nostrils made his throat and lungs tense up. He needed to cough, but Casey was right there.

She thought nothing was going to interrupt her tears. She had come here to cry, but stopped sniffling when she heard a cough from the trees.

She almost knew who it was, "Derek?!"

He heaved out a sigh replying, "Yeah?"

She heaved out a larger sigh disgusted with her stepbrother's nosiness, and she wiped her tears away.

"I just suck at sneaking," Casey replied wiping her nose. "Why did you follow me? This time you knew for a fact I was sneaking. I just don't understand you; I just don't understand this!"

"Don't blow up Case. I just … uh… I remembered the thermos," Derek started walking towards Casey's blanket.

"What?"

"I remembered this thermos. Remember?" Derek sat next to Casey and handed her the thermos.

"Oh. Right…" Casey didn't believe him for a second.

"I swear to the heavens, Spacey," Derek pointed to the stars.

"Ok. Why are you spying on me?" Casey held onto the thermos, opened the lid and smelled the contents. She coughed like Derek had, "Wow, this is powerful stuff!"

"Totally gross, I know," Derek avoided the question.

Casey really didn't want to talk to Derek about deep stuff either. She was sick of her deep feelings, so she proposed, "How about I will not ask you why you are out here spying on me if you take a swig of the contents in this thermos?"

"Never, I don't have to answer you," Derek smirked.

"Yeah, I knew you would chicken out," Casey raised her eyebrow.

"Are you kidding me, Case? Reverse-psychology hasn't worked on me in years," Derek laughed chidingly.

Casey shrugged.

"No, I am not drinking it," Derek reaffirmed.

Casey just looked at the thermos and shook her head.

"No," Derek took the thermos from her hand and sniffed the contents again. "I am not drinking it."

"Yup. I heard."

Derek could win so easily, but he got confused and took a long drought of the concoction, "That tasted worse than the first time I had my first shot of 151."

"151?"

"It's a type of hardcore rum. It fucks you up; Don't ever take a shot of it because it makes you vomit."

"Kay," Casey shrugged not caring to hear about liquor.

"Casey, I don't want to say this, but I know something is up, and it's scaring the whole family. I really don't want to ask this, but what's wrong?"

"I could ask you the same thing Derek Venturi. Drinking almost every night, coming in continually past curfew. Sneaking out when you are grounded…" Casey clutched her knees and shivered.

"I guess… yeah," Derek turned away from Casey.

"I just," Casey started, but didn't want to finish.

Derek waited, but knew she wouldn't finish, "You just?"

"We just didn't talk for a month."

"I know," Derek looked into the grasses as he replied.

"It felt weird. Our family was weird. I felt weird," Casey tried to explain her feelings.

"I didn't feel right either," Derek admitted.

"I didn't know what to do with myself," Casey said gathering her thoughts.

"Yeah."

"I still don't, Derek," Casey looked to him holding the thermos.

"Me either," Derek felt so small but tried to hide his feelings.

"What do you feel about me?" Casey probed a little bit.

Derek winced a little, and thought about the answer. His head was starting to hurt, and he felt hot.

"Casey, all I know is, I didn't like this past month," Derek felt like he was forcing out words that he didn't feel like saying.

"Yeah?"

"I hate talking like this. Talking like this kills me. I hate feeling…" Derek forced out.

"Vulnerable?" Casey finished.

"Yeah. Kind of. I hate feelings. I like avoiding them."

"Oh, well how am I supposed to know how you feel if you don't like to feel them?" Casey was a little confused.

"I don't know."

"This is how I felt this whole past month. I hate the feeling of not knowing. I went to the hospital because of my worries," Casey was starting to tear up.

"I know," Derek slowly put his arm around Casey. She sighed out several tears with his motion, "Casey, I can't have you sick. I was… so… worried." Derek pushed these words out from his lips he felt like he was throwing up words.

"Sorry I made you worry, but you weren't the only one worried," Casey blurted out.

"Really?"

"You were out so late some nights, I was concerned. I heard my mom and George talking about your grades too."

"Yeah, they are pretty bad," Derek's face contorted a little, "I'm sorry Casey."

"I am sorry too."

"That hurt me," Derek laughed.

"What part? The sorry or me not talking to you?" Casey wiped some tears away with a chuckle, and she nestled into Derek's arm.

"Well both, but the sorry…" Derek looked up at Casey's smiling face and he smiled.

"Figures." Casey rolled her eyes.

"Oh Spacey. Do you want to sit here, crying, blurring up the stars? Or do you want to go to sleep?" Derek stood up feeling a little queasy and grabbed Casey's hands as he spoke.

"I want to sleep," Casey's eyes drooped as Derek pulled her to her feet.

"Good. Me too. How about we don't forget the thermos this time," Derek playfully said grabbing the blanket and the thermos.

"Okay," Casey half-smiled at Derek. She was feeling shy, but also thankful so she went up next to him and pecked him on the cheek. It was family kiss.

Derek smiled, but then put on a front, "Is that all I get?"

Casey squinted her eyes at him; "Did you want…"

Derek interrupted her and kissed her on the mouth. It was a soft kiss, an apology kiss, but his lips burned. She wrapped her arms around his neck enjoying the warmth.

"More?" Casey finished her sentence as Derek ended the kiss,

Derek smiled and walked back towards the house feeling tired. Casey quietly followed him not having any reason to speak.

***

Derek's eyes opened to Friday morning with an aching concern. His first concern is that he woke up at 3:13 am and his second concern was so great as he ran to the bathroom stumbling, dizzy and queasy. In the bathroom, he vomited a gross looking brownish liquid. His stomach wretched…The thermos. Derek was tricked into drinking that disgusting thermos gunk. Derek passed out on the floor next to the toilet after vomiting thinking of the stupid step-sister who dared him to drink from the container.

***

At 6am, Edwin stumbles into the bathroom holding in a nightlong pee to smell vomit reeking and see Derek sprawled out on the floor by the toilet. Edwin lightly kicked Derek to see if his brother was alive and after realizing he was, sleepily rushed down to the basement to get George or Nora.

"Derek is sick," Edwin shook his dad awake.

"Uhm…" George slowly opened his eyes.

"Derek is sick," Edwin stood wide-eyed and tired at his father.

"What do you want?" George sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Derek is sick," Edwin stared still.

"What? Why?" George said waking up a little.

"I don't know. There is vomit in the toilet, and he is just lying by the toilet. The bathroom smells," Edwin motioned for George to follow him.

"Nora, be right back," George slowly got up and walked with Edwin.

Once in the bathroom, the men stared at Derek blinking, perplexed with waking ignorance and concern, "Derek."

Derek's head turned, "Uh."

"You sick?" George tiredly asked.

"Uh huh," Derek spoke and tried to move no part of his body.

"I am going to help you to your bed, and Edwin will get the bucket," George motioned to help Derek up as Edwin went down stairs to get the vomit bucket. Derek lied down on his bed with the help of his father and Edwin came in Derek's room with the bucket.

"Why're you sick? Have you been drinking… again?" George was still tired, but he was concerned for his son all the same.

His stomach ached and Derek clutched his stomach in pain. Even though he was in pain he quickly lied, "I wasn't drinkin,' Hospital food poisoning?" He grabbed the bucket and was about to vomit.

"Right…Feel better. I'll get you some ginger ale and crackers," George quickly left the room; he didn't want to smell vomit, but he did notice that there was no alcohol smell on Derek and he was thankful for that. Edwin was already in the bathroom relieving his bladder. Derek started dry heaving with the bucket in his hand, and the bucket soon started to fill with Derek's juices.

***

At 8am Casey awoke ready to start the day. Most of her family members had already left the house, she could tell because there was little noise in the house. She stepped out of the room and saw Derek's door is closed. She went downstairs and found George making final arrangements for departure.

"Morning, George," Casey stretched and half-smiled at George, "I still feel so guilty about staying home today. You sure mom told Em to get my work?"

"Hey Sleepy-head, I am positive she called Emily. Don't feel too bad because Derek got sick last night. He may have gotten food poisoning at the hospital or something because he barfed. He's sleeping right now, but I would really appreciate if you would just keep an eye on him if your feeling okay," George had prepared this speech and then continued, "I really have to go now, I am meeting a client and have to prepare for him today. There is more ginger ale and saltines for Derek on the counter if he gets hungry. Have a good day." George grabbed his suitcase and left the room and then the house.

Casey chuckled to herself. The concoction in the thermos made him sick or maybe he wanted a day alone with her. She smiled and peeled a banana as she walked up the steps to check on Derek. He was sleeping with half of his head hanging off his bed; his arm hung off the side as well, and she snuck into his room wincing at the horrible smell emanating from the bucket.

"Derek?" Casey shyly poked Derek.

Groans came from Derek's mouth and his stomach gurgled. He didn't open his eyes, but he slightly moved his arm.

"Derek, you need anything?" Casey was still apprehensive and slightly rubbed Derek's hanging arm.

"Eh," Derek groaned.

Casey held her breath, and she gently sat next to Derek. She started to rub his back in small circles with the tips of her fingers until she heard his breathing become slow. She kissed the back of his head and then silently left the room to get some breakfast.

***

Derek woke up; his stomach still ached and his room smelled terrible. The smell in his room was making him sicker than his stomach could handle. He picked up the bucket and carried it downstairs into the kitchen. He turned on the water and the disposal and dumped his puke down the sink. The smell again made his head spin, and his entire body was drained of energy. On and off he had been up in the day not feeling well, sweating or his stomachache would not allow him to rest. He was feeling a little better that he could walk around, but he needed to rest again.

After he emptied the bucket and rinsed it out well, he dragged his feet and his bucket back upstairs. The thought of the smell in his room made his head spin and then he saw that a light in Casey's room was on. He shuffled into her room curious.

***

Her door swung open and revealed Derek, wearing only a pair of boxers, holding a bucket with his eyes drooping.

"Cassey?" Derek slurred his word as he walked into her room.

"Hi Derek. You feeling better sick boy?" Casey was sitting at her desk.

Derek held up the vomit bucket for his response. He put the bucket next to her bed and climbed on top of her comforter.

"I'm great," Derek sarcastically spoke. He pulled the comforter over him and his head dropped his head on her pillow, "It was the thermos."

Casey started to laugh at Derek's woe and then stubbornly noted, "Who told you to drink it? Also who told you that you were allowed on My bed?"

"No one told me to do anything. I do what I want despite the consequences," Derek tried to play cool but under Casey's covers, he looked weary.

"Well look at the situation you're in now, and one you will be if you don't get out of my bed."

"You owe me."

"I don't owe you anything!"

Derek's head started to spin a little, "You know I had to follow you last night. I couldn't see you sad."

"No… You didn't have to follow me," Casey yawned.

"Casey, please. You know I had to…" Derek stomach started to churn and he reached for the bucket.

Casey stopped thinking about their relationship and saw that Derek was getting sick. She left her desk chair and moved onto the bed. As she sat on the edge of the bed, she put her hand under the blanket and started to rub Derek's sweaty back.

Derek sighed and his breath calmed down. His breathing turned deeper as he whispered, "I like kissing you."

Casey looked defeated as she continued to rub his back. Her worries were not gone. Nothing had been cleared up. Her anxiety settled on her body.

"Casey, your hand stopped moving. You okay?" Derek mumbled.

"I just got tired all of the sudden…" Casey's head started to spin.

"There's more room in here for you," Derek gestured to the empty space on her bed.

With crystal perception she lay down next to him, but with a groggy, tired climb she got under the comforter and nestled next to Derek. Both of their breathing became relaxed, and Derek's stomach suddenly stopped churning. In his sleep, he put his arm around her and pulled her closer to his body. She snuggled her way into his chest as they snored.