Casey locked her door that night. It was probably the hardest thing she ever had to do. He had knocked on it for about half hour telling him to let her in, saying he had a sleeping bag with him, they didn't even have to share the bed. She told him to go to bed eventually she assumed that he had listened to her; But she needed him, she didn't sleep, she couldn't knowing if she woke up alone the terrors would be horrible without Derek to comfort her, but her self esteem was hurt, she put herself out there because she felt Derek was the one person who wouldn't hurt her, she was sure of it he had been her rock, so strong and caring through the rape and she had feelings for him, strong one's she couldn't ignore. Derek being rational for once was strange enough, but she just knew that it was an excuse for something, it had to be; he must have been just physically deprived since he was always taking care of her, and needed a temporary fix without commitment.

So tonight, she lay in her bed, with all the lights on, everything locked, crying and trembling with an empty fear that she couldn't force down, and was too stubborn to give up and let Derek in. She lay in bed, trying to stay awake until it was about three in the morning. Lying in bed wasn't helping anymore. She couldn't stay awake, so she went to her computer, turning it on, her e-mail popped open telling her she had twenty new messages. Only one caught her eye,

From: (Mobile connection)

Subject: I'm Not Letting You Go…

Time: May 15 2:56 am

She shuddered at the words and the date knowingly sent just minutes before. her breath stuck in her throat, she opened it, and it was blank, like he thought if he wrote anything inside she wouldn't open it. Her computer beeped startling her as she jumped seeing another message from Max pop up. This subject said

Look Out Your Window. She was shaking all over as she used her chair to keep her up while she dragged herself to the window. Looking down on the yard, spray painted on the grass was the words, I'm Getting You Back, and Max stepped out from the shadows looking up at her with a familiar sadistic smile as she screamed, crying hysterically.

A large banging sounded on her door scaring her further, her eyes glazed with tears so she couldn't see the flicker of the computer screen.

"CASEY!!!" Derek was screaming pounding on her locked door while he struggled out of his sleeping bag. She threw it opened as soon as she heard his voice. Throwing herself at him. He didn't hold her instead he pushed her around him looking into the room. He heard her scream from night terrors for a long time, this scream was not a product of a dream. The room was empty. And he turned around taking her face into his hands.

"Case, what happened." Her eyes were far off, an expression he hadn't seen on her face in forever, like she wasn't with him anymore, reliving something. "Casey!" Derek shook her making him look at her, while tears kept falling, stinging her cheeks.

"He's not letting me go, he won't he's not, he's here, he won't ever, ever, Derek, never, No!" her head was shaking while he pulled her too him crushing her in a hug.

"Case, Casey, calm down, where is he."

"T-the window… he was outside staring at me, Derek he was watching me, he wrote that he's getting me back." Derek let her go and hurried to the window looking down.

"Where?"

"On the grass Derek, the grass."

"Case, I don't see it." Casey stumbled over to the window and Derek immediately held her to his side, she looked down, and the grass was blank, nothing there, she didn't see him anywhere.

"It was there it was…" she pushed away from Derek to show him the messages, but her computer was off, she turned it back on opening her mailbox, but nothing from Max.

"No, he sent me messages, saying he's not letting me go, and to look out my window. Derek I'm not making this up!" Though the evidence was against her, he believed her, the scream was too panicked.

"I believe you. I mean maybe he had help, maybe he got tinker to hack your computer to get the messages off." Tinker working to hurt Casey, he didn't believe that for a second and neither did Casey.

"I told you he won't let me go…" her head shook mechanically again while she went off, disappearing again. Derek walked to her pulling her back into his arms rubbing her back.

"And I told you, I won't let him hurt you. I'll keep you safe Casey, I promise." She came back with his words; taking in her surroundings she noticed a sleeping bag and pillows in the hall blocking her door.

"You were sleeping outside my room?"

"In case you needed me." Casey opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it.

"What?" Derek had her at arm's length looking into her ees, smoldering, melting her down.

"I do need you…" She whispered her eyes full of tears as she ducked her head ashamed. Derek lifted her chin pulling her gaze up.

"Hey, hey look at me. I'm not going anywhere, never Case, as long as you need me; I'm yours, no matter what." Casey looked at him trying to decipher his meanings, but before she could make her own assumptions, he pulled her chin upwards giving her a feather light kiss. Her eyes didn't close as she stared at him, confused. Derek pulled back smirking

"You are an exception to a lot of rules Casey, and you are right, this is a bad idea." Her face fell as she tried to pull back but Derek's grip on her tightened slightly.

"But, all my ideas are bad, including the ideas I say out loud. Case I don't know what this is, but I have never cared about someone as much as I had started to care about you," Derek felt the mushiness getting to him. He brought back his smirk, but kept it cautious hoping that he wouldn't upset her. "Besides, he can't get you back if you're with me right."

"Our parent's, our friend's,"

"We won't tell anyone that would make trouble for us, but Casey you need to know that no matter what happens between us or anything, I am always going to be there for you. The choice is all yours." He kissed her on her forehead before backing away from her letting her make a decision without clouding her judgment. "You can tell me tomorrow. I'll just go back to the hallway." Casey rolled her eyes pulling him to the bed.

"Don't be stupid." She lay down as did Derek, and immediately pulled herself flush against his body.

"You won't hurt me."

"I won't hurt you." He repeated from the other night before she pressed her lips against his neck and his whole body tightened.

"Thank you." She said letting herself fall asleep. Derek stayed up watching her, waiting for the fear of commitment to kick in, but it didn't. Besides the physical stuff, it was already pretty much like Casey was his girlfriend, they spent every moment together since the attack and he hadn't so much as missed dating, or looked at a girl, blondes didn't even steal his attention anymore, he was always focused on Casey, no one else.

He pushed her hair back from her face letting his hand trace the shadows, of the bruises he always saw. She was all healed now, but he often looked at her and seen the prints of her rape, and it fueled his anger more and more and he knew, that one day, he would get his chance to pay back Max for ever hurting her.

… … … … … … … … … …

"You and Casey huh?" Sam said glancing at Teegan with a knowing smile. Casey blushed trying to pry her hand from Derek's who was holding hers in her lap. He held tighter looking at them proudly but a little less smug seeing as he had this conversation with Sam a lot, he had denied it too.

"We think it's best to keep it quiet cause of our parents." Derek told them. Casey felt awkward but was thankful that Derek was taking the reins.

Max walked into the cafeteria not even bothering to look at Casey, attached to him was Amy. The girlfriend he had before Casey. She clung to him affectionately. The Cheer captain and the QB looking like a star couple. Casey was confused. He was with her, after threatening her on the weekend, it didn't make sense, he didn't even look at her, it was like he moved on and didn't care about her anymore. She was happy for that she was, but if he didn't then, was she crazy? Did she imagine it all? No she couldn't have.

"Stop looking at him." Derek whispered to her turning her face to him smiling reassuringly.

"Oh gosh that is so weird…" Teegan said flipping her copper hair.

"I know… Derek is sensitive… who knew…" Sam laughed while Derek kicked him under the table.

"I'll kill you…" Derek growled at him. I'll kill you. Tell anyone and I'll kill you. Casey was far away, in that place again she was crumpled in on herself while Max leaned close eyes dark. I'll kill you. Tell anyone and I'll kill you.

Stop it… Casey whispered to herself.

"Stop it." She said out loud as Derek turned to her while her hands squirmed in his.

"Case?"

"STOP IT!" her voice cracked loudly while she jumped up, running for the cafeteria doors. The room was silent all staring after her until she disappeared, whispers spread like wild fires and Derek jumped up running after her. He was just in time to see her long chestnut mane disappear around a corner and he sprinted faster catching up slowly.

"CASEY!" he called after her not expecting a answer, but she slowed down to a stop, turning around to look at him confused.

"What?" she asked stepping towards him. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong with you Casey?" she looked honestly confused.

"What time is it? Is school over?" Derek's heart leapt into his throat as he took a cautious step forward.

"No, it's lunch, we were eating and you screamed stop it then took off." Her eyebrows narrowed further. "You don't remember." She shook her head suddenly looking worried. Derek exhaled sharply looking away and running his hands through his hair. "When was the last time you talked to Paul?"

"Friday." Derek nodded looking around once again. "How about we go."

"What do you mean, just ditch?" Derek nodded as Casey's face paled. "Come on." He slowly reached for her hand, his eyes locked with hers. She was confused by his slow movement's, like he was scared; she didn't like it. "Go get your books and I'll tell Sam and Teegan we're leaving and ask if they want to hang." Casey agreed walking around the corner.

Her locker was of course clean and organized while she packed away the rest of her classes to review the next chapter at home. She closed the door and when she did a small scream escaped from her lips.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Amy said biting her lip. "I wanted to know if you were okay." It took a moment for Casey to recover, she shook her head forcing a smile and swallowing hard.

"No, no. I have just been jumpy lately."

"Oh… Well I was coming to ask if you want to join cheerleading again, I mean we really miss your routines, and I know it might be weird going to your ex's games… but you loved it Case." Case forced a smile shaking her head.

"Yea, no I was actually joining the debating team, and poetry club; try more things you know."

"Oh yea totally, but um… we should hang out some time. Like a girls night, say… Friday?"

"We'll actually my parents aren't in town so it's probably no-"

"Great! Your house it is, see you later Case!" Casey stared baffled after Amy, her blonde hair swaying behind her.

"What did she want?" Derek asked coming up behind her.

"She wanted to have a girls night, she's coming over Friday." Derek groaned,

"You mean I have to spend a night without you?" Derek pouted wrapping his arms around her waist.

"No. I pray that you don't leave me alone with that girl." Derek pecked her on the lips.

"No problem."