"A Past That Can't Be Buried"

A/N #1: I just want to say that I'm REALLY SORRY for the super long delay but so many ideas had popped into my head and I wanted to get down and then there was a lot of LWD stories and DA stories that I wanted to read and after reading a ton, I think I have the reading for the characters down and when I came back to this, it still shocked me how OOC Casey and Derek were at one points so for now I'll stick to the way I originally wrote them but I think I'll try to aim for in-character actions for Derek (at least since Casey is an X5 in this story).

A/N #2: I just wanted to say thank you so much to all those that alerted, read and reviewed this story. It still really means a lot to me after a year that I've started posting this (can you believe it's already been a year?). This milestone was also the reason why I felt compelled to write this chapter (so I just wrote it up in the last three hours after I got home from a family function).

A/N #3: I've changed the writing format to third person POV for this chapter but please tell me in a review if you prefer this way of writing the story or my previous way of flipping POVs and rewriting scenes in the respective characters' thoughts. Without etiher adu, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or Life with Derek (they belong to their respective owners).

Summary: It's been 8 years since Casey escaped Manticore and is now in loads of trouble when she's left home alone with Derek.

RECALL (3rd Person POV):

"Casey?"

"Yeah?" She turned to face him, as if she didn't want to answer any questions.

"What happened last night?...I mean, I've never seen you act like that before." It scared him that she was acting different but it still led to last night's events.

"You were never here and trust me, it's not over yet."

"Are you going to tell me what that's supposed to mean?" Derek quickly asked before Casey left the room.

"Can I shower first?"

"Are you going to avoid me after?"

"I don't have a choice anymore. You should know the truth." She stared right at me when she said that before heading to the bathroom. Derek just sat in Casey's bed trying to figure out what she meant before he headed into his room to get a fresh set of clothes and headed down to the basement to use George and Nora's shower. He would be done before Casey and he would just wait to get my answers.

Chapter 9:

[3rd Person POV]

It didn't really take much to surprise Derek because he usually knew what was going on around him before the people themselves knew it. It was completely new for him to have his mind think of a plausible theory as to what led to the previous night's events between himself and his attractive stepsister. Even after waking up with her in his arms, both of them naked, he still couldn't believe what had transcribed between them. He never imagined that coming home early would result to him confessing his feelings to her or for her to do the same; he'd always thought she disliked him on a daily basis.

Although he was thrilled as flashes of their night together went through his mind as the warm water cascaded over his body as he felt his muscles relax, he couldn't help but worry that something was definitely off with Casey when he first came home. The jumpy attitude, the look of hunger in her lust-filled eyes, the random string of sentences that she was able to release between kisses: none of it made sense but Derek Venturi was determined to get some answers.

*DA*x*LWD**DA*x*LWD**DA*x*LWD*

Casey, on the other hand, was standing under freezing water as she tried to get her raging hormones in check. The sight of Derek's body gave her mixed emotions when she woke up: guilt for all the bruises she created on him and desired lust as if her body was at the peak of its heat once again. She had to get out of her bedroom and away from Derek for the time being to get her head on straight so she hoped that a freezing cold shower would do the trick.

The simple task of figuring out what to do next wasn't an easy one for Casey as her photographic memory was betraying her resistance as her first night with Derek kept replaying in her mind. She could feel the soft butterfly kisses along her neck, the burning sensation she felt wherever his skin touched hers, the fierce kisses that came with any groan or moan that passed through their lips as they echoed in her head.

Casey was shedding silent tears as the water continued to cascade down her face.

She never wanted this to happen but Manticore, yet again, screwed up her life as if she hadn't escaped all those years ago. If she ever decided to tell Derek her feelings for him, she never wanted it to happen the way it did last night. If she did tell Derek about her real identity, she wanted it to be at the right time and when she thought Derek could handle and hopefully accept that but she wasn't so sure at the moment. Casey was terrified of what would happen next between her and Derek. It didn't take much to scare Casey, she was a transgenic after all, but loosing those she cared about most would always be her weakness. Loosing her sister Eva the night of the escape and splitting off from the rest of her brothers and sisters would always haunt her but she didn't want to imagine what would happen if Derek rejected her after learning the truth; the one person who has gotten to know the real her, someone that she has trusted before they even knew about her secret. She would always be grateful to Nora on how accepting she was and for giving her a chance to have a normal life, Casey just wished that Derek would understand that when she told him.

There was no doubt in Casey's mind when she was done showering that she had to tell Derek the truth, today was the day that Derek would be introduced to Casey's past, to X5-672.

(A/N: I wanted to stop it there but I figured that would be mean after the very long wait)

After Casey showered, she changed into another set of short shorts and a thin tank top (she couldn't help that her body felt like it was on fire, heck if Derek wasn't home, Casey would probably be wandering the house in her bra and panties) before heading downstairs, letting her wet hair dangle over her shoulders as it was cold to the touch when compared to the burn you'd get when you touched the transgenic's skin.

Casey was only half way down the stairs when she smelt Derek in the kitchen before she could hear the clattering of what she assumed was a bowl and its spoon. Both signs caused her to stop in her tracks on the stairs and take in a huge breath, which turned out to be a huge mistake as she inhaled the faint trail of testosterone that led to the kitchen. The young X5 had to resist the urge to run back upstairs and get back under the cold spray of the shower like her brain wanted over her body's need to use her enhanced speed and rush into the kitchen and take Derek there and satiate the primal desire growing inside her. She knew she couldn't do either so she sighed in defeat but she still didn't move from her spot on the stairs.

"Derek?"

*DA*x*LWD**DA*x*LWD**DA*x*LWD*

Derek on the other hand was getting impatient as he ate his cereal in the peace and quiet. He wanted to tap his fingers on the counter as he listened to the creaking of the hardwood floor above him, indicating that at least Casey was moving. He sighed as so many unanswered questions swirled through his mind.

For the first time ever, Derek craved for some answers but it wasn't the first time that it had to involve Casey. Sometimes he swears he has her figured out but then other times, it's like he just met her. It still drives him crazy but then again, maybe that's what drew him in at first to his stepsister, the fact that she wouldn't submit to him like all the other girls at school, she remained independent and she's a growing mystery that he wanted to figure out, no, a mystery he needed to figure out. Derek only wondered if he'd still feel the same way after he's figured out the mystery that is Casey McDonald. I have a feeling that I'll still love her.

Derek was knocked out of his thoughts when he heard his name being called, causing him to pause his subconscious action of stirring his spoon in his milk filled cereal bowl.

"Yeah Case?"

"Can you go in the basement for a second?" Derek sighed.

"You can't stall forever Princess." He chided with a little playful tone causing Casey to groan.

"I'm not stalling, I just need you to go to the basement, shut the door, walk all the way down, and then back up and out. Then we'll talk." Casey explained with a little shout as she was still on the stairs. I still need distance between us.

She could still hear no sound indicating that Derek was moving and doing what he was told so she groaned and wiped a hand over her face in frustration. Derek wouldn't last a day in Manticore with his lack of discipline. She couldn't' help but think before she spoke. "Derek if you don't do this, I swear to God I'll go back upstairs, lock myself in the bathroom and I won't talk or answer you what-so ever." She threatened as the plan seemed plausible for her; she'd have easy access to the shower in case she needed that cold water and food wouldn't be a problem since a transgenic could go about six days without it (fairing off a lot better than if an Ordinary was in the same situation).

Derek on the other hand didn't know so the idea of Casey locking herself inside an enclosed space and threatening to not speak to him was enough for him to start shuffling slowly to the basement door as he completed her demand while mumbling a few profanities to himself, about not liking the idea of being ordered around.

Casey couldn't help but smirk when she heard Derek's mumblings with her enhanced hearing. Sometimes my enhancements provide me with my own entertainment. After hearing the basement door shut and the creaking of the basement stairs, Casey used her enhanced speed to gather all that she needed from the kitchen before Derek came back up. She grabbed the cereal box, a clean bowl and a spoon as quietly as possible as she made her way to place them in Nora's spot at the dinner table. She quickly went back to grab milk, an empty glass as well as the second bottle of vodka that she had hidden from the rest of the family (besides Nora since she's the one that has to buy the alcohol in the first place) so that she could sedate the urge a little longer.

Casey rushed with her feline grace back to the dinner table to take a seat in Nora's chair. She poured some cereal into the bowl, followed by the milk before she poured the alcohol in her cup. Casey was extremely hungry that she left the cereal box in front of her as well as the carton of milk. Transgenic metabolisms burn calories off faster than Ordinaries and due to last night's activities, Casey was extremely famished. At this point in her situation, Casey didn't care that she was ingesting weird combinations at the time, she needed them all at the moment: cereal to restore the calories, milk to replenish her serotonin levels and the alcohol to take the edge off the sexual cravings that she hasn't been able to get rid of completely. If only the damn heat cycle ends once I get laid, it'd be so much simpler!

By the time that Casey was through half of her cereal, she heard the creaking of the basement door open once again. She sighed before hearing Derek's voice.

"Case, can I go back in the kitchen now?"

"If you must." She retorted after swallowing another spoonful of cereal. Casey made sure she didn't look towards the kitchen as she listened to Derek's movements. She focused on one task at a time and she knew that if she looked at him now, she wasn't going to be able to go through with her plan.

Derek went to retrieve his cereal bowl only to find that he had finished it before he left to his pointless task of going up and down the basement stairs. He placed his bowl in the sink before turning around to see Casey sitting in Nora's chair, focused on her cereal as her wet hair clung to her skin and soaked through the straps of her tank top. Derek gulped a little before he headed towards Casey.

Casey didn't have to see Derek to know that he was approaching her; she could hear his footsteps getting louder, she could smell his masculine scent getting stronger so before he got any closer to her, she quickly raised her hand in a stop position without looking up.

Derek paused with curiosity as he quirked an eyebrow at her weird behaviour. Casey finished swallowing another bite before she spoke. "If you want answers, you can't come any closer to me. The closest you'd get at this point is George's chair. Take it or leave it."

Derek crossed his arms in defiance. "So that's how you're going to act now, as if we're contagious? A little immature, don't you think Case?" He teased as he waited for a reaction from his stepsister but all she did was finish the last few bits of her cereal before drinking up the milk that's left in her bowl.

"I'm not immature if you recall what happened last night." She teased as she finally made eye contact with Derek, who had his mouth gaping from the fact that she's the one that led the conversation to their previous night together. It could also be that Casey's eyes had changed to a point that a part of her control was slipping as she looked Derek over in a subtly hunger type fashion. An X5 could see the change in her eyes from the distance that was between them but Derek could feel the way her eyes were looking over him and he couldn't help but smirk at the idea of his stepsister openly checking him out.

It was only a few moments after she looked up at Derek did Casey reached for her glass of alcohol and down half of it while keeping the bottle hidden from Derek (behind the cereal box).

"I guess you aren't going the 'let's forget it never happened' route." Derek teased as he finally took a seat in his father's chair.

Casey gave a sly smile. "Kind of can't when I'm going to need a repeat soon." Derek's eyes widened causing Casey to chuckle before downing the second half of her vodka.

"A repeat?"

"That is unless you're not up for it at the moment." She challenged as she watched Derek's brown eyes darken at the thought. She poured herself another glass (while keeping the bottle hidden) before leaning back in her seat. "To be honest, I could have gone another round the moment I woke up." Casey licked her lips before taking another much needed swig as more heat fantasies with Derek started playing through her head.

Derek was still speechless as he watches his keener stepsister openly flirting with him and practically undressing him with her eyes. What the hell has gotten into her? It wasn't that Derek didn't like this attitude from Casey, it's just that he didn't know what triggered her to act this way since she's never shown signs like this before last night. Never.

"Okay, first off, since when do you openly make statements like that, to me of all people?" Derek questioned with disbelief present in his voice.

Casey shrugged. "Sorry, I can't really help it right now. It's kind of the reason why I need this drink." She raised her glass to draw his attention to it before taking another swig of it.

Derek scoffed as he looked at the clear liquid she was drinking. "Like water's gonna help."

Casey smirked. "This ain't water Der, it's the good stuff." She took another swig.

He quirked an eyebrow as he motioned for her to continue. "And the good stuff is?"

"Something I hope will give me a huge buzz." The transgenic took another swig while she moved the cereal box out of Derek's line of sight of the alcohol bottle.

Derek's eyes widened once again as he looked between the bottle and the liquid she was still drinking. "Vodka? You're drinking alcohol….again?"

Casey waved her hand like a dismissal as she finished another glass. "Relax Derek. It's not doing me any good anyways. You have nothing to fear." She confidently stated as she poured herself another glass.

"Nothing to fear?" Derek was getting angry at her irresponsible behaviour since it wasn't like her plus didn't everyone think that he'd be the one caught drinking in the house and not Casey? "My stepsister is getting drunk in the morning and acting….." Derek flustered for the right word but he couldn't think of one.

"Freaky?" She provided before taking another swig as if it were just water she was drinking.

He pointed a finger at her. "Not what I was gonna use but YES!"

Casey shrugged. "If it makes you feel any better, I can't get drunk."

Derek titled his head to the side while his brow furrows in confusion. "What?" Casey sighed.

"Derek, this was a brand new bottle when I opened it while you were in the basement. Don't you think I'd be tipsy or slurring my words right now with the amount I've consumed already?" She pointed out while causing Derek to focus on those exact facts. The bottle was already a quarter gone and she still seemed like she was just drinking water, yet he's seen her pour her drinks right in front of him. She should be showing signs of getting drink with all the vodka she's already had in her system. He mused to himself before speaking.

"You can hold your liquor down, that's impressive."

The X5 shook her head from left to right since she hoped that this was the way of easing him into the truth. Try again. "Derek you don't get it. I can't get drunk. No matter how much alcohol I consume, I can't get drunk. At most, I feel a little tiny buzz at the back of my skull but that's it. No matter how hard I try I can't get drunk and trust me, I've tried multiple of times." She explained while remembering the past few summers when she was alone and she'd try to get drunk to take the edge off but with no such luck. She took a huge gulp of the vodka followed by the hiss from her throat for the instant burn she felt as the liquor slid down her throat.

"How's that even possible?"

"I told you, I'm a freak." She deadpanned as she looked him in the eye, hoping he'd get the message this time.

Derek sighed as he felt guilty once again for giving Casey the wrong idea about herself with all his teasing words. "And I told you last night that I didn't mean to call you a 'freak' all those times."

Plan B. Casey mused to herself before taking a huge breath.

"Alright so if you can't handle the simple 'I'm a freak' excuse how about this: I'm really a genetically engineered super-soldier that was created by the United States government."

A/N #4: How was that? Was it long enough to make up for some of that 'hiatus period' I've had for the past 10 months? This chapter was like three times the length of the others in this story so I hope that was fine. Once again, please tell me what you think about the chapter and what you predict will happen next when it comes to Casey and Derek.

A/N #5: I created a master list for this story (as well as my other stories) on LiveJournal so don't forget to check it out (it's linked as my homepage on my profile).

Originally Published: October 23, 2010

Edited: October 30, 2010