DISCLAIMER: If I'd be owning, I wouldn't be moaning...about the lack of LDWA

A/N: This one came out of left field right after travelingwishes left me a lovely review, despite the fact it has absolutely nothing to do with much. So, I do apologize if it seems a bit OOC. shyesplease seemed to think it was okay for what it was, so tell me what you think, dear readers.

Out of all the possible scenarios that could possibly happen at their time together at Queen's, Derek and Casey can both safely say that they never saw her becoming the hockey team's unofficial mascot. And yet, she has spent more time in or around the boys' locker room-since that miraculous last minute goal during the last game of Derek's freshman year, that magically turned her into his good luck charm-than she has spent anywhere else on campus, bar the library.

That's probably why she doesn't really blink at the variously states of undressed young men who call out in cheerful greeting as she trudges through the changing area back to the toilets and sinks in her own workout clothes and settles into what's considered 'Spacey's Space'. The far sink in the corner doesn't have good water pressure, because it's actually the handicap sink, but it's large enough for two people to share if they take turns and she and Derek have their bathroom routine down pat and no one really bothers them over here. Being a Senior member of the team has its perks.

Derek's showering off practice and Casey takes the opportunity to dump her small duffle down and uses the sink to wash her face and brush her teeth while waiting on him, her mind going through the day's schedule. Dance practice ran a little long this morning and she doesn't want to fall behind, they have a hectic week. She smells his particular brand of soap and shampoo half a second before seeing him turn the corner in the mirror and joining her at the sink, still dripping and toweling his hair. She's learned to ignore his bare torso, she's surrounded by near naked boys on a daily basis for God's sake.

"What's on tap?" he greets as he reaches for his toothbrush.

Casey ducks beneath his elbow and pulls out the week's carefully highlighted schedule, protected by a plastic sleeve to keep from getting wet, and sets it on the sink for Derek to see. She got smart about waterproofing Sophomore year after somehow becoming his part time secretary during the time Derek practically had to drag her into the locker room with him just to talk time tables. Their relationship has definitely changed over the years.

"You've got Media this morning. Did you manage to finish your presentation last night?" she asks between flossing.

Derek had spent all of last night working on a project for this class, putting the finishing touches on it-he claimed. Casey called it fussing.

"Yeah, but I don't have to present until next class. Alphabetical last names. You said your Chick Lit class was cancelled today. You gonna study? We've got that Stats test before lunch," he pointed out.

Casey wrinkles her nose at the reminder. "I need to work on my thesis."

"You need to pass this class with an A-minus if you wanna graduate with Magna Cum Laude," her step-brother insisted, pointing his foamy toothbrush in her direction. Casey may have the higher GPA of the two, and a double major, but Derek is actually the more mathematically inclined of the two of them. And to be perfectly honest, she'd be hopelessly floundering the course with a C or so if it wasn't for him. "You're gonna wig out too much if you think about it. Come on, I'll skip the presents and we'll cram."

"Aren't those peer reviewed? Der-ek!"

He rolls his eyes. "Case, it'll be fine. I'll BS with my prof about staying over late from practice for some reason." While managing to somehow turn into a slightly nicer human being than he was in high school, Derek still retains much of his Derek-ness.

"Yo, Case! Trivia at eight tonight at Benny's! You and D in?" One of the team members calls out to the step-siblings.

Casey hesitates, glancing at Derek, who only offers a shrug after spitting and rinsing. "I'm free. Fifty bucks goes to the winning team. Surely all that keening has to be good for somethin'," he says.

"There's supposed to be a poetry-reading in the student centre tonight at seven-thirty," Casey tells him.

Derek looks at her like she should know better. "You're really gonna pass up an opportunity to make some money just to go to listen to some bad fresh/soph poems about feelings?"

She tosses a glare his way. "Some of the professors read, too!"

"Fine," Derek insists in a tone that irritates her on principle, reaching for the floss. "More for me." He turns his head. "Spacey's out!" he informs the room at large, receiving several boos in return and smirks at Casey's narrowed eyes. When he's done at the sink, they pack their stuff up and Casey trails behind him to his locker, keeping her eyes firmly on him. "You cooking tonight?" he tosses over his shoulder.

She shakes her head. "I don't really have enough to do anything with. We need to go shopping. Not tomorrow, you're busy all day AND you've got a meeting with your advisor at one, so don't forget that." She cocks her head. "Should you really be going out, tonight?"

"Don't. Case," Derek says firmly as he rolls on his deodorant and grabs a shirt to pull on. While she's been good for his GPA, by staying on him about his classes, Derek drew the line at his extra-curriculars. Casey wasn't his mother and she wasn't in charge of his social calendar...that much...

She rolls her eyes. "Fine, whatever. Supper at six-thirty in the caf?" They usually eat the meal together when they can.

"Sure," Derek agrees. "Lunch?"

Casey shakes her head and hefts her stuff. "I'll grab something and work on my thesis, then."

"Stats study?" he asks, a little surprised that he's managed to convince her that easily to go along with one of his schemes.

She nudges him with a small smile. "I'm studying. You're going to class." With that she makes her way out of the locker room.

Derek absolutely does not watch her stride out of the room like she's in charge, instead of finishing getting dressed. It just happens to be coincidence that as soon as the door shuts behind her, Derek tells the room that "Casey's in!"

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