Derek pushed against the water that was now knee deep. He was carrying three bags of food, a 10 pound bag of ice, and a styrofoam cooler to house all of the cold items. His arms were about to fall off. If the convenience store had been any further, he wasn't sure he would have been able to make it. Stopping in front of room 27, he dropped everything with a sigh of relief. The motel was elevated against the slanted parking lot so no water had reached the sidewalk. He hoped it never did.

Derek opened the door and once again bent to retrieve the heavy items with a grunt before once again depositing them on the floor. Casey was no where in sight. He could see the light coming from beneath the bathroom door. Taking this opportunity, Derek once again changed his outfit for the third time that day. He was beginning to feel like a women.

He opted for a comfortable pair of grey sweat pants, choosing to forgo a pair of boxers this time. He decided not bother with a shirt. Derek felt like a nap was in his near future, so why bother. He lifted the cooler onto a small round table that sat beside the air conditioner, emptying all 10 pounds of ice into the container. He then stuffed Casey's two liter of diet coke in first followed by his regular coke. Then it became like a puzzle with the rest of the items.

He needed to make them fit. A half gallon of 1% milk, several sub sandwiches, and a jar of pickles. Along with cereal, chips, and bags of candy, they should be set on food. Now if he could only find the ice machine that every establishment, even a crappy motel was sure to have, they would be in business for days. He couldn't imagine traveling one hundred feet to the store every single day for some ice. It wasn't possible.

Derek took a deep satisfying breath and jumped onto his own freshly made bed before turning on the T.V. He immediately found a hockey game and smiled in relief. It had been far too long. It still boggled his mind that the lodge had no television. Not even in the recreation room. He was able to catch a few flicks at Roxy's house, but that had been it. Not nearly enough.

There was a game going on between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks with a score of 5 to 3. Derek glanced at the clock after the Flames scored another goal. He had been back for twenty minutes and Casey was still in the bathroom.

A heat rose inside of Derek as he recalled their conversation an hour ago. It was still tough to believe that Casey had admitted to being jealous. It was hard to fathom when she had always been the front runner in his mind. But he understood where she was coming from. Derek had thrown women in her face for years...intentionally. It was wrong. But he never imagined in a million years that she felt even an ounce for him what he did for her. Derek knew that she hadn't spoken the way he had. He had all but said the word love.

He cringed. Love was not a word that Derek Venturi said. He couldn't even remember saying it to Marti but chose to use his actions more than words when it came to his little sister. And he wasn't sure if what he felt for Casey was love or not. He never let himself ponder that sort of emotion before. To him, Casey was pure lust and nothing more. But now, that had changed. He simply wanted to be near her, hear her breathing, feel her soft touch against his skin once more.

Derek had a strong urge to protect her.

In the midst of his thoughts, Casey emerged from the bathroom, a long t-shirt hanging loose down her body. It stopped mere inches below her bottom, giving him the view of a lifetime. Her legs were long and toned, causing him to instantly tighten. It was as if she paused intentionally before climbing into her own bed and once again covering herself from his hungry gaze.

"Were you able to get everything okay?" She asked while laying on her side.

Derek cleared his throat. "Yeah," he said, choosing not to go into detail about the heavy load and his struggle to get everything back in one dry piece. He went over to the table, took two red plastic cups, and filled them with soda. Before warning her, he grabbed an unopened bag of barbecue chips and hurled them in her direction, causing her to squeal slightly as they hit her perfectly on the head.

"Hey!" she screamed but with laughter evident in her voice.

"Gotta be quicker than that, Case. You never know when a bowling ball might come flying at your head."

"Unless you plan on smashing my brains in, I shouldn't have to worry about that."

"Hmmm," he breathed. "Maybe a few days ago, but I think you're safe now." Derek smirked in her direction and watched as she returned his smile. His heart stopped. No one should have the right to look so perfect. Throwing a few sandwiches in her direction as well, he then picked up both drinks and chose to once again sit on his own bed. Things were going too well between them. Now was not the time to push.

They ate in silence while watching Titanic. Hockey was now a distant memory as Casey watched the romance unfold for the hundreth time at least.

Derek rolled his eyes before closing them for a nap. Now would be a good time to escape the present.

When Derek opened his eyes several hours later, the room was dark. How long had he slept? He looked at the clock. 8:42. He had been asleep for seven hours. He never slept seven hours in an entire night, let alone a nap. But when he took the time to think about it, he had barly gotten an hour of sleep the previous night. He hadn't slept in two days thanks to his gorgeous step-sister.

"I thought you were going to sleep till morning," Casey said in the dark. Derek turned to look at her but could only make out the outline of her body.

"Sorry about that," he yawned. "Guess I was more tired than I thought."

"We didn't get much sleep last night," Casey confessed.

"You too?"

"How could I after what I said to you? I'm so sorry, Derek." Her voice held tears in them. Derek hated tears. He was use to running when anyone cried, especially Casey. But he coudn't run. Not this time.

Derek reached over and turned on the lamp. It produced little light but he could now see Casey clearly. Tears were running down her face in agony and it ripped his heart out. He leapt from the bed and went to her.

"Everything you said last night was true, Case. You have nothing to be sorry about." He knelt before the bed. Derek reached one hand out and gently stroked her bare arm.

"No," she cried harder. "It wasn't fair. I kn..know that you're m...mean to me sometimes but you don't intentionally hurt me." Casey was having a hard time speaking. "I took a per...personal stab at you and that was wrong. I'm sorry."

"Casey..." Derek paused, not sure what to say to make her feel better. "It's okay. I forgive you, but honestly, you have nothing to be sorry about. I was the one that started everything. I never should have went with Roxy and I know that now. If anyone should be sorry, it's me."

Suddenly her crying ceased, much to Derek's relief. "I've been laying here for hours...just thinking."

Derek smirked. "Yeah? What about?"

Casey pushed herself up with one arm, puttin her legs over the side of the bed. Derek found himself kneeling between her thighs and wasn't sure whether he should stay or move. He opted to stay when she reached for him, drawing him into her tight embrace.

Derek hugged her back with every ounce that he possessed. Her body melted into him more perfectly than it had the previous night when they danced. He could feel her smooth thighs graze against his bare torso and it nearly drove him made.

"Do you believe in being at the perfect place at the right time, Derek?"

"I guess."

"Maybe us getting stuck here, the rest of our family put on a path somewhere else...maybe it means something."

Derek loved listening to her voice and the strange thoughts that she was having. "Maybe we were sent here so we can start over, you and I."

"Maybe, Case. That sounds possible."

"I thought so," she gave a huge grin. Then suddenly her face fell and a troubling crease formed in the middle of her forhead. Derek reached up to smooth it away with his thumb.

"No more crying and thinking too hard. You're bound to get wrinkles by the time this is over."

"Nothing more than battle scars," she teased. She hugged him once more. "Derek?" she asked against his ear, sending shivers down his spine.

"Yes, Spacey?"

"If I ask you to do something...would you promise not to laugh and throw it back in my face."

"I think thoughs days are behind us. I'm done fighting," he said in a weary voice.

She became silent when he had expected her to continue. "Whatever is swirling inside that mysterious head of yours needs to come out before it explodes. You and I both know it." And despite his smile, she continued to frown in concentration. Her body was shaking. Why was she so scared and nervous?

He looked up at her with raised eyebrows. "Come on, Case. It can't be that bad."

"Will you make love to me?"

A dizzy feeling came over Derek at the six little words that fell from her soft lips. Words that he had longed to hear for far too long. He was torn inside. She was asking him to do the one thing he swore he never would. A fight was brewing within himself. He could tell she had stopped breathing, waiting on him to respond to her brazen question. He spoke carefully.

"You don't know what you're asking, Casey."

"I do," she nodded rapidly. "I know that you've been with a lot of girls and I can never compete with that. I know that I will suck at it and you'll be dissapointed, but it's all I can think about. I've thought about it so much. More than just today. Years I have thought about it. Max and Truman both asked me more times than I can count to sleep with them...but I always said 'no, I'm not ready.' But I've been ready for a long time. I was just waiting on this...and now this is here." Casey reached her fingers through Derek's hair, pressing her forhead against his. "I've been waiting on you," she whispered. "That's why I never had sex with them. I want that spark that only you can give me."

"You could never disappoint me. I'm not worth it, baby. You should go to college, meet a nice guy, and that's where it should happen. Not in some run down motel room with a guy who's always treated you like shit."

"I don't want another guy. I need you, Derek. Pl..." Derek noticed she trailed off. She was about to utter the word 'please' but Casey would never beg. Not even when she wanted something so badly.

"Are you sure?" He searched her eyes intensely, looking for any ounce of doubt that may hide behind there depths. He found non.

Derek slid his hands underneath Casey's thighs, dragging her slowly towards him at an agonizing pace. He leaned forward and captured her mouth in a searing kiss that had been four years in the making. She melted into him, moaning as he opened her mouth to allow his tongue access. She was trembling in his arms and it took everything in his power to hold back.

Derek rose from his knees and pressed her against the mattress before settling his body over hers for a night that would never be forgotten.

Thank you for the reviews :) I hate stories that end this way, just when it's getting good. Next chapter, I'll pick up where I left off. There's more Dasey love coming your way.