x-Just when you're getting a grip on things, fate comes along and jumps on your fingers.-x

x—x

It was chaos.

Casey, Derek, and Marti were all immediately pulled into the school, along with all the other students, and a school lock down was immediately enforced. The police were called, as were Nora and George. With incredible speed, they were at the school, pulling Lizzie, Edwin, and Marti out. Shoving them all tightly into the car was easy enough as they were all at the same place.

They all noticed Nora and George's precautions, such as locking all the car doors as soon as they were packed into the car. Even getting to the car was cautionary, with Nora in front, Edwin and Lizzie behind her, then Casey, who still had Marti clinging to her, and Derek and George, all in a close line as they hurried to the car.

And it rained.

Before they even reached the house, giant drops of water hit the windshield, and flowed down the windows, drizzling into each other, creating thousands of rain dropped rivers on the car. The sky changed color in a matter of seconds. It was blue, and then you blinked, and it was a little drearier. You blinked again, and the clouds were drifting away as if going into hiding. Blink, and it was gray. You could almost see the sky open, as if a trap door had been let loose; it poured out it's contents like the tears of the broken hearted. The lighting streaked the sky with its fierceness, and the thunder was the guttural roar attached to it. An angry display of emotion painted itself across the sky.

All in all, the weather had chosen the worst time to match a whole families feeling.

Sad, scared, worried, traumatized, desperate, unsafe.

The drive home was silent.

George and Nora had yet to say a single thing to any of them. Lizzie and Edwin had tried to ask quiet question near the beginning, but that quickly diminished, and they fell silent. Marti had stopped crying, and instead just held tight to Casey, her head resting on her shoulder, eyes tightly shut. And Casey, she felt like she would never find the strength or want to speak again. A glance at Derek told her he felt the exact same way. Which was why it was she who snaked her fingers between his in the car that time.

As soon as she had placed her hand in his, he held on tight, every piece of emotion he could have possibly been feeling seemed to flow from his fingertips to hers.

It was overwhelming.

She glanced at him, but his gaze was unwavering, staring through the window, but didn't seem to see anything. His hold on her tightened desperately, and no other part of him moved. She was as desperate as him to hold on to something. She hoped he knew that.

When they reached the house, George and Nora practically made them run into the house. The door was immediately locked behind them.

Still, without a word, George and Nora left them all standing in the living room. They watched as they quickly paced around the house. They heard the sounds of locks clicking everywhere. When they returned into the living room, words were finally spoken.

"Are you hungry?" Nora asked.

Hesitantly, Lizzie and Edwin nodded, and Marti lifted her head from Casey's shoulder.

"Yes." She said in an incredibly small voice.

George nodded, "I'll go find something to make."

"I'll help." Nora said. They both went into the kitchen.

They all looked unsure of what to do, but Lizzie and Edwin slowly headed toward the couch, and sat down. Casey stood there, holding Marti, with Derek near her. Their hands had unfortunately become untangled when they had exited the car, and had never found their way back to each other. Casey glanced at Derek, and for the first time, his eyes met hers. They were so unreadable that she couldn't help but know what he was thinking.

Without saying anything, Derek broke their gaze, and before hesitating, headed upstairs without looking back.

Holding Marti, Casey stood their for a good five minutes, her mind seemingly melted by everything that had happened, until Marti squirmed in her arms.

"You can put me down." She murmured, barely audible.

Casey looked down at the small girl; she looked so different. Older. Much older than a six year old should. But then, she was sure she looked much older than a sixteen year old should.

"It's okay...Smasey." Marti said after a moment.

The three word sentence made Casey want to cry, but she ended up chuckling softly instead, which made Marti give a fragile smile. Casey gently kissed Marti on top of her head before setting her down on the floor. She immediately walked around to the couch, and was welcomed to settle in between Lizzie and Edwin, comfortably, and safely.

The phone rang, and Casey instinctively leaned to pick it up, walking away from the couch.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Casey?" A voice asked, "Erm, hello, this is Officer Spencer."

"Oh, hello, officer." Casey said.

"I've heard what happened. I must say this is becoming more dangerous. I don't think anyone you know is positively safe."

"I've realized that." Casey said dryly.

"Ms. MacDonald-"

"Officer Spencer, unless you have some miraculous lead or way to help, I think this is goodbye."

"Well, you see-"

"Goodbye, Officer Spencer." Casey said, pushing the end button on the phone.

Sighing, Casey held the phone in her hand wondering what to do.

The phone rang again.

"Hello?" Casey asked again.

Static met her ears, "Hello?" She asked again.

"Soon, Casey. Soon." A disguised voice said.

Before she could say anything, the line went dead.

She stood there, numb. Shaking her head, overwhelmed by so many thing, Casey leaned down, and placed the phone on the floor.

Sighing, Casey slowly guided herself upstairs, holding on to the railing the entire time. She wasn't sure what room she should go into. She was almost positive that Derek needed her. But maybe he really meant that he needed to be alone. Deciding, Casey walked up to Derek's bedroom door and gently pushed it open. He was sitting on his bed, with his back turned away from the door, staring out the window. The drizzle continued to stream down everything.

Entering the room, she quietly pushed her back against the door, shutting it.

She didn't move.

Derek's shoulder rose and fell, and then, placing his palms on the bed, he lifted himself up and turned toward her.

She moved.

She stepped toward him, hesitantly raising a hand, the back of it gently swept over his cheek.

"Derek." Casey whispered.

Still wordless, Derek pulled Casey into a hug. And that was the first time Casey ever saw Derek cry.

And she wasn't going to let go until he stopped, whenever that may be.

x—x

For some reason, I thoroughly enjoyed writing this chapter. Something about the tone of it. I guess I like being able to delve and dabble in this kind of emotion. Emotion is always an interesting concept for me to work with and I love it to the extreme.

Review, loves.

-Tarryn