The next few weeks whizzed by in a blur. Derek found himself drawn into a major operation relating to the home invasion case so he was barely home – and barely in the office.

…unlike Casey who, at his suggestion and in the absence of her normal job, started going to Derek's office every day. She sat at his desk working her way through his case file, familiarising herself with the details of his life, his death and his second life. There might also have been a degree of desk tidying going on, but she knew Derek and she knew his limits so her interference in his "filing system" wasn't too intrusive.

While she was in the office, she saw very little of Derek. There were several surveillance details in progress and there was bare minimum staff in the department because everyone else was out and about. The staff that was around treated Casey well, and they traded coffees and anecdotes. Casey felt welcomed and Derek didn't mind her being around when he wasn't. It was reassuring to know that she was safe in the office surrounded by his colleagues. It worked well for both of them.

Casey did leave the building for meetings with Bea and on a couple of occasions Rosita. Casey's lawyer was working hard on the suspension appeal. She had people looking for witnesses, previous victims and character references. She told Casey that something would give somewhere and Casey believed her. Men like Robin are like that all their lives not just when they reach seniority.

There wasn't actually much need for Casey and Bea to meet as often as they did, but a friendship was growing between them. As Gamma noted quietly to herself, Casey's presence had brought Bea out of herself slightly. It was good to see her granddaughter laughing again.

Bea was also good for Casey. She gave the latter her second female friend in the new city - and time apart from Derek without being lonely. You can have too much of a good thing sometimes and despite his long working hours, Casey did see Derek at some point; times during which little was actually said but the bond between them was definitely strengthened!

After their realisation of the truth of their friends' sad past, Derek and Casey said nothing to Bea and Jazz about their failed relationship. This was partly a conscious decision, but also given Derek and Jazz's preoccupied states, there was little time for heart-to-heart chats. Derek made Casey promise not to meddle in their friends' lives, and she did concur. He in turn promised that when things calmed down, he would broach the subject carefully with Jazz.

They were both convinced that their friends had been robbed of a chance at happiness – and that both still felt something for the other.

Derek suggested to Casey that the extent of their interference should be to encourage the two to spend more time together – and let nature take its course rather than something more dramatic.

Casey understood his reasoning and she largely followed his advice, but she also felt like she couldn't ignore the matter whenever Bea brought it up. And once in a while – normally over a bottle of wine, Casey's newest friend did indeed allude to her former fiancé.

At first the comments were cold and harsh. Casey, unlike the few people Bea had discussed it with in the past, did not immediately agree with Jazz's ex. This surprised Bea. She was used to the reactions of her immediate family who had heard only her side of the tale and made assumptions accordingly. When she had mentioned it before, the audience had nodded sagely and bemoaned the duplicitous nature of man.

But Casey didn't.

She didn't leap to Jazz's defence either, which would have made an enemy of her new acquaintance. Instead, she sighed sadly and changed the subject, talking instead about horrible roommates she had heard tales of: people with equally duplicitous characters who charmed and befriended and then stole when out of sight. And for the first time, Bea started to see that her former college friend and roommate shared some of the blame – if the story was true at all.

Because Bea gradually worked out that Casey wasn't taking sides for some reason she found herself trying to convince her new friend of her opinion. Ever the lawyer, she presented evidence, digging into the past and reliving memories she hadn't dared let surface for many years. The strange thing was her mind, now honed over her career to weigh circumstances from all angles, looked back on certain memories with a fresh eye. Finding evidence to convince Casey of Jazz's guilt was much harder than Bea would have expected.

As the weeks passed, Casey did learn more about the past. She also learnt more about the present. Bea still cared about Jazz a great deal. But rectifying a wrong was not going to be easy, because she had had her heart battered and bruised, if not by Jazz directly, by the felonious friend.

The new relationship between Casey and Derek had been continuing apace for six weeks when unexpectedly the former received an excited call from Bea.

"I've got the bugger!" She shouted down the phone. "I've got the stupid ass-hole!"

Casey frowned and glanced across the office to where Derek and Jazz were standing talking.

"Are we talking Jazz or Robin?" She asked cautiously.

Bea snorted. "You think I'd phone you in great delight because I'd found more evidence against Jason? I wouldn't do that!" She protested.

There was a moment's pause. "Okay. Maybe you're right and I would…but no. I'm talking about Robin."

"Oh?"

"I've contacted the hospital board and requested that we be allowed to speak at their next meeting."
"You did what?" Casey asked. "Why? My hearing was supposed to be in front of a disciplinary sub-committee, not the full board."

Bea shrugged to herself. "Sure, but let's face it, Guillotine girl is only going to draw on her friends to form that sub-committee. What you need is an unbiased opinion and you'll only get that from the full board."

"She owns most of them too." Casey pointed out, ignoring the silly nickname they had adopted for Marie Anton. "At least if I'm in front of the sub-committee there will only be four people to witness my humiliation rather than fifteen."

Bea snorted again. "O ye of little faith. Trust me, I'm a lawyer!"

"Ha ha!"

"Look, can you be there tomorrow or not?"

"Tomorrow?" Casey screeched. Derek turned abruptly to look at her. He saw her frantic running of her hand through her hair and was at her side in an instant. Casey glanced up and used her clarification to Bea to inform Derek of what was going on.

"I can't stand up in front of the Board tomorrow. You haven't briefed me."
Derek's eyes widened. He exchanged a glance with Jazz.

"I'm briefing you now. Turn up tomorrow, four pm, smart tailored suit, hair up and wear your white coat. Oh and keep your mouth shut."

"What's the plan of action?" Casey asked.

"You stand beside me and look attractive but competent." Bea replied. "And the only words I want to hear you utter are "Thank you" when the Board clears you of all charges."

"Are you that confident?" Casey asked.

"Of course not. Only a fool is confident when it comes to power struggles."

"This has nothing to do with a power struggle." Casey pointed out.

"This has everything to do with a power struggle, Casey." Bea noted. "You're threatening GG's handle on the Board and the guy she stalks. Fortunately, you're on the side of truth and truth will always out. Tomorrow, Marie has a few home truths coming her way."

Casey didn't sleep well that night. Derek, after consulting with Spike, ducked out of the operational duties until after Casey's hearing, so they had headed home together and he spent most of the evening trying to reassure her that Bea knew what she was doing and that Jazz's former love had no intention of throwing her new best friend to the wolves.

When that calm reassurance failed he tried to get her drunk and when that failed he tried to get her into bed.

In the end, they both settled for an early night staring at the ceiling in their bedroom, Derek holding tightly to Casey, his lips in her hair.

"Thank you." She said after an hour or two of no speech, no sex and likewise no sleep.

"For what?"

"For believing me when I said that it wasn't me, for being here, for…everything."
Derek grinned. "For squirting you in the face with shampoo when we were fifteen? For hiding all your clothes which somehow left you needing to go to school in mine? For pinning your bras to the back of your coat which you then wore round school for two hours?"

Casey smiled. "Yes. Even that."

"You're crazy." He chuckled.

"What does that make you?"

"Oh I'm crazy too." He kissed her head again. "About you."

"I'm glad to hear it." She said turning to press a kiss against his mouth. They watched each other for a moment. "I'm sorry I'm so stressed about it. I'm just having a hard time thinking about this. What will I do if I lose my career? I wouldn't be able to pay my way with the apartment and bills."
"We could work out a payment plan." Derek said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Moron." She said softly. "I'm serious."

Derek ran his fingers down the side of her neck. "I'd support you. You know that."

"I don't want to be beholden to you."

"Be-what?" Derek frowned.
"Beholden. It means…"

"Casey, I know what it means. I'm disinterested in extending my vocabulary not stupid. You're my family and I support my family. And before you start in on the feminist "I'm not a weak woman" thing, you would do exactly the same for me. Hey, when we get to fifty and you're making a mint as the Surgeon General or whatever, I'll quite happily let you support me in my idle retirement."

Casey wasn't sure whether to roll her eyes, smack him on the arm or throw her arms around his neck for his calm assumption that they would still be together in twenty years time. She settled for blushing.

"Bit young for hot flushes aren't we princess?" Derek smirked. "You need one of those patches to cure that."

Casey shook her head. "They don't make anti-Derek patches."

He didn't bat an eyelid. "Shame. Guess you'll have to put up with me then."

The next day dawned bright and much too early for Casey. When she had finally dropped off the previous night, it had been far from a restful sleep. Derek's arm had been tight around her waist as though he was scared to let go of her. Sometimes she thought he had the same dread of their separation as her, but then she reminded herself that he was Derek and he didn't do that sort of emotion.

Casey ate nothing for breakfast and lunch. The only reason why she didn't pass out through hunger was Derek had slipped out first thing and returned from the grocery store carrying a packet of her favourite cookies. She might not be able to eat her usual sensible food, but her fingers did wander to the packet and when she next looked more than a third of the pack was gone…

…a fact she regretted at about 2.30pm when the rush of sugar and sweetness made her nauseous and she spent less time worrying about the outcome of the hearing than worrying that she would vomit across the conference table.

Derek watched her metaphorically climb the walls. Trying to keep her calm was like standing below her holding onto her ankles for dear life!

They arrived at the hospital half an hour early and sat in Casey's car in the parking lot.

"I love you." Derek said quietly. Casey closed her eyes.

"I love you too."

"Maybe we should have got George involved in this." Casey said.

"Don't second guess Bea now."

"I'm not. I just…he knows me!"

Derek chuckled. "Casey. You live in Ottawa with your dead step-brother, his son. I don't think Dad knows you half as well as you think he does!"

"Bea knows…about you." Casey said suddenly concerned. "I had to tell her."
Derek shrugged. "It makes little difference now. They know where I am. It's just a question of finding out why they haven't acted yet."

"Maybe they won't."
"Oh they will. It's personal for this guy, Sal. He doesn't like to lose. It actually makes no sense to pursue me. It's not like I can testify. Most of the key players are gone now. Just a few whose absence in life would be national news."

"This can't go on forever." Casey pointed out.

"No. I know. It's just difficult to think how it could have a positive outcome."
Casey squeezed his hand.

"Well you've managed to get me to stop worrying about the hearing." She noted.

"Sorry." He smiled weakly. "You know me. Always fall on my feet. I'll get out of this some how." He kissed the back of her hand. "And so will you."

"Ms McDonald…" Marie Anton, as head of the hospital board, began.

Casey coughed. "Excuse me. But I believe I own the right to be addressed correctly."

Marie glared at her.

"Very well Doctor McDonald, but I will not tolerate further interruptions to the proceedings. I see you have arrived without counsel." She inclined her head.

Casey hesitated. Bea had still not arrived.

"I have counsel." Casey began. "I just…"
"Where is your representation, Doctor McDonald?" A rather grotesque man to Marie Anton's left interjected.

The door at the back of the room slammed opened and Bea entered. She was smartly dressed, very upright and walked with brisk efficiency.

"My apologies Madame Chair." She announced. "It appears I was not cleared by security for admittance to this section of the hospital. My communications with your secretary appear to have gone astray and they seemed to believe I was a terrorist or something." She reached Casey side and thumped her briefcase onto the table.

"Happily you appear to have overcome the minor oversight in time to make the hearing." Marie began in an overly polite tone which implied she wasn't happy at all.

Bea frowned. "I hardly think my client would consider the non-attendance of her lawyer at her disciplinary hearing as a "minor oversight". However, all was not lost. I had some friends with me who managed to convince your security team of my credentials. It is a credit to the safety of your security policy that it required three members of Her Majesty's Royal Canadian Mounted Police before I was allowed through the door."

Casey's eyes widened. She had known that Derek was in the hospital, but not anyone else from his department. She wondered who the other two were. She wasn't surprised that Marie had tried to interfere with Casey's defence.

"We have wasted enough time." One of the other members of the Board chipped in. "Let's get on with this. I'm due to tee off at five."

Bea turned and regarded the speaker with an icy glare.

"Am I to assume from your comment that you believe this is a cut and dried case?" She enquired.

"The evidence is overwhelmingly damning." He replied, straightening in his chair.

Bea nodded. "Indeed it is. However, since I have not yet had an opportunity to share it with you, I fail to understand how you could know this. Or how you could expect me to share with you my own investigation and findings as well as produce, examine and allow you to examine my numerous witnesses in the space of one hour. Clearly you believe this to be the case since you have booked time on the golf course. Would you like a recess so that you may go and un-arrange your eighteen holes and the rest of you plans for the next three hours?" She smiled sweetly.

"Three hours?" He spluttered.

"Doctor Coleman," Bea said coldly, surprising Casey that her lawyer knew the guy's name when she herself didn't. "Doctor Coleman. I intend to represent my client to the best of my ability. That means I will listen carefully to the "evidence" against my client as presented today, and then I will answer all the charges against Doctor McDonald on her behalf…in full, and without reservation. This may take a while. The charges laid against her call her professionalism, qualifications and character into account. I shall be providing my own evidence of the integrity, intelligence and unassuming nature of my client. To do this completely will require the assistance of a large number of witnesses whose testimony the law requires you to hear."

"This is a disciplinary hearing, Ms…?"

"Evans. Beatrice Evans." Bea announced with a smile.

"Why is that name familiar?" Dr Coleman asked Marie.

A cheery looking guy down the other end of the table grinned. "Because old chap, she made headlines a couple of years ago when she busted that tobacco giant over its retirement policy." He smiled at Bea. "Even in England we heard about you." He winked at Casey and she smiled weakly back.

Marie, fed up with the fact she had lost the initial upper hand she had wanted, banged a gavel down on the little pad.

"Let's get on with this!" She announced.

And the mood of the room changed.

What followed for the next half an hour was a bizarre pantomime whereby a weak-looking Robin was led to a chair and asked to repeat the "events" of the night in questions followed by some ridiculous speculation as to how Casey had managed to get to the position of seniority she had in so short a period of time.

Robin's testimony was overly dramatic and since it was based on a fiction, not particularly detailed.

Casey expected Bea to leap to her feet and pick holes in it at every opportunity, but instead, her lawyer just sat at a desk listening intently and making notes.

All too soon, Robin's testimony was over and Casey was convinced that now was the point at which Bea would react. Robin's testimony had been, after all, a complete fabrication.

Bea stayed sitting down still taking extensive notes. It took a very loud throat-clearing from Marie before she looked up.

"Thank you!" Bea said to Robin. "I'm sure it was all very traumatic for you." She said sounding as though she meant it. And then she was once again quiet.

Casey frowned. What was her friend playing at?

Eventually, Bea stood up.

"Before I let you go, sir." She said to Robin. "I would just like to clarify the charges against my client if I may."
"This isn't a criminal court." Marie objected. "It's a disciplinary hearing."

"The law is important in any form." Bea said sanctimoniously. "Without the law, we would be in a state of anarchy. People would think they could get away with all sorts of things if there wasn't the law in place: abuses of power, bullying in the workplace…all those sorts of things that keep people like me in a job." She smiled at Marie. "So the charges are that Dr McDonald attempted to use undue influence against her employer to gain preferment. That you believe she has a history of this type of behaviour in fact gaining her qualifications in this manner and that she is in fact guilty of sexual harassment against her boss."

When no one said anything, Bea nodded at her own statement.

"Okay. Let's deal with the simple stuff first. How did Dr McDonald qualify? I'd like to call my first witness. Dr Michaela Harvey, professor of general medicine at Cambridge University." Bea paused and looked at her shocked audience. "She was Dr McDonald's senior lecturer at graduation."

And then over the course of the next half an hour, Bea introduced character witness after character witness, some male, some female who all attested to Casey ability and qualifications as a doctor. In total there were six witnesses. There would have been more, only the nice guy at the back of the room from earlier held up his hand.

"Ms Evans, this is an impressive line of distinguished guests you have brought us. I don't think we should trouble them further. The point about Dr McDonald's capabilities has been more than adequately made. Clearly she achieved her current elevated status through sheer hard work. Did I hear you say that you have witnesses as to the falseness of the charge of attempting to use undue influence in this instance? If so, I'm sure my colleague Dr Coleman is keen to don his plus fours so perhaps we should speed up this far- I mean hearing."

"I like him." Casey whispered under her breath. Bea didn't look at her.

"Dr Rothwell, I'd like to defer that witness until the end if I may because the witness I have is an important one and I have other points to make first. I appreciate that we have already been here more than an hour, but I feel justice deserves a little consideration."

Dr Rothwell nodded. "Indeed. Pray. Continue."

Marie glared down the table at her colleague.

"I'd like to call Nurse Mirfield now please."

Casey frowned. She didn't recognise the very pretty girl who entered the room. She seem small and timid and she glanced nervously at Robin as she took her place.

"Nurse Mirfield. Please tell me which hospital you currently work at and your current role."

"I work at Vancouver General as Paediatric Nurse. I look after sick children."

Bea nodded. "That isn't the area of Nursing which you specialised in initially is it?"

Nurse Mirfield shook her head. "No." She all but whispered. "I specialised in Trauma."

"Why did you change?"
Nurse Mirfield glanced at Robin again and said nothing. Bea coughed and when Nurse Mirfield looked up at her, she jerked her head toward Casey.

"May I remind you that someone is sitting here relying on your complete honesty." Bea said.

The young nurse sighed. "I left because I could no longer work for Robin." She said.

"Oh?" Bea said as if she was hearing this for the first time. "Why not?"

Nurse Mirfield glanced at Casey again.

"He wouldn't take "no" for an answer." She admitted.

"I beg your pardon." Bea prompted.

"I said that he wouldn't take "no" for an answer. He kept pressuring me to date him, to sleep with him, to …be physical with him."

Bea frowned. "But he's an attractive man." She protested.

"I have a boyfriend I love very much. I wasn't interested."

"Did you explain that to him?"
"Repeatedly. He said that even my boyfriend would want me to do well at my job."

A couple of the Board members gasped but Marie and Dr Coleman didn't look interested.

Bea didn't react either. She asked a couple more questions and then dismissed Nurse Mirfield.

There followed another attractive lady, this time a fellow doctor with a similar tale of moving to avoid his advances.

The weight of evidence against Robin was stacking up, but even then Dr Coleman pointed out that it still didn't prove that Casey hadn't tried to win preference from Robin.

"I'd like to call my last witness." Bea announced.

The door opened and two people plus a dog entered the room. Dr Coleman gasped.

Bea walked to the spot directly in front of the pretty girl who held the dog. "Please state your name." She requested.

"Suzi Coleman." The girl said.

Casey had known all of the other witnesses. But she didn't know this one.