I seem to be saying this a lot recently but I really am sorry for the late update. Its exam season so I've been busy revising. But hey, I am kind of back... I hope this is worth the wait but honestly I've had a massive writer's block so reviews are seriously needed for this one!

Chapter 5 – Help

This was new for both of them. Not only had they known each other for no longer than a week but they were sitting in simple silence…waiting. Just waiting. Anyone looking on would think they are simply enjoying each other's company but then again they both know how to act.

PTSD. That was the only thing going through Derek's mind right now the lone idea that he could have PTSD.

"Derek," Karen began but then was left floundering for words and ended up sighing and leaning back on the couch. He looked to her with a sort of plea but he himself had no idea what to do. "How do you know?" he asked, in what could only be described as a voice somewhere between a whisper and a cry.

"My uncle went to Afghanistan when I was little and when he came back he wasn't the same. My parents told me it was because he saw some pretty bad things, but at the time I was too young to understand what was happening," she started explaining. "Then when I was in my late teens, I had a lot of older friends, and a lot of them decided to go into the army and when they came back I saw the same thing. I suppose you could say I got used to seeing the signs." Karen finished with a sigh and resigned deeper in her seat. Derek said nothing. A simple nod sufficed; a simple nod of recognition but a simple nod that paved the way for more tension filled silence.

"I have nightmares," Derek whispered just loud enough for Karen to turn her head. He swallowed and opened his mouth to carry on but nothing could come out. He tried again but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't find the right words. Derek was getting frustrated, he was never short for words and here he can hardly form a sentence.

A loud thump was heard and that was when Karen knew she had to move. When he saw her get up he thought she was leaving so he sat back and closed his eyes, only opening them when he heard a door close. Though he wasn't expecting the sight before him…

"What are you doing?" he asked with a curious tone to his voice.

"Cooking dinner, what does it look like?" she answered back before turning back to the fridge.

"Like you're making yourself comfortable," he answered back grateful for the change in topics. Derek stood up and looked around. Indeed she had made herself comfortable… A coat hanging limply on the back of his couch, two pairs of shoes thrown haphazardly by the door and a toned, beautiful young woman cooking in his kitchen, what exactly was Derek to make of this?

Casually – perhaps half cautiously – he made his way over to the kitchen and leant on the worktop. Graceful he thought while watching her work.

"What do you fancy for dinner?" Ivy asked her from her small kitchen. It had been about a fortnight since she had last heard from Tom and to be honest to herself she was nervous. But that wasn't what she was focusing on, oh no, tonight she had Sam around.

"Whatever you have darling," he responded taking a momentary pause from watching the LA Lakers play the New York Knicks.

"That doesn't help me" she replied in a sing-song voice full of amusement while pulling out a few ingredients to make spaghetti.

"I know," he replied back in the same voice before shouting "OH COME ON! WHY?! YOU HAD A CLEAR SHOT!" Ivy simply laughed before making the dinner.

"Spaghetti?" Karen asked from the fridge.

"Anything you want, I don't cook very often."

"I can see that," she responded laughing while taking the mince out to start cooking it. Derek shook his head with a smile plastered on his face while taking on the task of setting the table. The last time I set the table was when I was back home, Derek thought to himself while pulling out the cutlery from the drawer.

"How do you like it?" Ivy asked.

"Eh, I've had better," Sam joked while dodging the flying rag that was making its way towards him. "I'm joking I swear, it's gorgeous my dear," he back-tracked. Ivy laughed in response and took in seat next to him on the couch. "Are you not having any?"

"No, I'm not hungry," she replied before sighing quietly.

"You still not heard anything then?"

"Nothing, it's so silent you could hear a fricking pin drop!" she exclaimed while throwing her hand in the air.

"Don't worry yourself, Tom will call you first as soon as he knows something," Sam reassured and in response Ivy took residence on his shoulder as he carried on eating.

Meanwhile Karen and Derek were enjoying a quiet dinner what with the focus taken truly away from the day's plight. Though the silence was comforting neither could deny that there was something quite prominent in the air; neither would admit it but a bit more than friendship was developing here.

"How do you like it?" Karen asked unbeknownst to her that she was repeating the words of her future rival.

"Eh, I've had better," Derek joked with a smile – also repeating the words of a man he soon would be working with.

"Well, then I should just let myself out," Karen teased while taking mock offence.

"No please don't" he replied suddenly turning serious. The smile disappeared from her face as she sat back down and looked at him. It was clear that he wasn't going to start talking but it was also clear that he didn't want her to leave. It would appear as though she was staying the night and strangely enough she didn't feel…strange. She felt safe, comforted…assured.

"Derek," she called while he looked up at the sound of his name, "are we going to talk about it?"

He opened his mouth to say something but the words just wouldn't come out. He tried again but nothing; it felt as though something was preventing him from saying all he wanted to.

The fire…

Derek closed his eyes at the memory.

Screams…

He flinched. Karen quickly got up and moved to kneel in front of him.

"DEREK, GET OUT!"

"NO"

Again he flinched but this time you could the see pain etched on his face. Now Karen was getting visibly worried again.

He couldn't breathe; the smoke was filling his lungs. His leg was numb; he felt nothing from his mid-thigh downwards but he didn't care.

The memories were getting longer and Derek was feeling himself getting pulled more and more to a memory he didn't want. Karen tried calling his name but, like the alley, nothing.

"CHRIS!" Derek called or whatever it was that he was doing. His voice was ragged, distant, it wasn't his own… He tried to move to get closer to his brother but he could hardly move and the steel beam on his leg was certainly not letting up.

"Derek!" Karen called one last time and this time it worked. His eyes snapped open and his breathing was rapid and irregular. Upon seeing Karen in front of him, without thinking he pulled her into him holding on for all he is worth. She's still here; the memory has gone…for now he thought.

Before she even had time to register what was happening he was hugging her and upon reflex she was hugging him back. "You're going to be okay, we will get you through this," she whispered in his ear while gently rubbing her hand up and down his back. Slowly but surely his breathing regulated and he stood pulling her with him to the couch before collapsing on it sheer tiredness.

Karen was lying in his arms with Derek's arms wrapped around her chest. He needed this; he needed to know that she was real, that she was not going anywhere. She was quietly rubbing his arms reassuringly while Derek - unbeknownst to her – had fallen asleep.

"Are you okay now?" she asked quietly and after getting no reply she turned her head to find a sleeping Derek. As slowly and quietly as she could, Karen stood up and made her way to what she guessed was his bedroom. She peeled off her clothes from her body and went on the hunt for a pair of shorts and a t-shirt.

After rolling the hem of the shorts up and folding her clothes she made her way back to the living room to find Derek sitting with his head in his hand. Hearing her walk in, he looked up and released a relieved sigh. "I thought you left," he whispered and got up to stand in front of her.

"Sorry, I had to change. I hope you don't mind I borrowed some clothes…" she trailed off and looked down in embarrassment. Derek chuckled at her before placing his hand on her chin and forcing eye contact. "Of course not, Love, I just wish you would've woken me," he said before turning slightly serious.

"Derek, what's the matter?" she asked.

"I know we haven't known each other long and I know this is going to sound really strange and I don't blame you if you slap me and walk out -" Derek rambled on before Karen stopped him. "Derek, I promise I will not walk out, what's up?" she asked.

"Can you spend the night with me, I don't want to spend tonight alone," he asked.

"Of course," she replied and he took her hand and led her back to the bedroom. All thoughts of Dev had left her mind as she crawled into bed with Derek, but while the intention was completely innocent she couldn't shake the feeling that this felt…right.