Canada - six further months later.

For the umpteenth time in his life, Derek was left picking up the pieces of yet another Casey failed relationship. You know what? He actually didn't mind coping with the aftermath.

It would be worse if the relationships lasted.

He didn't understand what it was that made her so lousy at relationships. Casey knew, because almost every time a relationship failed it was always the same reason given. "Casey, I can't handle the way you are with Derek."

Tonight, the new "ex" was Steve; a rather obnoxious (in Derek's opinion) guy who she met when a studio asked him to provide their shuttle service from hotel to studio. Casey had realised quite early on this time this one was not a keeper. She had cried after she'd dumped him though. Derek wondered if it was because she really was upset or whether it was down to her need for Derek to comfort her. He hoped it was the latter.

"He had the morals of an alley cat, Case. He made me look like the pope." They were sitting in his bed at the hotel. Derek's t-shirt looked like a wet dishrag from her tears and he was considering changing it.

She sighed and he put a hand on her back. At least, she thought, it had been her that finished it and not the old "you're too close to your brother" chestnut. The worst one for that had been Simon. She shivered as she remembered that conversation.

"Casey. I feel like your bit on the side - and I don't mean that in a nice way. Your whole life revolves around Derek. Everything else and everyone else is just secondary."

"I work with him Si. Of course he's a big part of my life."

"You don't have to LIVE with him. You need to break free from him or I'm going to start thinking you're in love with your own brother and we don't stand a chance."

Casey had rounded on him then.

"You are asking me to choose between you and Derek?"

He nodded.

Casey stared at him for a moment.

"Well. Based on what you've just said I guess I'm behaving completely in character aren't I?"

She grabbed her clutch bag and stood up.

"Bye Simon." And then she walked away, from the restaurant and yet another failed relationship.

As she made her way to the car she told herself it was because he'd made her choose. Derek never asked that of her.

Derek did ask her what had ended it with Simon, but she never told him.