This Is Life With Derek

LWD S04-E20: Doctor Marti to the Rescue

"Casey!" Nora yelled up the stairs, "PHONE!"

"OKAY, MOM!" Casey ran down the stairs as fast as she could without danger of falling. She snatched the phone from her mother and turned carefully around to walk back up the stairs. "Hello? Oh, hi, Truman!" Wincing as she listened, Casey tried to explain, "I'm sorry, I was on my cell talking to Emily."

Nora frowned at her eldest daughter's back as she listened to Casey's words, "Yes, I'm sure it was Emily-" Casey's bedroom door closed, drowning out the conversation.

🎵 "It used to be my mother and my sister and me,

A happy little family, and alright with me.

Then Mom got married, that's when everything changed,

Some things were lost, and others were gained.

A new school, a new house,

So many changes make my head spin.

Now I've got a brother who gets under my skin.

This is life with Derek,

This is life with Derek,

This is life with Lizzie, Edwin, George and Nora, Marti and Casey.

Livin' life with Derek,

Livin' life with Derek!" 🎵

"What is the epitome of true love? Romeo and Juliet? No, not a happy ending. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert? Cleopatra and Mark Antony? Casey and Truman? Why do so many love stories end in tragedy? How many high school sweethearts actually make it out of high school? Is it just a schoolgirl fantasy? Why is it so hard to find the right guy?"

Coming out of her bedroom, Casey ran straight into Lizzie. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Lizard!"

"It's alright, Case. Wow, you look happy!"

"Truman asked me out for this Friday night. He wants to take me to a fancy restaurant so we can work out where our relationship is heading."

"I know you've been worried about it."

Nodding, Casey went on, "We've been having some problems lately, but I really think this is going to help us work them out."

Giving her sister her most encouraging smile, Lizzie reached for Casey's hand. "Sounds like it'll all work out, sis."

"I hope so. Hey, what are you doing today?"

Lizzie tossed her soccer ball into the air. "Not much, I was just going out to practice in the backyard."

"Oh, well, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the mall with me." Casey trailed off, "I haven't spent much time with you lately and I thought you could help me pick out a dress for Friday night."

Feigning thought, Lizzie teased, "Alright, I'll go with you, but you are soooo taking me to the sport department if I have to go dress shopping with you."

Casey teased back, "I take offence in that. I'm not that terrible to shop with."

"True... I'll need the food court then too."

With laughter, Casey pretended to look offended. "Deal. I'll meet you downstairs in fifteen."

As Lizzie headed to her bedroom, Casey descended the stairs, hearing Marti's begging voice, "Please, Smerek, I can't play nurse without a doctor!"

"Smarti, why can't you be the doctor?"

"Girls can't be doctors, Smerek! Only boys!"

Casey interrupted, "What? That's not true, Marti! Girls can be doctors just as much as boys!"

"Spacey's right for once, Smarti. Nothing is stopping you from being a doctor if you want to be."

Marti tilted her head to the side, looking between the two teenagers. Perking up, she exclaimed, "Okay!" In a second, she was up off the floor and closing in on Derek in his chair. "Time for you examination, Smerek!"

Derek's hands flew up to protect himself. "What? No! Make Casey be your patient!"

As Lizzie flew down the stairs, Casey sent Derek a smirk. "Sorry, Der, but I'm off with Lizzie. Looks like you're the patient!" She turned dramatically so Derek could watch her pluck the keys to the Prince out of Derek's precious leather jacket.

"Hey! Put those back!" He tried to fly out of his chair after her, but Marti held him down.

"Uh, uh, uh, uh, Smerek! You're in an examination! You can only leave when the doctor says so!"

While the girls giggled, Derek struggled against a surprisingly strong Marti. Casey jingled the keys at him mockingly before slipping out the door after Lizzie.

"CASEY!" Derek bellowed as the door slammed shut.

Arm in arm and shopping bags dangling off their wrists, Casey and Lizzie walked giggling down the mall. Lizzie amused Casey with the latest Edwin gossip, "So he's staring at Molly with drool running down his chin and our teacher calls out, 'EDWIN VENTURI!' and he falls off his chair. The chair lands on top of him and all we can see are legs flying through the air as he tries to get up. Well, he finally manages to stand up and gets wrapped up in the chair again. He falls down, rolls across the floor with the chair. He finally comes to a stop just underneath Ms. Sourpuss. She's glaring at him with her hands on her hips and everything. But Edwin just looks up at her and cracks this grin and says, 'Nice dress, teach!' and without a word she pulls him up by his ear and hauls him out the door!"

Casey burst out in laughter, her grip tightening on Lizzie's arm. "Oh my god, Liz!"

Snorting through her words, Lizzie cried, "He sprained his wrist and wouldn't tell anybody!"

This sent the girls into another giggling fit. When they finally calmed down, Lizzie stretched her arms out and yawned. "Let's get something to drink, Case. I'm so thirsty after reliving that." She laughed again as she wiped a stray tear from her eye.

"Sounds good. I am too." Casey steered her sister off towards the food court. "I could go for some-" Suddenly, Casey stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open in surprise.

Lizzie stopped, turning to her sister in concern. "Casey? What's wrong?" She followed Casey's gaze, gasping at the couple kissing in front of them.

"Tru-Tru-Truman?"

The boy turned to Casey, recognition dawning as he ripped himself from the girl desperately clinging to his side. A hand flew to his neck as he awkwardly started, "Oh, Casey! Um, hey?" Lizzie glared openly as Truman put on a suave smile as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, that wasn't what it looked like."

Casey drew herself up to full height, gathering her words. "And what exactly did it look like, Truman?" The girl fled the scene, leaving Truman standing awkwardly in front of the two sisters.

Sparing a quick glance towards the escaping girl, Truman tried, "Uh-"

When Lizzie wrapped a supporting hand around Casey's forearm, Casey found strength. "Cut it out, Truman. How long have you been seeing her?"

A wide range of emotions crossed his face before he adopted a neutral expression. Truman pointed in the vague direction the girl had run off to. "Her?"

"Yes, her. Who else would I be talking about?"

For a split second, guilt crossed his face, but it was long enough. Casey gasped, "How many besides her, Truman?"

Truman shuffled his feet back and forth. "Two?"

Shaking off Lizzie's arm, Casey advanced gradually towards Truman. Smugness latched itself onto Truman's sharp features while Lizzie held her breath. As Casey drew closer to Truman's face, his eyelids drooped and he started to lean into her. When she was close enough to feel his breath ghost across her cheek, Casey shoved Truman's chest as hard as she could. Barely catching himself before he hit the floor, he found his footing. But Casey was quicker on the pursuit, shoving a finger further into his chest. Emphasizing every word with a sharp poke, Casey began, "Listen to me, you jerk. In case you haven't figured it out yet, we are through!"

Truman started to say something, but Casey cut through his words, "I mean it! I gave you a second chance and you screwed up! Again! You're cruel and vile and I was blind to not see it before! You're a two-faced weasel that only cares about himself. Well, you know what? I'm the one who feels sorry for you! Because no matter what, you'll never change! You're going to be this way for the rest of your life!"

"Look, Case-"

"Don't 'Look, Case' me, Trashman. Derek was right. Don't ever talk to me again." Casey shoved him one last time before turning on her heel and marching towards a beaming Lizzie. As she reached her sister, they hooked arms again and took off briskly back through the mall.

It wasn't until they were out of view that Casey broke down in Lizzie's arms.

Derek dropped his hockey bag by the washing machine before stretching his arms above his head and sighing contently from a successful hockey game with Sam. He froze as two people walked into the kitchen, speaking in hushed whispers. Out of view, Derek strained to hear.

"She's in bed now." The voice of Nora revealed. "She's not crying, but she won't say much. Lizzie, what exactly happened?"

"Well, we were at the mall and we saw this couple." Lizzie cleared her throat. "They were kissing and as they pulled apart, we realized it was Truman."

Inside the laundry room, Derek cringed.

"Truman tried to deny it, but Casey cornered him. He's been seeing three other girls besides Casey."

Derek's fists clenched as Nora let out an audible gasp.

Lizzie continued retelling the story, "Casey started towards him slowly and I had no idea what she was going to do. But out of nowhere she started shoving him. And wow, she told him off! I've never seen her do anything like it before." She paused, "Well, to anyone besides Derek."

A ghost of a smirk played across Derek's face.

"She even called him Trashman and told him Derek was right!"

Nothing stopped Derek's delighted smirk now.

Nora let out the breath she was holding. "So are they finally done for good?"

"That's what she told him!"

"Thank God! I've never liked him."

Derek silently agreed with her. He listened at the door as Marti interrupted the mother-daughter conversation, "Doctor Marti is here! Who's first?"

Both Nora and Lizzie greeted Marti. Groaning, Nora pulled Marti up into her lap. "Well, hello there, Doctor Marti! Would you like to give the baby a checkup?"

"Yes, please!"

Stealthily, Derek crossed back to the backdoor, opening it, then slamming it shut. Derek kicked his hockey bag on the floor before waltzing into the kitchen, greeting the girls with a causal, "Sup?"

Beaming up at her big brother, Marti welcomed Derek brightly, "Hi, Smerek!"

He ruffled her hair on the way to the fridge. "Hey, Smarts."

Smiling at their exchange, Nora asked, "Did you have a nice time at the rink, Derek?"

He tossed a few items on the counter before he nodded. "Yeah, it was great." Derek eyed Lizzie, "How was shopping with the princess?"

Lizzie's face broke out into a huge grin. "Oh, you should have seen it! You would have been so proud of Casey!"

Feigning disbelief, Derek snorted. "That would be the day."

She ignored him, bursting with her news. "She dumped Truman!"

Derek took an exaggerated bite of his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully. "Well, that's a relief, but it doesn't scream proud."

"She totally told him off and even shoved him a few times. We found him kissing another girl-"

His hand squeezed his sandwich tighter and he had to catch some of the contents before they fell out. The action didn't go unnoticed by Nora, who gave him an inquiring look over the top of Marti's head. Trying to ignore it, Derek focused on what Lizzie was saying.

"-but Casey was so awesome! She even called him Trashman!"

Finally, Derek let a smirk crack. Lizzie beamed at him, understanding what he didn't vocalize.

Unsurprisingly, Casey did not come down for dinner that night. Nora didn't encourage her, knowing Casey as she did. Curiously, George and Edwin looked at Casey's empty place at the table.

Clearing his throat, George looked to Nora, "Nora, where's Casey?"

Speaking softly, but firmly, Nora answered, "Well, Casey isn't feeling the greatest."

Edwin's brow furrowed, "Is she sick?"

Nora shifted in her chair. "No, she, um, ran into Truman at the mall today with Lizzie. They saw him kissing another girl."

Both George and Edwin cringed. Edwin shot a look towards Lizzie and she nodded in confirmation.

"Anyway, the long and short of it is that he has been seeing three other girls." Nora couldn't help the happiness leak into her voice as she continued, "So Casey broke up with him."

George smiled freely, "Good for her!" as quiet cheers went around the table.

Nodding, Edwin agreed. "It's about time, he was a real jerk."

A snort flew out of Derek before he could stop it. He murmured under his breath, "Understatement of the year."

"I never liked him." Marti spoke confidently as if that settled the matter. Everyone around the table smiled. After all, she was the best judge of character.

An hour or two after dinner had finished, Casey made her way down the stairs. Derek was mindlessly watching a hockey rerun, but looked up at the sound of her approach. Casey walked slowly, fuzzy pink pajamas and overly fluffy bunny slippers and all. Not sparing him a glance, Casey continued on her way to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she returned, taking her place on the couch. Studying her out of the corner of his eye, Derek watched as she picked at her plate of leftovers while staring at the television. Sighing quietly to himself, Derek picked up the remote. Staring unwaveringly at the TV, he flipped to a neutral channel. He ignored the surprised look Casey shot him.

Derek rolled his eyes, but mumbled just loud enough for her to hear. "It was a rerun." He also pretended not to see her answering smile.

Bouncing down the stairs, Marti headed straight for Derek and Casey, who were still watching a sitcom. "Smerek, will you be my nurse? Sir Monks A Lot has to have surgery!" She climbed up into his lap and presented him with her monkey.

"Sure, Smarti. What's the problem?"

"He has to have his tonsils out."

Derek pretended to hand Marti the equipment she needed as she operated. Casey's spirits lifted as she watched Marti act out her vivid imagination.

Finally, Marti beamed, giving her monkey an affectionate tap. "And we're done!"

Ruffling her hair, Derek congratulated her. "Nice job, Doctor Smarti!" He leaned closer to her to stage a whisper, "Now, can you do me a favor?"

Marti grinned adorably. "What is it, Smerek?"

"Doctor Smarti, can you take a look at Casey? I think she has a broken heart."

Casey inhaled sharply.

Undeterred, Marti agreed. "Okay, Smerek." She climbed down from his lap and plopped next to Casey. First, Marti pretended to take Casey's temperature, blood pressure and pulse. Next, she peered in each ear and made Casey say 'Ahh'. Finally, Marti put on her toy stethoscope and listened to her heart.

Whispering, Casey asked the girl, "What's the diagnosis, Doctor?"

"I'm afraid you do have a broken heart, Casey." Marti nodded solemnly and then backed away shouting, "Quick! We don't have much time!" She pulled out her toy needle, but looked at it frowning. Marti cried sharply, "A shot can't fix it, but I know what will." Jumping up, Marti grabbed Derek's arm and pulled him down onto the couch next to Casey. "Smerek! You have to kiss her!"

Both Derek and Casey gaped at her. Gathering himself, Derek stuttered, "Whaat? Why can't you kiss her, Smarti?"

Marti stomped her foot, clearly impatient. She spoke sternly to her brother, "Because, Smerek, that won't work. Now kiss her before it's too late!"

"Smarti-"

"Do you want to save Casey or not?!"

Derek cringed at her tone.

Marti encouraged, "Then do it, now."

Before Casey could say anything, Derek leaned towards her. She could feel his warm breath on the side of her face, but Casey was not prepared for the lingering kiss Derek pressed to her temple. Casey's cheeks flushed.

The 'doctor' squealed. "Do you feel better, Casey?"

Smiling slightly at her little stepsister, Casey managed a soft, "Yes, Marti, I do."

"It worked! It worked! It worked!" Marti sang, dancing around the living room.

Springing up from the couch, Derek called over his shoulder, "Good, now I won't have to look for a place to hide the body."

"DER-REK!"