I do not own Smash or any of its characters. This fic deviates from season 1 in two ways. First, it starts right before tech so the whole Derek sleeping with Rebecca Duval doesn't happen; and two, Derek and Ivy stopped sleeping together after she told him off during workshop.

In an attempt to build camaraderie Eileen, Tom and Julia decided the ensemble would travel together to Boston via a chartered bus. Derek on the other hand found the idea preposterous and was more than a little concerned that Ivy might inflect injury on Karen if left alone for an extended period of time. Despite the fact he had ended their brief fling, Ivy was still extremely clingy and very jealous. She used every opportunity possible to undermine Karen's position and her failed attempts were taking a serious toll on her mental stability. Derek mentioned his concerns to Tom, but of course the composer chose to ignore him. Tom instead opted to blame the director and his infatuation with Karen as the root of Ivy's actions. He accused Derek of toying with Ivy's feels by constantly playing Karen against her.

At his accusations, Derek reminded Tom that Karen had a boyfriend and firmly assured his relationship with her was that of director and friend. The later term caused Tom to laugh hysterically and proclaim in a self righteous tone that Derek was incapable of having platonic friendships. Though angered, Derek had chosen to remain quiet. He had been in no mood to argue with the composer and internally acknowledged that he himself had been surprised by his growing desire to protect Karen and ensure her happiness. Derek Wills had never been one to care about anyone's feelings and aside from Veronica Moore, had never maintained friendships with members of the opposite sex. No, his past interaction with those of the female persuasion had only been physical in nature, never emotional. It was no strings attached sex and friendship was considered weakness. But all that changed when Karen Cartwright walked into his life. For her, he was willing to be a friend if it meant keeping her near.

"So Iowa, why isn't the glamorous Rebecca Duval traveling with us?" Bobby asked with Jessica, Sue and Dennis huddled around them listening intently.

"She had a prior engagement and will be meeting us in Boston," Karen answered.

"So what is it really like partying with her, your face plastered in all the gossip columns?" Dennis questioned.

"It was fun at first but after the first few nights of hangovers and the arguments it caused between Dev and I, it wasn't worth it."

"So how are you and Dev?" Sue Inquired.

"I don't know; I feel like he's keeping things from me and we are growing apart. He can't stand when I have to work late and flies off the handle at the mention of Derek. To make matters worse, he has this woman, RJ constantly around him. I get a bad feeling about her."

"You know what they say, where there's smoke there's fire," Jessica interjected.

"What about you; you and the Dark Lord do spend a lot of time together?" Bobby raised his eyebrow.

"We're just friends," Karen assured. "He's someone I can confide in and as we all know, he is brutally honest. Plus, he doesn't coddle me."

"Well, just keep an eye out for Ivy, because you have a target on your back. Ever since the Dark Lord ended things, she hasn't been shy in letting us know your day is coming," Dennis warned.

The group continued talking as the bus remained a good pace behind the black limo in front, carrying the artistic and management team. Rain was steadily falling but it didn't seem to deter traffic from wanting to pass. Karen was looking out the window when she saw a car speed by. She wouldn't have given it a second thought except, she noticed the car shift slightly as it passed the bus. From what Karen could see before she lost sight of the car, it looked as though the car's back tire lost its traction. She turned to tell the group when suddenly the bus violently jerked and swayed. Squealing brakes could be heard followed by a thunderous crash. Members of the ensemble flew forward in their seats and overhead bags flew into the aisle hitting some members but as quickly as the bus had begun to sway, it came to a stop.

At first Karen along with the ensemble were in a daze thinking the bus had been hit. But as people began to gather their bearings, a shout of "Oh my God," could be heard from Sam as all eyes looked out the front window where the black limo could be seen lying upside down and 18 wheel truck desperately trying to stop heading directly towards it. The next sight is one Karen won't ever forget as the truck's failed attempt to stop resulted in the limo being dragged on its roof and plunged into another vehicle where it finally came to a stop.

Once traffic came to a standstill the bus driver opened the door and immediately told everyone to evacuate, while he along with Sam took off towards the limo. Dennis pushed his way past Karen and the others and ran to join Sam. "Is everyone alright?" Bobby asked. Still looking at the scene in front of them, Karen nodded and she to immediately run out the door to find Sam and Dennis. By the time she got to the limo she could see that Julia has been pulled out. She was on the ground conscious but with a deep gash on her leg. Karen continued towards the limo and upon reaching it, could hear Sam on the ground talking to someone. "What's happening?" she asked.

"Sam is talking to Derek who is trapped but able to move his hands. Sam is guiding him so he can help us get Tom and Eileen out," Dennis answered as he ran back to Sam who was pulling an unconscious Eileen out from the car.

Other drivers were trying to find a way to get Derek out as his side of the car was pinned in by the truck. "We need to hurry, there seems to be gas leaking," a man shouted from across the way. Due to the fact the accident occurred midway between Boston and New York, help in the form of police and ambulances was slow in coming.

Tom was the next person out and he like Julia was conscious but it look as those his arm was clearly broken as the bone could be seen. "Derek, stay with me" Sam could be heard telling the director. "You've done great, now it's time to get you out of there too," Sam continued.

Sam turned to group of men who had been working to get the passengers out "He's pinned in by the seat belt and he thinks something pierced his side," he told the group. "One of us needs to get in there to see exactly what's wrong before we try to pull him."

"None of us fit through the space," Dennis stated.

"I do," Karen interjected. She had been standing to the side watching the event unfold unsure of how she could help and not wanting to get in the way.

"Are you sure?" Sam asked. "There is gas leaking."

"I'm sure," and with those words Karen made her way to the car.

Sam called for a blanket from the bus and laid it over the broken glass. Karen proceeded to lay herself on the ground and position herself in the window opening. She immediately saw Derek whose eyes were closed and face covered in blood.

"Hey, now isn't the time to take a nap," she chided the director.

Fluttering his eyes open Derek frowned, "What are you doing here," he grimaced. "It's too dangerous."

"It's perfectly fine," Karen lied. "I'm just going to lean over you to see what's pinning you in," Karen replied as she inched her way over where Derek was. She could see his upper torso suspended and immediately gathered Derek was right, something had to holding his body up in mid air. Slowly moving so that her body was now under his, Karen saw his breathing was labored. She also felt something dripping on her face and nearly gagged when she discovered it was blood. Searching for the source she slowly lifted Derek's shirt.

"I knew one day you would find me irresistible," Derek attempted to joke; his voice catching with pain.

Feeling with her hands Karen flinched when she found the source of the blood. Lifting his shirt she saw that the impact on the door had caused the handle to protrude. It had pierced all the way through Derek's side and now served a hook. Forgetting Derek was conscious Karen was brought out of her revere by a question.

"That bad, huh love?"

"It's nothing that a rescue crew can't get you out of. You just need to hang in there okay. Do you hear that, help is here?" Karen told Derek as sirens could be heard.

Karen stayed with Derek a few more minutes before she was called out by firefighters. Upon exiting the car she told them what she found. They immediately set out to work and 30 minutes later, when they were just about to pull Derek out the limo, a spark from the cutter they were using ignited the leaking gas sending the limo up in flames.

It had been three hours since Derek had been taken into surgery. Once the flames had engulfed the car no one from the ensemble had been allowed to see anyone from the management team. An hour after arriving to the hospital, they had been advised that Tom and Julia were going to be alright. Julia had suffered a severe laceration on her leg and bruising but no internal injuries. Tom had suffered a compound fracture to his arm but again no other injuries. The two would be kept overnight for observation and released tomorrow.

Another 45 minutes and a doctor advised Eileen had suffered several broken ribs and internal bleeding but they had been able to control it. She was in ICU but was breathing on her own. As soon as they were assured her condition was stable, she would be moved to a private room. That left only Derek.

Three hours later and doctors finally came out. "Karen Cartwright," a doctor called out.

"Here," Karen stood up.

"You were listed along with Ms. Rand as an emergency contact," the doctor stated. "Mr. Wills suffered serious internal injuries including a collapsed lung. He also suffered second degree burns to his chest and arms. Lastly, we are concerned with Mr. Wills' vision. Shard glass from the explosion pierced Mr. his eyes. We won't know the extent of any damage to his sight until he regains conscious but it is likely that until the swelling goes down, there will be some loss of vision. He is on a respirator until his lung sufficiently heals and until then he will remain sedated."

Karen was at a loss for words. She had heard everything the doctor said but her mind was still trying to process it. She knew Derek was strong and he would fight to get well; but losing his sight was something entirely different. Karen had no idea how the director would react if he could no longer see. She knew one thing with certainty, she would be there for him and together they would work through it.