Title: Can I survive

Chapter 4: What now?

Liz gasped as she heard her sister say "he raped me." Edwin pulled her close as they listened to the rest of the conversation. Liz reached for the door handle but Edwin pulled her away and into his room.

"What should we do?" Edwin pulled her to sit in his lap.

"We are not going to do anything." Lizzy opened her mouth to argue but edwin stopped her with a kiss. "We are not suppose to know. For know we need to be in the shadow and help them silently."

"You mean like in cogneto."

"Exactly." Liz kissed his cheek and leaned into her protective wall.

"Do you think Derek meant what he said?" Edwin though for a moment, holding Lizzy tighter.

"I do. Remember when Casey was dating that womanizer a few years back." Lizzy nodded remembering Scott, who she too had had a crush on. "He protected her from him, sort of."

"I just hope Casey has the strength to do this." Edwin and Lizzy sat thinking about Casey's perdicament and Derek's promise.

~~~MEANWHILE~~~

Derek let go of Casey, only to find her yawning and close to falling. "Did you eat yesterday?" Casey blushed a little.

"I ate breakfast." Derek sighed and ran a hand through his hair before grabing Casey's hand and pulling her to the kitchen. "I just want to sleep Derek."

"You need to eat, if not for yourself, for Fred." Casey sat at the island close to dosing but giving Derek an odd look. Derek raised an eyebrow at the expression as he went about making pancakes. "My mom called both Edwin and Marti, Fred during her pregnancy." Casey nodded at the explanation.

"Where's Mom?" Casey said as she watched Derek cut up pecans into the batter.

"Nora and Dad are away at some Lawyer convention, remember?" Casey nodded before getting to her feet. She swayed before falling down, taking the stool she had been sitting on with her. "Are you ok?" Derek said helping the brunette to sit up.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Derek grabbed the waste basket so Casey could heave bile into it. He rubbed her back with the hand that wasn't holding her hair. She sat against the island as he took of the pancake after getting her a glass of water.

"Better?" Casey nodded, before trying to get up. Derek caught her before she fell and helped her onto her stool. Casey looked at the pancakes in disgust. "how about toast?" Casey brightened a little at the idea.

"Hey Derek?" Derek looked at her and noticed a blush. " My dad helped my mom with her... pains but do you remember what your mom did when her..." Derek encouraged Casey to continue. Casey took a deep breath, "herbreastshurt." Derek stared at Casey for a moment before blushing too.

"Dad would..." Derek's stuttering is adorable, although it's nice to see he's human, Casey thought. "He was the one to help... relax... her muscles." the toast just popped up and Derek put some raspberry jelly on for Casey. "So do you want me to drive you to school?" Casey bit into her toast before answering.

"If you don't mind. But we need to get Liz and Ed up." Casey said, taking another bit.

"I'll get them and Marti up. Do you feel up to making their lunches?" Casey nodded before trying to get up, only to be caught by Derek, again. "I'll bring the ingredients to you." Casey smiled gratefully and sat back down. Derek was about to leave the kitchen when Casey called to him.

"Derek," He turned to face the person he had sworn to protect. "Thank you, for the toast I mean."

"Don't mention it. Ever." Derek said light-heartedly before going to get their younger siblings.

a/n: I felt it was short so i'm adding on lol

Casey had just finished up when there was a knock on the door. Derek was still getting their three siblings up so Casey went to get the door. Feeling much better because of the toast she was able to make it to the door. As she opened it she gasped.

There in the door was her tall sandy-haired boyfriend. She gulped as she stared into his eyes. "Are you happy to see me Case?" He said taking a step into the house. Casey took a step back.

"J-just shocked..."she blurted out. "I mean I'm in my pajamas and I don't look that pretty." Sam cupped behind her hair and kissed her.

"I think it would be sexy if you wore that to school." He demanded rather than suggested. Casey slipped out of his hands.

"Yea but those school rules..." She laughed nervously, praying that Derek had heard the knock as well. Sam's arm found it's way around her waist.

"Just grab a sweater and some shoes and I can take you to school Case." He said, letting himself hold her a little to tightly. She let out a soft squeak and head toward her shoes. She put them on very slowly and grabbed her sweater, again making her time longer by checking it over for tears.

"Where are you going Casey?" Lizzy asked coming down the stairs in a pink striped sweater and jeans.

"I'm driving her to school today, Liz." Sam's voice said, cheerfully desiuged. Lizzy stopped on the platform.

"I thought you said you weren't going to let Derek drive us after he nearly hit the 18 wheeler." Casey's eyes lite up at the excuse."

"I guess it slipped my mind when Sam showed up." Sam turned to Casey and grabbed her arm in his grasp.

"You can trust Derek. He won't make the mistake again." Casey bowed her head in defeat as her last chance was gone.

"S-Sam's right. Just make sure you three sit in the back ok?" Lizzy nodded before looking on her shoulder.

"I forgot my backpack. Can you wait while I grab it Case?" Case shared a look with Sam and nodded. Sam wrapped his arms around Casey and kissed the top of her head.

"You're such a good girl." Sam was leaning around to kiss Case when the sound of Derek bounding down the stairs came.

"Sam, Buddy, What are you doing here?" He asked, making Sam lossen on Case a little.

"I came to pick up my girlfriend." Derek clenched his teeth at the term.

"i told her I'd show her a shortcut today. Maybe you can drive her tomorrow." He said lazily putting on his jacket.

"No, I think you can show her the shortcut tomorrow Derek." Sam said, pushing Casey toward the door. Casey looked at Derek pleadingly.

"But if I show her the shortcut, she can take you tomorrow." Sam seemed to ponder a moment before responding.

"But I'm already here, and Casey is ready to go." Derek looked at the brunette.

"Casey wouldn't wear that to school. Why not let her get comfortable dressed?" Derek said, pulling Casey behind him.

"Derek, if she's comfortable in that..."

"i'm not." Casey said, surprising the boys as well as herself. "I haven't been comfortable since that night," She continued gaining confidence but staying behind Derek. "All you've been doing is bruising me and threatening me and making me make out with you."

"I thought you liked my minty mouth." Sam said softly, trying to calm her down.

"I did, but ever since that minty mouth cover my screams, I've hated." She suddenly realized then and there that it wasn't only his mouth. "I hate you, your touch, you smell, everything. I hate you!"

"Case..."

"Don't call me that." Casey bit out. "Just get out. You aren't welcome here." Sam's eyes narrowed but he conseaded to leave.

"Alright Casey. But I think it's just your time of that month that's making you feel like this right now." With that he closed the door and Casey crumpled into Derek, sobbing for the relationship, for her baby but mostly for herself.

A/N: I know i have been forever with updating but i had it all written out on paper and lost those papers and kind of gave up but hey I'm back so :-P 2-13-10

R/R please