C.2.R

Chapter 22 Nice Gestures

Chapter 22 Nice Gestures

She knocked on the door with callused knuckles--C.2.R just won't allow a manicure to last will it? The door swung open to a very tired Derek.

"Morning," Rain greeted and he groaned shielding his eyes from the sunlight as he turned back into his house.

He was wearing dark plaid pajama pants so long his heels caught onto some of the fabric. Rain bit back a smile as she closed the door and followed him into the kitchen where he began making coffee. He sleepily raked his fingers through his knotted hair as he searched for two mugs in the mahogany cabinets and his friend couldn't help but snicker at the sight before her.

"I'm guessing your mom already left?"

"Nope," said a feminine voice that emerged from the hallway, Mrs. Rivera. "But I'm leaving now," she said grabbing her keys off the granite counter and heading towards the door Rain recently came through.

She paused right in front of the De' Luca child. Staring at her with hazel eyes Rain reminisced on her memories with surgeon Rivera. She always treated her and Sky like her own, since she never had any daughters they were as close as she'd ever get. She was always very poise and proper (even in scrubs) and she raised her kids the same. Rain guessed with spending so much time with the Rivera's some of that rubbed off on her too.

"Good luck," she whispered with a smirk before leaving.

"Dad?" Rain question Derek again as he poured the hot liquid into the ceramic mugs. He simply nudged his head to the right towards the hallway where his mom had come from and sure enough the clicking of shoes against hardwood floors begun to ring through the girl's ears, first loud ones then small pitter-pattery ones.

"Mr. Rivera," she nodded respectfully in acknowledgment.

"Rain," he nodded back with a closed mouth smile and she turned to the smaller figure beside him.

"Rain!" squealed the little boy and she laughed bending to his height.

"Hey there rascal," she said ruffling his hair that shared the same color as his older brother's. He held out his little arms and she swooped him into a hug.

"Come on Aidan we're going to be late," his father said and he released Rain begrudgingly.

"Fine," he said folding his small arms over one another.

"I'll see you soon Aidan," Rain said and he grinned. Straightening up she returned to her height of 5'8.

"Thanks Rain," Mr. Rivera said strands of his gelled back hair falling over as he loosely hugged her with one arm his, other hand holding Aidan's he kissed her on the forehead. He had always been like a father to Rain, a better one than the original.

Smiling she shrugged as he released her. "It's my job," she said and he smiled back before leaving with his youngest son.

"There goes all of them," Derek said placing his mug on the counter.

"You know," Rain said climbing onto the barstool opposite of him who was standing behind the counter "that kid is just like you."

"Hopefully he won't screw up as much as I do."

She sighed "Hopefully," she mumbled taking a sip of my coffee which was made just how she liked it. Putting down her mug she eyed Derek. He looked so different than usual. Lazy grin erased, piercing brown eyes dimmed he was almost a completely different person. "How much did you drink last night?"

"Too much," he said his eyes not meeting hers he stared at the stainless steel of the sink looking at his reflection. Rain wondered what he saw when he looked at himself. Did he see what she saw a strong, confident fighter who had the ability to do absolutely anything if he put enough work into it? Or maybe he saw a teenage boy screw up who tried so hard to be the perfect everything son, brother, boyfriend that he ended up failing at it all. Truth be told he was all of that but that's what she saw in him and it doesn't matter what other people see in you it matters what you see in yourself.