Burn Amongst Humanity [D. Hale ]

|LXXI|

"I.E.D."

___________

Casey was standing outside on the balcony as she stared down at the street below, thinking as she was trying to focus on anything other than the fear, that was currently plaguing her.

~~~ SIX YEARS AGO ~~~

Casey was curled up in a ball on the ground, as her father's boot slammed into her rib cage, as Casey had one of her hands up to protect her head and the other hand was protecting her stomach as best as she could.

"Stop it! Leave her alone!" Her mother was screaming, begging for Casey's father to stop it, but he wasn't listening and he was lost in the rage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Casey jumped, spinning around quickly, a gun directly pointed at Derek's head. Derek swiftly held up his hands in surrender and Casey was lowering the gun at the sight of him.

"Did you get any sleep last night at all?" Derek asked and Casey shook her head as silently, she put the gun back into the waistband of her pants. "You are safe here." He reminded her and Casey was shaking her head, looking at him with legitimate fear in her eyes and she blinked quickly.

"He shot you three times with a shotgun, Derek, nowhere is going to be safe." Casey signed as he looked down at her. "I can't stay here, he will kill you."

"Don't." Derek, he very gently caught onto her arm and Casey looked at him and he shook his head. "If you leave here, then I'm coming with you." He said and she sighed. Derek moved his arms gently around her, as she rested her head on his arm. "You having nightmares again?" He asked softly and Casey nodded.

"You know that I am." Casey signed swiftly and he looked at her. "I just don't want you and Peter to both keep getting hurt, just because of me." She explained and Derek chuckled at the words.

"Peter and I will heal, you already know that better than anyone. You almost cracked under the pressure in front of me once, I really don't want to see you like that again." Derek said and she nodded slightly. "Now, Casey, please. For, once, would you just stop worrying about everyone else and then, just focus on you?" Derek asked and she shut her eyes, as she had her face in his chest and he smiled a little bit. "Come on." He murmured and she followed him.

||Beacon Hills High School||

The Devenford Prep lacrosse team bus pulled up to Beacon Hills High as Beatrice got off of the bus, following most of the team and she caught up to Brett, with her lacrosse stick on her backpack as well.

"Hey Liam." Beatrice murmured and he nodded a little bit at her, as Brett's head tilted to the side.

"I just wanted to say... Have a good game." Liam said as Beatrice glanced at Brett, who started laughing, right along with the rest of the team.

"Thanks Liam." Beatrice said, loudly enough to cut through the noise of the rest of the team.

"That's cute, Liam. Is that, what they told you to say in your Anger Management? Apologize and everything's fine?" Brett asked and Beatrice sighed.