Hey guys! School has been so hectic lately, sorry! Thanks so much for the reviews, they mean a lot to me. It's pretty difficult writing this, so to know people are liking it is just phenomenal! So once again I am bringing you closer to what the incident is...without telling you! I have to admit, I'm having some fun hinting at it without telling. I know, I know...I'm twisted :) And if I was reading this story, I would be so mad and want to throw stones. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own LWD...stop reminding me!

P.S. For all those Buffy fans, I just recently watched Becoming Parts 1 and 2...I've seen them both countless of times, yet I still cry EVERY TIME! Ahh, the brilliance that is Joss! And David and Sarah!

Casey let go of her hair, still breathing shallowly. She stood up and swayed, light headed. Walking to the bed, she knelt at the side and pulled out a locked trunk from underneath. Spinning the combination, she opened it. Pulling out an old faded sweatshirt she buried her face within it. Sobbing, she rocked back and forth, clutching the faded sweatshirt for dear life.

Casey slumped over, her head lying on the floor near the trunk. She reached up to pull something else out of the trunk and accidentally overturned it. Pictures and little mementos scattered around her. With her head still resting on the sweatshirt, Casey semi-blindly reached around her. Her hand enclosed around a picture in a plain, black frame. Casey pulled the picture to her, clutching it close to her chest, tears still falling freely from her red face.

She looked down at the tear-stained photograph. Running her fingers gently over the smiling face, she whispered “Daddy.” Casey pulled the frame back towards her, the sharp sides digging painfully into her, she didn’t care; she welcomed the hurt. Curled up in a ball, her head on a sweatshirt, a black picture frame clutched to her chest, Case McDonald cried. She cried for everything she had lost, for every pain she had suffered, every hateful word whispered. She sobbed for what she had to give up, for all the hard decisions, for the childhood that was ripped from her. She cried for the girl she used to be, for the side effects of eleven minutes. Eleven measly minutes. She cried herself into a light and fitful sleep there on her bedroom floor.

FEBRUARY 7th - 7:00 AM

Derek managed to blindly make his way to the door without seriously injuring himself. Walking to the bathroom door, he reached out and turned the handle. When it actually turned, he finally opened his eyes. Casey wasn’t in the bathroom. It was free. This never really happens.

“She probably got up early, the freak.” Derek said to himself. Entering the bathroom, Derek enjoyed a leisurely shower, no thoughts of Casey popping into his head.

FEBRURAY 7TH- 7:45 A.M.

Derek whistled as he wandered into the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Now normally Derek would walk in the kitchen and Nora would be making eggs, Casey would be quadruple-checking her homework, Lizzie and Edwin would be talking about whatever new study was going on, and Dad would be trying to convince Martie to put on clean clothes. Today, however, was not the case. Lizzie was sitting at the table, playing with her cereal, while Edwin looked at her with concern. Nora was standing at the island, not doing anything, looking lost in thought; Dad was looking at her and rubbing her back. Martie was under the table, drinking milk out of a bowl.

Derek looked around for Casey; she wasn’t there. Looking up again, Derek frowned. “Where’s Casey?” He asked. Everyone looked up; unaware that he had entered the room. Edwin gave Derek a weird look, Derek never asks where Casey is. Derek shrugged and grabbed a box of cereal.

While Derek was pouring a bowl of cereal, sounds were suddenly heard from the stairwell. Casey walked into the room; her appearance surprised everyone. Nora and Lizzie were surprised to see her, as she never comes out of her room on this day. The Venturi’s, on the other hand were surprised at Casey’s appearance. Her normally perfectly in place hair was thrown up in a messy bun and instead of her normal school clothes she was wearing a pair of loose jeans, a tank top, and a raggedy flannel button down shirt. Casey never looked this sluggish on a school day (or even on weekends).

Lizzie and Nora looked at each other quickly while Casey reached for a bottle of water. “Casey, honey, what are you doing? You know you don’t have to go to school today…” Nora gently addressed her eldest daughter.

“What? Why? I don’t want to go to school either. I think Casey should have someone stay home and take care of her, in her hour of need. I will sacrifice my day filled with learning and stimulation to tend to her.” Derek said, to no avail as no one was listening to him.

Casey looked up for the first time that morning, and even Derek wouldn’t have said anything else. Her eyes were red and puffy, her skin was pale and taunt. However, the most startling thing was the emptiness. Casey always had some sparkle in her eyes, but not today. She looked vacant.

Nora was not surprised by this, although it did (as it always has) freak her out a little bit. “Casey, go back upstairs and back to bed.”

Casey narrowed her eyes and glared at her mother. Nora took a step back; Casey had never exuded that much hatred at her before. Before Nora could open her mouth, Casey replied.

“Oh no, Mother. I’m fine. I’m going to school. I mean, after all, it has been years, right? Time to move on. Let it all go. You and Lizzie did, right? I mean, you don’t give a shit anymore about what happened. You have your new life. I need to embrace mine too. I’m fine. I’ll be home later.” With that, Casey turned and walked out the door.

The reaction to Casey’s outburst was as different as the reaction to her outfit. Nora and Lizzie looked at each other, guilt and concern evident on both their faces. Marti was quiet, looking around at everyone, trying to gather clues on what she should do. Edwin and George were looking at Lizzie and Nora, respectively, in confusion. Derek, meanwhile, had no idea what was going on; he kept looking around in disbelief. Before anyone could say anything, Derek turned on his heel and walked out the door.