See Part One For Disclaimers

When she looked back in the weeks that followed, Kat Corrigan was to think of the month after Derek's resurrection from the dead as the most intense time of her young life. Nothing in her first twelve years had prepared her for the events which followed the explosion.

After the events in Ireland, which had turned Kat's life upside down, Derek had been there to pick up the pieces.  He had been strong for her and her mother, and Kat had never stopped regretting being so nasty to him at Christmas time one year.  Which was why when Derek needed her to be strong, Kat didn't hesitate.

That had actually been easy.  Alex and Nick had told her that all Derek needed was to know she was there.  She didn't have to do anything other than talk to him sometimes.  And so, in the weeks before her mother's collapse, Kat found herself spending more and more time with Derek, and less time with her mother.

It was her mother's nervous breakdown which had almost shattered Kat.  It would have shattered Kat, if Nick and Alex hadn't told her, very firmly, that it wasn't her fault.  That her dalliance with sorcery hadn't pushed her mother over the edge.  Kat still wasn't sure about that, but hearing it made her feel somewhat better.

Because she and her mother had a terrible argument the night before her mother's nervous breakdown, after Kat had heard what her mother said to Philip.  Kat had been so happy to see Philip, but she hadn't had a chance to go to the bathroom since before she left school.

It was while she was in the bathroom that she heard her mother's shrill attack on Philip, blaming him for Derek's brush with death.  Rather, her mother had blamed Philip for Kristen's death, then added that if Philip had been in San Francisco when Derek had blown the House, then Philip would have been responsible.  Kat had been so shaken, she didn't emerge from the bathroom until hours later.

By that time, her mother had calmed down, but Kat had not.  She didn't speak to her mother while they were at the hospital, and her mother finally asked her, once they reached their home, why Kat was so angry.  By then, the girl's rage had reached the critical phrase . . . and she exploded.

For the first time in Kat's memory, her mother didn't fight back when someone yelled at her.  She just quietly stood there and took the full force of the twelve year old's fury.  Mom left her alone for the rest of the night, then the following day, after Kat got out of school, Alex had picked her up, telling her that her mother had a nervous breakdown.

Since there was nothing Kat could do for her mother, she turned her energies to healing Derek.  Oh, she wasn't a Healer.  But she could cast a spell.  Tisa had told her that the only time she could cast a spell involving another person was when they had given her permission.

However, Tisa had explained, if you wanted to cast a healing spell, and the person was unconscious or dying, that was different.  Kat cast a spell of healing, focusing on the many times when Derek had been there to save her.  When her great-grandfather's ghost had tried to take her soul, and Derek had nearly paid with his life.  When the demon had taken her brother's form, just after Kat first met Derek.

She had thought of Derek saving her when Senephra, driven by desperation, had tried to possess Kat.  And those memories gave Kat the additional strength.  She never knew whether her spells had helped, or if it was just knowing that someone who loved him was nearby.

But Derek *did* begin to respond.  Kat had been struggling with the difference between 'ser' and 'estar' when she heard something.  It was the barest of sounds, but the girl had heard it.  And she saw Derek's hand moving on the sheet.  It wasn't much of a movement . . . but it was there.

Momentarily forgetting where she was, Kat gave a squeal of delight and dropped her Spanish book on the floor.  She rushed to Derek's side, taking the hand that had just moved. As soon as she did, his fingers closed over hers.  His eyes didn't open, but Derek was slowly returning to them.  As she held his hand tightly, covering his hand with her own free hand, she could feel him starting to fight now.

Kat didn't know what to do . . . Derek's hand was firm over her own, and besides, she didn't want to leave him. This was the first sign they had in three weeks that he was 'in there,' as Alex would say.  So she sat down on the bed beside him, still holding his hand.  About two hours later, his eyes actually opened.

During those two hours, Kat had excitedly told the doctors and nurses, as well as Nick and Alex, what had happened.  The doctors began checking for reactions to stimuli, and Kat's news was borne out.  They maintained a vigil in Derek's room, hoping he would wake up.  But at last, they had to take care of themselves.  Nick took Alex to the cafeteria, since she hadn't eaten all day, and Kat remained with Derek.  There was no place else for her to go.

She was too excited to eat, but after a half hour of her own company, Kat began to get sleepy.  Derek was still firmly holding her hand, and Kat stretched out on the bed beside him, snuggling up to him.  She yawned sleepily and that was it.  Kat couldn't keep her eyes open any longer.

*    *    *

I love you . . . I'm sorry . . . I'm so proud of you.  The words had echoed in Derek Rayne's mind.  He didn't know where he was, but he felt at peace.  It didn't last, for he heard a young girl's voice calling him back.  Derek couldn't quite identify the girl, but he knew she was special.

He felt a small hand taking his own, and against his will, Derek began following the girl back.  He had looked back longingly, to see his father smiling at him sadly. There was love, and pride, and sorrow in his eyes.

Derek understood, then.  His work wasn't yet done.  And the girl calling for him now was part of that work.  So he followed her back . . . and awoke to find himself surrounded by white.  He flinched back from it, closing his eyes briefly, then realized he wasn't alone.

Slowly, carefully, Derek opened his eyes again, to find a little girl snuggled beside him.  She was no more than twelve or thirteen.  Derek knew that he knew her . . . this lovely girl with light brown hair.  Her eyes were closed, but Derek knew she had blue eyes.  She was breathing deeply, and the man rested his cheek lightly against her hair.

Unfortunately, that woke her up . . . she opened her eyes and looked at him.  He stared back, then a beautiful smile lit up her face.  She whispered, "Derek, you're awake!  I've gotta tell Nick and Alex . . . they're gonna be so happy to see you!  We've been so worried about you!"

Derek continued to look at her, trying to remember her name.  He knew this girl, knew her so well . . . knew the names she had mentioned.  But he couldn't remember *her* name, nor could he put faces with the names 'Nick' and 'Alex.' Everything was such a blur, but he knew both Nick and Alex were as important to him as this girl.  There was another face, too, which didn't have a name yet.

The girl said, sounding worried, "Derek?  Don't you know me?"  Derek concentrated on the girl's face, and on her voice.  He heard the echo of a child's laughter in his mind. "I've got your shadow!"  A memory . . . this girl, only younger.  Seven, eight years old.  And another face that went with hers, a pretty woman's face . . . distorted by rage.

There were more images.  An angry little Egyptian princess, kept from her family by the hatred of a long ago priest.  Murdered first, then buried contrary to her beliefs (though Derek didn't understand the significance of that yet).  And another child, a child who was dear to Derek's heart.  A child named . . .

"Kat?" he whispered and saw joy dawning in the little girl's eyes.  Derek repeated, "Kat . . . what . . . ?"  He couldn't remember what had happened.  How had he come to be here?  And how long had he been in this hospital room, for Derek had recognized it for what it was?

"What happened?" Kat asked and Derek tried to nod, but the motion shot a lightning bolt of pain through his skull, and he grimaced.  The girl answered, "There was an explosion. Nick found you in one of the tunnels a few days later."  Then Kat smiled and said, "I'm so glad you're back."

Derek returned the smile weakly, then murmured, "Kat? I . . . there's so much I don't remember.  Can you tell me?" The girl frowned, obviously confused, and Derek asked, hating himself for not remembering, "Kat, are you my daughter?" Kat stared at him, then smiled even more broadly.

"No, Derek.  I met you when I was eight years old, while my mother and I were visiting Ireland.  You're not my daddy, but there have been times when I wished you were," Kat replied.  A shadow passed over her face, then she replied determinedly, "But now it's my turn to take care of you. You've always taken care of my mom and me."

Her mother?  Was that the woman's face he had seen? Derek couldn't remember, and it hurt his head, trying to think.  Kat said softly, "Don't worry, Derek.  You'll remember when you're ready.  Just don't get mad at us when we take care of you.  Everything is gonna be all right now."

And somehow, looking at the childish face, the face of a girl who wouldn't remain a child for much longer, Derek accepted that she was right.  He could remember his name, and the name of this girl.  He had to believe that in time, things would be all right . . . that in time, he would remember all of the people who were important to him.  And to remind himself to stay calm, he had only to think of this as a new beginning in his life.

the end

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