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I would need Ed to explain it approximately four more times to somewhat understand what the actual fuck had happened. But that was an issue for later. I didn't need to understand it to use it to my advantage.
Still, it was eerie, sitting in a conference room surrounded by… myself. Different versions of myself, from different universes? Timelines? That part was still a little fuzzy. But all that mattered was that there was a glitch in the simulation/universe/whatever the fuck you believed in. Something had gone very wrong, and suddenly multiple alternative versions of me started coming out of the woods. And somehow, it wasn’t the weirdest thing to have happened recently…
In any other scenario I would be concerned, I really should have been. But in this case… the more Dereks, the better.
First, there was Chief Venturi. Apparently, he was the youngest chief in the history of his command. He stood for justice and all things good, he was basically like me...except he was on the right side of the law. His hard jaw and deadly stare were pointed at me like I was his next case.
Me? Really? I’m flattered, Chief. Good luck with that.
I could tell that he wanted to put me in cuffs, but once I told him and the crew about Truman French…well even the Chief had someone new to focus on.
Next up was Doctor Venturi. That one felt like the weirdest Derek of them all. How the hell had I…he (?) managed to graduate university...and then kept going? Somehow I just knew Casey had to be behind that, one way or another. I’d have to find some time to ask him about it.
Across from him sat the most… primitive version of myself yet. Alpha Derek. Like, an actual shapeshifter. He had already shifted into his wolf form and nearly tore me apart when he got here. I like to think I’m untouchable, but that was, admittedly, fucking terrifying. But then he shifted back, and he was naked…. Like, very naked. If anything, his shift confirmed what I already knew. They were all very much me. Same body, same everything. Except for their backstories…
After the Alpha calmed down, he explained that he had shifted because he thought he smelled his mate on me. His mate being Casey.
There was also a blacksmith from the 1700’s. A hockey player from the 2000's. (But LA, really ?) There was also a spy which was pretty cool. I think we’d get along just fine. And one guy who was the general of an army? He was from the 1800s, I think. But I wasn’t too sure about that one…
The list went on and on, and Ed was still on the hunt to track down any more that showed up, and a way to get them all home. But till then, I had to explain the current threat to the boys and hoped we could all agree to focus on that in the meantime.
After a few hours of briefing and answering questions, we took a break for lunch. A lunch that I had forgotten I was supposed to have with Casey. Which is probably why she waltzed right in, ready to bite my head off for skipping our meal.
But her anger quickly faded when her eyes ping-ponged across the not so familiar faces in the room.
Just like a Queen, she stole everyone's attention. The boys went quiet, but they were all on their feet, staring at her like they knew her. Like she was theirs…
It was a weird feeling; being jealous of myself. But there I was, seething. It took everything I had not to pull her into me, to cover her in my scent, to mark her like the Alpha would his mate.
Under everyone's attention, and the shock of seeing so many versions of me in the same room staring back at her, she quickly paled.
I had been too busy dealing with them to give her a heads up about what had been keeping me all day, so walking into that conference room had to have been intense.
Thankfully, being skilled in the art of Casey, I noticed that familiar look that glazed across her face. I moved on instinct, just in time to catch her.
The shock of it all caused her to faint, which wasn’t surprising.
Without an explanation, I picked her up, carrying her out to the hallway and into my office where I laid her across the green velvet couch.
What was surprising, was that good ol’ Doctor V was right behind me.
Thankfully, she didn’t black out completely. She quickly came to, her eyes blinking up at me confused to be in my office. Naturally, I didn’t want to expose her to any of the others till she was stable, but Doctor V had followed me in, antsy to check her over. For medical purposes, allegedly.
Sure, buddy.
I watched from the sidelines as he checked her vitals, and worked as efficiently as any other licensed professional. But I was a little annoyed watching his fingers at her pulse point, watching the direct eye contact they held for a little too long. The soft way he spoke to her was teetering on intimate. He was a little too perfect, and it was irritating.
I wanted to be the one to take care of her and explain the situation. At the very least, my medical staff should have been the one looking her over. But for the sake of brotherhood and all, I stood there, arms crossed over my navy bespoke suit, watching him like a hawk. Not that I expected him to hurt her or anything. I just wanted to make sure he didnt get too friendly.
As expected she was fine, just a little overwhelmed. Nothing that some food and water couldn’t fix. Once she promised to eat a bit of lunch, and the doctor finally left us alone.
“So, what’s going on?” she finally asked me directly.
I nodded, knowing I would have to explain it at some point. But it was hard to explain something I hardly had a grasp on. Still, I gave her the summarized version Ed had passed along.
I had expected more questions. But instead, it was her turn to surprise me.
“I want to go back in,” she declared, finishing off the glass of water I made her drink as though that gave her the clearance she needed.
“Case…” I groaned. I didn’t want her anywhere near that room. Not for a while anyway.
“ Der,” she countered, sitting back in her seat. But the fire in her eyes was back. She was feeling back to normal.
I could keep her away, I knew that. But, If I did, chances were, she’d sneak her way in when I wasn’t around to keep an eye on her. I pinched the bridge of my nose in surrender, knowing there was only one way out of this. “Only for a minute,” I explained. “We’ve got work to do.”
And suddenly it was time to properly introduce her to the boys.
I kept her close this time around, my hand splayed across the small of her back. Was it possessive? Maybe. But I couldn’t be bothered to care about appearances. She fainted. I was not going to let that happen again.
“I doubt she really needs an introduction based on the reaction you all had, but this is Casey,” I explained at the head of the table, eyeing each one of them closely for a reaction. My Casey, I wanted to add, but I tamped down the caveman instincts inside of me.
But just like last time, they were too busy looking at her to pay any attention to my death glare.
I turned to look at her too. She was standing there nervously, with flushed cheeks, but her eyes were locked on mine. My lips tip into a smirk of pride. Yeah, this was my Casey alright.
To no one's surprise, Chief Venturi started the introductions first. And after his boring, generic, hero bullshit he added on. “My Casey’s a detective, by the way. The best one in my command. She's done some badass shit,” he added with pride in his voice.
“You have a Casey?” she asked. Her voice was still a little wobbly with shock, but full of intrigue anyway.
The Chief simply nodded but didn’t elaborate. I’m sure that relationship was an interesting one. Casey with a pair of handcuffs at her disposal every day? I wished him luck.
Doctor Venturi went next and I had to try not to roll my eyes. “You already heard about how I became a surgeon,” he explained. I was annoyed with the guy, but maybe I just feeling threatened. He really jumped in and took over as if I didn't have a full medical team on staff. But sure, he could play the hero. They all could. Whatever.
“My Casey is an internal medicine doctor at Sacred Heart Hospital. I, uhh, accidentally followed her pre-med track. We’re roommates. We have…had?” he stopped, tilted his head in confusion. “Had plans tonight…Hopefully she’ll understand,” he explained weakly, not sounding so sure.
Suddenly, I kind of felt bad for the guy. If I finally had plans with Casey and got ripped out of my timeline, I would be pissed at the universe for taking it away as well.
The concern was felt around the room. “I’m sure she will,” Casey promised softly next to me.
Next up was the commander of Casey's army. “My Queen,” he bowed his head, taking a knee in front of her. A little dramatic, sure, but I too would fall to my knees for that woman.
“Queen?” Casey squeaked, looking over to me as if I had the answers. Yeah, no. I couldn't wrap my head around his universe If I tried.
“Where I'm from, Casey is the queen. I was the head of her personal guard, but…” he trailed off, hurt shadowing his features. “Now I command her armies,” he explained.
“I’m sorry,” Casey murmured, looking heartbroken for the man.
“It's an honor,” he added, but I’m not entirely sure whose benefit it was for.
The hockey player went next. “I’m uh, yet another Derek?” he offered, with a sly smile on his lips. He seemed pretty chill in comparison to the others. “I play in the NH for the LA Kings,” he offered, knowing his skills were very different than the rest of the room thus far.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of the LA Kings. The Leafs were my forever team, but I could respect the guy for making it to the NHL. I knew it wasn't easy. He was living the dream.
“Do you have a Casey too?” Casey asked, almost hesitantly.
The hockey player beamed in response. “Yeah,” he replied. “She moved to California with me, wanting a break from the cold. She's at every one of my home games and has been enjoying the California sunshine.” The look on that man's face made me absolutely envious. Casey in California? Sun-kissed skin and summer clothes all year around? Lucky bastard. I couldn't wait till this was all over and we could take a vacation. She deserved to be on a beach, being catered to hand and foot.
The next one didn’t need an introduction. But still, he gave one. “I’m Alpha Derek. And you don’t smell like my Casey. My mate,” the shifter practically growled.
“Your…mate?” Casey asked as if it were possible she had misheard him.
“My mate,” he replied with conviction; like there was no room for argument. “But you don’t smell like her,” he added once more.
“What do I smell like?” Casey dared ask him.
“Like his,” the Alpha declared, the weight of his gaze pinning me in place.
well, fuck. The admission made a shiver run down my spine. Casey smelled like me? Like…mine? Or like my mate? I would have to ask. Maybe later on when she wasn't around.
Before I could speak, the blacksmith spoke up, sheathing the badass looking dagger he had been twirling around his fingers all afternoon. “Look, I don't know what kind of witchcraft this is, but I'll play along. I’m Derek. Yes, another one. The original, if timelines mean anything in this room. I’m a blacksmith. My Casey’s a pirate,” he offered with a proud smirk, crossing his arms over his chest, and leaning back into his chair like he had won the lottery.
He didn’t, obviously. I had. But he was pretty close. Images of Casey cosplaying as Elizabeth Swan filled my mind.
“A… pirate?” Casey asked in complete disbelief.
“One of the best. Technically she's the King of Pirates. You should see my girl with a sword,” he offered, turning to me as if it were a challenge.
“What kind of Disney shi-” I murmured in response.
“Who next?” Casey asked, interrupting me before I offended the guy.
“Nice to meet you, Miss McDonald. I’m Agent Venturi and I work for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.”
“Let me guess. Your Casey is a spy,” Casey added with a sigh, like she was over hearing about how amazing those other Caseys were. Well, I felt the same. But I wouldn’t trade her for any other version.
Agent Venturi just grinned. “She's not mine yet, but I’m working on it,” he explained with a flirty wink. Maybe I didn’t like that one after all.
The last to speak was a smug, arrogant Prince, who wore gold jewelry which included a crown. He had demanded wine as soon as he got a chance and had been annoyed the entire time. “Last but not least, I’m the Prince of Fairy. The Casey I know is a human Princess who does not listen,” he groaned, tipping his head back dramatically. “You’re mortal world is dull. I don't understand why you don't just open a portal so I can go home. Or maybe I can send the Princess here in my place. She’d have fun running around your estate, looking for danger” he offered, rolling his eyes. Clearly, those two had some problems they had to work through. “And can someone please bring me an exliar? My head is pounding and this wine is a disgrace to its name.”
Everyone in the room stared at the Prince, but no one made a move to get him better wine.
It was Casey who broke the trance, completely ignoring everything he had said. “So… You all have Casey?” she asked looking around the table to all the versions of me.
The room erupted in affirmations of all kinds. They might not be with their Casey. But they all had one in their life.
“Okay,” I started, deciding that introductions had gone on long enough for all parties involved. “We’ve got some work to do,” I explained, looking at the boys. We had just started crafting a plan with everyone's expertise. I needed to get back to it.
“And you,” I said, turning to look at Casey, ” need to go lay down. You can hang out with the boys at dinner tonight if you're up for it,” I offered, knowing that was the only way I was going to get her out of the room.
"Fine,” she sighed, but not before looking around at all of those not so familiar faces once more. “I’m pretty sure this is all some sort of fever dream anyway,” she added, before leaving us to it.
Yeah. Same.