Money Can't Buy Everything

Chapter 25 Lecturing

---Derek's POV---

I got into my car that was parked further down the street, since everything is mostly blocked off here. I start up the engine, letting out a deep breath to try to help ease my mind, but it fails. So I look up to see what's ahead of me before I drive off, but all I see is Drake flipping me off as I rev my engine and bolt away from the scene while running right over his toes.. But I don't care. He groans out, hitting my car as I pass, causing me to smirk at him and drive away. I arrive right back at the hospital, before getting back up to my dedicated floor.

"What are you doing here man? I told you I would cover you. You need to help Missy right now." Josh declares to me as I groan out and running my hand through my hair. "She asked me to leave. So I respected that and left." Is all I say to him as he gets the most confused look on his face. "What did you do Derek?" He almost demands from me as I groan out more, but don't answer him. I hear his phone ringing in his pocket as he quickly takes it out and looks at it, before quickly answering. "Hey baby.. what's going on??... uh.. yeah, he is here... ok." He says to I'm assuming Sarah, before he hands the phone to me. I take the phone from his hand, putting it to my ear, saying a sad "Hello?"

"What the hell were you thinking?!" She yells so loud that I have to hold the phone away from my ear just to understand her. "I called and asked you to go to Missy, because she needed you! And what did you do?! You went there to fight with Drake, not even caring that Missy's whole life is up in flames at the moment?! Are you kidding me?! All she has told me about you is how understanding and sweet you are .. but here you are not putting her first, but putting your egotistic testosterone first. Man, she just cried on the phone with me, telling me about everything.. So I'm headed there to pick her up now.. but you had better find some way to fix this.. I was just trying to help you out because she likes you a lot.. but if you're just going to be an intolerable jealous asshole, then you can just stay at your work, away from her." I let out a defeated breath, knowing she was crying and talking about how she needs someone and it's not me.. dammit I hate this and feel like the worst. I'm messing this up before it has really even started.

"I know I'm sorry.. Drake just kept talking so much s**t, pushing my buttons like in an elevator.. that I couldn't help myself but to put him in his place.. and all it did was hurt Missy, so I'm already feeling awful about this, just beating myself up before you even started." I said to her as she groans out. "I figured as much when she told me who this involved.. But fine, I'll help you out a little.. So don't mess this up again.. She loves Chinese food, the rain, music and chocolates.. you better find some way to make it up to her or I'm going to find you and kick your ass.. It took lots of convincing for her to agree to finally open her heart and give you a chance and now you're messing it up.. you had better step up your game before you lose her." She lectures me more before I groan out again. "Thank you.. I know.. I will do my best."

"You better, because if I hear otherwise I'm kicking your ass.. now hand the phone back to my beloved man so I can say by to him before I get to her place to pick her up." Sarah demands from me as I willingly hand the phone back to Josh who is glaring at me with disappointment, hearing everything his lady yelled on the phone at me. He is shaking his head at me as he takes the phone out of my hand to keep talking with her. But she is right. I need to figure out someway to make this up to her.

I can't seem to concentrate on anything else but her as I just started to pace back and forth around the hallway. "Is Missy OK? Why aren't you with her?" Heather asked with so much concern for Missy, showing how much she really cares for her. "The building is completely engulfed in flames.. I don't think anything survived, being honest.. but there was a man there that was pushing my buttons trying to take Missy away from me and it started a whole ordeal where I almost fought him, but that pissed Missy off and she asked both of us to leave." I explained to her sadly before Heather scoffs at that explaination. "Just give her a little time.. she just needs a moment because I'm sure this has been stressful on her.. it's devastating to feel safe and secure one moment, then the next to not have any place or anything to call your own anymore.. It will just take her time to recover.. So you just need to be the support she needs right now, showing her that she is not alone in this time where she feels more alone than ever." She explains to me as I nod, understanding what she is trying to portray.

"I think I need to try to talk to her again, but she asked me to leave, but I don't think she should be alone right now." I stated to her as she nods at me. "Wait for just a little bit to respect her feelings and to wait for any explanation from her or if anyone else that is with her." She instructs me as I nod and continue to pace around. "Thanks Heather."

She pats me on the back before leaving the hallway as I pull my cigarettes out of my pocket to at least have a smoke if I have to distract myself for a moment. I show them to Josh, silently letting him know where I'm headed if he needs me. He nods at me still talking on the phone for a moment longer. I wander outside before plopping down on one of the benches that's by the ashtray off to the side of the building in the dedicated smoking area.

I sit here alone just thinking about how this was the first place I talked with Missy and how I just want to be with her right now. I run my hand through my hair as I take a drag of the sweet nicotine, which is the only thing calming my nerves at this place which is good before I lose my s**t. "Hey man, don't beat yourself up too much." Josh says, trying to calm my nerves, but I don't think it's going to work this time. I just shake my head in response as he sits next to me.

"Just give her a little time.. Sarah told me that beefcake antagonized you as much as he could, which I'm sure worked.. Hence, why you're here and not with her.." He states as I nod, letting out another deep breath. "So what are you going to do?" he asks me as I shrug my shoulders.. because the last time I did what I wanted to do, I failed, so I don't know if I can trust what I want to do. "Well do you really like her?" He asks me as I nod in response before he adds. "Ok than I think you should get her and bring her back to your house to stay once she leave her place. I will tell Sarah to keep me updated about what they are doing for you." He declares as I nod at him. "Thanks for that man.. I did tell her I wanted her to stay with me, but it was in the heat of the moment arguing with beefcake.. So I don't know if she knew I was serious."I explained as he nods before stating, "Then you need to make sure she knows that you're serious. This is going to be a hard point for her. She feels very vulnerable because she probably has nothing from that fire.. She is feeling lost and not knowing where to go or what to do.. so she needs someone to help her with this.. to lean on when she needs someone most.. So be that man.. this is your chance to step it up.. so step up or step down man.."

"You're right Josh, I need to make sure she knows I can be what she needs.. This will be hard but I'm doing it." I declared as he pats my back in approval before hearing his phone ding. He looks at it for a moment, reading something before informing me. "So I don't have to ask Sarah to keep us updated because she did anyways. She says that Missy said she needs time to think, so she is going to her spot. So she dropped her off at your place to get her motorcycle and now she is driving to her spot, wherever that is.. but Sarah also tried following her to this said spot, but couldn't keep up, so she gave up and is headed our way now."

I think about that for a moment until I think I know where she went to.. Drake said she always goes to that same spot when she needs time to think, so I bet that is exactly where she is at. "Josh, I have a suspicion about where she might be.. she invited me to meet up with her the first time we kissed and I was told that's her spot to go think.. so maybe I can see her there.. Do you think I should try?" I ask him as he vigorously nods his head in approval. "Do it.. she might not be there but at least you know you tried." He says to me as I stand up looking back at him. "Are you sure man?" He nods then responds, "I got you covered here so don't worry about work.. go get her." I nod at him before softly saying, "Thanks for all your help man, you don't know what it means to me.. just wish me luck." He gives me two thumbs up before I turn around and head back to my Jeep to drive her way.. hopefully.