Hello friends! Welcome to my Nerd/Black Widow prequel. Gonna be doing something a little different with this one but basically I had a few requests for mixing Kasey into storylines from 1A. I had a few ideas of my own for doing this but didn't want to re-write the show or change the story as it's too perfect. I then had an idea to maybe integrate Kasey into the scenes in between as well as maybe elaborating on some of the scenes just with the other characters. I hesitated, re-thought, convinced myself, changed my mind and got encouragement from some of my good cyber friends (and thanks to each and every one of you who helped me bounce this idea of you) so I've finally bitten the bullet and decided to write and post.

I had intended to post this leading up to finish before the premiere but it ended up a lot longer and more time consuming than I planned - but I did want to get it started before 1B. I am sorry that it won't be finished before then - it's so far looking at about 4 chapters per episode.

Clearly, as the plot will not change, don't expect high drama - it is a character development focussed story and if you're looking for action you probably won't find it here but I will try and throw in as much excitement as I can without changing the flow of the story. I am kind of using Kasey to be the character that the viewer is - observing things, sometimes saying what I (and maybe you) was (were) thinking and maybe drawing out some of the feelings that I think the show could have elaborated. I have also tried to give her her own storyline when possible.

I hope you enjoy it and would love to know your thoughts. Any constructive feedback is most welcome!

Finally, thanks to my three betas for this particular chapter - TheTBone, Mea23 and MeryGFos.

Lena sat staring at the wall flicking her pen against her lip furiously. She checked the clock and was relieved when the phone call was finally answered.

"Mike. Hi. No everything's fine - Stef isn't still there is she?" she sighed at the response and tapped her pen furiously on the desk.

"Right, of course. Sorry. I've been a little distracted. I know Stef said you had a meeting and couldn't go to the concert?"

She checked her watch again as there was a small knock at the door. She peered round and jumped up as she processed to Mike's short answers.

"Hang on - your daughter's just arrived." she opened the door as Kasey began to heave her way in on two crutches but Lena put a hand up to signal her stop and grabbed her coat.

"I need a huge favour - as you pointed out, Stef's with Brandon and something important has come up. I can't get hold of her."

She shooed Kasey out who shot her a confused look and swung herself out of the way as best she could.

"I'm gonna take Kasey to the doctor's but can you pick her up when you're done and take her home?"

Kasey's eyes flared as she began to protest but Lena shushed her and tried to listen for the response.

"Thanks Mike, I'm really grateful. We'll explain later but something important may have come up. OK. Thanks."

Her conversations with Mike were usually blunt, the way she liked to keep them. She hung up and pushed the phone into her bag.

"Mom! Dad?! Really? He does nothing but go on at me since...well." Kasey moaned hobbling behind.

"Well you should have thought of that before you did something as stupid as climb up a trellis at 1 in the morning. I'm sorry Kasey but it's important and your Mom is with Brandon. Your Dad was going to miss the concert anyway and he's the natural choice."

"But he won't be done for an hour or so. Can't you pick me up after your thing?" she moaned. She had been trying to avoid her Dad ever since the sneaking out injury occurred as every encounter seemed to end up as a lecture.

"I'm not sure how long it's gonna take and we never know what time you get done. It'll be good for you to spend some time with him anyway, he's gonna take you for dinner. It'll make up for you having not been able to see much of him recently."

"Really? 'Cause he seems to be hanging around a lot more. Come on - you must notice how much more he's interfering with things. He never used to."

"You speak like having an involved father is a bad thing." Lena interpreted.

"No it's not...he just...I dunno. He's always asking me questions about who I'm friends with, who I'm seeing suddenly. I wouldn't care if he ever remembered but he just does it to go through the motions. Unless it's an irrelevant boy who he then never forgets."

Lena put her own distractions aside for a moment and laughed.

"Kasey - you've got a broken leg.."

"a hairline fracture..." she corrected as Lena smiled over to her.

"OK - a hairline fracture. Your dad has every right to be annoyed at the means by which you acquired it."

"You'd think that Zak gave it to me the way he acts though. I mean come on - it's hardly the first time I've..." she quickly stopped as Lena raised an eyebrow.

"That I've bent the rules slightly..." she diverted as Lena gave an knowing exaggerated nod.

"But I'm hardly a rebel. Does it not bother you he seems to be creeping in more?"

"I can't say it makes me comfortable but I'm sure it's just because he's concerned."

"It's because he's lonely."

"Well then spending some quality time with his daughter may be the perfect cure. Take one for the team and stop complaining. Some kids have no parents - you have 3." Lena's voice cracked slightly as her mind shifted back to her main aim of the evening. It didn't go unnoticed as Kasey picked up on the mystery.

"Fine - but can you at least tell me what you're doing?" Kasey carefully launched herself into the back seat of the recently unlocked car.

"Not until I've spoken to your Mom about it...I'm not sure what it's going to be and I certainly don't want her to hear it from you."

Kasey gave a wide smile. "Uh-oh! What's she done now?"

Lena rolled her eyes. "Nothing - behave yourself." she ordered, quickly reversing off and speeding out the parking lot as fast as she could.

"Why all the secrets? Is it big?" Kasey probed, intrigued.

"It's not your business. Not yet, so be quiet and start thinking of ways you can be civil to your father." Kasey's face dropped, that her distraction had failed and she was being forced to think about it again. Stef and Lena had been mad that she had tried to sneak in after curfew after a date but at least they knew she was on it. Mike hadn't known. It was an irrelevance in itself but not from Mike's point of view and he wasn't very good at hiding resentment.

After few moments of reflection Kasey looked across at Lena. She could tell that whatever it was she wasn't telling her was bothering her. She was nervous and twitchy and she kept checking her phone, presumably for Stef. Kasey did have one theory about what could possibly be so important. Jesus had been confiding in her and she knew it was one subject that always made Stef and Lena uncomfortable. The woman they could never understand and certainly could never explain. The twins' birth Mom.

"You meeting Bill by any chance?" she asked peering over as Lena looked back slightly confused. She didn't know why she was surprised, Kasey had always been dauntingly perceptive.

"It's nothing that concerns you Kasey." she sighed.

"It does when Jesus keep talking to me about it. I don't get why Mariana is so obsessed. Once an addict always an addict." she folded her arms in sympathy for her brother who she knew would prefer to leave that chapter closed.

"You sound too much like your mother." Lena responded. "It's Mariana's choice, whether we want to protect her or not. Besides, you know she will find some way to get what she wants whether we let her or not. I'd rather be in control of it." Stef had been a lot more flippant about not wanting Ana back in their life. She knew drug addicts and had seen her neglect first hand before Lena had. Lena however, although being wary, couldn't ignore her years of study and knew how important it was for her children to be able to understand their roots.

Kasey threw her a concerned look but decided not to push it. Ultimately, Lena was right and it wasn't her business. Even if Mariana wanted to see Ana, Jesus wouldn't have to - it would just force him to make a decision that he had happily been able to ignore until now - and she also knew that Jesus' loyalty to his sister meant that if she wasn't happy he wouldn't be either. Finally Lena broke the silence to try and end the uncomfortable topic.

"Anyway, this isn't about that." she cleared her throat and finally pulled into the parking lot of the surgery.

"Now I am intrigued..." Kasey remarked, slightly confused that she had been wrong.

"Well you only have to worry about it for another couple hours. You'll find out when you get home. Do you need help getting in?" she offered hoping it would put an end to it.

Kasey rolled her eyes, surrendering to the obvious tangent.

"No I'm fine, I can practically waltz in these things." she opened the door and hopped out.

"Not that I'm not still planning to ditch Brandon for the Quinceañera." she added briskly realising the smile that crept on Lena's face.

"Hope it goes fine, any problems one of us will come collect you."

"Like if I end up putting a crutch through my Dad's..."

"Be nice!" Lena ordered sternly cutting her off as she smiled and closed the door before hobbling off.

Lena took deep breath and tried Stef one more time. She wasn't sure whether she would have access to her phone at the concert at all or be able to slip out. She wasn't meeting Bill about the twins but he had been in touch with very limited information. It wasn't the first time, he had done it. Every now and again if he was in a last minute jam and needed their support he would call on their help but usually never for more than a few hours - and he had never asked her to meet him at the place he asked to meet her today. The information she had received from him was vague and she was probably over-reacting but that didn't stop her from longing for Stef's input, for both solidarity and reassurance. She didn't like making unilateral decisions, especially not of this magnitude. After another failed attempt she put the phone away and decided she'd have to stop putting it off. She pulled away and made her way to the juvenile hall.

"You wouldn't believe how much of an asshole Vico was. I mean seriously, that guy has issues. You could tell he was only after one thing, bragging about all of his "experience" but still trying to pretend that wasn't what he was after." Lexi reported as the three girls walked home from school.

"I don't even know why you went out with him in the first place. We all know that the extent of his experience is his left hand and Mommy issues." Kelsey chipped in as both Lexi and Mariana grimaced.

"So how did you do on your paper?" Lexi asked, changing the subject.

"Pretty good thanks to my supplier." Kelsey nudged Mariana.

"Kelsey, don't call me that." Mariana snapped defensively looking around.

"What?" she shrugged back. "I didn't even mention you - chill your beans, jumpy. Anyway - you are."

Mariana looked at her with a side glance. It sounded so dirty and underhand when Kelsey talked about it so flippantly. It was so much more than that - it was for someone she loved - or used to love...but also used to hate. Right now she didn't know what was happening but she couldn't avoid that it had a constant presence in her mind. Wondering if Ana had written again, wondering when the handover would take place. It would have to be soon and it was a constant knot in her stomach. It was a bittersweet excitement. It could answer some questions that had been niggling at the back of her mind for the last few years but at the same time she had never felt so vulnerable.

"You OK, Mari?" Lexi asked concerned, noting the silence.

Mariana snapped out of her thoughts and threw her a side smile.

"I'm fine, just - you know. Got stuff on my mind. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Hey, this doesn't change you getting me some more tomorrow right? I have the cash in..." Kelsey asked, suddenly nervous that Mariana's mood may affect her supply.

"Nothing's changed." She sighed.

Lexi looked across at her with concern and gave her a hug.

"See you tomorrow." She smiled. "Well talk later." she winked, knowing that Kelsey's presence never made serious conversations easier. Mariana smiled in appreciation and made her way back to her house. She got upstairs and put her laptop in front of her on the bed. She stared at it for a little while hoping but also fearing what would be there when she opened it. She wanted it. She wanted more, but it didn't mean that lump in her stomach wasn't there. Like ripping off a bandaid she flipped it open and went straight to the chat box. She had replied.

"It would be great if we could meet soon - the money will really help. I'm so glad you found me."

She read it over and over. Lingered on ever word. This was going to be happening.

"Mari?" a voice came through the door and she snapped the laptop lid down.

"You hiding something?" He asked through a nervous laugh in response to her suspicious behaviour.

"No - you just surprised me." She folded her arms. "What is it?"

"You done your English paper yet? I left my book in my locker and it's due tomorrow."

She was grateful for the dose of normality.

"Can't you just do it without it?" She asked him.

"I haven't read the chapters." He shrugged. "Can I see your answers?"

She rolled her eyes and chucked him his copy of her book. "Here. That's all your getting."

He caught it and sighed. "Fine. Hey, Mom called. She said she's gonna be a little late so can we set the table and put the lasagne in from the freezer."

"We?" She widened her eyes knowing he was basically asking her to do it. He looked at her sheepishly.

"OK, OK - I'll do it later. I need that back before class." She warned him as he nodded in made his way out.

She opened the laptop up again and wiggled her fingers.

"Sure. Just tell me when is good for you." she wrote. She stared at it for a few moments and bit her bottom lip down.

She counted silently in her head and tapped send before she could change her mind. This was going to happen.

So as I say, each episode will include about 4 chapters glancing on many of the bits before or after a scene. Some of them I will use Kasey, some I will keep it to other characters. As always I'll also happily take requests for scenes you may have liked, if I haven't already explored them and it fits I will add them in - I'm trying to keep it broad rather than keep it a Kasey centric fic though as a lot of other material was covered she will be in it a lot so I have some freedom.

Anyway, I'd love to know what you think and all feedback welcome - but preferably keep it constructive!

And of course - Happy New Year!