Kate shrugs slowly at that, still feeling sort of guilty. "What else was I supposed to do?" she asks. "I'm not just gonna leave you hanging, dude."

It's actually sort of funny to say something like that and realize it's true. A few years ago it might not have been. It's not like she's ever been the most reliable person in the world, kind of flakey and fucking up all over the place, but she's not like that anymore. Not all the time anyway, not when it counts. Her friends are important to her, they're as close to family as she has now, and her family has always been her priority. She might give them shit, but any time anyone else does, she's right there protecting them.

Derek might not need her protection, but she's not just going to leave him without an explanation either.