A/N: I don't own anything but the girls and Sam. I hope that everyone enjoys this chapter.
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The next morning Kelly Clarkson was blasting through the stereo in Kim's bedroom. She was humming as she toweled dry and got dressed. This was one of her favorite songs and just perfect for her morning routine. Running the brush through her hair, she grabbed a rubber band so that she could put her hair up.
Looking around she found her shoes in front of her closet. Why did she take them off there? She shrugged and put them on before getting up and turning off her stereo. It was time to go. Walking out of her room, she grabbed her bag and a bottle of water before she walked outside. Locking her door, she climbed into her convertible Volkswagen beetle.
It was a little chilly so she left the top up as she backed out of her drive and made her way to the gym. She couldn't wait for her day to start because she loved being a coach to these girls and help them reach their dreams just like she did. She had gotten to compete in Pan Globals, Nationals, Worlds, and the Olympics. Nationals and Worlds were the top until she made the Olympic team in 2000.
Getting to go to Sydney and compete on the Olympic stage was something that she had dreamed of her entire life. The Olympics were a world all of their own and something that she hoped that her girls got to do. Pulling up to the gym, she smiled because she was ready for another day of gymnastics.
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Tommy stuffed the pillow over his head as the music vibrated through the house. Apparently Kaylie decided that girl bands were out because some freaking boy band was weaving its way into Tommy's bedroom. This was not a great way to start the morning.
After about five minutes he decided that Kaylie was sending him a message to get up which he did. Walking into his bathroom, he stripped and climbed into the tub. Turning on the faucets he almost lost it. He would be going to the hardware store today because this water heater wasn't cutting it. He quickly finished and got out. This was just too much for him.
Grabbing a nearby towel he wrapped it around his waist and walked back into his room. He stepped into his closet and grabbed a black button up shirt and paired it with black pants. Turning to his ties, he grabbed one of the only white ones and looped it around his neck. He would have to do it later as he located his socks and shoes. He smiled as the house went quiet and he knew that Kaylie was ready. Finished himself, he opened his door and saw her standing there waiting for him.
"So school today?" He asked before looking at what she was wearing.
"Do I look like I am going to school? Uncle Tommy, I would never wear this to school." She said motioning her outfit. Looking at it, he groaned. Sweat pants and a hoodie meant the gym.
"Okay sorry, I just thought that maybe you didn't like it yesterday and wouldn't want to go back." He said walking out and into his living room.
"No I loved it." She smiled as she grabbed her bag that was sitting on the couch from the night before. Sometimes she reminded him of someone that he preferred not to think about. She had always left stuff in the weirdest places.
"So what are you doing about school?" He asked as he led her out of the house and to his Jeep. She climbed in before answering him.
"Well we have a two hour break each day for lunch and schooling. Anything that we can't get done in those two hours is homework." She said as he pulled out of the drive.
"Two hours? I know that is not enough time to get anything done." He said.
"Actually it is. We have tests every week and if we don't pass one then we have to sit out a day of practice to study. Our coach is very adamant about that." She stated as he nodded.
At least her coach made them do their studies. He knew that some only wanted them to focus on gymnastics.
"What time do I have to be back?" He asked pulling into the parking lot.
"Four and please don't be late again." She said climbing out.
He handed her, her bag and watched her walk in. She was early, he knew but at least she was here. Now it was time for him to get to work but first he wanted breakfast.
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"Arch your back on that move and the next one will flow much better." Kim said as Scarlett did as she was told.
Scarlett or Scar as the other girls called her was great on the beam whenever Kim could get her to focus. It was something that she just had to work on.
"Make sure that she does that half turn in her dismount." Kim said to the spotter before walking away.
Scarlett had over-rotated on her earlier dismount so Kim wanted to throw in another half turn to see if that helped. If it didn't then Kim would make her do only one and half turns. It wouldn't score as many points but she could stick the landing. Walking over to the uneven bars, she watched Emily release the high bar, flip before catching it again. She was getting better.
"What do you think of Emily's flip? Do you think that it's good enough for Regionals?" Karen, one of the spotters, asked.
"Actually, I think it's great. You were right; she needed that something extra in her routine. Now if we can get her squared away on floor then she has a great chance of medaling." Kim stated as Emily flew off the high bar in a series of rotations before her feet touched the mat.
She smiled and clapped for Emily's dismount. It was a beautiful dismount and one that Emily had worked on for a month. Kim turned and made her way over to the vault. It was one of the events that the girls always had trouble with.
There was just something about running toward an unmovable object then flipping over it. As she neared she saw Kaylie lining up to take her turn. This was the true test for the young gymnast. If she could do this then she had a real shot of being a great gymnast. Kim paused as Kaylie took off running. She cart wheeled hit the springboard flipped, touched the vault with her hands before completing a double flip. Kim smiled before walking over to her newest gymnast.
"Coach." Kaylie said with a smile as she walked toward Kim.
"Great job. I have never seen anyone who is new to the sport tackle the vault like that. I am impressed." Kim stated.
"Thank you but I'm not new to the sport." Kaylie said turning a little red from Kim's praise.
"I thought that you have never worked in a gym before." Kim said trying to understand.
"Oh I haven't. I mostly worked out in the Youth Center on the beam but for the other three, I went to the park." She said with a smile.
"How did you come up with the moves?" Kim asked.
"I have watched every competition that I could and even watched older ones on youtube." The girl stated while getting back in line for her next turn.
"I never thought of that even though I did the same thing." Kim said before stepping back to let Kaylie take her turn and just like the first time, she did a beautiful vault.
It would be a great one to do at Regionals. Kim smiled before finally making her way over to floor. Whitney was up and she could tell that the gymnast had been practicing. Her passes were almost flawless and it looked like the only thing now was to put it to music.
"Hey Kim!" Sam yelled from behind her. Turning she smiled as she walked toward him.
"What's up?" She asked standing beside him while looking over her girls.
"How's the new girl coming along?" He asked looking down at her.
"Kaylie is doing great. She just tackled the vault with no problem." Kim stated as the girls rotated.
"Well that's good. They look like they are ready for Regionals." He stated as Kim nodded.
"I think they are." She said.
"I'm glad. Also the guys want to know what you are ordering for lunch." He asked turning to her.
"You know if you order then your guys will not keep asking." She said with a laugh. "But I think that pizza is on the menu." She stated.
"Good, they were hoping that it was." He said.
"Yea I'm sure. I will order enough for them as well. Lunch is in an hour." Kim said walking away from him.
He smiled as she walked up to her office. If only she would say yes to a date with him. He had watched her go through her mess with Chris and had given her time that she said she needed but he wanted more from her. They would be good together, he knew. He just had to convince her of that.
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Tommy smiled as he pulled up outside of the gym. He was early for once and he remembered to pick up his niece without Hayley reminding him. She had called on his way over here but he was happy to tell her that he was almost there. He had thought that she had fainted until she finally answered him.
Apparently she had fallen off her chair when he had said that he was almost to the gym. He then reminded her that he didn't forget things all the time which she had laughed at. Sometimes he wondered at who he had as friends. Parking his Jeep he looked up at the sign above the door and paused. Pink Crane Gymnastics could only mean one thing.
The one woman who he never wanted to think about outside of the ranger world was training his niece. Sighing he got out and walked toward the door. Seeing her name on the door only confirmed his thoughts. What would Kimberly think about seeing him in her territory?
Mentally preparing himself, he opened the door and walked inside. He saw her talking to the girls before turning on the mat. She took off running across the mat before completing a perfect double arabian. He stopped beside whoever the man was behind the girls.
"Wow I must say she had still got it. A double arabian is still one of the hardest moves." Tommy said crossing his arms across his chest. The man turned to face him.
"Who are you? The parent section is over there behind the glass." Sam said pointing to the left of them.
"Yea I see that it is but I know her." He said motioning to Kim who was walking back to the girls.
"I'm sure that you do since she is a Gold Medal winner but that doesn't change the fact that the parents' section is over there." He said once again.
Tommy smiled before shaking his head. Apparently this man didn't believe him that he knew Kim. He wondered what this man would say if he knew that they had dated years ago.
"Yea you already said that." Tommy said as Kim noticed him. He knew the minute she realized that it was him and it made him happy. Every muscle she had locked up before she started walking toward him.
"Sir, if you would please take you place in the parents' section. The girls need to get back to practice." Sam said getting really angry that this guy would not get the hint and leave.
"Thomas Oliver, what are you doing in my gym?" Kim asked as she made her way over to him.
"Kim, you know this man?" Sam asked clearly shocked that Kim did know him.
"Yes I do. It's okay Sam, if you could go and watch over the girls. They are all practicing on floor." Kim said as Sam nodded and walked away. "Now explain." She said to Tommy.
"I am here to pick up one of your girls." He stated with a cocky smile.
"You cannot possibly be a parent to one of these girls because if you are then you owe me one heck of an apology." She stated as she crossed her arms. He grinned before stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Why would I owe you an apology?" He asked.
"Because if you had a kid this age then you cheated on me in high school and that opens a whole other set of questions." She explained.
"No I am not here to pick up my daughter but my niece." He said explaining.
"Oh okay well then if you are picking up your niece, I would suggest your wife tell you to wear your wedding band." She stated.
"Are you jealous?" He asked with a smile. He had forgotten how much he loved to tease Kim.
"No just stating a fact." She replied.
"Well in answer to your unspoken question, I am not married." He said as he watched her eyes widened. He knew that she was trying to figure out what was going on.
"Okay then how is one of these girls your niece?" She asked.
"Well I'm pretty sure that she would be my niece if she is my brother's child." He stated.
"What? You have a brother?" She asked clearly upset. "I guess this just shows me that we are no longer friends." She said spinning away from him. She started walking up the stair close to them and he followed.
He wanted to know why she was hurt.
"Kim, why are you upset?" He asked.
"Because once upon a time, you would've told me the minute you found out that you had a brother." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I know that we are not close anymore." She sighed. "Anyway you found you're family, that's great."
"Yea I found them back in high school. David is older than me and has been married for sixteen years. He and his wife are away on business for the next month at least. Kaylie is their only child." He explained as she nodded.
"She is really a great gymnast but I am surprised that you are letting her do gymnastics." Kim stated looking out over the gym. Kaylie was taking her turn on floor. She watched the young girl take off running and do the double arabian perfectly.
"Well that was not my choice. Her parents wanted her to get into some kind of sport and she picked gymnastics." He stated drawing her glaze back at him.
"Why wasn't she in a gym before now?" She asked.
"Well they didn't live near one." He said.
"Oh, well she is really good." Kim stated as he nodded.
He knew that Kaylie was good. He had watched her practice in the Youth Center even if he didn't want to admit it. Watching her now, he could Kim when she was that age.
"Thank you for training her." He said quietly.
"It had nothing to do with you." She replied as he flinched.
He heard the pain in her voice.
"I know but thank you anyway." He said as she nodded. He left then because he could tell it was what she wanted. Making his way back downstairs, he glanced back at Kim. She was looking out over the gym watching over her girls. He knew that she was a great coach. It was just something that he could see.
Turning he made his way over to the parents' section and sighed. There were only women in there. This would not be a great thing for him. Maybe he should've pretended that he was married, it would at least keep those women at bay.
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Kim was pensive as she watched the end of practice. She would've never thought that she would see Tommy in her gym. It was the one place that she had counted on as her haven, her one place to get away from everything and everyone. Walking downstairs she smiled, the girls were doing well and looking ready to go to Nationals. Looking at her watch, she knew that it was time to call it a day.
"Okay that's a wrap. Great practice girls!" Kim yelled as all the girls paused.
They smiled and made their way to the locker room. She knew that they were ready to go home and so was she. After seeing Tommy she wanted to retreat as quickly as possible.
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Okay so what did everyone think? Please let me know.
