AN: Sorry for the somewhat long delay between chapters, computer issues and having a house to myself tends to makes a person lazy, especially throwing 3 parties in a week...hehehehe. Thanks for waiting! Enjoy!

Chapter 25: Welcome to Camp Hell

Kimberly was sitting in her room all alone hugging a stuff animal toy dragon Tommy won for her at his Dojo Carnival Fair a few months back. Tommy spent 20 bucks to beat the 1 dollar game, but was money well spent in the end at Kim's face when he handed her the stuffed toy. The other gymnasts had gone out for dinner after training all day, but Kimberly just didn't feel like eating, especially after this morning's embarrassment. Kimberly had gotten in an apartment floor with 5 other girls, which was the biggest floor in the building because it was the top floor. The other 3 floors below had 3 bedrooms in it, this one had 4 bedrooms, and one girl got a single room, but that room wasn't particularly big, average at best in size. Shannon Miller, Donna Burns, Becky Warner, Angie Martins and Dominique Moceanu shared the top floor. Kimberly only knew Dominique Moceanu closely since they went to Worlds together, both California girls and got close there, but they weren't put together in the same room. Kimberly became good friends with Dominique Moceanu because of last year's World Championship, where lil Domini finished right behind Kimberly in the standings. They had talked a bit since then over the phone only.

Kimberly and Shannon never got a chance to really become close, though they were closer in age and competed a lot over the last 2 years. Kimberly just guessed it was because Coach Russo never liked the fact that Shannon's coach basically stole Shannon right under his nose. The coaches' animosities never went below a medium simmer. Kimberly was sharing a bedroom with Angie, who was nice to Kimberly in private, but was easily influenced by Becky and Donna. Both girls didn't take a liking to Kimberly right from the moment she walked into the apartment. Maybe it was the expensive luggage, or clothes Kimberly unpacked, bodysuits specialty made just to fit her style. Or that fact that her father had a bed already shipped in for Kimberly along with a personal loveseat. Or maybe they just didn't like how she was getting all the attention from the coach right off the bat on the first day even though she arrived late yesterday. Even Shannon, Kerri and Dominique Dawes, DD, didn't get the attention Kimberly got immediately.

Kimberly was staring at some photos in the book of Tommy and her, caressing his face when her cell phone chimed in to "Endless Love" by Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross. It was set to her favorite song and a song she and Tommy shared at the Prom, so this way she would always know he was calling her and bring joy and happiness to her heart. Kimberly groaned as she opened her phone, after adjusting the icepack on her foot.

"Hello tiger…"

"You sound in pain Beautiful?" Kimberly looked down at her elevated foot on the pillow, wrapped in ice.

"It's nothing. My foot needed some icing tonight, but it's fine now after just 15 minutes." She removed the ice pack and dropped it into a panel so it wouldn't drip all over the floor.

"First day was rough?" Kimberly went on to explain to Tommy about her first hard training day. Béla Károlyi had given each girl his standard workout régime and diet that morning. At least 10 hours a day will be spent training, either conditioning, or their workouts. They were going to work on perfection from their Compulsories routines to Optional routines; there will be no mistaking in that fact. This year's women's Olympic team will go down in history as the greatest ever. Kimberly couldn't believe the condition layouts, but she expected it maybe not so soon.

"Beautiful? Kim… Kim?"

"Huh?"

"You were explaining your first day then you went quiet on me. That rough?"

"Rough is just not the right adjective tiger. But it was okay. It was what I expected, I like it."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"But still welcome to Camp Hell was right?"

"NO!" Kimberly laughed. "I will learn and be strengthen a lot after this. Coach Károlyi is tough, but I feel like he will be a very fair judge of character and he will chose the greatest gymnasts to be on the Olympic Team and lead American to their first gold."

"Well, great. And I know you are one of them. Where are the other girls?"

"They went out to eat."

"Oh, why didn't join them?"

"I wasn't hungry."

"Look, you sound bummed. I don't want to let the first day of training to bring you down. Look at it like this, just 20 more days left to go." Kimberly smiled.

"Yeah. I miss you though."

"Hey, me too Beautiful. Well tell me about the place."

"Well, it's huge for one thing. I think the gym is like 2 football fields."

"Wow."

"Yeah. I'll send you some pictures soon."

"No rush."

"And Coach's staff is amazing, they are very encouraging and… just great."

"When is Coach Russo flying in?"

"Oh, all coaches can come tomorrow."

"Why aren't parents allowed to come to the training center?" Tommy asked.

"Well, Coach feels this is a training camp, where the coaches need to be in charge of the preparation for the gymnast. Plus tomorrow, each coach and girl will sit down with Károlyi to have a one-on-on."

"Ew… something you gotta study for?"

"No, Coach says I don't have much to worry about. I have a lot on my sheet from Worlds and other competitions. I think Coach Béla just wants to know more depth with the girls' coaches their strengths and weaknesses."

"You'll be fine then."

"Thanks." Kimberly sighed.

"Still sad?"

"Not so much sad, just lonely without you. I mean, this bed is great, I really should thank Daddy for sending this bed for me, all the girls are jealous, especially Becky…"

"Becky?"

"She doesn't like me."

"It's only the first day, damn!" Kimberly giggled.

"You tell her that. I don't know, maybe it was what happened at Trials."

"Oh, right. She got bumped early from an interview to accommodate you on the first day at Trials."

"Exactly. Since then, I don't think she likes me."

"She'll get over it."

"I miss you tiger."

"Oh, I miss you so much too. And I hate I can't be there to wrap my arms around you, smell that soft and silky strawberry champagne hair." Kimberly giggled. "It just doesn't smell the same in just my hair."

"You used my leftover shampoo, awww tiger…"

"Well, you already had brought a whole new set, might as well use it up."

"That's so sweet." Kimberly sighed again. Tommy knew that sigh.

"Look, I want to do something."

"What?"

"Take one pillow and turn it long ways and put me on speakerphone." Kimberly did that. "Now hug the pillow." Kimberly giggled.

"This is silly Tommy."

"Well I'm doing the same thing to my pillow, I even sprayed your perfume on it." Kimberly laughed.

"Really?"

"Yes, really! Now lay down with the phone on the pillow too."

"Okay."

"I want to stay on the phone with you all night. I missed sleeping with you last night and just listening to your snoring."

"I don't snore!"

"I love you Beautiful, but you snore. Softly and so very cute, but you do snore."

"And you gurgle and talk in your sleep."

"I do not!" They both laughed. They fell asleep like that, hugging a pillow.

Few days later

Kimberly stood at the sidelines warming up for her practice run on floor the next night. She took deep breaths, as she lined up first followed by 3 other girls, to practice. All were allowed 5 minutes to warm up, but each together doing run throughs on the floor. Kimberly came up a bit short from her double layout. She groaned and favored her foot a bit when she stepped off the mat to let another girl go. Coach Russo watched her flex that foot.

"You okay?" Coach Károlyi asked as Kimberly came down from the floor mat. Kimberly nodded. "How's the foot?"

"Fine."

"I can't have injured ladies on my team Kim. Each girl must be in her very top condition. I won't have one girl hold the team back from greatness. If your foot is hurting you, tell me now. We can stop this. So, I repeat myself, how is your foot?"

"Fine Coach Béla, I promise."

"Good, another run then. Stop fighting your clutch." Kimberly nodded. "You have to have the speed, but not too much or you lose control. Stop thinking about going faster, to make it." He walked away after Kimberly nodded. Coach Russo came up beside Kimberly and put his arm around her.

"You cannot favor your foot in front of him, he will take that into account when he does his final evaluations."

"I know!"

"Okay, so is it okay?"

"Yes."

"Kimberly…"

"I wouldn't lie! It hurts at time, like the first night, but nothing last night nor is it anything I haven't felt before."

"Let's wrap it then for now."

"No! He will see that."

"If your foot can't take a double layout, how can you…"

"My foot is fine! Stop making it an issue. I'm not." Kimberly walked it off and went back to training her floor.

Later that night

Kimberly moved to train on beam that evening and had an unfortunate worst Compulsories practice session on beam she could ever remember and right in front of Béla Károlyi. Coach had set up rigorous series of drills for Compulsories to get the ladies more flexible, higher stamina and increased strength. Kimberly slipped off doing her 3 back flip sequences. Slipped off again on her single spin, which is an easy move normally. It just seemed like Kimberly was thinking too much with each move and not letting the flow of the routine go through her. In the end, she did something very un-Kimberly like. On her dismount, she didn't fight for the landing and fell on her butt after a simple 1/2 twist layout. She was more embarrassed than worried about the falls and miscues. Kimberly knew she was pressing tonight, she had been pressing for the past few days and just couldn't shake herself straight. She was just not in the right frame of mind at the moment. Coach Béla Károlyi brought her aside. He put his arm around her.

"Come on, where is your focus tonight?"

"I.. I don't… I'm here trying."

"I see that you are trying, but you're really not."

"I am!"

"Are you Kimberly, are you really trying or are you giving up."

"I don't give up!"

"Good. I'm glad you feel that way; unfortunately you are not showing it. Everyone else here is training. They all have since they got up this morning and walked into this gym. You are still just going through the motions, giving half performances after 4 days! You were slow bad on bars, too fast on floor and now not even concentrating on beam. We don't have time for you to be wasting space. If you don't want to be here, give up now so I can give my time to another gymnast that needs it."

"I don't give up!" Kimberly yelled again.

"Good." Coach Károlyi let Kimberly go. "Good. Get back on then, and do it right then."

Next day

Coach Béla Károlyi goes over to Kimberly after she pounded the mat after her fall from bars. She just sat there, adjusting her handgrips. Kimberly focus was always intending to be there, but her performance didn't show. Plus not being able to talk to Tommy last night wasn't helping her focus. Her training went into wee morning and Tommy had to be quick with her since he had a tournament to train for himself in a few days. He had to go train with Master Tony early in the morning and didn't have time to talk much to Kimberly because of that.

"What's going on with you today?"

"I'm sorry, I'm trying… but I…"

"I don't want to hear I'm trying from you. Look at everyone here! They fall too, but they get back on again immediately. They keep getting back on 20, 30, even 50 times to get it right. Do you want to make the Olympic team? Because that second place win at the Trials doesn't matter if you can't keep it up here."

"I'll be better."

"Good. Get back on." Kimberly did after she adjusted her armbands.

Brenda came over to Kimberly. She was the head nurse on the staff along with another assistance coach to Béla Károlyi. She played shrink as well to the young girls. Brenda walked over to Kimberly after her fall from bars yet again. Coach Russo went to find some Gatorade to help replenish some energy back to Kimberly.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. I just suck today just like yesterday and the day before, and the day before!" Kimberly ripped and tightened her grips. She sniffed a little.

"You do not suck, Kimberly. You are just fighting yourself too much, fighting your body. You can do this; you can probably do this in your sleep you're that great. You are just doubting yourself a bit too much as if something else is on your mind." Kimberly looked at Brenda.

"Nothing else is…"

"Don't lie. I know that look. You're homesick, but you're not the only one here."

"I'm not?" Brenda nodded with a smile. Kimberly smiled back. Brenda was close, but not completely. Kimberly didn't miss her home, her own room, maybe her bed; but she didn't miss her parents, her brother, her friends that much, well Aisha more so than the others, but what she missed the most was Tommy. Not being able to talk him or anyone as much as she wanted was becoming a bummer and it was just like a week into his camp. Kimberly was more upset she didn't get to talk to Tommy much this morning either on the count of her training. It seemed like they were always missing each other. Tommy even joked it won't be long before he would have to set up an appointment to talk to Kimberly. Kimberly didn't think that joke was that funny. And soon Tommy was leaving for the mountains next week, so once that happens, who knows how long they would be talking then.

"Just the first week sweetie. It doesn't get much easier than this."

"So, basically Welcome to Camp Hell was not an understatement."

"You are at least allowed water here." Brenda handed a bottle of water over to Kimberly. "Drink up kid. You look dehydrated. Drink that bottle, and then get back on. Everyone falls. But only the strong get back up."

"Thanks." Kimberly took the bottle of water. Kimberly drank it down and got back on bars.

Kimberly was lying in her bed hugging her pillow on the phone with Tommy.

"Oh Tommy I miss you so much."

"You okay, you sound a little down."

"No, it's nothing, it's okay."

"Another rough day?"

"It's just hard getting used to another coach's schedule and being so far away from home and my bed, and you of course."

"Of course."

"You should see the girls at the gym. Shannon Miller is awesome! Dominique Dawes is like so fiery and…"

"You are fiery too!"

"I know but she brings it. I mean, these girls are like half my size doing this amazing tricks..."

"Half your size? Man, I better send a doctor up there because those girls are nearing their deathbeds if they are that damn skinny!" Kimberly laughed.

"Well, they are doing moves I can't even dream of…"

"No way! You are an elite gymnast! World Champion! You are way better than what you think. Besides, you got the best moves that I have ever seen." Kimberly smiled. Tommy always knew how to make her feel better.

"Well tiger I think you are just a bit too bias on that."

"Damn straight. No girl is better than my Kimberly. Besides I know you will be fine at the end of these 3 weeks, and everyone will see that."

"Thanks."

"I know you Beautiful. I know you can do this. I have faith in you."

"Thank you." A beep came on the phone. "Is that you?"

"Yeah, hold up a second."

"Okay." Tommy clicked to his other line. It was Oscar calling about their trip. He hadn't been able to get the hotel they originally wanted.

"Kim, I gotta go. That's Oscar on the other line, something went wrong with our hotel rooms. Man, I am really starting to have this planned trip I am taking up to the mountains next week with the guys. Nothing seems to be working out. I still have to do more training tomorrow before my tournament starts, it's just all a mess." Kimberly giggled. "I really miss your organizational skills, I feel lost with you."

"Thanks tiger." Kimberly smiled.

"For what?"

"Nothing, look you better go deal with that."

"Yeah. Unless you want to talk more…"

"No, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes! Stop worrying about me! Go fix the problems! Good luck!"

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too. Good night tiger."

"Night Beautiful."

Sunday Night

After all the girls left, Kimberly stayed behind. It was sixth day at the camp and she felt she was digressing from her routines. Maybe it was being back amongst elite girls again. Kimberly somewhat felt overwhelmed with Tommy not here cheering her on. First of all, she hadn't woken up at 6am to train; first time in years she had done that. But Kimberly loved the quiet of the gym with no one around. How it soothed her soul with the crisp Colorado air coming through the window.

Kimberly walked to the powder chalk stand. She pushed some fallen strands of hair from her face and she re-powdered her hands. She was gonna work her bars routine until she hit every element. Kimberly blew the excess chalk off her hands wiped her feet on some chalk on the mat. She swung to the lower bar and did a multitude of full pirouettes before she did a full circle, feet on the lower bar as she released to grasp the high bar. On Kim's Jaeger release move, she caught the high bar by the skim of her fingertips. Kimberly did the release move again after several giants. Kimberly missed the bar and hit the ground hard on her stomach. Kimberly groaned.

"I can do this! I can do this," Kimberly muttered to herself as she re-chalked her hands and went back to the low bar. Kimberly did her free hip Hecht from the low bar up to the high bar. Kimberly did her release move, Jaeger. She caught the bar with ease. Béla Károlyi felt Kim's bars need a slight upgrade with the layout Jaeger. So, Kimberly trained it to get a guaranteed good score. At first the layout was too inconsistent for Kimberly to test for Olympics and fail. But Coach Russo ensured Béla Kimberly could get it in time. Kimberly did full giants; some even inverted giants. After a few giants around the high bar, Kimberly eyed for her easy dismount, fly-away layout. She stuck her landing. Kimberly nodded.

Coach Béla Károlyi watched Kimberly walk toward the beam removing her grips and tape. She cleaned her hands before going to the beam. She loved training in the quiet gym all alone. All the other gymnasts had gone to their dorm rooms. Kimberly went to the chalk panel. She chalked her hands and feet. Kimberly ran her hands along the beam with her eyes closed before she simply eased herself up. Kimberly stood with her arms out. Kimberly did some arm moves before she stood idly. Kimberly did her full twisting back flip. She had a slight balance check to the side, but was on. She did a simple spin into leg lift at the end. Kimberly was doing some dances and spins along the beam. Kimberly went into a front aerial, took a deep breath, before she did her extremely hard sequence. She did 3 back walkovers in a row, last one was no handed. Béla nodded with a smile. He realized how in tuned with the beam Kimberly was. She could spin, leap and move about the beam as if it was nothing. Kimberly did a simple punch front flip into a blind switch foot leap. Kimberly went into a handstand after a Korbut, back flip into the handstand. Kimberly held her handstand in a perfect position, as she shifted to just one hand on her handstand. When she came up, Kimberly stood idly for a long few seconds. Béla smiled when she did a back full twist flip again, just to prove she had the energy for another one in her performance. Kimberly didn't have the quick balance check as before. Kimberly went back into some dance moves. She did another punch front flip into another leap jump. Kimberly did a wolf jumps, along with simple leaps. Kimberly did more spins before she stood at the end of the beam. She ran down the beam into a cartwheel, and double back tuck dismount. She had no steps back, and held her hands up high. Kimberly looked back to hear clapping. Béla Károlyi was standing there.

"Are you happy with that?"

"Uh, I guess so. Yeah."

"Good, so was I. Now do that tomorrow morning, and tomorrow night, and the next morning and the next night until you can do it with your eyes closed." Kimberly nodded. "I know it's in you. I saw it everytime you competed. You are one of the 3 girls in this country that are grantee victories, if only you believed in yourself." Kimberly nodded.

Kimberly and Tommy on the phone after her awesome night of training alone. She had called Tommy immediately after leaving the gym, not even waiting to change out her sweaty bodysuit and shorts and be in her bed to call him. Tommy couldn't be happier for Kimberly. He knew he wouldn't be long before she was showing her stuff to Coach Béla, Coach Károlyi, whatever that man's name is.

"So, what time is your tournament tomorrow afternoon?" Kimberly asked after closing her bedroom door.

"Like 4. But the finales aren't until the next night, so…"

"Okay. I'll call my champion at 10 the next night then." Tommy laughed.

"You know Jason's in it."

"What? No, I didn't. Are you sure? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just did."

"Are you sure, I mean, in your tournament?"

"Yeah, I saw his name on the brackets today."

"Is that a good or bad thing?"

"Depends on your definitions of good and bad for whom."

"Well, promise me not to kill him." Tommy chuckled.

"It's not a death match Beautiful. This isn't some underground karate match in Japan."

"Still, Jason knows how to push buttons and he will say some things that…"

"Will try to get me disqualified or worst, I'll be good."

"Why is he in this tournament? He hasn't been in any other competitions this year against you. Could it possibly be because I'm not there?"

"Possibly."

"Is it worth it?"

"Worth what?"

"Competing in that tournament against Jason?"

"We would both have to make the finales and…"

"Still, is it worth it tiger? Worth wining it?"

"Worth it? Yeah, well… Not really, it'll be good publicity for the Dojo and…"

"Then win it."

"Thanks Beautiful. I will do my best."

"Well, I better get some sleep. It's almost midnight."

"Okay. Sweet dreams Kim."

"I love you Tommy Oliver." Tommy chuckled.

"I love you too." Kimberly closed her phone with a smile. She went to shower and get ready for bed.

At the tournament, Tommy was getting ready for his first match. It was an 8-man competition. That started early in the afternoon, with the champion to be crowned the next night in the finals. Tommy first match was a breeze; he was able to defeat the guy in the second round of the match. Each fight had 3 rounds of 5 minutes sessions. The first round, both guys were testing each other, it was until early in the second round, Tommy knocked him down with a super spin kick that the guy couldn't get up from. Tommy's second match was no match. Tommy had him knocked out within 3 minutes of the first round with a flurry of punches and the referee stepped in between them to stop the match. Jason had to fight each competitor into the third rounds before he came away with a win. Tommy's second match was first semifinals match, so he got to watch Jason compete. Rocky was next to Tommy pointing out strategies to help Tommy, as was Zack. Tommy and Jason did make the finales and would compete tomorrow night.
The Championship Finales the next night, Tommy stood in his black boxers with green stripes panels. He was warming up against Rocky a bit. Jason was on the other side standing in red shorts and red and black gloves. They stood on other sides of the gym, warming up for the finale championship match of the evening. Tommy went to get some water and use the bathroom when he bumped into Emily.

"Oh, excuse me."

"So, where is your girl?"

"Training at the Olympics, like you didn't know Emily."

"She didn't want to see you get destroyed by my man huh?" Emily asked with a smile.

"Whatever Emily." Emily smiled and walked away. Tommy shook his head.

"What did she want?" Rocky asked.

"To try and distract me with some stupid talk." Tommy applied another round of black tape on his hands.

"Okay. You ready?"

"Of course." Rocky placed the green gloves on Tommy's hand.

"Remember the last time you two fought, Jason let his anger overwhelm him, so don't…"

"I know."

"Watch his punches, he loves to throw a short punch to knock you back when you think you got him on the ropes."

"Okay." The 2 fighters were called out by the announcer to a standing applause by the crowd before they got into the ring. Tommy put in his mouthpiece and walked to the middle of the ring. Jason did the same after a kiss from Emily.

"Clean fight gentlemen. Touch gloves and return to your corners until the bell is rung." Tommy and Jason looked at each other.

"I'm gonna annihilate you."

"Talk is cheap Jason. Last time I checked, I owed you an annihilation."

"Gentlemen, touch gloves." They did rather harshly to one another with their gloves before returning to their corners. Rocky was there with Oscar to hype up Tommy as Jason's buddies did the same.

The match was pretty much even. Tommy would get his points in as well as Jason. Neither could knock the other out long enough to land a final blow. However, Jason was baiting Tommy into a disqualification by his late hits and low blow hits, but Tommy kept his cool, until Jason bluntly tried to kick him in the groin. Tommy had let things go on long enough and kicked Jason backward after landing a square punch to the jaw. Jason fell backward to the mat. The referee counted that a knockout and Tommy won the match. Tommy threw his hands up in celebrations as he walked around the ring. Jason got up after a quick shake of his head, but the match was over with. He had lost. Jason watched Tommy smiling and celebrated and rage filled him. Jason shoved Tommy after hitting him in the back of the head. Tommy turned and the two went after each other. The referee tried to come between them, but was shoved aside. Tommy threw off his gloves like Jason and the two really fought.

"I hate you!"

"I have done nothing to you!"

"You stole her from me!"

"I didn't steal anyone! We fell in love!"

"She loves me!"

"She never loved you!" Tommy had to be pulled out the ring by Zack, Rocky and Oscar to stop the fighting. The referee and sponsors quickly had Jason escorted out the arena with his crew. The other fighters there congratulated Tommy after receiving his trophy and awards.

Jason threw his gloves and bag into his car as Emily was standing there shaking her head. Jason's friends standing there, as Emily refused to get into the car.

"What?" Jason yelled at her.

"You are still in love with her," Emily stated, not asking. This wasn't their first fight over this issue. Emily and Jason seem to get into fights over Kimberly lately. Emily was tired of this issue. They had been together long enough. Kimberly should not even been a problem anymore, yet here it was yet again.

"Excuse me?"

"You still love Kimberly."

"Emily, I don't need this from you."

"I heard you! You attacked Tommy because he has Kimberly and you don't!"

"That's not true!"

"Really! If it's untrue! Then tell me you don't!" Jason looked at Emily. "Because you can't Jason. And you know you can't."

"Emily…." Emily walked away and stopped. She turned back to Jason.

"You know what, when you're ready to move on, I'll be here. But don't take too long, because I won't be there forever."

"Emily stop it! Get in the car!"

"I can find my own way home!"

"I drove you here!"

"I'm a big girl Jason. Besides, your obsession over your ex leaves no room in that small car for me." Emily walked away.

"I'll take her," Nick said.

"Come on bro, let's go. She needs to calm down, that's all." Eric got into Jason's car.

Kimberly found herself exercising all the time to get in shape up to Coach Károlyi's standards. Coach Russo had set forth a brand new dieting plan, to help Kimberly meet Béla's wishes, but Kimberly wasn't losing the weight quickly enough. She was tired of being tired and hungry after each session because she had to cut back on water or carbohydrates to meet weight check. Kimberly was training on floor and finished a full twisting double layout when she looked up to see Tommy standing there with a smile. He clapped at her full twisting double layout dismount.

"Hey!" Tommy shouted. Kimberly gasped thinking she was seeing things. She hopped up into the air with a skip.

"TOMMY!" Kimberly took off in a ran from the mat to race over to Tommy. "Oh my gosh!" He caught her in a hug. They spun around kissing.

"Hey! You surprised!"

"What are you doing here?" Kimberly asked as Tommy put her down.

"I came to visit you of course! It's been 11 long days without you!" Kimberly kissed him again after holding his hands.

"You are so crazy! I thought you were going to the mountains with the boys!"

"We are! I heard the Winter Park here in Colorado is the best for skiing." Kimberly laughed and kissed his other cheek.

"You are too much!"

"Wow, this is a huge gym! And I thought your gym was huge." Kimberly laughed as Tommy looked around.

"Kimberly!" Kimberly looked back.

"Was that him?"

"Yeah, and this is really not a good time."

"Why not?"

"I haven't been doing so well today."

"Hey! You just landed a full twisting double layout!" Kimberly smiled, rubbing her forehead.

"Well, I stepped back on the dismount."

"A tiny step if that."

"Still, it's a tenth."

"So what just a tenth, won't hurt."

"Yeah, well you don't know Coach."

"Well," Tommy said copying Kim's well and her tone. "Can you get out of here for a little bit, maybe lunch?"

"Right now?!"

"Yup!"

"Coach likes it if we have lunch together, like a bonding thing."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry."

"Well, I'll join you then."

"Kimberly!" Kimberly looked over at Coach Béla Károlyi. He was looking sternly at her. Kimberly bit her bottom lip.

"You wouldn't like it. Look, Coach has been really riding me lately to do great, I have to have a good day or…"

"But I miss you."

"I missed you too tiger and I wish…"

"Kimberly!"

"In a second!" Tommy yelled to the coach.

"Tommy!" Coach Béla Károlyi crossed his arms over his chest, tapping his foot with his eyes on Kimberly.

"What, he can wait one freaking minute!"

"No, time is not a luxury here!"

"Fine! Then I will stay and watch you train." Tommy smiled. Kimberly bit her bottom lip.

"Kimberly!"

"Okay!" Kimberly grabbed Tommy's arm and pulled him away from the floor. "Look, I'm sorry, but I have to really concentrate and I…"

"What, you can't with me here?"

"No! That's not it! I just... I'm sorry." Tommy shook his head. "But you can't stay."

"What?!"

"Please just go. Go, go ski, I mean, that's why you came here right?"

"I came here to be with you. I convinced the guys to drive all this way, so that I could be with you and they could have their mountains."

"I know I have said this probably too many time right now, but I'm sorry. Coach won't let you stay."

"So that's it. I drive freaking all night and morning to be with you and I can't spend one minute alone with you away from all of this! Tell me how this is right!"

"I'm sorry Tommy! Right now is just not a good time!"

"Yeah, I know, it never is with you lately." Tommy walked away.

"Tommy…" Tommy looked back after he stopped. "I love you." Tommy nodded.

"Yeah sure." Tommy pushed the door harshly and left the gym. Kimberly sighed as she put her hands on her hips. She wiped a tear for her eye and went back to training.

AN: Thanks everybody! Keep 'em reviews coming please! Love ya! Babyee!

:P

Teaser to Chapter 26: A Tattoo is Crazy

Kimberly and Tommy were laughing about some joke, when the door opened. Kim's smile faded as she saw Coach Károlyi standing there. She sat up with a gasp.

"Coach!"

Tommy and Kimberly sat on the couch in the living room. The girls were excused to their bedrooms, but all were pressing their ears against the door to listen in. Coach was standing before Tommy and Kimberly.

"Do you realize how many rules you have just broken Kimberly?" Kimberly looked up at Coach somewhat scared, knowing she was in trouble. "I could have you kicked out this camp for this."

"No!" Kimberly shook her head. "But sir, we were just sleeping…"

"No unannounced guests are allowed in your bedroom period!"

"But I…"

"And no boys sleeping over!"

"Look, Coach Béla or Coach Károlyi or whatever your darn name is…"

"Tommy!"

"No, Kim! Sir, I'm sorry about breaking some stupid rules about guests and sleeping over, do not blame Kimberly. I pushed her into letting me stay because I missed her and I wanted to be with her. You can not punish her because of my actions. I know how important this camp is for Kimberly and it's for you to decide who goes to the Olympics, but you have to know something. No one knows Kimberly better than me, and if you want the best from her, I better be here. Only us being together can great things happen. And I don't have to spend the night here, I can get my own room, but I will be with Kimberly, through the rest of her training and there is nothing you can say or do that will stop that." Coach Károlyi looked at Tommy.

"We shall see."