A/N 1: I'm baaaaaaack :)
Chapter 25, Part 1: Eye of the Tiger
"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight / Risin' up to the challenge of our rival / And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night / And he's watchin' us all with the eye of the tiger"
Payson had forgotten the contradiction of the Karolyi Ranch during the Olympic Trials; the ranch itself was stunningly serene with towering pines and that rustic camp feel, but the air was thick with the tension of dreams about to either come true or die. It was enough to take Payson's breath away.
"Payson Keeler!" Bela Karolyi's booming voice made her jump and Sasha laughed softly. She glared at him before allowing herself to be swept into a Bela bear-hug. She laughed and hugged him back.
"It's Payson Belov now, Bela," Payson reminded him, holding out her hand to show him the rings. He laughed deeply, a little like she had always imagined Santa sounded, and covered her hand with both of his.
"My dear girl…" he rambled on in a mixture of Romanian and English, and something he said had Sasha laughing. Payson raised an eyebrow at him, asking for an explanation.
"He said he always knew your last name would be Belov someday," Sasha supplied. Payson smiled at him. They'd been married for a month, but it certainly didn't feel like it; she still felt like she'd walked down the aisle only the day before.
"You are ready for selections to begin?" Bela asked as he ushered Payson and Sasha inside the state of the art training facilities. There were two large gym's on the property; one for the men and one for the women, not to mention a "regular" gym full of cardio equipment and weight machines, plus a room for yoga classes. When she had come to the Trials as an athlete, Payson had been eternally gratefully for yoga; she'd never been a big believer in it until then, but it was the perfect way to let go of tension and stress after a long day of the second biggest competition of her life.
"We are," she promised him. He reached out to cup her cheek, giving her a fatherly smile. Bela had taken an instant liking to her at the 2012 trials, and had treated her like a daughter through the entire process. Since Sasha had been required to remain impartial, it had been a great comfort to Payson and she hoped that Bela would take Annabelle and her other elite girls under his wing as well.
"I wish you were competing, puiule," Bela said. "There was never a gymnast like you."
Payson smiled sadly. It was hard to hear things like that when she was technically at an age where she could still compete; her body might even have been able to handle another cycle. The decision to retire had been a surprisingly difficult one, and sometimes she found herself wishing she could change her mind. Watching the 2016 Games from the stands had been one thing, coaching the Games was entirely another.
"We have one who might be close," Sasha said, taking pity on her and breaking in. Bela's eyes danced as he looked up.
"Ah yes, your World Champion," Bela said.
"She added a new skill," Payson said.
"What skill?" Bela demanded. Payson shook her head, trying not to laugh at the legend's enthusiasm for all things gymnastics.
"You'll know it when you see it," Payson promised. Bela scoffed and waved his hand dismissively, like he couldn't believe she wouldn't just tell him the skill.
"Payson, Sasha, I was beginning to think you'd never get here," Adam said, coming from across the gym to meet them. Payson didn't miss the way Bela's eyes flashed dangerously the closer Adam got; the old man didn't like him.
"Adam," Sasha said from between his teeth, reluctantly shaking Adam's offered hand. Payson folded her arms across her chest and just nodded at her co-assistant coach.
For the last two weeks in Boulder, things had been quiet in relation to Adam. He spent much of his time outside the gym with Lauren, and she had even been able to drag him away from the gym during the day too, but Payson knew it couldn't last. Now that they were at the ranch and Lauren was back home in Boulder, he was bound to resume his trouble making. Payson shivered when she remembered the feeling of his lips on hers, and fought the urge to wretch.
"Come, come," Bela said, breaking the tension and wrapping an arm around Payson's shoulders. "The selections will start soon."
Bela led them across the gym to a raised platform with a long table. There were six seats at the table and each had a notepad and pen in front of it, as well as a stack of scoring sheets. Payson felt her adrenaline spike, like she was about to perform instead of watch others do it. Sasha took his seat in the center, with her on one side and Marta Karolyi on the other. Kelly had flown in the night before, and when she saw the Belovs taking their seats she dashed up to meet them.
"Hey," she said, flopping into the open seat next to Payson. There were no squealing hugs or overtures, there never were with Kelly, but she did reach over and squeeze Payson's knee happily.
"Hey. How's it been?" Payson asked, nodding at the floor, where the panic of each gymnast was palpable. Only Annabelle looked serene, standing off in the corner, but Payson knew her panic was raging on the inside.
"You know, it's the Trials," Kelly said by way of explanation. Payson nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Even the most unflappable athletes had trouble during the Trials, falling when they usually stuck landings, wobbling when they were usually steady. Kelly had botched an uneven bars routine during the Trials she'd burst into tears and run off the floor, convinced she wouldn't make the team. Lauren had almost broken her ankle on a fall off the beam, Kaylie's feet had slipped right out from under her during her final tumbling pass on floor, and even Payson's vault had been sloppy. None of them had performed at the top of their game, and they were the best in the world.
"I haven't seen Annabelle's dismount," Kelly went on. "But her vault is looking great."
Payson tried to ignore the lump in her throat. Annabelle still wasn't landing the dismount consistently, as least not consistently enough to impress Marta Karolyi, to whom the big moves didn't matter unless you could do them perfectly again and again. She was landing it, at least, and sometimes she was sticking it, but Payson had been worried about it all day.
"She hasn't done her dismount at all since she got here, I'm guessing," Payson said. "If she lands badly, she's afraid it will shake her concentration."
"I get that," Kelly muttered.
The other NGO rep took her seat on the opposite end of the table, relegating Adam to the very last seat next to Kelly. Payson smiled at what had undoubtedly been a strategic arrangement on Kelly's part. With Adam sitting at the end next to a very loud and opinionated Kelly, there was little chance his opinion would be heard at all.
"Nice work," Payson said. Kelly just smirked.
"All right, let's get this started," Sasha said into the tiny microphone in front of his chair. "This will begin the first of two days of team selection; the top ten girls from today will move on and compete tomorrow, where we will select our five member Olympic Team, as well as two alternates."
There was a flurry of movement on the floor as athletes prepared to start the competition. Sasha's hand settled over Payson's knee beneath the table, squeezing firmly. Payson smiled and laced her fingers through his.
"Good luck, ladies," Sasha said.
And the competition began.
#
"We're running out of time, Adam," Ellen Beals hissed. "Once the Team Selection is made, the NGO will be highly unlikely to fire Sasha Belov. What have you got?"
Adam sighed. It had been a very long day of watching the girls compete for the chance to live out their Olympic dreams, and the last thing he wanted to do was deal with Beals. He wanted to go back to his room at the ranch and call Lauren, but Beals was making that impossible.
"I don't have anything," he said sharply. "The two of them are squeaky clean and if I were the NGO I wouldn't dream of firing them. Ever."
Ellen's eyes flashed dangerously and his heart sank. He knew that look; she was like a cornered animal feeling desperate and out of options. In truth, he felt that way too but he wasn't nearly as diabolical as Ellen Beals, despite what everyone at The Rock thought. He had accepted defeat. Beals hadn't.
"Well then what good are you?" she snapped. Adam hung his head.
"I'll take it from here, but I expect you to be ready," Ellen said, turning towards the door.
"Ready for what?" Adam asked. Surely she couldn't be thinking of pressing on? They were done, toast. There was no way to unseat Sasha Belov as National and Olympic Team coach.
"For whatever I need you to do, Adam. Remember who brought you to the NGO, and who can just as surely see you removed." Adam sighed and nodded.
"Of course, Ms. Beals."
#
"Annabelle," Payson said, trying to stop the girl in her pacing. It didn't work, Annabelle continued to wear through the carpet like a caged, agitated animal. Payson reached out to snag her by the arm. "Annabelle! Listen to me."
"I blew it, Payson," Annabelle snapped. Payson waited and watched as Annabelle's face fell and she scrubbed a hand over her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Belle, if anyone understands the pressure you're under right now, it's me. But you did not blow it, you made it to tomorrow, right?" Payson reminded her. Annabelle nodded.
"Yeah, but I fell on the dismount. Marta is either going to keep me off the team or she's going to insist I change it!" Annabelle said, her agitation mounting again. Payson shook her head, laughing a little bit.
"I know Marta is intimidating, but she is not the coach of the Olympic Team, Sasha is. And while she might have a good deal of sway with those at the NGO, her word isn't law. You are the World Champion, Belle, barring injury you will be competing at the Games next month." Of course, that was a promise Payson may not be able to keep. If Annabelle didn't get her nerves under control, she wouldn't make the top five and if she didn't make the top five she wouldn't compete at the Games. But telling her that would only make matters worse, so Payson kept it to herself.
"How do I fix it?" Annabelle asked. Payson smiled, steering Annabelle to her bed and sitting her down on the edge. Payson knelt in front of her so that the two women were eye to eye.
"Close your eyes," Payson instructed softly. Annabelle's eyes fluttered closed and Payson nodded to herself. "Now breathe in, nice and deep."
Annabelle did as she was told, holding the breath until Payson instructed her to release it.
"Keep breathing," Payson said. "Now with each breath in, remember that you're breathing in strength. You're breathing in the energy of all the Olympians who have been here before you, their legacy, and their greatness. Feel it strengthen your muscles; fortify your spirit and your will. It's the brightest white light that sparkles like stars as it moves through you, do you see it?"
This part of the visualization was a little too mystical for Payson's tastes and when she was competing she would have laughed anyone who tried to guide her through it right out of the room, but she and Annabelle were very different athletes; the mysticism of it would only help Bella. She needed to know that she wasn't alone on the floor.
Annabelle nodded, still breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth.
"Good. Now see how when you breathe it in, it replaces a black, inky sinister cloud? It pushes that black cloud to the tips of your fingers and toes, making it wait there to be expelled. You have to expel it, Annabelle. When you breathe out, let it go. The blackness knows it doesn't belong in you, and if you let it go it will leave. Feel it leaking out the tips of your fingers, draining from you until all that's left is the light," Payson whispered.
Payson fell silent, letting Annabelle breathe and visualize until the girl's shoulders slumped and the crease in her forehead disappeared. Only when she was completely calm and relaxed did Payson speak again.
"Open your eyes," Payson said quietly. Annabelle's eyes flicked open instantly. "How do you feel?"
"Good," Annabelle said, her voice strong and sure. "Much better."
"Very good. Now tomorrow, before you take the floor, I want you to do that again, okay? You are not alone on that floor, Annabelle, every gymnast who's ever come before you is there, cheering you on, guiding you, including me," Payson said with a smile. Annabelle frowned.
"But you'll be sitting at the judges' table," Annabelle pointed out.
"Physically, yes. But in spirit, I'll be on the floor with you." Annabelle smiled broadly, surging forward and throwing her arms around Payson's neck with so much force she nearly fell backwards.
"Thanks Payson. I don't know if I could do this with anyone but you and Sasha," Annabelle said. Payson reached out to ruffle Annabelle's hair.
"Yes you could, you're a champion Belle, you'd have done it no matter what."
#
Payson and Sasha were lounging in bed the next morning, waiting for the alarm clock to tell them it was time to truly rise, as they basked in the afterglow. Sasha's fingers sifted through Payson's hair, nearly lulling her back to sleep, but she forced her eyes to stay open.
"I hate this," Payson muttered, turning her face into Sasha's chest and inhaling deeply the comforting scent of cedar. She smiled.
"What? Lying in bed with me?" Sasha asked, matter-of-factly. He tossed the covers aside and moved to stand. "Okay."
"No!" Payson groaned, catching his arm and pulling him back down. He chuckled and pulled the covers back up over them.
"What do you hate, love?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.
"Selection. I hate that we can't be there to cheer our girls on, that we have to watch impartially and not even so much as look them in the eye," Payson groused. Sasha wrapped his arms tightly around Payson and kissed the top of her head. She nearly purred. They rarely had enough time in the mornings to just lie in bed and enjoy each other.
"I know, but they understand, Pay. Didn't you?" Sasha asked. Payson nodded.
"Well yes, but I didn't like it. I think the only thing that saved me from a mental breakdown was Bela," Payson said. Sasha laughed.
"He and my Dad are remarkably similar, don't you think?" Sasha asked. Payson laughed loudly.
"Yes, they are," she said. "I don't know how I didn't notice it before."
A firm knock sounded at the door. Payson and Sasha frowned at each other, quickly getting out of bed and pulling on clothing. Payson hung back as Sasha opened the door to reveal two NGO officials and Ellen Beals. Payson's heart started to hammer in her chest. Ellen Beals and the NGO at their door before the second day of competition started could not mean good things.
"Good morning," Sasha said genially, though the question was in his eyes.
"Mr. and Mrs. Belov, we have an urgent matter to discuss with you," said an NGO official Payson recognized but whose name she couldn't remember.
"About?" Payson asked, coming up behind Sasha and rest a hand in the middle of his back. His muscles tensed beneath her fingers.
"It has come to our attention that there may be an inappropriate relationship between Coach Belov and Annabelle Mason."
Standing back behind the NGO officials, Ellen Beals smiled.
A/N 2: Thank you to JTellersOldLady, Kipitry, HopeFlies, Kiwiflea, franxample, Ardin, Barrel of Monkeys, poppetrussel, and LauraW89 for your reviews last chapter!
Happy December! Now that NaNo is over, I can devote a little more time to writing fic. And yes, by the way, I did succeed in writing 50k words during the 30 days of November, but my novel still has about 8k to go before I'm done. With the first draft. So it's not over yet, lol.
Keep in mind, my Olympic Team Selection procedures are NOT the real selection procedures. I was not at all going for accuracy here, and I changed a lot just for the hell of it. Also, I know this chapter is a bit shorter than I usually like, but I'm splitting it into two parts because there is just SO much to cover! So be patient with me. And as always…
Review please!