I do not own Kickin it or any of it's characters. This is all about Kick but they aren't together here because it's just cuter that way. Hehe enjoy!:)
This has been one heck of a week. Kim was brutally dumped in front of everyone at school and the boys saw everything, but they did not know how to help. They were sweet but completely clueless. Her feelings for the guy we're mediocre but what hurt was that he didn't want her. She also lost a tournament and her self esteem was pretty much obliterated. Jack watched her from a distance as her self elected protector. He leaned against the open door of the dojo when he had spotted her enter the courtyard. They all knew she was working herself way too hard to distract herself, but they knew Jack would take care of it.
He studied her unintentionally sulky manner as she tried to graciously weave through the large crowd that had so suddenly gathered. He watched as she pressed her headphones into her ears trying to block out the commotion that overwhelmed her now. His heart quickened when she squeezed her eyes shut as she was pulled and shoved by the ignorant mob. He mapped his way through the crowd and made it through as quick as he could. His eyes locked on her as he pushed and shoved as well.
Her breaking point threatened upon her as she turned around to run away. Just as she took a running step, a strong hand gently grabbed her wrist. He pulled her through his previous route and guided her through the door. Her breathing slowed as he shut the doors, drowning out the sound of the flood of people. He took her hands and looked at her deeply. He took a deep breath as instruction for her to do the same, and together they relaxed. His unbelievable understanding and compassion was more appreciated by Kim than he would ever know.
Her slight shaking was now gone and his hands warmed hers as he now held them so carefully. Their beautiful silence was broken by the loveable but rowdy friends that piled in. They worked out and joked like usual on the uneventful Thursday. Without being too obvious, Jack kept a close eye on her all the while. They all kinda did. They were all sort of waiting for her to snap, or at least do something. It was worrisome that she'd neither shown nor expressed to them, any of her feelings on the horrible events of the week. They would take any kind of expression at this point, just to know how she was feeling.
When the day ended she hadn't noticed. She continued to work hard until the lights were suddenly out, breaking her trance. She looked up to the four wide eyed boys staring at her, waiting for an answer to a question she did not hear.
"What?" she quietly squeaked.
"Time to go Miss Crawford." Jerry sweetly joked. She glanced out the door to see it was almost dark out. She hadn't had a clue.
"Oh I'm sorry, hold on." she grabbed her bag and made her peace with going home in her gi.
She was thankful she was able to borrow her father's car since he was out of town this week, but it wasn't in the best shape and that kind of scared her. She didn't know the first thing about cars. She shoved the worry away and clung to the reminder that she didn't have to walk home. Especially now that it was raining, and she had a very thin jacket that was hoodless. She got in her car and quickly turned on the heat. As she pulled out she heard a funky sound coming from the car, but she figured it was just old. As she got further away from the mall the unresponsive car was seriously freaking her out.
She pulled over and came to an abrupt halt. She prayed and turned the key again to hear nothing, not one sign of life. She put her head to the steering wheel and cried. Even in front of herself she needed to prove her strength, so she immediately wiped her face and got out of the car. She would walk home if she must, what's a little rain? Ok, a lot rain. Ok, it was like a dam broke above her head. But she had to do what she had to do. This really sucked if she was being honest.
The next morning the boys all loaded into Rudy's van for another day at their beloved dojo.
"Wow its still raining, thank goodness I always keep a back up umbrella." Milton mumbled.
"Hey do we need to get Kim? I'm right by her house, I could just swing by." Rudy asked without care for Milton's ramblings.
"She's driving her dad's car this week, we're good." provided Jerry. With a confirming nod from Jack in the front seat, Rudy continued on.
They drove down the windy, wet road when Jack noticed something.
"Rudy stop, is that Kim's car?". Without a second thought, Rudy pulled over. The concern in the car was high as growing closer confirmed Jack's suspicion. He shot out of the car and ran to the door, ripping it open. His head dropped with disappointment and was heavy with rain in his shaggy brown tuffs. He hopped back in the car with a face that filled them all with anxious fear.
"She wasn't in the car. Based on what I saw I'd say it broke down this morning and she tried to walk to the dojo." Jack said with his hands rubbing his jeans.
"Nah, I'd say it broke down last night since it's pointed the opposite direction." Jerry uttered with a hand scratching his worried head. Jack closed his eyes at the revelation.
"I'll drive slowly and we can look out for her in case she didn't make it home." Rudy said as he pulled out. They didn't make it too far when they saw a small weary figure on the side of the road, leaned against a stump.
They quickly pulled over and Jack flew out the door. He ran so fast he almost couldn't stop when he was upon her. She was hugging her knees tightly and her face was buried in them. He crouched down with a twisted face that was lost for words.
"Kim, it's Jack." he comforted in hushed tones. She lifted her head and was too exhausted to show her shock. He understood and automatically lifted her like she weighed absolutely nothing. He paused with her in his arms. He was surprised when she nuzzled into his chest to warm her crisp cold face. He didn't like how pale she was and even less how little emotion she was showing. He squeezed her tightly with a kiss in her hair, causing her to look at him. She nudged her legs downward and he warily complied. The other boys squinted through the raindrops that covered the windows of the car, trying to decipher what was taking so long.
He wrapped himself around her as they took their time walking to the car. He opened his door, prepared to give her the front seat. Without giving her a chance to refuse he lifted her and laid her easily in the front seat. All that was heard in the tension filled air was the relentless pitter patter of the poorly timed downpour. They were so used to their angry, sassy, strong girl that didn't usually let people touch her. This was an alternate reality. He peeled off her sopping wet jacket and Jerry offered his dry one. He placed it over her shoulders and her eyes were long closed since Rudy had immediately turned up the heat.
They all eagerly awaited words from her. Her powerful hands were now so small and delicate as she warmed them on the measly heater. Her harsh shivers and wet hair put a pang in each one of their chests as they listened to her thankful breath go in and out. She cleared her throat and gave them all a sweet thank you. She really was grateful and they were grateful that she was ok now. She had convinced them that she was completely fine by just some simple conversation. She knew how to manipulate them easily, but never liked the guilty feeling that accompanied it.
Before they knew it they were at the dojo, and the whole yucky incident was behind them. As Kim walked in, she felt a small sting in her throat. It was still very early morning and she hadn't had any sleep, so she didn't give it much attention. An hour later of them all sitting around on mats pretending to work, she began to get chills. Her attempt at raising her internal temperature seemed somehow futile. An hour later she was muffling coughs and trying to hide her face with her hands as the boys chatted.
The heavy warmth in her head drowned out their conversation as she looked at the fingers she fiddled with. Rudy interrupted the moment by coming out of the office and telling them to pair up for sparring. As they all dawdled in preparation, Jack offered her his hand and pulled her to her feet. She began to cough again, but this time it sounded much worse.
"Hey, you alright?" he asked as he took her hands that were so cleverly hiding her face. They were very warm and he held them up examining them and then looking in her eyes to see they were a watery red. Her hand still in his, he used the back of his knuckles to feel her cheek. It was also warm and her evasion to eye contact proved to him that she felt as bad as she looked. He looked at her heavenly face as she just looked at the ground.
"Kim, maybe you should head home earl-" he started when Rudy began yelling like usual.
"Ok! Jack, your with Milton, Jerry your with Kim." As they parted from each other, their hands slipped from one another's grasps reluctantly. Jack would watch her intently now, no matter what. He gave half hearted hits and pretend practice blows. Jerry was lazy for the most part, but followed the routine. He kicked over her head where she was supposed to dodge it, but she was groggily unfocused and they directly collided. Jack having watched everything, was there with prepared arms.
He caught her before she hit the ground, his arms cushioning her without a sound. Her head fell back and eyes closed for a moment gave them all a twinge of hot fright. Jack wiped the hair from her face as he examined her. She forced her eyes open to avoid further embarrassment and sat forward quickly. The dizzying disaster caused her to put a hand to her forehead as they asked if she was ok. Jerry felt especially concerned, being the guilty party. She squinted as she rubbed the sore spot and responded with with an unenthusiastic "Yea, I'm fine.". To everyone and even to her own surprise, tears began to fall down her flushed face.
"Are you sure?" Jerry inquired with regret in the droop of his shoulders. The small tears were soon an unstoppable flood. She held back sobs, but there was nothing left to hide now.
"Yea, sorry. This has just been the worst week ever.". Speaking broke down the last ounce of strength that held back the flood gates. She turned her head and covered her face for any last chance she had of keeping up her strong image. It was useless. Jack quickly pulled her in and that's when she decided to give up. The boys looked at each other with sorrowful glances as she sobbed, wrapped around Jack completely.
He mouthed to Rudy over her shoulder that he wanted to take her into his office to which he returned a kind nod as he opened the door for him. Kim was already in his arms so he simply stood and carried her inside. Her cries became muffled as he shut the door behind him. He sat down with her and kept her close as she let down her guard. As hard as it was to see her like this, it was a weight off his shoulders that she'd become comfortable enough to be vulnerable with him.
He felt his heart break as she cried herself to sleep. But at least she was now at peace and she did look lovely. In fact she was unbelievably bewitching. His gaze fell to her hands. One cupped the other graciously and her warm red fingers were smooth and he dared not touch them for fear of ruining the image. Her head rested so contently on his chest. She fit with him perfectly. He was pleasantly surprised by their compatibility. He peeled opened the shades to see the boys pacing outside the door. He chuckled and decided he would let her sleep. He very carefully laid her down and threw a blanket over her.
He cringed as he twisted the creaky door knob, but she did not stir. He beared in mind that she was wiped out and would probably be out for awhile. He eased the door closed and put his hands in his pockets with a deep, alleviating breath. The others gathered around him for answers.
"She's just sleeping now. I think it'll be for awhile, she was probably walking all night ya know. Plus, don't tell her I told you, but she's definitely sick. No wonder with last nights crazy rain and all that she's been through these past couple days. Anyways, let's just keep a close eye on her ok? Without her knowing though, you know how she is sometimes."
"I don't know," Jerry started.
"She seemed pretty cool with you man." he said with a respectful slap to his arm. Jack tried to contain his smile as they departed from him, but he couldn't help feeling overjoyed at the thought that him and her were getting closer. Thinking of her like this made him miss her. He went back into Rudy's office and he would be there when she woke up and for as long as she needed, for whatever she needed. And he'd be there if she was ever ready to open her self completely to him as a person and his love that he had only for her. Even if she was a little out of reach.