Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers, or the settings where they have taken place. They are owned by Saban. I don't wish to get sued.
Authors Note: Here is the next chapter of a story that I have neglected unfortunately. It will not be neglected any more! Please R&R!
Tommy comes back to the hospital around 1:00. He was glad to have gotten sleep, but was anxious to be with his girlfriend again. He felt like he was abandoning her, but he knew he needed sleep. He goes right to her room and sees his friends sitting around her,
"How's she doing?"
"A bit better, I think." Rocky says.
"She been getting sick?"
"Not as much." Jason replies.
"Good."
"She just fell asleep."
"That's fine, she needs to sleep." He says, kissing her forehead. She stirs, but does not wake up.
"Her mom will be here in two days. Kim's surgery for her ankle is tomorrow morning." Jason says, catching him up on information he missed while he was sleeping.
"Ok. Does she know?"
"Yeah, but she's a bit worried about it."
"So am I." Both Rocky and Tommy reply.
"Is she in much pain?"
"Not for about three hours. She has been doing pretty well with the pain." Aisha sighs.
"Good." Tommy smiles, "Have you guys eaten?"
"No." Rocky replies.
"If you want to go grab something, go ahead."
"Alright." Jason smiles, knowing his best friend wants some time alone with his girlfriend.
"Ok, I'm in, but we'll come back right after." Aisha sighs.
'Let's move out." Rocky smiles.
Tommy sits by Kim and watches her as she sleeps. When she wakes up and sees Tommy she smiles, "Hey Beautiful." He smiles at her.
"Hi." She says.
"How are you?"
"Ok. Did you get some sleep?"
"Yeah."
"Good." She smiles.
"Are you in any pain?"
"Not too much." She sighs, "I mean, I'm always in pain, but right now I can tolerate it."
"Have you eaten anything yet?"
"No. They are going to make me eat something soon."
"Good, you need to eat."
"I need to stop throwing up."
"You have."
"Until I eat."
"You'll be fine."
"My ankle's getting fixed tomorrow."
"I heard, are you ok with that?"
"What if it's not perfect?"
"It will be fine Kimberly."
"But what if it isn't? Everything I have worked and trained for is gonna be going right down the drain."
"You'll get the surgery, go through the therapy, and be back on the beam by the trials in January."
'I hope you're right." She sighs.
"You'll see." He smiles, kissing her cheek. He gently and affectionately rubs her forehead, causing her to smile a bit. Her cheek is turning a mean purple color, almost black and her lips crack constantly. A while later, the nurse comes in with a tray of food.
"Alright Kimberly, we need you to eat honey." She says. She was an older nurse, about 45 years old. Kimberly turns her head away from the smell of food. It was already beginning to make her sick, how did they expect her to eat?
"I can't…" She says.
"You need something in you." The nurse says with a stern kindness in her voice.
She uses the controls to sit up in bed, wincing as she does that. She looks at the food and closes her eyes, "How much do I have to eat?"
"I want you to eat at least half."
"Ok." She sighs.
"How's the pain?"
"I'm doing alright." She sighs, wincing as she turns her body again.
"Good. After you eat, we'll give you something if you need it."
"Ok." She says, looking over at Tommy. "Do you want to eat?"
"I'll let you have this fine cuisine." He laughs.
"You're too kind."
"This is all you have to eat today." He smiles.
"How do you know?"
"Because, it's almost four, and you have surgery tomorrow morning. I doubt they will make you eat again before surgery."
"Don't remind me." She groans, picking at her food. After her first bite she grimaces, "This is disgusting."
"Do you want me to order you a pizza? Remember the nurse says you have to eat at least half your food." He smiles.
"No, that's ok." She groans, frowning at him, "You think you're funny don't you?"
Tommy shrugs, and turns his head toward the TV. She manages to eat half her food within an hour, and pushes the rest of it away from her, "Happy?"
"Yes." He says, "You need to start eating again."
"I am." She groans, "See?" She points to her half eaten tray.
The nurse comes in and takes the tray away, "How was it?"
"Awful." Kim says, groaning.
"Well, I'm glad you followed instructions."
"I didn't have a choice." She says, frowning at Tommy.
"When you want more medicine, just ask ok?"
"Yes." She yawns.
"Get some rest."
Tommy stays by her until the gang goes out to get something to eat. She begins to feel a lot of pain around 6:00, when Cooper gets there, "How you doing squirt?"
"I've been better." She says.
"You're looking better."
"How's Renee?"
"She's doing pretty good. She is going to come see you in a bit. The nurses are gonna wheel her down."
"Wheel?"
"Yeah, she can't be on her knees at all for three days."
"Ugh. Then is she released?"
"Yeah." Cooper sighs, "But don't worry, you'll be out of here in a while."
"Not soon enough."
"You don't know how lucky you are Kimberly…"
"Everyone keeps telling me that." She sighs, wincing every time she moves.
"You in pain?"
"I'm fine." She says.
Cooper sighs, "Where's Tommy?"
"Dinner with the others. I think he left when I was sleeping, but I don't mind. I hate people seeing me like this."
"Do you need anything?"
"No." It was killing Cooper to see his friend in this much pain, this depressed, and this miserable. He has only known Kimberly to be unhappy a handful of times, most of them when Tommy broke up with her. "I just want to get out of here Cooper…"
"I know kid." He sighs, "You will. Oh, by the way, Coach is going to be coming in tonight to see you."
"He was already here."
"That was three days ago." He smiles, "You remember seeing him?"
She points to the flowers on her windowsill, "He brought those, or so I'm told."
"Yeah, but you were pretty out of it…"
"Yeah." She sighs. They sit in silence for a while, before a tear trickles down her face.
"Are you ok?"
"I can't take it anymore…" She says, crying.
"The pain?" He asks, getting a nod from his friend, "Let me go get someone to give you something."
"Please hurry." She says, trying not to move.
He goes quickly and gets a nurse, "Alright Kimberly, on a scale of one to ten…"
"Ten." She says.
"Where does it hurt?"
"All over… my ankle, my stomach, my chest, my head… you name it."
The nurse puts a drip into her IV, "Ok honey, you'll be ok in a bit. Let me just take your blood pressure." She says. She frowns when she sees it so high, "You need to relax Kimberly."
"I can't." She groans, practically gasping for air. Every time she breaths it shoots a sharp pain down her entire body.
"You'll feel the medicine working soon."
To Kim, the medicine never works quick enough, she grabs for Coopers hand and squeezes it, tears pouring down her face, "Take it easy squirt." He says, using his thumb to gently rub her hand.
Adam comes into the room, right after the nurse leaves and is concerned when he sees her face, "Kim?"
She looks at Adam, "It hurts." She says. He takes the seat next to her, and gently rubs her arm. He just doesn't know what else to do for her.
"You'll be ok Kimberly." He says, looking at Cooper, "Did you get anything for it?"
"About ten seconds ago." Cooper replies for his hurt friend.
"I can't do this." She says.
"Give it a few more minutes squirt."
The two sit next to their friend, trying to do what ever they can to help her, but feeling completely helpless. After fifteen minutes, she was beginning to relax and starts to fall asleep, "Please" She mumbles.
"What Kim?" Adam asks.
"Make it stop Adam…" She sobs, "Make the pain stop Adam."
"I wish I could…" He says, completely helpless.
"I don't want to hurt anymore." She mumbles, "I don't want to hurt."
Adam brushes a piece of sweat soaked hair away from her face, "This isn't gonna last forever."
"Make it stop." She says one last time, with a pleading look towards the former black ranger, before the medicine takes full affect and she passes out.
Cooper and Adam look at each other for a little while, before Cooper speaks, "If I had seen that son of a bitch, I would have killed him. I don't know how Rocky didn't belt him."
Adam sighs, "Because he wouldn't have been able to stop."
"So? That asshole deserved to feel the pain both girls are going through, especially Kimberly's."
"Violence isn't the answer…"
"The hell it isn't. He would deserve it."
Adam sighs, but deep inside he agrees with Cooper, "Kimberly wouldn't have wanted that."
Cooper looks at the boy clad in black and nods, "You're right. Are you the only one back?"
He nods, "I didn't want Kim to be alone, and I was the first one done eating, so I figured I'd head back here."
"Where did you guys go?"
"Down the road to an Italian joint."
"I'm surprised Tommy didn't come back with you."
"Honestly, so am I." Adam muses.
About fifteen minutes later, Kimberly opens her eyes slightly, "Adam…" She mumbles.
"I'm right here Kim." He says, gently touching her arm.
"Don't leave." She mumbles, "Don't leave me."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"I promise." He sighs.
She takes his hand in hers and looks at him, "Thank you."
He smiles, "Go back to sleep." She closes her eyes, not releasing his hand. He sighs, "I hate seeing her like this."
"Same here." Cooper mutters. He felt a bit of jealousy towards Adam, just like he did with Rocky. It was amazing the bond that the nine friends have. Cooper can't get over it. "You guys are really close aren't you?"
"Kim and I?"
"And the rest of the group."
"Yeah, we are." He smiles, "We have been through a lot together, more than anyone can ever imagine."
After a few more minutes Cooper says, "I should probably head back up to see how Renee's doing. Coach Schmidt will probably be coming in to see her soon."
"Alright, I'll catch you later Coop."
"Yup, see ya Adam." He says, leaving the two in the room together.
Thirty minutes later the coach does come in, "Hello."
"Hi." Adam says, not moving from Kimberly's side.
"I am Kimberly's coach…"
"I know, I met you before in Angel Grove." Adam smiles, "I'm Adam, a friend of Kimberly's."
"Nice to see you again." He replies, looking at his fallen gymnast, "How is she fairing?"
"She's doing alright I guess. Surgery for her ankle is tomorrow, and she's a bit worried about that, however, she should be ok."
"Excellent. Much pain?"
"Yeah, well, she is ok now because she took something, but she's in quite a bit of pain. She should be able to sleep for a while."
"Good, that is what she needs." Coach replies.
"Yeah, she does."
"I'm glad they are both ok."
"Same here." Adam says.
The coach stays for a bit longer before leaving. Finally, around 7:00, the rest of the gang comes back. They all head back to her room and see Adam sitting there holding her hand while she sleeps, "How was the rest of dinner?"
"Good." Aisha says, sitting on the chair next to Adam. "How is she?"
"She's ok now. She was having a really rough time about an hour ago with the pain."
"Ugh." Billy sighs, shaking his head, "That's awful."
"You weren't the one who had to sit and watch it." Adam shakes his head.
Once again, Tommy takes the night shift. He stays through her surgery which ends up being longer than expected. Instead of two hours it was almost four. Tommy was pacing the floor by the time the doctor came out to talk to them.
"Is she ok?"
"She is now." The doctor tells Tommy. "We ran into some unforeseen problems. Her blood pressure was dropping very quickly, and we had to stabilizer her before we could continue."
"Her blood pressure!" Rocky says, eyes wide.
"Yes. She is ok now though. The surgery was just a bit too much for her body to handle, but she pulled through it."
"Where is she now?" Trini asks.
"In recovery. She'll be going back up to her room very soon."
"Ok." Tommy says, "Is her ankle ok?"
"The surgery went really well after she was stabilized. She should be up and moving on it in about a month. Gymnastics in about three months."
"Great." Jason smiles. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." The doctor says, winking at Jason. "You can see her in a bit, but her temperament is going to be a bit lower than what it usually is. She is on a lot of medication right now." The doctor warns the eight friends. They nod and wait to see their friend.
As soon as they are able to, they are in her room, making sure she is ok. She of course was very groggy when they come in, but they don't care. All they care about is that she is ok.
"The doctor says that you are going to be fine." Kat smiles.
"So I hear." Kim mumbles. She hates people seeing her like this, and having all eight of her friends in the room was beginning to get to her.
"Are you in a lot of pain?" Billy asks.
"Not now."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine Aisha."
"Ok, but if you need anything…"
"I know, I know, I know!" She says, practically shouting at her friends, "I will be fine if everyone just leaves me alone!" The group is taken back a bit by their friends tone, but they understand. "Will you quit staring at me! I'm not going anywhere. I'm still here. You don't have to constantly keep checking on me!" She was extremely tired, drugged up, and frustrated with her friends. Trini puts a hand on her shoulder, "Don't touch me." She says, shrugging off her best friend. She doesn't care what she says to her friends, and they doubt she will remember it later.
"Can we get you anything?" Zack asks innocently.
"You can leave me alone." She screams at them, closing her eyes. Tommy shakes his head at his girlfriend. The medication she was on is not becoming. Trini shoots a glance at Aisha and Kat, which does not go unnoticed by their friend, "What was that about?"
"What?" The girls ask.
"That look Trini gave you. I'm not blind! I'm not stupid."
"There was no look Kim." Aisha says.
"I know what I saw."
"Don't worry about it Kimberly." Kat replies.
"Don't worry about a look that one of my so called friends is shooting at my other friends?"
"You got it."
"Why can't you tell me huh?"
"That's enough Kim." Tommy says.
"I don't think this is asking too much." She says, losing the fight against sleep, "My friends telling me what the look is."
"It's nothing, honestly Kim." Trini says, placing her hand on the fading girl's arm.
Kimberly quickly jerks her arm away from her, "Some friends."
"Let it go Kimberly." Zack replies, sighing, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend.
"Get out of here." She says, "All of you! GET OUT! I don't want people in here who keep secrets from me! Leave! Get out!" She says, as they stay by her bed, she finally screams, "LEAVE ME ALONE! GET OUT OF MY FUCKING ROOM! GET THE FUCK OUT!"
"Fine." Aisha says, standing up, practically storming out. The rest follow her.
Tommy looks at Kim, "Kim…"
"Just leave me alone." She says, tears falling onto her cheeks.
Tommy sighs and stands up, "If you need us…"
"I don't need anyone." She cries, turning her head away from her boyfriend, "I can do it myself."
Tommy shakes his head, but respects her decisions, even if it wasn't by her own will. He turns and walks out of her hospital door, leaving her to sleep off some of the medication, hoping that will change her behavior. She cries as they leave, and finally falls asleep.
"Aisha, it wasn't her talking…" Rocky says to his best friend.
"Oh yea?" She says, obviously upset at her friend's behavior, "Well it sure as hell seemed like Kimberly."
"It's all the meds she is on right now…" Adam says, trying to defend his friend.
"That doesn't make this any easier." Trini replies, sighing.
"Let her sleep some of the meds off, and then see how she is. Chances are, she won't remember her actions or what happened before she was rendered into an unconscious state." Billy replies.
"It doesn't matter." Aisha says, standing up, "It still bothers me. I think I'm gonna go back to the hotel for a while and sleep."
"I'll go with you." Zack replies.
"I'm gonna go too I think." Trini sighs.
Kat nods, "Me too."
"Three beautiful women all to myself." Zack teases.
"Any other takers?" Kat asks.
"I think I'm gonna cramp your style a bit Zack." Billy says, grinning.
"Thanks a lot little boy blue." Zack teases.
"I'm gonna stay here." Tommy says.
"Me too." The rest agree.
"Let us know if anything happens ok?" Aisha replies.
"Ok." Jason smiles.
After the others leave, Jason looks at Tommy, "You gonna go back in there?"
"Not for a while…"
"That was completely uncharacteristic of Kimberly…" Rocky sighs.
"She's on a lot of medication. The Doctor told us what to expect…"
"That was way harsh though."
"I agree." Adam says, "But, she'll be ok."
"We just have to be there for her." Jason says.
For two hours, they sit in the hospital. Jason and Tommy get a hold of her mother, and give her an update. They couldn't get a hold of her father, because he was on some sort of business trip. Her mom would be here early tomorrow morning, around six AM. She was taking the over night to get there sooner. Jason offered to pick her up at the airport, but she declined. She would catch a cab and go right to the hospital.
By two in the afternoon, Kimberly had spiked a high fever and was in a lot of pain. The nurses were in and out of her room, taking her blood pressure, her temperature, and giving her something to relax the pain. She looked up at the nurse, "What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing honey, it's just a post operation fever. You'll be alright."
"It hurts so bad."
"It's gonna hurt for a while." The nurse says, smiling kindly at the girl.
Every time she moved, fire shot up her leg, and she wanted to scream. It felt like her leg was being ripped in two. "Where's Tommy." She questions, loosing her battle with talking coherently.
"Tommy?"
"Tommy." She replies again.
"Your boyfriend?" She asks.
Kimberly mumbles something as the tears pour down her cheeks. "Please get him." She practically begs the nurse.
She smiles at the girl and heads out. She grabs the girls boyfriend and brings him back. She was shivering and sweating all at the same time, "What's wrong with her?" Tommy asks.
"It's a mixture between the surgery, medication, and pain. She has a fever that is fairly high, but we have it under control."
"Is she going to be ok?"
"She will be fine. We just need to get this fever down."
He sits by her and takes her hand, brushing a piece of hair away from her eyes. She moans and looks up at him, "Hey Kimberly."
"Tommy…" She says, looking up at him with glassy doe brown eyes.
"How you doing?"
"Awful." She replies, "It hurts so bad. Feels like fire is burning my ankle."
"You'll be ok. This isn't gonna last forever." He smiles at her.
"I'm sorry." She mumbles.
"For what?"
"Yelling."
"That's ok. They understand."
"Aisha's mad…"
"No, Aisha's concerned about you, but don't worry about that now ok? You need to rest."
"Ok." She says, "Don't leave me… please."
"I'm not going to. You're mom will be here tomorrow morning."
"Good. I wanna go home. I don't wanna be here anymore."
"About a week, and then you can head home."
She nods and closes her eyes, feeling her boyfriend's cool hand on her hot forehead. She falls asleep and stays that way for a few hours.
"This has been one hell of a ride Kimberly." He sighs, watching her sleep for a while, "I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get off."
Getting her to eat that night was awful. She wanted nothing to do with food, and Tommy couldn't blame her. She was sick, she was miserable, and in too much pain to even think about eating. Every time she moves a pain shoots up her leg and practically takes her breath away. Every five hours, like clockwork, she would be practically screaming in agony until they gave her the medication, and none of her friends could do anything to help her. She ate three bites and was sick. All afternoon into the late evening she was throwing up, or having dry heaves and her friends stay right by her. She kicked them out a few times through the night, but they never totally left. Tommy stayed for the fourth night by her side, until her mother came in the morning. She arrives around 6:30 to the hospital and sees her daughter and her daughters boyfriend in the room. Tommy was half awake, half sleeping. When ever someone comes in, he was instantly awake. He smiles when he sees her walk in.
"Hi Tommy." Caroline smiles.
"Hi Mrs. Dumas." He smiles back at her. "How was your flight?"
"My flight was extremely long, but not as long as the past three days have been. How's she doing?"
"Better than earlier. They fixed her ankle, but she's been extremely sick with post-surgical things."
"Like what?"
"The medicine's been making her sick, she's in a lot of pain, and she had a pretty high fever yesterday."
"I wish I could have gotten here sooner." She replies, sitting next to her daughter. "Have you gotten any sleep?"
"A little."
"Where are you staying?"
"The hotel down the road."
"Well, why don't you go on back and get some sleep honey."
"Ok." Tommy says, reluctant to leave his girlfriend.
"Thank you for staying with her."
"When she wakes up tell her I'll be back in a while."
"I will Tommy." Caroline says, as Tommy walks out of the room and down to the hotel. She watches her daughter and looks her over, shaking her head, "My god." She replies sadly at her daughters' condition.
At seven, Kimberly wakes up and sees her mom there, "Mom?"
"Hey baby." She says.
"When did you get here?"
"At six. I didn't want to wake you." She smiles, "How are you sweetie?"
"Been better." She sighs.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm ok mom, really."
"You had me worried there for a while Kimberly Ann…"
"Sorry." She mumbles.
"Are you in much pain?"
"Not right now. I'm just sick of being in here."
"You are VERY luck Kimberly, a few more days won't kill you."
Kimberly sighs, "Did Peter come?"
"No, he stayed in France. Do you know when you are out of here?"
"In like seven days. They need to make sure that everything is healing and that I am in less pain."
"Has it been awful?"
"I have never felt so much pain in my life mom. It feels like my entire body is being ripped apart, or like I am on fire."
Her mother shudders, "I'm sorry I couldn't get here quicker."
"It's ok mom, honestly. I had everyone here. I understand."
"You look tired."
"I am."
"Why don't you rest some more, and we'll talk later."
"Ok." She says, closing her eyes, "Where's Tommy?"
"I sent him home to get some rest. He'll be back soon."
"Kay."
Around noon, Aisha pokes her head into the room. She hasn't seen Kimberly since she was screamed at the other night. "How is she?" She asks Kimberly's mother.
"She's doing ok. A bit of pain, but she seems to be dealing with it pretty good."
"That's good." Aisha smiles.
"I haven't see you yet Aisha, how have you been?"
"Alright, how about you?"
"Good, except for now."
"Yeah."
"Did you just get in here? I have seen everyone else…"
"No, I'm trying to stay away from Kimberly for a bit…"
"Why?"
"She and I had an unpleasant encounter yesterday. She screamed, and I stormed out."
"Ah, well, I'm sure she's over it now."
"We'll see." She sighs.
Kimberly wakes up a short time later and sees her best friend sitting, talking with her mother, "Hey." She says, quietly.
"Hey." Aisha smiles at her, "How are you?"
"Ok." She replies, "I'm sorry…"
"Don't mention it Kim." She smiles. "Your mom and I were just catching up."
Kimberly smiles at her friend and listens to her talk with her mother. She knows that her friends have to leave soon. Graduation was coming up. She would be in the hospital for a week after they were gone, maybe longer.
On Saturday, they head home. They took an afternoon so they could spend the day with their friend, "You guys should get going." Kim says, looking at the time.
None of them really wanted to leave, "In a bit." Rocky replies.
"I'll be fine. I'm out of here in a week, I hope, and then I can start planning on coming back to Angle Grove for the summer."
"Do you think you can fly?" Adam asks.
"I don't see why not, but I'll find all of that out later." Kim replies. She was exhausted and hated feeling this weak. She couldn't do much on her own, and she was still in a ton of pain, but she didn't want her friends to worry about her while they were graduating.
At 1:00 they really had to get going. Everyone gave her a hug, a kiss, or both, said their goodbyes and left. Tommy hung back for a few seconds, "Are you going to be ok?"
"I'll be ok. My mom's here, so I'm fine."
"Ok." He sighs, not wanting to leave her, "I love you."
"I love you too." She smiles, kissing him. She winces as she pulls away, feeling the incision, "Stupid thing." She mumbles.
"Well, I'll call you tonight ok?"
"Alright."
"If you need anything, I can be down here right away." He says.
"I'll be fine." She says, "Really."
"Ok, see you soon."
"Bye." She says.
"Bye beautiful."
She was extremely upset when they left, but she knew it was coming. She has her mom here, but between them leaving and the pain she was in, her mom was not helping much. She just wants to get out of the hospital, and until she wasn't throwing up, having the fevers, or having the extreme pain she was in, she was stuck there.
Two days, before Kimberly was discharged from the hospital, her mother and the doctors were discussing where she would be starting her rehab. She was still extremely tired from all the trauma her body went through, so walking on crutches for a long period of time was out of the question.
"What choices does Kimberly have to do her rehab?" Her mother asks the doctor.
"Well, where do you live Mrs. Dumas?"
"I live in Paris. Kimberly has been staying with friends in Angel Grove, before living in Miami to train for the Pan Globals."
"I just then the question is where do you want her to be?"
Caroline thinks for a while, "Probably in France."
"Well then, we'll arrange for her to be transferred to France then."
"Excellent." She smiles as she walks into her daughter's room to tell her their decision.
"What!" Kimberly says, "NO!" She was furious at the thought of having to do her rehab in France, "You can't do this! I am NOT going to France."
"Kimberly…"
"This is NOT your decision mother! I am 18 years old, and you can't tell me what to do anymore."
"I think it's the best. France has some great Doctors."
"What about Angel Grove? They have great doctors too."
"I don't know honey…"
"Why not!"
"Who are you going to be staying with?"
"I can stay with Aisha, or Tommy, or even Jason, or Trini! They will all allow me to stay there."
"I don't know how good the Rehab doctors are though…"
"They are actually quite good." The doctor smiles, "I am good friends with one of them, and he is one of the best PT's in the country. I'm sure he'll be willing to work on a gymnast."
"Well…" She says, looking at her daughters face, "Let me call Mrs. Campbell and see if it's ok… and if it can't…"
"I'll stay with someone else."
"Alright."
"Mom, I just can't leave…"
"I understand honey. I do."
"Ok." She says, yawning.
"Get some rest." Her mother says, standing up to make the phone call.
Two days go by and Kimberly had a fever. They refused to release her until it had cleared up, especially when she had a long flight ahead of her. It turned out to only last another two days. She was released and stayed with her mother in her apartment for another four days until she was ready to go home.
"How are you Renee?" Kim asks, sitting down on the couch, propping her ankle up.
"Ok, how are you?"
"I hurt like a bitch, but I'll be fine." She smiles.
"I'm glad. You had me worried sick."
"Likewise." She smiles.
"The pain ok?"
"Not really, but I'll live through it. I have a lot of pain meds to take if it gets too bad. The only problem is, they make me sick…"
"That sucks." She says, propping up her legs on the coffee table, "Are we a sight or what…"
Kim giggles, "Yeah, we are, but look on the bright side, no practice for a while."
"Yeah. When are you leaving for Angel Grove?"
"Tuesday."
"I'll miss ya. Are you gonna come back?"
"I'll be back for college in the winter, well, once all of this shit is over and done with, and then we're going to the trials." She smiles.
Renee looks doubtful at her legs, "I don't know if…"
"We're gonna do it Renee, and we'll be on the Olympics. Come on, you only live once."
"Yeah, you're right, may as well try for it…"
"Go for the gold." Kim winks.
After fifteen more minutes, Kimberly heads into her room and takes some medication before falling asleep. The pain was coming back and she didn't wanna deal with it so she slept instead. She was ready to go home, and couldn't wait.
On Tuesday, Kimberly and her mother head to the airport. They would be leaving at almost the same time on different flights. Tommy or Jason is going to be at the airport in Angel Grove to pick her up and take her over to Aisha's.
"Honey, be safe ok? Let me know how you are making out."
"I will mom." Kim smiles, "I promise."
"And, I expect you to come out to France sometime during the summer, before I see you to move you into college."
"I will mom, I promise." She smiles, hugging her, "I love you."
"Love you too honey. Don't over to it Kimberly."
"I already have." She sighs, exhausted from walking the length of the airport. They call her flight, "Well mom, that's me…"
"Alright, call me." She says, kissing her daughter.
"I will. Bye."
"Bye Kim. I love ya."
"You too."
Kim struggles to get on the flight and it was even worse squeezing into the small seats. She only hits her ankle twice, tears springing to her eyes as she does though. She sits down and sleeps for most of the flight.
When they land, she waits till the last moment possible to get off. She has a small backpack that is killing her back at the moment. As soon as most people exit she stands up and hobbles off the plane into the terminal. She is greeted by her boyfriend and smiles.
"Hey there hop-a-long, how are you?" He asks, kissing her cheek.
"Haha, you are SOOOOOOOO funny Tommy Oliver." She quips.
"How are you?"
"I'm doing alright. I'm absolutely exhausted though." She sighs.
"Pain?"
"Yeah, but not bad. The worst is if I move my ankle. This brace helps it though."
"Good." He smiles. "Oh, Aisha called me, you're gonna stay with me for a couple days."
"Why?" She asks, curious.
"Her entire family has the flu. She just got it, and she doesn't want you to get it."
"Oh, ok." She smiles.
"Why! You should say, 'I'd love to stay with you Tommy!'" He smiles.
"Oh come on, you know I love staying with you." She smiles, "I just thought I was going with Aisha."
"Give her a few days recovery, and you'll be over there. When's your first PT?"
"Thursday. Aisha was gonna take me…"
"I can take you."
"It's during your karate class…"
"I can skip it."
"No you cant, but it's sweet."
"Kim, I can get Jase to cover for me."
"I can get Jase to take me." She smiles at him, "You can come to one when you aren't busy."
He smiles and nods, "How many bags did you bring home?"
"Two, and my carry on."
"Lets make our way over to the carousel." He says, walking slow with her. He could see in her face how much pain she was in and how tired she was. It kills him to see her this sore.
"How was graduation?"
"Fine, long, boring, the usual."
"Well that's good."
"How was yours?"
"It was alright, so Renee tells me." She smiles, "I was still in the hospital for it."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's not like I knew many people. I knew the gymnasts and that's about it."
"When are you heading down for college?"
"They start late, in September, so I figured I'd head down around the end of August. Renee and I are roommates, so that's nice. I have to really start training again once my ankle is strong."
"Olympics?"
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna go for it. Being hurt really made me want the Olympics."
"Cool." He smiles.
"They are mine." She says, pointing to her bags. He grabs them and they slowly make their way out of the airport. She has to stop several times to rest or stop the pain, but once they were in the car she was ok. They head right to his house, talking the entire way. He helps her with everything he can.
"Where's your family?"
"Mom and Morgan are here, dad's at work.'
"IT just seems so quiet."
He laughs, "Morgan is downstairs I think, and mom is probably in the den doing work."
"I should say hello…"
"You will. Let's get your sit in first."
"Ok." She smiles, as she heads upstairs with him. She hates steps, it pulls on every cut she has going up them. Coming down is easier on her upper body but hell on her ankle. "I can't wait till this ankle is healed."
"I don't blame you." He smiles as they head downstairs to the den, "Mom?"
"In here honey." The muffled voice comes. "Hi honey." She says, kissing her son's cheek, "How are you doing Kimberly?"
"Been better." She shrugs, giving Mrs. Oliver a hug.
"Are you doing any better?"
"Yeah, a lot, but this ankle is awful." She sighs.
"Well, you'll get through physical therapy and be good as new." She smiles.
"I hope so."
"Are you two hungry or are you going out?"
Kim and Tommy look at each other, "I'm fine right now." Kim shrugs.
"Me too, but we'll eat here."
"Alright, well, how long are you here for Kim?"
"Till school starts, but I'm gonna head over to Aisha's in a few days after the plague leaves their house." She grins.
"Are they sick?"
"Yeah." Tommy replies, "I saw Aisha two days ago and she looked like death, so Kim's gonna stay here for a bit. She said her entire family had the flu."
"Well yes, we don't want you getting sick."
"I'd appreciate not getting sick either." She smiles.
"Where's Morgan?"
"Downstairs on the phone talking to Jake."
"Who's Jake!" Tommy asks, suddenly taking on the big brother role.
"An eleventh grader. She has a date with him this weekend."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really."
"Where are they going?"
"The movies on Saturday."
"Uh-huh." He says, looking at his girlfriend, "Kimberly, do you want to go to the movies on Saturday?"
"Oh Tommy, get out of here." She smiles, swatting his chest, "We were in tenth grade when we started dating…"
"Yeah, so? This is my little sister…"
"And I was the same age as her when we dated. Stop it." She smiles.
"How long has she been downstairs?"
"About two hours, one hour talking to him." She smiles.
Kimberly crutches over to the phone picking it up, getting a, "HANG UP!" from Morgan.
"Is that any way to talk to me?" She laughs at the teen, "I suggest you get your butt up here and say hello to me."
"KIMBERLY!" Morgan smiles, "I'll be right up."
"Ok." She chuckles.
"I gotta go Jake, my brother's girlfriend's here and I haven't seen her in forever! I'll call you back in a bit." Morgan says as Kimberly hangs up the phone.
"She'll be up. She's saying goodbye to Jake." She says, getting a groan out of Tommy. "Oh stop it…"
"No one could or can be as bad as you two." Mrs. Oliver teases.
"Thanks a lot." Tommy says, mock hurt.
"Kimberly!" Morgan smiles running up to her, giving her a gentle hug. Kimberly winces as the pressure hits her incision.
"Morgan! Not so rough." Tommy says, seeing his girlfriends face.
"Sorry Kim." She says, jumping back.
"I'm fine, don't worry about it. How are you?"
"Great! Are you doing better?"
"I am." She smiles, "I just have to get my ankle working again and I'll be good to go."
"Great!"
"So what's this I hear about you having a date this weekend hmm?"
"He's REALLY cute Kim."
"Would I approve?"
"Yup!"
"And would your brother?"
"He won't approve anyone." She grins.
"And don't you forget it either." Tommy says.
"Are you staying at our house?"
"For a few days, until Aisha gets over what ever sickness she has."
"Good. Will you be here till Saturday?"
"Probably until Monday."
"Well then you can meet him." She grins.
"Oh does he drive?"
"Yup!"
"Awesome kid." She winks at her. "I think your brother is about to have a heart attack."
"Well Thomas, now you know how your father and I felt when you first started dating Kimberly… don't get me wrong we love her to death, but it was hard at first."
"She's too young."
"Tommy." Kim warns him playfully. "I think I'm gonna go call Aisha and see how she's feeling before we eat."
"Ok." Mrs. Oliver smiles at the girl. Kim stands up and hobbles up the stairs and lies on the bed. She was exhausted, and her ankle ached. She picks up the phone and calls her best friend.
"Hello?"
"Hey Aisha."
"Hey, how are you?"
"I'm fine, the question is how are you?" Kim asks.
"Awful. I feel like I'm dying."
"I know how that feels." Kim jokes, "You don't sound too well."
"Believe me, you don't want this. My entire body aches."
"We could be twins." She giggles.
"Are you at Tommy's?"
"Yes. I'm gonna stay here until you feel better."
"You may be there a while."
"That's fine. I feel bad you're sick."
"I'll be fine. When's your first physical therapy?"
"Thursday. Its gonna be awful."
"You're tough, you can handle it."
"I have to do it…"
"Yeah." Aisha says coughing
"Well, I'm gonna let you get some rest. Call me later if you feel up to it."
"Alright Kim, glad you're home."
"Feel better."
"You too. Bye."
"Bye." And with that she hangs up. Tommy comes up and into the guest bedroom, laying down next to his girlfriend.
'How's she feeling?"
"She's been better, but I think she'll live."
"Good."
"How are you?"
"I'm alright. My ankle is really beginning to hurt though."
"So take something…"
"Yah, right, and be puking my guts up for the rest of the night? I don't think so." She smiles.
"Well then, deal with it." He shrugs, kissing her forehead.
"I am."
Thursday, Kimberly has her first day of PT. She was worried about it, but Jason talked her through it.
"I don't even know what they are going to do."
"They are going to give you exercises to do until your ankle hurts so bad it may fall off."
"Thanks a lot." Kim smiles, rolling her eyes.
"Any time." He smiles at his 'little sister'.
Kimberly has a difficult time with PT, but sticks with it. They put her through a series of bending exercises to tighten up the muscles and ligaments that split. Tears were flowing through the exercises and the doctor just told her to keep at it, even if it does hurt. By the end she was sick and wanted to go home. Her ankle hurt more than it did after surgery. This was going to occur every week for about three weeks, then every other week until she was fine again.
"How did it go?" Jason asks.
"It hurts really bad Jase." She says, exhausted. "Hold on, I've gotta stop."
He stands next to her, "Just take it easy Kim."
"I am just so tired."
"So relax for a second. Do you wanna sit down?"
"No, I just wanna get the hell out of here." She says, struggling with her ankle and crutches.
Jason pulls the car up and she gets in, cursing as she hits her ankle into something. They drive over to Tommy's house and head inside.
"Thanks a lot Jase."
"No problem Kim." He smiles, kissing her cheek, "Do you need help with anything?"
"No. I'm just gonna go upstairs and sleep." She says, looking at the clock. It was almost 8:00.
"Alright, well if you need anything…"
"Thanks Jase."
"Get some rest." He smiles, kissing her cheek, "I'll see ya tomorrow."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye." He says and heads out.
She goes upstairs and lies on her bed. Her ankle was not getting better, it was getting worse. She has medicine, but she doesn't want to take it because of the unpleasant side affects. Tommy comes home at almost 9:00 and comes upstairs. He sees her laying on the bed and walks in, "How are you?"
"I hurt so bad." She replies, turning to face him, tears in her eyes.
He sits next to her, "Just relax."
"I can't. The exercises they made me do hurt so bad. I felt like I was going to pass out, then I get through them and have to walk and ugh, it was awful."
He kisses her cheek, "You feel a bit warm."
"I'm fine." She groans, "It's probably from the pain, don't worry about it."
He wraps his arms around her, "Just relax."
She sighs, but the pain keeps building, around 10 it's getting to be too bad for her, "I can't take this."
"Take your medicine then." Tommy says.
"I hate how sick it makes me."
"It's better than having to deal with the pain, and maybe you'll just pass out." He says, rubbing her arm in circles.
"Can you get it for me?"
"Where is it?"
"In my suitcase, the small pocket."
"Right." He says, standing up and pulling out a pain pill before handing it to her.
She takes it and lies back against the pillows. He watches her face gradually go from pain to relaxation. She closes her eyes and hopes to fall asleep before she starts to feel sick, and it works. She falls asleep next to Tommy without saying another word to him. He gets up and heads downstairs to grab a drink.
"How's Kim?"
"She's in a lot of pain." He sighs, "I hate seeing her like this mom."
"It will get worse before it gets better, but it will get better honey."
"I know, but I still hate it." Tommy replies.
"Did she take anything for it?"
"Yes, but she hates taking the medication because it makes her sick. She ends up throwing up. I think she'll be ok though for tonight because she fell asleep almost immediately."
"She should be. Could they give her anything else for the pain?"
"Nothing seemed to work as well, but this unfortunate side affect is really taking toll on her. I think I'm gonna head back upstairs and stay with her for a bit."
"Alright." She says, "I'm going to go to bed, so I'll see you tomorrow."
"Right mom." He smiles and heads back upstairs. He stays with her, watching over her as she sleeps. "I hope this pain stops soon Beautiful, I really do." He whispers to her.
After almost a whole summer of physical therapy, she is finally able to walk without much of a limp. Her ankle wasn't hurting as bad as it did before, and she even started doing simple gymnastics, even though she was told not too until at least September. She was up on the beam, working out some of her foot placement, but would not mount or dismount yet. Everything was easy. On the floor it was simple moves that she has been doing for years. The summer went by quickly, and finally, it was time for everyone to go off to college. They spend a week at the shore the week before they all head off to school. For the most part, they were all going to the same college, except for Kim, Trini, and Billy. Kimberly was down in Miami, Trini went to Yale, and Billy to Harvard. Kimberly was the first to leave. Miami University began sooner than the others.
"I'll be home whenever I get the chance." Kim assures her boyfriend with a smile, as she awaits her flight.
"I'll come down too. I'm not going to lose you again." He smiles, kissing her. They stand there, hand in hand for a while, before her flight is called.
"I love you." She smiles.
"I love you too." He replies, kissing her yet again, "Call me when you get there ok?"
"Yeah." She smiles, "I will."
"See ya soon Beautiful."
"You bet Handsome." She grins, kissing him one last time. He watches her get on the plane for Florida. She would be training fairly hard during her time in college so she could make it to the Olympics, and there wasn't a doubt in anyone's mind that she would not succeed. It was her dream, and when it comes to dreams, Kimberly will shoot for the stars.
She sighs as she gets onto the plane, but was excited to get back to school. She misses her friends down in Florida, but not as much as she is going to miss her best friends.
As usual, when she gets off the plane, Cooper and Renee were there. They hugged each other and headed off to the University of Miami. Most of Kimberly's things were already moved in. She was excited to be starting college, as was the rest of the gang. She couldn't wait till gymnastics started again. It is a whole new chapter in her life, and she can't wait till it begins.
TBC….
The next chapter will be coming very soon!
I hope you all enjoyed it! Please read and Review… they have really been great and I appreciate them greatly!
Check out "The Diary" Too if you get a chance and Review too please! Another T/K in the process.
I'll be posting another chapter very very soon, I promise.
Thanks!
LUNA