I woke up to my alarm and switched it off instantly. I pulled myself up and leaned against my headboard just as there was a knock on the door
"Come in" I smiled as James walked in and sat on the edge of my bed next to my feet
"Hey" He smiled resting a hand on my leg
"Hey" I whispered with a smile
"So are you ok?" He asked caressing my knee
"Yeah I'm ok" I nodded with a small smile
"Are you having a shower or not?" He questioned looking back at me
"I need to but I can't stand on my leg so I'll find a way about it" I smiled
"Nope come on I'm gonna help you" James wrapped an arm around my torso and helped me walk to the bathroom. I sat down on the toilet as James filled a bowl with warm water before crouching down in front of me.
"I would have found a way" I giggled sitting back
"I know but I'm here now and I'm gonna help you" James helped me get washed down with a cloth and I couldn't be more thankful. He helped me back to my bedroom and I sat down on the edge of my bed.
"What are we wearing today?" He quizzed
"My uniform I might not be able to flip and everything but I can still work my way around that" I replied
"Ok, where is it?" James turned around
"My wardrobe" James got my uniform out placing it down on the bed next to me
"Go you need to go get ready I'll meet you there" I encouraged
"Are you sure? I can ask my dad to drop everything off here" He argued
"Go I'll be fine I have my crutches, dad and uncle Kev" I defended nicely
"Ok be safe I'll see you there" He leaned down and hugged me. I buried my head in his chest as the two of us didn't move until I pushed him away gently.
"Go" He kissed my head and walked out of my room.
I grabbed my crutches and moved over to my dresser grabbing a sports bra and some panties. I sat back down on my bed getting changed slowly. Luckily I can touch my toes so I got my skirt and shorts on like that. I pulled one trainer on leaving the other at the side before pulling my hair into a high ponytail and putting the bow in my hair. I grabbed my jacket before getting up and making my way downstairs with my other shoe under my arm as I was using my crutches.
"What's up shorty" Uncle Kevin cheered
"Hey Uncle Kev" I sat down and turned to Uncle Kev
"Can you help me put my shoe on?" I quizzed holding it up
"Pass it here shorty" I threw him my shoe and he caught it with one hand. I smiled as he tied it
"Thanks, Uncle Kev" I smiled
"Leo's coming to pick you up cause we have a case" I nodded
"Thanks," I said just as there was a knock on the door followed by the door opening.
"Just us" Autumn shouted
"Hey not to rush you but they've just pushed the meeting time forward," Leo said and I stood up on one foot. Hugging Uncle Kev before grabbing my crutches.
"Tell dad I love him for me?" I asked with a small smile
"Yeah I will now go text me if you need to be picked up" He pushed and I nodded
"Thanks" I followed Leo and Autumn out to Uncle Matt's car. I climbed in the back next to Autumn
"How's the knee, Tay?" He quizzed as I pulled my seatbelt on
"It's been better but it's been worse as well" I nodded placing the pom poms down at my feet
"Only 3 weeks till your back again" He pointed out and I nodded with a smile
"5 weeks till I'm back fully although it might be more" I sighed. We arrived at the football pitch. I opened the door as James helped me out. I kissed his cheek, balancing myself out as he handed me my pom-poms.
"I'll see you out there" He kissed my head and walked away with Leo
"Looks like it's just us," Autumn said as we started slowly making our way over to Coach Michelle. I smiled
"Taylor Mae Ruzek I thought I said no more injuries" I smirked
"Dr Rhodes says 3 weeks till I'll be back and at least 5 weeks till I'm back to tricks like the full out"
"Take your time, what has he said about today?" She questioned
"Throwing pom poms is the only thing I can do." I confessed with a sigh
"Ok let's keep to our plain routine because we don't have Taylor" Coach Michelle announced as Dr Rhodes walked over.
"Taylor, can I borrow you?" He questioned and I nodded
"Yeah" I dropped my pom-poms and followed him over.
"Take away a crutch" I pushed a crutch against the fence with a frown
"Now take away the other" I did the same thing
"Look what I'm trying to say is that if you aren't in pain and your knee isn't giving way underneath you right now then go without crutches. I was coming off a 16-hour shift when you came in yesterday" I hugged him
"Thank you, Dr Rhodes" I muttered
"Go the games about to start" I walked over as Autumn handed me my pom-poms.
"I thought you were on crutches" She frowned
"Dr Rhodes says as long as I'm able to stand and not be in pain then I'm good to go without them" I whispered starting to shake my pom-poms as the football team jogged out. They all warmed up and my number 15 ran up to me.
"I'm still taking you out" He whispered before kissing me deeply
"Be safe" I muttered resting my forehead against his
"Always" I smiled as he jogged back on.
It soon came to half time and we were cheerleading on the pitch. The boys that also Cheer came running out to join us. They grabbed us and threw us up to finish the routine. Me being injured didn't stop James from doing that he threw me up so I landed on his shoulder which hurt because of the shoulder pads.
"What the hell James" I whisper shouted keeping the smile on my face
"Dr Rhodes said as long as I didn't grab your knee or drop you I could do this stunt" He whispered back to me.
We all waved before James let me fall into his arms so he was holding me bridal styles. We looked into each other's eyes for a moment until Leo broke our moment
"We've got to get back to the game love birds" I laughed as James carefully lowered me to my feet. I kissed his cheek before making my way back over to the stands. I stood next to Autumn
"So what's going on between you and James?" She questioned with a smirk
"I told him I liked him yesterday and here we are" I smiled
"Looks like they're gonna win," Joshua said from behind us
"Yeah we need another win" I muttered as Uncle Kelly joined us
"Am I getting my son back tonight?" He asked and I laughed
"I don't ask him to stay he can leave but he always finds his way to our guest room," I said with a smile
"I'm playing with you kid" I nodded
"I know" I smiled leaning into Uncle Kelly. He wrapped an arm around me kissing my hair
"You're the best thing that's happened to that boy Tay. He's like me, stubborn but you know that he will always come back to you. Just please don't give up on him Tay"
"Never Uncle Kelly. Never I'd be lost without him" They won the game and James ran over to the stand and jumped up kissing me.
"I'm still taking you out later" I laughed
"I knew you would be" I smiled as Uncle Matt appeared next to me
"Want me to take you home?" He asked placing a hand on my shoulder
"Do you mind?" I replied not wanting to get in the way
"We're going that direction anyway grab your stuff" I grabbed everything I came with and James ran over.
"I'll pick you up once I've gotten changed" He said gently and I nodded
"Ok" I walked with Uncle Matt to his car and climbed in the back waiting on Leo.
"Hey, sorry coach wanted to read everything to us. It was boring" I shook my head with a laugh as I got a text from James saying not to hurt myself getting dressed.
"Alright, here we are Tay. Do you need a hand getting in?" Uncle Matt asked turning to look at me
"I'm alright. Thank you, Uncle Matt" I smiled
"See you Tay" I grabbed everything before getting out of the car and unlocking the door.
I walked in and up the stairs putting everything in their respectful places. I opened my wardrobe and pulled out a pair of jeans, a vest and flannel shirt. I got changed, placing my brace over my jeans. I pulled one converse on and left the other off. I pulled the bow out of my hair and walked downstairs. James walked in running to hug me
"Watch the knee" I groaned with a laugh
"We actually won Tay we won" I kissed him
"I know now I need help with my shoe" I sat down on the couch as James helped put my shoe on. He pulled me up and we walked out.
"Can we stop by the district I want to tell my dad I can walk without crutches" I questioned
"Your dads at work?" He replied with a frown
"Desk duty" I nodded with a smile
"Yeah ok, we'll stop by the district and then I'll take you out" I smiled as we walked to the district. We reached the district and walked inside
"What is it?" The desk sergeant asked
"Can you point me in the direction of Officer Ruzek?" I asked
"And you are?" She demanded
"Taylor Ruzek. His daughter" I said biting the inside of my cheek
"Yeah fine whatever up those stairs to the right" She pointed in the direction of the stairs
"Thank you" I smiled walking up the stairs with James. He pulled the cage door open and we walked up the stairs.
"Tay, James what's wrong?" Uncle Kev asked
"Just looking for dad" I nodded
"He's away to toilet. Where're your crutches" He wondered
"That's why I'm here" I added
"Tay, what are you doing here?" Dad questioned walking out
"Came to see you. Dr Rhodes said that I don't need to use crutches if I can stand without my knee hurting too much" I exclaimed trying not to get too excited
"And your knee doesn't hurt?" He knows me far too well to know I'd do that even if it did hurt
"Not one bit" I smiled
"Alright go have some fun. I'll text you if we're gonna be late" He pushed
"Ok I love you" I kissed his cheek
"I love you too" James and I walked out of the district. James took me to a diner not far from the firehouse before walking back to mine. We sat watching movies until my dad came home when James went home. Dad and I spent time together and it was nice. Just the two of us like a father-daughter night.
