DISCLAIMER: Nope still not mine. Standard disclaimer applies.
SUMMARY: Kim made it through the first round of Deal or No Deal without losing the million dollars. Can she take it all the way?
"Alright, Kimberly, let's open five more cases."
"Okay. Kat was born in October so let's start off with case ten."
"Anya, open your case." Anya cracked open the case and turned to Kimberly.
"Sorry." She opened the case all the way. It was the $500000.
Kim bit her lip for a moment and then smiled. "It's okay. That just means that it's not in my case." She bent over the case and whispered to it. "Bring me luck, Trini. Please bring me luck." She straightened up and smiled. "Kat's birthday is on the 24th so let's go there next."
"Are you sure, Kimberly?" When she nodded, Howie smiled at her. "Are you going with all dates that are important to you?"
"Actually Howie, these dates are important to a lot of people. Most of them are sitting in the audience." A large group of people in the center of the audience stood up, cheering and clapping.
"Who are all these people?"
"Friends of mine. These guys have supported me for a lot of years. They've always been there with me whenever I needed them."
"Like when you had to give up gymnastics?"
"Exactly. My friends gave me a place to stay for a while as I got back on my feet and they helped me out every time I needed it. A lot of people didn't understand when I left gymnastics that it wasn't my choice. I had to for health reasons."
"For those of you that didn't know who Kimberly was and still is, watch this." Howie signaled for the video guys to start playing a montage of clips from Kim's career in gymnastics. Everyone saw her gold medal from the Pan-Global Games and then the accident during the Olympics that had destroyed her career for good. "Kimberly suffered a broken knee when she fell that day in the Olympics. But she has still continued to be a spokesperson for gymnasts the world over, showing everyone that gymnastics is truly a sport and not to be taken for granted. She demonstrates to people that gymnastics is not just for girls and that the guys in this rigorous sport aren't wimps. She shows us all that it's not the size of your endorsements that makes you a good person but the size of your heart. And this young lady has one of the biggest hearts I've ever seen."
"Thank you, Howie."
"Thank you, Kimberly," one of the models called out. "You are a role model worthy of the title."
"Thanks." Kim was blushing and she wasn't sure what else to say.
"How about we get back to the game?" Howie gave her the out she needed. "You had called for 24. Meghan, open the case please."
"You're a great person, Kim. I'd love to see you take it all the way." Meghan peeked inside her case. "I see your chances getting better and better." She dropped the side open and there was the $5. The crowd went wild.
Kimberly smiled, nodding. "That's what I was waiting for." She took a deep breath. "Adam's birthday is on the sixth so let's see it."
"Megan, your case please." After a quick peek inside, the model in question opened her case wide to reveal the $750 tag.
Kim started jumping up and down. She was so happy. At least she was until her knee nearly gave out under her. Before Howie could reach out and catch her, a young man was beside her, easing her down to the floor. "Relax, Firebird. Take it easy."
"Damn, Rex, that hurts." Tears had filled the soft brown eyes and everyone could tell that she was fighting them.
"You forgot about the knee for a moment didn't you?" Kim bit her lip and nodded. "You can't do that, sis. The doctor told you that you had to be careful."
"Sorry, Jase." Tears rolled down her face as another person knelt beside her and probed gently at the knee.
"We need to put your support on, Kim."
"Tanya, that thing feels like it weighs a ton. And I can't move very well in it."
"Would you rather end up in a wheelchair for good?" The young black woman looked up at her friend with a no-nonsense look that told Kimberly that she wouldn't hesitate.
"Okay." Kimberly clung to Jason's hand as Tanya put the support around her knee and tightened it to the proper level. Once the support was firmly in place, Jason helped Kim to her feet but didn't leave her side.
"Now, who's this, Kimberly?"
"Howie, this is one of my very best friends in the whole world, Jason Scott. He and I are like brother and sister. And the other person right here is Tanya Park, my doctor. She married another good friend of mine, Adam Park."
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine, Howie. I just need to remember that I can't go jumping around like that." Kim softly laughed at herself. "You can ask Jase though, I'm not real big on remembering things like that."
"Okay. Shall we get on with the game or do you need a few minutes?"
"Let's go, Howie."
"Where to next?"
"Well, Tanya's birthday is on the 21st so let's open number 21."
"Tameka, would you please open your case?"
Kim clutched Jason's hand as Tameka peeked inside the case she held. "Still going strong, Kimberly." She revealed the $10000.
Kim threw her head back and laughed. "Okay. One more. Let's see. Billy was born on the seventh so let me see case 7."
"I hope this case keeps you smiling, Kimberly."
"Sara, please open your case." Sara did just that, not even stopping to peek first, revealing $300.
"Okay. Now we just wait on the banker to figure out the offer." Howie noticed that Kim looked over her friends in the audience and sighed.
"He didn't come, Jase. He's not here."
"He might have been busy. You know how he is." Jason was trying hard to comfort Kim.
"He still hates me for that letter." Kim looked about ready to cry.
"Kim, I talked to him just the other day. He doesn't hate you for the letter. In fact, he wishes you would call him some time. Just to talk for a bit." Tanya was trying to get Kim to think happier thoughts. "Besides, he told me he would have been here but for the fact that he has to get the tests ready for midterms."
"I just wish he was here." Kim sighed. Just then, the phone rang.
Howie answered the phone and stood there for a moment just listening as the banker made his offer. The banker seemed to talk for an awful long time before hanging up. "The banker says that he doesn't like to see pretty girls sad but that there isn't much he can do for that. Instead, he says that you've done pretty well so far. But, he also says he doesn't think you can take it all the way."
Kim smirked up at the banker. "Then, he doesn't know me so well, does he, Jase?"
"Not at all, sis," Jason agreed.
"The offer is $65000." Howie opened the case in front of Kimberly and stepped back. "Of course, we wouldn't want you to make such an important decision by yourself. You have friends here to help you with the decisions." Just then, four people stood up from their place on the side of the stage. "Why don't you introduce us to them?"
"Well, first we have Kat Hillard, a good friend of mine from Australia. Next to her is Adam Park, another friend and Tanya's husband. With him is his best friend, Rocky DeSantos. And then we have Aisha Campbell, my friend and Rocky's girlfriend."
"Kimberly Hart, deal or no deal. Talk it over with your friends."
She looked over to them. They all smiled and shook their heads. "Think of the kids."
Kim nodded and smiled. She reached out her hand and slammed the case shut. "No Deal!"
Howie wondered why he wasn't surprised that she hadn't taken the offer. "Okay. Before we start on the next round, I wanted to ask you. Who did you notice missing while we were waiting on the banker's call?"
"My ex-boyfriend, Tommy Oliver. He's a teacher in Reefside, Ca. I sent him an invitation, hoping that we'd have a chance to talk about some things in our past and settle things between us. I guess he was just too busy to show up though."
"Kim, don't do this to yourself. You know he still cares."
"Does he, Jase? Did he even try to find a way to be here?"
"I'm sure he did." Jason hugged his little sis close.
"Okay, let's continue then. Four cases to go."
"Let's see case number 19. That's Cassie's birthday."
"Mylinda?" The young woman opened her case to reveal $10.
"Okay. Tommy has a good friend named Hayley so let's see case 25."
"Hayley, you heard the lady." Hayley opened her case and revealed the $200000.
"Who next?"
Kim looked to her friends. All four of them held up two fingers. "Everyone wants me to go with case 2. Let's do it."
"Kelly, open your case." The model peeked into the case first and sighed. She flipped down the lid to reveal $50. "One last case, Kimberly."
Looking up at Jason, Kimberly smiled. "I think case 5 would be good. I was five when I met Jason, Trini and Billy."
"Case 5?" At Kim's nod, Howie signaled to Ursula. "Ursula, open your case."
"You're doing great, Kim. I hope your streak continues." She opened the case and showed everyone $400000.
"Not bad." Howie was impressed with this young lady. "Now, it's the banker's turn."
The banker called rather quickly this time. Howie listened as usual while Kim leaned on Jason as she waited to hear the offer.
"Kimberly, the banker has an amazing offer for you this time. He says he has someone special on the line for you. If you'll just look up at the screen."
"Hey, Kimberly."
"Andros, how are you?"
"I'm doing great but I hear you're a little down in the dumps. I think I can help with that. DECA has a video link to someone who wants to talk to you."
"Who is it?" The screen split and all Kim could see was the back of someone standing in a classroom.
"You're up, my friend." Andros' words caused the other figure to turn around.
"Tommy," Kim whispered.
Tommy smiled. "Hey, beautiful. I hear you're a little disappointed that I couldn't make it. I'm really sorry about that. I did send something with Jason though. Why haven't you given it to her, bro?"
"Forgot. Sorry, man. Your bad habits are rubbing off on me."
"Yeah, yeah yeah. Just give her the present already." Jason looked to the crowd and Billy threw something through the air to his teammate and friend.
Jason caught the stuffed animal and handed to the brunette at his side. It was a black brachiosaurus with a white, red and green ribbon tied around the neck. Kim smiled and hugged it close to her. "I wish you were here now, handsome. I miss you."
"I wish I was there too. Don't give up though. I'll see you after the show. Andros is going to bring you out here for a visit." Tommy looked at Kim with so much love shining in his eyes that she could almost feel his arms wrap around her. "I'm watching you, beautiful."
The connection was cut and Howie stepped to the podium to stand in front of the young woman. "Okay, Kimberly, here's the deal. If you take this offer, and it's a fantastic offer, you walk away. If you turn it down, you have to open three more cases." He waited for a moment. "I haven't told you the offer yet, have I?"
"No." Kim sounded impatient.
"It's really great. The banker says that he was glad to see you knock out two large amounts this round but at the same time you did leave the million in play. The offer went up. It's now $83000."
He opened the case. "Kimberly Hart, deal or no deal."
"Howie, that's a lot of money. And the kids would be happy with whatever I bring them. But I just can't settle for less than the million. No deal, Howie."
"Okay. You know what comes next."
"Three cases to open." Kim smiled. "Bring it on, Howie."