Chapter Sixteen

Payson pushed through the crowd of reporters in front of the Rock. For once, it wasn't about her or Kelly or Austin, it was all about Lydia Jacobs. She was glad for the respite, but she also hated that the lead up to Nationals was being turned into a circus.

"Okay?" Sasha asked as Payson tossed her bag on the floor and started shucking her clothes. Lydia was holding court in the middle of the floor, younger gymnasts swarming around to hear about the life of an Olympian. Never mind that one coached them every day.

"Fine. It's just distracting."

"I know." Sasha surreptitiously reached out to stroke her wrist. "But with any luck, she won't make it past Nationals."

Payson rolled her eyes. "You really think Marta is going to deny her a shot at Trials?"

"Depends on how well she does, I suppose."

"She spends more time being fawned over than she does training," Payson groused. Sasha looked over his shoulder, scowling. Lydia wasn't really afraid of Sasha, but the other girls were.

"Get back to work!" he bellowed. The younger gymnasts scattered, and Payson watched as Lydia rolled her eyes and started towards them.

"Thanks, Sasha," she breathed, laying a hand on his arm. It lingered there a bit too long for Payson's liking. "You know how fans can be. I'm sure they were like that when you first got here too."

Sasha glanced at Payson, his eyes dancing, and she knew that he was remembering her running after him, begging him to stay and coach. She glowered.

"I was never like that," she insisted. "Excuse me. Some people actually take their training seriously."

"Payson…" Sasha started, but she just waved him off. She was in a bad mood already, and watching Lydia flirt with Sasha was more than she could handle. As she walked away she heard Lydia's high pitched giggle. She clenched her fists.

"Want me to make her disappear?" Kelly asked as Payson worked into the rotation at the beam. She resisted the urge to look at Lydia, who was still holding Sasha hostage, and focused on her extensions instead.

"It's not worth the effort."

They were working on the uneven bars when Sasha finally joined them. "You're releasing late there, Payson."

"Yes, Sasha." She did the skill again, releasing on time.

"Good. Keep working it."

Sasha moved on to work with Kaylie. Kelly watched as Payson resolutely avoided watching him go. "Pay, are you okay?"

"Fine." Payson jumped onto the low bar, running through her routine again, focusing on her release timing. Kelly stood as close as she could without getting hit and dropped her voice.

"Are you sure? Because I know you and Sasha are only just back together, and now Lydia is making her moves…"

Payson dropped from the bars and huffed. "I'm really am fine, Kelly. Thanks though."

They switched, Kelly working her bars routine and Payson picking it apart. After a few minutes, Sasha came to stand with them. Payson glanced at him, but his eyes were trained on Kelly.

"Manage to shake off your number one fan?" Payson asked. Sasha looked at her, his eyes flashing.

"You know you have nothing to worry about, right?" he asked quietly. "I don't care about Lydia Jacobs. I care about you."

Payson let out a heavy sigh. She'd known that, of course, but hearing it lifted a weight from her shoulders. She wanted badly to lean into him, to soak in his strength, but she didn't dare. Instead, she smiled.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Nothing to apologize for."

#

The gym was nearly empty after a full day of training. Payson was taking her time in the shower, and Kelly and Austin were lingering in the hallway. Lydia was the only person still working, asking Sasha to pay special attention to her beam routine. Kelly watched her with narrowed eyes.

"I don't like her," Kelly said. Austin chuckled and pulled her into his arms.

"Why not?"

Kelly pulled away. She wanted to keep an eye on Lydia, not cuddle with Austin. "She's a homewrecker. She's been all over Sasha ever since she got here. If Payson doesn't kill her, I just might."

"There's no way Sasha is even remotely interested."

They watched the floor. Lydia jumped off the beam, moving to stand in front of Sasha, much closer than was strictly necessary. She reached out to touch his arm and then leaned up to kiss him. Kelly made a strangled noise in her throat and lunged forward, but Austin caught her at the last moment.

Sasha firmly pushed Lydia away. "Lydia, that's inappropriate. I'm your coach."

"And? The way I hear it, you like hooking up with your gymnasts. At least I won't get you fired," Lydia said primly. Sasha ground his teeth together.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Go home."

Lydia huffed and flounced towards the locker room. She met Payson on the way out and snorted. "Nice work today, jail bait."

"I'm sorry, what?" Payson asked, her jaw nearly hitting the floor as she spun to face Lydia.

"Nothing," Lydia sang. Payson shook her head and met Austin and Kelly in the hallway. Kelly was livid, red in the face with steam practically coming out of her ears, and for a moment Payson wondered if she'd heard what Lydia said. She couldn't possibly have, though.

"That bitch just kissed Sasha," Kelly hissed.

"What?" Payson took off towards the office.

Sasha was sitting at his desk, rubbing at his forehead. "She kissed you?"

"And I pushed her away immediately. Payson, you have nothing to worry about," Sasha promised.

"Not from you, I know, but Sasha…"

He pushed to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor, and rounded the desk before she had time to catch her breath. He took her face in his hands. "No buts. Payson, I love you. We just worked through our issues over Kristen and Rigo, I don't want Lydia Jacobs to ruin it."

Payson fisted her hands in his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss, flicking her tongue against his lips.

"I love you too, Sasha."

A/N: I'm baaaack! I've been working on this for about a month and I was planning to wait until I had the entire story finished before I posted anything, but JCI updating The Fine Print today inspired me (go read it if you haven't. JCI is my writing hero)! I've got several chapters already written, so I promise I won't disappear again. At least not until this fic is complete.

Anyway, this is unbeta'd, all mistakes are mine. Also, it's been four years so I'm sure there are continuity errors (though I tried to catch everything) and the voice might be a bit off. Hope you enjoy it anyway!