A/N: So the Olympics are over. I'm actually really happy with all the podiums! Only bit I'm sad about is Simone. I have strong opinions about what the issue was there (I think it has a lot to do with Tom Forster's team 'strategy') but I digress.

I haven't updated recently because I've been struggling with chronic pain. I am now booked in for surgery on Monday the 16th of August, and I'm so excited to get my life and mobility back!

I'll try to update between now and then, but if not, I'll be with y'all after surgery!

"Dad?"

Michael looked up from his laptop, removing his glasses as he did. He immediately felt a stab of worry in his gut; JJ looked awful. She'd been slowly recovering from the virus she had gone down with last week, and she had looked a lot better. But suddenly, something had definitely knocked her back again.

"I mean this in the nicest way possible Jayje, but you look like shit," he said gently, slowly rising from his chair.

"I feel like shit," JJ agreed with a groan. As she spoke, he noticed her arm tightening around her stomach, and the way she was hunched over, as if in pain.

"I thought you were getting over your virus?"

"I was, I was over it," JJ replied as her dad moved closer. "Honestly, I slept with Will when I was at his house the other night and I'm about ninety nine percent sure I have a UTI. I need your help because I don't think I can drive myself anywhere". She let out a groan as she finished speaking, hunching further over and breathing heavily as her stomach cramped viciously.

"Yeah, I'm gonna take you to urgent care, you need a doctor, peanut"

"Why can't I just catch a break, first the leg, then the virus, now this?" JJ whined as Michael stepped around her and headed for the coat rack. He quickly pocketed his wallet and keys, slipping on his coat before grabbing JJ's off the top hook.

"Come on. Do I need to bring a bucket?" he asked lightly, putting a supportive arm around JJ. She shook her head, allowing her dad to guide her out of the house and to the car.

The sounds of the hospital beeped and alarmed around them as they sat in one of the curtained sections waiting for the doctor to return. She had already been checked up and had a urine sample taken, before being put into the bed and started on some pain relief. She closed her eyes, tipping her head back against the bed and letting out a sigh of frustration.

"You ok there peanut?"

Opening her eyes, she tipped her head towards her dad. "Annoyed. I swear everything is out to stop me from getting back into gym for this season"

Michael chuckled. "It feels like that now, but you'll be a force to be reckoned with by nationals"

"I don't feel like a force right now, I feel like hot garbage"

"Oh yeah? What does hot garbage feel like?" Michael teased. JJ managed a little laugh, her smile widening a little as her dad took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Talk to me. Take your mind away from how you feel right now. What do you have planned for your gymnastics this year?"

JJ took a deep breath. "Well, I was feeling really good at the end of last year. Really strong. Nick says I have more potential we haven't tapped into. I want to upgrade my main vault to an Amanar. It's not really necessary score wise, but I feel like I want the challenge. And I want to add a second vault. We've been practicing Yurchenko half-on entries and I actually find them quite easy, so we're looking at building from that. And I'm bringing my layout full back on beam, and maybe upgrading floor"

"Sounds like you've got it all going on, hey? Are you excited?"

"Definitely," JJ said with a smile. "I don't care what happens now, it's gonna be a good year"

"Where have you two been?" came Sandy's worried voice as JJ and Michael walked into the kitchen. She had come home expecting to find one or both of them already there, but all she had found was a dark, quiet house.

"At urgent care," Michael replied, wrapping an arm around JJ's shoulders. "This muppet's got a UTI"

Sandy grimaced, looking at her daughter in complete sympathy. "I completely understand how rubbish you're feeling right now"

"I just want to curl up in bed with a heat pack," JJ groaned. Sandy smiled, nodding in agreement.

"Go and have a shower, I'll bring you up a heat pack and some Tylenol soon"

As soon as she had retreated up the stairs, Sandy turned back to Michael, who was busily fixing himself a cup of coffee.

"I'm presuming she's ended up with that the most likely way?" she asked as she walked over to the cupboard above the fridge.

"Yeah. She was completely honest when she came to me. Said she was pretty sure she got it from sleeping with Will. I think she just felt so shitty she didn't care, you should've seen her when she walked into the office San, it was like an episode of The Walking Dead"

Sandy laughed, dragging out the heat pack and taking it over to the microwave. "You're so mean"

"It's true, she looked awful. I knew straightaway something was up"

"Well, you know what Mike, I know a UTI isn't as intense as girl problems can get, but I think you should be proud of yourself for the fact that she actually came to you"

"You think?"

"Do you know your daughter? Two years ago she would have quite happily sat up there and suffered until I came home. Today she's marched down here and told you she thinks she has a UTI from having sex. She trusts you, Mike. She trusts you to let her be an adult, not to judge… that's so important. You've done an amazing job building that relationship"

Hearing her bedroom door opening, JJ poked her head out from under the blanket, expecting to find her mom with more water or soup. Instead, she found Will standing at the edge of her bed, smiling down at her.

"I hear you're sick again," he said with a chuckle.

"Yeah," JJ groaned, throwing the blankets back and shuffling across so he could slide in. He took the invitation, kicking off his shoes and crawling under the covers with her. She let out a happy sigh, cuddling up in his arms as he pulled the blankets back over the two of them.

"What's going on with you, hey? Normally you're indestructible. Now it's like one stiff wind and you're gone"

JJ managed a weak laugh, tucking her head beneath his chin. A buzzing from the bedside table broke them both from their little bubble. Will reached over, grabbing his phone, only to see his brother's name on the screen for a video call.

"What?" he mumbled, confusing as he accepted it. It took a moment to load, before his niece's beaming face lit up the screen.

"Uncle Will?"

"Hey B-Rose! Whatcha doin'?"

"Uncle Will, I went to gymnastics today! Like Aunt JJ!"

Will let out a laugh, turning his phone so Bailey-Rose could see JJ next to him. "Did you do any cool flips?"

"No, not yet, I'm just learning! But Uncle Will, I'm gonna go to the 'lympics like Aunt JJ!"

JJ broke into a smile, the little girl's proclamation warming her heart. Will grinned, turning and pressing a kiss to JJ's forehead.

"You're an inspiration, Jennifer Jareau"