Tumble and fall {Open}

[Reece Turner]

It was Friday afternoon and Reece was just opening up. With any luck, Lacey would be early today because Reece was most definitely late in opening. He had to set up the music, look over the roster and do many other things before he settled himself down to a nice cup of coffee. Lynxi was there when he dismounted his bike and killed the engine. She was always there when he pulled up by the side of the road in front of his club. He dismounted and pulled off his helmet.

”Hey girl. Hungry then? Ya hungry?”
The scrawny little cat purred loudly as she glided and arched along his legs, twisting in between them when he got to the door to his club to unlock. The moment the door was open, the little cat rushed inside and jumped straight onto the bar, a health hazard in the making of course but that wasn’t the real concern here. The real concern was the fact that he’d only needed to turn the key once for the door to get opened.

He normally triple turned to get the door open or locked up but this? This was different. This made Reece scan his club with darkened blue eyes. The little meow of annoyance pulled him from his worries and he slowly shook away his fears that someone might have been in there at some point during the day. He hadn’t remembered asking Lindsey to stop by or let in a delivery man or maybe he’d just forgotten. Normally he had a spare set for Lindsey to use in case of an emergency.

Reece brushed his concerns from his mind and stepped inside. His foot barely hit the ground before he felt it slide from underneath him. He gave a soft scream when his ankle twisted and he fell to the ground, within seconds he was sat up gripping at his ankle in horror screaming out in pain. It was red and he knew he’d hurt something. At least he was in the doorway. Someone from the street would have heard him right? Reece’s hand moved to glide across the slick floor.

It smelled like… like butter. Instantly his anger boiled and bubbled within him. Becca had done this. Reece screamed again… this time in anger. His angle was now swollen, twice the size it had been when he’d stepped inside the room. His eyes flicked to the shadow that fell across him.
”I fell. I think I twisted my ankle.”
He explained before the person off the street could even ask what the screaming was about.

[Kaytee Palladino]

She had to break the bad news to Reece. They were doing so well and she felt so bad that this had to happen. He was the only one that would know the truth of what was going on in her personal life. Her relationship with Craven was almost nonexistant right now, they hadn't seen each other in a long time. She felt awful, and felt like she should seek him out, but she couldn't right now. It was Christmas break, everyone had already left. Reece needed to know right now, because he wasn't going to get anymore money from her father. They couldn't afford it.

She pulled on her jacket and wrapped a scarf around her neck before braving the biting wind. Her arms folded as she pushed through the ice cold wind. Even though she was already colder than most people and she had to power to freeze things, she wasn't immune to feeling the cold outside as well. It just took longer for her to feel it since her body temperature was already low. She quickly pulled a stocking cap on to keep her ears warm.

Her stomach twisted at the thought of how Reece might react. She wanted to hope that he would understand and be sympathetic, but she couldn't guess. She wanted to think that she knew him well, but outside of dance, she knew nothing. She bit her lip as she rounded the corner, only a block left to walk. And then she heard a loud scream and she ran to where it came from. It was the dance studio and Reece was holding his ankle.

She quickly rushed forward and helped him into the studio more before shutting the door. She pulled off her coat quickly and rolled up his pants, placing her cold hands on his ankle to reduce the swelling and pain. She looked up at him, "Lucky it was me, huh? I'm one of three cryokenetics here at Hammel. Helps to have cold hands when there isn't any ice near by"

She smiled at him, trying not to let her worry show. She was worried about his ankle and about how he would react to the bad news. Her eyes fluttered close and she concentrated on making her hands colder. As she breathed in her concentration she spoke to Reece, "Is there anything else I can be doing, Reece?"

[Reece Turner]

Reece gasped when he saw it was Kaytee and half smiled when she eased him off the steps and onto the floor of the dance room closing the door.
"Careful. There's butter everywhere. It's dangerously slippery. "
She's dead. He thought mentally, not adding it. He couldn't believe that Becca would something like this. What if it was someone else instead of him? He'd have been in financial debt with how much they could sue him.

Did she not think of that?! What was wrong with her?! Reece watched as she pushed up his pants and pressed her hands to his bare skin making him grown at the cold numbing effect her hands had on his injury. He groaned but smiled at her words and nodded. Little did Kaytee know that he had one of those Hammel Icemakers around working on his staff. He was still grateful for Kaytee's pressence at that point.
"Thank you Kaytee but the damage is done. I think I'll be off dancing for a while. Oh God. I have students and classes..."

Reece groaned and ran a shaky hand through his hair brushing it out of his face as his blue eyes focused on his sprained ankle. Reece shook his head slowly when she asked if there was anything else she could do.
"No. Just Help me up. I need to wrap it quick. I'll just have to be careful I guess."
Reece paused and frowned eyeing Kaytee.

"What are you doing here anyway? You don't have classes and none of the clubs are even open now? You taking a short cut or did you just fancy visiting me? Please be careful Kay. It's dangerous okay? Across the floor. Step lightly and go around the outside..."
He warned her again, frightened that she too would get hurt. Her recital was months away. She could not afford to loose any lessons or practice for something Becca had done with ill intent for him and only him.

[Kaytee Palladino]

Kaytee pretty much ignored his request to help him up and get his ankle wrapped. She stood up and searched out the first aid kit. He really should be elevating it and not walking on it. Maybe she should be getting him to the hospital, it could be worse than a sprain. But she wasn't going to be moving him right now, and that butter needed to be cleaned up right away. She brought the first aid kit over to him and shrugged before going behind the bar and getting one of the rags.

She dampened the rag and put a very small amount of dawn before grabbing some paper towels and finding the buttered spot. She started scrubbing the grease up and getting rid of the slippery mess. She frowned at the floor as he asked her many questions. She knew why she came, and she knew why he was worried that she would get hurt, but that was the worst part of it all, there was no such thing as a recital for her.

She bit her lip as she finished the cleaning of the floor and went to throw away the trash and rinse out the rag. She let out a sigh and went back over to him to make sure he was getting along well with the first aid kit and if he still wanted to be moved. He would vocalize it without her asking, so she wasn't to worried about. But she did have to answer his question.

She bit her lip and gave him a fake smile, hoping he didn't notice, "I was coming to see you about something, but it's not important right now. I want to make sure you're okay."

[Reece Turner]

Reece blinked when she didn't do a thing to help him up and instead headed to the bar. His hand moved up to cover his face for a seconded before his tension got the better of him, watching his student cross the slippery floor.
"Kaytee. For God's sakes, will you be careful on that floor."
He wasn't doing it to be mean. When he was stressed out he attacked. Everyone knew to ignore his bark. It was never folllowed by a bite.

His voice was filled with both annoyance and anger at the other girl, half growling at her and glaring at the floor as if it would wither under his gaze and keep her from falling.
"Last thing I need is a parent sueing me..."
Reece muttered before covering his face with his hand once more and sighing softly waiting for the girl to return to him. When she did she had the first aid box and he took it from her frowning as she went off again.

He set the box to the side and pulled out a couple of bandages and the deep heat before he started bandaging himself up. He'd better go see his doctor about this but the man was definitely doing a house call. He really missed the days when he could just walk down the path to the dancer's clinic if he had an injury like this, which he'd never done. Reece flashed his eyes to her when she was beside him again cleaning up the floor.

"Oh don't worry about that. We're getting out of here and I'm letting them steam clean the floor. I can't afford anyone else getting hurt. Besides, Rebecca's getting the bill..."
Reece smirked and pulled out his phone quickly shootting a few texts to his staff telling them about the sudden day off but that they all should be ready in case he called to meet the steam cleaner. Reece smiled at her when she said she wanted to make sure he was okay. He nodded slowly and closed the first aid box.

"Just shocked I suppose. What did you wanna tell me, Miss Sunshine?"
He slide the medical aid box across the floor and was surprised at how slippery some spots were.
"Look! See? You could have gotten so hurt! There are patches everywhere. It's like landmines for dancers. Come on, girl. Please let's just get out of here. I'll call someone to come and pick us up then we can have some tea or coffee at my house. Please please don't walk across that floor anymore. "

[Kaytee Palladino]

Kaytee raised her eyebrows when he mentioned his sister getting te bill and that there were steam cleaners coming soon anyway. That would get the butter up, the stuff that she seemed to have missed. She watched the kit glide across the floor, showing many more slippery butter spots than she had expected. If it was Reece's sister, she was pretty good. And Kaytee suddenly felt bad for making Reece watch her walk around when she didn't even know the full of the damage. She glanced at him and bit her lip before looking to the floor.

She quickly helped him up, making sure to be very careful and not letting him fall or put too much weight on his ankle. They slowly moved across the floor, making sure not to slip on any random patches that seemed to have been carefully placed. She would test the floor in front of her before leading him on. If she felt a slippery patch, she would move to a non buttered area. Last thing she needed was to get hurt, that was correct. But her dad was not the sueing kind. Even though they were in a tough spot for money, he wouldn't do it. Especially since Kaytee felt that if she fell it was her own fault.

They finally made it out the door safely and she continued to support him while he did what he said he would do. She wanted to tell him, but it would wait until they made it to his place and were sipping at some coffee. She smiled at him after he hung up the phone, "Miss Sunshine? Where did that come from? And I will tell you once we get settled in your home. How does your ankle feel right now?"

[Reece Turner]

Reece allowed Kaytee to carefully help him out and into the cold once again. He locked the doors to the club and texted one of his staff to come by and see the floor cleaner in and to actually make an appointment with the floor cleaner for him. Reece smirked when she asked about the nickname and he pulled out the keys from his bike from his pocket motioning to it.
"Normally you're happy but for some reason, today, you're just not happy. It's just strange. You're normally all sunshine and roses..."

Reece made it to the bike with Kaytee's help and slowly slid on it, being careful to place his ankle just so.
"Come on. I don't have time for helmets and stuff. Get on and hold tight."
Reece said softly. It was aparent from his tone that he was in pain but he was doing a good job at hiding it from the girl he was supposed to be an example to. Plus he was a man and men didn't act like babies.

Reece slipped the keys in the ignition when she was on the bike and in no time flat, they were at his place again. This time there was no Becca. Of that much he was certain. He hopped his way into the house and over to a couch, falling into it and covering his face with his hands.
"Damn it. I can't believe she did this to me. I never did anything to hurt her. On the contrary, I look after her. This is what I get in return then?"
Reece shook his head and flicked his eyes to Kaytee.

"And what's got you down?"
He asked tilting his head at her.

[Kaytee Palladino]

Kaytee hesistated at the motorcycle but climbed on and held Reece tightly. She had never been on one and she had seen and heard about plenty of accidents. She squeezed her eyes shut for the whole ride and begged God not to let them crash. No helmets was a bad thing and her dad would have probably killed her if he knew. The ride ended quickly and they were safely at his house. She let out a silent sigh and followed him into his home.

Reece wasn't going to get her problem out of her that easily. She was determined to put it off as long as she could. First, she wanted a cup of hot coffee to make her feel even the slightest bit better. She smiled, not a convincing one, and shook her head at Reece, "I'll tell you in a bit. First, I'm going to get you some ibuprofen and ice and make us some coffee. I'll find my way around, just relax for a bit while I get our drinks."

She didn't let him answer and walked into the kitchen, quickly finding the coffee and filters and getting the coffee going. She wandered into his bathroom and found the ibuprofen and walked back into the kitchen, getting a bag of ice and a glass of water. She quickly brought that out to him and went back into the kitchen to pour the coffee. She put a little milk in hers and asked him out he liked it before preparing it that way.

After setting down the cups and taking a sip she sat down on the couch, putting a pillow on her lap and lifting his leg onto it. "It's best to elevate it." She looked ahead for a moment, really wishing she could avoid the inevitable, but she couldn't. He would ask again soon and she really didn't want to make him do that. Perhaps she would keep it vague, maybe.

"I can't take lessons anymore. I can't do my recital. My dad...lost his job and we can't afford it. Reece, I'm so sorry. I really am." She quickly looked away when the tears welled up in her eyes. He saw it too, she knew that. There was no point in trying to keep it vague, but perhaps he thought she was just upset about not being able to keep dancing with him.

But maybe, just maybe, he knew there was something else. Kaytee secretly wished he did.

[Reece Turner]

Reece tilted his head when she hesitated to get on the bike but she got on anyway. Poor girl. He didn't want to bark at the girl but he needed to get home. His foot was aching and he just wanted to rest it so he could relax. Reece smiled secretively when she held on tightly, her body pressed flush against his back. She was so tiny and he thought he felt a tiny tremble against his back. She was a brave girl to even trust him enough to get on the bike and during the bike ride he gently patted the vice grip she had on him.

He struggled to breath the way she clung but he didn't make any comment on it and drove at a slower speed then he normally would. When they arrived home Kaytee took charge and he smiled softly, appreciating the fact that she cared enough to go and do stuff for him.
"Thanks Kaytee."
And she was off. Reece sighed softly, easing back into the couch. He reached over after a moment or two of listening to Kaytee make noise in the kitchen.

Snatching up the remote, he flicked on the Stereo to the sounds of Pink. Fucking perfect started to play. If he'd only known how well it suited Kaytee at that moment. He didn't allow himself to dwell on the idea that she was upset about anything serious. A boy maybe. Or the fact that she was scared or.. something he could fix with a hug, some tenderly spoken words, a few pieces of advice and a nice joke or two. Reece sat up when she came out with the Ibuprofen then took the tablet.

Normally he didn't do tablets or medication of any sort. It packed up his muscles and he didn't want any toxic agents in his muscles but right now, the swelling needed to go down so.
"Black. Just Black, Kay."
He called to her when she asked how he wanted his coffee then she came back in and sat beside him which surprised him a little. A pillow was plopped on her lap and suddenly his foot was lifted to her lap.

He felt awkward being like this. He didn't want her to be near his feet, that was gross. Reece shifted awkwardly reaching for his coffee but his blue eyes kept focused on her as he waited for her to respond.
"That's it?"
Reece asked the girl that was near to tears in front of him. The dance teacher shook his head and sighed softly.

"Kaytee. You come round any time you want. I'll give you your lessons for free. Just... help us now and then with dance partners when we need help and you can come clean every now and then with us if you like."
Reece gave a soft laugh and sat up quickly cupping her face and brushing at her cheeks with his thumb.

"Shhh shhh silly girl. It's okay. Don't be upset. Maybe we can even rustle up some kind of job for you and I'm sure if I speak to people someone will find a place for your dad to work as well. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to. Just calm down, breath and you'll get through it. I promise. "
Reece whispered tenderly to her stroking her face with his finger tips.

"So get it off your chest then. I'll be your agony uncle. It will make you feel better. Go on."
Reece encouraged softly urging her to disclose to him everything that was upsetting her.

[Kaytee Palladino]

She swallowed hard when he began to talk to her, his hands cupping her face and wiping the tears. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath and trying to supress the tears. But they wouldn't leave her eyes. It seemed that now she really had to tell him the whole story, and because of that realization, her stomach began to flip. She hated the idea of really letting someone in on something. Besides, she didn't even know if this was really something appropriate to be talking to Reece about. But he was being so sweet to her.

Kaytee appreciated his offer, but she just couldn't accecpt. She needed to work as much as she could, and she needed to get paid for it too. She took a deep breath and sipped at her coffee again, wishing that telling him the truth was easier. She had told him part of it already, but that was the less personal part. He knew there was more. Deep down, she had known that he would see past it.

She gently moved his ankle off her lap and turned to face him, square on so that telling him this would be possibly more comfortable. Unlikely, but she could still hope.

"The truth is, my dad lost one of his jobs. The other job is on hold right now. Reece, my Dad is in the hospital. He has cancer." She had to stop for a moment and let herself regain composure. If she had continued talking, he wouldn't have been able to understand her.

"The doctors say that it's pretty bad. I can't go home, and we have no income right now. The benefit they threw didn't do anything for us, only paid some bills for my schooling and the hospital. We can't afford anything right now. I can't take lessons from you not only because of money, but because I'm going to get a job to help pay bills, since my dad is in the hospital."

She sniffled and wiped at the tears that had been streaming down her cheeks. She was a wreck, and she really hated showing this side of herself to anyone. It was pitiful and embarassing.

"I'm trying to figure out finanaces, but I can't get my dad to make give me power of attorney. He's so damn stubborn." She chuckled for a moment.

In all seriousness, this was a big step for Kaytee. Reece has been a part of her life for quite some time, but she has never been like this in front of him. She's never been this broken or hysterical. She has only ever been like this in front of her dad, and that was still a big deal. It's not something Kaytee is proud of at all.

"I can't even go home for Christmas to be with him. All the money we have is going to his treatment. I just wish I could be there for him, so bad."

[Reece Turner]

Reece moved slightly when she removed his ankle from her lap. Ah, awkwardness over with. Kaytee was one of those girls who needed to learn about mixed signals which she seemed good at sending. That was totally the wrong ting to do if you were friends or even less then friends which they were supposed to be but it seemed that Kaytee didn't realize that. She was already overstepping boundaries. The fact that she was sitting in his hope was overstepping. She wasn't even an employee at his club.

Employees were allowed to come here. Hell, he'd never even brought Thyme here and he was sort of a friend to him in a big brotherly way. Reece pushed aside his awkwardness and concentrated on Kaytee who obviously had a problem and issues talking about said problem. Reece tilted his head at her and watched as she tried to prepare herself to talk. He was calm and his face was devoid of emotions perfectly prepared to take whatever bad news she had to offer him.

He was after all, THE shoulder to cry on. Reece's face twisted into a perfect mixture of concern and sadness when she told him her dad had cancer. Poor thing. This must have been hard on her but what he didn't get was why they didn't have any money. Two jobs? Social security would have at least started paying out right now. Reece listened to everything she had to say and nodded slowly until she finished. He had a way of, like his mother, working things out slowly and then shooting out solutions to problems.

Cryssa had always been rather brilliant at her ideas. Even when she was courting Chase. And now she was basically the head of the house. In a soft way Cryssa would let people know what she wanted and what she thought was best for them. Never impossing... until her children didn't really do what she wanted them to do. Reece had gotten that from her and he was grateful for the trait. He took his coffee and brought it to his lips for a sip before putting it down again.

"Here is what I think you should do. Firstly, what kind of cancer is it because most cancers can be sent into remission with some serious possitive thinking and chemo. If he's in hospital right now it might be that they are prepping him for surgery to take it out, right?"
Reece chewed on his bottom lip. She couldn't be so down about it and Kaytee needed to realize that all she needed to do was ask for help. She'd recieve it.

"Second issue is the financial situation. He had two jobs correct? One of them would have given him medical or pension or something. You need to make yourself aware of the law. The more knowledge you have, the better."
Reece pulled Lindsey's laptop across the coffee table towards Kaytee and patted it lightly.
"You can find so much on the net. In situations like these, research is of paramount priority. See what you can do in order to get some cash freed up here and there."

Reece lowered his eyes for a moment thinking, his lips moved quickly as he concentrated on something he was working out in his head.
"As for the flight... Don't be proud Kaytee. Come and pick up your ticket on monday and go see your father. If you show him that you can take responsibility at eighteen years old then he will not hesitate to give you power of attorney for him. Besides, what adult would give an eighteen year old girl anything when she's not clued up on anything but dancing and looking stunning and highschool A grades. He's protecting you from growing up too fast. You need to show him that it's okay. You can handle it...."

He watched her taking another sip of his coffee. He felt better already. The pain had stopped and he could put just a bit of pressure on his foot.