[Edited]
*Val's POV*
It's midway through the season and everything has been plain sailing till now. Sharna has been complaining about her knee for the past few sessions now and I am starting to get really worried. It's the knee she had surgery on a few years back and if she damages it for good this time then she's out of dance for good. Last week during a dress rehearsal for team dance, Sharna slipped on her dress. It was the knee that had been previously reconstructed and she said she felt something go. So instantly my protective boyfriend nature kicked in and made sure she relaxed until we could go to her doctor. Sharna asked Jen to stand in till she knew what was going on. Since she fell, she did the show but then made sure she did let her injured knee wasn't walked on.
Currently, she is sitting in rehearsals with Jenna and James watching them do their routine for Halloween night. It was almost time for her appointment with the doctor. I finished up rehearsal with Laurie and headed over to the studio where Sharna was. I saw her sitting in the corner, knee elevated, looking super miserable. It sucked that it had happened to her this season. She has an amazing partner that could win.
"Come on baby, let's go and see what's wrong with you!" I said grabbing Sharna's bags from the floor. James and Jenna came to a stop and said their goodbyes to Sharna. Sharna looked so defeated sitting there, not being able to dance. She limped towards the car as I carried our bags.
The ride to the doctors was silent, just the quiet hum of the radio, making this a little less boring for the both of us. It seemed like it took all eternity to get there and then even longer for the doctor to see us. Over time I tried to speak to Sharna, she'd just stare out towards the wall, blank emotion. I know she was scared to see what the doctor had to tell her but if she won't talk about the pain or what's going on then I can't help.
"Miss Sharna Burgess" A doctor calls out her name. Well, here it goes.
*Sharna's POV*
Lost. That's how I felt. Even though Val was next to me, I still felt lost. The doctor was talking to me, not to me. Nothing he said was going in, I wanted to break down there and then. Everything he was saying was just breaking my heart.
"Miss Burgess" the doctor snapped me back into reality and I just looked blankly at him. "I'm so sorry Miss Burgess, I know this must be hard but you are facing 3 to 6 weeks off," he told me. That's when I couldn't hold it in anymore, the tears just fully poured out of me.
"That's to the end of the season" I stammered. The doctor looked at me and just nodded, not knowing what to say.
"Miss Burgess, you will have to go through copious amounts of therapy and you'll have to ice it if it hurts if you want to be back dancing again" he explained. I nodded as Val grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. "Therapy will start from next week, any more questions?" he continued. I just shook my head and wanted to leave.
"Ok, I'll be in touch within the next few days to start the therapy. Until then, phone me with any queries" the doctor shook Val and my hand and showed us out of the room. Once I exited the room, I collapsed to the floor in floods of tears. Val scooped me up in his arms from the floor and carried me back to the car. He was pressing kisses against my temple and keep telling me it was going to be ok. I didn't believe him but it was calming me down.
We headed back to the studio, in silence, just my whimpers filling the car. What on earth was I going to tell James? It will ruin him. I hobbled out of the car and headed towards the studio where James and Jenna were. Whilst walking up to the studio I was approached by the camera team wanting to get this for the show.
I opened the door and leant against the frame, James and Jenna stopped and faced me. "I spoke to my doctor. I'm supposed to have 3 to 6 weeks off. You still have 4 weeks left in the competition, I'm still there for you but its gonna be Jen dancing with us for this one." I walked over to James and gave him a hug "I'm sorry".
"You're sorry? I know a thing or two about not rushing a recovery so no matter what happens from here on out, the only reason I am here is that of everything you've done. So you're going to be fine and everything is going to be great. Just go get better alright?" James told me, I knew that he was ok dancing with Jenna but I know how much this season he has been in love dancing with me. I bought out a side of him that nobody else probably could. I am so thankful for Jenna stepping in, I know she can do this, she's an amazing dancer but I wish I was dancing. This sucks.
*time skip*
It was Monday night and James was dancing with Jenna. watching him dance that routine with Jenna by his side was flawless, I could not fault him and could not fault Jenna for being the hero of my week. They danced their waltz and it was perfection. James is the real deal and can dance with anyone.
When they got that perfect score, I cried, I was so proud of him. As his coach, I am incredibly proud of him but as his dance partner, I wish I got to share that moment with him. Its so bittersweet but I am truly over the moon. I have loved everything about this season and I just don't want it to be over for him.
I am praying am I am back with him soon and that I am happy again to be dancing. This is killing every inch of my happiness. I am so blessed to have such an amazing support group around me. Val has not left my side since and neither has Brooklyn. Brooklyn tells me she is my waitress and anything I want she has to get it for me. Brooklyn comes to physio with me and keeps me entertained whilst Val is at rehearsal. I am forever grateful for the both of them.
Please get me dancing in that final.
