#AllTheThings

Too Much

 Val awoke in the same position he fell asleep in: tightly holding Sharna to his chest.

 Once his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, he saw the aftermath of last night.

 The blanket once covering the redhead was on the floor, a pillow was on the other end of the room, and a trembling Sharna with tear stained cheeks laid next to Val.

 “Good morning, Sharna.” The ballroom pro noticed Sharna's eyes opening.

 The smallest smile graced her lips.

 She rolled from the bed, put it back together, and started running the shower.

 Once she came out of the shower, she noticed a bruise below her knee.

 A ‘battle scar’ as Val called them. Every now and again, a bad dream would send her thrashing around back and forth all night. Much like last night's.

 Sharna came down the steps, with shorts and a crop top on - her usual rehearsal attire - and her hair still slightly damp.

 “Good morning, My Dearest.”

 “Good morning, Val. Sorry to have woken you last night.”

 “Oh, Sharna, Babe, it is okay, you caused no harm whatsoever.”

 She blushed almost as brightly as her hair.

 They ate in quiet, because Val knew Sharna needed company of someone she loves, but also silence. She needed silence.

                           ~~~~~

 It didn’t take James very long to notice that Sharna got very little sleep the night before.

 “Good morning!” James yelled through the door to Sharna as she came into the studio.

 “Morning, Hinch.”

 James saw the very dark marks under her eyes and knew if he glanced at the mirrors, he'd have some too. Just not as dark.  

 The couple rehearsed their week six tango.

 James was prepared to lift her but she  wouldn't let him again.

 “Shar, why do you keep flinching? You've always let any partner lift you.”

 James made her sit down and talk.

 “What’s really going on?”

 “I'm just tired. Sleep doesn't come easily these days.”

 James knew why she hasn't slept.

 “Nightmares?”

 She nodded.

 “What happened last night?”

 “I dreamt I couldn't dance anymore. Brian cut me from the pro team and Val left and, and--”

 “Sharna,” James cut her off. “You would never get cut! You're Sharna May Burgess! You are the best pro there is!”

 “Thanks, James. We best get back to rehearsing.”

 James helped her up again and they kept running their tango.

                          ~~~~~

 “Hey, Sweetheart, how was rehearsals?”

 “Pretty good, I guess.”

 “You guess?”

 “I just feel so bad because I flinched at James again.”

 “Why?”

 “Because Maks got hurt lifting a girl. I don't want anyone I dance with getting injured from lifting me.”

 “Sharna, Babe, that only happened once. It was just an accident. Maks was just really nervous.”

 Val held her hand and stood her up.

 “What are you doing?” Her hands started shaking.

 Val lead her to the middle of the room.

 “On seven let me lift you.”

 She nodded in agreement.

 “Four, five, six, seven…”

 Sharna jumped for him to lift her, but she tensed up in fear once in the air.

 “Babe, you are not going to hurt me.” Val sat her down. “You are not going to hurt James. You will not hurt Artem in the tour duet. You will not hurt anyone.”

 Sharna felt like she was suffocating. The room suddenly raised a hundred degrees to her.

 “Sharna!” Val cried. He clung to her wrist as she fell to the floor, losing her balance.

 Her breathing was as unsteady as it gets.

 Val carried her again up to the bedroom and flipped on the lights.

 He had her sit up straight against the headboard of the bead.

 “Breathe, my Love, breathe.”

 “V-V-Val.” She hyperventilated.

 “What, Shar?”

 “Come, come here.” She cried in between shaky breaths.

 Val sat next to Sharna. He held her to his chest, because she felt safe in the arms of the man she loves.

 “Shar, breathe with me.” Val started rhythmically breathing, in and out, in and out.

 Eventually Sharna's breathing synchronized with his.

 “I'm scared, Val.” She whispered. Her whole body was shaking, Val could feel it. “Of failure in this art I've dedicated my life to. Of letting everyone at the show down.”

 “Sharna, you aren't letting anyone down.”

 She cried into his jacket sleeve.

 “Babe, it is late, you need sleep.” Val turned the lamp off and laid completely down, still holding the woman he adores close.

Sharna
 Val kissed Sharna's cheek as a ‘good night’ and fell asleep.