Taking a fall

Note: I wrote this story AGES ago, but never finished it. I still think it's quite rushed in the end, but I'll post it anyway. Maybe you like it 🙈
There could be mistakes as I didn't really proofread it 😅 otherwise I hope you enjoy it 😄

It was Saturday, 4:30 pm and the dress rehearsal for their show had just been completed. Everything went smoothly, 7 pm could come.

Having successfully rehearsed their bits for the upcoming show  Neil and Haydn aka Little Ant and Little Dec had a little chase around the studio. It was all fun and games until 6 year old Haydn, who had been running down the chairs, chased by 7 year old Neil, slipped and took a tumble down the stairs. Luckily he had been quite far down already so he didn't fall down all the way, but it still hurt and the little boy knew he would end up with quite a few bruises. Mainly though he felt really shaken by what had happened and it didn't help at all when 4 or 5 members of the crew came running and started fussing over him. He felt uncomfortable surrounded by all these strangers, they just wanted to help, but it was embarrassing and being so shaken meant that he was also pretty close to tears and the last thing he wanted was to start crying in front of them all.

Swallowing the lump in his throat and taking a shaky breath, he composed himself enough to mutter a silent "I'm fine", hoping they would leave him alone.

It didn't do much though, they were still looking at him as if he was to die on the spot if they left him. Their sympathetic looks were becoming unbearable.

That was when a familiar voice reached his ears.

"What's happened here?" Dec asked and the crew members made some space to let him through.

Haydn looked up into the presenters worried face and knew he was saved. He trusted Dec, he would understand how he was feeling.

"You okay?" Dec asked ever so gently as he saw his mini me. He could see how tense the little boy was and the way he bit his lip and understood immediately.

Haydn nodded weakly in reply. "Fell down the stairs" he mumbled and looked down.

Dec nodded more to himself, before taking charge of the situation.

"Thank you for your help, I'll take him from here. Please go back to your work" he told the crew politely and even though he wasn't their boss, the crew members nodded quietly and retreated. They respected him and knew he would look after the little one.

Finally it was only Neil, Ant's mini me standing beside them, chewing nervously on his lips. He felt responsible for his friends fall and felt rather guilty.

"I'm sorry" he mumbled. Dec thought it sounded more like a whimper, and his thoughts were confirmed when little boy sniffed silently, tears forming in his eyes.

Dec didn't even get the chance to say something, before the boy ran off and out of the studio.

Thinking of him, he just hoped someone would  find him and look after him, preferably Ant who he knew, Neil would trust.

Right now though his priority was Haydn who was still standing beside him, all tensed up trying his best not to cry. All the little boy wanted was to launch himself into Dec's arms. He was in desperate need of some reassurance.

"Come on" Dec said quietly and took his hand, leading him backstage to his dressing room. He knew the boy didn't want any more strangers fussing over him, so his dressing room was a rather good retreat.

Opening the door, he let Haydn enter first, before closing the door behind him.

As soon as they were truly alone, Haydn burst into tears. Everything just overwhelmed him and the tears he had held back for so long, finally escaped.