The Inn was on fire. And Lorelai was panicking.
"Sookie, Michel, um, is everyone out?" Lorelai inquired as she frantically spun around trying to do a quick head count.
Michel, carrying the guest list, replied, "Yes. We're sure, the fire department's sure, everyone is out and accounted for."
"Well we need to double check, triple check! And we-"
"Ma'am?" Chief Baker cut in, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I've actually got some good news." The building is stable, and you're probably going to be able to get back in in about twenty-four hours." He gave a curt nod and Lorelai responded with a strained smile.
"Okay, good news, you're right. Twenty-four hours? Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lorelai responded gratefully. She turned around abruptly and hastily gave orders to her staff. "We need phones. And Internet. And breakfast. Oh gosh, and um," she paused, pressing her fingers to her temples and straining to figure out what she was missing. "We need flight and train information," She eventually added, and quickly turned to Michel. "Michel," she signaled to him, "Will you call all other Inns in the area and check if the guests can stay there for the night? And hurry please!"
As soon as Lorelai dismissed her staff to complete their tasks, Rory wandered up to Lorelai, handing her some coffee.
"It looks like you need some," Rory explained as Lorelai reached for the take-out cup.
"Thanks sweets, I really do. Ugh, do you believe this? Of all the days in a year, we get a fire on the night that we're completely booked with those Poe people." Lorelai paused and sipped her coffee.
"Yeah I know. Just your luck, right?" Rory nodded in agreement, "Well, do you need my help with anything? Phone calls, food, live entertainment? You know, I can do a pretty good Steve Urkel imitation." With that said, Rory hitched up her skirt and started doing some of Steve Urkel's dance moves.
Lorelai made a face and said, "No thanks kid. You're off the hook for now. Plus, if you started doing that dance, Kirk would probably want to join in, and that would probably scar us all for life."
Rory smiled and replied, "Are you sure? I know you love my Urkel dance." She laughed and then continued, "I'm just kidding…But call me it you need anything at all, okay?"
"Will do. See you at home then?" Lorelai leaned in and kissed Rory on the cheek.
"Yeah. Don't stress out too much though Mom." Rory responded in a concerned voice. She then waved as she turned and began walking home.
Lorelai smiled and then checked her watch. 6:45. Damn, she thought, biting her lip as she scanned the crowd of people for Michel, it's almost time for breakfast. I'd better grab something to eat before I have to deal with the guests…
Lorelai threw open the door to the diner and called out, "Oh burger boy! I need you out here, like, now!" When Luke didn't appear immediately, she started tapping her foot and sighing in annoyance.
Luke came out of the storeroom in a huff. "Lorelai, I don't have time for your games today. The morning rush is going to get here soon and Caesar is taking the day off."
"I'm sooo sorry," Lorelai snickered, then continued on, "How rude, I run all the way here from the Inn, which for me, is quite an accomplishment, and all you do is stand there and tell me to go away. I'm insulted."
"Sorry," Luke replied, somewhat sarcastically. "Huh. Yeah, I was wondering why you were all red. You did look really tired and hot when you came in."
"My my. Ol' Luke here thinks I'm hot." Lorelai flashed him a grin and batted her eyelashes flirtatiously.
"Oh jeez…" Luke muttered, and he came out from behind the counter to wipe the tables down.
"Well anyways, I want some chocolate chip pancakes please." Lorelai requested, resting her chin on one hand and stirring her coffee with the other.
"Fine. I'll make them when I'm done."
Lorelai had momentarily forgotten all about the Inn, and felt a sudden pang of panic as she sat there at the counter and the memories came rushing back. "Oh my gosh. You will never guess what happened at the Inn tonight. We had a fire. A big one. Except the guy to me that it's stable, or that the stables are fine, or that the building is ok, or something like that. I don't really remember. And now we have a bunch of guests with no place to stay, unless Michel got rooms for them, but I don't know if he did because I haven't seen him yet." Lorelai paused and took a deep breath. "We don't have any breakfast for the guests now, and we're supposed to feed them, or else we'll never have any customers again. We need construction worker dudes and plumbers and lots of other workers to fix everything, and I think the insurance covers all of that but I'm not sure. The Inn's a mess, the people are a mess, and I'm a mess."
Luke just stared the whole time, and stood before her with his mouth hanging open. "Wha..! Well…um…more coffee?"
Lorelai gave a weak smile and nodded. "Sure, why not."
Luke found his voice again, and cleared his throat. "I'm sure you're insurance covers all the damage. Your guests, well, they can eat here, on the house if you want. And I'm pretty sure a lot of people have guests rooms in their houses…"
Lorelai waited a moment, thinking about it all, eyes lighting up in hope, but then she sighed and shook her head no. "We have way too many guests, with all those Poe people staying here. I don't think we can find over forty temporary homes for them tonight."
"Oh," Luke mumbled, "Well maybe if you talked to Patty or someone, she could figure something out for you…"
"Well, I've actually gotta get running after these pancakes, but do you think you could do me a big favor and call Patty?" Lorelai glanced up at him with hopeful eyes.
"Well, um, with the morning rush and all…" Luke trailed on, looking away, "Well actually, it's okay. I'll call her, no problem."
"Are you sure? That would help a ton. Thanks Luke! You're officially my new hero." She stood up and gave Luke a hug, telling herself that the only reason the hug felt so wonderful and natural was because she was relieved about the Inn…
Lorelai was outside of the Inn when Rory called. Lorelai flipped open her phone and began speaking. "Talk to me."
"Hello to you too Mom. Miss Patty just confirmed that she could take in four guests."
"Great! So that means that we have…." Lorelai scrunched up her faceas she ran through the mental math, "Four more guests," she concluded, "Right?"
"Yeah. So I was thinking that I could stay at Lane's house, and we could take in the last four Poes at our house."
"Okay. Umm…that's good. But I don't really want to be alone in the house with those weird Poe people. I guess I'll ask Babette or someone if I can stay with them…"
"Sure. Well I've gotta run, see you soon!"
Lorelai smiled and replied, "'Kay, bye babe." She snapped her phone shut and dropped it in her purse and looked at her watch. I 6:15 /I "I'm going to Luke's!" She yelled at no one in particular, hoping that someone would hear her." Lorelai climbed into her Jeep and drove away. When she got to Luke's, she hesitated at the door before opening it. She quickly reassured herself that there was nothing weird about the proposition she was about to make.
"Hey Luke?" She asked walking up to the counter, "Your couch is still free, right?"