AN: Ok, this is loosely, loosely, based on the "Shark" storyline involving the daughter. In that story, the one-sided romance never went anywhere and Julie ended up in jail for drunk driving, which isn't where this story is headed. I said it's loosely based on the story because Rory's at Yale and has her own apartment, and Chris is a prosecutor who lost a case involving a serial killer. The psycho is now loose and has a vendetta against Chris. The Lorelei/Rory relationship is exactly the same, but Lorelei's currently traveling around Europe opening a chain of inns. She never married Chris, who's now a rich prosecutor and living in Hartford (paying for Yale). What else? Oh! Rory never slept with Dean or met Logan. Sorry, I love him, but he and the Stooges don't fit into this story. I think that's all, but let me know if you have any questions. Ciao!

Never reveal your name. Never turn your back. Never surrender your heart.
-The Saint

Rory smiled as she shut down her computer, gathering up the hard copy to deliver to Doyle in the morning. Moving around her apartment, she shut down all the lights and double-checked the locks before preparing for bed. Her first class wasn't until 10, but her dad wanted to meet for breakfast before going in for final arguments. It was a ritual they had started when Chris moved back to Hartford and they began to rebuild their strained relationship, but she doubted he'd have time for anything more than a bagel and cup of coffee. This case had really gotten to him and pushed him to the edge.

Michael Durant was a psychotic serial killer whose meticulous method of murder declared a deranged genius that was rivaled only by his insistence in arguing his own defense. Chris had known the danger of allowing him to represent himself, knew his manipulative mind games would make it difficult to win, and found himself unraveling as he saw his worst fears become reality. Rory sighed. She knew her dad was terrified that a sadistic killer was about to be unleashed on society, and knew that he was blaming himself. Chris had fought tooth and nail, but had finally found his match in the form of Michael Durant. Tomorrow morning, they would face off in court, and there was nothing she could do to help her father. She'd offered to be there for closing arguments to offer whatever moral support she could, but Chris was determined to keep her away and argued that she couldn't afford to miss class, knowing that would convince her.

The Next Morning:

Checking her phone for messages before shutting it off, Rory slid down in bed and tried to clear her mind. She'd call her mom in the morning, then give her article a final glance before heading out to meet Chris. Other than that, there was nothing she could do.

Checking her watch for the umpteenth time, she considered giving up on her dad joining her for breakfast. He was never late and the waiting patrons were giving her pointed looks as waiters milled around the crowded bistro. Five more minutes. She'd give him five more minutes and one more phone call before giving up. She was just reaching for her cell phone when something thudded onto the table, startling her.

"Sorry I'm late, Kid. Last minute stuff to go over, phone calls to take and overall frazzledness got me up at 4:30 and I still managed to run behind."

Brows scrunched, Rory smiled as she surveyed the tension lines and worry etched across her father's face. Christopher Hayden's defining qualities were confidence and boyish charm, but both of those qualities were missing this morning.

"Don't worry about it, Dad. I was actually starting to enjoy the icy glares and sighs my bare, one-person table was eliciting from the many people waiting to be seated," she replied with a bright smile.

"Your mother's sarcasm has overdeveloped itself in you," he deadpanned.

"Sorry. It's just so cute to see you all frazzled and flustered. Kind of like your first day of school."

"I'm about to face the biggest case of my career and your mocking me?"

"It's what we Gilmores do," she shrugged. The coffee and pastry she had pre-ordered was placed on the table and Chris reached for it thankfully. "I'm just kidding, Dad. Your win rate is higher than any attorney in Connecticut and this guy's defending himself. You'll slaughter him in closing."

Chris accepted her assurances with a tight, forced smile, appreciating her support despite his doubts. "I hope so, honey."

Not knowing what else to say, Rory simply reached across the table to squeeze her father's hand. "I talked to Mom yesterday," she said after a pause.

"Yeah? She taking Europe by storm?"

"More like plowing through it," she laughed. "She said the business part of the trip's going well and the inns are coming along, but she's having trouble trying to fit in." She chuckled before taking another gulp of coffee. "Bouncing from country to country seems to be taking its toll and her travel dictionaries aren't helpful when she grabs the wrong one."

Chris smiled down into his cup, his mind a thousand miles away. Glancing at his watch, he sighed in resignation. Peering back into the eyes of his concerned daughter, he tried to smile as he reached for the check.

"I hate to eat and run, kid-"

"No, no, it's fine. I just wish there was something I could do. Are you sure you don't want me to come-?"

"No," Chris cut in forcefully. Seeing the look in her eyes, he softened his tone. "You don't need to skip classes, and I want you as far away from that courthouse as possible, ok?" he asked, standing and holding an arm out to her.

She stepped into his embrace, nodding against his chest. "Call me tonight?"

"You bet," he assured, helping her into her coat before stepping outside. "You take a cab here?"

"Nope, car's just around the corner."

"Alright-" his cell phone began ringing incessantly. "Hayden. Damnit. No, I'll be right there."

"Go, Dad. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Sweetie."

"Bye." Trying to ignore the feeling in her stomach, Rory turned and continued to her car, hoping that her dad's uncharacteristic pessimism wasn't a sign of what was to come.

Later That Day:

The day flew by for Rory, preventing her from catching the news to check on the trial. She knew not to call her father, knew that he was going to be preoccupied and unable to take calls. She considered calling one of the members of his team, whom he affectionately called "his children," but the young attorneys would be likewise busy and probably running around doing her father's bidding.

Entering her apartment, she dropped her keys on the counter and pressed the button on her answering machine.

"Hey, Babe!" her mom's bright voice chirped over the machine. "I talked to Luke yesterday and he said it's been a whole six days since you were there. I know that fancy-shmancy school of yours is demanding and all, but honey, you're the only Gilmore Girl in the States and Stars Hollow is missing our beautifying charm. Ok, granted, my mom's there, but that's not exactly the charm I was talking about. ANYWAY, I was actually just calling because I've been in meetings all day and didn't know if you'd tried to call. Give me a buzz when you get home. Love ya, and stay beautiful!" Beep.

Smiling at her mother's antics, Rory smiled and reached for the phone. "Hey, Mom."

"Rory, my heart, the absentee Stars Hollow princess!" Lorelei replied gleefully.

"Says the woman who hasn't seen this side of the Atlantic in seven months," she pointed out.

"Humph! So glad I taught you to speak. How's everything with you?"

"Oh, you know, school, paper, Dad's stressing over this case."

"How's that going?"

"Uhh," Rory paused to tuck her hair behind her ears. "I'm not sure. They had closing arguments today, but when I met Dad for breakfast he seemed really….frazzled."

"Your dad?" Lorelei asked in surprise. "The 'overly-confident, I can't lose a case' dad?"

"How many other dads do I have?"

"Counting all the men who've adopted you in the Hollow? Countless."

"Mom, you're getting sidetracked."

"Sorry. He's stressed?"

"Yeah, and I haven't talked to him since then and don't know if I should call. I flipped the news on a second ago, but they aren't saying anything, just that both sides gave strong arguments."

"I'm sure he'll call you, hon, there's really nothing else you can do." Lorelei knew that her daughter was starting to build a relationship with Chris and wanted to do something to help, but Lorelei also knew that Chris would be burying himself in legal work trying to predict the outcome, while also replaying every second of the trial in his head.

"Yeah." Rory picked at the blanket draped on the couch. Brightening, she brought her attention back to her mom. "What about you? Are there any Italian hotties that you've fallen desperately in love with and plan to marry and start a big Italian family with?"

Lorelei laughed on the other end. "Well, my mom does want me to get married and become a respectable woman," her daughter snorted, "BUT I think I'm going to remain footloose and fancy free. I have a thing for diner men."

"Aha! THAT'S why Luke was calling! Not to complain that I haven't been home, but because YOU are still gone!"

"Hey, missy, don't turn this around on me! You pregnant best friend is missing you, too."

"I know. I'm actually planning to go home this weekend, give Sookie a break from taking care of Paul Anka."

"Yeah, she told me he opened her pantry door and pulled out the bag of pixie sticks," Lorelei added.

"Well, he misses you."

"And you. Just remember, when you first get him home, you're gonna have to carry him on the porch cause he has a thing about stairs," Lorelei reminded.

"I know."

"And he's picky about food and what food goes in what dishes."

"I know," Rory rolled her eyes.

"And he has to watch Fox News before he goes to bed. Something about Hannity's voice soothes him."

"Mom!"

"What" she asked innocently.

"I've got it. After taking care of my neurotic mother all these years, I think I can handle a neurotic fur-ball."

"NEVER call him that in his presence, he's very sensitive about name calling."

"Mom?"

"Yes," Lorelei smiled into the phone.

"I love you."

"Love you too, kid. Now go settle in with you book and I'm going back to bed."

"Oh, crap! I forgot the time difference."

"No, worries, hon, I'm glad you called. Now go fetch you book."

"Night, Mom."

"Night."

Rory clicked off the phone and looked around her apartment. Bored and lonely, she reached for the remote and flipped through the channels. Giving up, she clicked the tv off and tossed the remote next to her. What the hell was taking her dad so long?