STRANGE TIES
AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
Gilmore Girls belongs to Amy Sherman-Palladino, the WB, and the CW. Takes place during "The Breakup Part II" right after Paris leaves and Summer breaks up with Tristin and in lieu of Lane's freak out about Henry. This is an idea I had of what could make Dean and Tristin become allies. POVs may change during the story and I'll eventually be putting in time jumps, so I apologize in advance for any confusion.
CHAPTER ONE
Rory walked into the piano room and sat on the bench. She couldn't believe she had just seen Tristin get dumped in front of everybody. It seemed to be the week for breakups. First Dean broke up with her, and now Tristin was having the bad luck. An image of Dean's face swam before the girl's eyes and she started to cry. She couldn't believe it. How could he dump her on their three month anniversary? So she hadn't been ready to say 'I love you'. That was cause for a break up? She was so upset that she didn't even realize it when someone walked in. Meanwhile, Tristin tried once more to talk to Summer. However, he stopped when the girl grabbed the nearest boy and kissed him---hard. His face gave a twisted grimace of pain.
"Fine," he said softly. If that was the way she wanted it; that was just fine. Then, he walked away. He---he couldn't handle this. He just---he just had to get away. Suddenly, he became aware of a girl's voice. His brows furrowed in confusion. What was going on? He stepped closer and the voice became louder and clearer.
"No. Don't," a girl sobbed. Tristin's eyes widened. It was Rory! He pushed through the curtain to the piano room, rushed towards the bench, and yanked the boy away. Rory sat back up and clutched at her dress, which had been ripped.
"What the heck do you think you're doing?" he yelled.
"Just havin' a little fun," the other boy slurred.
"Get out of here, you piece of trash," Tristin snarled, tossing him across the room. The boy stumbled once, and then left. Tristin instantly went back to Rory.
"Rory?" he queried softly.
"Dean. I want Dean," she stated. Okay, that makes sense. She was just attacked. Of course she wants her boyfriend, he thought to himself.
"Dean. Dean. Get Dean," Rory insisted.
"Oh, man. I gotta call the cops," Tristin stated.
"No. No, just get Dean," Rory insisted.
"All right. I'll call him on the way," Tristin promised aloud.
"On the way to where?" Rory asked.
"The hospital." With a distressed whimper, Rory tried to back away, but Tristin stopped her.
"Ror---I know you don't want anyone knowing, but you have to get checked out. Why don't we get your friend and I'll call Bag---Dean?" he suggested. Sniffling, Rory finally consented and let Tristin lead her out of the room. Back on the dance floor, Henry glanced towards the back of the room.
"Hey, what's wrong with your friend?" he asked.
"What?" Lane turned around. To her surprise, Rory was crying and that Chilton guy had his arms around her. From the way they were acting, Lane deduced that whatever happened hadn't been his fault.
"Excuse me. I have to go check this out."
"Yeah, of course." With that, Lane ran to them.
"Rory, what's wrong?" she asked. She looked to the blonde-haired boy. "What happened?"
"I walked in on some guy raping her."
"WHAT?" Lane asked a bit louder than she had intended.
"Dean. I want Dean," Rory insisted.
"That's all she's been saying," the boy commented. "Look, she said not to call the cops, but we gotta get her to a hospital, and I don't have Dean's number."
"I'm coming with. Give me your phone and I'll call." He did so and she began dialing as the three hurried away. Henry came up to them.
"What's going---"
"We'll talk later. Call me." Lane hurriedly gave out her number and the three walked out. Tristin ushered the two into his car as Lane waited impatiently as the phone rang.
"Hello?" she finally heard Dean's confused voice.
"Dean, it's Lane."
"Lane, what's wrong?"
"Rory was attacked."
"WHAT? WHERE IS SHE? WHAT HOSPITAL?" Lane looked at Tristin.
"Hartford Memorial's the closet," Tristin responded and Lane relayed the information.
"Okay. I'll be there soon. I'll call Lorelai." Before Lane could answer, a dial tone reached her ears. Within minutes, they were at the hospital and the two rushed their friend in.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What's your hurry?" a nurse questioned, intercepting them.
"She was just raped. Please. Help her," Tristin answered.
"All right. We'll get her into examination. Have you called her parents?" the nurse questioned.
"I told her boyfriend and told him what happened. He said he'd call her mother," Lane answered.
"All right. We'll take care of her. Please wait in the hall." Tristin and Lane hesitated. They didn't want to leave Rory. As if sensing that her friends were about to leave, Rory quickly grabbed them. The nurse's heart broke. The poor girl. She seemed to be about sixteen. She couldn't even fathom how the mother would be feeling when she found out.
"All right. This is highly irregular, but you two can come with." With that, they rushed to her a room as the nurse quickly told a coworker to phone the police. Back in Stars Hollow, Dean had just rushed to Luke's Diner.
"Whoa. What's wrong?" Luke questioned.
"Rory," Dean answered.
"Rory? What about Rory?" Lorelai queried, tensing.
"Lane said she was attacked and that she was being taken to Hartford Memorial," Dean answered.
"What? Oh, my---" Lorelai began to say.
"I'll drive. Come on," Luke interrupted. "Caesar! You're in charge!" Then, the three rushed out and squeezed themselves into Luke's truck.
"Dean, did Lane say anything else?" Luke barked.
"No. Just that---she was attacked. She---she sounded really upset," Dean answered, ignoring the gruff tone. He knew Luke wasn't mad at him, just worried about Rory.
"Luke, can't the truck go any faster?" Lorelai asked.
"She'll be okay. Lane's with her," Dean comforted, putting a hand on Lorelai's wrist. After what seemed like an eternity, they were at the hospital. Luke screeched to a stop and they all ran in and up to the front desk.
"My daughter---she was just brought in," Lorelai panted.
"Name?" the receptionist asked.
"Rory Gilmore," Dean responded.
"Let me check," the receptionist stated, and did so.
"Lorelai!" Hearing Lane's voice, they all turned around and rushed to where the girl was.
"Lane. What---what happened?" Lorelai asked, as she and Tristin walked up.
"What are you doing here?" Dean wondered, trying not to be jealous. This wasn't the time. All that mattered right now was Rory.
"He gave us a ride," Lane answered.
"What happened?" Lorelai questioned again.
"We were at the party, and I was lookin' for a place to sulk 'cause Summer had just dumped me. Then I heard Rory---and---" Tristin's voice shook and he clenched his fist. Dean stared the Chiltonite in shock. Yeah, he hadn't interacted with the guy much, but he was pretty sure that this wasn't his normal behavior.
"Son, what happened?" Luke questioned gruffly, yet in a gentle tone. Tristin just looked at them with pain-filled eyes. Then, a nurse came out.
"Are you here for Rory Gilmore?" she questioned.
"Yes. I'm her mother," Lorelai confirmed.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Mrs. Gilmore," the nurse said.
"What's wrong?" Lorelai questioned.
"She was attacked. Lane said she was attacked," Dean said at the same time. The nurse hesitated. How could she do this delicately? Lorelai inwardly fumed at the pause.
"What's wrong with my kid?" the woman demanded.
"Mrs. Gilmore…your daughter was raped," the nurse said.