Chapter 2: White Walls and the 'C' word

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. They belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino.

It took Rory till Wednesday of that week to even bring up the headaches to Paris. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it, and if anyone was not to make a big deal out of something other than study, it was Paris Geller.

'Ah, Paris?' She did not look up from the text book. 'Paris, could talk to you for just a moment?'

The book was slammed shut. 'What is it Gilmore? I have exam on Friday. You have exactly 60 seconds. Talk'

'Okay, I need your opinion on something. An honest answer. I was just wondering do you often get headaches. Its just that I…well, I must say I have been getting them frequently over the last couple of weeks…and, well, I guess on the whole I haven't been feeling overly well….'Rory rambled away.

'Symptoms?'

'What?' Rory frowned.

'What other symptoms have you have been having?' Paris, always straight to the point.

'Well, I guess…other then the headaches. I've also been feeling nausea, lethargic, hot flushes and I guess a loss of appetite. But it is mostly the headaches.'

'My god!'

'What?'

'Rory are you pregnant?' Paris thought of what a waste it would be, a perfectly good Yale education and Rory had gotten pregnant.

'WHAT? Paris!' Rory glared at her.

'Right well, there could be other reasons that you feel like this. Rory I think you should see a doctor.' Yale had a good medical centre and why not use it?

'I should? Paris, do you think this is serious? I mean, are you over reacting because you are a massive hypochondriac or is it because you are genuinely worried'. The sick feeling reached all the way to her stomach.

'Listen, you want to leave this till it's too late – fine! But me, I would have the tests and find out what was wrong with me before it ruins my Yale career. But hey, that's me. Now your 60 seconds were up 30 seconds ago.' With that Paris returned to her book and Rory to her thoughts.

That doctor's office smell. Sterile and clean, hiding any linger of an illness or germ. Rory sat staring at the white walls. She wondered why it was always white. Why not topaz or even a light cream. No, they were white walls. Surrounding her, as if she was in a timeless place. She wasn't nervous, not now. She had done the tests and now she just had to wait. Wait for the doctor to tell her what the results were; wait for him to tell her she was going to be just fine. He would tell her to rest more. Sleep more, eat better. Her mother would laugh at that one. Tell her not to listen to the stupid Yale educated doctor and that mummy knows best. The door opened and she took a deep breath.

'Well Ms Gilmore, I have the results here. Are you sure you would not like anyone else here while we read them?' The young man asked.

'Ah, no, I'm fine. I just want to know.' She smiles nervously.

The doctor opened the file. He took an intake of breath. She heard the word 'cancer' and her world went black.