Gilmore Girls: Burning Down

Chapter 2 of my Gilmore Girls story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Yeah, she's having a tough time, well, read on to find out.
Splish64: Thanks, glad you are enjoying it, here's the next chapter.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or it's characters.

Chapter 2: Panic

Lorelai Gilmore peered out the window for what felt like the fifth time. She was really starting to panic, she returned to pacing through the living room.

'Oh God, what am I gonna do?' She thought frantically, 'It's been three hours since Rory's exam finished, she should've been home ages ago.'

The panic kept eating away at Lorelai's mind with every passing second. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear the front door open and close and jumped when she heard the voice.

"You know you're gonna wear a hole in the floor doing that."

She spun around.

"Sookie, for God sake, don't do that." She remarked, her hand clutching at her heart.

Sookie St. James laughed and shook her head.

"I'm seriously Lorelai," She replied, before noticing her friend's worried expression, "What's going on?"

Lorelai sighed, "Rory's not come home yet, her exam finished three hours ago, she should be here but she's not."

Sookie immediately realized the seriousness of the situation; she walked over and sat Lorelai down on the sofa, sitting down next to her.

Sookie did her best to calm Lorelai down before making any attempt to help.

"Okay, listen, let's just take this one step at a time, Rory was supposed to be home three hours ago, have you called her?"

Lorelai nodded, "Yeah, four times, she never replied, I phoned the police but I've not heard from then yet either." She explained.

Sookie nodded; "Okay, that's good." She replied, "You've done something, just think, is there anywhere you think she could've gone."

"I don't…Usually around this time she would be here…Unless…" Lorelai trailed off as realization dawned on her face.

Before Sookie could say anything Lorelai grabbed the phone.

"Whoa Lorelai, what are you…?" Lorelai began dialling a number as she replied, "I've just thought of somewhere she could be."

Sookie's eyes widened and she sat back waiting. Lorelai finished dialling the number and waited for a reply.

"Yes."

Lorelai quickly replied, "Mrs Kim, can I talk to Lane for a minute please?"

"Sure, just a second," Mrs Kim replied, her voice flat as usual.

Lorelai waited in an agony of suspense until finally Lane got on the phone.

"Lorelai?" She asked, confused, Lorelai quickly explained why she was calling.

"Hey Lane, listen, have you seen or ever heard from Rory within the last three hours?" She asked, there was a long pause before Lane replied, "Uh, no. I've not heard from Rory since we…you know, argued."

Lorelai sighed, "Right, okay thanks…" Lane however cut across her, "Why'd you ask?"

"Rory's not home yet, I thought she might've been over with you."

"No, she's not, her exam finished ages ago, oh God, what should I do, I…?"

"Lane, listen, I don't know, I've called the police, but until I heard from them, there's nothing we can do." Lorelai replied, finally, after a slight pause Lane spoke, "I'm coming over, I'll be right."

"Okay."

With that Lorelai hung up and sighed, she was still no closer to figuring out where Rory had gone.

Barely five minutes from hanging up the phone there was a knock at the door. Lorelai and Sookie looked at each other; it was too soon for Lane to have made it over. Lorelai hurried to answer it, hoping it was Rory, it wasn't however.

"Whoa, what's the rush Lorelai?" She sighed, "Luke, it's you."

Luke nodded, "Yeah, you okay?" He asked, noticing her preoccupation.

Lorelai sighed and let him in, explaining about Rory's disappearance as she did so. Luke grimaced as he heard this.

"So, what do you plan to do?" He asked, Lorelai shrugged, "I don't know, I can't think of anything else."

Despite wanting to stay and offer support Sookie and Luke had to leave later. Lane arrived and stayed for a long time. After Sookie and Luke left, Lane was sitting on the sofa, looking despondent.

"Oh God, what if something's happened to her," Lane said, close to tears, "What am we gonna do, I mean, what if something happens and the last conversation we had with her, we were arguing."

Lorelai didn't say a word, her panic was slowly eating away at her and she didn't know what to do.

It was close to midnight; Lane was lying on the sofa, half-asleep. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Lane jumped as Lorelai hurried to the door. When she answered the door Lorelai froze, it was a police officer.

"Lorelai Gilmore?" He asked, she nodded, cleared her throat and then replied, "Yes, I am."

The police officer nodded and spoke, "We found your daughter."

"Is, is she okay?"

The officer sighed and stepped aside. Lorelai saw Rory sitting in the back of the squad car; she appeared to be leaning against the door. She was definitely pale and looked tired but Lorelai noticed that her eyes also seemed to be unfocused.

"What's wrong with her?" She asked, concerned, the officer then explained; "We found her wandering the streets of Hartford. She was staggering around, so we breathalysed her. She's been drinking."

Lorelai groaned, "I don't believe this, she's never done something like this before."

The officer nodded, "Yes, she did say that. She seems to be under a lot of stress and kept bursting into tears. That's why I think its better I brought her straight here. I think you should also have her see a psychoanalyst."

Lorelai nodded, "Okay, uh, thanks, I'll bear that in mind."

The officer nodded and Lorelai hurried out to the car. Rory saw her and to Lorelai's surprise she looked fearful. As Lorelai opened the door and helped her daughter out, she could smell the alcohol from her.

'Geez, was she drinking it or bathing in it?' Lorelai thought to herself.

"Mom I…" Rory began; her speech was slightly slurred but still intelligible.

Lorelai shook her head, "It's fine Rory, let's just get you inside."

After thanking the officer who gruffly nodded and drove away, Lorelai helped Rory into the house. Her panic was replaced with relief, true Rory wasn't in the best condition but at least she was home safe.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.