Chapter 3: Luke Meets His Dream Angel
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls belong to the WB and I claim no rights to any copyrighted material. Please do not copy or take this story without my permission.
A/N: Thanks to my betas - DawnDreamer and ktweaver.
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The next morning, Luke was rushing around the diner with his newfound energy, trying to make sure he got as much done before his dinner with Mia as possible. When he had the chance to think, he used it to go over how to ask her about the girl.
He decided the safest option would be to say he thought he had a dream that night. She knew he was exhausted and if the girl was real, that she would understand his sleep-deprived mind couldn't tell the difference. Yeah, it was about the same as saying she was there and risking that she was a dream, but it seemed like less of a risk to mistake a real person for a dream rather than the other way around.
He managed to get through the morning rush and his first encounters of the day with Taylor and Kirk. But then his bubble of energy suddenly burst. And by suddenly, that meant he was on his way to bring Babette and Miss Patty their lunch when he collapsed. Not stumbled, not fell, but collapsed.
The ever vigilant Steve noticed and after hurriedly shutting off the grill, he rushed to his boss' side. Since there were no signs of injury, he figured it was simply exhaustion. He got the locals' promise to close the diner down while he took Luke to the ER. He'd be back to clean up. He also told them not to worry about people's bills; he'd work it out with Luke later.
While they were at the hospital, he called around for Mia. She wasn't at home like he was expecting; she was at the Inn, giving a new employee a tour of the place. When he finally talked to her, she promised to be there as quickly as she could.
And she made good on that promise, arriving a mere 15 minutes later. Steve thought it took at least a good 20 minutes or more from the Inn. The strange thing was she brought her new employee with her, a very young brunette.
"Steve, this is Lorelai; she and her daughter have just moved to town. She'll be staying with me while we get the old potting shed up to code for them to stay in until they can afford their own place. Lorelai, this is Steve. He's Luke's cook at the diner," Mia introduced them.
"Pleased to meet you, Steve. Is Luke okay? I mean, I know he's not or else he wouldn't be in the hospital, but it isn't anything serious is it because he looked okay when I saw him as I walked by the diner yesterday, not that I was staring or stalking--" Lorelai began rambling.
"Breathe!" he commanded the nervous girl. "So you know Luke?"
She looked uneasily at Mia who shrugged. "Umm, not really. I spent a bit of time with him at Katherine's funeral but I'm not sure if he remembers it because he was so tired he fell asleep. Which was completely fine!" she hastily added in case he thought she was complaining.
"Which is why he is here now," a doctor announced as he joined the group. He guessed that they were talking about his patient. "You're all here for Luke Danes?" he checked. They nodded anxiously. "Are you family?"
"Yes," Mia answered firmly before anyone else had a chance to react.
He nodded, "Okay. Well, he is seriously over-exhausted and in the beginning stages of malnutrition. Do any of you know what might be causing this?"
Steve decided to answer since Mia was starting to tear up, "His mother was in a car accident about 2 ½ weeks ago and her funeral followed just over a week ago. He hasn't slept or eaten very well since she first went into the hospital. Despite our best efforts – which included slipping sedatives into his tea – he just can't get any restful sleep."
"That's not entirely true," Mia blurted out. Ignoring the look of concern on Lorelai's face, she continued, "The day of the funeral, he slept very well for several hours."
Steve looked shocked at the news.
"Did anything happen that day that can be repeated? …Except for the funeral obviously," the doctor requested.
"It was Lorelai," Mia stated bluntly. When this raised matching eyebrows on the two men, she rushed to explain, "He heard her singing a lullaby that his mom used to and it calmed him down enough to help him sleep – as long as she stayed with him and kept singing," she added.
"And you didn't try to repeat this again when he couldn't sleep later?" the doctor asked with a hint of disapproval.
But it was enough to make Lorelai's head drop in shame. It sounded like he blamed her for Luke's condition. And maybe she was. After all, Mia had told her that he wasn't sleeping well since the accident. Just because he managed to sleep that night, didn't mean his troubles were over. And what had she been doing? Fighting with her mother for control over Katie and over their lives.
Mia saw Lorelai's reaction and narrowed her eyes at the thoughtless doctor as she moved to her new friend to comfort her. "She didn't live her at the time, doctor," she spat out. "She just moved in with me yesterday after getting away from her verbally abusive parents!"
The doctor stepped back from the venom in the motherly woman's voice. Apparently his words had hurt the young lady as she was close to tears. "I apologize. I didn't mean for it to sound like an accusation. I was merely checking to see if it was an isolated incident or if her presence would be helpful again," he said in a softer tone.
"We'll have the chance to find out when he comes home with the two of us. Until he is doing better, we will take care of him," Mia announced before turning to her friend, "Okay, Lorelai?"
"Of course, Mia," Lorelai agreed quickly. "As long as it is what's best for Luke."
"That answers the next question I had, which was if there was someone who could care for him. He's still sleeping right now, but we have an IV in him to boost his nutrient level and as long as he is okay when he wakes, I'll be glad to sign him out to your care. I just want him to follow up with his regular doctor in a couple days, understood?"
"Even if I have to drag him there myself, doc," Steve vowed.
He chuckled, "Yes. Well, let's hope that he isn't stubborn enough to require such drastic actions. You're more than welcome to wait quietly in his room with him until he wakes up."
"You obviously don't know Luke if you think for one second he won't be stubborn about seeing a doctor," Mia snorted as they made their way to his bedside.
As the others settled in their chairs, Lorelai shifted uncomfortably by the door. "I'll go get some coffee or tea for us," she offered, adding "I have to call Sookie and check on Katie anyway."
"Her daughter's name is Katie?" Steve asked once she left the room, surprised at the coincidence – which it had to be…right?
Mia showed a sad smile. "Yes. I met her just after she gave birth and she was looking for the right middle name for her daughter. She didn't like the first name she was forced to use as a peace offering to her parents. So I told her about Katherine and she liked the idea of nicknaming her baby Katie."
Steve started to respond when there was a groan from the bed.
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Luke blinked his eyes blurrily as he tried to make out where he was. 'Oh, this couldn't be good…it was a hospital.' He managed to raise his hand to wipe his face, then noticed his visitors. "Mia. Steve. What happened?"
Steve studied his face. "What's the last thing you remember?"
Taking a deep breath, he answered, "Bringing Miss Patty and Babette their lunch." He was really hoping that he hadn't lost any time or memory, like on one of those crazy soap operas.
Steve let out a sigh of relief. "Good. That's the last thing you were doing before you passed out earlier today."
Luke nodded weakly, "So if you're here, who's watching the diner?"
"Some of the locals said they'd close it and I'll go back later to clean up." Steve noticed Luke's panic and added, "Don't worry, Kirk and Taylor were nowhere near the place when we left."
Luke let his head fall back in relief. He turned his eyes to Mia and said with a tired smile, "Honestly, I wasn't trying to get out of dinner tonight. I finally got a halfway decent night's sleep and I guess I overdid it today. Actually I wanted to talk you about something at dinner."
"Good. Steve, why don't you get the doctor in here?" Mia ordered. The cook promptly stood and left the room. "You'll have plenty of time to ask me whatever questions you have after you come home with me."
Luke's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"The doctor wants you to be cared for until a follow-up visit says that you're better." Her own eyes narrowed. "He also said that you were in a state of complete exhaustion and in the beginning stages of malnutrition. You were supposed to be taking those sleeping pills, Luke," she scolded.
"I did, Mia; they just didn't work," he defended.
"Then you tell someone and we find something that does! And you run a diner! How can you be malnourished?" she practically screamed, albeit quietly.
"Probably by forgetting to eat?" he offered child-like, his voice tapering off with fatigue.
"Well, we're not going to let that happen again," Mia declared.
"Who's we?" Luke asked, suddenly suspicious.
Before Mia could answer, the doctor came in and had her leave the room as he checked Luke out. Since Luke's eyes were drooping by the end of the exam, he recommended that he stay at least until he woke up once more. Then they would take it from there.
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He stepped out into the hallway. "Mr. Danes fell back asleep almost before I was done examining him. So I think he should stay and we'll check again when he wakes up later."
Lorelai bit her lip, afraid of being scolded by the doctor again. "Umm, Mia? Not that I would mind staying or anything, but I have to go get Katie."
The doctor looked at her. "Is this 'Katie' a small child?" Lorelai nodded. "Then she can't be here. So it would be best if someone else stayed here or watched her for you."
Mia answered, "Well since she's only six weeks old and needs Lorelai, I'll stay here. Steve, would you mind taking her back to my place? Sookie is already there with Katie."
"Not a problem, Mia. I have to check on the diner anyway. …Since things went all screwy today, would you like me and Sookie to take care of dinner tonight?" he offered.
Mia smiled at him warmly. "That would be wonderful. And thank you for thinking of including Sookie as well. She loves being able to work with real cooks."
Steve flushed at the praise and gratitude and mumbled his goodbyes, walking toward the doors.
Lorelai bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at the grown man acting like a teenager with a crush. This was too good! "Okay then Mia. I'll see you back at your house. Would you like me to get one of the rooms set up for Luke?"
Mia smiled. "That's a great idea. In fact, there's a key on a blue key-ring by the back door to Katherine's house, which is across the street. Luke has some stuff that he left in his room – the first door on the right at the top of the stairs. Make sure to get like a week's worth. If you can't find everything, we can have Steve run to his apartment later."
Lorelai nodded and also made her goodbyes before going after Steve. She wondered if Sookie knew anything about this guy – like if he was good enough for Mia. What she had seen so far worked in his favor. She flashed him a bright smile as they walked to his car in the hospital parking lot.
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A/N: Okay, I'm evil, I know. But my Muse was stuck and a friend accidentally gave me this inspiration. So blame him. I had planned on having them meet this chapter.
