Hi all its been a while I know that pesky life got in the way, but I'm back with another chapter now hope you enjoy.

You are entering the world of fiction. Suspend all beliefs now.

Where have you been?

---

Rory Gilmore sat at the bar in a pub just outside of Boston. It was a small pub ten minutes from nowhere and five minutes from the heart of Beantown. The place was a haven for truckers and passer-by's but it was clean kept and well maintained making it a popular spot for all the locals as well. Rory loved it for its anonymity and its reputation of making a strong and kickass rum and anything or scotch or…the list goes on and on seriously it runs halfway across the room.

It was exactly fourteen days since she had moved out of the pool house at her grandparent's mansion and into a small motel on the outskirts of Boston. Most of those days were spent sleeping, the blinds closed to the joys of the sun, only did she come out like a vampire when the sun was setting and the world was covered in darkness, deceptions difficult to find and easy to create. The nights were spent in this bar drinking and thinking in the haze. Her thoughts often dark like the night leading to darker and darker ones until they hit the stone wall of drunkenness. Then she was lost in the spin, in the fuzzy quiet of her mind. It was on this night the night after unlucky number thirteen that she lost what fight she had left in her, a night where she met a man who turned everything she would ever be into something she never thought she had.

The dark haired and blue eyed brooding man sat himself on the stool beside her. "Rum and coke and a refill for hers." Drinks came and were put in front of Rory and her seatmate. She side glanced the man finished off her drink and took the one he had offered her greedily. "Thanks." She slurred.

"Don't worry about it." He oozed charm and she fell for it. "You new in town? You've been here almost every night for two weeks."

"Been watching me?" Her eyebrow ticked up.

"Maybe."

"Not sure what I think about that."

"Take it as a compliment."

"Oh no I can't do that."

"And why not?" he queried.

"Compliments are reserved for happy me when I can appreciate them."

"Is that so?"

"Yep." She nodded in fevered affirmation.

"And you're not happy I take it drowning your sorrows in alcohol."

"I'm not drowning I don't drown I'm merely taking in the sights and drinking these wonderful concoctions Bill here is whipping up for me."

"Sights?" He questioned sweeping his gaze over the smoke filled tavern. "Come on." He stood up beckoning at her.

"What?"

"I'll take you to a real sight."

"And why should I trust you?"

"Hmm…well you can take a chance on me see something really cool or you can stay here and enjoy old men and their butt cracks." She sucked on her straw in contemplation. What did she really have to lose? Even if he was an axe murderer she wasn't living for anything. She was a black hole.

"Alright show me this real sight." She paid off the bartender and followed the mystery man out the door into the cool night. No one spoke as he led her behind the bar and onto a gravel path walking ever deeper into the night. They walked for a good fifteen minutes before coming into a wide field.

"Here we are." He threw his arms outwards.

"Here?" She looked around her, absolutely nothing. Quiet. Just like her.

"Come on." He laughed at the confusion playing on her face; he knew what that was like. He sprawled on the grass and felt her crumple down beside him. She stared up at the night air the sky twinkled with billions of white stars glowing clearly against the black of night, no lights drowned them out and they blazed in all their glory. The man shifted beside her a small ember glowed in his hand and he took a puff. He passed it over and she took it between her fingers smelt the distinct smell of marijuana she shrugged as she considered her options and took a pull coughing at the unusual sensation.

"Newbie?" The man asked startling her.

"Yeah." She took another pull quelling her reaction to cough and passed the joint back.

"Why'd you bring me here?" She asked as they continued their pass and pull.

"Gets me away from the insane." He answered smoothly subtly avoiding the answer.

"You live around here?" He asked.
"Motel." She answered. "But I'm running out of cash flow real quick. You?"

"I live on what everyone who doesn't live there and everyone who does live there call Slummers lane."

"Where's that?"

"It's where all the down on their luck no money to give, live."

"Any place for me there?"

"I've got a nice floor, probably score you a mattress and blankets. Come by in the morning and I can show you."

"Great maybe after here, I mean the suns going to be up in a couple of hours."

"Sure, I'm Mack by the way."

"Rory I'm Rory."

"Nice to meet you Rory." Mack lit another joint and they sat in silence watching the vastness of space devour them leaving a giant gaping hole.

----

She unlocked her apartment door and kicked off her shoes entering and stretching her toes out onto her carpet. She changed into her sweats and tee letting her hair fall down her back. Munching on her reheated Chinese dinner she clicked on her answering machine, the automated woman told her she had one new message. She sat on the couch clicking on the television almost forgetting about her messages.

Rory hey its Logan, I'm sorry about Monday I was having a crappy day and well that's no excuse but I was stupid to treat you like that. There was a long pause and she thought maybe he had hung up but he went on shortly. Rory what happened in those three years we weren't in touch? He spoke so quietly she almost couldn't hear him. What's the truth? Why have you been so reclusive? There was dead air for a few moments and she waited for him to go on but then the answering machine cut off and the automated lady told her end of messages.

Suddenly she wasn't in her living room anymore she was in another life one that hurt her where it counted, right below the heart and into the gut, where it made its wearer want to vomit their insides.

"Rory."

"Mack?" She asked groggily into the dark.

"Who else would it be?"

"Joe, Crishma, the devil?"

"You're a funny girl."

"I try."

"Come on, I want to take you somewhere."

"Why?" she whined.

"Because you moved in here two days ago and all you've done is sleep."

"Yeah well…"

"I know what you're thinking but most of the people who live here are just down on their luck, like you and me they're struggling artists have you ever heard of a struggling construction worker?"

"No but…"

"Besides I thought you were all whatever with life so why are you scared of a couple of strangers?"

"Mack." She groaned.

"These people Rory they're just trying to make it on their own, we're all given a bum rap because the media focuses on the bad the drug addicts and pimps they never bring attention to those who are trying to live a clean life."

"I never thought of that." She conceded.

"Now come on I want to show you something." She groaned stretching her back from the hard mattress.

"Alright."

"Let's go."

They trudged out of the building into the clear cold night air. Mack led the way through the streets and alleyways and up a sloping incline for about half an hour. Mack turned around at the end of the rolling hill and swept his arms in front of him. "Now look."

Rory turned around her breath catching at the sight of the city laid out before her thousands of twinkling lights marking every person living down there. "Wow." She breathed.

"Pretty cool huh?"

"Yeah"

"I come up here often. Reminds me how small we all really are."

They found a clear open spot and lay on the grass. An ember glowed in Mack's hand and Rory heard him inhale and blow out the smoke.

"Why do you smoke that?"

He took another puff thoughtfully. "I don't know really, just helps calm me down from a hectic day or week."

"Oh." She answered and he offered her the joint. "No thanks." She waved it off. "It's just not my forte."

"Alright the bud isn't for everyone." She lay down on the grass and looked up at the stars, the city trying to imitate its vast depth.

"So Mack tell me your story."

"Not much to tell, my parents were killed in a fatal car crash."

"I'm sorry."
"It's alright I can talk about it now, it was a drunk driver blew a red light and jack knifed the car I still remember the moment I found out I think I lost a part of myself then. I was put in a foster home for two years before my aunt and uncle claimed me I lived with them until I was eighteen and graduated. Not that I wasn't grateful for them for taking me in but they had a full house as it was, so next thing I knew I was living out here trying to make it as a musician."

"Wow some story."

"What about you Rory if I may say you don't seem to have been living in the low income side of things for a very long time."

"Hmm…no I left home…well my real home about a year and a half ago lived with my grandparents I left their house about a month ago, I don't know why I did any of it to tell you the truth." She stared out. "Struggling to find myself I guess."

"Aren't we all." He whispered in reply. They fell into silence the fires of the city and stars burning true and strong offering comforting wisdom to those who took the time to hear it.

The buzzer jolted her from the past and she heaved a heavy sigh and got up to answer it.

"Yep." She spoke into her side of the intercom.

"It's me let me up."

"Hmm…I dunno Jim should I let you up?" She played.

"C'mon Rory its cold out here I'm freezing my buns off."

Rory screamed with laughter, "Just for uttering that phrase I'll let you in."

"Knew it would work." She could almost hear him smiling. The door buzzed open for him and he made his way up the apartment.

"So this is a surprise." Rory greeted Jim hugging him at the door.

"I was in the neighbourhood."

"Jim you live in the neighbourhood."

"What's your point?"

"One doesn't usually say they were just in the neighbourhood when they live in said neighbourhood."

"Sorry Rory I didn't know I needed a reason to visit my best friend hence the lame excuse." He reported walking into her living room.

"Well for future reference chocolate is always a good reason."

"I'll make a note of that." He laughed.

"Good." Rory called back at him from the kitchen. Jim made his way to the kitchen and found Rory rooting through her freezer.

"Whatchya doing digger?"

"Looking for my ice cream, but I guess I ate it all." She shut the door and turned to Jim.

"Come on we're going to the store."

"In your sweats?"

"Yes in my sweats is that a problem?"

"No no problem." Jim surrendered. Rory was already out the door hopping from toe to toe Jim kicked himself into high gear and skedaddled out the door.

----

The sun rose bleeding its rays across the landscape. Mack stood patting the dust off his jeans. "Come on." He extended his arm for Rory. She took it, rough calloused met smooth skin, and he pulled her up. They slowly made their way back to the building. "Wait here I just have to grab a couple things from the room." Rory nodded leaning against the building watching the sun grow. Mack returned with a guitar strapped to his back he thrust a plastic egg shaped shaker into Rory's hand.

"What's this?" She looked from the egg to Mack.

"It's a rattle or shaker it produces music by moving it up and down."

"Don't mock me Mack. What do I do with it?"

"Rory you're living on no income in the slums not even on your own with me in my hovel on a mattress. That right there is your meal ticket, play with me and we'll split the tips."

"Oh…thanks." She spoke a little overwhelmed.

"Follow me." He led her through the streets to the corner of Broc and Howe. Sitting against a white faced building guitar in his lap and case at his feet he began strumming. Rory kept beat. Tips came in the size of quarters a few came in dollars even fivers. All were thanked.

"How do you do it Mack?" Rory asked when they took a breather, overwhelmed with everything going on around her.

"Well first you seduce a woman for you a man…" He joked.

"Mack." She laughed. "How do you live here how can you make your life like this?"

He looked her in the eyes letting her search his soul. "Its never been a choice for me where I could live I never had a chance to go to college I barely finished high school. I don't remember what its like to live anywhere else this is my home here and believe it or not I like it here there's no societal pressures here everyone's just fighting to be alive to live in the moment. One day I'll move up in the world but not right now. Besides you need me." He grinned at her.

"I'd say I don't but I do and you know it." She smiled her face lighting and her eyes twinkling with something extra. It was then he saw Rory as she was, she'd do great things he knew it, he was just one of her stepping blocks. He began playing on his guitar again letting the conversation end there.

----

"So what's up Rory?"

"What do you mean?"

"The impatience, the sweats not that they're bad, ice cream, junk food galore, its your code for help me I'm doing a Sylvia Plath."

"It is not." She retorted.

"Is it Logan?"

"No." She responded quickly. "Well…I can't do it Jim I can't tell Logan what happened." Jim let Rory par the cashier for her purchases. They walked out of the store Jim pulled her close arm around her shoulders. "C'mon girl I think you need some serious chocolate ice cream." She smiled up at him, safe at his side."

-

"So Logan phoned me and left me this message." She clicked the play button and let Jim listen.

"Wow sounds like he's trying Ror."

"I know you told him." They sat at her table facing each other eating the icecream.

"What?" Jim played dumb.

"I'm not mad Jim I know you only do what you think is best for me. I'm not sure this was one of those times."

"Oh Rory I didn't tell him anything I only told him to not act like an ass and get to really know you again. I left all the hard stuff to you."

"Oh geez thanks." She layed thick on the sarcasm.

"You two needed a kick in the arse." Rory arched an eyebrow at him but didn't give him any more fodder.

----

Rory kept beat as Mack strummed along on his guitar, a hat sat in front of them trying to collect some extra cash.

"Hey sweets, I've got two crisp Benji's for your services." A man in leather with crude black hair sidled up to Rory.

Rory looked up at the man who loomed over her. "I don't do that." She shook her head coolly and resumed her shaker.

"Come on now, you can't say no I'm offering you business."

"That'd be great if that was my business but it's not. Get lost!" She spoke sternly aware of life on the streets now. Mack tensed beside her ready to step in if needed but letting Rory handle it first.

"I said let's go I know you need the money." He bent down trying to grab at her and she smelt the waves of alcohol waft off him. Mack leapt up the moment he saw the man grab at Rory. "She said No now get the hell out of here, I feel sorry for any girl who had to touch your weasley mouth."

The man staggered back a few steps thrown off by Macks sudden outburst he regained his footing quickly however and came at Mack. "You ungrateful rag." He growled swinging at Mack but missing contact. A few seconds later Mack made contact with the man's face causing him to stagger back hard. Rory gathered the stuff and pushed Mack down the street while the man was still clutching his face. Fuming Mack walked beside Rory mumbling under her breath.

"Easy boy."

"That bastard has no right treating anyone like that."

"No he doesn't no one does he also isn't worth a trip to the station."

"I'm not so sure about that Rory."

"Come on Mack, drinks on me." She pushed Mack into the bar and followed him glancing over her shoulder the man was long out of sight but the experience was still fresh. She let out a shuddered breath and felt Mack's arm go around her shoulder "C'mon lil' sis I want that drink."

"lil'?" She asked offended, as they shared a laugh.

----

"Ror, Rory."

"Huh?"

"Where'd you go?"

"I…nowhere." She stood up her chair scraping the floor. "I got to get something from my room." She stalked off to her room. Jim watched after her concerned he could sense she wasn't in a good place. He got up and went to her room knocking on the door. "Rory?"

There was no answer and absolutely no sound. "Rory I'm coming in."

He turned the knob and the door swung inwards he stepped inside groping for the light switch otherwise blind. The light switched on. He almost gasped at the sight of her. She was crumpled in the foetal position at the foot of her bed shaking.

"Rory! Rory." He rubbed her shoulder.

"I can't…I can't…"

"Rory calm down." He lifted her up and set her on her bed climbing in beside her holding her close. "Rory its okay. Come back." He clung to her. "Rory, Rory."

Her name grounded her and she felt the warmth from his body warm the chill that ran through her body. She stopped shaking closed her eyes and slipped into a fitful sleep filled with images of her and Logan overlapping images of her and Jim and Mack and the constant background of a dark gaping hole. Her eyes shot open. The sun made its way through her blinds its light a sharp contrast to her mood. Slowly she extracted herself from Jim and her bed and made her way to the phone in her living room. The clock shone seven forty five.

The cell phone rang twice before it was picked up. "Hello?" There was silence Rory sat on the other side of the phone, ear pressed to the receiver. "Hello?" The voice spoke again.

"Logan."

"Rory?"

"Yes. What are you doing right now?"

"Nothing really. Rory I'm…"

"Logan sshh I'm coming to pick you up."

"Now?"

"Yes where are you?"

"At home."

"What's the address?"

"You've been here."

There was a long pause the lines crackling with static. "I didn't get a good look at the place." She responded quickly.

"640 Parc Street I'll wait outside."

"I'll be there. Fifteen minutes." She returned the phone to its cradle breathing a sigh of pent up nerves. She had no idea what she was going to say or do but she needed to do something. She pulled on her blue hoodie and her shoes grabbed her keys and wallet and scribbling a note for Jim when he woke, Phoned Logan I'll be back, she hurried out the door. Stepping out of the apartment building the dark storm clouds rolled over the sun and the city grew dark. She ran towards her beat up silver chevy.

The rain pounded on the streets as Rory looked out over Slummers Lane people huddled in the shelters of the buildings, a shiver ran down her spine and she pulled her blankets closer around her. The door opened with a bang she shot around to see the visitor. Mack stood in the doorway dripping with rain panting hard, his features shadowed in the dimly lit room.

Later she would remember that look and realize he wasn't panting from the rain and his features were not only shadowed from the light but also from the fear.

She ground the car into gear and pulled out onto the street. She honked as she pulled up to Logan's building and saw him as promised waiting outside. He ran towards the car and got in, the storm clouds threatening to let loose.

"Rory what's wrong?"

"You wanted to know where I've been the past almost three years Logan."

"Yes but…"

"Well I'm taking you there."

"Where?"

"Where that life is." He didn't ask anymore questions he got the feeling he wouldn't receive any answers. He stared out the window watching the cityscape pass him by wondering where they'd end up. They drove fifteen minutes before Rory took a right into a narrow rode under a wrought iron gate. Logan stared around him at the wide open emerald grass. A couple moments later Rory pulled to the side of the rode and let the engine die. Exiting the car Logan followed Rory through the grass she stopped a few feet ahead of him he caught up to her and stared at what had caught her attention. He glanced at her saw the tears slide down her cheeks silently. He turned back to the grey marbled rock and read the inscription.

Mack Nohl

August 19th 1979 – November 8th 2006

Loved Life, Lived Hard.

"Who was he?" Logan whispered.

"Mack was my life from the minute I met him." She bent on her knees digging in her wallet she produced a small bead and laid it at the base of the headstone. She stood up again, her head bowed in silence. Slowly she began to tell him.

"After I ended things with us I was in a pretty bad place I left my Grandparents place about two months later and moved to a motel just outside Boston, I drank my nights away in a little pub about a block away. I met Mack there and he took me in let me stay in his room it wasn't the Ritz or anywhere near it but everything about it was life and Mack showed me what it was like to live again, he showed me things that I'll never forget. He was my brother Logan maybe not by blood but he gave me knowledge that I'll never let go of. He knows it." Logan put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, letting her know he was there.

"Can I ask what happened to him?"

"Its…still hard Logan…but I'll try."

Rory was startled awake by a monstrous pounding at the door a man behind it yelled out "Mack you lil'shit I know you're in there and damn it I'll break this door down."

She had little time to comprehend the man behind the door before a hand was pressed her eyes met Mack's and she calmed a bit. He had a finger pressed to his lips and she nodded in understanding, he removed his hand and motioned her to follow him. She grabbed her jacket and shoes beside her mattress and slunk in behind him. The man pounded on the door harder as they made their way down the fire escape outside their window and onto the concrete below.

"Mack what's going on?" She looked at him frantically.

"Rory there's some stuff I didn't tell you. About two years ago I fell into the wrong crowd dealing drugs and handling hot products, six months into it I couldn't do it anymore you could say my morals caught up with me. So I quit but they don't really just let you quit so I kind of fled town. I've been living on borrowed time ever since. I don't regret it though I couldn't have lived the way I wanted to if I stayed."

"Mack what are you talking about?" She shook her head in confusion.

"Remember Rory we're all just struggling to live every single person out in that world."

"What do you mean remember Mack where are you going?"

"Don't regret anything Rory even though you might want to it all happens for a reason." He was backing up all the while he was talking. "You're going to be great Rory I know it, don't give up after this okay don't throw you're life away. Promise me." She nodded her head still in shock. He turned and walked around the corner of the building.

It was a surreal moment in her life the air was still, his body silhouetted against the street lamp as he rounded the corner. She held her breath almost knowing what was going to happen. The echo blast through her ears, tears sprung to her eyes and she leapt forward moving as if in slow motion rounding the corner as he had done moments before.

"MACK!" she screamed as she ran to him lying motionless on the ground. Sirens blared around her their red lights bouncing off the old brick buildings. She screamed hysterically as they pulled her off his lifeless body. They put him on a gurney they wheeled it towards the ambulance she struggled to follow him only to find a pair of arms holding her back. The arms were attached to a voice whispering in her ear trying to calm her down but she couldn't listen all her attention was on the ambulance speeding off into the distance. Police and canine crews swarmed around her as she was pulled into a nearby van. She lost all fight as the ambulance went out of sight and sank into the chair of the van.

She buried her face in Logan's chest letting the sobs come fiercely. He held her close tears stinging her eyes hating to see Rory so strung out hating that she was no longer naïve hating that she had to lose someone so close to her and hating himself for being glad that she was in his arms again.

"Lets go get breakfast Ace, you'll feel a little better once you have a full stomach." She nodded into his chest. "And you can tell me as much more or little as you feel like. I'm here for you Ror."

The storm clouds finally let loose. Huge rain drops assaulted their clothing and leaving long rain streaks down their cheeks. Logan led Rory through the rain to her car.

"Give me your keys Rory you're in no shape to drive." She fished in her pocket and pressed the Chevy's key into his palm. Opening the door for Rory he ran to his side of the car and started it up. Pulling out onto the street he couldn't help glancing in his rear-view mirror and envisioning Rory standing in Mack's arms him holding her close and feeling just a bit of jealousy. Were they even like that? She had never said. He didn't even really know where she had been only that it had gotten someone close to her killed and it wasn't anywhere near the Ritz as she had said. He glanced over at her, she was staring out the window her eyes watching something far away and he wanted to know more than ever what it was.

So how'd you like it? Please leave a review it's much appreciated.

---If it wasn't clear italics were flashbacks.