Disclaimer: Not mine. I owe nothing.

Author's Note: As always thanks to my beta Kirsteen. Merry Christmas everyone.

3 weeks later

As Rory and Lorelai walked around town, Rory caught her mom stealing a glance at the still closed diner.

"I wonder where he is?"

Lorelai didn't respond, but kept looking at the diner, as if expecting the door to open and Luke to walk out.

"I tried his cell but it went straight to voice mail," Rory continued hoping to get a reaction from her mother. It certainly seemed to work, as she turned around with a stunned expression. "What? When?"

"Two days ago. You know, it's been three weeks now and it's been one of the longest times Luke has been out of town. He hasn't even called Liz."

"Liz?" was all Lorelai could get out.

"Yeah, after I had no luck with his cell I called her, but she hasn't talked to him for a long time. Did you know she's pregnant?"

Lorelai didn't respond, she kept walking processing the information. It had been two days since she broke up with Christopher because she couldn't pretend anymore. She felt like she had been trying to fool both Christopher and herself. She wasn't in love with him; she didn't want to be with him. Thinking back on the situation now, she didn't understand why she started dating him in the first place. Maybe she was afraid she would become a crazy cat lady. Now, after all the time she had spent trying to deny it, she knew what she wanted more than anything. If only she could find Luke.

It had been the worst three weeks of his life. He had never felt so weak, so vulnerable before. The operation was long and difficult, but the recovery was the difficult part. Three weeks and he doesn't feel any better. There are still some tubes coming out of his body which are being replaced every day in order to check his fluids. He has barely eaten anything. He doesn't feel like eating anyway. He only speaks when doctors or nurses come to check on him. In his darkest moments he feels like quitting, feels he has no reason to live. Other times though, he is determined to win and, if it's not too late, get his life and Lorelai back. But he wants to make sure he is a hundred per cent healthy. He can't disappoint her again.

Rory could never say no when it came to Paris. So when she asked her to join her eat lunch in the hospital, she couldn't deny her. That's how Rory ended up on the second floor of the hospital. She was sitting there looking around, not feeling comfortable with all the sick people around her, when a familiar yet looking very pale and thin figure was wheeled down the hallway. Could it really be him? Was this the reason Luke had been missing for the last month?

Rory stormed into Paris's office. She remembered the time that Logan was in the same hospital and how Paris had managed to get information from the doctors. She immediately pleaded with her to find out if a Luke Danes had been admitted and what he had been admitted for. Fifteen minutes later Paris had all the information she needed.

"So what is it? What's wrong with him?"

"Rory…," she started, but was unable to tell her the awful truth.

Rory didn't remember seeing Paris so fearful before. "Come on, tell me. What's wrong with him?"

Seeing the look on Rory's face Paris decided to tell the truth.

"He was admitted a month ago. He had a pretty serious operation."

"What kind of operation, Paris?"

Paris didn't answer.

"Paris?"

"He had a lung tumor. They removed it, but he has to go through a course of chemo to ensure that the cells around the affected area are not influenced. The encouraging thing about his case is that the cancer hadn't reached the lymph nodes, and his chances of completely recovering are high. He might be weak at the moment but the major problem is that he is all alone, and sometimes he seems very depressed."

Hearing this, Rory turned pale. She couldn't believe that the man they had been talking about was Luke, the person who had never been sick in the ten years she knew him.

Paris continued, "They just brought him back from his first chemo session."

Rory didn't need to think twice, she pulled her cell out of her purse.

"Hey, Mom? Please hurry to Hartford Memorial. No, don't worry, I'm fine. It's not Grandma or Grandpa either. Please, just come and I will explain everything."

One hour later a flushed Lorelai came running through the hospital doors. When Lorelai spotted Rory who was waiting in the reception area, she practically ran through everybody to get to her daughter.

"Oh my god, Rory, are you alright? What's going on? Why are we here? Who is hurt?"

"Mom, calm down. Take a deep breath and I will explain everything."

Lorelai did as she was told and when Rory saw her mother relax she spoke again.

"Ok, where do I start?"

"Why don't you start with the reason you're here."

"That's not important but to cut a long story short, Paris needed to come and she dragged me with her."

She didn't say anything for a while, unsure of how to tell her mother that the man she loves (because she knows that despite her saying otherwise, she DOES still love him), the only man that has ever loved, is lying on a hospital bed, engaged in a battle for his life.

"Rory, please, you're killing me here," she interrupts her from her daze.

"It's Luke," Rory blurted out.

Lorelai paled at the sound of his name. "Luke? Our Luke? The town Luke?"

"Yes."

"What's wrong with him?"

Rory shook her head. "I can't tell you. We can go to his room and you can find out."

Rory headed towards the room, but her mother didn't follow. "Are you coming?"

Lorelai, sensing that something was very wrong, followed Rory. When they reached the room, neither of them made a move to enter. They both just stood there, looking into each other's eyes. Eventually, Rory took the next step, knocking on the door. They heard Luke's voice from the other side of the door. Lorelai froze, unable to move. She hadn't heard his voice for three months now. Rory gave her a look that spoke volumes and opened the door.

Rory was the first to enter.

"Rory, what are you doing here? How did you know?" His voice was weak, but full of emotion. Before he managed to say anything else, Lorelai stepped into the room and his eyes widened.

Lorelai couldn't believe the sight in front of her. Was this the same person that had always been there for her every time she needed him? They continued to stare at each other, unable to form any words. Rory was the one to break the silence.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good, look it's no big deal. I'll be out of here in no time. I don't know who told you that I was here but…."

Luke didn't have the chance to finish, as Rory interrupted him. "I know why you're here, Luke. There's no need to hide it anymore. So, either you tell mom what's wrong or I will."

"Rory… please."

"No. You can't be alone in this." Rory was getting emotional and he could see it, so he let out a big sigh and looked at Lorelai, who was watching their interaction the whole time, unable to understand what was happening.

Seeing that Luke was ready to speak Rory headed to the door.

"I'll leave you two alone to catch up. Tell her." With those words, Rory left the room.