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Chapter 4

Lorelai opened her eyes the following morning and found the space next to her in bed empty. She started to panic when she heard quiet voices coming from across the room. She turned round and smiled at the sight of Luke showing Rory how to make pancakes. She smiled when she saw Rory giggle when Luke deliberately tossed a pancake high in the air. She got up slowly, only wincing slightly. Her body still ached all over but she was feeling a bit better after some sleep. She walked over to them. "Morning..." She said softly.

Luke and Rory turned round. "Mom!" Rory smiled. "Luke's showing me how to make pancakes!"

Lorelai smiled. "Is he? Wow! You'll have to show me at some point." She said.

Luke glanced at her. "Sleep ok?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yeah thanks."

"I thought pancakes would be a safe option this morning." He said.

"Pancakes sound great." Lorelai said softly, giving him a sincere smile. "What about the diner?" She asked.

"I asked Caesar to open up. He said he can manage for a few hours." Luke said.

"Oh you didn't need to do that." Lorelai said.

"I know. But I wanted to." Luke said softly.

"Mom, try these! They're so good!" Rory said already having tucked into a plate of pancakes.

Lorelai sat down next to her daughter and started eating some but couldn't really stomach much.

"Are you ok?" Luke asked concerned, noticing her not eating.

"Yeah. I'm just...I haven't got much of an appetite at the moment." She apologised. "These are really tasty though." She said.

"So..uh..what are your plans for today?" He asked cautiously.

Lorelai sighed and glanced at Rory. "I don't know." She admitted. "Don't worry, we'll get out of your way as soon as possible." She said.

"No, don't be silly. You can stay here for as long as you want. For as long as you need." Luke assured her.

Lorelai gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks. But...we should get home. Otherwise..uh.." She said glancing at Rory who was busy eating. "Otherwise I might never do it." She said quietly.

Luke nodded in understanding. "I'll give you a lift back when you want." He said.

"Thanks." She said grateful.

"Mom..." Rory said quietly.

"Yes hon?" Lorelai turned to her daughter.

"Where...Where are those men now?" She asked quietly.

"They're not here, don't worry." Lorelai tried to reassure her.

"But they were here yesterday. What if they are still around? I don't want you to get hurt again." Rory sniffed.

"Aw hon, I'm going to be fine. Those men will be far away from here don't worry. They were only at the inn until early this morning so they will have left already." She said softly.

"But..." Rory said.

"Rory, you don't need to be scared. They won't be coming back. I promise." She said.

Rory bit her lip but nodded. "Ok." She said quietly.

"Hey, Rory, why don't you go down to the diner and ask Caesar for a milkshake? Tell him I sent you." Luke smiled.

"Ok." Rory said quietly, getting up to leave, but before she did she hugged her mom. "I love you mom."

"Oh kid you have no idea." Lorelai said hugging her close. "Go on, go get your milkshake." She smiled.

Rory nodded and headed downstairs.

As soon as Rory had left, she put her head in her hands. "God she isn't going to get over this is she? She's going to be constantly looking over her shoulder." Lorelai said.

"She will get over it, Lorelai. It just make some time." Luke said softly.

"I just...I know I told her they won't be coming back but what if I'm wrong? And what if they target Rory next time? I couldn't bear if anything happened to her..." She cried.

"Hey..." Luke said coming to sit next to her, putting his arm around her. "I won't let anything happen to Rory. She'll be fine." He assured her. He the hesitated before speaking again. "Have you...uh...Have you thought about reporting them?" He asked cautiously.

Lorelai sighed. "I have thought about it, yeah. But what's the point? It's their word against mine and they're from Hartford. They'll be able to afford the best lawyers who will probably get them off anyway. I want them to get done for this but I don't want Rory having to go through all of it again. She's scared enough as it is. I don't know what would happen if she had to see them again." She said quietly. She glanced at Luke. "I know you probably think I'm crazy but...I just want to forget all about it."

Luke sighed. "No I get it, I do." He said. "But wouldn't Rory feel better knowing they were never coming back again for certain?" He said cautiously. "I know you're finding this hard. I can't even imagine what you're going through at the moment but I just...I care about you both. Those men are scum and should pay for what they did." He said. "And what if they do come after Rory next time? Or someone else and no one is there to help?"

Lorelai glanced at him. "I know." She said quietly, tears pricking her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I promise you that I will make sure they don't go near you or Rory ever again but I just...they need to pay, Lorelai. They...They hurt you. They assaulted you." He said quietly.

"No you didn't upset me. You're right. I know you're right but I just..." She let some tears fall down her cheeks. "I'm scared." She finally admitted.

Luke took hold of her hands. "I know." He said softly. "But I will make you a promise here and now. I will be with you every step of the way. I won't let them hurt you again." He said firmly.

Lorelai looked up at him. "God, you're amazing." She said quietly.

"What?" Luke said surprised.

"Sorry, I just...you've only known us a few weeks and you've done so much for us. I've never had someone who I could count on before. I mean, I have Mia and Sookie but this just seems...different." She said softly. She looked at Luke. "Yesterday...I was so scared and suddenly you were there...Thank you." She said sincerely.

"You don't need to thank me." He shook his head.

This time, Lorelai took hold of his hands. "Yes I do. If it wasn't for you, I could have been...well it could have been a lot worse." She said quietly. "I owe you so much. I mean look at this. You took me and Rory in last night without hesitation. You've done so much for us and I know you're not exactly a kid person. I just...I'm so grateful." She said sincerely.

"Rory's a great kid." Luke said. "And isn't this what friends are for?" He smiled. "Lorelai, I care a lot about you and Rory. I will always be here for you. I give you my word." He said softly.

Lorelai took him by surprise by throwing his arms around him and hugging him. "Thank you." She said quietly.

"Are you sure you're ready to go home?" He asked.

"No." She said. "But I should. I need everything to go back to normal. For Rory's sake. I don't want her being scared."

Luke nodded. "And what about...?" He started asking.

"Their names should be in our guest book at the inn. I'll do it." She said quietly.

Luke nodded. "Ok. Good. If you need anything..."

"Actually..." She said nervously. "I'm thinking of taking Rory's to Lane's for a bit to take her mind off things. And then I guess there's no time like the present. I think it would be best if I go to the police station in person but...I don't think I could go by myself." She admitted.

"I'll be there." Luke said quickly.

"But the diner..." Lorelai said.

"Can manage a day without you. The sooner you do this, the sooner those men can get what's coming to them." He said. "I meant it when I said I was here for you every step of the road."

Lorelai smiled at him, touched. "I guess the town was right." She said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Luke asked confused.

"Well I've heard people say nothing but great things about your dad and they say you're just like him." Lorelai said softly. "Sookie told me you were a good guy. So did Mia. And you are. I don't know how I can repay you for this." She said.

"You don't need to." Luke said but was touched by what she had said.

"Kirk thinks the world of you." Lorelai smirked.

Luke groaned. "Yeah well Kirk's crazy." He said.

Lorelai laughed. "True but you shout at him everyday and he still loves you. That says something."

"Yeah it says he's crazy." Luke joked but was glad to see Lorelai laughing.

Later that afternoon, Lorelai had arrived back from the police station with Luke. She'd thanked Luke again and then picked Rory up from Lane's before going home. They watched a movie before going to bed early.

However it was about 11 when Lorelai heard movement at her door. She sat up and saw Rory standing there. "Rory?"

"I...Can I sleep with you? Just for tonight?" Rory asked quietly.

Lorelai smiled at her. "Yeah come on." She said.

Rory went in and climbed under the covers with her mom and snuggled up to her.

"We'll get through this, I promise." Lorelai said softly. "The police will catch the men and then you won't have to worry about them coming back." She said, hoping that was true. The police had told her that they would do everything they could to catch them. "You don't need to be scared, hon, because I promise you I will always protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you. Ever."

Rory snuggled closer to her mom. "Ok." She said quietly.

Lorelai held her daughter close and closed her eyes.

"Mom?" Rory's voice made her open her eyes again.

"Yeah?"

"I like Luke." She said. "He told me that he will make sure no one hurts you or me again. It's nice to have someone look out for us." She said quietly.

Lorelai smiled, thinking about Luke. "Yeah it is." She said softly.

"Night mom." Rory said sleepily.

"Night sweets." Lorelai said softly.

So a bit of a shorter chapter, sorry, but hope you liked it! :) Let me know what you think! :)