From the Beginning

Chapter Four: The ins and outs of Inns

She's trying not to laugh as Taylor rants to her and her mother about the fake murder that is still visible despite Dean scrubbing at it for the best part of the day. She knows that she shouldn't laugh, but she is struggling to remain calm as he carries on about it being a gross crime on their community, and talking about the dangers and implications of a stunt like this.

At first she had been mad about it, because from the moment she saw it she knew who was responsible, and then Taylor started attacking Luke about it and she'd been mad and yelled at him, but for some reason that she didn't want to think about, despite yelling at him and being angry at him, a few minutes of talking, no yelling at him, and he'd managed to make her smile. How was it he could manage that? She shook her head and tried to pay attention to Taylor, finding it hard as her mind wandered back to Jess, who had fixed the toaster, claiming it wasn't him but she knew it was, she knew why he'd done it, because her words had affected him and he'd realised that Luke was getting it in the neck because of him, he's decided to help out, and maybe just maybe, he's done it because of her. No! She stopped her thoughts angrily, she shouldn't be thinking like that because she shouldn't want Jess to be nice to people because of her, she shouldn't want him to care that much, not that he did. Her thoughts were a mess as she slowly trailed behind her mother, after finally escaping from Taylor's rant.

'Hey, Hi, Hello? Anyone in there?' Lorelai waved a hand in front of her daughters face.

'Oh sorry, zoned out there.' Rory snapped out of her thoughts about the somewhat awkward meeting between Jess and Dean the previous day, she smiled up at her mum. 'What were you saying?'

'I was asking you what you think Taylor would do if there was a real murder outside his store.' Lorelai said as they sat at the counter in Luke's.

'If Kirk doesn't stop changing his mind about his order you may just find out.' Luke growled.

'Ooh someone's in a good mood.' Lorelai raised her eyebrows.

'Yeah well you'd be in a good mood too if you'd had Taylor in and out all day, Kirk refusing to make a simple decision, and someone…' Here he raised his eyes to the ceiling indicating the apartment. 'Sitting upstairs all morning claiming to be sick.'

'Jess is sick?' Rory asked a little too fast.

'No, at least I doubt it, but somehow he managed to get me to let him stay home from school, I don't think he's actually sick.' Luke replied. 'What'll you have.'

'Oh I think I'll need a minute.' Lorelai said, pretending to study the menu, she put on a high voice and fluttered her eye lashes. 'There are just so many choices, how ever will I decide?'

'You'll decide in the next minute or you can eat at Al's.' Luke said seriously.

'Burger, fries, onion rings and a chocolate sundae.' Lorelai said dropping the menu, the thought of eating at Al's not appealing tonight. 'And keep the coffee coming until I'm so hyped up that I can run home.'

'I'll have burger, chilli fries, lemon pie and coffee.' Rory replied. 'Can I go upstairs? Jess promised to lend me a book and uh I was just going to get it…' Rory trailed off, hoping the excuse sounded believable. Luke nodded his head.

'Be quick hun, food will be here soon.' Lorelai said as her daughter disappeared behind the curtain, taking the stairs two at a time she knocked on the door, not getting an answer she opened the door and went inside.

'You look awful!' Rory said rushing to Jess who was lying on his bed propped up by some pillows, books all around him. His face was grey in colour, his eyes looked bloodshot and his hair messier than usual.

'Gee thanks, you're no supermodel either.' He shot back, though if he was honest she looked beautiful as she approached in her school uniform.

'What's wrong?' Rory asked clearly concerned, he could get used to the new caring side to her, especially if she was caring about him.

'I'm sick.' He shrugged. 'Luke doesn't believe me.'

'Yeah I know.' She sat on the edge of his bed and rested her hand on his forehead. 'Jess you're burning up! Didn't Luke take your temperature?'

'I don't think he knows how.' Jess scoffed.

'What are the symptoms?' Rory asked standing up and going to the kitchen, getting a glass of water from the cooler in the fridge and bringing it back to him.

'Headache, can't stomach food, dizziness when I stand, and keep going hot and cold.' Jess rattled off, trying not to sound as if he were complaining, he wanted her to be concerned, but not to think he was a wimp.

'You've got a fever.' Rory said, 'I need to give you something to bring the fever down, where's the medicine cabinet?'

'I don't know if we have one.' Jess replied, sitting up a little more only to have a sharp pain in his head and drop back down again, heightening Rory's obvious concern. She jumped to her feet and searched the apartment, finding only some cold capsules that were out of date. She flew down the stairs, after giving Jess instructions to stay still.

'Luke!' Rory yelled bursting into the diner.

'Yeah?' Luke asked confused at her sudden angry appearance.

'Jess is really sick up there. He's not faking! He has a really bad fever, he can't keep any food down and I think he's dehydrated.' Rory rattled off. 'You didn't even check if he was actually sick.'

'Rory hun it's ok, I'm sure Luke did what he thought was best.' Lorelai tried to calm her daughter.

'Yeah maybe, but he's really sick and you've got no medicine or anything, so I need stuff ok?' Rory grabbed a pen and paper from her bag and scribbled a list of items she needed, handing it to Luke before racing back up the stairs, finding Jess on the floor.

'I told you not to move.' She reprimanded.

'Sorry, it was getting to hot I was just trying to open a window.' Jess replied, she sighed and put her arms round him, helping him to stand, he swayed a little so she tightened her grip.

'Ok now?' She asked, he smiled slightly.

'Yeah.' He said slowly as she helped him back into bed, handing him the water.

'Drink that.' She insisted. 'And no more getting out of bed, if you need something ask me.'

'Jeez you're bossy.' He smirked, pleased that she intended on staying for a while.

'You have no idea, now lay back.' She instructed, pushing the windows open and turning on an old fan she found. 'I'm going to try and get your fever down.' She said filling a bowl with cold water and bringing it over, with a flannel. She dipped the flannel into the water then applied it to his forehead.

'Better?' She asked as he closed his eyes.

'Much.' He said sleepily.

'Is there anything else you need?' Rory asked. 'I could put the TV on, or some music. You could read, you want a book?'

'No thanks, the noise hurts my head, and I can't focus on the words.' Jess said quietly.

'Sorry, I should stop talking and let you rest.' Rory reprimanded herself for not thinking about that before.

'No, I like talking to you.' Jess replied, to delirious with fever to tell what he was saying. A few minutes Luke returned with Lorelai in tow, and handed over the bag of things.

'I'm sorry Jess, I really didn't think you were that sick.' Luke said guiltily.

'Mm not your fault…' Jess said. 'Liz wouldn't of…'

'What's he saying?' Luke asked in confusion.

'I think he's a little out of it.' Lorelai said watching Jess mumble. 'Fever can make you a little delirious, Rory had one once and she started talking about pink elephants.'

'Jess! Jess I need you to focus on me ok?' Rory said trying to get his attention, at the sound of her voice he turned to her and tried to focus on her face.

'Rory?' He asked. She looked at him worriedly, a few minutes ago he'd seemed completely coherent and now he was in and out of it.

'Yeah I'm here. Jess I need you to sit up, so on the count of three ok, one, two, three.' She slipped her arm round his back and supported his weight. 'Swallow these.' She handed him two pills and then the water, he did what he was told then fell back onto the pillows, sweat pouring down his face. She took the flannel again and tried to cool him.

'Try and rest.' Rory soothed.

'Mmk…Thanks.' He said shutting his eyes and sleeping.

'Hun what can I do?' Lorelai asked once he was asleep, Rory looked up at Luke and Lorelai, forgetting they'd been standing there.

'Uh nothing, I got it. You needed to get back to the inn, and Luke you've got a diner full of people, it'll be dinner rush soon. I've got this.' Rory replied turning back to Jess.

'Are you sure?' Luke asked still feeling awful for not believing Jess.

'Uh-huh.' Rory smiled.

'Ok well I'll come up and check on him in half an hour of so.' Luke replied, as the older two returned to the diner. Leaving Rory to care for Jess.

A/N- hope you like it, please review.