A/N: I have to admit that I dreamt this story recently and I just couldn't wait to write it and post it here. I'm a Literati sucker, what I can say? Hehe. I hope you like this one. It's completely different from the other one. It's a little more drama and it's a little more complicated. The characters are little more dramatic and not easy to write, but I loved them in this way. As the previous story, I put something very personal in this one too. What Jess is going to live here, it was a state close to me before. The territory I'm about to enter hits close to home for me. But I think you're gonna like it despite the drama. I hope for your support as always and please review if you like what you read. That keeps my muse alive!

P.S. English is not my first language, but I'm really trying here. So, if you think that it's hard for you to read - just don't read it! The reason I'm in this alone it's because I have updates every day. I love my readers and I want to pleased them in that way.

Rating: T (maybe M for some chapters, but we'll see);

Story:

Rory comes back to Stars Hollow to try and pick up the pieces of her ruined life. But she is not the only one who want to do that. Jess is there too, but he is not the same.


Chapter 9 Rebuild me

Rory could not sleep again and she felt as if tomorrow would never come. The time had stopped and she had eyes only for the clock over her nightstand. As if its electrical numbers laughed at her. Rory sighed and closed her eyes again. It was almost unbearable to lay here and do nothing. Her sleep was just waist of time.

"Damn it!" She cursed under her nose and gave up of her attempts to fall asleep. She got off her bed and went to make some coffee. Few minutes later, Rory was sitting in the kitchen with cup of steaming coffee in her right hand and book in her left one.

That was how Lorelai found her on the next moment. Her daughter was drinking coffee and reading book at the kitchen.

"You're up early?" Lorelai coughed and Rory looked at her.

"I couldn't sleep last night." She shrugged. "I thought that some reading might help."

"Some reading?" Lorelai frowned and tilted her head.

"Yeah." Rory nodded. "I thought that it could help me."

"Help you for what?" Lorelai frowned. "If I'm not mistaken, you read "Major depressive disorder". How could that help you to sleep?"

"It could help me for Jess." Rory took the last sip of her coffee and got off her chair. "I have to go now. He'll wake up soon. I want to be there."

"Rory!" Lorelai followed her daughter in her room. "Would you stop for a minute?"

"I don't have a minute." Rory opened her wardrobe. "I have to hurry."

"I know, but…" Lorelai bit her lower lip. "You have to listen to me for a sec."

"I don't have time now." Rory put on her green blouse and pair of blue jeans. "It has to wait!"

"No! It can't wait!" Lorelai snapped and watched as Rory hid in the bathroom. She heard the sound of the flowing water. "We really have to talk!"

Rory did not answer her and Lorelai had to wait until her daughter did not show up in the room again. She stood in front of the mirror and brushed her hair. Lorelai sighed and crossed her arms before her chest. Rory threw her a surprised look at the mirror.

"What?"

"You're spending too much time with Jess, hun." Lorelai frowned.

"So?" Rory turned around and took her coat from the bed. "What's wrong with that?"

"I thought you came back here to try and rebuild your life." Lorelai sighed. "Rory, this is not a rebuilding! This is a complication!"

"Saving Jess' life is a… complication?" Rory frowned.

"I didn't mean that!" Lorelai shook her head. "I just thought you could use some time for a little rest. You have to think."

"No!" Rory snapped and walked to her mother. "I don't need that time! I don't! When I came back here, I thought that I'm lost! I thought that I'm the most unhappy person on the Earth! When I found out Jess here and I saw him like this… everything made sense to me! Maybe that's why I came back. Maybe I'm here to help him!"

"But you suffer!" Lorelai touched her arm.

"He opened his eyes yesterday!" Rory smiled. "He opened his eyes, mom! Do you know what that could mean?"

"Nothing could stop you now, right?" Lorelai shook her head.

"Nope." Rory leaned and hugged her mother. "I know that you love me and you want me to be happy. I know that, but I'm an adult mom. Trust me when I'm telling you that I have hope in this. I have hope in Jess."

"So stubborn!" Lorelai murmured and hugged her back. "Like your father."

"Are you sure?" Rory laughed and walked out of the house.

She walked in the diner few minutes later. Luke was there. He was holding his cup of coffee and smiled when he saw her. That was a good sign.

"Hey Luke."

"Hey sunshine!" He handed her the cup of coffee. "You want some?"

"I'm gonna need it today." Rory murmured and took the first sip. "Mh-mm, no one could make a coffee like you."

"Jess could." Luke's smile faded. "He used to make the best coffee when he worked here."

"He'll make it again." She patted his shoulder with a smile. "You'll see."

"I wish I had you hope." Luke shrugged. "I'm afraid to believe again."

"But I can see that you're not that far away from it." Rory smiled again. "Jess will be fine again!"

"Sure." Luke released his half smile. "He's awake."

"He is?" Rory's eyes widened and her smile faded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"He woke up early. I gave him his breakfast." Luke shrugged. "He's okay and I suppose that he's waiting for you."

"I'm going." Rory nodded and almost ran upstairs. She opened the door with pounding heart. He was there, sitting on his wheelchair and looking at the door. His eyes focused over her immediately. She saw a shiver passed through his body when he realized her presence there. Rory could not suppress her smile of relief. She walked to him and sat on the nearest chair. "Hey, I'm here."

There was no other reaction than slight blink of his eyes. Rory took his hand and laced fingers with his. She stared at his beautiful face and his amazing hazel eyes. She never forgot them through all these years. No matter how far she was or whom she thought she loved. It was somewhat sad to realize that just now. Her mother was right. Jess was never only friend to her. He was something special in her life.

"Maybe you can help me too." Rory put the cup on the table and looked back at Jess. "Maybe we can help each other now." She took his other hand and looked at his eyes. "You helped me once before. I've never told you this, but you helped me to find my way back. I had lost it and you came to show it to me." Rory smiled through tears. "I'm what I'm today because of you! You believed in me when no one did… and you were right about Logan." Rory licked her lips. "He was a mistake, but I thought I loved him then. I couldn't see…" She shook her head. "I couldn't see his true self. He wasn't… you." Rory whispered. "You were the only one who could see my heart. After all this time… and I was afraid to see it."

Jess did not answer and she did not expect that. He just stood there and his eyes looked at her. He looked at her with confusion as if he did not know who to react on this. Rory knew that his emotions and feelings were in total chaos. Rory had to help him to fix them. She had to make him feel comfortable with her presence. She had to help him to rebuild his life again. Maybe that could help her with her life too.

"I'm sorry." She held back a sob. "I know I have to be strong.. I know that you are confused by this, but… no one else could understand me like you could. I know this is stupid. You probably don't understand what I'm talking about."

Jess released his left hand from hers and she saw his effort to lift it up. Rory frowned but left him. She watched his trembling hand and bit her lower lip when he touched her face. Her eyes closed and she leaned on his palm.

"So you can understand me after all." She whispered.