Chapter Ten
Luke sat with Lorelai for a few hours before she finally woke. She stirred, stretched her long limbs and slowly opened her bright blue eyes.
Immediately she jumped at the sight of Luke sitting beside her, his face impossible to read.
"Luke," she croaked, her mouth dry her heartbeat racing in fear and surprise.
"Hey," said Luke softly his voice as inarticulate as her own.
Lorelai sat up quickly in her bed and stared open mouthed at Luke's response. An alarm sounded and suddenly a nurse ran inside Lorelai's room.
"Is everything alright honey," she asked, walking towards Lorelai's bedside.
Lorelai swallowed and numbly turned towards the new voice, she smiled uncertainly at the nurse then looked back over at Luke.
"Is this person upsetting you," she asked noticing the shock etched on Lorelai's face.
"No," Lorelai snapped as she slumped back into her pillows.
"Try and relax dear, your heartbeat is really racing. Are you sure you don't want me to escort your friend outside," she asked firmly.
"No, I'm fine. Please don't send him away," Lorelai asked softly.
The nurse nodded her head then slowly walked towards the door. "Just buzz if you need anything," she added giving Luke a dirty look as left them alone again.
"Are you sure your alright Lorelai, you don't look like yourself," said Luke.
"I'm sorry," Lorelai replied.
"Sorry for not looking like yourself or sorry for leaving me behind," he asked.
A tear slowly trailed down Lorelai's cheek at his words. She tried to get hold of herself but was unable to hide a sob as it escaped her lips.
Luke instantly regretted being so blunt and hastened to sit beside her on the bed.
"Don't cry Lorelai, please. I'm sorry I upset you," he said pulling her into a hug.
Lorelai sobbed louder at his embrace and soon his shirt was wet with her tears. She clung to him at tightly as she could and in turn Luke gripped her like a vice.
Finally Lorelai's strength gave out and she let go, "I'm so sorry," she sobbed over and over.
Luke helped her lay back down on the bed and fetching a tissue gently wiped away her tears.
"Luke I don't understand," she sobbed brokenly.
"Understand what," he asked smoothing her hair back from her face.
"You, why are you being so nice to me," she asked.
" Lorelai I love you," said Luke as if that explained everything.
"You do," Lorelai puzzled her brow wrinkling in surprise.
"Geez Lorelai, I'll always love you, always."
Lorelai smiled at his response and reached to hold his hand. "I don't deserve you Luke, I never did," she amended.
"Your crazy," said Luke. "I love you, I can't change it."
"Luke, I love you too. I know you don't think I do but I do, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I think I was just afraid to let you know."
"Why," asked Luke.
"I was afraid to need someone, scared it wouldn't last. Luke I need to tell you something," Lorelai paused, seeming to weight up her options. "Luke I have a baby and I know your my baby's father. I so sorry I didn't tell you about him, about your son."
Luke smiled as Lorelai finally told him what he had know for some time. "Lorelai, I know about Teddy and I'm delighted that I have a son. I'm just sorry that I gave you reason to doubt how happy your pregnancy would make me."
"You know about Teddy," Lorelai asked dumfounded.
Luke nodded and smiled as he pointed to the picture by her side. "He's beautiful Lorelai, just like his mother."
Here Lorelai broke down again, amazed how Luke was taking the news. The alarm went off for a second time and again the nurse from earlier appeared at the door.
"That's it, I really think you need to leave now," she announced to Luke.
"No," sobbed Lorelai holding tight to his hand.
"Lorelai, don't worry I'm not going anywhere," said Luke calmly.
"Promise."
"Promise," Luke replied reaching down and stroking her hand soothingly.
"I promise I won't set off the alarm again, we're just so happy to see each other," said Luke to the nurse.
"Mind you don't and please let's let Miss Gilmore get some rest," she demanded as she walked back out into the hallway.
"Here that, you need to rest crazy lady, I'll stay with you," Luke promised.
Lorelai smiled at the endearment and no matter how strange it might sound to others for Lorelai it was long awaited.
Luke stayed beside her talking softly as she slowly drifted to sleep. He stared at her peaceful face and watched the steady rise and fall of her chest.
Lulled by the sound of her breathing he settled back in his chair and before long he too was fast asleep.
When we woke he saw the sun just rising from the window and realised he had slept the whole night in the hospital. Turning back to the bed he saw that Lorelai was still sleeping and smiled as he recollected their reunion the day before.
He stood to stretch his legs, rubbing his aching neck caused by an uncomfortable sleeping position. He looked at his watch and calculated the time back in Connecticut, it was later there and with Lorelai still sleeping now was as good a time as any.
He walked out into the corridor towards the pay phones and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.
He held his breath as he listened for the dial tone and swallowed the lump in his throat as a woman's voice answered.
"Hello," she asked sternly.
"Hello, Emily," Luke asked tentatively.
"Luke, what's wrong."
"I haven't called Rory, I thought it might be better if the news came from you," Luke rambled, not making much sense.
"You've found her," Emily exclaimed.
"I have," said Luke solemnly.
"Oh God, is she alright. Is she alive, Is she dead," Emily sobbed.
"Emily, of course Lorelai's alive, I promise I'm with her now," Luke shouted over Emily's cries.
"Thank God, thank you, thank God," Emily repeated softly into the phone.
Luke could hear she was still crying softly and then someone else's voice could be heard over the line. Emily was talking to them in hushed tones, Luke heard a scuffle and then a new voice spoke out.
"Luke," asked the voice.
"Richard, I'm here," he replied.
"Is it true are you really with Lorelai, where are you," he asked.
"I'm in San Francisco, Christopher was right I guess. She's been here the whole time."
"San Francisco," Richard repeated with surprise.
"Yes, look I can't talk for long I'm running out of quarters. I just wanted you to know and put your minds at ease," he said.
"Can you put her on the phone, can I talk to her," Richard asked.
"Richard Lorelai's asleep, it's still pretty early here."
"Well wake her up, I need to hear her voice. I need Emily to hear her voice."
"Richard she doesn't know I'm calling you," said Luke reluctantly.
"Why," he shouted.
"Richard I found Lorelai in the hospital. She's getting better but I don't want her to get upset right now."
"Hospital, why is she in the hospital," Richard asked.
Luke could hear Emily shouting at Richard, asking who was in the hospital. Richard was asking her to calm down and Luke was running out of money.
"Richard," he shouted to be heard.
"Yes."
"The phone is going to cut out. Look I promise to call you back later and I promise I'll take good care of Lorelai," he said hurriedly.
"Wait what's wrong with my daughter," Richard shouted.
"I'll tell you everything soon, but I'm about to..." here Luke cut off. The phone line was dead and Luke didn't have enough change to call back.
"I'm sorry," he muttered under his breath, he didn't mean to be evasive but he wanted Lorelai fully informed before he told her parents everything.