Rory departed, in shock. Dean had admitted his guilt, but why? He had been so dead set against telling the truth. She drove home, half-dazed. She showered, changed, and drove back to the hospital to see Jess. He had now been in the hospital for two weeks. Nothing had changed. His condition was still "serious but stable."

As Dean sat in his new cell in the Hartford facility, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of his chest, but a new one replaced it. What had he done? What if he had signed his own condemnation? He didn't know what to do. He wished there was somewhere he could take a long run, but the outside yard was small, he had seen, and laps were not the same thing as a good run through the woods in Stars Hollow. Instead, he collapsed onto his cot and exhaled frustratedly.

"Missing something?" his cellmate asked.

"Running in the woods." Dean nodded.

"This will seem really personal, but I have what you need to survive here."

"What's that?" Dean asked, interested.

"Jesus."

"What?" Dean asked, sharply.

"His is probably the most controversial name in the world, but you need Him to survive this place. If you try to on your own, you won't succeed."

"What does Jesus offer me?" Dean asked. "He was some guy who lived thousands of years ago, right? Christmas is all about him."

"Jesus was much more than that." the young man said, with a light in his eyes. "He gave his life for the sins of the world. He died for what I did, and for what you did, so we could go to Heaven someday."

"What did you do?" Dean asked.

"First things first. I'm Joel." the young man introduced himself, extending a hand towards Dean.

"I'm Dean." Dean shook Joel's hand.

"Now...what did I do?" Joel shook his head. "I was angry at my ex-girlfriend. She was flaunting her new boyfriend in front of me and I lost it. I attacked him. He didn't have a chance. We were by a river, in Washington Depot. He hit his head, or I punched him, I'm still not sure which, but he fell into the water and drowned. What about you?"

"A very...similar story." Dean realized aloud. "My girlfriend dumped me and got together with my enemy in front of me, I punched him, he fell down a hill above a creek in Stars Hollow, hit his head, and he's in the hospital."

"This might sound insane, but you need to pray for his recovery."

"I know, but I don't know how to. I just wish I could do it all over again. I wish I hadn't hurt him, and I really wish I hadn't hurt Rory."

"Hannah still hasn't forgiven me. She...doesn't think I deserve it, which I don't, but it would be nice to have it all the same, you know? And she thinks I'm being high and mighty with my faith."

"How long ago...did you come here?" Dean asked.

"A few weeks ago. I pleaded guilty at my hearing, so my sentence was lightened, but I'm being transferred tomorrow to the adult facility, because of the severity of my crime. That's why I'm pressing this issue. I don't know if we'll ever see each other again, and I want you to know what it feels like to be free in Christ."

Dean had always thought that Christians were crazy. That they were fanatics, constantly shoving their beliefs down others' throats and begging people to convert. That they were high, mighty, and judgemental. But now, Joel had shown him that Christians could be humble, honest, and true. Somehow, as Joel now explained how to be saved, that it was simple faith in Jesus, Dean knew that he needed the peace Joel described.

"Jesus, I know that you're there." Dean started out in prayer, unsure. He pressed on. "I know that you died for my sins. I know that you will forgive me. I know that because I believe in your name, that I am saved. Amen." He felt a new presence, peaceful and comforting, come over him. He knew that everything would be okay.

"Welcome to the family of God!" Joel smiled through tears in his eyes that matched the ones in Dean's.