Sorry if this sucks. I wrote it while I had a migrane. Well, this chap is mostly filler. THe next one sets everything in motion. Tristan sees Ken! So, enjoy!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chap. 21 reviews for that chapter! That made my day. And, thanks to La for beta'ing, and dealing with my headache-y self.
Recap:
"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. I'm so sorry, baby." She cried, as she continually ran her hands through his hair in soothing motions, placing butterfly kisses against his cheek, his neck, his shoulder, wherever she could. They each had held so much in, waiting till they could see the other. All of it was coming out now with each sob, each tear, each kiss, each whisper of love and apology. They each held on to the other so tightly not wanting to let go, for fear if they did, the other would disappear. The guards, Dr. Ateyu, Finn and Damien watched in awe, as they watched the scene before them. They all knew it wasn't over. Not by a long shot. There was still so much to do, so much to say. For now, they let the two have their moment, to heal. They would need their strength for what was about to come.
Chapter 10: The Truth About Lying
A Rory and Tristan held each other, the jaws of the other members of the room were on the floor. No one really expected her to be able to get through to him, let alone be able to do it so quickly. Finn and Damien recovered first, while Dr. Ateyu had to shake herself a few times. The MP's stood there slack-jawed for quite some time.
There was no way the guy who had to be escorted for the protection of others was sitting there crying, clinging to a young woman. They'd seen some crazy shit, but this…this was unbelievable.
"That's not possible. You can't just... that's not possible!" One of the MP's sputtered, once he was able to find his voice.
"How did she... there's no way to do... what the hell?" The other MP ranted.
"Boys." Dr. Ateyu warned the two before turning to the three visitors. "Now, which one of you is Finn?" Finn was watching Rory and Tristan with a soft grin. Damien let her know who Finn was. "Mr. Morgan." She called out. No response.
"Finn." Damien yelled, as he smacked him in the back of the head.
"Ow! I think Rory's rubbing off on you! What's with the 'let's beat on Finn' party?" Finn whined.
"Now that I have your attention." Dr. Ateyu said tersely. "Is she..." She motioned with her hands before trailing off, "Who the hell are you?" She asked Damien.
"I'm Damien, ma'am." He responded politely.
"Damien? As in the boy who killed Tristan's mother?" Dr. Ateyu had a look on her face of pure disbelief.
Damien blushed slightly, and turned away from her. "Yes, but he's reforming. He's actually the reason RG was finally able to find lover boy." Finn replied, gesturing to the two who still sat hugging each other, aware of no one else's presence but their own.
"Well then. I suggest we keep him out of site until we can make sure Tristan is stable or he might do something rash..." Dr. Ateyu suggested, giving the young couple a worried glance.
"Like put me through a wall?" Damien supplied. "As he's done a few times already."
"Yes... something like that." She shook her head as if clearing it. "Okay, so..." she trailed off as she saw a new development between Tristan and Rory.
Rory had been holding on to Tristan, whispering soothing words to him when suddenly he pulled back. He retreated into a ball, rocking back and forth once more.
"You're…" His voice cracked. "You're not real. You can't be. She doesn't love me. She doesn't care anymore." He whispered half to himself, half to the 'imaginary' girl before him.
"I am real! Tristan! I do love you. I do care." She was crying again, her words coming out watery due to the sobs she was unable to hold back. The tears began to pool in her eyes once more.
"No you aren't!" He whispered. "I sent her letters. So many letters…and she never wrote back. Never." His voice took on a hurt and angry tone. Rory quickly thought that in his state, he might respond to her if she spoke in the third person.
"Are you sure she got them?" She asked softly.
"Yes!" He was like a defiant two year old. "I wrote them perfectly. Absolutely perfectly. Rory Gilmore, 2 Rooster Road, Stars Hallow, CT, 17165." His voice took on an almost pouting quality.
Rory's brow furrowed with confusion. He sent it to the right address. Even if he didn't, Kirk knew where she lived.
"She never got them, baby." She said as she slowly reached out to rub his back. He didn't flinch at her touch, instead he seemed to melt into it.
"Who are you?" He whispered, not looking at her. He was positive she wasn't really Rory.
"Mary." She said sweetly, as she smiled at him.
"That's what I call her." He said, finally looking up and meeting her eyes.
"I know. She sent me here." She said, still speaking in a very soft soothing voice.
"Why?" He looked up into her eyes once more, something stirring in him.
"To tell you she loves you, and that she misses you. That she had no idea where you went, and that she's been trying to find you for weeks. She's hurting just as much you are. She needs you as much as you need her." She said, as two tears escaped, and ran down her cheeks.
"Is she coming? Is she here?" He asked looking at her still, watching her.
"She's here. All you have to do is believe it." She whispered. As she watched him, she saw something flicker in his eyes. She knew she was close. She just had to reach him somehow.
"Tell me something only she would know." He said, narrowing his eyes in distrust. She smiled.
"Your favorite place in Stars Hallow is the pond behind the inn?" She supplied.
He frowned. "Lorelai and Sookie know that." He said, almost pouting.
"Okay. Oh! The night you made love to her," she blushed remembering that night, "You had on navy blue Joe Boxers with little coffee cups on it. The ones she bought you to make you an official Gilmore Girl associate. The first ever Gilmore Guy." She proudly and smiled at both memories.
He smiled slightly. "I forgot about that." He smiled softly. Then frowned, and said rather seriously, "I think I burned those."
She let out breath that was supposed to be a laugh, but came out sounding more like a gasp of surprise. "Why?" She asked smiling.
"Because I didn't want to be reminded of you." His voice dropped again.
"Oh." She said softly. "Well, we'll buy you knew ones, okay?" He nodded.
"So, you never got any of my letters?" He still had that little boy voice, but she'd gotten through to him.
"Nope, and neither did Finn. He was in Australia. Ruby relapsed." Tristan's head snapped up.
"Is she okay?" He said, no longer sounding like a little lost boy.
"Yeah. He actually left before you did. He left us a note that we never received while we were... sleeping I hope." Rory made a mental note to make Finn clarify that.
"But you're not pregnant?" He asked hopeful. He sat there holding his breath.
"I... I'm not sure. I don't think so. I mean, I'm on birth control, so I don't know." She said, looking down at her hands. Tristan cursed under his breath.
"Well, if you are. I'll be there. I promise." He held her hand tightly in his. He relaxed out of his ball by now, but was still a bit stand off-ish.
"I know." She said giving him a small smile.
"What took you so long to find me?" He asked. The question had been burning his tongue for sometime now. He couldn't help the edge of bitterness his voice held.
"I tried to call you. I couldn't get in touch with you or Finn, so I figured I'd see you on Monday at school. Well by Friday I was really worried and showed up at your house. The maid shut the door in my face. When I tried to call, I was hung up on. Even Mom called and she got hung up on. The last time I showed up at your house, Charles told me to go home and not come back, in no uncertain terms. I even tried to call your grandfather's but again, I was hung up on." She explained.
"Why?" Tristan didn't really believe her. "I don't understand. Why would they do that. Well, Charles, I do understand, but Gramps?" He looked at her in serious confusion. "None of his letters mentioned you calling him."
"I never spoke to him. It was always the maid that hung up on me. He actually had a hand in aiding us to find you. See, I never thought to go to his house. Not after what happened at yours. Then Damien came over acting all weird. I can't really explain it…" Tristan cut her off as soon as he heard Damien's name.
"Damien? Like Ken's best friend? Like the guy who killed my mother, Damien?" Tristan looked angry.
"Um, yes." She said meekly. She smiled inwardly however, noting that he acknowledged Damien as Ken's best friend before calling him his mother's murderer, and also using best friend in the present tense.
"Why?" His voice was rising.
"Because he wanted to know where you were. He needed to talk to you. I promise I wouldn't have brought him here if it wasn't important!" She spoke quickly, trying to calm him down.
He leapt to his feet.
"He's here!" Tristan yelled, not at her, but down in her general direction. Rory stood as well, looking over his shoulder at Finn pleadingly.
Dr. Ateyu cursed. Her plan hadn't even lasted 30 seconds. Tristan had seen her look and whipped around to see Finn coming towards him. Damien was hiding behind the guards.
"Tristan please. He needs to tell you something. Please, calm down. You're scaring me." The last part she had said in a pleading whisper. She had never seen him so angry. The only time that even came close was the day Damien came to Chilton, and that day she'd been scared too.
At her words he instantly relaxed, and turned to look at her. He could see the fear still present in her eyes and he nearly died. Slowly, he reached out to touch her cheek. She didn't flinch, she just stood there and let him do whatever it was he was going to do, knowing he wouldn't hurt her. He cupped her cheek and took a step closer to her. With one hand now on her cheek and the other on her hip, he gazed down into her deep blue pools.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I didn't mean to.. I didn't mean to scare you."
The guards' were stunned once again.
"How the fuck?" One of them muttered.
"Gentlemen." Dr. Ateyu warned again. "You are in a chapel for Christ's sake!"
"I know, Tris." She wrapped her hands around his again, leaning into his touch.
"Why is he here?" He asked in a pained voice, leaning his forehead against hers.
"You promise not to put him through a wall if I let you talk to him?" Rory asked seriously.
He smiled faintly at her. He remembered a similar conversation with her after she'd broken up with Dean. Tristan saw Dean walking and made to go talk to him. Rory pulled him back. She made him promise he wouldn't hit him or throw him through anything. Which he didn't. He tripped him after their conversation was done.
"I promise." He smirked. She smiled. She'd missed his smirk. "I won't trip him either." He added cheekily.
"Can we get out of this bloody church?" Finn interrupted. Tristan was awakened from the spell he and Rory had been under.
"Finn! Where the fuck have you been?" Tristan asked, turning to face him.
"Australia. Ruby…" Finn began to explain.
"Rory mentioned it." He didn't want to hear it again. Ruby was like a sister to him. She was often sick as a child, until she was finally diagnosed and moved back to Australia. Tristan and Finn were often with her, cheering her up.
The boys shared a look and embraced in a brotherly hug. They held each other tightly. Most would never see the two share this much emotion with another man again. After they separated, Tristan made a face.
"I have guy germs now!" He cringed and shivered as though her were disgusted.
"You are a guy." Rory pointed out. Tristan grabbed her hand, pulling her into him, and wrapping his arms around her.
"True…but I only have my germs and female ones." He said with a smirk. Rory raised an eyebrow at his response. "Okay, my germs and your germs." He amended. She smiled and leaned up to kiss his nose, but he had other ideas. He caught her lips in his own. She was caught off guard at first, but quickly melted into the kiss. A minute or so later, Finn cleared his throat.
"Finn, are you aware of what you've just done?" Tristan asked. Finn raised an eyebrow. "You just interrupted one of the best kisses of my life!" Finn got a weird look on his face and turned on his heel. A few seconds later, both boys were running and laughing. One of the guards made to go after them when Rory stopped them.
"He's fine. You can relax. He won't kill Finn. Oh, and Damien, he promises not put you through any walls." She said with a small laugh.
Damien sighed in relief and continued to watch in amusement as Tristan chased Finn. Finn ran behind Rory.
"Rory, love, save me!" He ducked behind her. Tristan stopped short in front of her.
"That's not fair! You can't hide behind my girlfriend!" Tristan said, practically whining.
"Well then, that sucks for you!" Finn stuck out his tongue.
"Mare, would you mind moving? Please?" He asked sweetly.
"Hmm... no." She smiled and Tristan smirked back. Before she realized what was happening, Tristan had lifted her by the hips and moved her, and grabbed Finn, putting him in a head lock.
After a while they finally retreated to Dr. Ateyu's office. Tristan sat on a couch with Rory on his lap. The two were caught up in mindless chatter and banter. They looked young and innocently in love. As if none of the drama surrounding them existed. Finn sat next to them, making the occasional comment. Damien sat on a chair facing them, next to Dr. Ateyu, who also sat in a chair.
"Ahem. Shall we?" She said clearing her throat. Everyone looked up at her. Rory tried to get up to sit in a proper seat, but Tristan held her in place with a hand around her waist. He mouthed 'please?' to her. She conceded and stayed where she was. "Good. Now Rory, I'm curious as to what took so long, and how you finally managed to get here?" The doctor asked as looked at Rory.
"Well. Everytime I called Tristan's house, his grandfather's house, his grandfather's office, anywhere, I was hung up on. Each time I went to his house, the door was promptly shut it my face. The last time his uncle answered, and told me not to come back. Finn wasn't around so I was on my own. I didn't think to go to his grandfather's because I guess I thought I'd have the door shut in my face there too, and I didn't know where his house was. Finally, Thursday, everything just...fell into place. Damien came over rather jumpy, wanting to know where Tristan was. I didn't know. We got into another conversation, when Finn walked into my house. Well, he had no idea Tristan wasn't around either. He'd been in Australia since earlier the night of the party." She took a breath and looked around the room to make sure everyone was on the same page before continuing.
"The three of us began talking at once, trying to figure out what happened. Damien if I had tried anyone else, and quickly went through a list of people I could have contacted. One being my grandmother. I never thought to call there. So we showed up at my grandmother's, and she had his address. Why she never mentioned this earlier is beyond me. But apparently Janlan had passed it on a few weeks prior in case I 'suddenly ran off', then they'd know where to look. The next day after school... we headed down I95 and now here we are." She finished as she looked around the room for reactions.
"Why would his grandfather have given your grandmother his address if he wouldn't answer your calls? Or why didn't he tell you himself? Tristan, you mentioned to your grandfather to tell Rory, didn't you?" Dr. Ateyu asked.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, Mar. It just... it doesn't sound like a feasible story." Tristan apologized.
"You're right. I doesn't. It makes no sense." Rory agreed, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Perhaps we should throw in Damien's piece of the puzzle." Finn suggested.
"Yes. Why is Damien here?" Dr. Ateyu asked.
"Well, Thursday, I went to the hospital, to you know, see Ken. When I walked through his doors, he was staring back at me. Tris..." He paused, looking him in the eye, "Ken's awake."
The look on Tristan's face was one of pure disbelief. He couldn't process what he was currently feeling. Anger. Hurt. Betrayal. Happiness. Guilt. Disappointment. Relief. Confusion. It was odd that, upon hearing of his brother's awakening, he'd feel anything but happiness and relief. The words passing through his lips should not be the ones that did. Nor should they be soft, quiet, and broken, with tears forming in his eyes. "You're lying."