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 12 Stay

On her way back home Rory was thoughtful. She kept silence and her mother looked at her strangely. But none of them said a word. Rory was too busy thinking about Jess' problems. He still kept silence and refused to talk. Rory was not sure if he could speak at this point. It was too early for his recovery, or she thought so. But at the same time Rory was eager to know what had led him to here. What pushed him to jump off that building? It was something too painful and she could tell that just by the look in his eyes. But what was it? If she knew where to look at it would be easier. But Luke could not help her and Rory could count only on Jess about it. And… he would not help her. He preferred to forget and stay away. It was his self-defending mechanism. If jumping off the building could call self-defending mechanism. But his pain must have been too much for him to jump. It was not in his nature to give up that easily. It was not Jess' style. Therefore, something serious had happened.

"Rory, hun are you alright?" Lorelai asked her carefully when they got in the house.

"Sure, why?" Rory took off her coat and looked at her mother.

"You look… strange."

"I was thinking about something." Rory shrugged and walked in her room.

"Something…" Lorelai followed her. "… or someone?"

"Both actually." Rory turned around to her mother. "Why?"

"You just looked so serious."

"I am serious." Rory frowned. "Do you know where Jess was when that… accident happened?"

"Yes." Lorelai nodded. "He was in Philadelphia. I know that, because Luke went to bring him back here."

"In Philadelphia…" Rory sat on her bed. "But you told me that his bookstore failed."

"Yes, it did." Lorelai nodded again. "Jess was working on a book or at least Luke told me that."

"He was writing again?" Rory's eyes widened.

"Yeah." Lorelai shrugged. "Luke said that he found his manuscripts in his apartment."

"So, Jess was in Philadelphia and he was working on a book." Rory frowned thoughtfully. "Why he jumped off? What made him to jump? It sounds like he was back on track."

"I can't tell you more." Lorelai shrugged again. "Luke didn't tell me."

"He doesn't know." Rory bit her lower lip. "I asked him. And I can't believe that Jess would give up that easily. It doesn't sound like him."

"It doesn't sound like him?"

"I know him." Rory shook her head. "He wouldn't give up so easily! Just not in his style."

"Yeah his suicidal attempt definitely surprised us." Lorelai tilted her head. "But Jess is an emotional type of a person. He could…"

"No!" Rory snapped. "This is something serious! It was something serious! I saw his eyes, mom! He was in pain! He still is in pain! Maybe this pain is holding him back. Maybe this… memory makes him unable to react now."

"So you think…"

"I think that something happened in his life to make him do this." Rory sighed and looked at her mother. "I have to know what exactly. I want to help him pass through this, mom."

"But you just said that only Jess could tell you the truth." Lorelai frowned. "And he is not the most talkative person right now."

"Yeah." Rory bit her lower lip. "That could be a problem."

It was snowing when Rory woke up on the next morning. She actually slept that night. It was something unusual for her these days. Maybe the tiredness had finally said its word. She looked through the window and smiled. Christmas was near. She loved this time of the year.

"Hey sleepy head." Her mother opened the door and peered inside. "It's time to get up. I have to go in the Inn. Your coffee is waiting for you on the table and Luke just called. Jess is awake."

"Thanks mom." Rory got off the bed quickly.

Twenty minutes later, she was on her way to the diner. When she finally got there, Luke was waiting for her behind the bar. But he was not alone. Rory's smile faded when she saw Kirk there. It was pretty early for him to be there. Rory threw a quizzical look to Luke. He just shrugged and passed her the coffee. Rory sat behind the bar and took the cup.

"You are here early, Rory." Kirk looked at her with curiosity.

"Yeah." Rory yawned and took a sip. "Luke asked me for help, so…" she threw a look at Luke. He had to think of something.

"A help?" Kirk looked at Luke. "What help? Can I help too?"

"No Kirk." Luke coughed and rolled her eyes. "I asked Rory to help me with the bills. The books are upstairs."

"Really?" Kirk tilted his head. "I have a degree…"

"I know, but I asked Rory." Luke snapped. "Don't you have a job to do?"

"Yeah." Kirk got off his place and came closer. "There is a contest for the best looking snowman."

"Really?" Rory got off her chair and took the muffin from the plate before her.

"Yeah." Kirk nodded. "I'll be a judge." He said proudly.

"Good for you!" Rory nodded at him.

"And I have to go!" Kirk lifted up his chin. "People are waiting for me. Bye!" He said and walked out of the diner.

"Still the same." Luke frowned.

"Yup." Rory laughed. "Thanks for the excuse."

"No problem." Luke shrugged. "I'm getting good in this! Jess would be proud of me!"

"I'm sure he is." Rory took the last sip from her cup and looked upstairs. "Have to go. How is he today?"

"Same." Luke frowned. "I wish he was better, but…"

"Have some patience." Rory patted his shoulders and hid behind the curtain.

When she opened the door, Jess was with his back to her. He just watched through the window. Luke had wrapped him in a warm blanket. Rory took off her coat and went to him. He did not even look at her. His eyes gazed the window. It was snowing again.

"Hey." Rory sat close to him and took his hand. It was cool and she felt his fingers trembled when she touched him. "Watching the snow, huh?" Her voice was quiet and steady. "I met Kirk downstairs. You know what he told me? There is a competition and it's about the best looking snowman in the town. I wonder who's going to win this year." Rory sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Do you remember my Bjork looking snowwoman?" She smiled. "You have to admit that it was good. And I still have to thank you for your help. I won because you helped me." She skimmed her thumb over his. "Yeah, it was good win." Rory sighed and kept silence. Then she felt his head touched hers and bit her lower lip. He leaned on her. That was something she had expected since she had started all this. He had to count on her. He had to believe her enough to open his heart again.

She did not talk much this day. The important thing was just to be beside of him. Luke did not disturb them when he brought the tray with the lunch. He just left it on the table and walked out quietly. So Rory stood there and her hand lay in his. His hand lay in hers and she felt good. Jess was here. He was with her and that was the only thing that matter now.

But her thoughts kept wandering around the same question. What had happened with Jess? What made him like this? What made him to commit an attempt of suicide? She cared about him and she wanted to know all the answers. Her eyes met his and she understood that he could understand her now.

"What's wrong, Jess?" She touched his face with her other hand. "What happened with you? You know you can trust me."

His eyes avoided hers again and she saw the pain there again. He lowered his look and she shook her head with sadness in her eyes.

"Come on, Jess." She whispered. "You have to talk already. I know you can."

She saw his sigh and the refusal in his eyes. Maybe it was too early? Maybe she had hurt him?

"I'm sorry." Rory bit her lower lip. "I'm sorry I upset you. I didn't mean it." She got off her place. Her hand was still in his. "I'll go now."

Then she felt it. She felt the grasp of his hand around her. And heard just one word that sounded more like a whisper.

"Stay."