Jess's POV
"I'm quitting. It's dinner time. You're never gonna find something tonight," Jess said bitterly, lighting a cigarette.
They were standing outside the last building Tristan had looked at a condo in. It had been ridiculously priced as far as Jess was concerned.
"I have to agree at this rate. I said 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, how hard is that?" Tristan asked, cracking his knuckles.
"2 bedrooms would be perfect because I need an office as well," Jess sighed. "Now I wonder how I'm going to do when I have to start looking."
They were silent as Jess pondered if his idea was going to get mucked up over living arrangements.
"Is it a guarantee?" Tristan asked suddenly.
"Nothing's guaranteed but what are you talking about?" Jess asked, flicking his cigarette into the street and watching a cab run it over.
"You and New York," Tristan said. "Is it a guarantee?"
Jess thought about it for a moment. "I still haven't talked to Chris and Matt but I'd like to think it is. I can write from anywhere."
"Than why don't we room together," Tristan said. "I'm already viewing the ones that would be more suited."
"I can't afford this. I need to be in a much, much cheaper place," Jess said, looking up and down the street. "Much cheaper."
"No big deal. You'll help with the utilities or something," Tristan said with a shrug. "I don't mind."
"Are you crazy? We barely know one another."
"Are you a bad guy?" Tristan asked simply. "Will you rob me or kill me or do something else heinous?"
Jess shook his head, shocked that it could all be that simple.
"Are you sure?"
"We're roommates. I'm renting you the rooms, how else would that work?" Tristan said, shrugging again.
"I guess you right," Jess said after thinking about it for several minutes.
It would make things easier on him because he was sure he'd travel back to Philadelphia as well as home to Stars Hollow. This way the place wouldn't be empty. The same for Tristan if he had to travel or go home to Hartford.
"So you'll be my roomy?" Tristan asked with a smile.
"Yes but we will need some ground rules."
"Of course, anything worth doing has ground rules," Tristan said, his smile turning to a smirk.
"Shut up wise guy," Jess sad but he too had a smirk on his face. "First off, it can't be one of these ridiculously priced places. Second, I will be paying for my 2 rooms. Third, we gotta warn each other when Lei or Rory comes over."
"Sounds doable on all accounts."
"You ready for the next place?" the real estate agent said with a sigh, joining them after talking on the phone for 15 minutes.
"We sure are," Tristan smiled wide.
The next place they looked, they were both genuinely happy. It was in Tribeca and there was 4 bedrooms almost equal size and a gigantic living room. Jess already knew what two rooms he wanted if it was ok with Tristan. He also thought it would be a good place to throw a small get together which shocked him.
"I think we found it," Tristan said, looking at Jess.
"I agree."
"All it took was us teaming up."
"Don't get corny on me. I don't do corny," Jess warned him but he was smiling as Tristan signed the papers.
Bridget's POV
Bridget looked over Logan's shoulder at the woman behind Logan. She sort of loomed over him but Bridget could tell she was in stiletto boots. When she looked, she was right, black knee high stiletto boots, black hose, a black mini skirt paired with a brown, tight button down shirt. She was an imposing woman, they way she stared at Bridget, her eyes boring into her.
"I guess I'll go," Bridget said warily, never taking her eyes off the woman's dark brown almost black ones.
"Yeah, that's probably for the best," the woman said and smiled.
The smile was the final straw for Bridget. That smile looked like the woman would love it if Bridget stayed. It was hungry and evil and Bridget wanted no part of it. Facing that smile made her feel as if she'd faced the Hounds of Hell and survived.
"I'll call you," Bridget said, hating that her voice came out shaky.
"You do that," Logan said, but she saw that his eyes were also on the new woman and she hated that he had a look in his eyes she'd only seen when he looked at Rory.
Feeling peeved, she turned completely to him and placed her arm on his chest. She's the one who had been putting the work into him. She had to stake her claim. He glanced at her briefly before looking back at the other woman. Bridget wanted to scream as she lunged at the woman and strangled her until her tongue hung out like in the cartoons. However, looking in the woman's eyes, told her that she had an idea what Bridget was thinking and dared her to try.
"You can call me, you know," Bridget said sweetly, moving closer so she rubbed up against him a little.
"Give it a rest, he'll call, don't worry," the woman said, the same smile on her face.
With that, the woman linked her arms with Logan's and they walked off together, leaving Bridget standing there watching their backs. She huffed, turned around and walked the opposite direction even though it was the way her and Logan had previously came.
She felt nervous and nauseous, something she only felt when she was out of control. She didn't like it when she was out of control. Bad things always happened when she couldn't control it. Ever since that incredibly inconvenient party, she'd lost grip with everything. She hadn't spoke to Rory in days and they always talked at least twice a day if not more. She wasn't getting anywhere with Logan and work was something best left for another day.
Finally, she hailed a cab and went to her apartment. She burrowed into her bed and under the covers. She turned on her laptop and began research for the next adventure. It had been a good ride but even she saw the finish line in sight.
Tristan's POV
After Tristan signed the papers and the keys were in his hand, he turned to Jess with a big smile as he dropped a pair of the keys in his hand.
"Looks like you'll have to help furnish the place after all."
"Oh shut up," Jess grinned.
They ordered food in and sat on the floor of the living room and ate. They discussed things for the apartment. They decided that Jess would take the first two bedrooms for his room and office. Tristan would take the other two. Jess's office would separate their bedrooms.
"Closet space kind of blows," Tristan pointed out as he walked back into the living room.
"What are you a girl?" Jess joked.
"Shut up," Tristan said, laying back on the floor. "One bedroom has a walk in closet, the rest don't. All the closet space is in the double bathroom area. I do have a lot of clothes."
"If that's the worst thing you could find, I think we'll manage," Jess told him. "I gotta call Lei, so I think I'm going to my room."
Tristan watched his friend smirk before he walked down the hallway towards what would be his room by the front door. Tristan needed to call Rory and he liked the idea of calling from his own bedroom, so he got up and followed Jess. He stopped at the middle room and walked in, walking over to the windows as he pulled out his phone.
He sat down by a window and leaned towards the wall as he dialed Rory, eager to tell her everything now that he'd signed the papers.
"Hey, how's your day been?" he asked, when she answered.
He listened to her talk about her phone call with her mom before she moved on to a meeting at work. He noticed she sounded stressed and he suddenly wanted to wait to tell her. He wanted it to be a great surprise and tonight she wasn't in the mood to be surprised.
"Would you like me to come over?" he asked her.
"I've got to plan for my trip to Hartford, pack and all. Would that be fun for you?" she asked, sounded hopeful to his ears.
"I'd be with you," he told her, looking out at the view that was now his. "I just have to tell Jess I'm splitting."
"You're with Jess?" she asked, sounding shocked.
"Yes. Why do you sound so shocked? You know we're friends."
"It's just weird. It'll take some time to get used to. Why don't you bring him along, if he doesn't have plans with Lei. I need to talk to him anyway."
"Oh, ok," Tristan said, trying not to sound disappointed she wanted Jess to tag along.
"But I do have a favor to ask of you," she said quickly.
"Anything, Mary."
"Stay with me. Last night was wonderful and I slept so well but it sucked waking up alone," she said quickly in one breath, making him laugh.
"I think that can be arranged, but Mary," he said, his voice dipping lower. "Remember what I said."
"I know," she said softly.
"I'll talk to him and whether he comes or not, I'll be there soon," he told her. "I gotta stop by my hotel."
"You're not there? Where are you?"
He winced, not wanting to lie to her but not wanting to spoil the surprise he'd already formed in his head.
"Jess and I grabbed a bite to eat. He's on the phone with Lei right now," Tristan said, thinking that wasn't a lie.
"Food does sound good."
"I'll bring you something when I come over," he said with a laugh.
"But you just ate, I know you can't be hungry."
"But you are hungry. I don't have to eat just because I brought you food. I can watch you eat and that will amuse me just as much," he told her with a smirk as he stood up. "Now, what sounds good to you?"
She told him that she wanted Indian and he told her he'd be there soon. He hung up and looked around the room, already imagining Rory there. Smiling, he walked out to find Jess leaning on the kitchen island, scribbling in his ever present notebook.
"How's Lei? Did you tell her?" he asked, walking over and standing on the opposite side of his friend.
"She's good, working late tonight because her brother had a concert he wanted to go to. She was busy so she couldn't talk long so no, I didn't tell her about the place."
"I didn't tell Rory either. She's stressed. Her and her mom talked again today. She wants us both to come over, she needs to talk to you."
"Geeze, they have more drama then their worth sometimes," Jess groaned, closing his notebook.
"I wouldn't know," Tristan said darkly.
"Hey, you may have no past with her, but you'll have her future," Jess said, reading his mind.
"Yeah, the jury's still out on that one. Logan's still in the picture."
Logan's POV
"I think he does," a voice said from behind Logan. "He has plans. With me. So why don't you run along?"
That voice felt like the smoothest velvet being rubbed across his skin. He could feel goosebumps form as his hairs stood on end. Every nerve in his body stood at attention as he slowly turned to see the face that brought such a visceral reaction out of him.
Standing there looking very regal was a dark haired, petite appearing woman. His eyes roamed down her body and he had to swallow when he saw her legs in those boots. His eyes roamed back up and his heart raced as he saw the top three buttons of her button up shirt was undone. Her eyes were an intense and bright brown and her dark brown hair was up in bun at the back of her head but she'd left some hanging out, framing her face.
Bridget was still talking, trying to get his attention but he could barely take his eyes off this woman. Her mere presence demanded attention. He felt Bridget touch him, rubbing her body on his but it barely registered. He openly watched the mystery woman as she hadn't moved her piercing eyes from Bridget.
"Give it a rest, he'll call, don't worry," the mystery woman said as she linked arms with him.
His skin started burning with her touch and the fire spread throughout him, the rest of his body calling for more of her touches. His heart was racing so fast he wondered if he was having a heart attack.
When she started to walk, instinctively his feel followed. He let her lead them as they walked away in silence. He was aware of her every movement and saw her look back over their shoulders after a couple of minutes.
"She's gone," she said, pulling them both to a stop. "Seems I stumbled across you at the right time."
"Who are you?" Logan asked, feeling stupid and thick-tongued.
"Kallisto Bateson, Private Eye at your service. But call me Kalli," she said, holding her right hand out.
He shook her hand and wasn't surprised when it was a firm and solid handshake.
"So, you were put on her case," Logan asked, indicating back down the way they'd come.
"Yes and immediately I found some flags," she said, pulling out a small orange leather notebook.
"Let's go grab a bite and talk, what do you say?" Logan asked, reaching for her arm and pulling her to the curb.
He waved down a cab and they both climbed in back. He gave the driver an address to a restaurant he used a lot when he was in town. He knew he could get a table there. He turned his attention to Kalli, taking in her commanding beauty once again.
"Why didn't you just call? That's how it usually goes down."
"I'm not usual," she said, smiling at him. "I thought, you were here and she was here so I should be here. Good thing too, considering how she wants to stick her claws in you."
Once there, they got the table and were seated immediately. He ordered a bottle of the best wine and she asked for a glass of sweet iced tea. The waiter nodded and backed away, leaving them alone.
"There is no Bridget Reynolds. She doesn't exist," Kalli told him, reading from her notebook. "However, 10 years ago she was living with Elaine Cosgrove. She went by Lanie. No one has seen this Lanie in about the same time. Coincidence's are crap in my book."
"I knew she was no good."
"You knew right then," she smiled at him and he felt light as a feather.
"So what else have you learned already?" he asked, leaning his chin on his hand, his elbow on the table and breaking etiquette rules without caring.
"Unfortunately, that's where it stops. I'm researching this Lanie and before she disappeared, she was here," she told him as she reached for the drink the waiter had just set down. "Another reason why I was here to save you from her."
He smiled and reached for his wine. He sipped it slowly as he watched her look at the menu. He didn't need to look at his menu. He knew what was there, he always ordered the same thing anyway.
"How long will you be? Let me pay you're expenses since you're working for me," he told her. "It's only fitting."
"Only fitting," she repeated, her eyes wide as she looked into his soul. "I'm here until the case is done, moves me again, or you get rid of me."
That will never happen, he thought, sipping his wine still. The waiter returned to see if they were ready to order and they looked towards her. She agreed and they ordered. As the waiter was backing away, Logan asked for a sweet iced tea.
"Why'd you do that?" Kallie asked suspiciously when the waiter was gone.
"Do what?"
"Order the exact thing I was drinking. That. Why'd you do that?" she repeated.
"There's a long reason and a short reason, if I'm being honest," he told her, drinking the tea.
She sat quietly, looking at him. He didn't flinch under her stare, he matched her gaze and looked at her. He felt like she was appraising him and for the first time in his life, he wondered what one saw when they looked at him now.
"Well, how about we go for the long reason and get out of the way," she said.
Rory's POV
Rory opened the door to find Tristan with a big bag of Indian food and a clothespin on his nose. Behind was Jess with a bottle of Crown and a bottle of Jack in his hands as well as a clothespin on his nose.
"The landlord's gonna fine you for stinking up his joint," Jess said as they walked in.
She stood with her arms crossed, frowning at them. Tristan held the food out to her as they both tried not to laugh. Finally she burst out laughing and they followed suit as she shut the door. By the time they'd followed her to the kitchen and set their wares on the table, the clothespins had disappeared.
Tristan leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. After the kiss, she gave Jess a quick hug and dug into the food. Tristan went to her kitchen and found some glasses while Jess opened the bottles. Tristan brought back six glasses and Rory watched in wonder as Jess filled three each of both drinks. Everybody got one of each as she ate in silence.
"Why are we drinking?" she asked, still eyeing the drinks in front of her. "And so dangerously, I might add."
"We aren't drinking, if we aren't drinking dangerously," Tristan told her, reminding her of Finn.
"We want to celebrate," Jess said as Tristan shot him a look.
She was finishing off the food but she caught the look and wondered what it was about.
"What are we celebrating?" she asked, cleaning up the debris of her meal.
"Tristan and I are going to Philadelphia. He's gonna see Truncheon and meet Chris and Matt."
"And buy your books," Tristan put in.
"You don't have to buy them. I'll give them to you and I'll autograph them," Jess told him.
"I'll buy them and you can autograph them," Tristan said firmly, making Rory smile.
"You guys have become buddies, huh?" she asked, sitting back down at her white, modern table.
"Time to drink," Jess said, grinning.
"Who said I want to drink?" she asked, picking up the one on her left, knowing it was the Crown.
"You want to drink," Tristan said, nodding his head. "Celebrate with us."
"Celebrate your trip to Philly?" she asked, sniffing the alcohol.
"It is the land of brotherly love," he winked and Jess laughed.
"I'm not sure I like you two together," Rory said, looking between the two guys. "When is this trip?"
"Depends," Tristan said, turning serious.
"On?"
"You."
"Me?" she asked, unsure what he was meaning.
"Yes, Rory, you. Didn't you know everything depends on you," Jess said seriously but there was a twinkle in his eye.
She noticed how much lighter and happier he seemed these days and it made her happy. She didn't know if telling him there would never be anything between them was the trigger or if it was just Lei, but she was glad Jess had finally found his happiness.
"Of course it does," she smiled sweetly at him. "I am the Stars Hollow Princess."
"We're not in Kansas anymore," he told her seriously and they both busted up laughing.
"You guys are really annoying," Rory said with a laugh but felt her muscles start to finally relax. "How and why does this trip revolve around me?"
"Well, you said you talked to your mom and you're going to Hartford, right?" Tristan said and paused until she nodded. "I said I'd go and I will, you know it. I have to make an appearance there as well. So, I need to know when you need to be there so I can factor accordingly."
"Factor accordingly, you're such a dork," Jess laughed, already finishing his second drink.
"Shut up," Tristan said with a smile as he looked at Rory expectantly.
"Monday," she said with a sigh. "Mid-day."
"It's perfect then," Tristan said, looking towards Jess, picking up a conversation that no longer included Rory.
She listened to them talk about their trip and how he could make it to Hartford in perfect time and suddenly she realized she had nothing to do the next couple of days. She had so much stress and she could never shut her mind up. The only time she'd found any true state of peace was with Tristan. That's why she'd asked him to spend the night. She tuned back into their conversation and realized they were talking about leaving tomorrow.
"Can I come or is it guys only?" she asked, suddenly wanting nothing more than to see Truncheon again.
The guys looked at her and then looked at each other. At the same time they both shrugged and Rory knew these guys would be in her life forever in some way, shape, or form.
"I don't see why not," Jess said.
"I'm ok with it. Makes it easier for me in a way," Tristan said.