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"Jess!" Rory shouts. "Charlotte's gone!"

"What?" Jess is upstairs in an instant and Rory cries, "Charlotte's not here! I came up and she's gone!"

"Maybe she's just in the bathroom," Jess says but Rory shakes her head. "I saw Richie go in a second ago. She's not up here. She's gone. I don't know what to do."

Rory starts breathing hard. There's a pressure on her chest, a strange loss of focus, and she sits on the bed. She hasn't experienced this since the time Paris told her she was having a panic attack, and this is ten times worse.

"I can't breathe," she manages to say. "I'm freaking out."

"Look at me," Jess says, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking straight into her eyes. "We're going to find her. We're going to bring her back. It's okay."

"It's not okay," Rory whispers, but she feels a tiny bit calmer. She breathes in and out, looking into Jess's eyes, and is able to get up from the bed. She almost trips over the cups she dropped, the coffee creating a deep stain on the carpet, but Rory doesn't care. Jess starts looking around the room.

"Her stuff's gone," he says. "Her purse and phone."

"Her pyjamas are on the bed," Rory says. "Her overnight bag is still there. If Charlotte didn't pack a lot..." she doesn't even want to voice the words running away. Rory pulls open some drawers, desperately trying to find any kind of clue, and when she opens the top one her heart stops. Rory picks up an open box of condoms and can see a few are gone.

"What?" Jess asks, going over, and when Rory shows him the box his jaw sets.

"If she gets pregnant I swear to God -"

"Let's not even go there," Rory says, dropping the box back in the drawer. "I can't freak out about that as well as this."

Jess takes a deep breath, nodding and Rory says, "Maybe she's with him. Maybe that's where Charlotte went."

"She couldn't have gone that long ago," Jess says and Rory exclaims, "She might not even be with him. She could be anywhere."

Don't freak out, she tells herself. Don't freak out. It doesn't work. Rory calls Charlotte's cellphone, as does Jess, but Charlotte doesn't answer either call. Rory sends a frantic message, saying Come home. We love you, just come home. Rory puts her phone in her pocket, knowing every second she spends seeing a reply not come is going to destroy her even more.

"What if Charlotte's not with him?" Rory asks desperately. "What if she's gone somewhere else?"

"Where?"

"I don't know, Jess! Maybe Mom's - I hope Mom's...or Ivy's, or maybe she's run away -"

"No," Jess says sharply, making her stop. "She hasn't run away. She's with her boyfriend. She's got to be."

"But -"

"Rory, I can't freak out more than I am," Jess says, his eyes anguished. "And we're going to find her. But right now I can only deal with thinking she's with Tyler."

"Okay," Rory says gently, and Jess puts his arms around her. She lays her head on his chest and her sigh becomes a sob. Rory looks up, wiping her eyes, and takes a deep breath. Charlotte's fine. They're going to find her and she'll be fine. Rory quickly calls Ivy just in case, but to her non-surprise Charlotte isn't with her.

Rory and Jess head into the hall and Rory catches sight of Richie looking around his door.

"Richie," she says, running over to him. "Charlotte's gone out somewhere."

"Did she say anything to you?" Jess asks, going over. Richie shakes his head but it doesn't look convincing and Rory says desperately, "Richie, this is really important."

"Bud, you're not in trouble," Jess says gently. "We just really need to find your sister. Did she say anything to you?"

"I said I wouldn't tell," Richie says and Jess takes a deep breath. "It's okay to tell us, Richie."

"Did Charlotte say anything?" Rory asks, trying to keep her tone even. "Did she say she was going to see Tyler?"

Richie gives a small nod and Rory looks over at Jess, and then turns to give her son a hug.

"You did the right thing, sweetie."

"We just want your sister home," Jess adds. "You okay to hang out in your room for a little while?"

Richie nods, going back in and Rory and Jess look at each other.

"We're going to go get Charlotte," Jess says. "And when I see that punk -"

"Jess," Rory says. "Slow down. We can't both go. Someone's got to stay and watch the kids."

Jess lets out an angry breath and Rory gets out her cellphone. Charlotte hasn't replied but Rory pushes her hurt back. "I've got Tyler's number saved," she says. "Maybe if I call him I can get Charlotte to talk."

"You call him," Jess agrees. "I'm not feeling exactly reasonable right now."

Rory does so, waits, and to her relief Tyler answers after several rings.

"Who's this?"

"This is Rory Gilmore, Charlotte's mom."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Put Charlotte on."

"Charlotte's not here."

"I know she is," Rory says, looking at Jess. "I know she went to see you."

"Like I said, she's not here."

Jess takes the phone from Rory and says angrily, "Listen kid, I know my daughter went to see you, and if you don't put her on this second we're going to come over and personally collect her. Your choice."

"She's not here," Tyler says impatiently and a sudden understanding runs through Rory's mind. She says desperately, "Was she with you, Tyler? But she's gone now?"

There's a pause and then Tyler says, "Yes."

"Where is she?" There's another pause and then Rory says, "Tyler, tell us. We're worried sick. Where did you last see her?"

"I took her to the train station," Tyler admits and Rory's eyes widen. "Why? Where was she going?"

"She didn't say. She was kind of upset, I guess."

"And you just left her there?" Jess demands, grabbing the phone again. "You're lucky to be on a phone, kid, because I could -"

"Jess," Rory says, taking the phone back and Tyler protests, "Charlotte said she wanted to go there."

"Did she tell you anything?" Rory pleads. "Did she say anything about where she was going?"

"Something about genetic material," Tyler says and Rory's mouth sets in a line. "When? When did you drop her off?"

"I don't know...maybe a half hour...maybe more..."

Rory resists the urge to do a little yelling herself, and with extreme restraint, says "Thanks," hangs up and looks at Jess. "I know where she is."

"So do I," Jess says. "Do you think we can find her before she goes?"

"Jess, at least two trains will have gone by now," Rory says. The panicky feeling is hitting her again. "She's not answering her phone."

"So we're going to New York."

"I'm calling Logan." Rory gets her phone and calls. Logan doesn't pick up. Rory tries twice more, in disbelief that Logan is for once not looking at his phone and leaves a voice message and text saying Charlotte is going to your place. Call me, this is urgent.

"What if something happens to her?" Rory says, losing her breath again. "What if she gets lost or someone does something to her or -"

"That's not going to happen," Jess says roughly. "Look - she might turn around and come back."

"I don't think she will," Rory says quietly and a big tear falls down her cheek. "How did I let this happen?"

"It was my fault too. I yelled at her."

"No...don't do that, Jess. I started this whole mess."

"We can't get caught up on this," Jess says, his voice shaking. "We've just got to find her. Call Lorelai, call Luke, and then we're going to New York."

"What about the kids?"

"You go," Jess says after a strained pause. "I'll stay here."

"What? But -"

"One of us has to stay here and she might come back. You should go."

"She's more mad at me."

"She's mad at both of us," Jess says. "But one of us has to go right now, and I think you should. I wouldn't want to accidentally kill Logan or something."

Rory weakly smiles at the joke and leans over to kiss him. "Okay, I'm going," she says, taking a deep breath. "I'm getting our girl."

"I'll be right here," Jess says, squeezing her hands. "And later you'll both be here."

"Yes," Rory says, trying to smile. "Kiss the kids for me."

"I will."

Rory is about to run down the stairs when Richie comes back out of his room. He's upset and asks, "Is Charlotte okay?"

"I'm going to get her right now," Rory says, stopping. "Dad's going to stay with you guys."

Richie has something crumpled in his hand and he drops it on the floor. "She gave me this so I wouldn't tell you," he says, starting to cry. "But I don't want it. She said she was going to see Tyler but she's not there, right?"

Jess and Rory give each other a look and Richie yells, "I'm not a little kid!"

"She went somewhere else," Jess says carefully. "But we know where she is. It's okay."

"I don't want her stupid money," Richie says, angrily rubbing at his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Buddy, it's not your fault," Jess says, hugging him tightly. "You didn't know. It's okay."

"I'm mad at her."

"I know."

"But I want Charlotte to be okay," Richie sniffles and Jess kisses the top of his head, ruffling his hair. "Us too, Richie. And she will. Mom's going to get her right now."

"I'll call as soon as I get her," Rory says, giving Richie a quick hug as well. "Dad's going to stay with you and Annie for now."

"I want to go too!"

"No, bud," Jess says gently. "You guys have to wait with me. Sorry."

Richie nods, stepping back, but he says quietly, "You don't have to tell me it's all okay. It's not."

Jess puts his arms back around him and Annie slowly comes out of her room too, runs over and Jess puts his arm around her as well. Rory gives her a quick kiss and says determinedly, "I've got to go find Charlotte. I'll call as soon as I know."

Rory grabs her jacket and keys and runs out, dialling Lorelai's number as she goes. She's struggling with the car door when her mother answers, "Hey, Rory."

"Mom," Rory says frantically, "Charlotte's gone."

"What? Gone where?"

"I don't know. I think she's gone to New York."

"What?"

"Dammit!" Rory shouts, dropping her keys. She bends to get them, balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder, and her mother asks again what she means as Rory finally gets the door open and flings herself into the car.

"Rory!" Lorelai shouts. "Tell me what's going on!"

"Charlotte went out," Rory says, breathing hard. "We had a massive fight, Jess and I took a quick walk and she left. Then I saw she was gone and I thought she was with her boyfriend but she's not, and he took her to the train station and she was saying something about genetics and I think she's gone to New York. So I'm going there right now. Logan's not answering his phone."

"I'm on my way."

"Mom, stay where you are."

"What? No!"

"She might come to you," Rory says, closing her eyes. A pounding headache is throbbing behind her brow. "I don't think she will - I think she's going to Logan's - but if there's any chance you need to stay there."

"I can't just do nothing!"

"Mom, it's what I need you to do. And could you call her? She's not answering me or Jess. Maybe she'll answer you."

"Okay," Lorelai says and Rory doesn't add that she doubts Charlotte is going to answer calls from anyone. There's that tightness in her chest again and she says, "Mom, I think I'm having a heart attack."

"Rory, you are not having a heart attack."

"I'm almost definitely having a panic attack."

"Rory -"

"Mommy, I'm scared," Rory says, starting to cry. "She's sixteen years old and she's run away and anything could happen to her."

"Rory, stay calm," Lorelai says, gently but firmly. "Keep breathing, keep focused. She knows where Logan is. She knows how to get to his place. You might even wind up getting there before she does."

"She's having sex," Rory says. "I found that out too. What if she gets pregnant? What if she already is?"

"Rory, don't freak out," Lorelai says. "Don't cross over into panic mode."

"I'm already there."

"Step back. Right now the main thing is getting to New York and getting Charlotte. You can find her."

"Do you promise?" Rory asks childishly and Lorelai says softly, "I can't promise. But I can promise you can go to New York and she will almost definitely be at Logan's apartment. And then you can bring her home."

"And freak out about all the rest," Rory says, half-crying and half-laughing hysterically. "Oh Mom..."

Rory remembers the time she ran away to Richard and Emily's without a word when she was sixteen. How did her mother bear it?

"I love you, angel."

"I've got to go," Rory says, wiping her eyes. "I need to be on the road."

"Go get her, Rory."

"I'm on it. Love you, Mom."

"I love you too."

Rory hangs up, drops the phone on the seat beside her and takes a deep breath. Keying up the engine, she starts to drive and eases out onto the road. Breathe in, breathe out. She's going to bring Charlotte back.