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Chapter 35

"What?" Lorelai said worried. "I was only gone for an hour! How did she get so bad so quickly?"

"I don't know but I don't know what to do!" Luke exclaimed. What if it's bad?

Lorelai rushed into the house following Luke and rushed to Rory's room. "Rory, honey? Talk to me, tell me what's wrong." She said softly, her heart breaking when she saw her daughter crying in her bed. She was curled up on her side clutching her stomach and there was a bowl full of puke and tissues everywhere.

"It hurts mommy." Rory sniffed.

"What hurts, sweets?" Lorelai asked while caressing her hair.

"My tummy. It's been hurting all day." Rory said quietly.

"Aw hon, why didn't you tell us?" Lorelai said sitting down on the bed.

"It wasn't that bad this morning." Rory sniffed. "It really hurts now though."

"She's burning up as well." Luke said concerned.

Lorelai put her hand on her forehead. "Wow, you are hot." She exclaimed. She then had an idea. "Rory, where does it hurt?"

"My tummy." Rory said.

"Yeah I know that but which side?" Lorelai asked.

"My right." Rory said quietly, holding the lower right side of her stomach.

Lorelai took a deep breath and turned to look at Luke. "Ok I think I know what it is. I think it's appendicitis. She'll be fine but we need to take her to hospital now." She said trying to stay calm.

"Appendicitis? God I didn't even think about that." Luke said.

"Come on, we need to get her to the car." Lorelai said standing up. She turned to her daughter. "Hon, we're going to take you to the hospital ok? The doctors there will make the pain go away."

Rory nodded and Luke went forward and picked her up and then took her to the car. Lorelai sat in the back with her while Luke drove.

They got to Hartford Memorial hospital and Lorelai immediately rushed to get help which came quickly. Before they knew what was happening, Rory was being rushed into surgery to remove her appendix. Whilst Lorelai was reassuring Rory before the surgery that she would be just fine and that she wouldn't feel a thing, Luke took the time to ring his mom.

"Hello?" Katherine answered obviously having been woken up.

"Mom..." Luke said quietly. "Sorry to call so late." He said.

"Luke? What's wrong? Is Rory ok?" Katherine asked concerned, after hearing the panic in her son's voice.

Luke took a deep breath. "We're at Hartford Memorial. Rory's been rushed into surgery. She got worse this evening. She's got appendicitis."

"Oh poor thing." Katherine said. "Would you like me to come?" She asked.

"No, you stay with Jess. I'll keep you updated. I just wanted you to let you know." He said.

"Ok, if you're sure? How's Lorelai?" She asked.

"Surprisingly calm. I'm the one who's been freaking out." Luke admitted.

"Aw darling, Rory will be fine. So many people have had appendicitis. It's a simple procedure. Rory will be fine." She reassured him.

"I know. It's just...she was in so much pain mom..." Luke said quietly.

"Just stay strong for her ok? She'll need you when she gets out of surgery." Katherine said.

Luke nodded but then realised she couldn't see him. "Yeah I'll try."

"Good. Call me when she's out ok?"

"I will."

"Thank you."

"Bye mom."

"Bye." Katherine said softly hanging up. She stood in the apartment for a moment. She then rushed into action. There was no way she'd be able to sleep now. She went to wake up Jess, picking him up because the boy was in a very deep sleep. She then carried him to her car and started driving to the hospital.

Meanwhile, after watching Rory being wheeled into surgery, Lorelai walked back to the waiting room where she found Luke sat in one of the seats with his head in his hands, his legs restless and jittering up and down. He had been extremely quiet on the drive there and had barely said a word since they'd arrived. She slowly walked over to him and sat next to him. "She's been taken in, it will be ok." She said.

Luke looked up at the sound of her voice. "How was she?" He asked.

"Scared but I managed to calm her down a bit. I told her she would feel so much better afterwards and that we would be waiting for her when she came out." Lorelai said.

Luke nodded. "Good." He said.

"Are you ok?" Lorelai asked.

Luke just shook his head. "I'm an awful dad." He said quietly.

"What?" Lorelai said surprised, not expecting that.

"I couldn't even comfort her because I was too busy freaking out about what was wrong with her. I should have reassured her everything would be ok. I should have realised it was appendicitis but I didn't." He exclaimed.

"Hey…you're an amazing dad, Luke. Rory adores you. It's natural to be worried when something like this happens. I only knew about appendicitis so quickly because I had it as a kid. My parents pretty much reacted like you as they weren't sure what was wrong with me. I just remember this pain in my stomach and then my parents rushing me to hospital. Everything happened so fast but then I felt better afterwards. The pain was gone and then I was told my appendix had been removed." She said.

"I should have realised. I should have been by her side comforting her but I was too damn worried." He said. "She deserves better."

"Don't. Don't talk like that, you're in shock but don't say things like that. Seeing your kid in pain is scary for everyone. I was scared too." She admitted.

"But you were so calm." Luke said.

"Yeah well I knew I had to be for Rory, otherwise she would have been full on panicking. But inside I'm as scared as you. Our kid's in surgery, Luke. She looked so small. How could that not scare a parent?" She said.

Luke sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. "I just felt so helpless." He admitted. "I guess I now get how you felt for those first 7 years of her life, not knowing how she was, where she was or whether she was ok. It's such a horrible feeling."

Lorelai gave him a small smile. "Yeah I did feel pretty helpless." She nodded. "But we need to stay strong. For Rory. She'll need us after she comes out."

"That's what my mom said." He said. "I rang her to let her know what was happening."

Lorelai nodded. "Well she's right."

Luke sighed. "I'm sorry. It was...I was just terrified. Rory was crying and in agony. I didn't know what to do."

Lorelai reached over and took hold of his hands. "Stop blaming yourself. Luke, you're an incredible dad. Anyone can see that and Rory loves you. Let's focus on getting her better, ok?" She then suddenly felt the baby start kicking like crazy. She gently grabbed his hand and put it on her stomach. "See, this one thinks so." She smiled.

Luke smiled, calming down a bit.. "Ok." He said quietly.

"Good, because I'm thinking Rory will want to see her dad when she wakes up from her anaesthetic." Lorelai smiled.

Luke gave her a small smile. "I'll be there."

"Good." Lorelai said.

They were then interrupted by Lorelai's cell going off.

"Hello?" Lorelai answered.

"Oh thank god, Lorelai!" Emily exclaimed.

"Mom?" Lorelai said surprised.

"Where are you? We rang to make sure you got back home ok but there was no answer, I didn't know what to think, you were so upset and driving so late whilst pregnant." Emily said.

Lorelai sighed. "Mom calm down. We're at the hospital. Rory got worse. It was appendicitis, she's in surgery now." She said.

"Oh dear! We'll be right there." Emily said.

"Oh no, mom you don't need to come." She said.

"Lorelai, I know what it's like to have your child go into hospital. We'll be there soon." Emily said quietly.

"Ok. Thanks mom." Lorelai said quietly.

After half an hour, the waiting room was full of their family and friends. Katherine was sat next to Luke, with Jess still asleep on the chairs next to them covered by someone's coat, while Emily and Richard were sat opposite them. Emily and Richard were watching Jess sleep wondering how he could possibly sleep through everything that was going on around him. Emily wondered about his story, wondering why he was living with his grandmother and how his mother and father could just leave him with her. Emily glanced at Lorelai who was sat next to Luke holding his hand and realised she would never have abandoned Rory. The thought wouldn't have even gone through her head.

Suddenly there was a surge of action with the emergency elevator doors opening and someone was wheeled through quickly by several doctors. The person had been seriously injured, it looked like a big mess with blood everywhere. One doctor was physically kneeling on the bed performing CPR with another supporting her back making sure she doesn't fall off. Lorelai glanced up and couldn't help but try and look at the poor guy and her heart stopped. "Oh my god..." She said.

"What?" Luke asked looking up.

"That… that was Christopher..." Lorelai said, causing Emily and Richard to exchange surprised glances and silently agree to call Francine and Straub.

"What? Are you sure?" Luke asked.

"I'd recognise him anywhere. That was definitely him." Lorelai said clearly shaken.

Luke looked at her and saw she was conflicted. "Go." He said softly.

"What?" Lorelai asked turning to him.

"Look, I know that you hate him and I don't blame you. I hate him for what he put you through as well but I also know you would never wish this even on your worst enemy. He was part of your life at one time. If you want to go and make sure he's ok, go." Luke said softly.

"But Rory..." Lorelai said.

"Will be a while yet, I'm guessing. If you're not back when she gets out, I will come and get you immediately, I promise." He said.

Lorelai took a deep breath. "Are you sure?"

"Go." Luke said softly, leaning forward to give her a gentle kiss.

Lorelai nodded, giving him a small smile and then rushing off in the direction Chris went. He had been wheeled down another corridor so she disappeared down there to another waiting room.

Another 45 minutes went by and Luke suddenly spotted Lorelai walking back towards them, looking shell-shocked. "Lorelai?" He said standing up.

"He's...dead." Lorelai said shaken. "I saw the doctors come out and overheard them talking."

"What?" Luke said shocked.

"His...uh...his injuries were too severe. He...died in surgery." She said quietly.

"Oh Lorelai..." Luke said softly, covering the space between them in two strides and bring her into a hug.

"It's all my fault." She said quietly.

"What? No it's not. Don't you even think that!" Luke said.

"But if I wasn't so harsh to him, he wouldn't have left in such a state. He was upset and I made him even worse." She said.

"You also forget the fact that he was drunk, Lorelai." Luke said. "He shouldn't have been riding that motorcycle in the first place. This isn't your fault and I won't let you blame yourself."

"He's right, Lorelai." Richard said standing up and putting his hand on Lorelai's shoulder. "I don't know what state he was in but he chose to ride his motorcycle in that head space. And if he was drunk, like Luke said, then he was being stupid. He knew the risks." He said.

Lorelai just nodded. She looked up at Luke. "I want to see Rory." She said quietly burying her head into Luke's chest.

"She should be out soon." Luke said.

"Lorelai…" Emily said gesturing to a doctor walking their way.

"Mr and Mrs Danes?" The doctor asked.

"That's us. How's Rory? Is she ok?" Lorelai asked.

"The procedure went well. We managed to remove her appendicitis without any complications. She's still asleep but her anaesthetic should wear off soon and she should wake then." The doctor smiled.

Both Luke and Lorelai breathed a sigh of relief along with everyone else in the waiting room.

"Can we see her?" Luke asked.

"Of course. I suggest just two at a time for now but I'll show you to her room." The doctor smiled.

"Thanks." Lorelai said.

The two of them followed the doctor to Rory's room. They went in and found Rory in the bed, her eyes closed, looking pale.

"She's going to be a bit groggy and drowsy for a while but she should make a full recovery. We've prescribed some painkillers as well to help ease the pain from the surgery. You should keep the wound clean and be aware for any complications like it becoming septic." The doctor said.

"Ok thanks." Lorelai said.

"Yeah thank you." Luke said.

"I'll leave you to it." The doctor smiled and left the room.

Luke and Lorelai sat on either side of their daughter, both taking hold of either hand. Luke looked up at Lorelai. "What happened to Chris was an accident. Don't blame yourself. You told me not to blame myself for this so don't blame yourself for Chris' stupidity." He said softly. "I know it's a shock. Neither of us would have wished this on him. But we've got Rory to think about. Let's focus on her getting better, yeah?" Luke said, repeating Lorelai's words from earlier.

Lorelai took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right." She said quietly. "I know you are. I just...god today's been surreal." She said.

"Yeah you could say that again." Luke said.

"Mommy?" A small voice said.

Lorelai's face finally broke into a smile. "Hey sweets, I'm here, how are you feeling?"

"Weird." Rory said quietly. "Am I going to be ok?"

"You're going to be just fine, princess." Luke smiled at her. "They managed to remove your appendix which means you won't be in pain anymore." He said.

"I feel icky and tired." Rory said.

"Go to sleep then." Lorelai said softly. "It's natural to feel like this after surgery."

"Will you be here when I wake up?" She asked.

"Of course." Lorelai assured her.

"Both of you?" Rory asked looking at Luke.

Luke smiled. "I'm not going anywhere my little bug." He said gently.

"You haven't called me that since I was 5." Rory gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"No, you don't need to be sorry." Luke said. "You're ok now, that's all that matters. Get some rest. You'll feel better afterwards."

"Ok." Rory said quietly, closing her eyes again and falling asleep quickly.

Luke looked over at Lorelai who smiled at him. "Why did you used to call her your little bug?" She asked.

Luke chuckled. "When she was younger she used to love exploring outside. I'd take her to the park and she would want to play in the mud and get all dirty."

Lorelai laughed. "Ok she so got that from you!"

Luke smirked. He then smiled at her. "Let's focus on the future." He said.

Lorelai nodded. "Rory and our baby are our priority." Lorelai said softly.

Luke nodded and smiled. He reached over and took hold of her hand. "We'll be ok."

"Yeah we will." Lorelai gave him a small smile. "I love you."

"I love you too." He smiled.

So quite a big twist there! Hope you liked it! Review and let me know what you think! Thanks! :)