Note: Just a reminder, Logan's inner thoughts are in italics. I'm having a lot of fun putting this down. I hope you are enjoying it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls.

Part 004

Season 5

Episode 7

Title: You Jump I Jump, Jack

Logan went straight to Seth's dorm, when he answered he asked if he could talk. Seth told him he was finishing up some studying, but that he could meet him at the pub later on. Logan agreed and went to find Colin to formulate a plan.

Colin and Logan were in the pub waiting for Seth to arrive going over the plan on how they were going to get Seth on board, and hopefully have his help convincing everyone else that letting Rory write a story on the Life and Death Brigade wasn't actually a terrible idea.

Seth spotted Logan and Colin at a booth off to the side. He nodded hello over to them and grabbed a beer from the bar before sitting down.

Logan stood up to greet him, giving him one of those handshake bro-hugs. "Hey man, how's it going?"

"It's good. Just trying to get some studying done ahead of the weekend. We should be all set for the event and everything" Seth responds smilingly. He is pretty proud of himself for orchestrating the stunt, and ensuring safety is being considered. Before him he isn't sure if anyone ever thought of anything before an accident actually occurred.

Good I am so amped for this event. Now just to get Rory there. Not that I am getting her there, I'm just trying to help her out. "That's great man."

"So what's up?"

Okay, here it goes. "First, I don't want you to freak out, because from what I understand, this happens pretty often."

Seth immediately interrupts him. "Oh no, is something messed up for this weekend? You told me you had everything handled."

Okay, so today is going to be neurotic Seth not fun Seth. "Yes, I mean no it's not about anything being messed up for this weekend, yes everything is handled. It's actually something else."

"Okay, so out with it."

Alright, let's try this again. "Well you know I am on the newspaper right?"

Seth laughs, like this has got to be a lead into some kind of joke or something. "Yes Huntzberger, I am aware that you have some involvement with the newspaper. What's going on?"

Okay so that was a stupid opening. Everyone knows I am on the paper and will one day run several of them. "Well there is this girl on the paper, and she's a reporter, and she wants to do a story on the Life and Death Brigade."

Seth cuts him off again. "Hold up, she wants to do a story? How does she even know about us? What did you say to her?"

Okay so he is freaking out, I expected this. I anticipated this. "Nothing, I didn't say anything, but she got some clues, somehow overheard someone say In Omnia...and she kind of put it all together. Like I said, she is a reporter for the paper."

Seth takes a deep breath and a long sip of his beer. "Ok, so what exactly does she know?"

"Well she for sure knows I'm in it, well actually she knows my grandfather was in it."

Colin cuts in, "Well you basically admitted to being in it."

Logan glares at Colin sideways. Jesus Colin, I did not bring you here to be a nark, I brought you here for support. "I did not, I just didn't deny it. Anyways, the point is I think we should let her write something."

"She can write anything she wants, it's a free country. Won't be a very good article without more details than that." Seth replies, completely calm and cool.

Well that isn't exactly how I meant it. "Well that's why I wanted to talk to you. She actually asked me if I wanted to give a response."

"Sorry, absolutely not. We can't have you quoted talking about the Brigade anywhere, under any circumstances."

Good, same page. "Absolutely not, so I think we should let her come. To the event. This weekend."

Seth nearly chokes on his beer. "What?!" he shouts.

Logan grimaces and takes another slow sip of his drink. "Under certain circumstances," he says.

Colin interjects, "let me jump in here, if we let her come, maybe the whole allure of writing about us will cool down all together. Plus, we can make sure she agrees to keep us anonymous."

Thank God, this is exactly why I brought Colin along, always level headed. "Right, exactly. I say we bring her along, let her see the thing, write about it and then we will be done with the snooping."

Seth doesn't seem to agree with this approach at all. "Sorry, just let her write about it?What do we even know about this girl?"

A lot more than I am willing to admit. Logan had taken a deep drive into Rory and her articles before catching up with Seth at the pub. "Well her name is Rory Gilmore. She's a pretty good writer, wrote a scathing piece about a ballerina last year. I think she would do it justice. And I also think, ethically, if she promises to keep us anonymous she will. She knows she doesn't have to divulge her sources to anyone. Plus, she wanted the story, if we agree to give it to her we have the upper hand."

"And you think she would agree?" Seth asks.

Maybe. "I do."

"You mean she did." Colin drops. Seth's eyes go wide, and Logan looks at him sideways again.

"I'm sorry what?" Seth huffs.

Logan tries to backtrack. "I told her that there would be some conditions if I helped her. That's not what's important. What do you think? You think we could get everyone on board and let her come along?"

"You are not making this easy for me, Huntz. I will make a call and find out. I'll be back."

Seth ducks out to the back of the pub to make a call on the patio, leaving Colin and Logan at the table. Logan is seething, Colin can be a real asshole sometimes.

"Well that went well." Colin says with a wide smile.

Well? On what planet would that be considered well?! "Seriously, whose side are you on?"

"I'm on the side of - let's give Seth all the information so he can make an informed decision."

"Whatever." Logan stands up and heads over to the bar to get them refills. He knows he can't stay mad at Colin, he didn't do anything particularly wrong, he just wishes he had more tact in his approach. He also realizes that if it weren't for Colin he wouldn't have ripped the bandaid off in the first place.

Seth returns from his phone call and prepared to lay everything out for Logan and Colin.

Seth grabs the fresh beer that Logan brought back for him and takes another big gulp. "Alright, here's the deal. Rory can come to the event, but she has to agree to some conditions." He looks Logan right in the eyes and takes on a much more serious tone. "Our anonymity is crucial, Logan."

I wonder how much convincing Seth had to do. "Okay fine. What are the conditions?"

Seth takes another sipping and starts counting off the items and gesturing a finger for each point he is making. "No pictures, no names in the article, no physical descriptions of anyone."

Logan nods. All makes sense.

"Our anonymity is crucial, Logan."

Crucial, got it. "Got it. No specifics in the article."

"Also, no identification of the location. I would prefer she doesn't even know the location. You will have to figure that out on your own."

Guess I will be driving her there. "Blindfold her, got it."

"Last, she cannot interfere with the integrity of the event."

Vague, but okay. "Okay good. So we're good, she can come?"

"As long as she agrees. And I can't promise anyone will talk to her, obviously not everyone will be thrilled about this."

"She'll agree." Logan quickly responds without even giving it a second thought.

Seth gulps down the rest of his beer and grabs some bills from his wallet. "Okay then. I gotta head out. But Logan?"

"Yeah?"

Seth throws the bills on the table and stands up, making eye contact with Logan once again. "I'm serious, our anonymity is crucial. Don't fuck this up."

Logan nods in agreement. "Understood."

Logan and Colin sit for a few minutes finishing their drinks. Colin finally breaks the silence. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Logan squints his eyes at him in confusion. "Yeah I'm sure, I didn't bring it up to Seth to back out now."

Colin nods, "okay, so now what".

"Now I let her know she can come along."

XXX

Logan heads back to his dorm room, realizing he doesn't have Rory's number or any way to reach her other than maybe running into her again by chance. He grabs a paper on his desk and scribbles out a note.

Be in your vestibule at four tomorrow blindfolded.

The LDB.

Satisfied Logan grabs an envelope and stuffs the note inside, along with a costume blindfold he had needed for a recent party. He really wanted to use it as a bedroom blindfold, but hadn't found the opportunity yet.

Logan then heads out to Rory's dorm and sees the window that is definitely attached to her suite. He isn't sure if it is her room, so he jots Rory on the front of the envelope and sticks it to the window.

He waits around for ten minutes with no sign of her and heads off. Hopefully she finds it before tomorrow.

XXX

Next Day

Logan is walking out to the car with Steph, Finn, and Colin, loading it up with everything they need for the night. Logan and Colin are left to adjust things in the back to make it all fit while Steph and Finn make one more trip up to their respective buildings.

Colin pushes a box of champagne against the back seat and turns to Logan, "are you sure this is a good idea?"

Logan is waiting with his garment bag in hand and turns to him, "are you seriously questioning this now?" If this lasts the whole weekend, it is going to be a real buzz kill.

"I just don't have a great feeling about this."

Logan laughs to himself. When do you honestly have a good feeling about anything? "You are skeptical about everything. It's going to be fine."

Colin, clearly annoyed, walks back to get into the car.

Stephanie returns with her duffle bag, and gestures to a large white box that Logan is now adding to the trunk contents. "What's that?" she asks Logan.

Logan glances around to see who might be listening and to see if Colin or Finn are paying attention. "Oh umm, just a dress for her to wear."

"You bought her a dress?"

Okay, well when you say it like that it sounds a little weird. "Well yeah. I mean, the agreement was that she couldn't interfere with the integrity of the event, so I figured she would need formal attire."

"You know you could have just told her to pack a dress." Steph says with a smirk.

True, but I didn't really give her any details at all. "I could have, but I thought this would be nice. What's the big deal?"

Steph turns her whole body to face Logan now. "The big deal is that the pretty girl, with the and I quote, gorgeous blue eyes, is getting a gift from you. Sounds to me like you might have a little crush."

Um no, Logan Huntzberger doesn't have crushes. He has conquests. "Crush? I don't have crushes."

"Whatever you say." She says as she rolls her eyes and starts to walk towards the front of the car.

Colin looks over the third row of the SUV into the trunk area at the two of them talking. "What's whatever he says?"

Steph stops at the back seat door, peeks in making eye contact with Logan who is still standing at the trunk. "Logan says he doesn't have a crush on the girl, but he totally does."

First Steph accuses me of a crush, and now she has to share her little theory with everyone. She is going to be so annoying if she keeps this up throughout the car ride.

Colin's face lights up like he just had an epiphany. "Oh my God, of course you do. That's why you wanted to help her. I'm an idiot." He slaps his forehead with his palm.

Okay, this is getting a little out of control. I don't have a crush. I think she's pretty, I think a lot of girls are pretty. "You are an idiot. But I do not have a crush. I am going to go get her. Don't be stupid. Please." He pleads.

Stephanie laughs and watches him walk towards the buildings. "Whatever. I call shotgun. Logan you can sit by the pretty girl in the back." She shouts out to him smiling.

XXX

Logan approaches Branford and sees Rory from behind standing alone in the vestibule.

There she is.

Logan can feel himself smiling and his face getting warm.

I feel a little nervous, why am I nervous? Should I sneak up behind her and surprise her? No.. that might look too much like a kidnapping. God she's got a nice ass too. How have I not noticed that before now? Okay get it together, she is not interested in you, anyways. I may be interested in sleeping with her, why is that weird. I don't know why Steoh made such a big deal about this, she has known me forever. She probably knows more of my bedmates than I can recall.

Logan continues to reason with himself about why this is not a crush, it's just an interest in a hook up. He approaches Rory, and once he is within an arm's reach he grabs her elbow and pulls her towards the path back to the car.

"Hey Ace, you ready?"

"Well -"

This is going to be a great weekend.

XXX

As they walk towards the car Logan leans into her ear and whispers, "relax, this is going to be fun."

Once they reach the car Logan opens the door, and guides Rory up and into the SUV.

"Step up, watch your head." He guides her up and spots her to protect her from bumping her head. Once they are inside he shuts the door, leans forward to Finn who is sitting in the driver's seat and shouts, "Hit it!"

I am actually really excited for this weekend. He can see Colin making gestures around Rory, and wants to ask what he is doing, but doesn't bother because he really doesn't even want the answer.

God Colin do not be too weird; she can't even see you.

"Ahh. Not so loud." Finn responds.

"You're very auditorily sensitive today." Stephanie chirps, and looks back at Logan with a smile and eyebrow raise.

"Oh and your voice helps." Finn deadpans.

"Is the blindfold secure?" Colin nervously asks no one in particular.

Nope, I figured it would be more fun to let it fall off mid ride. "Secure and in place."

"Our anonymity is crucial, Logan. Crucial." Colin responds in the exact same tone Seth used the night before.

Finn groans from the driver's seat.

I've got my buddies, Stephanie, Rory sitting beside me, heading to an LDB event; what more could I want. Wonder why she didn't scoot all the way into the other seat, maybe she wanted to sit close by me.

"What's wrong with Finn?" Rory asks the group, surprising Colin and making him suspect of the blindfold.

"Great job with the blindfold Logan." Colin says sarcastically.

God he needs to lighten up. Maybe if he gets laid tonight he will ease up on the Rory situation.

"I recognize your voices Colin" Rory responds to justify her knowing who is who in the car.

Logan is smirking when Steph turns around to catch his eyes and smiles back at him.

"Could everyone keep it down please?" Finn begged the group.

"Could we remove the blindfold now?" Rory politely asks her face towards Logan.

I kind of like her in a blindfold. I haven't gotten the chance to use it in the bedroom but I wouldn't mind testing that idea with Rory. "We are also hiding our destination."

"We had to leave at this ungodly hour." Finn complains.

"It's 4 in the afternoon." Rory responds to Finn's complaints since no one else seems to want to indulge him.

"He's got a thing about the sun," Logan explains.

"It's too bright," Finn elaborates.

I probably should have warned Rory about the two hours in the car with my eccentric friends.

"So how come you're not wearing your gorilla masks?" Rory asks.

"She can see!" Colin states with clear frustration.

Honestly, so what if she can see a little, she can't see enough to know where we are going.

"I can tell because your voices aren't muffled." Rory explains.

Stephanie turns around again and looks at Logan, as if making the statement to him. "She's sharp."

I'm aware, but I'm certainly not going to give you any more ammunition.

"Who's the girl?" Rory asks.

"I've been told we've met. I have no memory of it." Stephanie explains. And from now on we are not going to be leaving you alone when you are in a state where you aren't going to remember anything in the morning.

"Oh, gorilla girl."

Logan bites his tongue to keep from laughing.

Stephanie takes the nickname in stride, and turns around facing Logan again, "oh, well isn't that a pretty nickname". Serves you right.

Logan then turns to face Rory, even though she can't see him. "Oh by the way, this thing's overnight."

"Overnight?" Rory responds, clearly surprised by this new information.

A little spontaneity never hurt anyone. Logan smiles through his response. "Didn't I mention that before?"

"Oh, must have slipped your mind."

"That doesn't screw up anything for you does it?" Please say no, I really can't take you back.

"No."

Really? "No?"

"Nope."

Well good. "Hmm. Loose schedule, good."

"We like our schedules loose, like our women." Finn jumps into the conversation.

Jesus.

"Clever," Colin pipes in from the back.

"My God, it's early." Finn complains.

The remainder of the car ride is pretty quiet, consisting of light topics surrounding how Logan and the group know each other, about Rory, the paper, and where she is from. They start to talk about high school, and the long lists of schools Logan was asked to leave, but he tries to steer the conversation away from that as quickly as humanly possible.

XXX

Two Hours Later, Arriving at the Event

They pull of the road into a wooded area. They are now in the Berkshires, in a wooded area behind a property owned by one of the LDB members. Once the car comes to a stop Finn jumps out and runs off into the woods. Stephanie goes chasing after him after Colin reminds her that it's her turn to keep him from getting himself hurt. He has to make it through until at least tomorrow, then they can go home, or to a hospital, whatever.

Logan gets out of the car and walks around to the other side to open the door for Rory. He gives Rory a hand, and she stumbles a little upon her exit, probably forgetting she had to step down out of an SUV. She gets her footing and reorients herself. She starts looking around a little, even though she is still blindfolded.

Logan puts his on her shoulders from behind her, leans into her ear and asks "You okay?"

"I smell trees."

But are you okay? This is probably a little scary, she doesn't really know us that well. Actually, she is kind of crazy to agree to get in the car with the four of us in the first place, never mind the blindfold factor. "Ohhh, nothing gets past you."

Logan and Rory continue walking following the path to the campsite. Rory is still blindfolded and growing a bit anxious. Logan keeps a hand on the small of her back as he continues to guide her. She seems to relax with his touch, which he definitely notices, and appreciates the leevl of comfort she seems to feel with him.

"So the firing squad's just up ahead?" She asks.

She's funny. "Yup, and there's a line. Damn."

"Seriously Logan, is the blindfold coming off or am I Patty Hursting it the whole trip?"

And the references, maybe she tries to be witty and funny when she's nervous. How could she not be? "It's coming off. It's coming off right now."

Logan and Rory have reached the campsite. He takes his hand off her back, loosens the blindfold, and pulls it off her head.

"Oh my…"

They are both facing the campsite and take in the view. There are white tents scattered abouut with white linens covers tables, adorned with candelabras.

"Is this what you expected?"

"No, not at all what I expected."

Of course it's not, and I really can't blame you. I know better than anyone that I have a reputation of being this frat boy type. But I like to plan an event, I like details, and I like when everyone has a good time and how that reflects back to me as the planner. "Let me guess what you were thinking - sleeping bag, flashlights, keg, three boxes of stale triscuits, a half-eaten bag of Oreo, some Doritos, and a bong?"

"That may be exactly what I pictured."

They continue to walk through the campsite, Rory following closely behind Logan.

"You can apologize later, this is yours." Or make it up to me later, your choice on that. Logan throws open a tent and gestures for her to lean in.

"Mine?"

"Not much closet space, but the view is decent." Logan jokes to try to lighten the mood. Where did you think you were sleeping?

"It's cozy."

I can definitely appreciate her just roll with it attitude. She is making bringing her along not feel like a mistake. "Festivities start in a half hour."

Logan lingered outside of the tent after he let her in. He had to go back to the car to grab his stuff, but he heard her making a call and wanted to make sure she was alright. Well actually he wanted to be nosy and see who she was calling, but also, he sprung the overnight thing on her with no notice, so he wanted to be sure she wasn't frazzled or anything. Colin catches his eye and shouts over to him to help him unload the car. He misses the beginning of her conversation, all he hears is her say that she will fill in the person on the other end when she gets home, that's when he walks over to meet Colin, leaving Rory in the tent.