Note: Logan's thoughts and perspective are in italics.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls.

Part 005

Season 5

Episode 7

Title: You Jump I Jump, Jack

He got back to the car to grab his bag and tux, along with the box with Rory's dress. Stephanie appeared next to him, she seemingly popped up out of nowhere. "Hey lover boy. How's Rory? She seems really nice."

Stephanie has always teased Logan when it came to ladies and their constant infatuation with him, but she rarely got the chance to turn it around, because Logan never seemed to bear the brunt of the interest. He didn't show his feelings all that much in the first place, even to such a good friend.

Logan rolls his eyes, "she's fine."

"Fine? I guess I am going to have to find her later. Do my own assessment, and check out her eyes." Steph gave him a wink. "Couldn't really see them with the blindfold and all."

Logan shrugs at her trying to remain neutral. "Whatever floats your boat."

"So What's the deal with her? Is she single? Have you asked her out?" Stephanie finally asks what has been on her mind. It's not like Logan didn't date, Logan has always appreciated the fact that a nice dinner was usually a good lead into a fling. He just didn't do more than a few dates before cutting a girl loose. Logan didn't mind casual dating either, but he always tried to make sure his intentions were known, and quite obvious from the start. He didn't like the idea of a girlfriend, or tying himself to one person while still in college. His parents on the other hand would be happy if they could actually meet a girl, other than Stephanie or Juliet, whom he had a habit of bringing with him places he knew required a date.

I wish I could say yes or no to this with certainty, but I just don't know how I feel about this. She is nice, smart, and beautiful. But I don't know if she is into the casual thing, I have literally never seen her out at the pub, or at any parties for that matter. Maybe she does have a boyfriend. "I don't know. And no, I haven't, and I don't intend to."

"Why not?"

"It's none of your business." Logan says harshly. Logan knows that Steph is asking as a friend, she can actually play quite the wingman if he asks her nicely and bribes her a bit.

"Humor me." Steph says, and smiles at him.

I'm going to say this is the best way, without also sounding like a complete loser. "Fine. I think she might hate me. Well sometimes she hates me, other times she tolerates me. I can't get a good read on her." I don't usually get rejected, I would rather try to feel out the situation, or at least try to sway her my way first. Also, the boyfriend thing, I still don't know. I mean, I doubt if she did have a boyfriend this weekend would be easy to explain, hey i'm going to a mystery plac with this guy i meet twice and also i'm going to spend the night, I may not be a boyfriend, but it doesn't seem like something they would be a fan of.

"Okay, I can talk to her."

No, no, I don't want anyone sticking their nose in this for no reason. There are plenty of girls here this weekend, I don't need to worry about Rory for now. She is here for one reason, and that is to get her story. "Steph, when have you ever willingly played wing woman?"

"I am more than willing when the girl isn't a moron, and if she doesn't happen to live with me, it's always a bonus." Steph winks at him again. She is talking about her roommate freshman year. Amber was obsessed with Logan, and every time they would hang out in a group she clung to him. One night after drinking way too much, her and Logan hooked up. It was fine at first because they were friendly and everyone always continued to hang as a group. But one night Logan found a different pretty girl to take home after a party, and Amber could not keep her cool. Stephanie had to play the go-between, even though she knew that Logan was never interested in a commitment. That incident is why Stephanie tries her best to keep him away from all her friends, even if they are willing to partake in a casual thing, and it is also why Logan makes his intentions clear from the start, never to let that type of thing happen again.

We go to Yale; we could hardly call anyone a moron. "What do you mean?"

"First of all, you know as well as I do, that most of the girls you bring around are dummies, and I need a girl who I can have girl time with, and be friends with."

That sounds suspiciously like a relationship, which I thought I made myself abundantly clear that I have no interest in. I am going to be single at least until I graduate, at which point I'm sure my mom and Honor will have a list of ladies waiting for me to take them out. " Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't need you befriending anyone. I am not trying to keep anyone around for long, you know that."

"I know you don't want to settle down. You haven't ever since Shira mentioned you should start thinking about settling down when we had our first coming out in high school. But if you could bring around a girl on a regular basis that would be nice."

So you want me to find you a friend. Got it. "Noted. I will consider you next time I think about bringing a girl home."

"Don't be gross."

XXX

Logan brings his things over to his tent, and changes his clothes into the white outfit everyone has on. He steps out of his tent and notices Rory walking around trying to talk to a couple of members. It doesn't seem like anyone is giving her the time of day. But he never promised anyone would be receptive, so she probably isn't terribly shocked by this revelation.

He grabs the white box with the dress inside, and walks over to Rory's tent pushing it under her cot. Logan wonders if he should leave a note or something, but decides that she will find it, or he will point it out to her in the morning. Either way is fine.

Logan then notices Stephanie talking to Rory. He worries for a second and considers going over there, but decides against it. Stephanie has been his friend for a long time, and he knows that she would never betray him, or put him in a bad light.

Logan interrupts a few ladies that are chatting and sipping champagne. He says hello to each of them and turns on the charm. He is certainly not going to spend the evening dwelling on Rory, he doesn't even know if she is available. Second to making his intentions clear, Logan is also not willing to partake in cheating. He strongly believes that all parties should be informed and know where each of them stands.

XXX

After grabbing a plate of food he heads down the hill to the side of the campsite. He is looking for Rory; he had spent the last ten minutes asking around if anyone had seen her. He knows this crowd, and although he would consider them all friendly, he knows that between the potential pranks, and the amount of alcohol being consumed, he should probably spend a bit of time looking out for her, and checking in to make sure she is alright.

Logan spots Rory sitting on a log halfway down the hill. "How goes it pariah?" he shouts out to her.

"Logan?"

"Word was a bear dragged you off," Logan joked in an attempt to keep things light. That was stupid joke. I am so lame.

"No bear. I just wanted a quiet place to collect my thoughts."

Can't argue with that logic. The group gets louder and more rowdy the more they drink. "You found it." Logan reaches to where Rory is sitting and swings his leg over the log to take a seat next to her. He is trying his best to balance the plate of food he brought down for her. He brought a little of everything because he has no idea what she even likes, but he definitely wants to make sure she gets some food.

"Thanks, I've eaten." Rory states as she gestures to the plate.

Oh, this is embarrassing. I'll just eat it then I guess. "Good, this is for me." That probably makes me sound like a jackass. Gotta change the topic, and somehow eat this as if I planned to this whole time. "Sorry you're not getting much from the group. Took a little arm twisting for them to agree to let you come in the first place." I am really sorry, I knew they would be difficult, I should have warned you before bringing you here.

"I don't need their cooperation. I've already filled two notebooks without their cooperation. Half of one without using the letter e. But I could use yours."

I can't eat anymore; I'll just play it like I don't like it. "Way too much salt in this."

"I mean this is pretty incredible. But it's just a preamble to the big stunt tomorrow right?"

What do you know about tomorrow? How can you possibly know so much? "It's Finn, he's Australian, they like salt."

"How do you pay for this? Are there dues, or do you chip in, or is there alumni sponsoring it? How is it organized? And what is happening tomorrow? Is it just as big, or bigger? And do people know that you're here? Park rangers, or the land owner? Where are we? Are we still in Connecticut? And your answer cannot include the word salt."

Okay, so many questions, which clearly I cannot continue to dodge with a callout like that. "I think it's time to fill you in on the conditions of you being here."

"Okay!" She says almost excitedly.

"First, no pictures." Logan tells her while simultaneously taking her digital camera from her lap.

"Hey!"

"You'll get it back at the end of the trip. Second, no names."

"I'm not exactly being introduced to anyone as it is."

I know, I know, just let me get this out. "Third, no physical descriptions of any of us. There are authority figures up and down Connecticut trying to nab us for things we may have done in the past. Naughty things." Logan smirks at her.

"I'll keep you anonymous." Rory relents.

Thank you, now where was I? "What number am I on?"

"You just did third."

"Fourth, no identification of our location."

"I don't know where we are!" Rory exclaims, clearly frustrated.

Again, I know, but you're safe. I promise. "Fifth.."

"You're going to run out of -ifths" Rory says playfully.

"The most important condition of all, you must agree to not interfere with the integrity of the event."

"What is the event? And how could I interfere?"

That's really the least important thing here, as long as you follow my lead you'll be good. "So, you agree?"

"Yes, I agree."

Logan leans over and picks up the plate of food he put down. He has to do something with his hands to break the tension, so he continues to eat what is on the plate. There is singing coming from the lit area up the hill.

"It's pretty."

Ha, you say that now. Wait until Finn jumps in on vocals. "They're drunk."

"Well, it sounds pretty, I like it."

Me too, I also like this. Sitting here with you is actually nice. "I didn't say I didn't like it."

Logan takes another bite of his food trying to figure out what to say next to break the silence. Right when he is about to say something else there are two girls at the top of the hill shouting down.

"Logan?" the girl says.

Dammit, who is that? "Yeah."

"You coming?"

I guess I will make the best of this evening, hopefully get some time with Ace later. "I'll be right there. I'll leave the light for you Ace, I won't need it."

That probably sounded cocky, hopefully she doesn't get too turned off by that comment.

Logan lifts his leg over the log they were sharing and heads back up the hill. "Here I am"

XXX

Next Morning

Logan approached the tent where Rory was staying, a little unsure of what to do. There isn't really anywhere to knock, do I shout out to her, do I poke my head in? No, that is probably way too intrusive.

Logan walks by the tent slowly, he can hear her moving around inside so he decides to wait for a few minutes, he takes a seat just outside and raises his voice to tell her "I'm just out here waiting for you when you're ready".

I can't wait to see that she thinks of the dress. Wait! Did I tell her about the dress? I was drinking, but I had every intention of finding her one last time to tell her about the dress. I can't remember if that plan actually unfolded. I remember seeing her laughing with Colin and Stephanie at one point, and I recall her seeming to have a somewhat enjoyable conversation with Finn and Robert.

Logan had wanted to step in while she was with Finn and Robert. For some reason he did not like the way Robert was looking at her. Things were always a competition between the two of them. They were friends, yes, but it was always who was winning at poker, doing a better practical joke, a more dangerous stunt, or who was getting the girl. And Logan did not want to lose Rory to Robert. Not that he had Rory, but he brought her here, he saw her first.

While Logan was lost in his thoughts about last night he sees Rory emerge from the tent, in the same clothing as yesterday. I guess I never made it back to her to talk about the dress. Shit.

"Another day, another sartorial surprise." At least she sounds like she is having a good time.

"You should start getting ready yourself." Logan tells her while looking her up and down.

"I am ready."

I'm here in a tux, and you're in jeans. You don't see any issue with this picture? "You can't go dressed like that."

"Well I didn't have the, it's an overnight thing warning. So unless you want me to fashion something out of pinecones, this is it."

I would love to see you in something fashioned out of pinecones. Logan bites the inside of his cheek to help from smiling. "That clothing is going to interfere with the integrity of our event, and you agreed not to interfere with the integrity of our event."

"All I've got is a wash bowl, a towel, and a toothbrush."

"Is that all you got? Look again Ace." You are going to love this.

Rory heads back into the tent and lets the fabric close behind her. Logan waits outside for some type of acknowledgement that she located the box with the dress.

He hears her shout from the inside. "This is beautiful, thank you Logan." She sounds genuinely sincere, and not the fake kind when girls sometimes had been waiting for a gift to be given to them from the rich bachelor. From Rory it seemed like she was thankful for the gesture, and in no way concerned with the money she wanted spent on her.

"This is too much, really." Logan can hear her shifting around inside. "Just consider it me holding you to the conditions of you being here."

Rory pops her head out and once again says thanks. She has the dress on, but is holding up the front so it won't slip down.

Oh no, it doesn't fit her. It's too big. This is going to be embarrassing.

"Can you give a girl a hand, I can't exactly tie it off on my own." Rory says, with her cheeks starting to blush.

"Oh, of course," Logan says, stuttering a bit. He didn't mean for this to happen; it almost feels like an intimate gesture. Rory turns around and holds up the dress on the sides. Logan is facing her back now, takes a deep breath and swallows while tugging the ribbon to adjust the dress to the right fit so it won't fall down. He can see her back, and that she isn't wearing a bra. He doesn't say anything else to her, he doesn't know how to lighten the mood without embarrassing himself. Once he completes the bow at the bottom he whispers "perfect" under his breath, he clears his throat and says louder this time, "you're in".

Rory turns around with flushed cheeks and smiles at him again and says "thanks".

Rory ducks her head back into the tent, while Logan takes a seat at the table again waiting for her.

What was that? She must be able to feel that too. Is it just me, am I imagining this, this chemistry?

Note: I really like filling in the blanks of pieces we didn't see in the original series, but must have happened. I have always been incredibly bothered that Rory somehow manages to get in that dress all by herself. How?! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it. There will be a couple more parts to get through the episode.