When she kneeled on the roof Rory could finally see into Dean's room. She knew he would be home. But she didn't expect him to have company. There was a military duffle bag on his bed and Dean was obviously packing. Behind him there was another guy she had never seen before. He was older, maybe in his early twenties, as tall as Dean, had short dark blonde hair and wore an old leather jacket. He seemed kind of rough and out of place in Dean's bedroom with his worn out jeans and the work boots. He stood at her ex-boyfriend's desk and went through his stuff as if it was normal.
For a moment Rory was not sure if she was doing the right thing. Maybe she should just leave. But then she quietly knocked on the window.
Both of them turned around. But when Dean came over to open the window the stranger just continued packing the bag.
"Hey," Rory said tentative.
"What are you doing here?" Dean asked shortly.
Rory could see how hurt and disappointed he was. "I climbed a tree," she replied nervously, not sure, what to say.
"Why?"
"Well, I was afraid to ring the doorbell because your mom could answer. And I assumed she knows so I assumed she hates me. And I just wanted to talk to you. I guess you are probably going to tell your sister also. So she is probably going to hate me, too," Rory said. She made a small pause. But Dean didn't answer. He just looked at her waiting to go on. "Do you remember that girl Butterfly who lived in a tree for a year? I can officially attest that she was nuts," she stammered. She felt so nervous. She wanted to tell him everything she felt. That she loved him. That she would always love him. But Jess, he was the adventure she was looking for. That maybe they weren't supposed to be a couple but she definitely didn't want to lose him as a friend. "You are packing?" she asked instead.
Dean nodded.
"Why? Where are you going? It's not because of me, is it?"
"Goodbye Rory," Dean said and started to close the window.
"Dean, wait!" The stranger at Dean's closet turned around and looked at her. But when Dean opened the window once more he turned his back on them again.
"I want to say that I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For treating you the way I did. For doing all the things you said I did. I am so, so sorry. It's all my fault. I don't know what's wrong with me. You were the most amazing boyfriend in the world. You made me so happy. You made me laugh. You made my mother like you. You were nice to my friends, you protected me. You even came with me to that stupid debutant ball."
"I don't need the list," Dean said and Rory could tell that he was annoyed. But she just had to tell him.
"I really did love you! Please believe that."
"You're with him now?" Looking Dean in the eye she felt bad. "Since when?"
"I don't want to talk about him."
"The same night, right? You went to him after I left, right?" Rory could hear his voice trembling.
"I just came to tell you that I'm truly sorry that I hurt you and that I'm going to miss you so much. And I hope that someday you won't hate me anymore. I feel so bad every time I see you."
"Don't worry. You won't see me anymore."
"Where are you going?"
"Away." He started to push the window down again.
"Sammy, which of the books do you need?" The man in Dean's room asked looking through the bookshelves.
Dean turned around to him. "Just the ones for school" he replied.
"You'll get new ones at the next school. Why do you have so many books anyway?"
"I know. But there's an exam next week that I need to study for. Just take the algebra ones then."
"You're such a nerd," The other man muttered but did what Dean told him to.
"Who is that?" Rory asked curious. He seemed so different from Dean. He had an authority to himself as if the room was his. Somehow he looked dangerous in a way that Rory knew she wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. The bruises around his eye and the split lip indicated that he must have been in a fight recently.
"He's my brother. Dean. He came to pick me up," Dean said.
"You have a brother? You never mentioned a brother. And he has the same name? Well, makes it easier for your mom to call you for dinner. But on the other hand …" Rory realized that she started to jabber again and was happy when he interrupted her.
"Actually, I'm Sam. He is Dean." He said matter-of-factly to end the conversation.
"But I don't understand. You're Dean. I know your parents and your sister. Why didn't anyone mention an older brother? Do they know what you are doing?" Rory asked. This felt so wrong. How could that guy be Dean's brother? Well, Sam's brother? He looked so out of place, not only in the Forester's home but in Stars Hollow.
"They're not my family. They are just a foster family that CPS put me into. And I don't see why I should stay here any longer."
"But why? Where are you … How?" Rory's head felt empty. Just like that Dean – Sam – had told her that everything she knew about him was wrong. She wanted to ask so many questions but didn't know where to start.
"Don't you have a boyfriend to go back to?" Sam snapped.
Dean – the other Dean – closed the duffel bag on the bed. "Do you have everything?" he asked and Sam took a quick look around. "Yeah, I think so."
"Good, let's go then," Dean said to his brother in a light tone. Then he looked at Rory and the intensity of his glance made her instantly wish she was somewhere else. "Goodbye, Rory."
Sam looked at her as if everything was said, closed the window and left.
