The next morning everyone slept in. It was much needed after the long day that they had all had. Aaron was the first one up. He called Jessica to check in to see how Jack was. He had kept her updated but asked if Jack could spend the night as they got home late, and everyone was exhausted to which she agreed. Aaron wasn't sure what he would have done without her help after Haley had passed away. She had been unbelievable helpful, and she had even looked after Rachel a couple times.
Jessica told him that Jack was having a great time with her kids, and that they had arranged to go to a fall fair and asked if she could take Jack along. Aaron was thrilled that Jack was having a good time and after talking to Jack he agreed. He wasn't going to stand in the way of his son having fun especially since their father/son day had been cut short. He would have to make that up to him but for now he didn't have any issue with Jack spending time with his cousins. He went into the kitchen to start coffee. Spencer was up next and headed into the kitchen as well.
The men exchanged morning greetings, and both sat down with their coffee.
"Everything went okay with Lorelai through the night?" Aaron asked
Spencer nodded. "She was grumpy the last couple times, but she could answer all the questions."
Aaron smirked. "Grumpy when tired. Yup she's on the mend."
Spencer nodded with a chuckle.
Lorelai came into the kitchen from her makeshift bed in the living room about twenty-minutes later on crutches and headed straight towards the coffee.
"Doctor said no caffeine." Spencer reminded her.
"Bite me." Lorelai responded and continued towards the coffee.
"Lorelai." Aaron said in a warning tone.
"I cant sleep in my own bed. I cant work in the field you are -not taking my coffee away from me too." She said in a snarky tone of voice.
"Lorelai brain injuries are very serious. Its just a couple days. You will be fine without it." Aaron told her
"No." She said sadly and sounding defeated.
Spencer got up and went over to her. "Why don't we get breakfast from your favorite place. You love their smoothies." He suggested
Lorelai nodded sadly.
Spencer gave her a hug and helped her to the couch. "You stay put. I will be back."
He got Aaron's order and also what Rachel's favorites were from the breakfast place and headed out after refusing to take Aaron's money to pay for it.
Lorelai chuckled as she listened to her dad and her boyfriend argue from the other room about who was going to pay and was surprised when Spencer just walked away refusing the money.
Aaron shook his head as he came and joined her in the family room. "He's picking up on your extreme stubbornness."
Lorelai laughed. "Don't think so. I think he has just learned how to stand up to you a bit." She said. "As he is more comfortable around you now."
Aaron smiled. "Well, I know that's only because you pushed family time so much."
Lorelai nodded. "I'm glad I did."
Aaron nodded. "I am too." He sipped his coffee and looked at her. "I got a run down of what happened yesterday but before I talk to her I want to know exactly what happened." He said
Lorelai nodded. "Spencer explained it pretty must exactly how it happened. She told me she was going to the mall with Kara that Kara's mom was taking them and picking them up. I told her she needed to ask you. She told me she called you and you didn't answer and that you have never had a problem with her going to the mall with Kara. Which I know is true. I called you also and got no answer and I was about to cave and let her go when I noticed the car pulling in the driveway and that it wasn't Kara's moms car. I pointed that out to Rachel, and she told me that Kara's mom got a new car and I know Kara's mom is a single mom working three jobs and raising three kids with no support, so I knew that was a lie. I told her she could go if I went out and talked to Kara's mom first. She refused and pushed me out of the way. I hit my head, tripped over a pair of shoes, and landed on my knee hard. She ran out and was gone. My phone was not on me, and I knew Spencer was already on his way, so I just laid there. I couldn't have move if I had wanted to." She told him
Aaron nodded. "So, she did really actually push you."
"Yes. And she's strong…" Lorelai pointed out.
Aaron didn't say much after that he was deep in thought. Yes. His daughter was manipulated and tricked by a child predator he wasn't questioning that. But she had been physically violent with her sister. She wanted out of the house and into his car. She lied to Lorelai about where she was going. She knew that was wrong. She didn't tell him about needing extra help. Was there more to the story that Rachel was afraid to tell him? The man was telling police that she wanted to be with him. And while no a thirteen-year-old couldn't consent to that kind of relationship with anyone let alone a man who was eleven years older than her didn't mean that she didn't 'want' to. She had even switched his phone case to trick him into taking a different phone so no one could reach him.
"Dad. I'm sorry." Lorelai said breaking the silence.
Aaron looked at her confused. "Sorry for what?" He asked
"Not trying harder to stop her. The fact that I was about to cave and let her go. I know you told me to focus on being her sister not her parent but I just…" She said
"Lorelai. Your knee is in a wrap, you have a head injury because you tried to stop her. You did all you could. And in that particular situation if she had truly been going to the mall with Kara that would have been fine. You were the adult here at that time. You tried to reach me and couldn't because -she tricked me into taking a different phone. You are not in trouble for any of this. And Dave told you to not blame yourself for the situation did he not?" Aaron pointed out
Lorelai muttered something under her breathe.
"Yup. He told me. He also told me the same thing." Aaron said
Lorelai nodded. "He mentioned that… You going to tell him that I said that?" She asked
"Not unless you do it again. You are not responsible for Rachel or this other guys choices. Or anyone's choices except your own." He told her
Lorelai nodded.
Rachel came into the room. "Morning." She said softly.
"Hey. How are you feeling?" Lorelai asked
"I don't know. Confused. Hurt." She said.
Lorelai nodded.
"Lorelai, I am so sorry. I didn't intend on hurting you. I just… I -needed to get out of the house, and I didn't know how else too. I didn't think I had pushed you that hard but that's no excuse." Rachel said
"You -needed to get out why?" Aaron asked
"To get in his car." She answered in a confused tone.
"Yes. I understand that but you say -needed to as if there wasn't a choice. I understand he manipulated you, but you understand you could have said no right?" He asked her
She shook her head. "No. I couldn't…"
"Did he threaten you?" Aaron asked
"Yea…" Rachel answered
"What did he say he would do?" Aaron asked
"That he would fail me…" She told him
Aaron nodded. "Why didn't you come talk to me?"
"I was scared… I had a crush on him. He made me feel special at first than I started to feel uncomfortable and stopped going to him for 'extra credit' and he started to give me bad grades to make me feel like I had to come and get extra help. He told me if I kept going to him and brought my grades up he wouldn't make me tell you about the bad grades." Rachel told him in tears.
"And that is what is called grooming." Lorelai said.
Aaron nodded. "Lorelai is right. None of this is your fault. I should have realized something was going on."
Lorelai gave him a look. "So. I cant blame myself, but you can blame yourself?" She asked
"I'm the parent." He said
"Yes. But that doesn't make it your fault. It is -his fault." Lorelai said
Aaron ignored her for the moment and looked at Rachel. "You can always come to me. Your safety both physically and mentally will always be more important to me than any grade. I don't care if you fail every class as long as you are safe and happy. And that you try your best" He told her
Rachel nodded and let a few tears fall.
Aaron motioned for her to come to him, and he gave her a big hug. "And if anyone. -Ever makes you feel uncomfortable you come tell me. Okay?" He said
Rachel nodded and sobbed.
Spencer came into the house at that moment carrying a few bags of food.
Rachel calmed down a bit.
"Spencer got us food from that place we love. Why don't we go eat?" Aaron said
Rachel nodded and went to the table.
Aaron helped Lorelai up and over to the table as well and the four of them sat and had breakfast.
Lorelai finished her smoothie. "That was delicious as always. But still miss my coffee." She said
Aaron and Spencer both gave her a look of don't even think about it causing Rachel to giggle a bit.
Lorelai raised an eyebrow at her sister. "Just wait till you start liking coffee and have to go without." She told her.
"Its only a few days." Spencer said.
"If you can not go a few days without coffee that is called an addiction." Aaron told her.
Lorelai looked at her dad. "And?" She said. "Never said it wasn't an addiction."
Which caused Spencer to chuckle
"Addictions are bad." Aaron told her.
"Okay, you go three days without coffee than?" Lorelai said with a smirk
"Not the point Lorelai. Point is -you have to go without because of a brain injury. And this is the end of this conversation." Aaron told her.
Lorelai huffed a bit. She was defeated.
They finished eating Rachel went off. She was still quite tired from the ordeal the day before.
Lorelai looked at her dad. "So. About the conversation earlier. Dave told you not to blame yourself either." She told him
"Lorelai I am not having this conversation with you." He said
"Okay." Lorelai took out her phone and texted Dave. 'He is blaming himself for what happen to Rachel'
Aaron shook his head. "You know I am not scared of Dave right?"
"Of course. Not scared. But I know he can still intimidate you." Lorelai answered
Spencer took the opportunity to get up and clean up from breakfast.
Rossi heard his phone ding and checked the text message. He shook his head and texted Aaron. 'Your daughter ratted you out.' He told him
Aaron chuckled at the text and responded. 'I know I was right next to her when she did it.'
'Aaron you cant blame yourself. Your daughter needs you to be your best self and if your blaming yourself for something that is not your fault you wont be your best self.' David texted the man.
Aaron read the text, 'Okay. I get it. I will try'
'You wont -try you will do it Aaron.' Rossi told him. 'I have dealt with you before and I will do it again if I have to.' He sent in a second text
Aaron sighed. 'Got it.' Aaron hated admitting it, but the man still knew how to get him to do what was right.
Lorelai got up from the table and crutched to the family room. Spencer joined her a few minutes later. "You actually ratted your father out to Rossi?" He chuckled
Lorelai laughed. "He is the only person who can get him to do what is right. And I told David not Rossi. There is a difference."
Spencer nodded. "Okay, but still."
"My dad shouldn't blame himself. The man groomed a thirteen-year-old. That's his fault not my father's." Lorelai said.
"I agree. Just like its not your fault." He told her.
"David has said that yes." She said
"So, your not still blaming yourself?" He asked
"Um. Well… I'm trying not to." Lorelai admitted
Spencer nodded. "Have you blamed yourself since David told you not to?" He asked
Lorelai bit her lip. "Yea… Honestly I'm surprised my dad didn't tell David after I told on him."
"Ah. I see." Spencer said taking out his phone
"Spencer please don't. I'm trying." She said. "And I cant have coffee. Or work in the field for extended period of time…and… and… my knee hurts and… and.. you love me…" She said using everything she had to get him to cave.
"Lorelai. What you are doing right now. Is trying to manipulate yourself out of a situation." Spencer told her.
"All David said was he didn't want to -hear me say it. He didn't -hear me say it." She pointed out
"That is semantics. You know he doesn't want you saying it or thinking it at all." Spencer told her
Lorelai pouted.
"Nope. That is -not going to work on me today." He said. "You have two options. You tell him or I will." Spencer told her
"Your supposed to be on my side!" Lorelai said.
"I am. I don't want you saying that or thinking that either. Because its not true." He told her lovingly
Lorelai sighed. "Cant you just lecture me than?" She suggested
Spencer shook his head. "Nope."
Lorelai took out her phone reluctantly and texted David. 'And because I know honesty is important to you I have blamed myself too since you told me not to. I'm working on it.' She told him
David read the text and shook his head before he replied. 'Lorelai. You are eighteen years old. You are not responsible for what that man did to your sister.'
'Yes sir.' She responded.
'If I hear you have said it again there will be consequences.' David told her.
'Yes sir.' She repeated
'I'm proud of you for being honest with me.' David told her
'Well…. If I am being truly honest… Spencer made me.' She told him
David shook his head 'Still. I know it's hard to admit to our mistakes when we know someone wont be happy with us.' He texted her
'I guess.' She texted back
'And if I had found out from Spencer or someone else I would have been far more disappointed' He texted.
Lorelai put her phone away looking upset.
"He angry?" Spencer asked.
"Doesn't seem to be." She said
"Than why do you look like you just got yelled at?" He asked
"He told me off. And he's disappointed." She said.
Spencer wrapped an arm around her. "Generally, if people are disappointed in someone it is because they care about them and know they are better that what they have done." He told her
Lorelai nodded leaning her head on his shoulder. "And when someone who I look up to and respect is disappointed in me it hurts my heart." She said
Spencer nodded. "I get that." The rest of the day was spent relaxing for the four of them. Rachel spent most of the day in her room crying. Aaron tried to comfort her, but she just wanted to be alone. Lorelai didn't get up from the couch much because she was in a lot of pain. Her and Spencer watched movies all day. Lorelai had invited Rachel to join them, but Rachel didn't want to. Aaron spent the day doing paperwork in his office and talking to the director and Rossi about the investigation.
Jack was dropped off at home late afternoon after the fair and saw Lorelai on the couch with her knee in a bandage. He had heard Uncle David tell his daddy that Rachel had pushed Lorelai and he was old enough to understand that her knee was hurt because of Rachel.
"Rachel hurt you…" He said softly to his biggest sister.
Lorelai patted the seat next to her. "She didn't mean to it was an accident." Lorelai told him.
"Why did Uncle David sound so mad at her yesterday when he told daddy?" He asked as he sat next to her.
"Uncle David didn't fully understand that it had been an accident. Its okay. I will be fine in a few weeks. Rachel has said sorry." Lorelai told her little brother. She could see that he was mad at Rachel and wanted to change the kids point of view
Jack nodded. "Is it broken?" He asked
"Nope. Just sprained. I have to use crutches to get around for awhile, but it doesn't hurt much." She told him. It was a small lie, but she didn't want the kid to worry, and she had dealt with far worse pain in her life.
Jack nodded again. "I don't have to be mad at her than?"
Lorelai smiled. "No. She had a rough day yesterday too.
Jack gave Lorelai a hug before running to find Rachel and give her a hug too.
Spencer looked at Lorelai and smiled. "You are an amazing big sister."
"Thanks." She smiled.
"I know people have been asking how you are feeling physically. How are you actually feeling?" He asked
"I'm angry. Angry that there are people like this who hurt innocent children. Angry that this is not the first time she has dealt with men or anyone abusing her. I'm sad that it led to this." She said pointing to her knee. "Annoyed. Because again, I'm out of the field because of someone else's choices." She said.
Spencer nodded. "Its not fair. But you cant change what has happened. You are a strong person you can and will get through this." He told her
Lorelai nodded and yawned a bit.
"I think you need a nap." He said
Lorelai smiled and snuggled against him closing her eyes. "Okay. I'll nap right here."
Spencer smiled and didn't argue.
Aaron picked up Jack when he came back down after given Rachel a hug.
"You had fun with your cousins?" He asked
Jack nodded and told his dad all about his day when he had talked himself out Aaron suggested that they have pizza for dinner and Jack agreed. He and Jack ordered and went to pick it up.
He had asked Rachel to set the table before he left and when they came home the table was ready. The five of them sat and ate dinner. Not long after dinner Spencer told Lorelai he had to go that he didn't have clothes for work tomorrow so he couldn't spend the night again. Lorelai nodded and said she understood. They all said their goodbyes to Spencer, and he left.
Lorelai crutched over to her makeshift bedroom in the living room. They had a pullout couch in there and it sucked but she also knew she couldn't do the stairs over and over again for the next 6-8 weeks. She did notice that someone had added a pillow top mattress cover to the bed which did make it more comfortable. She figured it was her dad and called out thanking him. The house got quiet early that night. Lorelai drank her tea and went to bed around 8:30. Rachel had already been in her room for awhile. Jack was asleep and Aaron was heading up to bed as well.