David opened the door. "Come on in." He said
Lorelai went in. "She is where?"
"In her room. She knows your coming." He said
Lorelai went and knocked on her door.
"Yes?" Jules said
Lorelai went in. "Hey Jules."
Julianna looked up from her bed where she was hugging her elephant.
"You remember where you got that?" Lorelai asked
"You got it for me when I was in the hospital. The first time." She said
Lorelai nodded. "Yup. I'm not angry with you Jules."
"Your not?" Jules asked
"No." Lorelai said sitting on the end of her bed.
"I just thought. Because uncle Aaron.. That…" Jules said
"No. There was a lot going on that night for me too." Lorelai said. "That had more to do with me than to do with you."
Jules nodded.
Lorelai gave her a hug. "We are okay. Promise."
Julianna smiled and hugged her back.
They talked for abit more.
"Do you want to watch a movie?" Julianna asked
Lorelai smiled. "Sure."
The two of them went downstairs.
"Lorelai is going to watch a movie with me!" Jules said
"As long as I'm not interrupting any plans." Lorelai said
"Nope. You two have fun." Dave said
Jules put on a new disney movie about a little girl and the emotions inside everyone's heads. And her and Lorelai started to watch it.
Halfway through Lorelai started to rub at her side.
Jules noticed. "You okay?" she asked
Lorelai smiled. "Cramps. That has me wondering. Do you know about what is completely normal for women to have every month?"
Jules nodded. "My daddy told me about it."
Lorelai covered her mouth to hide her smirk as she imagined that conversation. "Okay good."
"Is there anything that can help the cramps?" Jules asked
"Yup. A heat pad on your stomach. Resting. Keeping hydrated and if none of that some pain killers can help. And if you ever need someone to get you something you can always call me. And of course, you can ask your dad too." Lorelai said
Jules nodded and smiled
"Have you started your period?" Lorelai asked
"No. Not yet. Should I have?" Jules asked
"Not necessarily. Every woman is different." Lorelai said
Jules nodded.
Lorelai rubbed at her side again.
"Should I ask my daddy if we have anything that can help?" Jules asked
"No. I'm sure it will pass." Lorelai said with a smile on her face.
They kept watching after a bit Lorelai knew this wasn't just period cramps that something more was going on. She ran to the bathroom and threw up.
Jules ran and got her daddy and told him what was happening.
David went to the bathroom door and knocked. "Stomach bug or pregnant?" He asked
"Not funny Dave…" She said softly.
"I'm sorry. You okay?" he asked
Lorelai flushed and came out. "Probably just Stomach bug. I should get home." She said, "Sorry if I get you two sick." She said
"Its okay." He said putting a hand on her forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever."
Lorelai sighed. "Okay. Dad." She said jokingly
"You're sure your okay to drive?" he asked
"Yes. I will be fine…" She said as she turned white.
"Okay. Nope. Your not driving." He said
Lorelai ran back in the bathroom and threw up again. This time she couldn't flush before Dave saw the blood
David took out his phone and called Aaron but didn't get an answer. He called Spencer who also didn't answer. He sighed and called Kate and asked her if she could come stay with Jules. And he called an ambulance.
Kate got there quickly as did the ambulance.
"Jules, Kate is in charge you do as she tells you understand?" He asked
Jules nodded.
"Don't worry about us. I have it handled." Kate said
"Thank you Kate." Dave said getting into the ambulance with Lorelai.
"I'm fine Dave." Lorelai groaned
"You sure you want to lie to me?" Dave asked
Lorelai groaned again in pain.
The ambulance went to the hospital while putting an IV in her arm and monitoring her levels
"Where is the pain and how long have you had it?" one of the paramedics asked
"My stomach. Dull pain on and off for um. About a week. I've been assuming it is PMS. Till I threw up." She said
"And there was blood in her vomit. "David said.
"Dave. I've got it." She said
"Any other symptoms?" The paramedic asked
"Back pain." She said
"The pain wake you up at night?" The paramedic asked
"Um. Yeah…" She said
"That is normal for you with PMS?" The paramedic asked
"Well, um. No…" She said
Dave shook his head
When they got to the hospital she was taking in for testing immediately.
Dave sat in the waiting room and tried calling Aaron and Spencer again.
Spencer answered. "Dave sorry I missed your last call I was dealing with something to do with my mother."
"Its alright. I'm at the hospital with Lorelai. She was at my place watching a movie with Julianna and she ended up being sick." Dave said
"How sick?" Spencer asked as he headed to his car.
"Blood in her vomit." Dave said
"I'm on my way." Spencer said as he got in his car and started the drive to the hospital.
Dave tried Aaron again but got no answer. He shook his head the man better have had a good excuse for being unreachable.
Spencer got to the hospital quickly. When he got there he saw Dave in the waiting room. "Any news?" He asked
"Still waiting for an update. She was taken for testing." Dave said
Spencer sat down next to him.
"Your mother okay?" Dave asked
"Just issues with her medication. Nothing new." Spencer said
Dave nodded. "You alright?"
"Yes. I'm used to it." He said
An hour later a doctor came out. "You're the family of Lorelai Hotchner?"
"I'm her boyfriend." Spencer said. "And I'm her uncle." Dave said a trivial lie wouldn't hurt
"She is being taken into surgery. She has a bleeding ulcer that needs repair. Routine surgery she will be fine." The doctor said
Spencer nodded.
"How long has she been having symptoms?" the doctor asked
Spencer sighed. "At least two weeks. She's been telling me its PMS."
"Its possible she could have mistook some of the symptoms as that." The doctor said
"Yeah but not for two weeks." Spencer said shaking his head
"Well, I will fix it." The doctor said before heading off to preform the surgery
Spencer put his head in his hands. "She knew it was more. I saw it in her face. I didn't think it would get this bad."
"Spencer you know this isn't on you." Dave said patting his back.
"An ulcer. Probably worsened do to the stress she is under." Spencer said
Dave nodded. "Possibly. But she will be okay." His phone rang at that moment, and he looked at it.
"Aaron you better have a damn good reason for being unreachable for several hours." He said when he answered the phone.
"What's going on Dave?" he asked
"Your eldest daughter has a bleeding ulcer and is currently having surgery to fix it." Dave said
"An ulcer? That's bad. I'm on my way." Aaron said. Aaron went out to his car and headed to the hospital. He got there and went and found Dave and Spencer. "She still in surgery?" Aaron asked
"Yes." Dave said, "Where were you?"
"Dave now is not the time." Aaron said sitting down. He was already feeling guilty enough not being there when his daughter needed him.
A couple hours later a nurse came out. "Surgery went well. She will be in recovery for some time when she is brought to a room you can go in an see her."
"Thank you." Spencer said.
The nurse nodded and went away.
Spencer got up. "I'm going to track down some coffee. Either of you want anything?"
They both shook their heads and Spencer left the room leaving the two older men alone.
"Where were you Aaron?" David asked in a tone that meant business
"Dave. I've already told you now is not the time." Aaron said.
"When we were waiting to hear if your daughter would be okay I could understand that. But she's in recovery. So, you will answer my question." Dave said
"I was with a woman okay? My phone was in my coat pocket. I didn't hear it." Aaron said. "And you don't need to come down on me for not having my phone. I'm doing that myself." Aaron added
"We have each others back. I was happy to be here for Lorelai but know you cant be unreachable." Dave said
"I know. I messed up." Aaron said
"A lot of that going around." Dave said
Aaron sighed and nodded. "I'm just glad that my kids have a support system. Outside of me."
"Have you checked on your other kids?" Dave asked
"Yes. Rachel is with Jack. I'll be calling Rebecca to go stay with them over night shortly." Aaron said
Dave nodded.
"Who is the woman?" Dave asked with a small smirk.
"Not answering that." Aaron said
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you not share that with me?"
"Since now is not the time." Aaron said
"Uh huh." Dave said. He didn't believe the man for a second. But he wasn't going to push.
Spencer came back with his coffee and sat down.
And not long after that the nurse came back and took Aaron and Spencer in to see her.
"Hey." Aaron said
"Dad. Hi." She said softly.
"How are you feeling?" He asked
"Sore. Tired." She said
The doctor came in the room. "You must be dad?" He asked
"Yes. What caused all this to happen?" Aaron asked
"Well. Ulcers are caused by a bacteria called H-Pylori. Not uncommon. For them to get this bad though. Have you been under any extra stress lately?" The doctor asked
Lorelai huffed a laugh. "My life is just one big stress."
The doctor nodded. "You're twenty-one you shouldn't be dealing with the amount of stress that leads to a hemorrhaging ulcer."
Lorelai nodded. "I'm an FBI agent. With a lot of stress in my past that seems to keep showing up. I don't cause these stressors. I just cant avoid most of them." She said
"Well, your body just make it perfectly clear. You need to take a break." The doctor said
Lorelai sighed. "Like I said nothing I do causes most of the stress in my life." She said
"But you can take some time off work." Spencer said
Lorelai sighed. "Work is the only thing that is keeping me from losing my mind. Who knows maybe being off work this last week caused the stress that made the Ulcer worse." She said
"How long have you been dealing with the symptoms? I have gotten conflicting information on that." The doctor said
Lorelai sighed and looked away from the doctor, Spencer, and her dad.
"Lorelai answer the question." Aaron said
"On and off for a month." She said
The doctor nodded.
"So, you didn't really think it was PMS did you?" Spencer asked
Lorelai sighed
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"No…" She said
"Did you know at all what was going on?" The doctor asked
"No. I didn't think it was anything like this." Lorelai said. "The only think I thought it might be related to would be my iron deficiency… But when I got really sick I knew that wasn't it anymore." She said
The doctor nodded. "Well, you will need some time off to recover. Four to six weeks."
Lorelai nodded. "Understood." She said
"You'll need to take these medications. Avoid spicy and acidic foods and try and figure out a way to manage the stress." The doctor said
Lorelai sighed "What do you suggest?" She asked
"Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night? Avoid processed foods, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Exercise, yoga, meditation, talk to a therapist." He suggested
"Well. I don't eat much processed foods, don't drink much and never done drugs, I talk to a therapist regularly already. When I'm not working I get around 8 hours a night as it is." Lorelai said
"You didn't mention exercise. Meditation." The doctor said
"No. I didn't. Its been awhile since I've worked out. Never done meditation." She said
"What do you do to relax at the end of the day?" The doctor asked
"I draw, or read, spend time with my boyfriend, family, friends." Lorelai said
"All good things." The doctor said. "And ulcers happen but generally when they get to this point there has been a lot of extra stress."
"There was a situation about a week ago. That was particularly stressful. But it wasn't something that I choose to happen." She said
"She was held hostage with her little brother, sister and best friend by someone from her past." Spencer said
The doctor nodded. "Yup. That would do it."
"But not my fault." Lorelai said
"No. Its not." The doctor said, "But it was probably what pushed things over the edge."
"And if you had been honest about the discomfort before hand you could have been treated for it earlier." Aaron said
"Dad…. I didn't know it was this bad.." She said
"No. But you knew something was wrong. Even if it had been your iron issues you should have seen a doctor weeks ago." Aaron said
Lorelai nodded. "Your right."
"But what's done is done. Just take it easy. Do what has been suggested and you should be okay." The doctor said
Lorelai nodded. "I will."
The doctor nodded. "And you will be in the hospital for a few days at least." He said
Lorelai nodded. "Understood."
Spencer looked at them. "There is one other person who is here who might like to see you."
"Dave?" She asked
"You okay with that?" Spencer asked
"Of course." Lorelai said
Spencer left and let Dave go in.
"You okay?" Dave asked
"I will be. Few days in the hospital. Month or so at home resting. Try to minimize or handle stress better." Lorelai said
"Good." He said
"I hope I didn't scare Jules.." She said
"Don't worry about that. She is fine. Probably being spoiled by Kate at the moment." He said
Lorelai chuckled and cringed.
"Pain?" Dave asked
"Yeah. Don't make me laugh." She said
Dave nodded. "Sorry."
"Its okay." Lorelai said
"But I should get home to her. You need anything you call me kid." Dave said.
Lorelai nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." She said
Dave squeezed her shoulder and left.
Spencer came back in and sat down.
Lorelai looked at her dad. "You can go home. To Rachel and Jack."
"Not necessary. Rebecca is there." He said
"Ah. You're still trusting her…" Lorelai said
"Lorelai. Let it go. You don't need that stress." Spencer said
Lorelai took a breathe and let it out.
The doctor had left the room at this point and a nurse came in shortly after. "One of you are definitely going to have to head out." She said
"Okay. I'll do that." Lorelai said with a smirk
"Funny." The nurse said
Spencer and Aaron looked at each other.
"Dad. You can go. Really." Lorelai said
Aaron sighed. "Your my daughter. I want to be here for you."
"I think he's feeling bad because Dave was able to reach him for awhile." Spencer said
Lorelai tilted her head and smirked. "You were unreachable?"
"Thank you Spencer." Aaron said
Spencer smirked.
"Dad. Its okay. I'm okay." Lorelai said
Aaron took a breathe. "I know. And I'm glad."
"And I wont leave her alone." Spencer said
Aaron took a breathe. "I'll check in tomorrow." Aaron said
Lorelai nodded. "Okay."
Aaron left.
Lorelai looked at Spencer.
Spencer smiled and took her hand. "I'm glad your okay."
"Me too." Lorelai said
Spencer caressed her hand.
"You angry with me?" She asked
"Well. I'm not happy you led me to believe it wasn't anything to worry about but what's done is done." Spencer said
"So, your not going to come down on me so you don't add to the stress." She said
"Your to smart for your own good." Spencer said with a smile.
"I'm a profiler. I learned from the best people." She said with a smile. "It will put more stress on me if you don't tell me how you really feel." Lorelai added
Spencer nodded.
"You lied to me." He said
Lorelai nodded.
"You put your health at risk." He said
She nodded again.
"Leave anything out?" he asked
"No that's about covers it." Lorelai said
Spencer nodded.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you. I should have gone to the doctors sooner." She said
"Agreed." He said
"What happens now?" Lorelai asked
"Well. We will revisit it once you are out of the hospital. However, this doesn't change that I love you." Spencer said
Lorelai smiled. "I love you too."
"Close your eyes and sleep." Spencer told her
Lorelai closed her eyes and between the medication and exhaustion she fell asleep.