Lorelai, Luke & Jess huddled together in the ICU waiting room of Hartford Memorial while waiting to see Rory. Lorelai spent a good amount of time having anxiety about random things – who was going to tend to Paul Anka? Who was going to staff the Dragonfly? Did she need to consult her insurance company about the Jeep? What about the diner? What about everything?
Jess looked at Lorelai briefly and noticed the similarities in ramblings between Lorelai and Rory. He smiled to himself, knowing that Rory would do the exact same thing if their roles were reversed. He knew in his bones that his friend would be okay. The journey to get there might be rough, depending on the circumstances, but he had every confidence that she would be okay.
Jess took a walk outside, for fresh air and to regroup. As a person of action, he knew that he needed to DO something – something to help someone. So, he decided to call Lane. Lane would also want to help. He asked her to go and tend to Paul Anka. She would also oversee contacting Cesar and Michel to open the diner and inn, respectively. Lane was highly concerned and wanted to race over to the hospital, but Jess convinced her that she would be a huge help by staying in Stars Hollow and handling things.
Jess walked around outside, as he tried to stop his mind from racing. Rory had been important to him for as long as he could remember. In his mind, the best thing he could do was take care of as much of the peripheral stuff that he could so that Luke and Lorelai could focus on Rory.
Rory. The girl who rejected him AGAIN not even twelve hours ago. The girl to whom no one else had ever measured up. But she was straight with him. She was honest and told him about the baby and her engagement and her life. Because he loved her, he was genuinely happy for her. And he could always hate Logan a little, right? Besides, Logan still could always get sucked into a jet engine or something, right? He grinned to himself. Nah. It would be better to find someone who loved him like Rory loved Logan. Jess pondered what that might feel like as he strolled in the freshly fallen snow.
Upon hearing a loud, screeching sound, Jess looked up to see a Mercedes SUV tearing around the corner at what could NOT be a safe rate of speed. The driver barely parked the vehicle across three different spaces in a wild, diagonal fashion. The driver (a woman) jumped out and slipped on the ice, falling sideways. Jess rushed over to see if the woman was okay. He reached for her hand and asked, "Are you okay? Do you need some help?"
She brushed her hair out of her eyes and said, "I'm fine. I don't need anything." She glared at him as she tried to get up. Then she slipped on the ice again and fell on her butt this time.
Jess nodded, "I can see that. I'm going to go over there but you can let me know if you change your mind," as he gestured to the bench by the ED entrance. He grinned at her and slowly made his way over to the bench. As he glanced over his shoulder to check on her discreetly, he was able to see her face in the darkness. "Wait, I know you." He started walking back toward her. "You're Rory's friend."
The woman furrowed her brow at him. "Well, if you know who the fuck I am, help me up already." Once he approached her and she got a good look at him. "Jess?"
Jess nodded slowly. "Yeah." He peered at her in the darkness. "Paris?" He held out both of his hands to help her up. "What are you doing here?"
Paris replied, "I'm an O.B. I'm on call tonight and we have a patient who needs an exam." She accepted his hands finally and let him guide her to her feet. She quickly said, "Thanks," as she brushed the snow off her pants and looked for her keys.
Paris spotted her keys and started to reach for them as Jess said, "I'll get them. I'm not wearing heels." He gestured to his hiking boots as he reached for her keys. He handed the keys to Paris as she threw them in her pocket.
Paris asked Jess, "What are you doing here?"
Jess didn't know how to break the news to Paris, so he said, "I'll be around a while tonight. Go see your patient and maybe we can chat later?" It didn't occur to him that Rory was the reason Paris was there.
Ninety minutes later, Paris joined Rory's family in the ICU waiting room. After Paris consoled Lorelai and got her to stop sobbing, she shared the information that she was able to gather about her best friend. She was able to inform them that the fetus was 'still viable.' The baby's heartbeat was still there and as strong as ever. The fetal monitor strapped to Rory's stomach was providing constant vital signs on the baby. Lorelai was able to fill Paris in on the latest developments of Rory's life.
Paris sank down into the couch next to Lorelai. She was crushed once she realized that Rory was on her way to see her when this happened. She'd called Rory several times to find out why she didn't show, but Paris decided that something must have come up. She eventually gave up and went to bed. Not showing up was out of character for Rory, but Paris had other things on her mind – she was on call as well.
Paris checked with neurology nearly every ten minutes, demanding the results of the CT scan. She called and yelled at every radiologist in the health system to wake them up and demand that they give her the good news that she needed. But at this point, they still had no news.
Each person was taking turns sitting at Rory's bedside. Because of the recommendation for calming, positive vibes, Lorelai couldn't stay with her. Rory was so bruised and scratched that she was nearly unrecognizable. Jess was currently with Rory, holding vigil. He decided to whisper the words of all the Ramones and Clash songs he knew. It was easier than speaking his mind and he knew it was something she enjoyed. He told Rory that she would probably respond better if they put coffee in her IV instead of whatever fluids she was receiving.
Luke sent Logan a new text saying, "Logan, its Luke. We found out that the baby has good vital signs. We are still waiting on results of Rory's CT scan, but Paris is waking up everyone in Connecticut to get it done. Travel safe. She needs you."
Logan was sitting quietly on the jet when his phone chimed. The soft 'bing' caused him to nearly jump out of his skin. Logan sobbed uncontrollably as he read the text. "Oh, thank God," was all he could say.
Mitchum looked up at his son for more information. He nodded, a silent question. In between sobs, he said, "The baby is still alive – with good vital signs. That's all they know right now, but it's something." Logan scrubbed his face with both hands. "I never knew how badly I wanted to be a father until she told me we were having a baby. And now I can't imagine anything else."
Mitchum nodded. "I know. I've never told anyone this before, but I felt the same way when your mom told me she was expecting Honor. It changed me instantly. I went from being just some guy, to a father – she wasn't here yet. But I was a father. And so are you."
Mitchum reached across the big, luxurious leather seat of the private jet and pulled Logan into an embrace. Logan sobbed into Mitchum's shoulder. "She... if she... Dad... I don't know what..."
Logan couldn't finish a sentence while he sobbed into his father's shoulder. "I know," Mitchum said as he held his son. "She's going to be okay. Have a little faith."
Logan took a few deep breaths as he yanked on his tie which had begun to strangle him. He unbuttoned his top button and then went to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. He paced around the plane a little and then went to the galley to find something to eat. He wasn't hungry really, but he needed something to do with his hands.
The difference between Logan and Mitchum is that Mitchum would have walked back to his seat and pressed the call button. The flight attendant would have had to put down whatever she was reading, get up from her seat, find out what he needed, go to the galley and come back with a selection for him to pick from. But Logan was right near the galley, and he respected the flight attendants as more than mere 'sky-waitresses'. Logan knew that they were primarily there for his safety and to get him out of the plane in one piece if something bad happened. Serving drinks and nuts was just a side hustle for the real safety practitioners on the plane. So, he ducked into the galley and grabbed a few snacks. He grabbed some almonds, a cheese stick, an orange and a paper towel for the orange peel. The flight attendant was resting also on the transatlantic flight. She was shocked and horrified to discover that Logan Huntzberger was getting his own snack. He noticed her begin to jump up to assist him. "Sir, I'm so sorry, Sir..."
Logan shook his head, "Please, stay where you are. I didn't know what I wanted, and I was passing by, so I just grabbed something. Please continue resting." The woman's eyes were as big as saucers. Logan implored her to relax. "Please?" She finally sat back in her seat and Logan gave her a weak smile. "Thank you." She nodded at him, and he went back to his seat.
He texted Luke a thank you and decided to attempt to rest a little. His father was right. She WOULD be fine. Logan drifted off thinking of blonde-haired, blue-eyed children jumping on his bed to join him and Rory on Sunday mornings.