Heat
By Belle
Pairing: R/J, maybe a little L/L later on
Rating: PG for now.
Summary: Set in season 3. Dean breaks up with Rory and she looks to console in Jess, who is dating Shane. Jess and Rory exchange harsh words, but Rory regrets them once she finds out that there was a fire at the diner, and Jess is nowhere to be found. CONTAINS SPOILERS!

[ bridge ]

Rory comes across a sleeping form on the bridge.

Rory: Oh my God! Jess!

Jess wakes up.

Jess: Where am I?

Rory: I thought you were dead! Oh my God!

Jess: Why would I be dead?

Rory: There was a fire at the diner!

Jess: Diner?

Rory: You know, Luke's... Jess, who am I?

Jess: I have no idea. Who's Jess?

Rory: What's the last thing you remember?

Jess: I was in some building, and I was smoking because I was upset. I was in the kitchen and the stove was on. There was a burst of flames and I blacked out. I woke up a little while later and the room was filled with smoke so I broke the window and climbed out. I don't know how I got here. Must have been instinct.

Rory: So you have recollection of the fire but you can't remember anything else.

Jess: No. Who are you?

Rory: I'm Rory.

Jess: Oh. Are you my girlfriend or something?

Rory: Not exactly.

Jess: So I'm Jess?

Rory: Yes, you are.

Jess: Can you tell me more about myself?

Rory: Well, let's see. You're seventeen, going to be eighteen in a few weeks. You're from New York City originally, but you were getting into some trouble there so your mom sent you here to Stars Hollow to live with your uncle Luke. Y-

Jess: (cuts in) Where's my dad?

Rory: (softly) Your dad abandoned you and your mom a few years ago.

Jess: Oh.... Go on.

Rory: You love to read. You read everything. You also like to write notes in the margins of books. You love music as well. You have the most impressive CD collection I've ever seen. Besides Lane.

Jess: Lane?

Rory: She's my best friend.

Jess: Is she my girlfriend?

Rory: No, she's not. Jess... do you remember something about a girl?

Jess: I vaguely remember a girl... I think I loved her.

Rory: (disappointed) You must mean Shane... she's your girlfriend.

Jess: Oh. What's your name again?

Rory: Rory.

Jess: Okay. Can I go home now?

Rory: Yeah, we should get you home. Everybody thinks your dead.

[ Luke's ]

Luke and Lorelai are sitting on a bench outside. The fire has been extinguished, and the diner can still remain open, but their is too much damage to the apartment.

Luke: I can't believe they didn't even find his body. He must have completely burned up.

Lorelai: Oh Luke, I'm so sorry.

Luke: I really did love that kid, Lorelai. He may have seemed like trouble to you, but he was a good kid.

Lorelai: I know he was. He just reminded me of Rory's dad.

Luke: What am I going to tell Liz?

Lorelai: Let's not worry about that right away.

Luke: How is Rory taking it?

Lorelai: I think she went into shock. She left the house in a daze. She thinks its her fault because she and Jess had a fight the other day.

Luke: She must feel so burdened.

Lorelai: She loved him, Luke.

Luke: I know she did. And he loved her.

Rory and Jess come up. Luke and Lorelai jump up.

Luke: Jess! Oh my God! You're alive?

Jess: (looks at Rory) Who's he?

Rory: That's your uncle Luke.

Lorelai: Rory, what happened?

Rory: I found him sleeping on the bridge. He's lost his memory, Mom.

Lorelai: Jess, who am I?

Jess: I hope you're my girlfriend!

Rory: That's my mom.

Jess: Oh. Sorry.

Lorelai: It's okay. I know I'm a hottie.

Luke: Alright. Jess, were you in the apartment when the fire started?

Jess: Yes.

Luke: Did you start the fire?

Jess: I was smoking because I was upset. I was in the kitchen and the stove was on. There was a burst of flames and I blacked out. I woke up a little while later and the room was filled with smoke so I broke the window and climbed out.

Luke: And that's the only thing in your memory?

Jess: Yes, it is.

Luke: Oh, we have a problem here.

Rory: Look at the bright side here. At least he's not dead.

Luke: That's true. Come here, Jess.

Luke pulls Jess into a hug.

Jess: Okay man, that's enough. I'm fine. Just confused.

Lorelai: He's obviously the same old Jess.

Rory: I think I'm going to do some research about amnesia.

Lorelai: Rory, hon. It's midnight. Let's go home. Luke and Jess can come stay at our house.

Luke: Well, the cops said that said that there's not enough damage to pose a threat to the diner, but you can't be too safe. I appreciate it, Lorelai..

[ Rory's bedroom; early the next morning ]

Rory wakes up to see Jess knealing next to her bed.

Rory: Jess, what are you doing in here?

Jess: I went to go find the kitchen and I wanted to see what was in this room. Obviously, it was you.

Rory: We first met in this room, you know.

Jess: I'm sorry, but I don't remember.

Rory: It's okay. Do you remember anything? Does anything seem familiar?

Jess: I remember the fire and I have vague memories of a girl.

Rory: (sarcastically) Maybe I should take you to see Shane later. She could refresh your memory with one of your infamous make-out sessions.

Jess: Are you upset with me? What did I do?

Rory: You didn't do anything but kiss me back.

Jess: We kissed? When?

Rory: At my mom's best friend's wedding a few months ago.

Jess: I have feeling it's more than that.

Rory: Well, three days after the kiss I left for Washington D.C. I wrote you a thousand letters while I was gone, but I never had the gall to send any of them.

Jess: Why not?

Rory: Because I was embarrassed.

Jess: So what happened when you came home?

Rory: You had a girlfriend... Shane. I was so heartbroken, I didn't know what do. Eventually I broke up with my boyfriend.

Jess: You had a boyfriend while you kissed me?

Rory: Yes. Dean.

Jess: Damn, you must really like me.

Rory: I adore you, Jess Mariano.

Jess: Mariano's my last name?

Rory: Yes, it is.

Jess: Sounds like something you would put on spaghetti. So did we fight when you came back?

Rory: I avoided you for a while, but this is a small town. It's hard to stay away from anyone. I ran into you at the book store and we shared some harsh words... I regretted them so much. And then I thought you were dead... (Rory starts to cry) I went into shock at first. I couldn't even cry; I just couldn't believe I'd never seen you again.

Jess: (gently) But I wasn't dead.

Rory: No, you weren't. But you're not you. You're a poor, confused little boy.

Jess: I'm so sorry, Rory.

Rory: It's not your fault. By the way, do you know why you were upset when you were smoking?

Jess: All I remember is that it had to do with this mysterious girl who keeps creeping into my memory.

Rory: That's it. I'm determined now.

Jess: Determined to do what?

Rory: I'm going to get you your memory back. No matter what it takes. I'm going to take you throughout the entire town so you can make some recollections. I won't lose you, Jess.

Jess: I appreciate that. When should we leave?

Rory: Now. Luke's at the diner so we'll go have breakfast first.

A/N: Please R&R! Thank you! And if you have time, check out some of my other stories!