Chapter 7
Jess was scared. It was a new feeling for him. . . and he didn't like it. He briefly thought back to the times in New York. He had gotten in trouble a lot back then . . He remembered all the police chases, the close encounters with groups of guys who were in the mood to beat his brains out . . . he had thought that he had been scared then. He realized now that he had been wrong. What he had experienced back then was nothing more than an adrenaline rush. He had never known fear like the kind that was coursing through his veins when he saw Rory's crumpled body lying lifeless on the floor.
"And now that we're being so honest with everything, I might as well tell you just what I think of your sorry ass," Dean sneered at Jess, oblivious to the fact that anything was wrong. His back was facing the door, and he therefore hadn't seen Rory faint. "You have no idea what you destroyed. You'll never have what I had with Rory, you ..." Dean trailed off when he suddenly noticed the stricken look of Jess's face.
Jess wasn't paying any attention to Dean. He suddenly snapped out of his fear-stricken trance and leapt up to run to Rory.
Dean turned around with a sick feeling forming in his stomach. He felt his heart drop when he saw Rory lying by the door. He immediately jumped up as well, running for the door.
Jess was faster. He was already kneeling by Rory before Dean had barely made it out of his chair. Jess noticed a few waiters scrambling around yelling ... something about 911. Jess was too out of it to really care. He carefully turned Rory over and brushed the hair out of her face. She looked so pale and helpless . . . It was like someone had stuck a knife through his heart and twisted it. Jess heard Dean yelling and Mandi crying but couldn't comprehend anything. The only thing he could think was that Rory had to be alright ... he couldn't lose her.
About that time Rory whimpered. It was the sweetest noise Jess had ever heard in his life. Her eyelids fluttered and peeked open. She looked scared and confused.
Wow . . . these lights are bright, Rory thought, I wonder why Jess looks so sad. Why, he looks like he might cry! I must be dreaming . . . Jess would never cry. I can't wait to tell him ... he'll get a kick out of this dream . . . Oh no I think I forgot to tell Mom that I want to get a pet monkey . . .
Jess was obviously unaware of the disoriented thoughts going on his girlfriend's mind. He was just so happy that she had woke up ... so happy that he realized he was in jeopardy of crying. Dammit, he thought, what the hell is wrong with me? She's fine Mariano, She just fainted . . . get a grip. Nonetheless, he was stilling having trouble controlling his rapid heartbeat.
"Jess?" Rory whispered, her voice soft and shallow. Reality was slowing coming back to her, and she was scared.
"It's okay, Rory. You're safe" Jess whispered back, astonished at how hoarse his voice sounded.
About that time Jess felt a pair of hands on his shoulder. "You're going to have to move, son. We need to get her into the ambulance," a man said gently.
"Ambulance?" Rory whispered, becoming alarmed.
"It'll be fine Rory. Jess and Mandi and I will be waiting on you when you get to the hospital. This is just a precaution, baby, just to make sure you're alright." Dean said, kneeling down next to Rory out of nowhere.
Jess gripped Rory more tightly, reluctant to let her go.
Eventually, the paramedics had to pry her out of his arms. Jess stood numbly next to Dean . . . watching as the bright lights of the ambulance faded into the distance ... wondering if it was all real.
***
Jess shoved his hands in his pockets and headed down the brightly illuminated hallway of the hospital. The damn lights were making his head hurt, and he felt like he was choking on the thick scent of antiseptics that clung to the air. He had been there for over 30 minutes and he still hadn't heard anything about Rory. Not that he hadn't asked . . . he thought grimly about the nurse who now probably thought he was Satan's child based on how he had treated her.
Dammit, he thought yet again, silently cursing himself for not noticing that Rory wasn't feeling well. . . that all the "excitement" had obviously upset her. Jeez she even told you she thought she was getting sick. Why the hell did you even agree to come tonight? You should have made her stay home and rest.
Jess sighed when he reached the pay phone, dreading what he knew he had to do. He picked up the phone and dialed the familiar number.
"Hello," a gruff voice answered, surprising Jess.
"Luke?" he asked, momentarily caught off guard.
"Jess?"
"What are you doing at Rory's house?"
"I .. Uh.. Just came over to .. Never mind, why are you calling?"
Jess quickly lost his curiosity as to why Luke was spending the evening with Lorelai when he remembered the grim circumstances under which he was calling. "I need to speak to Lorelai," he said harshly.
"Jess . . ." Luke said in a warning tone. Luke knew something was wrong. Jess sounded like he had just recovered from the plague. Luke briefly wondered why the kid had to screw everything up. He didn't mean to be unfair, but he still leapt to the conclusion that Jess had done something else to get Rory into trouble. And now Jess will lose Rory ... and I .. I'll lose Lorelai ... just when things ... ugh should've known . . .
Lorelai bounced into the living room just then. "Look Lukie, I made us dinner!" She said holding up a take-out box from the local Chinese restaurant.
"Phone," Luke said simply, handing the receiver to Lorelai.
Lorelai frowned, "What's got your knickers in a wad?" she asked before putting the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Lorelai?"
"Jess?" She asked, helpless to prevent the foreboding knot that suddenly appeared in her stomach. Lorelai didn't trust Jess. She couldn't help it . . . he didn't exactly have the best track record after all. But still, he made Rory happy and Lorelai wanted Rory to be happy, so she had agreed to support their relationship. But now . . . now that he was calling sounding totally depressed . . . calling when he was supposed to be on a date with her daughter ... Lorelai couldn't help the doubts that were suddenly clouding her mind. Something had to be wrong.
"Uh, yeah."
"How sweet of you to call and check in like this. You know most dates simply settle for getting the girl back home on time . . . but you, you really know how to impress the mom. I mean, I know your not calling to tell me that my daughter has been arrested or mugged or . . . put in the hospital ... again," she finished icily, halfway regretting how cold she sounded. She knew she was jumping the gun, but . . .
Silence.
"Jess. . .?" Lorelai was starting to panic.
Jess wasn't surprised Lorelai thought he had done something to Rory. He had been expecting it really. Though it did kind of irk him, but he decided he really couldn't blame Lorelai. He had, after all, been responsible for getting Rory in a car accident and fracturing her wrist.
"She fainted, Lorelai," Jess stated bluntly. He had never had a way with words.
"What?!"
"In the restaurant . . . Rory . . . she got upset and went to leave and then I don't know . . . she just fainted. We're at the hospital in Hartford now."
"Upset? Upset how?" Lorelai spat.
Part of Jess wanted to blame the whole thing on Dean. But then again, he was really blaming himself for the whole thing anyway . . .
"Well, Rory found out that Mandi was - "
"Never mind. Tell Rory I'll be there as soon as possible."
The phone went dead.
***
"Well look what we have here. The good boyfriend calling the Mom to let her know that daughter is in the hospital. Bet Lorelai loved that one."
"What do you want, Dean?" Jess asked, not in the mood for a confrontation. He was still feeling a little dejected over the way both Luke and Lorelai had automatically concluded that he had done something to hurt Rory. If only they knew . . . Jess would rather die than hurt Rory on purpose.
"Oh wait ... seems to me that this isn't the first time Rory has landed in the hospital while she was out with you. What an unusual coincidence."
"Get over it Dean, I unfortunately lack the magical gift of making people faint whenever I feel like it."
"Yeah, I guess your right. It really isn't your fault that Rory fainted. I'm sure Lorelai understood, too. I mean, I know how much she trusts you with her daughter."
Dean was really starting to piss Jess off. He could feel himself getting angry. "You know what? If we really want to play the blame game, why don't we consider the role you played in this lovely evening."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, let's see. To begin with, I believe that last thing said to Rory before she fainted was that you still loved her. Guess she was really thrilled over that bit of news. Funny , really . . . . I sure hope the next time I tell a girl I love her, she doesn't go and faint on me - "
"Get to the point, Jess."
"As I was saying . . . If you really want to get technical with all this, we never would have even been out tonight if you hadn't lied to Rory and made her believe that Mandi was your girlfriend."
"I never lied to Rory," Dean said with a sneer.
"Bullshit! You wanted her to believer you were dating your "cousin" or whatever. I don't know what your game was but somehow, you were trying to get her back!"
They were both yelling at this point . . . both unaware of the curious glances they were getting from the passer byers in the hallway.
"Fine! Maybe I did want Rory to believe that. Maybe I was trying to make her jealous. It doesn't really matter though, does it? Because it did work, Rory was jealous!"
"Some way to treat a girl you 'love'."
"Oh give it up Jess! Sure Rory was attracted to you in the beginning. The good girls always fall for the bad guys. But you can't possibly think it will last. Eventually Rory will wake up and realize what a piece of trash you are. And she'll come back to me . . . the person who really loves her. I was just trying to save her a lot of pain."
"You don't know what the hell your talking about!"
"Sure I do! I love Rory and she still loves me, even if she doesn't realize it! You'll never have what we have! Never! You'll never be able to love Rory like I do! You don't even know what love is!"
Jess didn't answer.
Well Guys, what did you think? I know it wasn't the best chapter, the next one should be better. It might be a week or so before I get it up though . . . I have exams next week, fun huh? Anyway, Please review! : )