"Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown"

Chapter Ten: Labyrinth of Passion

Author: Gluglug

Spoiler Warning/Timing: Late-Third Season

Rating: PG -13

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all characters are property of The Dubba Dubba Dubba WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Amy Sherman- Palladino. They don't belong to me, just borrowing.

Summary: Sunday morning post - mortem with the Girls.

The following morning, Lorelai woke up, looked at her clock and it was almost eleven. She hadn't slept well, having skipped a dose of her medication. She groaned and remembered the events of last night. After eating her burger, she left Rory at the diner and returned home to change her clothes. She drove to the coffee house and got there just as Karma Chameleon, the 80s cover band, was starting.

She and Alex hung out at his private table and sang along, off key. Lorelai thought the band was pretty bad, even though Alex raved about his great taste in booking bands. As the band went into its Wham! set, Lorelai gave in and drank Alex's free coffee. She promised herself only one cup, but the whiny singer and the addictive aroma drove her to have three cups in a row. After closing, she was still flying high on caffeine and she drove to Alex's place for a "nightcap."

They were fooling around on his couch and Alex was whispering sweet nothings into her ear when she started to have Luke visions. She remembered how handsome he looked in his suit tonight and in her fantasy he took on the George Michael role, dancing with her in on a yacht, like in the "Careless Whisper" video. Lorelai felt her mouth forming Luke's name, but she was freaked out enough to stop from saying it aloud and pulled herself away from Alex.

When Alex asked her what was wrong, she said she needed to get home to Rory and would call him tomorrow. In the space of a minute, she had gone from lying flat on her back on Alex's couch to sitting in the driver's seat of her jeep, leaving him bewildered. She'd imagined he must've been really pissed off; this was the second weekend in a row she hadn't spent the night.

Lorelai was already looking forward to her next appointment with Dr. Lieberman; it was Wednesday at lunch. Lorelai picked up a notebook and tried to remember all of the dreams she'd been having. Dr. Lieberman had suggested that Lorelai keep a journal of her dreams, it would make her therapy sessions go more smoothly. She couldn't fall asleep last night until well after 2AM with all the caffeine in her system and it was too late to take her pill.

Lorelai began to write. One of her dreams continued the "Careless Whisper" plot, except she was in the George Michael role of the two timing player. In the dream, Luke walked in on her in bed with Alex and she tried to run after him, but his plane flew away before she could catch him. None of these dreams made sense to her, but she hoped her therapist could help.

Lorelai put the notebook away in her nightstand drawer and decided it was time to get out of bed. She was dying to find out about Rory's evening with Jess. She headed downstairs and heard the shower running. She also smelled the aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen. Lorelai decided she was going to be good and made herself a cup of instant decaf to make up for falling off the wagon last night.

She put some bread in the toaster and sat down with the cup and took a sip; it tasted horrible. It was nothing like the kind she had been drinking at the diner, at least that stuff was tolerable. Lorelai gave in and poured a mug brewed from the coffee maker. Well, Dr. Lieberman had said to try to limit to one cup in the morning. And it was still morning.

Rory appeared a minute later, dressed in her terry cloth robe and her hair covered by a towel twisted atop her head.

"Oh, morning, Mom."

"Morning, hon."

"Lemme put on some clothes; I'll be with you in a minute. Rory went into her bedroom, and shut the door. A moment or two later she appeared wearing a Bjork t-shirt and matching sweats.

Rory eyed her mother. "So how was your evening?"

Lorelai eyed her daughter. "So how was your evening?"

"Mom, I'm not pretending we're the Williams sisters again, so I'll go first. Yes Jess and I talked. We've straightened everything out and he's not so freaked anymore, at least I hope he's not. We're gonna wait until I'm ready. And I've decided to make an appointment with Dr. Lieberman for that evil pelvic exam and I'm gonna go on the Pill."

"Oh, Rory that's good news. I mean, I'm still also a little freaked about this losing your virginity thing, but it sounds like you're preparing well and taking responsibility. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom. I'm relieved that Jess and I talked, but I'm just still kind of pissed that I had to do everything. You know, go to gynecologist, get the birth control and have to talk to Jess. I kind of felt like I was interrogating him, but he survived."

"Oh honey, that's the way it is. Women always have to take charge of their men to get anywhere with them. I'm glad you're learning that now, it took me a few years to figure that out."

"So speaking of men, how did it go with Alex? You didn't sleep over, did you? I thought I heard you come in around one."

"Yeah, I decided not to stay over. I had too much caffeine in my system and decided it would be better to detoxify at home."

"So you succumbed to temptation and drank the coffee?"

'Yeah, I'm off the wagon, don't tell Dr. Lieberman."

"Why would our gynecologist care whether or not you've had too much caffeine?" Rory looked puzzled. "She's not the one who gave you the prescription, is she?"

Lorelai realized her mistake. "Oh, did I say Lieberman? I, um, meant Dr. Lewis, he was the one who gave me the pills. I guess Dr. Lieberman is on my mind with your pelvic exam coming up."

Lorelai quickly changed the subject back to Rory. "So did you make an appointment?"

"No, I'll call tomorrow." Rory felt like her mother was hiding something. "Gee, Mom, you seem awfully jumpy. I think you need to stay away from Alex's coffee."

"What? Are you saying I should break up with him?"

"No, of course not. I just think you should probably limit your dates with him to venues outside the Java Junction."

"Well, that might be hard, since he spends most of his time there. That's like asking you to stay away from the diner. I mean, Jess is there quite a bit."

"Yeah, but it's not like his name is on the sign or anything. I mean, imagine if you were dating Luke?"

Lorelai stared at Rory, disturbed by her suggestion. She didn't even want to go there, with the dreams and all. She also hated keeping secrets from Rory but still wasn't ready to tell her about her therapy. Maybe she could tell her after the next session?

"So, sweetie. What have you got planned for today?"

"Oh, the usual. Homework and probably and phone debate with Paris about the merits of the Iraqi war. Hey, can we order Chinese for dinner and then watch 'Alias' together? You don't have to go to Luke's again to beg forgiveness again, do you?"

Lorelai wished she would stop saying his name. "You are never gonna let me live that down, are you? Hey, did you notice last night that Jess didn't know about it?"

"Well, I'm not surprised. You saw how red Luke was when Jess called him on his booty call. Do you really think he would share that moment with Jess?"

"No, I guess not. I think they're bonding a bit more these days, but they're not like you and me."

"Mom, if Luke and Jess ever became like you and me, I'd be seriously concerned."

Lorelai chuckled. "Me, too. Hey, I'm gonna take a shower and tackle the laundry pile in my room. Do you want me to do yours, too?"

"Great, thanks Mom."

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A/N: Short chapter, I know, sort of a transitional one. I'm putting the Lorelai therapy thing on the front burner again, sorry R/J fans. Next chapter she'll have another session and Rory will find out what her mom's been up to. Ah, the intrigue....