A/N - The girls identity will be revealed as the story progresses, but I
have tried to include some small hints. This is my first fic so bare with
me (.
After getting directions, the girl now stood in front of the beautiful historic building which was the Independence Inn. Upon walking through the big wooden door she looked around from her position on the top step. Taking in the warm elegance of the building she was now standing in the middle of the room.
A man in a very expensive looking suit was approaching her.
"May I help you", he said in a think french accent.
"Sorry?" She asked, not quite catching what the man had said.
"May I help you", he repeated in am impatient tone.
"Oh, ah, no". She answered, but the man did not leave. "No thank-you?", she tried again, but still the man remained. "Um, Nein Danke?" she said trying to remember what little German she knew.
"I am not German, I am French", he stated.
"Yeah, but it got you to say something right?", she replied knowingly. Again becoming impatient, the man ignored her comment. "What do you want little girl?"
Sensing the man didn't want to deal with her she was about to ask to speak to the Manager but was interrupted.
"Hi, I'm Lorelai, the Manager here, can I do something for you?" Standing in front of her was a tall brown curly haired lady who was immediately warmer than the building itself.
"Oh, um, hi. I was told - Miss patty said - that you might have some work available just for the weekend?", she stumbled out her words.
"Ahh, so Miss Patty heard about Jeff huh? Not record time but still quite respectable. Well she was right but we seem to be managing okay without the extra hands for now, I'm really sorry". The lady looked truly disappointed. There was a familiarity about this girl that had hit her as soon as she saw her, but what was it?
"That's okay, thanks anyway", the girl said with a pressing smile. She was just about to turn to walk out when a shriek came from the back of the room.
"Lorelai! Mitch and Walter just called in sick! So now am I not just down one person, I am down three!"
The girl followed the voice and discovered it was coming from a short, chubby, rosie cheeked lady wearing a pink chefs outfit.
This was followed by a "What?! Sookie, tell me you are joking" from Lorelai.
"I am not joking. Mitch is Jeffs' room mate and he ate some of the clams that were left their fridge and Walter who is staying with them because he is in trouble with his wife for staying out late ate the rest of them. So now all three of them are sick." The lady who the girl assumed was Sookie explained.
"Oh man. Sookie, tell me one thing - were the clams from Als'?"
"Uh-huh", she nodded.
"Oh boy", Lorelai said through a sigh.
"What are we going to do? You have to hire someone, anyone!" The short lady said in a panicked tone. Quickly looking around the building in a state of desperation she spotted the young girl who had been observing the conversation with amusement. "You", she pointed to the girl, "You, can you hold a spoon and stir?"
Still wondering whether the short lady was serious she answered hesitantly, "Um.yeah".
"Good, you're hired" the short lady retorted and then as quickly as she had appeared she was gone.
The girl looked at Lorelai, who hadn't been able to get a word in up until now, for conformation. Lorelai nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders at the same, ushering the girl to the kitchen.
"So, um, that was our chef Sookie. She's a little crazy but totally harmless when not wielding kitchen utensils", the tall lady explained as they entered the kitchen.
The girls' eyes widened when she saw the chaos. Sensing the girl was a little overwhelmed, Lorelai put a hand on her shoulder and guided her towards Sookie. "Come on, we'll get you started". She hadn't known quite why, but she felt protective of the girl.
Normally she would have been quite uncomfortable with someone touching her but when Lorelai performed this simple act, she felt.calm.
"Sookie, this is.", she stopped realising she didn't even know the girls' name.
"Oh, um, sorry", she hesitated, not knowing whether she wanted these people to know her name. She thought quickly, "Ricki".
Lorelai continued, "Okay, Sookie, this is Ricki. Ricki, Sookie", she said waving her hands between the two.
Before she had a chance to say anything, Sookie had waved her over to a rather large pot and handed her quite possibly the biggest wooded spoon she had ever seen. "Okay honey, for now you can stir this, ten circles clockwise then ten the other way. As soon as it boils turn it off, but leave it on the ring. Then you can..", the instructions continued for a while but Ricki, as she was now known to these people, had a good memory and wasn't phased by it.
Lorelai was able to cut in just long enough to say that she would be back later to check on things. She then exited the kitchen with coffee in hand.
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The night was hectic to say the least with Ricki moving from stirring to chopping and dicing to mixing. She even served a couple of tables. The dishwasher was just about loaded when Lorelai walked in.
"Coffee!", she pleaded.
'Here you go", Sookie said as she handed her a cup.
Lorelai then turned to Ricki and said, "So how'd you go?" Ricki just held up both her hands and gave the woman in front of her a small smile. Lorelai looked at the girls' hands and saw a field of fluoro coloured band- aids. "Aww, at least you didn't end up in the hospital like the last guy", she said sympathetically, sharing Ricki's tired smile.
"So Ricki, I didn't get a chance to talk to you before, tell me about yourself", Lorelai changed the subject while Sookie made sure everything in the kitchen was put away to her liking.
"Well", Ricki started, not knowing exactly what to tell her. "I was just passing through but there was a bus thing and I pretty much got stuck here for the weekend". Lorelai motioned for her to continue. "So I figured I may as well make the most of it and try get some work while I was here".
"And that's when you met Miss Patty and ended up here", Lorelai finished for her.
"Yup". Ricki hoped she wouldn't ask to many more questions.
"Well I can't pay you very much, but every little bit helps right?" Lorelai added.
The girl thought quickly. "How about just room and board?" she suggested, knowing that the woman could only say 'no'.
A thoughtful look appeared on Lorelai's face. "Well, we don't have any rooms in here thanks to all those crazy business vultures you helped feed tonight, but.you could stay in the potting shed". Realising that to someone who had never seen it, the potting shed had less appeal then cold 3 day old fires, she quickly added, "It's not much but it's warm and dry and has a bed and running water". She saw a look in the girls' eyes which most wouldn't have noticed.
Ricki hoped that the huge relief she felt didn't show, even though she sensed that the lady in front of her had already picked up on it. "Okay, great. Thanks" she said not really knowing what else to say.
"Okay, so Sookie if you are finished up here we can head out and swing by the potting shed on the way" Lorelai continued.
"Okay hon, I am all done, lets go!" Sookie announced shutting the refrigerator door. Ricki thought it was amazing that Sookie still managed to sound cheery after the night they all had.
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Grabbing their bags and coats the three made their way quietly to the potting shed. They were all too tired to try and make conversation.
"Well this is it", Lorelai announced as they approached shed.
Ricki, who had been taking in what she could see of the grounds in the dim light saw what Lorelai was gesturing at. To her it looked more like a little cottage than a shed and she couldn't help but smile at it and its' surroundings. There was a lake with big trees, illuminated by the lights that were still on at the inn, it was beautiful.
Lorelai unlocked the door and pointed out to Ricki everything she would need. For Lorelai it was a place of memories and she loved going down there. For Ricki it would be a warm place to sleep.
Sookie watched the interaction and smiled. From the time she had spent with Ricki that evening in the kitchen, she could tell that the girl was a lot like Lorelai. Sookie felt that she was also something more than just a passer by.
After making sure Ricki had everything she needed, Lorelai and Sookie headed towards the Jeep. Lorelai was unusually quiet, even for a tired Lorelai.
"Everything okay hon?", Sookie asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine, just tired is all". Lorelai answered. Sookie knew that wasn't all, but she decided not to pry. Not until tomorrow anyway.
"Hey Sook? Do you know anything more about Ricki? I mean I didn't even ask how old she was". Lorelai had discovered a second wind, Sookie wouldn't have to wait after all.
"Well I think she said she was eighteen but other than that she didn't really talk about herself much" Sookie answered.
"She's not eighteen" Lorelai told her friend bluntly.
Sookie nodded her head in agreement, "I know".
The rest of the trip was silent, both caught up in their own individual thoughts.
"Thanks for the ride". Sookie broke the silence.
"Anytime. Hey, tell Jackson to stay away from your car in future, I think the vegetables are feeling neglected". Lorelai told Sookie as she got out of the car.
Sookie laughed and said "I will. See you tomorrow".
"Bright and early", Lorelai replied and headed home.
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After getting directions, the girl now stood in front of the beautiful historic building which was the Independence Inn. Upon walking through the big wooden door she looked around from her position on the top step. Taking in the warm elegance of the building she was now standing in the middle of the room.
A man in a very expensive looking suit was approaching her.
"May I help you", he said in a think french accent.
"Sorry?" She asked, not quite catching what the man had said.
"May I help you", he repeated in am impatient tone.
"Oh, ah, no". She answered, but the man did not leave. "No thank-you?", she tried again, but still the man remained. "Um, Nein Danke?" she said trying to remember what little German she knew.
"I am not German, I am French", he stated.
"Yeah, but it got you to say something right?", she replied knowingly. Again becoming impatient, the man ignored her comment. "What do you want little girl?"
Sensing the man didn't want to deal with her she was about to ask to speak to the Manager but was interrupted.
"Hi, I'm Lorelai, the Manager here, can I do something for you?" Standing in front of her was a tall brown curly haired lady who was immediately warmer than the building itself.
"Oh, um, hi. I was told - Miss patty said - that you might have some work available just for the weekend?", she stumbled out her words.
"Ahh, so Miss Patty heard about Jeff huh? Not record time but still quite respectable. Well she was right but we seem to be managing okay without the extra hands for now, I'm really sorry". The lady looked truly disappointed. There was a familiarity about this girl that had hit her as soon as she saw her, but what was it?
"That's okay, thanks anyway", the girl said with a pressing smile. She was just about to turn to walk out when a shriek came from the back of the room.
"Lorelai! Mitch and Walter just called in sick! So now am I not just down one person, I am down three!"
The girl followed the voice and discovered it was coming from a short, chubby, rosie cheeked lady wearing a pink chefs outfit.
This was followed by a "What?! Sookie, tell me you are joking" from Lorelai.
"I am not joking. Mitch is Jeffs' room mate and he ate some of the clams that were left their fridge and Walter who is staying with them because he is in trouble with his wife for staying out late ate the rest of them. So now all three of them are sick." The lady who the girl assumed was Sookie explained.
"Oh man. Sookie, tell me one thing - were the clams from Als'?"
"Uh-huh", she nodded.
"Oh boy", Lorelai said through a sigh.
"What are we going to do? You have to hire someone, anyone!" The short lady said in a panicked tone. Quickly looking around the building in a state of desperation she spotted the young girl who had been observing the conversation with amusement. "You", she pointed to the girl, "You, can you hold a spoon and stir?"
Still wondering whether the short lady was serious she answered hesitantly, "Um.yeah".
"Good, you're hired" the short lady retorted and then as quickly as she had appeared she was gone.
The girl looked at Lorelai, who hadn't been able to get a word in up until now, for conformation. Lorelai nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders at the same, ushering the girl to the kitchen.
"So, um, that was our chef Sookie. She's a little crazy but totally harmless when not wielding kitchen utensils", the tall lady explained as they entered the kitchen.
The girls' eyes widened when she saw the chaos. Sensing the girl was a little overwhelmed, Lorelai put a hand on her shoulder and guided her towards Sookie. "Come on, we'll get you started". She hadn't known quite why, but she felt protective of the girl.
Normally she would have been quite uncomfortable with someone touching her but when Lorelai performed this simple act, she felt.calm.
"Sookie, this is.", she stopped realising she didn't even know the girls' name.
"Oh, um, sorry", she hesitated, not knowing whether she wanted these people to know her name. She thought quickly, "Ricki".
Lorelai continued, "Okay, Sookie, this is Ricki. Ricki, Sookie", she said waving her hands between the two.
Before she had a chance to say anything, Sookie had waved her over to a rather large pot and handed her quite possibly the biggest wooded spoon she had ever seen. "Okay honey, for now you can stir this, ten circles clockwise then ten the other way. As soon as it boils turn it off, but leave it on the ring. Then you can..", the instructions continued for a while but Ricki, as she was now known to these people, had a good memory and wasn't phased by it.
Lorelai was able to cut in just long enough to say that she would be back later to check on things. She then exited the kitchen with coffee in hand.
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The night was hectic to say the least with Ricki moving from stirring to chopping and dicing to mixing. She even served a couple of tables. The dishwasher was just about loaded when Lorelai walked in.
"Coffee!", she pleaded.
'Here you go", Sookie said as she handed her a cup.
Lorelai then turned to Ricki and said, "So how'd you go?" Ricki just held up both her hands and gave the woman in front of her a small smile. Lorelai looked at the girls' hands and saw a field of fluoro coloured band- aids. "Aww, at least you didn't end up in the hospital like the last guy", she said sympathetically, sharing Ricki's tired smile.
"So Ricki, I didn't get a chance to talk to you before, tell me about yourself", Lorelai changed the subject while Sookie made sure everything in the kitchen was put away to her liking.
"Well", Ricki started, not knowing exactly what to tell her. "I was just passing through but there was a bus thing and I pretty much got stuck here for the weekend". Lorelai motioned for her to continue. "So I figured I may as well make the most of it and try get some work while I was here".
"And that's when you met Miss Patty and ended up here", Lorelai finished for her.
"Yup". Ricki hoped she wouldn't ask to many more questions.
"Well I can't pay you very much, but every little bit helps right?" Lorelai added.
The girl thought quickly. "How about just room and board?" she suggested, knowing that the woman could only say 'no'.
A thoughtful look appeared on Lorelai's face. "Well, we don't have any rooms in here thanks to all those crazy business vultures you helped feed tonight, but.you could stay in the potting shed". Realising that to someone who had never seen it, the potting shed had less appeal then cold 3 day old fires, she quickly added, "It's not much but it's warm and dry and has a bed and running water". She saw a look in the girls' eyes which most wouldn't have noticed.
Ricki hoped that the huge relief she felt didn't show, even though she sensed that the lady in front of her had already picked up on it. "Okay, great. Thanks" she said not really knowing what else to say.
"Okay, so Sookie if you are finished up here we can head out and swing by the potting shed on the way" Lorelai continued.
"Okay hon, I am all done, lets go!" Sookie announced shutting the refrigerator door. Ricki thought it was amazing that Sookie still managed to sound cheery after the night they all had.
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Grabbing their bags and coats the three made their way quietly to the potting shed. They were all too tired to try and make conversation.
"Well this is it", Lorelai announced as they approached shed.
Ricki, who had been taking in what she could see of the grounds in the dim light saw what Lorelai was gesturing at. To her it looked more like a little cottage than a shed and she couldn't help but smile at it and its' surroundings. There was a lake with big trees, illuminated by the lights that were still on at the inn, it was beautiful.
Lorelai unlocked the door and pointed out to Ricki everything she would need. For Lorelai it was a place of memories and she loved going down there. For Ricki it would be a warm place to sleep.
Sookie watched the interaction and smiled. From the time she had spent with Ricki that evening in the kitchen, she could tell that the girl was a lot like Lorelai. Sookie felt that she was also something more than just a passer by.
After making sure Ricki had everything she needed, Lorelai and Sookie headed towards the Jeep. Lorelai was unusually quiet, even for a tired Lorelai.
"Everything okay hon?", Sookie asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine, just tired is all". Lorelai answered. Sookie knew that wasn't all, but she decided not to pry. Not until tomorrow anyway.
"Hey Sook? Do you know anything more about Ricki? I mean I didn't even ask how old she was". Lorelai had discovered a second wind, Sookie wouldn't have to wait after all.
"Well I think she said she was eighteen but other than that she didn't really talk about herself much" Sookie answered.
"She's not eighteen" Lorelai told her friend bluntly.
Sookie nodded her head in agreement, "I know".
The rest of the trip was silent, both caught up in their own individual thoughts.
"Thanks for the ride". Sookie broke the silence.
"Anytime. Hey, tell Jackson to stay away from your car in future, I think the vegetables are feeling neglected". Lorelai told Sookie as she got out of the car.
Sookie laughed and said "I will. See you tomorrow".
"Bright and early", Lorelai replied and headed home.
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