Fool for Love

by

javakamp
Chapter 30: Allusions and delusions.

A hush hung over the crowd in the diner, while all eyes shifted between Colin on the floor, and Luke, still standing in the same spot. Luke broke the silence when he took a step towards Colin, and while pointing at the prostrate man said, "I don't want to ever hear you talk about her like that again.

Colin sat up feeling the side of his face, and checking his nose for blood, all the while staring at Luke. After a moment, a smile broke out on his face as he said, "All I know is that you're not going to doing anything about it. You know why. Because when I get up from here, I'm going to go and find the Barney Fife that passes for some kind of police force in this town and have him lock you up for assault."

"Then," Colin continued, "I'm going to sue your ass. I'm going to sue so bad that I'm going to end up owing this dump, and you'll be working for me. Won't that be special?"

"I wouldn't be so hasty about that young man if I were you." All eyes turned to the speaker, Taylor Doose, who wiped his mouth with napkin.

Colin looked up at Taylor and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Taylor Doose, the owner of Doose's Market, just across the street, and several other businesses in and around Star's Hollow."

"Well, congratulations." Colin retorted. "Now tell me why I care."

"Because, young man," Taylor began explaining. "In addition to being a local business man, I am also the town Magistrate." Taylor paused to allow his words to sink in. "So heed my words when I tell you that if anyone will be going to jail, it will not be Mr. Danes."

Colin just continued to sit on the floor, staring at Taylor, who continued to speak, "You see as proprietor of this establishment, Mr. Danes was exercising his legal right when he asked you to vacate said establishment, because you creating a disturbance. But instead of heeding his rightful request, not only did you refuse to leave, you physically assaulted Mr. Danes. Any actions on his part that may have resulted in any physical or psychological damage to you were acts of self defense, brought about by your own actions."

Taylor paused again, but when Colin remained silently on the floor, Taylor continued, "Now it is true that any trials that resulted from what has transpired here today, would not be held in a court presided over by me, but I would most surly be called as a witness." Taylor leaned closer to Colin, and then said, "And let me tell you I make a very good witness."

Taylor sat back up crossing his arms, "Now young man, let me ask you if you still desire the sheriff?"

Colin stared at Taylor for a long moment, before he tore his gaze away and shook his head.

"Fine," Taylor said with a nod. He turned to Luke and asked, "How about you Luke, do you wish to press charges? I can call the sheriff right now and instruct him to put this gentleman into custody."

At Taylor's question, Colin's eyes shot to Luke, fear obvious on his face. Luke stared quietly back, while his hands continued to ball into fist hung at his sides.

Finally, Luke shook his head, and said, "No." Colin started to stand, the relief obvious on his face. But he halted when Luke said, "That is as long as he gets out of town, and doesn't bother Lorelai again."

"Well," Taylor said looking at Colin, "That sounds like a very generous offer from Mr. Danes. I suggest you take him up on it."

Although it obviously pained him, Colin nodded agreement.

"A very wise choice young man," Taylor said. He looked up at Jess who was standing near by and said, "Jess be a good lad and help the gentleman up and on his way."

"Sure thing Mr. Doose," Jess replied to the first thing that Taylor Doose had ever said to him that he agreed with. He stepped up to Colin and extended a hand. Colin hesitated for a moment before he took the hand, and allowed Jess to help him up. "There you go," Jess said, as he made a play of helping to smooth any wrinkles from Colin's clothes. After a moment, Jess pointed behind Colin and said, "In case you forgot, the door's this way."

Colin looked as if he might respond for a moment, but he elected not to. He turned to leave but halted when Jess said, "Oh just a minute." Colin turned to see Jess pulling his hand from his jeans pocket holding a few folded bills. Jess flipped through the currency, and pulled out a five-dollar bill. He stuck the bill into Colin's jacket pocket, and said, "That's to make sure you have enough gas to get out of town."

Colin glared at Jess, until the young man again pointed at the door. Red faced with embarrassment, Colin turned and stalked from the diner, accompanied by a small round for applause form the patrons

Once Colin had left, all the tension, and emotions of the day's events caught up to Lorelai. Almost involuntarily she sank into her chair. Not sure if she wanted to cry, laugh, cheer, or shout, she quietly sat in the chair staring into space.

"Are you okay, mom?" Rory asked when she noticed her mom sink into the chair. When Lorelai didn't respond, Rory knelt in front of her mother, took hold of her hands, and asked again, "Mom are you okay?"

"I'm fine sweetie," Lorelai responded in a voce that sounded far away.

Luke stepped up and asked, "Is everything okay?" When no one replied, he again spoke, "Are you alright, Lorelai?"

Again, in the soft, faraway voice Lorelai replied, "I'm fine daddy. I'll be down in a minute."

Luke glanced at Rory who looked back with a scared expression, while biting her lip. He looked back at Lorelai and her two thousand yard stare. Trying to sound encouraging, Luke said to Rory, "I think she's had a little too much excitement. She probably needs some time, where it's quiet." He glanced around the diner, then reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out some keys. He singled one out and gave it to Rory, saying, "Why don't you take your mom upstairs."

Rory nodded and began to gather their things, but Luke said, "Here you help your mother." Luke and Rory coaxed Lorelai out of the chair. Once they were on their way upstairs, he called, "Jess."

Jess came over and Luke asked, "Would you get their coats and things and take them upstairs.

Luke watched the Gilmore's pass through the doorway that led to the stairs. He desperately wanted to follow, but on some level, he knew that Rory was probably the best person to help Lorelai right now.

Luke turned his attention back to the diner, as it slowly got back to normal. He noticed Taylor still at the counter, finishing his coffee. He walked up to Taylor and asked, "Can I get you a refill, there Taylor?"

Taylor looked at Luke and answered, "Why thank you Luke, I think I will."

Luke grabbed the pot and as he filled Taylor's cup said, "You know, Taylor, I know that you're the town Magistrate, and all, but if I remember the town charter correctly, that's just an administrative position, so you can issue permits and such."

"That is correct, Luke," Taylor nodded.

"So I'm right when I say that you don't have any authority to order the police to arrest someone, or preside over court?"

"Well, I suppose that it's a good thing that Lorelai's friend doesn't know our town charter as well as you do."

Luke smirked at Taylor, and said, "Careful Taylor. Lying like that could ruin you reputation as a stickler for following the rules."

"Ah," Taylor replied, holding up a finger. But you're wrong there Luke, I did not lie."

"You didn't?"

"No, I simply presented the facts to the gentleman in a particular format, and allowed him to surmise the rest. It's not my fault if he came to the wrong conclusions, is it."

Luke pondered for a moment. "No I suppose it's not."

"Besides," Taylor started, "I was enforcing the most important rule."

"What rule is that?"

"The rule that says, this is my town, and while I might not agree with all my neighbors 100 percent of the time, if some outsider wants to come into my town and try to take advantage of one of those neighbors, well he's just going to have deal with me."

Luke looked at Taylor for a moment, before a smile broke out on his face and he said, "You're right. That's a very important rule." Luke reached out and grabbed the ticket for Taylor's breakfast, and then said, "Taylor. Breakfast is on me this morning."

Taylor looked shocked, and answered, "That's very kind of you Luke, but really not necessary."

Taylor reached for the ticket, but Luke pulled it away and said, "Just consider it payment for services legal rendered."