Chapter 2: Saturday
When she woke up, her room was bright, but not early-morning bright. It didn't make sense, since her clock told her that it was half an hour past midnight. Rory would have rolled over and gone back to sleep, but her bladder protested and vetoed that idea. Resignedly, she threw back her covers and got up. When she opened her door, sunlight washed over her. Her eyes slammed shut and she grunted.
"Oh, good morning, Sleeping Beauty. I wondered if you were ever going to come out of there."
Cautiously, Rory opened her eyes. Lorelai was sitting at the kitchen table fully dressed, drinking a coffee and reading the Stars Hollow Gazette.
"Mom? Why are you awake?" Rory's brain still wasn't functioning completely.
"Well, it's 12:30 on Saturday afternoon. Why wouldn't I be awake?"
Rory tried to do the math in her head. "So, I've been asleep for…"
"17 hours, give or take."
"Oh. So, why am I still tired?
"Maybe you got too much sleep and now you have sleepitis!"
"Ha ha." Rory was finally almost awake, but she didn't feel too energetic. "Mom, did we have any plans for the day? Because I just don't feel like doing anything."
Lorelai looked at her daughter in concern. "Yeah, we can stay home. We'll order in and hang out. Just the two of us. It'll be fun!"
Rory shot her mom a look of gratitude. "Thanks." There was a pause as the two Gilmore girls looked at each other. "Well, I have to pee, so…"
Lorelai waved a hand in the general direction of the bathroom. "Your throne awaits you, your highness." She stood and grabbed her purse as Rory walked out of the kitchen. "I'm going to Luke's. I'll stock up on unhealthy things and be back in half an hour."
"Ok!" came the response from the bathroom.
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True to her word, Lorelai returned in half an hour. Actually it had taken 32 minutes, but she wasn't about to be ruled by a technicality. She began talking to her daughter as soon as she entered the house. "Hey, Rory, guess what Luke did? No, wait, just let me tell you. It's so random that if you actually had to guess, we'd both be in wheelchairs by the time the answer came out, and I'd have forgotten the punch line… anyway, Luke sent you a thermos of chicken soup! He kept muttering about keeping the sane one healthy so that he wouldn't lose his mind. I think he may have actually plucked the chicken while I was at the counter. Isn't that funny? Rory?" The house was too quiet. "Rory, I thought we stopped playing hide and seek after the frostbite incident. I mean it; show yourself!" Lorelai set the large box of food that she had been carrying on the kitchen counter and made a beeline for Rory's room. It looked like Rory hadn't been back after her trip to the bathroom. The blinds were still down, the bed was messy, and Rory's Hello Kitty pyjamas were nowhere in sight. So, the next logical place to check was the bathroom. Lorelai knocked and rattled the handle before opening the door. It opened about five inches before it hit something that refused to budge. Lorelai pushed against the offending object until it suddenly gave way. With an 'oof', Lorelai fell against the vanity counter. Looking down, she saw what had blocked her entrance. Rory lay curled up on the floor of the bathroom with a roll of toilet paper under her head. Her legs, now curled up snugly against her body, had presumably been stretched out earlier, effectively preventing the door from opening all the way.
"Ok, this is just way too weird. Rory." Lorelai crouched down beside her daughter and began pulling at her shoulders, trying to wake her up. "Come on, Rory. You have to get up; I can't carry you to your room." As Rory's eyes opened, Lorelai smiled brightly at her. "What have I told you about squeezing the Charmin?"
"Not s'posed to," came the bleary response. "Sorry. Fell asleep."
"So I guessed. Well, I'm willing to bet that your bed is more comfortable than these tiles, so let's get you back there, shall we?" Lorelai looped her arm under Rory's shoulders and heaved her up into a sitting position. "Wow, you've gotten heavier since the last time I tried to carry you. Granted, you were 5 then, but still. You're definitely going to have to get to your room under your own power. Come on, lean on me." Lorelai helped Rory to her feet, and hummed the classic song on their way to the bedroom. She started singing when she reached the chorus. "So call on me brother, if you need a hand, we all need somebody to lean on…" Luckily for Rory, the trip didn't last long enough for Lorelai to begin the second verse. Rory flopped onto her mattress and Lorelai straightened out the blankets and covered her daughter with them. Smoothing back her daughter's bangs, she proposed a plan. "So, you go back to sleep and we'll eat when you wake up again, ok?" But her words fell on deaf ears. Rory was fast asleep.
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When Rory awoke again, she identified smells before her eyes were open.
"Chicken soup?" she inquired as she opened her eyes and turned her head towards the scent.
"Yeah, long story. Luke sent it." Lorelai replied as she moved over to Rory's bed from the inflatable chair where she had been sitting. "How do you feel?"
"A bit better. I'm not tired, at least."
"Well, that's good, because in the past 24 hours, you've slept for 21."
"What?! That's not possible! I have to get up! I have homework and reading…" Rory threw back the covers and got out of bed in a whirl of motion. Quickly, though, she plunked back down and held a hand to her head. "Whoa. Dizzy."
"Well, yeah. With all your sleeping, you haven't really had much time to eat. Which is why," Lorelai continued as she moved into the kitchen, "I've been reheating this soup. Because I figured you might be hungry when you woke up. And you are! So stay in your room; you're having breakfast, lunch, and supper in bed."
Rory complied, pushing her pillows against the headboard and sitting up against them. Lorelai soon reentered, carrying a tray full of food. She nodded to Rory's night table, which had a lamp and a stack of books on it. Rory moved all the stuff to the floor, and Lorelai put the tray down on the cleared surface. "Ok, so there's chicken soup with come crackers, a big mug of coffee, and two Danishes. Eat."
Rory looked at her mother in amusement. "Are you going to help me? Spoon feeding is so vogue." She teased.
Lorelai shook her head. "Are you kidding? I've got my own food to eat. I couldn't carry it all at once." She exited again and returned carrying a plate that held a burger and fries. Rory looked at her food and decided to start with the soup. Stirring it, she gave a yelp of joy.
"Mom, look! There are alphabet noodles in my soup!"
Lorelai inspected the bowl. She had known that there were noodles, but hadn't realized that they were funky ones.
"Ok, we have to tease Luke about that. Who knew that the man kept alphabet noodles?"
"Mom, no. He probably bought them on a whim, and finally had an opportunity to use them. I think it's really sweet. And he doesn't make chicken noodle soup for anyone. Please don't tease him." Rory put on her baby face full force.
"Gah! I was fine until you used the eyes. I hate you." Lorelai glared at her daughter, but its intended effect was lessened when she shoved four fries in her mouth, and two dangled out like floppy fangs. Rory giggled.
"I love you, too. And hey, who was it that coached me on when to use the eyes?"
Lorelai pouted. "It's not fair. You can't use my own teaching against me."
"Well, I just did. Ha." Rory slurped her soup triumphantly.
The two women sat in Rory's room until they were finished their meals, and then, since Rory was feeling relatively awake, they decided to watch a movie. Lorelai got the Ben and Jerry's out of the freezer while Rory changed into clean pyjamas. Together, they paraded into the living room.
"So, what'll it be?"
"Um… something that I don't have to focus on, something that I've seen a bazillion times so that I don't have to worry about missing plot lines if I fall asleep again."
"Rory. We've seen all these movies a bazillion times. How bout Willy-"
"No. Not Willy Wonka. I'm afraid of what sort of dreams that movie will conjure up."
"Oooh, I once had a dream that I was the Oompa Loompa that had to test the gum, and instead of turning into a blueberry, I turned into a giant pumpkin pie, and Willy got out this huge can of whipping cream and all the other Oompa Loompas started eating me."
"Ok, see, that's what I'm talking about. I refuse to watch any movie involving small people who sing."
"So, Simon Birch and The Wizard of Oz are out, then."
"Definitely." Rory went to look at their films. "Ooh, this one!" She exclaimed, holding up a video.
Lorelai looked at the title. "Well, you're right about not having to focus on the plot."
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Rory actually managed to stay awake through most of the movie. Half an hour before it was finished, though, her eyes wouldn't stay open any longer, and she nestled against Lorelai to sleep. When the end credits were rolling, Lorelai shook her daughter awake.
"Rory, time to wake up." As Rory opened her eyes, Lorelai felt her forehead. "You must be sick! You slept through the last half-hour of The Three Musketeers! That is easily the funniest and most mockable part! I had to make fun of Chris O'Donnell and that king guy's nose all by myself, which isn't as much fun as mocking it with someone else."
Rory yawned hugely. "I'm sorry. I'm just so tired."
"Ok, Rory, if you can't kick this thing tomorrow, you're going to the doctor." She held up a hand to stop Rory's protests. "It can't hurt to get it checked out. Maybe it's just stress, but if it's something more, we need to know. And you will see the doctor, even if I have to tie you up and throw you in the Jeep."
It was a sure sign that Rory was sick when she nodded instead of protesting. Lorelai was briefly shocked, but hid it well as she moved to rewind the video.
"Ok, then, I'll call first thing Monday morning. Hopefully there'll be a spot open for later in the day." She turned back around to see Rory nodding sleepily. "And now, you should get to bed. Goodnight, darling daughter."
"Goodnight, lovely mother."
