Disclaimer: Y'all know this already, not mine. If I owned Gilmore Girls my life would be a lot happier.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, more thank yous are to be found at the end of this chapter. Sorry about the delay. I've been having problems with my phone line and with my life in general. Life sucks like never before. My mom is really sick and I can't go back to school this semester cause of my mom being ill and I have no money to pay for school. So I'm stressed beyond belief and looking for another job. Reviews make me smile and really need some smiles now. Anyway if you bothered to read this thanks. On with the show.
Chapter Six: Unknown
"This doubt is screaming in my face/ In this familiar place, sheltered and concealed/And if this night won't let me rest/Don't let me second guess/What I know to be real/ Put away all I know for tonight/And maybe I just might learn to let it go/ Take my security from me/ And maybe finally I won't have to know everything/I am falling into grace/ To the unknown where you are/ And faith makes everybody scared/ It's the unknown/ The don't-know that keeps me hanging on/To you I've got nothing left to defend/I cannot pretend that everything makes sense" ~ Lifehouse
Jess took one more drag on his cigarette before dropping it on the sidewalk and crushing the smoking butt with his sneaker. He had finished cleaning the diner and had decided to take a walk to clear his head, plus Luke bitched when he smoked in the house and then Lorelai started in on him too and of course Rory. So it was just easier to take a walk on a cold winter's night. He was about to head back home when he heard a huge crash. So he turned in that direction instead.
Two minutes later he found himself in front of the Welcome to Stars Hollow sign. Or what used to be the sign. Now it was decorated what used to be a very expensive car. The engine was smoking and shattered glass littered the scene. The front end of the car was smashed almost beyond recognition and Jess could just make out a human form in the drivers seat. He went to the pry the door open. And he saw a guy about his age slumped over the steering wheel, blood was pouring out from a head wound.
"Hey!" Jess shouted panic beginning to set in, "Can you hear me? Man—wake up!"
Tristan groaned. His head was throbbing and his body felt like it was on fire. He was slowly coming into consciousness.
Jess pulled the body out of the car and it was then that he noticed the guy was wearing a Chilton uniform. Part of him smirked; of course it would be some rich asshole.
"Hey man, wake up!" he shouted again.
"Jesus Christ, stop yelling." Tristan murmured. His head was freaking killing him. He opened his eyes adjusting to the dim light and the bruises that were forming on his face.
"Fine. I'll stop yelling cause I've got to call an ambulance." Jess muttered, half to himself, as he gathered his wits back.
An ambulance? What the hell? Tristan thought, and then he remembered the crash. Shit. "No ambulance."
"What?" Jess asked in surprise.
"No ambulance." Tristan repeated and winced at the pain in caused. He looked up to see whose voice was torturing him. "Who are you and why are there two of you?"
Jess laughed. "Just one of me here buddy, and I'm Jess Marino. Who the hell are you?"
"Where am I?" Tristan asked ignoring Jess's question.
Jess leaned closer to Tristan trying to assess the damage. "Man, didn't you even see the sign you ran into. Welcome to Stars Hollow."
"Stars Hollow…I know that place."
"Good for you. Now I gotta make a call."
Tristan groaned again. "Wait Jess…I know that name too. You're the guy…with bagboy." He said trying to string his thoughts together but not succeeding cause all he really wanted to do was drift off into the oblivion of sleep.
"What?"
Then it hit him, this guy must know Rory.
"Do you know Rory Gilmore?"
Tristan gave a harsh laugh as the irony hit him and then the pain. "Mary, of course, it always comes back to Mary."
And then he passed out again.
Jess sighed he always found his way into these kinds of messes. He checked the guys' pockets and found what he was looking for.
A cell phone. And he began to dial the familiar number.
At the Gilmore residence Rory was immersed in her textbooks. Lorelai was spending the night at Luke's and so Rory had a distraction free night ahead of her or so she thought. Then the phone rang.
"Hello." She said answering it.
"Hey Rory. It's Jess."
"I know your voice Jess." She laughed.
"Yeah." He said with a rueful smile but then continued, "I've got a little problem…"
Rory arrived at the scene of the accident a little more than frantic some unknown Chiltonite had drove into the Stars Hollow sign. That's all Jess had told her. She rushed over and was completely unprepared for the sight she was greeted with.
She ran to wear Jess and the unknown boy were.
"Is he okay?"
Jess shrugged. "From what I can tell he's lucky, just banged up and probably has a minor concussion."
Rory nodded trying to absorb all of it. "Why didn't you call an ambulance?" she yelled as the thought hit her.
"He didn't want to me to." Jess answered simply.
And for the first time Rory looked down at the victim—and she felt her heart stop.
It was Tristan.
It was Tristan with blood and bruises covering his face. It was Tristan with who had come out of the twisted tangled of metal that was once a car. Tristan…
"Oh God." She wasn't even aware she uttered the phrase.
"Rory…Rory!" Jess shouted. "Are you okay? You look really pale. I don't need you keeling over too."
"I'm fine." She forced out the words through stiff lips.
"Enough with yelling." Groaned Tristan as he was once again rudely awakened.
She dropped down to his side and gingerly placed one hand on his cheek. "Tris…"
"Hey Mary, fancy meeting you here."
She rolled her eyes and tried to keep the tears out of them. "Such the charmer. You never stop do you?"
"Nah—too easy." He tried to smile but found it painful.
"We better get him back to my house." She told Jess. "Help me get him into the car."
"Aw Mary, can't wait to get your hands on my hot tight body."
She grinned and once again rolled her eyes. "That's right Solider Boy, your bruised blood covered carcass is such a turn. I can barely wait till we get home."
Tristan was sinking into unconsciousness again but he got in a final word, "I knew it."
"So that's Tristan."
"Yeah, that's him alright." Rory conceded looking over at Jess as they drove to her house.
"I thought it might be him."
Intrigued Rory asked why.
"Oh just a couple of things. He knew of Stars Hollow and when he heard my name he made some twisted reference to Dean and of course his reaction when I mentioned your name."
Rory waited for some kind explanation. "Well—what did he say?"
Jess laughed. "Patience is a virtue you know."
"Not one of mine."
"Obviously. Anyway he said 'Mary, of course, it always comes back to Mary'. I wonder what he meant by that." Jess shot her an inquisitive look.
Rory fought against blushing "I have no idea."
Jess gave her that cool smug look that said he didn't believe one word she was saying.
They arrived at the Gilmore's house and barely managed to haul the semi-conscious Tristan into the house. They dumped him on the couch and looked at each other wondering 'what do we do next?'
"Are you sure he shouldn't go to the hospital?" she asked Jess again.
Jess nodded. " I know it looks bad but trust me it's not that bad. Head wounds bleed like a bitch but it doesn't need stitches. He's might have a little concussion so keep waking him up and ask inane questions like 'what year is it? And how many fingers am I holding up?'
Rory nodded and went to the bathroom to dampen a washcloth. She then knelt beside Tristan and began to wash the blood from his face.
"How do you know all this?"
Jess shrugged "I used to get into a lot of fights in New York and none of us would go to the hospital so you learn this kind of stuff.
"Mary?" Tristan whispered as he felt the cloth on his skin.
"Yeah it's me. Just rest and let me clean you up."
"Bossy."
Rory laughed. "I think you have me confused with Paris. Now stop talking and let me work."
Tristan worked his bruised face into a half smirk. "Yes Nurse Mary…hmm Nurse Mary sounds like something from a por—"
"Don't finish that sentence DuGrey." She ordered fighting another blush.
"What did I tell ya—bossy." He lamented aiming a look at Jess who laughed.
Rory in turn glared at Jess. "Why don't you do something useful."
"Like what?"
"I don't know." Then she paused thinking. She needed someone who could help her with Tristan and who knew him. Then it hit her. "Call Paris."
Jess groaned "Why do I gotta call Gellar?"
"Cause I'm Nurse Mary."
"Fine." Jess said as he stormed out of the room. "I guess I should call Gypsy and tell her to tow what's left of Tristan's car too."
"Good idea."
Jess found the phone in the kitchen and the list of numbers on the fridge and dialed Gellar's.
Paris looked up from her notes and heaved a sigh of annoyance as she picked up the phone to her private line.
"Hello." She barked into the phone.
"Hello to you too Gellar." Jess said sneering he knew he must have interrupted her precious studying.
"Marino what do you want?" she asked ignoring the little flutters she always got around him.
"Nothing from you. Rory told me to call you."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"This guy named Tristan crashed into the Welcome to Stars Hollow sign."
"Tristan? As in Tristan DuGrey?" Paris asked alarmed.
Jess grimaced as he heard the note of panic enter her voice.
"Is he okay?"
"He's just pretty banged up. Rory wants—"
Paris cut him off. "I'm on my way. Do you need me to bring anything?"
"No. But I gotta pick some stuff up at the diner so you can pick me up there before you get to Rory's."
Paris was already grabbing her coat. "Fine see you in an half an hour."
"Fine." Jess answered tersely but found that he was talking to a dead phone line, she had already hung up.
He returned to the living room and grabbed his jacket. "Gellar's on her way. I'm going to the diner to get us some food and more ice. Be back in about 45 minutes."
Rory looked up from Tristan's side and smiled gratefully. "Thanks Jess."
"Yeah."
As the door closed Rory once again roused Tristan. "Soldier Boy, ya there?"
"What?" he grumbled.
"I got most of the blood off your face and bandaged the cut on your forehead. Now I need to see the rest of your wounds."
"Fine." He said and tried to go back to sleep.
Rory huffed. "No you don't understand me. I need you to take off your shirt."
He opened his mouth but she cut him off. "One smart ass comment about that and I will make sure to poke at every bruise I see as I play the Spice Girls very loudly. Cause I think that will help your headache." She concluded smiling sweetly.
"You're mean." He pouted.
"Deal with it and help me get this shirt off."
She started unbuttoning his shirt and tried to act very nonchalant about it. But her hands were shaking—from what? She had no idea. She managed to get the shirt unbuttoned and then she had him sit up and worked at easing the shirt off him broken body.
He bit his lip trying to ignore the pain removing his shirt caused. The alcohol and drugs were wearing off leaving him feeling the pain—both physical and emotional.
Rory looked down at his torso, it was a rainbow of bruises and cuts. The worst was around his ribs.
"Tris what did you do to yourself?" she whispered to herself, not really aware she had spoken aloud.
He looked into her blue eyes that were glistening with tears. And whispered back "I don't know."
She looked at him and for the first time saw the naked pain in his eyes, pain that was not caused by his injuries.
"Were you trying to kill yourself?" she finally asked the question that had been bouncing around in her head since she saw the scene of the accident.
Tristan bowed his head for a moment as he tried to sort through his own tangled thoughts. Then he looked up forcing his eyes to meet hers, blue on blue.
"I don't know—" he whispered, "maybe. Maybe I was. I don't know." He said one more time looking back down at the carpet. Trying not to see the tears that were coursing down her face. "I don't know…"
A lot of my favorite authors add personal thank yous to reviewers and I really like this so I've decided to start doing this also. We all know how much reviews mean to me, lol. So here's thank yous to the people who reviewed for Chapter Five. I'll continue this after every chapter from now on.
Blank Reviewer: Sorry I didn't update sooner. See A/N for reasons why but I hope this part was worth waiting for. I tried to make it longer.
Lola: Thanks! Great name by the way, lol. Don't worry as you see Tristan was left pretty much intact. I could never inflict too much damage on that pretty face *wink* More Trory action is to come. It will move faster than "There May Be Something There…"
Mac: Thanks hun! I'm glad you like it. I looked at the Dashboard song and good call, it would fit well with some Trory action, thanks. I will definitely check it out. Hehe and you're a Buffy fan! Yes I saw the musical and loved it. Anya's "I'll Never Tell" dance is an interesting one maybe I'll try that one in the future, lol. Of course we know that Anya's song will never be that 'break away pop hit' lol.
Jazz: Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I know poor Tristan I'm really putting him through the wringer with this story but it will be worth it.
Mandie: Thanks I'm glad you like it. I'm really going to make an effort into updating more frequently. I promise.
Ellie: Hey girl!! How are you? I'm so sorry I haven't had time to talk. But I was so happy to see your review. I'm glad you like the story. Wow thanks for the amazing song suggestions. I love Our Lady Peace but I don't have that CD, yet anyway. But I looked at the lyrics and they fit really well. I can't believe you're almost done with GG Days I need to catch up on that and review. I can't wait to see what happens. Thanks again hun, I'll talk to you later!
Materialgrl82: Thanks for the compliments. I'm glad you like the story and yeah I know I was mean leaving it at a cliffhanger but I think this chapter was worth it. Yeah Alexander is a grade A asshole and that's one of the main reasons Tristan's so messed up. Yeah NFG does rock. I'd hadn't really listened to them until a reader suggested their songs for this fic and I got addicted. On that nore the song you recommended "Piano Song" wow. That fits so perfectly I love the lyrics. Thank you!
Laine: Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!
