Oregano – How long did this take?  Not so bad, eh?  Oh, God.  This thing took me a few weeks, and I'm thinking that this isn't so bad.  I am a terrible updater, I know.  (sigh)  Now if I could just update my other story, all would be well in the world.  This chapter's a bit dramatic, but really, how can you be funny when a nice guy like Mr. Danes has a heart attack?  Emjai?  Anything to say?

Emjai – ..and that my friend is a seamless link! hey guys! Sorry you guys are having to go through the pain we've put you through – I've had several emails about how William shouldn't have had a heart attack and 'he's gonna survive, right?' … well, time will tell… oregano has done a loooovely chapter here – so everybody give big smiles to oregano in you reviews. She's written the whole thing so well :D and quickly too – aren't we proud of our little reggie?

Chapter 8: Horrible Heart Hindrances

"SOMEONE GET A FREAKING DOCTOR HERE!" Luke screamed into the hall as he knelt beside his father.

Dad, don't do this now, please.

Mom's gone, and Liz.  We're supposed to be partners, remember?

"Sir, step away from him, please," a nurse said gently, "we're going to take care of him right now."

Luke nodded quietly and stepped back, "Okay."

As soon as the medical staff put Mr. Danes on the gurney, they rushed off towards the elevators, leaving the boy frozen to the spot.  He was torn between Lorelai and his father. 

Life and death.

No, he's not going to die.  He can't.  He's the fittest man I know.  He can bench press a cow.  Well, not really, but I'm sure he can given the proper equipment and—

"Luke," he heard Lorelai call out.  He turned to face her.  "What the hell are you waiting for?  GO!"

With a slight nod, he ran out of the room and into the hallway.

***

The next two hours were the worst two hours of Luke Danes's life.  He sat on the benches, his head in his hands, thinking of what was possibly happening right now.

 I never thought that he was having heart problems.  How could he not tell me he was having a hard time?  All those extra hours at the hardware store, when he could have been resting…

"Mr. Danes?" an authoritative voice asked.

Oh, God.

Luke's head shot up, "Yeah, that's me.  Is he alright?"

Please, please, please…

"He's okay, but not great," the doctor sighed, as if for dramatic purposes.

SPIT IT OUT, GODDAMMIT!

"He's in a coma right now."

In a coma?  But that's…

"Wh-when will he wake up?"

The doctor looked at his charts and adjusted his glasses, "We don't know.  But he's stable, which is good.  Has he been any sort of stress lately?"

Luke frowned.

Where should I start?  His daughter just ran away, pregnant, it seems; he and his son just found another pregnant girl at the side of the highway, where she proceeded to give birth just a few hours ago; he has a stupid son who can't even tell that he was having trouble…

"Yes."

***

Luke wrung his cap in his hands nervously as he entered the bright white room where they kept his father.  Long plastic tubes were coming out of places where they weren't supposed to be, and a small and constant beeping was the only thing to be heard.

"Dad…"

He ran a trembling hand over his forehead, not knowing what to do.  He felt helpless as his father continued to sleep, to breathe through a tube, a slight scowl tracing his features.

And for the first time in Luke's life, he suddenly felt a huge void inside him.  An emptiness that he had never experienced, brought about by the last few hours.

"What do I do now?" he asked softly.

***

Luke walked slowly from the elevators to Lorelai's room, hopeless and devoid of any emotion.

As he came into Lorelai's view, she smiled uncertainly and sat up.

"Is he okay?"

Luke didn't answer, but instead stared straight into Lorelai's eyes, as if asking for permission.

With a hint of understanding, she moved and turned to her side, making space for the young man.

He climbed up on the bed next to her, silently and whispered, "Thank you."

Lorelai just nodded and held him in a strong embrace as Luke quietly took to himself, disappearing into his own sad world.

Without even thinking, she kissed him on the forehead.

And everything went silent.