Thanks so much for the words of encouragement, everyone! I really
appreciate it!
All disclaimers apply (aka- these characters ALL belong to Amy Sherman- Palladino)
Length of Time Chapter 6
"Okay, thanks Sookie," Rory said, hanging up the phone. "Okay, she just talked to Luke who told her that my mom is at St. Marks's Hospital. Her appendix exploded. She's in surgery right now-" She took a deep breath, trying to steady her quivering voice.
"Well, that's good, they've found her. Plus, appendectomies aren't serious. Not usually---"
"No, you're right. I... I mean, that's what Luke said the nurse said. She'll be fine, they said. But still, she's in surgery right now. I have to be there when she wakes up. I just---"
"Well I wouldn't worry. We're only about a half hour away now. You'll definitely be there when she wakes up."
Rory smiled--- not a real, heartfelt smile, but more one that agreed with him and appreciated his being there, and also was trying to reassure her about everything regarding her mom.
"You know, Jess, this doesn't change anything."
"Yeah, you mentioned that. Well, that's fine. I don't expect you to suddenly think that I'm Cassanova, or even a good friend to you. Because the fact of the matter is that I was a complete jerk in the end---"
"A complete jerk," she agreed, looking out her window, at the familiar scenery that resided just outside her hometown.
"I just noticed on campus that you were upset, and that you were heading for the parking lot, and believe it or not, I do care, and didn't want you to drive like that."
"I believe you do care. I just think you have a funny way of showing it. I mean, you could have talked to me. Boyfriends talk to their girlfriends about what's on their minds, believe it or not. Even friends, if you wanna break it down even more, talk about their fears, concerns, thoughts, feelings, emotions and whatever else, to their friends. But you didn't talk to me, which was pretty crummy. It wasn't just YOUR relationship, you know. It was mine too. And I had a right to know---- I never asked for much, all I wanted was honesty. And you never gave me that. And because of that---- because you chose to leave--- run away---- I am mad at you. And I SHOULD be mad at you. And I am doing fine, on my own, and now you are at MY school! And I worked my ENTIRE life to be there! You didn't! You never cared! Not about that! And that makes me mad too!"
Jess just nodded, in agreement, staring ahead. "It's a little too late for an apology, I guess---"
"No, that's not completely true. I deserve an apology," she said adamantly.
"That you do," he agreed.
"And if we're gonna be seeing each other at least three times a week in Intro to Psychology, bad feelings should be gone, so we can both just concentrate on the class, with no awkwardness between us."
"I am sorry. Really."
She stared out the windshield and her hard gaze softened a little. "Well, all's not forgiven, but I accept your apology. But understand that once we get back to school, we're not gonna suddenly be chummy, best-pals or anything, and most certainly not anything more than friends---"
"But friends---- we'll be friends?" he asked, casually.
"I guess. Maybe acquaintances to start. And then friends later if it works out as acquaintances," she said resolutely.
"Okay," he said, trying to hide his urge to smile at the feeling of hope he actually had just at that moment. "Sounds good."
At St. Marks's Hospital----
Luke sat patiently in the waiting room, feeling himself relax for the first time all day. She was fine. Well, she would be fine. And he would apologize. And everything would be okay, and he could finally lose the knot in his stomach for good. While he did feel better and very relaxed, he did still have that nagging knot. He couldn't figure out what that would be from, but he supposed it was from the lingering concern for her well-being, plus the fact that he still owed her an apology and things weren't yet right between them. Or it could be because.. maybe..it could have SOMETHING, he supposed, to do with what the nurse had said.
"Could she have meant that she loved me?" he wondered. He convinced himself that she probably said his name in a prolonged delusion about coffee, and then thought about Rory or something and said 'I love you.' "Yeah," he thought. "That makes sense."
Only it didn't. Make sense, that is. Because of what she had overheard earlier in the day between him and Nicole, before her attack, her mind was probably on him. And that was clear, as she did say HIS name. A small smile crept up his lips, as he toyed with the seemingly-possible idea that she may have said what the nurse said she said about, well, HIM. "But," he thought to himself, as an afterthought, "she WAS probably delusional at the time."
"Ah, there you are! Tell me everything! EVERYTHING! Did you see her? Is she okay!?" the frantic voice of Sookie demanded, relieving Luke from his nervous, questioning thoughts, as he looked up to see Sookie and Jackson heading toward him.
"Uh, the nurse said that she will be fine; that is a total promise from the doctor... and---" he looked up at Jackson, confused. "And didn't I already say all this on the phone?"
"Yes you did, she just thought that it might be possible that someone who sounded just like you and knew someone named Lorelai in a similar situation may have POSSIBLY called the wrong number before, and she wouldn't believe anything until she could see you personally tell her," Jackson clarified.
"Well, rest assured, *I* am telling you, for sure, that she will be okay. She's having a routine appendectomy with a little more complications, since her appendix was ruptured, but that will just mean that she is going to need more care AFTER the surgery."
"More care she'll need, then more care she'll get," Sookie said, as Jackson guided her into a chair beside Luke. She was starting to look----and feel-- --a little better.
The three of them sat in a comfortable silence, relieved at the news that their friend was going to be okay.
"Luke."
Luke looked up to see the concerned face of Nicole looking down at him, having just run into the hospital. His relaxed face suddenly became angry again, upon realizing it was her. He stood up and walked out of the waiting room, leading her away from Jackson and Sookie. He led her outside through the nearest exit in the hospital.
And arriving on the scene at the hospital-
Rory practically pulled the handle to jump out of the car before Jess had completely stopped it.
"Okay, hold on, hold on."
"I have to go," she said, starting to get wound up again, with the sight of the hospital surfacing all her emotions again, in full.
"Okay," he said, pulling up to the front. "I'll go park the car,"
Without another word, Rory jumped out of the car, the second it stopped, threw the door shut, and ran inside. She bolted in, looked around, and spotted Sookie and Jackson. They noticed her, running toward them, and Sookie greeted the crying Rory with open arms.
"Oh, honey, hi!"
"Is she out yet?" Rory sobbed.
"Uh, no, but it's gonna be fine. She'll be just fine."
Rory nodded. "I know. I just wanna see her."
"I know, sweetie, me too," Sookie said.
As sort of an attempt to break the ice, Jackson added, "So, Rory, how was your first day of classes?" in a conversational tone, as if nothing was wrong and he was her father or uncle or something.
Through her tears, Rory let out a small laugh. "Oh, it was just perfect," she said, sarcastically.
"And how's the new car driving?" Sookie asked, in a fake, over-eager tone, sharing in the sarcasm.
"Couldn't be better," Rory said.
Meanwhile, outside the hospital----
Luke looked out toward the parking lot, and then turned suddenly to face Nicole, who was giving him a small, apologetic smile. "Why are you here? I thought I said----"
"You did. You did. I just... I feel horrible about what happened and I wanted to be here for you," she said, looking up at him with a pleading look in her eyes.
He looked past her, squinting his eyes a little in the sunlight. Despite his anger at Nicole, he still felt very calm. "How did you know she was here?"
"I called the police station in the town where her car was. They told me that she was here. Is she okay?"
Luke inhaled before continuing. "She's in surgery right now. But she'll be okay. It turns out, she passed out from pain when her appendix exploded. Yeah, if you had gotten out of your car for a second and peered in the window, you would have seen Lorelai, slumped over or something, completely unconscious."
He didn't want to get angry at this thought again, but it was happening. He was inevitably growing angry again, at everything that happened at the beginning of the day.
"Luke, I am so sorry. I had no idea. I mean, I was in a rush to get to work. I was running late due to the argument WE were having actually---"
"The argument YOU started, you mean?"
Nicole opened her mouth to say something, but he held up a hand. "I wanted to talk to you about the argument actually. My anger.. and my frustration... and I am not just saying this because of what's happening now..they weren't for HER. They were for you. Everything I said was to just make you shut up and leave me alone about Lorelai. I was mad at YOU. Not her. I didn't mean anything I said. I just wanted you to DROP it already."
She just stared at him, not allowing herself to feel hurt, as she still felt very guilty about everything that happened today. "Okay. That's fair. I HAVE been annoying about your friendship with Lorelai. I was childish and had petty jealousies, and I won't bother you about it anymore. I swear. I just----"
"No, you won't bother me about it anymore. Nicole, this isn't gonna work."
"No, Luke, don't say that. I mean, I was wrong and I am willing to admit that. Just please, give me---"
"Nicole, if you brought out the best in me and we had a small argument, I would say, 'yeah, we should work through it,' but the truth is, you brought out the worst in me today. For you, in some way, I acted like a horrible friend to one of my best friends. This.. it's just not gonna work. And I don't wanna see you anymore."
She gave him a sympathetic smile, as if to say that she understood, and just looked at him for a moment. "Well, I guess this is goodbye, then."
She reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he turned his head, and gently moved away. "Goodbye," he said.
"Goodbye," she said, surprise and disappointment evident in her voice. She turned and walked away, leaving Luke standing there alone for a moment.
He was just about to turn to go back inside, when someone else called his name, nearby.
"Jess? What are you doing here?"
"I drove Rory here."
"YOU drove her.. why, what.. um, I don't..."
"It's sort of a long story, but to save a little time, I go to Yale now," he said, starting to smile. After a moment, Jess added, "You're not saying anything. Are you surprised?"
"You know, you'd think I would be. But when it comes to you, little surprises me," Luke said, giving a small, signature Jess-grunt, looking at him intently, noting that he looked good. He looked like he was doing okay. He seemed.. relaxed.
"I guess I could see that," Jess agreed, nodding. He motioned toward the hospital. "So.. she's okay, right?"
Luke put a hand on the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah, she will be."
"How about you?" Jess asked, to which Luke looked at him like he had dropped from another planet just moment before.
After he composed himself, Luke said, "I'm okay. Thanks." He managed a small smile at his nephew, and started to walk back into the hospital, Jess falling into stride with him.
"Good job, by the way, getting rid of that other one. She kind of annoyed me."
Jess had glanced back at the parking lot, indicating he was obviously talking about Nicole and had probably witnessed some of their conversation moments ago. Luke let out a small laugh-grunt, in obvious agreement, although he was reluctant to discuss this with Jess. All Luke said, however, was "Well. Yeah."
Luke and Jess walked silently back to the waiting area, but before they had a chance to sit down, the nurse came over toward them, and addressed Luke.
"Well, she's out."
At once, everyone stood up, and the woman looked nervously at the six people that were hovering over her suddenly. She swallowed, and tried to put on her best smile.
"Um, she's not awake yet, but everything went perfectly. It took a little longer than expected, but she's going to be just fine. A little sore, but fine, nonetheless. If you'll excuse me..." she said, excusing herself.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief in unison, and sat back down. Luke stayed standing, though. He couldn't sit just then. He walked over to the counter.
"When do you think she'll wake up?"
"It could be an hour or so from now."
"Do you think I could see her now? While she's asleep? Just. just for a minute?"
The woman smiled, she had a feeling about this. "Okay. But just for a minute. And don't talk, or if you do, whisper. She needs her rest. I don't want you waking her."
"Okay," he simply said, and she ushered him toward her door.
All disclaimers apply (aka- these characters ALL belong to Amy Sherman- Palladino)
Length of Time Chapter 6
"Okay, thanks Sookie," Rory said, hanging up the phone. "Okay, she just talked to Luke who told her that my mom is at St. Marks's Hospital. Her appendix exploded. She's in surgery right now-" She took a deep breath, trying to steady her quivering voice.
"Well, that's good, they've found her. Plus, appendectomies aren't serious. Not usually---"
"No, you're right. I... I mean, that's what Luke said the nurse said. She'll be fine, they said. But still, she's in surgery right now. I have to be there when she wakes up. I just---"
"Well I wouldn't worry. We're only about a half hour away now. You'll definitely be there when she wakes up."
Rory smiled--- not a real, heartfelt smile, but more one that agreed with him and appreciated his being there, and also was trying to reassure her about everything regarding her mom.
"You know, Jess, this doesn't change anything."
"Yeah, you mentioned that. Well, that's fine. I don't expect you to suddenly think that I'm Cassanova, or even a good friend to you. Because the fact of the matter is that I was a complete jerk in the end---"
"A complete jerk," she agreed, looking out her window, at the familiar scenery that resided just outside her hometown.
"I just noticed on campus that you were upset, and that you were heading for the parking lot, and believe it or not, I do care, and didn't want you to drive like that."
"I believe you do care. I just think you have a funny way of showing it. I mean, you could have talked to me. Boyfriends talk to their girlfriends about what's on their minds, believe it or not. Even friends, if you wanna break it down even more, talk about their fears, concerns, thoughts, feelings, emotions and whatever else, to their friends. But you didn't talk to me, which was pretty crummy. It wasn't just YOUR relationship, you know. It was mine too. And I had a right to know---- I never asked for much, all I wanted was honesty. And you never gave me that. And because of that---- because you chose to leave--- run away---- I am mad at you. And I SHOULD be mad at you. And I am doing fine, on my own, and now you are at MY school! And I worked my ENTIRE life to be there! You didn't! You never cared! Not about that! And that makes me mad too!"
Jess just nodded, in agreement, staring ahead. "It's a little too late for an apology, I guess---"
"No, that's not completely true. I deserve an apology," she said adamantly.
"That you do," he agreed.
"And if we're gonna be seeing each other at least three times a week in Intro to Psychology, bad feelings should be gone, so we can both just concentrate on the class, with no awkwardness between us."
"I am sorry. Really."
She stared out the windshield and her hard gaze softened a little. "Well, all's not forgiven, but I accept your apology. But understand that once we get back to school, we're not gonna suddenly be chummy, best-pals or anything, and most certainly not anything more than friends---"
"But friends---- we'll be friends?" he asked, casually.
"I guess. Maybe acquaintances to start. And then friends later if it works out as acquaintances," she said resolutely.
"Okay," he said, trying to hide his urge to smile at the feeling of hope he actually had just at that moment. "Sounds good."
At St. Marks's Hospital----
Luke sat patiently in the waiting room, feeling himself relax for the first time all day. She was fine. Well, she would be fine. And he would apologize. And everything would be okay, and he could finally lose the knot in his stomach for good. While he did feel better and very relaxed, he did still have that nagging knot. He couldn't figure out what that would be from, but he supposed it was from the lingering concern for her well-being, plus the fact that he still owed her an apology and things weren't yet right between them. Or it could be because.. maybe..it could have SOMETHING, he supposed, to do with what the nurse had said.
"Could she have meant that she loved me?" he wondered. He convinced himself that she probably said his name in a prolonged delusion about coffee, and then thought about Rory or something and said 'I love you.' "Yeah," he thought. "That makes sense."
Only it didn't. Make sense, that is. Because of what she had overheard earlier in the day between him and Nicole, before her attack, her mind was probably on him. And that was clear, as she did say HIS name. A small smile crept up his lips, as he toyed with the seemingly-possible idea that she may have said what the nurse said she said about, well, HIM. "But," he thought to himself, as an afterthought, "she WAS probably delusional at the time."
"Ah, there you are! Tell me everything! EVERYTHING! Did you see her? Is she okay!?" the frantic voice of Sookie demanded, relieving Luke from his nervous, questioning thoughts, as he looked up to see Sookie and Jackson heading toward him.
"Uh, the nurse said that she will be fine; that is a total promise from the doctor... and---" he looked up at Jackson, confused. "And didn't I already say all this on the phone?"
"Yes you did, she just thought that it might be possible that someone who sounded just like you and knew someone named Lorelai in a similar situation may have POSSIBLY called the wrong number before, and she wouldn't believe anything until she could see you personally tell her," Jackson clarified.
"Well, rest assured, *I* am telling you, for sure, that she will be okay. She's having a routine appendectomy with a little more complications, since her appendix was ruptured, but that will just mean that she is going to need more care AFTER the surgery."
"More care she'll need, then more care she'll get," Sookie said, as Jackson guided her into a chair beside Luke. She was starting to look----and feel-- --a little better.
The three of them sat in a comfortable silence, relieved at the news that their friend was going to be okay.
"Luke."
Luke looked up to see the concerned face of Nicole looking down at him, having just run into the hospital. His relaxed face suddenly became angry again, upon realizing it was her. He stood up and walked out of the waiting room, leading her away from Jackson and Sookie. He led her outside through the nearest exit in the hospital.
And arriving on the scene at the hospital-
Rory practically pulled the handle to jump out of the car before Jess had completely stopped it.
"Okay, hold on, hold on."
"I have to go," she said, starting to get wound up again, with the sight of the hospital surfacing all her emotions again, in full.
"Okay," he said, pulling up to the front. "I'll go park the car,"
Without another word, Rory jumped out of the car, the second it stopped, threw the door shut, and ran inside. She bolted in, looked around, and spotted Sookie and Jackson. They noticed her, running toward them, and Sookie greeted the crying Rory with open arms.
"Oh, honey, hi!"
"Is she out yet?" Rory sobbed.
"Uh, no, but it's gonna be fine. She'll be just fine."
Rory nodded. "I know. I just wanna see her."
"I know, sweetie, me too," Sookie said.
As sort of an attempt to break the ice, Jackson added, "So, Rory, how was your first day of classes?" in a conversational tone, as if nothing was wrong and he was her father or uncle or something.
Through her tears, Rory let out a small laugh. "Oh, it was just perfect," she said, sarcastically.
"And how's the new car driving?" Sookie asked, in a fake, over-eager tone, sharing in the sarcasm.
"Couldn't be better," Rory said.
Meanwhile, outside the hospital----
Luke looked out toward the parking lot, and then turned suddenly to face Nicole, who was giving him a small, apologetic smile. "Why are you here? I thought I said----"
"You did. You did. I just... I feel horrible about what happened and I wanted to be here for you," she said, looking up at him with a pleading look in her eyes.
He looked past her, squinting his eyes a little in the sunlight. Despite his anger at Nicole, he still felt very calm. "How did you know she was here?"
"I called the police station in the town where her car was. They told me that she was here. Is she okay?"
Luke inhaled before continuing. "She's in surgery right now. But she'll be okay. It turns out, she passed out from pain when her appendix exploded. Yeah, if you had gotten out of your car for a second and peered in the window, you would have seen Lorelai, slumped over or something, completely unconscious."
He didn't want to get angry at this thought again, but it was happening. He was inevitably growing angry again, at everything that happened at the beginning of the day.
"Luke, I am so sorry. I had no idea. I mean, I was in a rush to get to work. I was running late due to the argument WE were having actually---"
"The argument YOU started, you mean?"
Nicole opened her mouth to say something, but he held up a hand. "I wanted to talk to you about the argument actually. My anger.. and my frustration... and I am not just saying this because of what's happening now..they weren't for HER. They were for you. Everything I said was to just make you shut up and leave me alone about Lorelai. I was mad at YOU. Not her. I didn't mean anything I said. I just wanted you to DROP it already."
She just stared at him, not allowing herself to feel hurt, as she still felt very guilty about everything that happened today. "Okay. That's fair. I HAVE been annoying about your friendship with Lorelai. I was childish and had petty jealousies, and I won't bother you about it anymore. I swear. I just----"
"No, you won't bother me about it anymore. Nicole, this isn't gonna work."
"No, Luke, don't say that. I mean, I was wrong and I am willing to admit that. Just please, give me---"
"Nicole, if you brought out the best in me and we had a small argument, I would say, 'yeah, we should work through it,' but the truth is, you brought out the worst in me today. For you, in some way, I acted like a horrible friend to one of my best friends. This.. it's just not gonna work. And I don't wanna see you anymore."
She gave him a sympathetic smile, as if to say that she understood, and just looked at him for a moment. "Well, I guess this is goodbye, then."
She reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he turned his head, and gently moved away. "Goodbye," he said.
"Goodbye," she said, surprise and disappointment evident in her voice. She turned and walked away, leaving Luke standing there alone for a moment.
He was just about to turn to go back inside, when someone else called his name, nearby.
"Jess? What are you doing here?"
"I drove Rory here."
"YOU drove her.. why, what.. um, I don't..."
"It's sort of a long story, but to save a little time, I go to Yale now," he said, starting to smile. After a moment, Jess added, "You're not saying anything. Are you surprised?"
"You know, you'd think I would be. But when it comes to you, little surprises me," Luke said, giving a small, signature Jess-grunt, looking at him intently, noting that he looked good. He looked like he was doing okay. He seemed.. relaxed.
"I guess I could see that," Jess agreed, nodding. He motioned toward the hospital. "So.. she's okay, right?"
Luke put a hand on the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah, she will be."
"How about you?" Jess asked, to which Luke looked at him like he had dropped from another planet just moment before.
After he composed himself, Luke said, "I'm okay. Thanks." He managed a small smile at his nephew, and started to walk back into the hospital, Jess falling into stride with him.
"Good job, by the way, getting rid of that other one. She kind of annoyed me."
Jess had glanced back at the parking lot, indicating he was obviously talking about Nicole and had probably witnessed some of their conversation moments ago. Luke let out a small laugh-grunt, in obvious agreement, although he was reluctant to discuss this with Jess. All Luke said, however, was "Well. Yeah."
Luke and Jess walked silently back to the waiting area, but before they had a chance to sit down, the nurse came over toward them, and addressed Luke.
"Well, she's out."
At once, everyone stood up, and the woman looked nervously at the six people that were hovering over her suddenly. She swallowed, and tried to put on her best smile.
"Um, she's not awake yet, but everything went perfectly. It took a little longer than expected, but she's going to be just fine. A little sore, but fine, nonetheless. If you'll excuse me..." she said, excusing herself.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief in unison, and sat back down. Luke stayed standing, though. He couldn't sit just then. He walked over to the counter.
"When do you think she'll wake up?"
"It could be an hour or so from now."
"Do you think I could see her now? While she's asleep? Just. just for a minute?"
The woman smiled, she had a feeling about this. "Okay. But just for a minute. And don't talk, or if you do, whisper. She needs her rest. I don't want you waking her."
"Okay," he simply said, and she ushered him toward her door.