Here We Stand - Chapter 7

"Take A Seat"

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, or anything else mentioned.

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Tap. Tap. Tap.

Lorelai looked up from her magazine and over at Rory, who's foot was insensately tapping the floor to no particular beat. Her hands were folded in her lap; and she hadn't moved from the spot she was in since they had arrived at the hospital. Her white, bland face and the bags under her colorless eyes made it painfully obvious that she hadn't sleep a good nights sleep in days.

Lorelai placed her hand atop Rory's knee to stop her from tapping, and she did. After a few seconds, Lorelai still hadn't removed her hand; a silent gesture to let Rory know that everything would be Ok. Rory knew that she wanted to talk, but for now she couldn't. For now, she had to digest what was going on, why Jess wasn't there, what her Mom was thinking…

But as much as Rory should have cared, she didn't. All she could think about was Lorel, and how they rushed her away as soon as they had brought her in. And more importantly, the fact that they wouldn't let her go back with her baby, and how fucking long they were taking with her.

"Ror, how are yo…"

"These chairs," Rory said, cutting off Lorelai, "are really uncomfortable. They make my back hurt and my butt numb. I think I'm going to go get a coke or something." She finished, unfolding her hands and placing them on the arm rests getting ready to get up.

Lorelai moved her hand as Rory stood, and frowned. Being evasive didn't become Rory, and only made Lorelai worry more.

"You want one?" Rory asked, pointing behind her towards the machines and slowly backing away.

Lorelai forced a smile, "No thanks babe."

Rory nodded and turned the corner. She put her hand in her pocket, sifting through it for any money or change that she might have. She stopped in front of the soda machine and pulled out a dollar, then looked over the selection.

"Ok…" she breathed, talking to herself. It had nothing to do with the sodas, but the fact that she finally had a few minutes to herself. Without Jess, or Luke or her mom… but just by herself. She leaned her back against the hard plastic and closed her eyes. This was just too much. She sighed heavily and slightly pursed her lips together, angrily. She was upset, that much she knew, but at who? Jess? Obviously. The doctors? Well, they sure as hell were doing a great job telling her nothing. Herself? A more than likely possibility.

She slid down the front of the machine and pulled her legs up to her chest, 'How can things be so screwed up?' she thought. She chuckled quietly at her own absurdity then let her head fall in between her knees. She began to sniffle, feeling the rush of the familiar yet uncomfortable emotions come rushing back.

She jumped when she felt the vibration, and quickly her head shot up and her knees dropped. She leaned to the side and pulled the cell phone out of her back pocket. Sitting back in a comfortable position, she read the caller ID.

"Thank God…" She got up and smiled, but before she could answer it, Lorelai came rushing around the corner.

*~*

It rang… and rang… and rang. But no answer.

"Hey, this is Rory. I can't answer my phone right now, but leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as can."

Her voice rang in his ears and brought a smile to his face. He'd only been gone a short while, but he still missed her with all his heart.

Beeeep.

He froze. What was he going to say to her answering machine? He hadn't planned on her not picking up, and now he had no idea what to do. So he hung up. The plane was landing, so he figured he would wait until he got into the airport to try and call her again. Looking out the window, he realized the weather had changed dramatically and the blackened sky surrounding them only suited his mood.

His phone rang and his heart jumped into his throat. Hoping it was Rory; he quickly looked at the caller ID. He sighed.

"Hey Luke."

"Jess?"

"No, the other person who answers for me when you call my phone. Of course it's me."

"Smart ass, where are you?"

"Um," Jess looked around, wondering what Luke would think if he knew where he really was. Hell, Rory probably already told him anyway. And since when did he care about what other people thought?

"I'm in the plane, actually. Were landing as we speak. It's kinda cool..."

"What? Your in a… why the hell aren't you at the hospital?" Luke exclaimed, unable to believe Jess wasn't at his wife and daughters side.

It brought Jess up short, "The hospital?"

"Yes! Ro… with Lor… she…."

He was cutting in and out, it was driving Jess insane, "Luke? LUKE? You're breaking up… who's in the hospital?"

No reply.

"Luke," Jess bellowed, "Answer me!"

Then the line went dead. Jess hadn't felt so terrified since he had found Rory in his apartment, bloody and beaten. He began to panic, unbuckling his seat belt and standing up he shoved his way to the front of the line of the passengers waiting to get off.

"I got an emergency!" He yelled, pushing his way through, "Everyone move, get out of the way, I need to get off the plane!"

Everyone stared at him as he finally made his way to the front and finally, off the airplane into the terminal. Jess sprinted, dodging people and objects as he ran and finally made his way to the front desk.

Out of breath, he almost slammed into the desk before halting to a stop, "I need… a phone…" He managed to get out between the deep inhales and exhales.

"I'm sorry sir," the lady answered, looking at him as if he was insane, "but these phones are for employee use only. If you want a phone, there are some pay phones over by the…"

Before she finished, Jess had spotted the pay phones and bolted, leaving the lady to wonder what the hell he was doing. Finally getting there, he picked up the receiver, and started dialing Luke's number.

"Please insert twenty-five cents." The automatic voice unpleasantly greeted him.

Jess dropped the receiver and stuck both his hands in either pocket, frantically searching for change. He found none.

"God… dammit!" He screamed in frustration, punching the pay phone. He turned around to find everyone staring at him. As a last resort, he made his way towards them.

"Does anyone have any change?" He yelled pleadingly, but no one answered. "Please," he said, walking towards the crowd of people waiting in line to get on their flight, "my wife, she's in the hospital and I need to get a hold of her. Do any of you have any change?"

Still, nobody would answer him. They all just stared; as of he was speaking a foreign language and periodically made comments to their own loved ones about the crazy man running from place to place asking for change.

Defeated, Jess ran back to the pay phone. Dialing 1-800-Collect, he waited.

"Thank you for choosing, 1-800-Collect! Please enter the number you are trying to reach, area code first."

Jess dialed quickly, and waited for instructions on what to do next.

"Please say your name, after the tone." Beep.

"Jess." His voice came out more scared than anything, and he finally realized that while he was off in some airport, being selfish and trying to figure out who he was… his wife could be dying. He didn't hear the automatic voice tell him to hold while his call was connect, or the rings on the other end, because all of a sudden he heard Luke.

"Jess?"

"Luke - who's in the hospital?"

"Jesus Jess, why are you at the airport? What the hell are you doing, are you crazy?"

"Luke who the hell is in the hospital!" Jess's voice was full of intensity and you could tell he meant business.

"Lorel," Luke answered, "Lorel's in the hospital."

He could have sworn his heart stopped. He could have sworn he had a heat attack, he could have sworn that he actually died for a millisecond. If there could be one thing worse than Rory being in the hospital, which he had originally thought… it would have been Lorel.

Almost unable to speak, but doing his best, he talked to Luke. "Why is she there."

"They don't know yet. I guess, her fever just spiked and they took her. I'm about to go there now, I just had to get changed and get Mikey ready…" Luke waited to hear something from Jess, but he said nothing. So Luke spoke.

"Jess," he said quietly, "you should get home as soon as you can…"

"Ok." That was all he could get out, and then he hung up. He was right, his gut had told him something was wrong - and now he knew.

*~*

"Mom?" Rory slipped her phone back pocket, and Lorelai ran towards her.

"Hey, the doctor came back, he said he needs to talk to you right away." Lorelai grabbed Rory's arm and they ran together back to the waiting room, slowing there pace as they approached the doctor.

"Hi," Rory stuck out her shaky hand, "I'm Rory Mari…" She paused, was she even a Mariano anymore?

Unsure but realizing that wasn't what she should be worrying about , she continued, "Mariano... I'm uh, I'm Rory Mariano, Lorel's mother. What's wrong with her, is she going to be Ok?"

The doctor shook her hand softly and faintly smiled, "I'm Dr. Lamb." But his smile faded when the introductions were over, and he pointed to the chairs.

"Perhaps, you should take a seat, Mrs. Mariano." He politely offered.

"No, I don't want to take a seat," Rory answered, holding back tears. "The only time your supposed to 'take a seat' is when something bad happens and nothing bad has happened to Lorel. She's going to be Ok and your going to fix everything so taking a seat would be pointless in this situation. Because she's fine, and I'm fine, and were all fine so nobody should take a seat! " Exasperated and still holding back the urge to cry, she stopped rambling and stared into the doctors eyes.

But his fell to the floor, and his hand stayed extended towards the chairs, "Mrs. Mariano, I think you really need to take a seat…"

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A/N - I'm a sucker for the cliffhangers. Please R&R, I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can. Thanks so much you guys!