Here We Stand - Chapter 8

"Doctors, Diseases, and Delays"

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

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A seated Rory looked up at Dr. Lamb and swallowed hard, "Hirschsprung's Disease?" She echoed, unable to believe what he had just told her.

"Yes," Dr. Lamb answered, sitting down beside her. "It's normally an uncommon disease, but not uncommon enough. It affects about 1 out of every 4000 live births."

"But… she's ten months old." She said, shying away from his stare.

"I know Mrs. Mariano, but it's been known to happen this way."

She didn't know what to think, or how to feel. She didn't know what to ask, or what to keep to herself. She didn't know whether to panic, or stay calm. To run out of the hospital in tears, or stay strong the way she had been for so long. Nothing was clear anymore; nothing made sense.

There was a battle going on inside of her that was pulling her further away from reality. There was still one question. One that her mind was begging to ask, but that her heart was terrified to. She sank lower in her seat, feeling terror, panic, sadness, confusion, and anger take over her body all at once in a whirl of emotions that she could no longer control.

Instinctively, she covered her mouth. 'Why do people do that,' she thought, her mind trying to find solitude in thinking of something other than the lingering question. 'Why do people cover their mouth when they are scared, or worried, or something bad happens? It doesn't help… it doesn't make the words come out any better or easier, or calm your mind so you can think or act straight. But if it does nothing, then why is it the first thing you do when you find yourself panicking or scared… and the last thing you do when you finally hear the good news, and feel the weight of the situation being lifted off your shoulders?' She smirked. 'Either that, or the crushing heart break when the weight of the situation comes down on you at once.'

Silently, she decided it was because emotions and the reactions you had to them were something you could always count on when you surrounded with things and people that you couldn't. Rory quietly found the whole thought to be amusing… that was, until the doctor's voice violently shoved her back into reality and tore her away from her split-second peace.

"Mrs. Mariano? Mrs. Mariano… are you Ok?"

She didn't look at him, but she could feel his eyes studying her. She could feel Lorelai's eyes studying her… and then she spoke. But the words that came out of her mouth, she didn't even know she was going to ask, and she supposed that was because the battle between her mind and heart had finally come to an end. Leaving the winner to flaunt its spoils.

"Is she going to die?" Having felt she held back her tears long enough, she let one escape down the side of her face as she held her breath. Lorelai wrapped a protective arm around Rory, ready to embrace her for whatever the doctor's answer was.

"While this condition can be serious and fatal… we think caught it early enough."

"Ok," They think they caught it early enough. They think? "Can you tell me what it is, exactly?"

The doctor nodded and continued, "Well… to put it briefly, during digestion, intestinal muscles move food forward in a movement called peristalsis. In order for it to do that, special nerve cells must be present. Children with Hirschsprung's disease are either missing these cells, or the cells never properly developed. It cause's stool back up, and can eventually partially or fully block the intestine… which can lead to an infection in the digestive tract that can cause serious problems."

"You said it affected live births. Lorel's ten months old."

"Well if the affected area is small enough… then its entirely possible that the child won't present with symptoms until months, even years later."

Rory paused, trying to take it all in, "Ok…" she breathed, "how do we fix it?"

"Well Mrs. Mariano," he answered, flipping through some papers, "first we have to determine the extent to which it's progressed. But, with surgery… we think she should be fine."

Rory knew she should have been happy with the answer, she knew she should have been filled with joy and happiness… but one word made all difference. The one word he kept repeating.

"You 'think' she should be fine?" She asked skeptically.

"Well, with any surgery there are no guarantee's, but…" He started, but Rory just as quickly cut him off.

"No… no 'buts'. This is my baby," she pleaded, "this is my life and my everything. Without her, I have… nothing. My husband just left, my mother has a life of her own… oh God this can't be happening."

Lorelai pulled Rory into her chest and held her close. The doctor looked at Lorelai, wondering if he should stay or go and she nodded, giving him the signal to come back in a few minutes. At first, all she thought about was making sure that Lorel was Ok; and getting her to the hospital right away so they could figure out what was wrong and fix her. But now, Lorelai was faced with the fact that everything might not be Ok. And with Rory's recent outburst revealing that Jess had left - that Lorel wasn't the only one to worry about.

She continued to hold onto Rory, and gently brushed her hair with her fingers, "Hey, don't worry baby. I'm here…"

Rory pulled back and wiped away her tears, "Thanks Mom… for everything." It was nice to know she had someone who would always be there, no matter what. Lorelai smiled and nodded, taking a piece of Rory's hair and tucking it behind her ear.

"Hey."

Lorelai and Rory looked over at the familiar voice, and saw a worried Luke with Mikey in his arms.

"What's going on?" He asked, noticing Rory's tears. Lorelai looked at Rory, then back at Luke. Deciding it would probably be best to talk to Luke about this elsewhere, she told her she would be right back and to come get her as soon as the doctor returned. Rory nodded and leaned back in her chair.

*~*

Lorelai took Luke's arm and guided him back outside, away from the waiting room. Once outside, she took Mikey in her arms and held onto him tightly, silently thanking God that he was healthy.

Luke noticed this gesture, and got even more confused. Taking it the wrong way, he assumed the worst.

"Oh, my God," he gasped, "Is she… is Lorel… um, you know?"

"Jesus no Luke," Lorelai answered quickly, rocking Mikey. "Way to be optimistic though."

"Well Lorelai what am I supposed to think? Rory's crying, looking like hell; and your hugging Mikey like you're about to be shipped off to Vietnam, not looking all that great yourself!

"Thanks."

"I'm just saying…"

She sighed, "I know, I know. Sorry, I'm just so stressed. I can't imagine what Rory's feeling."

"Tell me what happened." He asked, sitting down on a nearby bench and motioning for Lorelai to join him.

She sat down and put Mikey in her lap, who was wide awake and seemed ready to play. She held onto his hands and slightly bounced her legs, to keep him entertained.

"Lorel has Hirschsprung's disease. She's needs surgery." Lorelai answered, still playing with Mikey who was being a brilliant distraction.

Luke sat up straight. "Is that, um… is it a cancer or something?" he asked, worried.

"No, no. It's something to do with the intestinal tract. Basically its not doing its job and nothing is getting digested right, and its all building up." Lorelai paused, finally realizing the severity of the situation. "She can die from it."

Luke nodded, but it went unnoticed. Lorelai was staring off into the darkness now, deep in thought. Luke moved closer, closing the gap in between them and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She smiled and let her head fall onto his broad but comforting shoulder.

"Thanks for coming," she whispered.

He smirked and leaned down to kiss the top of her head, "I hate hospitals." He whispered back.

*~*

She picked up her cell phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Jess!"

"Rory, what the hell is going on?"

"She's sick, and she needs surgery and I need you here. I need you here now! God, why aren't you here?!"

"I know baby, I'm so sorry. Is she going to be Ok though?"

There was silence, and it stung in Jess' ears like pain he had never felt before and made his heart ache.

"Rory… is she going to be Ok?"

Rory bit her lip hard, and closed her eyes. "I don't know, Jess. I mean, they say everything should be fine but they aren't sure either. Please come home…"

"I am. I'll be there next flight back."

"When is that?"

Jess paused and looked around for a monitor that told him when the flights were. He couldn't find one.

"I'm… I'm not sure but earlier I saw a flight that was going to Hartford. I'll catch that plane and be there as soon as I can, Ok?"

"Ok."

"Rory?"

"What?"

He paused. "I love you."

"I love you to… now please come home."

"I'll call you in a little bit and let you know what's going on."

"Ok, don't forget."

"That would be a little hard, don't you think?"

"I miss you."

"I know, I miss you to."

"About our argument…"

"Not now Ror, you've been through enough tonight. Let it wait until I get there."

"Ok."

"Let Lorel know… that I love her."

"She knows."

"Tell her again for me."

"Ok, I will."

"I'm going to go find a plane to catch now…"

"That would be good."

"Very good."

"One of the best decisions you've ever made."

"Bye Rory."

"Bye Jess."

He hung up the phone and wasted no time in trying to find a flight. He felt a twang of guilt as he remembered what he told her when he said he saw a flight to Hartford earlier. That was a lie, he never saw any flight, but he didn't want her to worry or be more stressed out that she already had been.

Running up to the monitor, he tilted his head back and read the list.

"Oh shit," he muttered, "everything's delayed..."

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A/N - Sorry it took so long but I wanted to make this chapter somewhat decent. I really, really hope you guys like it! Please let me know what you think, and what you did/didn't like. Hehe, you guys are the best!

PS. don't hate me; I just love to do the cliffhangers!