*******LUKE: I heard, everything's ok. LORELAI: Yeah, yeah. They're going to keep him over night but - but he's going to be fine. [cries] LUKE: Hey. [Luke hugs her] Ok, see here's where the guy is supposed to give the girl his handkerchief but I don't have one...and plus I find the practice a little revolting so... LORELAI: No, I'm ok. LUKE: You sure? LORELAI: Yeah. LUKE: Alright. Oh hey, I got this for you. LORELAI: Ah, where'd you get that? LUKE: Nurse's lounge. LORELAI: Uh-huh. LUKE: What? You're not the only one who can flirt [Lorelai laughs] The door was open. LORELAI: Thank you. LUKE: Anything else I can do? LORELAI: Could you take Rory home? LUKE: Yeah sure. What about you? LORELAI: I'm gonna stick around here for a while and make sure everything's are settled you know. You take her and I'll drive the jeep back. LUKE: Ok.******** He hated crying women yet he had let her lean on his shoulder when she couldn't deal. *******LORELAI: You know, I had a good time the other night - with the cards. LUKE: Oh yeah, yeah - me too. LORELAI: Good. LUKE: Yeah, if fact you rushed out of here before I had a chance to - LORELAI: A chance to? LUKE: Kick your ass in poker. LORELAI: [laughs] You wish. LUKE: Burger? LORELAI: Two and fries. LUKE: Maybe we could do it again sometime. *********

The funny part was they never had. He'd asked her out fair and square, but there had always been a row of excuses lined up like dominoes. Maybe now they had all fallen down. *******LUKE: You know, I still think there's a spot on the wall somewhere where my dad took an order one day when he ran out of paper. LORELAI: Really? Where? LUKE: I don't know. Behind the counter maybe. (Lorelai goes behind the counter.) LUKE: Next to the door. On the right side. (Lorelai sits on the floor. Luke joins her.) LORELAI: Oh. Huh. Here it is: "Three hammers, Phillips-head screwdrivers -- " LUKE: "and three boxes of nails in assorted sizes." LORELAI: Oh. LUKE: I've seen it from time to time. (They laugh.) LUKE: Yeah, well, I guess it is time for a little spruce. LORELAI: Yeah, it is. But let's not spruce this particular spot. LUKE: That sounds good. LORELAI: OK. (They look at each other then hear voices outside. Luke starts to get up.) LUKE: Oh, jeez -- LORELAI: No, no, don't get up. LUKE: But if I don't get up -- LORELAI: They'll go away. They'll go away, trust me. Shh. (Taylor rattles the doorknob and knocks on the window.) TAYLOR: What are they doing? They should be in there. Just imagine it all in pastels. The whole thing. (When they can't see anything, the crowd leaves.) LUKE: Thank you. LORELAI: You're welcome: (whispers) I should go. LUKE: OK. LORELAI: Ah, so. It's going to be great. LUKE: Oh, I'm sure it is. LORELAI: See ya. LUKE: See ya. ********

Helping Luke paint his diner provided perspective. He acted so mysterious, as if he didn't want to let the world know that he had loads of compassion buried under the layers of flannel. But when she shared the soulful discussion with him about his dad she felt that they really connected emotionally. *&*@!(

I have to end this chapter here because my computer doesn't have a lot of memory, but the next chapter is a continuation. (the stars represent flashbacks).