I didn't actually address this in the first chapter, so here goes. I don't own Gilmore Girls. Whoosh. Big sigh out. But if you want to believe I do, and therefore worship me for the amazing being I am… well, I guess you can't do that either. Read the story. Please.
They were in Luke's apartment. Lorelai looked around. She had been up here before, multiple times, even slept here. But it was never under these circumstances. She had never been so scared in her life, not when she discovered she was pregnant at sixteen, not when the Independence inn burned down, never. But it was better now. She felt safe.
Luke looked at Lorelai. She looked pale as a ghost, and she was shivering in her little fuzzy slippers. "Come on Lorelai. You can have the bed. I gotta be up in a few hours anyways."
"No, Luke, I can't take away your bed. I don't think I can sleep right now."
"And you think I can?" He was starting to raise his voice and he reminded himself to stay calm. None of his stress was her fault. "Lorelai, I couldn't sleep right now if I tried. You need your rest. I'll stay up and wait for the call."
"Then I'll stay up with you."
***
"So Luke, you never told me why you were up at 3:30 in the morning. I don't think I can believe that BS that you just happened to be patrolling the area in case I came running"
Little does she know he thought. "I couldn't sleep."
"Bad dream?"
"You could say that. I can't remember what it was about, but I know it wasn't good. God, Lorelai, life has just been so difficult these past few months."
She looked into his eyes. "I know. For me too."
Of course it had been difficult for her. She was swamped with work, and money issues, and losing a daughter to Yale. Luke had only been thinking of himself recently, he now realized. "Jeez Lorelai, you're completely right, as usual." He was sitting on his recliner and she was lying on her side on the bed.
"No Luke, that's not what I mean. We've both had our share of things to deal with. And my guess is that neither of us has been doing a great job." Looking into her eyes, Luke finally realized something, and he thought he saw that realization returned. Then the phone rang.
***
"Yes officer, I understand. No officer, she won't. I'll fix that lock myself. Yes it will be. I know. But at least you caught the guy, right?"
Lorelai was sitting cross-legged on the bed, her tired eyes open wide in a mix of fear and curiosity. They had caught the bastard? Red-handed it sounded like. Luke finally hung up the phone. "Well, they got him. About a block away from your house. He was carrying some identifiable stuff from your house, a few hundred bucks, jewelry, the works. That guy took a risk he is never gonna take again. I'll personally see to that."
"Thank you Luke, thank you so much."
"Eh, don't mention it. Anything for you." She looked into his eyes again, making sure of what she saw, and went over to the counter where he was standing to give him a hug.
"And that's why I said thank you" she whispered in his ear.