Sexual Content, Violence, and Swearing. Do not read if these subjects offend you.

He hadn't made it at ten. Luke hadn't been in bed yet and it would have been impossibly hard for him to sneak out of the apartment with Luke up watching television. It had been about eleven before he was able to slip onto the fire escape and into the alley between the diner and the park. This place gave him the creeps and he shuddered. Dean had died there the night before. He had killed him. He didn't want to think about it. He quickly and silently walked the streets to the Gilmore house.

The house was completely dark, no one was up. He wasn't sure if he should go ahead. What if Rory didn't wait for him? What if she was asleep? He decided to take a chance. He approached Rory's window, thanking God that she lived on the lower level. It was open a crack and the drapes hung open as well. He pushed it up and climbed in.

Everything was dark. He could barely make out Rory's still form on the bed in the moonlight. She was too still. She wasn't breathing. 'Oh my God.' He thought to himself and in a half panic ran over to the bed. He all but collapsed on the side and put his hand on her forehead. He had no idea what he had meant to accomplish with this. She was warm, still pulsing. He thought he could cry. Maybe, maybe if he had gotten there on time everything would have been okay. Rory would have been okay. Devastated he bent his head towards hers.

"Oh Rory." He whispered and gave her a small kiss on the mouth.

Suddenly she sighed and shifted. It took her a moment to open her eyes and look at him.

"Mmm. Hi. I see you made it." She whispered sleepily.

He jumped, startled and immensely relieved. "Shit! I thought you were dead."

"Why would you think that?" She asked, confused.

"You weren't breathing!" He loudly whispered.

"I was asleep. I breathe lightly when I'm asleep."

"Warn me next time. I was freakin' over here." He half laughed.

"You were freakin'? I'm the one who has a murderer sitting on her bed." She lloked over at him.

"Figured it out faster than the police." He smirked.

"Yeah. Where'd the cinder block come from? I don't remember ever seeing it there before?"

"Don't ask me."

"Did you have a conspirator? Did he bring you in the cinder block to frame? Poor cinder block." She said as an after thought.

"I can't say."

"Oh so it's hush-hush huh? So mafia-like. Come on Jess. You can tell me. I already know you did it." She laughed up at him.

"You seem awful cheerful for someone whose boyfriend was just killed and whose friend may face jail time." Jess faked a disapproving voice.

"Ex-boyfriend. And the cinder block killed him, remember? What did you kill him with by the way?"

"Two-by-four. I think." He ducked his head.

"You think?" She questioned.

"Blind rage. You know how it is." He said this matter-of-factly as if she were an old drinking buddy with whom he'd shared this kind of information before.

She nodded as if she did know how it felt even though she really had no idea. "So, two-by-four. They didn't see the wood fragments?"

"Obviously not."

"Huh."

"Stupidity is a virtue in this case, I suppose." He said.

"It most defiantly is. You're lucky our cops are not the most intelligent people in the whole world or else you, mister, would be busted right now. What are you going to do if they catch on to you?" She asked.

"Bolt." He said this matter-of-factly as if there was no other option than the one he presented.

"Oh."

They fell into an uncomfortable silence, both lost in their own thoughts.

"If you bolt," Rory started but then trailed off.

"Yeah?"

"If you bolt can I come with you?"

"Rory."

"Jess...."

"You're already too involved. Stay out of it."

"No, Jess."

"Rory."

"I'll follow you."

"You would." He said, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, I would."

Something hit him and a cold panic skidded down his spine. "How much did you tell Lane?"

"What?" For a moment she was confused.

"She was asking me about it this morning. How much did you tell her?"

"Nothing. Well, nothing about you killing Dean. I told her about last night, with Dean."

"So that's why she assumed I killed Dean."

"The whole town thinks you killed Dean and I didn't tell anyone except for you, Lane, and Mom." She thought for a moment. "Does anyone besides us know about it."

"Well, everyone who suspects it."

"I mean who else actually knows?"

He hesitated. "No one."

"You hesitated! You're lying!"

"No I'm not." He shrugged it off.

"Yes, you are. Come on. Who else knows?"

" I-have-no-idea-what-you-are-talking-about-no-one-but-you-me-Luke-and-Dean-knows-who-really-killed-Dean." He said really quickly trying to sneak the Luke part.

"Oh." Then she realized all of what he said. "Luke! Luke knows?"

"Yes Luke knows."

"How does Luke know? What does Luke know?"

"A lot."

"Jess!"

"Hey! I know. I was lost. I had just killed a man. What was I supposed to do? Luke offered to help and I accepted it. He wouldn't help unless I told him why. Let's admit it, I needed help! I hate to admit it, you hate to admit, Luke hated to admit it, but I needed help!"

"Okay."

"I'm sorry." He said and meant it. Although he didn't know what it was for. Was it for telling Luke? Killing Dean? Involving Rory in all of this?

"Accepted."

"Good."

On a whim she kissed him. This was nothing like the kisses she had shared with Dean. These kisses were warm and passionate and full of longing. These kisses made her feel beautiful, wanted. Loved. They weren't mean or angry. They were sweet, kind while at the same time rough and primal. The mix intrigued her, aroused her. There was a small tingle between her legs and she didn't know what it meant. 'This isn't right, Gilmore.' She scolded herself. Gently, she pulled away.

"Mmm. Hi." She smiled.

"Hi. Let's do that again." He smirked and leaned back in.

"Jess. Now's not the right time." She said it softly but sternly, a small bit of sorrow in her voice.

"Not the right time for what?" He asked, a little confused.

"For.......you....know......Jess come on." Rory pleaded and then stammered.

"No, I don't know. For what Rory?" He fully understood now but was teasing her.

"Jess......" Her voice had a very serious tone to it.

"Okay, okay. I'm stopping." He held both his hands in front of him for evidence, or maybe defense. "So, I should go now....." He left it open, a question, a statement he was going to let her decide. And decide the answer.

"Oh. Don't go. Stay. Talk. Entertain me." She sat further up in bed and smiled. He noticed she was wearing her cake pajamas. If he had known her a little better he would've also noticed that those were the pajamas she typically saved for special occasions.

"Fine. What's your biggest fear?" He asked, more serious than Rory had expected him to be. He was, of course, prone to these mood swings. It was just something she would have to get used to.

"Flying." She said automatically.

"Deeper. I don't mean some physical thing. Get deeper and find something that scares you to death."

"Oh." She thought for a long minute. "Dying. Death. Ironic since I'm sitting here with a known murderer, I know. But I'm afraid of dying and leaving everyone I love, I'm afraid of what might be after this life. I'm really afraid there won't be anything at all. That we just die and that's poof. All the hard work we went through led to no greater end."

"Reasonable. A lot of people are afraid of death. I, myself, have never really thought of what's to come after. It raises quite a few good question as to life." He said in his best mock therapist voice.

She laughed. "Funny. What's your greatest fear?"

"I have none." He said at once in a voice that resembled a little kid playing the super hero.

"Oh sure you do. Come on Jess, what is it?"

He thought for a very long moment even though he knew what it really was. He had realized it in it's most complete state earlier that night when he thought Rory was dead. But should he tell her that? Should he let her see that side of him? Why the hell not? She knew he'd killed Dean. If he could trust her with that then he could trust her with about anything.

"I'm afraid of being alone." He stated simply.

"Being alone? That makes no sense. Why do you shut yourself off from everyone if your so scared of being alone?"

"Good question." He laid on her bed with his arms folded behind his head and sighed. "Because that's only part of my fear. I'm afraid of becoming close with someone, maybe even of loving them..." Did he love her? No, of course not. Right? "... and then losing them. I'm afraid of that kind of alone. So, if I don't let people close enough to me to care about, then I can't lose them."

"Huh. So, if you're trying to keep people away from you then why did you tell me that?" She propped herself on her elbow and looked at him. He in turn turned his head to look at her.

"You've already gotten too close. There's no turning back now." He said. "You will be mine. Resistance is futile." Now he was joking, using his worst scary movie voice. Rory laughed and collapsed down beside him.

"Where the hell have you been?" Luke asked a few hours later.

"I went for a walk." Jess answered nonchalantly.

"At two o' clock in the morning?"

"Looks like."

"Need I remind you that you have to get up early to help me in the diner and have school tomorrow." Luke said cantankerously.

"No, but since you already have I'll be up." He walked off into the bathroom to take a shower.

"I think I'm ready." Rory whispered to Lane on the phone at eight-forty-five pm.

"Ready for what?" Lane asked.

"To have.... you know. Sex."

"What!" She exclaimed.

"Shhh. Lane, I don't want your mother hearing you." Rory whispered into the phone. She was whispering because Lorelai was in the other room and she didn't want her to hear her.

"Sorry." Lane whispered. "With Jess?"

"Yes."

"I-killed-your-boyfriend-Jess?" Lane asked.

"We don't know that he killed Dean. But yes. Even if he did kill Dean. Dean kind of, deserved it."

"Rory, I can't believe you. This is so not you. I am so proud." She tried to conceal her enjoyment. "When?"

"He's coming over tonight. At nine."

"Oh my God!" Lane squealed.

Just then Lorelai walked into the room. "Hey sweets, I'm going to head off to bed I have to be at the Inn extra early in the morning."

"Okay. Good night Mom." Rory said, holding her hand over the mouthpiece of the phone.

"Night honey." She went upstairs muttering something about asses and evaluations.

"Back. He doesn't know I'm thinking about it. Yet. Do you think I should?" She asked.

"Well he did kill Dean." She stopped at the disapproving scoff. "If it's what you want, I'd say go for it." She said.

"Thanks. Oh. It's almost nine. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Rory. Good luck."

"Thanks, bye." They both hung up.

Moments later Rory was in bed wearing just a T-shirt and panties when she heard the knock on the window.

"Ror?"

"I'm here Jess, come in."