Christie rules

The Orange Soda Will Get You Every Time Part 7

The Marianos' number one rule in an emergency situation:

Go to Luke.

That was exactly what Dan did.

His father had shown him how to take the bus to Stars Hollow, and he remembered.

"If you don't have any money," his father said. "Either crawl onto the bus so the driver doesn't see you, or pretend to be someone else's kid."

Dan wasn't a particularly good actor, so he opted to crawl.

It worked, of course, and he successfully boarded the bus for Hartford, free of charge. He did the same exact thing when he reached the bus station there; this time, boarding the bus that was bound for Stars Hollow.

It was snowing by the time he reached the diner door. He wrapped his arms around himself, wishing he'd run back inside for his coat before leaving.

He knocked, but no one answered. He peered through the glass door to find it very dark on the other side. He didn't see Luke anywhere.

'He's probably sleeping,' Dan thought. 'It's really late... Dad's gonna kill me!'

Then he remembered that there was an extra key on the ledge above the door.

Unfortunately, Dan was not tall enough to reach it. So he jumped.

No success.

He jumped again.

Still no success.

He sighed and tried to remember the emergency back-up plan.

Go to Luke.

What if there was no Luke to go to?

Go to Lorelai.

He ran down the street as it began to snow harder.

"Well, if he shows up, call me, okay?" Jess nodded. "Yeah... thanks, Liz. Okay. Okay. Bye." He clicked off the phone and shook his head. He sat on the couch and wracked his brain. "Dammit."

Kathy sat tensely in the chair opposite of him. "I'm so sorry, Jess... this is all my fault."

"Yeah, it is," Jess nodded.

Kathy's remorseful look turned to a glare.

"You can't show up here like it's no big deal," Jess said.

Kathy sighed. "I missed you guys... I wanted to see you."

"Like that makes it all better," Jess bit.

Kathy stared. "You don't care at all that I missed you."

"Right now, I don't care about anything except finding my kid," Jess replied. He got up and stalked into the kitchen.

Kathy closed her eyes and sighed.

Rory handed Jess a mug as he slumped down into a chair in the kitchen.

He took it and sighed. "Thank you."

She nodded and stood awkwardly in front of him. "He'll turn up."

Jess shook his head and set his mug down. "I don't know where the hell he is... Jeez, I can't believe he just ran off."

"Like father, like son," Rory replied.

"Don't remind me," Jess muttered.

They stayed in silence for a long moment.

"So, Kathy's here," Rory said.

Jess nodded.

She sat down next to him. "Why didn't you tell me she was in town?"

"I don't know."

Rory nodded. "Same old Jess."

He glared at her. "Not the time."

She looked down. "I'm sorry."

Jess sat back and tapped his fingers on the table. "Come on, Dan... be predictable for once..."

Rory scooted her chair in front of him and took his hands in hers. "He will turn up."

Jess nodded, but didn't meet her eyes. He furrowed his brow and looked at her. "I know where he is."

"You do?"

He leaned forward and kissed her before getting to his feet. "Come on."

Dan knocked on the front door, and waited. It had gotten colder, and he was starting to get really tired.

A few moments later, the door opened and a very bleary-eyed Lorelai peered out. Her eyes widened when she saw him. "Oh, my god... Dan?"

"Hi," he said with a shiver. "It's really cold... can I come in?"

Lorelai opened the door and Dan rushed in, hopping up and down, trying to get warm.

She pulled her robe closely too her. "Dan?"

"Hi," he said, crossing his arms.

"What are you doing here?" Lorelai asked. "It's one in the morning on a Tuesday and it's snowing. You're alone, you have no coat on, and you're wearing Wolverine pajamas."

Dan looked down and shuffled his feet. "There was this lady... and Dad yelled... and I got scared."

Lorelai blinked. "What lady?"

Dan sniffed. "She said she's m-my mommy..."

"Oh, Sweetie..."

"She scared me."

Lorelai lifted him into her arms and carried into the kitchen. "You know what?"

"W-what?"

"I stole brownies from Uncle Luke this morning," Lorelai replied.

"Really?"

Lorelai nodded. "I bet... if you dip a brownie in hot chocolate it tastes really, really good."

Dan sniffed and smiled.

"Why are we here?" Kathy asked. After two hours of driving, they'd arrived in Stars Hollow. "It's freezing."

"Welcome back from Tahiti," Rory muttered.

Kathy glared. "Who are you, anyways?"

"Rory Gilmore."

"Ah," Kathy nodded. "The bitch who broke Jess's heart eight years ago."

"Yup," Rory nodded. "And you're the bitch who broke his heart three years ago. I'd say that makes us pretty even."

"Both of you shut up," Jess snapped as they reached the diner door. He reached up and grabbed the spare key, shoving it into the lock and swinging the door open. He rushed in and up the stairs. "LUKE!"

Luke bounded out of his room. "Jess?"

"Is Dan here?"

Luke shook his head. "No. Why would Dan be here-"He glanced past Jess to see Kathy and Rory walk into the apartment. "That's why Dan would be here."

Jess nodded, looking annoyed.

"How's that lawyer doin', Kathy?" Luke asked.

Kathy glared. "Hello, Luke."

"Hi, Rory," Luke said.

"Hi, Luke," Rory replied with a nod. "I'm gonna go make coffee."

Luke shook his head. "Whatever. Dan's missing?"

Jess nodded.

Kathy followed Rory down to the diner. "How much coffee can you drink in one night?" she asked, her voice fading.

"I don't know, how many men can you sleep with in one night?" Rory snapped, loud enough for Jess to hear.

"Excuse me?!"

"They been like this all night?" Luke asked.

Jess nodded again. "I thought he'd be here... y'know, I told him that if something bad happens he should come here..." He started pacing. "It's cold as hell, he's got no coat, he's five, and alone, and Jesus Christ, I'm a really shitty father."

"You are not," Luke snapped. "Jeez, he spooked because of Kathy. Give it a rest."

Jess sighed and sat on the couch, just as Kathy stormed up the stairs.

"What's your problem?" both men asked at the same time.

"Rory stormed out after I called her a fickle tart," Kathy replied.

"I've died and gone to hell," Jess muttered. "Where is she?"

"She ran to her mommy's," Kathy replied, sitting next to him.

Jess stared at her.

She stared back. "What?"

"Do you even care that Dan is missing?"

"Of course I do!" Kathy cried. "What kind of question is that?!"

Jess rolled his eyes and got to his feet. "Going for a walk... maybe he gave up trying to find Luke and just started wandering."

Kathy got up as well. "I'll go with you."

Jess tightened his jaw. "Lucky me..."