There weren't many things that scared Dean Forrester, but he would have willingly run back into his house and under his bed to escape the contemptuous glare that Lorelai shot him. In fact, she looked like she was ready to castrate him. It took all his will power not to turn around and flee.

"Uh, I'm sorry to barge in like this, but Michel said that I could come here to pick up my pay cheque…" His voice trailed off when Lorelai's withering gaze remained fixed on him.

They stared at each other in silence, Dean's trepidation matching Lorelai's disdain.

Lorelai broke the silence. In a sarcastic tone, she remarked, "No, now's as good a time as any." She rummaged around in her drawer and pulled out her cheque book, filling in the necessary information with vehemence. "So, Dean. What should I put under "services rendered"? You think that my bank will accept "taking my daughter's virginity" as a reason for a tax write-off, or would "adultery and being an all-round son of a bitch" swing me those extra few bucks?"

Ouch. Lorelai hadn't wasted time getting down to the heart of the matter.

"Uh-"

"If it weren't for the fact that murder is punishable by death, you'd have been six feet under a week ago, my friend." She ripped the cheque out forcefully. "My God, Dean, what the hell were you thinking? For that matter, were you even thinking?"

"Lorelai-"

"No, I don't wanna hear it. I seriously doubt that you could actually say anything that would get you off the black list. But let me ask you – why Rory? What the hell did she do to you that you had to fool around with her?" Dean could see tears forming in Lorelai's eyes, and the heartbroken look that came over her face was even more terrifying than any amount of scorn she had heaped on him before.

Lorelai inhaled with a shudder. "I trusted you, Dean. I trusted you enough to let Rory fall in love with you. I should have hated you, so that Rory would never have thought twice about touching you with a ten-foot barge pole. You know why? Because if I'd kept you two apart, Rory wouldn't be in Europe trying to get away from this crummy situation, and I wouldn't be standing here praying to God that I won't start crying until I finish giving you the verbal lambasting that you undoubtedly deserve!" At that, Lorelai's voice broke, and she struggled to keep her composure. With a shaking hand, she held out the cheque and he quietly took it. He didn't know whether he wanted to apologize or yell at Lorelai, but one thing was clear. He had to get the hell out. However, Lorelai seemed nowhere near finished with him.

"Well, Dean? I did ask you a question, so how about you doing the crazy thing and answering, huh? I'm interested in knowing exactly what it was that made my daughter feel like nothing more than a dishrag after you were through wringing her out."

Dean exploded. "Look, it's none of your damn business, Lorelai."

Lorelai replied icily, wiping her eyes, "You'd better believe that it's my damn business. And I suggest that you start talking."

Dean glared at Lorelai, unsure how to respond. How could he explain the whole situation without making it look like he was escaping blame, or that he was putting the blame on Rory? "I don't know, okay?"

"Strike one. Try harder."

"Look, you know how bad things have been with Lindsay recently! You've seen how miserable we've been-"

"Strike two. You know, you're gonna have to do better than to put any of the blame on Lindsay. That's the coward's way out. Last chance."

"God damn it! That's the truth! Rory's the only one I could talk to, who wouldn't pass judgement. She was there for me. And, I don't know… it just happened."

"And we've gone pass the third strike and are somewhere on the sixth, or…you know what? You knew Rory was going through a rough time too. And you just took advantage of her!"

"Now, lis-"

"No, Dean. YOU listen. Just because Rory was there for you, it didn't mean that you had to sleep with her! Don't pretend that you didn't know that she was falling for you all over again. By the way, do you even love Rory?"

Dean was speechless. He desperately averted his gaze, focusing on anything but Lorelai. Dean knew that his silence would condemn him, so, "She wasn't falling in love with me!"

"That's real cute, Dean. Nice dodge. To answer your point, you and I both know that it's a total lie. That girl was more than in love with you – she broke her heart over you. And you don't have to answer me – you just made it easier for me to hate you, now that I know that you were just in it for a quick screw."

"That's… that's totally untrue."

"Oh, my bad. I meant to say, quick screw, heartbreak and home wreck. You have no idea how good Jess is looking right now."

Dean almost had to admire the placement of Lorelai's barbs. She knew just where to get him. "If you must know, Jess was the one that broke Rory's heart, and I was the one to pick up the pieces. HE just kept coming and going, and I had to stand and watch her fall and get back up time and time again."

"But did you have to sleep with her?"

Dean burst out angrily, "This is ridiculous! I don't have time for this." He moved to the door, but Lorelai barked. "Dean! I won't hesitate to cancel that cheque if you so much as put a toenail out of that door."

Dean reluctantly turned around and looked at Lorelai sullenly. "Why do you even want me here? You obviously aren't going to pay attention to what I say, anyway."

"Correction. I did pay attention. And, by the way, what you said was more or less bullshit. But you know what? None of it actually matters, because you'd still be pond scum in my eyes. And the only thing stopping me from telling all of Stars Hollow is that Rory would be the talk of the town as well."

"Oh, so it's okay for me to take all of the blame, but Rory's innocent?" Dean regretted those words the minute they flew out of his mouth. If looks could kill, he'd have blazed his way down to Hell a long time ago…

"Don't you even think about giving me that crap. You've done enough damage as it is."

"Since when is what happens between me and Rory your business?"

Lorelai looked at him in incredulity. "That isn't even worth dignifying with a response. And let me finish. You will not try to communicate with Rory in any way for the next few weeks. You will keep your mouth shut about this to everyone, including your poor wife, until Rory gets back. And then you will talk to her, grovel some more, admit to being a bastard and then leave her alone, for good. And I'd give me a wide berth too. I don't care what you do after that, as long as it doesn't involve any Gilmore. As far as I'm concerned, you can go to hell. Are we clear?"

Lorelai's words, delivered with the deadliest calm, chilled Dean to the bone. He knew that what she was telling him was the right thing to do, the best thing for everyone in the long run. Lorelai was right; he knew that what he felt for Rory wasn't love. Loneliness, lust, memories… all of them had led to that life-changing night, but love wasn't it.

Dean angrily fought the overwhelming feeling of sadness that threatened to break his composure. Looking at Lorelai, who was feeling as much, if not more… nothing. That's all he had… a shell, all his fond memories and happy times reduced to a faint shadow. Dean knew that this wasn't over, but it would have to rest for now.

Dean cast one last look at Lorelai, who had now turned away from him. He pocketed his cheque and walked out, silently shutting the door behind him.

At the sound of the door closing, Lorelai let the dam break and burst into tears, making no effort to restrain them. She curled up on the couch, rocking back and forth ever so slightly.

Lorelai glanced at the telephone, longing to telephone Rory and comfort her. However, Dean was right – it was none of her business. Rory had to deal with it on her own; only then could she put it past her and move on. Lorelai knew all this all too well, but it didn't make it any easier on her. There was nothing more she could do, until Rory came home. Till then… tears continued to fall, until she could weep no more.